Though, before asking Fox if he was up for it, Peppy had to make sure he was up for it. He hadn't been flying since he'd gotten back. Hadn't gone back to Star Fox headquarters either, so he got himself over there. Looked in the hangar. Star Fox had lost three Arwings with that mission. They told him a few days later his was a goner. He'd already known it. The boys on the runway had been right. She really had given him everything she'd got.

They did have some older models. Was looking specifically for their only two seater model. Hadn't been flown in awhile. Needed to make sure that he was in decent shape. Usually thought of his ships as she's, but this one was a solid he. Wasn't the most cooperative ship. Was rowdy, rambunctious. Tested whoever was piloting him.

Which was fitting, since he was the practice ship.

Was nervous. More nervous than he thought, calling up Fox, so he put if off for a minute.

Took the plane up himself, then, once he was satisfied with the ship – the boy was handling especially nice for a change, maybe was just happy someone was flying him – and that he himself still had it – just in case he'd had any doubts after all that, that he still could fly – he took Lou up instead.

Was nice up there, together. Took in the sights and the heights. Helped settle his nerves, being up in the clouds.

Had always loved flying, after all.

Hadn't been sure what Fox's reaction would be. Was just a thoughtful silence, and then a question in return.

"Can I bring my friends along too?"

Couldn't really see any reason why not.

Weren't going to be doing anything fancy. No shooting, no hyper drive. No commitments. Wasn't like Fox was going to have to drop out of the Academy, or give up his track into the Air Force.

Just testing the waters.

Just going flying together.

Figured the more the merrier.

"Oh my gosh, these are amazing. Amazing!" Slippy gushed in excitement, running around the hangar, taking in all the ships.

"Not too shabby, yeah." Falco admitted, gazing in admiration at the latest model, the smile he was trying to hide at odds with his casual tone.

Fox walked in, but he wasn't looking at the ships. Peppy followed his eyes, and saw him looking up at the wall, where the Star Fox logo was painted on. Peppy stared at it for a moment too, before asking.

"Alright, who's first?"

"We get to fly one?!" Slippy asked back.

"Well, that one. And with me. No solo trips this time." Peppy pointing to their ride of the day.

"That lug?" Falco quipped, following Peppy's finger.

"Don't make that ship more angry than he already is."

"You old timers and your superstitions. I'll go first, and show you it ain't anything at all." Falco declared, and when neither Slippy or Fox argued this, Peppy simply shook his head.

"Alright, hot shot. Let's see what you've got."

Falco, despite his bravado, did have a bit of difficulty with the controls. The lug got the better of him, but Falco kept a cool head. Didn't get too shook up about it, and didn't let his ego get the better of him.

Good. There were no old bold pilots. But the hot shot was in possession of some extraordinary motor skills. Could pull off some real fine maneuvering.

Three of them had a cute little conference when they landed: Falco telling Fox and Slippy his experience, what to watch out for, and then it was Slippy's turn.

His flying was real technical. Was more curious why the ship was handling the way it was at times than trying to fly. Started running through theories right up there in the air. Conservative, but could tell he'd be extremely resourceful.

They had another little conference, then it was Fox's turn.

"You ready, kit?" Maybe wasn't appropriate to say, but it was hard not to think of Fox like that. Had seen him since he was small, after all.

"...Yeah. Thanks for doing this, Peppy. I really appreciate it. I know Slippy and Falco do too."

Clasped Fox's shoulder, gave it a squeeze, before retreating and saying, "He's all yours. I'm here if you need me."

Fox nodded, and then they were off. He was confident, but not in an overbearing way. Was easy going about it, and had an easy laugh like his ma. That was a quality that didn't get a lot of hype, but could go a long way in calming a crew down. In getting people to follow your lead. Also didn't hurt that Fox was a real natural in the air too. Great instincts.

Cooperative too. Took what Falco and Slippy had told him to improve his flight, and it was the smoothest out of the three.

Still, Peppy watched from afar on the ground as Fox and Falco started ribbing each other a bit. Couldn't entirely figure out what it was about. Some mentions of people and places he didn't know.

A friendly rivalry. Hopefully.

"Oh, don't mind them." Slippy advised. "They're always like this. Sometimes I can't tell if they love or hate each other. Oh, by the way Peppy, I heard about how you flew your ship home with only one wing. Could you show me how you did that? I'm very interested in engineering."

Walked him over to the cockpit of one of the newer ships. Had Slippy sit on the wing while Peppy sat down in the cockpit. Attempted to explain what he'd done. Could tell Slippy was really interested too, attentive, not just passing the time. Fox and Falco wandered over, hopped up on the wings too, and when he finished up, Falco asked.

"What's going to happen to Star Fox now?"

"Yeah." Fox added, sad yet hopeful at the same time, "You're going to get a new team together, right?"

Peppy sighed. Pepper had been asking him about this too. Didn't want to stop flying, but wasn't so sure about doing it with Star Fox. Of doing it without Jim and Pigma. Maybe he was just stuck in his ways, but he didn't want to fly with just anybody.

"...Not sure." Peppy admitted.

"What?" Falco shot back, unimpressed. Reaction seemed par for the course with him.

"You have to!" Slippy joined in. Wasn't expecting that, only to be hit with the zinger by Fox.

"You can't quit Star Fox, Peppy. It needs you."

Was the thing he'd known, but hadn't really wanted to hear. Even Lou had raised an eyebrow when he said he wasn't sure what his next move was, and Peppy sighed, before admitting.

"I suppose you're right. It's just, I've never been much of the leader type…"