Chapter 3: The Old Hares Tale

5 hours earlier.....

"What have you got, Sargent?" asked the Husky Major. The brightly lit control room for the Air Traffic Control division of Coneria's Military Intelligence Network was abuzz with light and color. Even while this wasn't one the most exciting stations to be given, you did occasionally

get the odd questionable situation. And for Sargent Davis this was one of those times.

"Well, it might be nothing, sir, but Orbital Security sent us this several minutes ago." Sargent Davis brought up the display he'd been studying for the past 10 minutes. It showed a derelict cargo ship's flight path and transponder number.

"What about it?" the major grunted.

"The flight path is similar to the Wolfen we lost track of 3 days ago. Sargent Davis reported. "What's more, the transponder code is synonymous with an organization with ties to Star Wolf."

"I've never heard of Star Wolf pulling a job like this." the Major said in dismissive tones.

"Star Wolf usually works as anti-Starfox measure. On every occasion we have on record, Star Wolf has only engaged in combat to stop an attack from Starfox. Besides, Star Wolf comes to Corneria several times a year. There's never been a incident with Star Wolf causing trouble planet-side.

"But, sir," reasoned Sargent Davis. "The Starfox team are here for McCloud's wedding today, aren't they? And the trajectory of both ships," Davis pointed to the display, "takes them on an intercept course with the Pleiades."

Listen, pup," the Major growled impatiently. "There could be a million reasons for that cargo ship to be there. As for the Wolfen, it arrived days ago. And even if a member of Star Wolf is on Coneria having a secret meaning with whoever's on that ship, that's not a criminal offense; therefore, we can do nothing." The Major's voice seemed to lower as he spoke, "And even I don't think Star Wolf would be stupid enough to fly against the 200 Cornerian starfighters we have stationed around that area. So stop wasting my time."

"Yes, sir" Sargent Davis whined apologetically, "I won't bother you again."

"See that you don't." the Major straightened and walked away. "Every precaution taken, 200 of our best piolets barricading a COM dead area, and the Starfox team to boot, and this pup is worried about a single Wolfen. What next?" The Major knew that the McCloud wedding would go off without a hitch.

Present

After a mad dash to the air limo waiting in the hotel parking lot and a 15 minute flight full of checking his watch to make sure he wasn't late and Falco telling him to "Stop worrying and have some of this Chateau de...somthin' I mean this stuff is just phenomenal," Fox and Falco finally arrived at the docking port for Peppy's personal leisure craft, the Pleiades. It was really more like a space liner than a leisure craft, Fox had thought. It was in fact. The ship had been given to Peppy anonymously as a gift when he'd been promoted to General, for the part he'd played in the Lylat Wars he supposed. Suspicion had fallen at the time on General Pepper, who'd denied any involvement. Saying that he made a lot of money, but not that much. And so it had remained a mystery.

Today it was to play host to what some were calling "the marriage of the decade." and the following reception all of which the Conerian Army had gladly paid for. Fox felt more than a little uncomfortable accepting such a generous gift, and when Peppy had first proposed the idea, Fox had objected to Coneria paying s cent.

But Peppy wouldn't hear of it. "After all you two have done for the Lylat system, it's our pleasure." And so Peppy had arranged the most extravagant wedding in history. Intricate decorations, the rarest delicacies, the best champagne, the fanciest pre-nup accommodations and transport, and more food than you could wag your tail at. If it wasn't for Peppy Fox didn't know what he would've done.

As Fox the door to Fox's side of the limo opened there was a sudden rush of noise and a thousands flashes of light as every writer and reporter on Corneria took his picture and asked him for an interview. Shielding his eyes and half dragging a tipsy Falco from the limousine, Fox fell into step behind 2 bulky security bull dogs who were doing their best to shield them from the reporters cameras. The walk to the boarding ramp was made all the more embarrassing by Falco's half-drunken squawks of "Leave my friend alone! Don't you know he's getting married today?!"

At last, they reached the boarding ramp and Fox could breathe again. He relinquished charge of Falco to one of the bull dogs who led Falco down a adjoining hallway and out of sight, and followed the other down the main corridor to a turbo-lift. "The General is waiting for you on the bridge." the Bulldog explained in a deep throated growl. Fox thanked him and boarded the lift. Once inside the doors swished shut and Fox pressed the button marked bridge.

After a short wait, the doors opened again and Fox stepped into the busy seen of a pre-flight systems check. Officers in military uniform ran to and fro carrying out the orders given by their superiors. Fox spied Peppy sitting quietly in the Captain's seat. He seemed intent on the city scape of Corneria, but Fox recognized the old codger contemplative gesture. Something else was on his mind, Fox could sense it.

In strict military fashion, Fox marched up and saluted Peppy, making a stamping sound with his last foot fall. "Fox McCloud reporting for duty, General."

Peppy jumped slightly, and turned his head in Fox's direction and the same sly smile Fox had seen in the photo cracked onto the ancient hare's face.

"Fox," Peppy laughed, "How many times do I have to say 'Don't call me that' before you won't."

Peppy got up from his seat and the two friends embraced. As they drew apart Peppy called over to a young red furred vixen in uniform, "Commander Teera." The vixen spun on her heels and saluted.

"Yes, General?"

"You have the bridge. give the order to begin the take off procedure. The vixen nodded and began giving orders in a barking voice. Peppy began walking Fox back towards the turbo lift.

"So, Fox are you ready?

"Ready as I'll ever be." Fox replied

"Good, good. That's what I like to hear." chuckled Peppy as they crossed the threshold of the lift. Peppy selected Crew Quarters from the list of buttons and the lift zoomed to life again.

As the doors closed Peppy turned his attention once again to Fox, but with a more serious demeanor. "Actually Fox, I wanted to talk to you." Fox held Peppy's gaze as the old hare began to speak again. "Fox, I know you and Krystal love each other. I've known since the day we met her on Sauria. For years I watched you, and you two just couldn't keep your eyes off one another.

I did everything I could to help nurture that love and help it grow. That was one of the reasons I stayed as long as I did; otherwise I'd have retired years ago. And after the incident with the Aparoids, I thought you could finally stand on your two feet. I thought I had done enough and that it wouldn't be long until you two would take this step. And so I finally took my leave of you.

And for a year or so I led a charmed life, even making it as far as General. And then one day, I went out for a drink at my favorite pub. And I found Krystal drunk senseless at the bar.

Fox's heart dropped a few feet. Krystal never told him that part. "I took her home and she told me about everything that had happened. How you threw her out, and told her it was for her own protection, how she had cried for days, locked in a hotel room here on Corneria, and screaming about how much she hated you for throwing her away."

With each new part of Peppy's story Fox's heart sank more and more. "I set her up at the academy and gave her enough to live on. After that I tried for weeks to get in contact with you, but you were nowhere to be found. Eventually, I found both Falco and Slippy who had left for their own reasons, and they didn't know where to find you either. For 2 years you disappeared from the map completely. And for 2 years I blamed myself for everything."

Fox's heart panged even worse now. The hurt he had caused not only to the vixen he loved with all his heart, but the mentor and friend who had known his all his life. Fox felt his heart slipping away into the despair and guilt that had plagued him for 2 years, which that one night with Krystal had managed to erase. But now Fox realized that those feelings would never be erased. They would lurk in the shadows of his memories until the day he died.

Peppy's right...It's my fault....Krystal...Peppy....My Fault.....My Fault.......My Fault.........

"Fox? Fox! Are you still with me?" Fox became conscious of Peppy's rough wrinkled hand gently smacking his cheek; also that he had slumped to the floor.

"Fox, are you all right?" enquired a distant familiar voice.

Coming to his senses Fox shook his head blinking rapidly. "Don't scare me like that." The old hare rested a hand on Fox's shoulder and put the other on his own heart.

"I'm so sorry, Peppy." Fox started. I didn't kno–

"You don't have to say anything, Fox," Peppy assured him. You made it up to me when you made up with Krystal." Peppy leaned back against the wall of the turbo-lift. "I'm sorry I scared you Fox but you needed to hear that in order to understand that 1 bad decision can snowball on you." Peppy looked at Fox with that fatherly expression that was so familiar. " But it's going to like a miniature version of that every day of your marriage. Now I'm not saying that if you screw up once she'll leave you and things will become as bad as before. What I am saying is that you can't treat Krystal like only your teammate anymore. You have to open up, come out of the hard outer shell you've built up. Krystal has to be your lover, your confidant, your partner, and your best friend all in one. You have to be the same for her. You can't judge her, you must be sensitive, commanding, but respectful of her wishes and take them into consideration. You must keep her best interests at heart but again be respectful of her skills."

Peppy sighed exhausted. "There's so much more I want to tell you, but I just can't express it in words." He smiled comfortingly at Fox. "But don't worry Fox. It's not as hard as it sounds. In fact, as long as your in tune with Krystal it'll all come quite naturally.

Peppy got to his feet and offered Fox his hand. Fox grasped it and Peppy helped him up. "Besides," the old grinned. "This isn't a solo mission. Falco will be there, Slippy will be there, I'll be there, and most importantly," he paused and put his hand on Fox's shoulder. "Krystal will be there."

Fox pondered quietly the things that Peppy had just told him. The emotions he was feeling swirled around his head in a thousand different colors. But in this haze of emotion he felt an odd sense of peace. "Thanks Peppy. You've given me a lot to think about."

The old hare smiled his sly smile again. "Well, don't think to hard about it today."

The old hare grinned. "Enjoy today, Fox. This is going to be the happiest day of your life."

Fox grinned too, his troubles were already being overshadowed by the joy of the occasion. But something still puzzled him.

"Peppy?"

"Yes, Fox?"

"Shouldn't we be there by now?" The old hare chuckled.

"I hit the emergency stop. We should arrive right... about.... Now."

Hey! Hope you liked the fatherly speech. I must admit that gave me the most trouble.

Sorry if it wasn't believable. Leave a review. Next chapter might be up as early as tomorrow evening! Two chapters in 1 day! Whew! That's a new record for me!