Rebel forces fleeing towards Papetoon, this can only mean trouble for the peaceful planet. What will they do when they arrive? Who will stand in their way?

Chapter 2: Back Home

Papetoon finally comes into view. Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare, and Star Fox's newest member Fara Phoenix, are glad to finally see it. It's been twelve hours since they've traveled through the Black Hole and defeated Andross. The only thing on their mind right now is celebrating, and getting the rid of the cramps in their legs.

"I love flying in all but I can't wait to get out of this dang ship and stretch my legs."

"Dang it Falco, will you stop complaining. It's starting to get annoying." Fara shouts.

"I thought that you'd be used to Falco's bitching by now Fara. It's all he ever does." Peppy butts in.

"True, that's all he did in the Academy."

"What is going on here? Have I become Slippy?"

"Shut up Falco."

Fara flies up to Fox so she can see him. She blocks the others radio channel so no one can hear them.

"You've been really quiet Fox."

"I'm just contemplating what we've done. Andross, the man who killed my father, is defeated."

"Feels good doesn't it Fox."

"It does, I just don't know what I'm going to do now."

"I'm sure you'll think of something Fox. You always do."

Fara sees Fox smiling in the Arwing. He winks at her and Fara blushes.

"Halt unidentified aircraft, this is the Cornerian military. You are in restricted space. Turn or we will fire on you."

Fox quickly realizes that he's forgotten to radio the Cornerian military about their success on Venom.

"It's the Star Fox mercenary team. Please do not fire."

"Oh sorry guys, you have permission to land at the Papetoon military base."

"Thank you"

"What an idiot?" Falco whispers not realizing that radio is on.

"Falco, you moron. If you weren't in your ship I'd slap that empty head off your shoulders." Peppy shouts.

Half an hour later, Star Fox has landed at the Papetoon military base. The Cornerian base is more of an outpost than a base. It barely supports a squadron of ships. It's not much of a base, but it's the only one that Papetoon's got.

Star Fox lands in the runway. As soon as they land, the entire base runs out to congratulate them.

"STAR FOX, STAR FOX, STAR FOX!" The soldiers cheer.

Fox is overtaken with shock. He wasn't expecting a welcome home party like this. The whole thing is overwhelming for him. Fox doesn't know to respond. He just stands there. Slippy and Fara are experiencing the same thing.

Peppy on the other hand, are handling the whole thing very well. Peppy is used to this sort of thing. His experience with the original Star Fox is serving him pretty well. Peppy waves at the soldiers.

Falco is handling the cheering a little too well. He's enjoying it. Falco's practically feeding off their energy. It's giving him a bigger ego, if such a thing is possible.

"Oh crap" Slippy whispers.

"What is it Slippy?" Fara asks.

"Falco's getting a bigger head."

Fara tries not to laugh. "If his head gets any bigger he's not going to be able to walk. His legs will break just from the weight."

The Cornerian soldiers surprise Star Fox by lifting them up on their shoulders and carry them around the base. It's almost an overload for Fox, Slippy, and Fara.

"This is new" Fox thinks.

Suddenly, the cheering stops. Fox, Peppy, Falco, Slippy, and Fara are lowered to the ground. The soldiers come to attention. An officer stands before them. The officer walks up to Star Fox. At first he does nothing. But then he salutes Star Fox. They salute him back.

"Fox McCloud, I'm Captain Shears, CO of Papetoon Cornerian Base. It'd be an honor if I could shake your hand"

Captain Shears extends his hand to Fox. Fox graciously accepts Captain Shear's gesture.

"I have a message for you Fox from General Pepper."

"What is it Captain?"

"General Pepper said that he is coming here to debrief you. He will arrive at 1000 tomorrow."

"Thank you Captain" Fox turns to his teammates. "We're heading back to the Fox Den. We'll be back here tomorrow morning. But tonight, go and celebrate. We've earned it."

"You don't have to me tell you Fox." Falco shouts.

That night Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Fara are heading to a bonfire at a nearby Papetoon beach. The Cornerian soldiers set it up when they heard that Star Fox was going.

"So Fox, why isn't Peppy coming?" Slippy asks."

"He wanted to sleep in. You know how the old geezer gets after a mission."

The beach is bustling with activity when Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Fara arrive. The Cornerian soldiers shout when they see them. The music and dancing starts immediately.

Ten minutes into the party, Fara feels someone tap her on the shoulders. Fara turns around and sees a female fox with orange fur and white stripes.

"Madison" Fara shouts and hugs her.

"Fara, it's been a long time. How've you been girl?"

"Pretty good, I'm a member of Star Fox and I'm dating the love of my life."

"You're dating Fox?"

"Yeah, been dating Fox for a while now. How are things with you?"

"Can't complain at the moment. I finished sniper training and I graduate from the Academy in less than a month. I'm here shadowing Sergeant Jackson."

"Awesome girl"

Ten minutes later, Fara and Madison are sitting at the edge of the beach by themselves. As their talking, Madison notices something about Fara.

"So Fara, I see that you are in love with Fox."

"Dang those Cerinian telepathic abilities of yours. Yes, I am in love with him. But I'm afraid that he doesn't love me back."

"If it helps, I can tell you that he loves your back, though it may not be in the same way."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Fox's love for you may be just sibling love. You've been like a sister to him. So seeing you as a lover may be difficult. I wish that I could tell you more but my telepathic abilities are limited. I've had no one to teach me how to master it."

"That'd be nice." Fara replies. "So Madison, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, I've been too busy."

"Too busy with what?"

"Trying to secure my future. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pass sniper school, graduate from the academy, and organize a career at the same time? It's very difficult and frustrating."

"I beat it is. But you've gotta be interested in someone."

"No, not really. I've never really found anyone. Every guy in the past has either been a jackass or only been interested in my body. And you know that's not going to happen. The only guy that has ever really been kind to me is Fox and I'm not going to date him. It's not because you're dating him.'

'Then what is it?"

"You don't know?" Madison replies shock.

"Don't know what?"

"His parent's adopted me when I was a baby. We're like brother and sister. Dating him would be awkward."

"That's a good point. But what I don't understand is why Fox never told me that you two were brother and sister."

"I think that it was more for protection. When James' reputation started rising, people started coming after him. So in order to protect me, James made me drop the drop part of the McCloud from my name. I became Madison Cloud. James knew that it would work. I look nothing like the man."

"That makes sense, but what about Fox?"

"There wasn't much that James could do about that. Fox looks like a mini James. So he enrolled Fox in the Academy for his protection."

"That actually explains a lot. There are very few places safer than the Academy."

At that moment, Madison sees Fox approaching from them. Madison jumps up and runs to Fox.

"FOX!"

Madison almost jumps on Fox. She wraps her arms around his neck and refuses to let go. Madison squeezes Fox's neck so tight that he has difficulty breathing.

"Can you stop choking me sis?"

"Sorry Fox" Madison lets go of Fox's neck. "Three months and no call or letter. What is wrong with you bro? I've been worried sick about you."

"I've been busy. Saving Lylat is more difficult than you think."

Madison can't help but laugh. She hides it well. "It's great to see you again Fox. We need to catch up."

"Sounds good, but now is not a good time."

"Why not?"

"I was going to ask Fara to dance."

Fox offers Fara his hand. Fara accepts and Fox leads Fara into the middle of the crowd.

"I didn't know that you could dance Fox?"

"I can't dance. I'm just hoping that I don't accidently hurt yak."

Fara smiles and grabs Fox's hand. She places them on her hips and wraps her arms around his neck. Fox and Fara's faces are inches apart. They stare into each other's eyes. Fara leads Fox side to side.

Deep down, Fara desperately wants to tell Fox how she really feels. Being this close to Fox makes her heart beat so fast that it feels like it is going to explode. But the possibility of rejection keeps her from telling him.

"I really like you Fara." Fox finally says.

"That's not good enough Fox. If only I knew how you felt about me."

"I really like you to Fox."

Fara kisses Fox lightly on the lips.

0930 Next Morning

Fox and Fara are making their way to the briefing with General Pepper. The base is bustling with activity. Fox and Fara find this a little unusual. Falco and Slippy like to sleep in. Falco usually doesn't wake up to 1000, with Peppy throwing him out of bed.

"Hey Fox wait up."

Madison comes running up from nowhere. She's carrying a rifle that Fox and Fara are unfamiliar with.

"What's up Madison?"

"Not much Fox. There's not a whole lot to do with Andross defeated."

"Sorry about that." Fox apologizes. "We're on our way to a debrief. How about you join us?"

"Sure, I got nothing else to do."

"Great, this can count as us catching up. You can start by telling me what kind of rifle that is."

"Oh you like this don't you. It's a M4 37mm. I became proficient with it in sniper school. Trust me, you'd like it."

"I beat I would."

Madison is about to say something but she sudden stops dead in her tracks. To Fox and Fara, it looks like Madison just froze.

"What is Madison?"

"I don't know. I'm detecting some kind of hostile force. I don't know who they are. All I can tell is that they are on their way here as we speak."

"Are you sure about that Madison?" Fara asks.

"Fara, I've come to trust Madison's senses. If she says that something hostiles are on their way here I believe her." Fox defends.

"So what do we do?"

Fara is answered by the roar of transport ships. Five transport ships appear out of nowhere and hover over the Cornerian base. Dozens of armed combatants drop from the ships.

"I hate it when you're right Madison."

Papetoon is under attack by an unknown enemy. Can Star Fox save the day again?

In this chapter was a reference to a character from the comic "Farewell Beloved Falco." If you were paying attention you may have noticed. I didn't want it to be too obvious.