A/N: OK, the story is now starting to draw to its conclusion. There's still lots more to come. I decided to do things a little different at this point. Fox and Shane will have another meeting, but this one will be calmer. To me this is a different way to go, but maybe this'll be good in the end. Who knows.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters to Star Fox Nintendo and/or Rare does. Any characters related to my made up ones in any way is entirely Coincidental.

Chapter 15-The Place of Prayers

Katt, Mia, and Pepper watched Shane. "That should do it right? That should break the spell shouldn't it?" Katt asked.

Mia shook her head a bit. "No, in order for the spell to be broken she has to admit her love to him in return...and she has to mean it." Mia sighed heavily. "He really has changed since I last saw him. Now I regret the curse. I told him that I'd help him though when he changes back. I just don't know how."

Pepper stood up. "Just make him one of us. Make him a shapeshifter. Let him take human and fur form."

Mia shook her head. "I'm not sure if thats what he would want. I don't want him to become what he once was either. I honestly didn't think he'd grow to love anyone."

Pepper began to pace back and forth. "Then there's only one thing left to do." He said and watched Mia and Katt both nod. It was for the best...for Shane.

***

Shane woke up with Krystal on top of him. He stroked her fur gently. She was so soft when she slept. He didn't want to leave, but the sun was rising. He was always up with the sunrise. He couldn't risk being seen in the village...by anyone! He climbed out of bed and slipped back into his clothes. He covered Krystal up and kissed her softly and went out the door quietly. He left Krystal's home without a sound.

The sun was rising...no one was up but he ducked behind the houses anyway. Then he layed eyes on the shrine. The same shrine he talked to Falco at. Since it was early in the morning he went inside...perhaps he needed a prayer right now.

He padded inside slowly. The candles were lit and the Great Fox stood tall and strong. Shane was beginning to admire the Great Fox a lot. He cupped his paws together and closed his eyes and began to pray silently.

"What are you doing here!?" A voice called from behind. When Shane turned around it was Fox McCloud.

"I don't mean any harm...I'll go." Shane slowly came to a stance.

Fox walked over to him and stopped him. "You want to know how the Great Fox died?"

Shane heard Falco tell the legend once. "He received a mortal wound."

Fox nodded. "But do you know how he received that wound?" Fox stood there and watched Shane shake his head. "A furry...one of his own kind, betrayed him and stabbed him in the middle of the battle. The furs tried what they could to help him but it was no go."

Shane didn't say anything at all. "Do you think I've betrayed you?"

Fox stood still for a moment. "Until I saw the eastwing with all these...human things, I thought you were a decent fur. Then I saw those trophies, the bear-skin rug. I can't trust you. I'm sorry. The duty to protect the furs of the village comes first."

"But you really don't understand--" Shane was cut off.

"What don't I understand? You seem to say that a lot. I can't understand why you would have human posessions thats given, but the fact that you slaughter your own kind--"

"Shut up!" Shane interrupted. "You don't understand what the past four years has been like for me! You don't know what happened. Then when I finally find a bit of remuneration for my suffering, you're trying to take that away from me."

"Then tell me Shane! What is it I don't understand!" Fox's voice echoed in the empty shrine. His bellowing voice was almost enough to make even Shane's fur stand in.

Shane was silent. "I can't tell you...all I know is that with Krystal..." he trailed off into silence again. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm sorry Fox, but for a fur like you to understand this is terrifying." Shane started to walk out but then stopped and turned around. His mind was racing a million miles per second. "I guess since you're the chief, you would probably need to know."

Fox put a paw up to Shane's mouth. "Is this going to explain what I found in the eastwing?"

Shane nodded. "You'll have to give me time because this is hard to say." He paced around a bit, scritching behind his ears as he did so. His breathing became more and more nerve-racking. Falco was easy to tell, but Fox? Should he tell Fox? Fox stood there tapping his foot in that 'I'm waiting' type way.

Finally, Shane gave a heavy sigh and threw his hands in the air. "I don't want to lose Krystal...but I'm going to either way. I'm not talking about losing Krystal to anyone either. I'm talking about the platnium vixen."

Fox thought for a moment. The platnium vixen sounded familiar to him. Then he remembered the book at Shane's mansion. "Mia, thats her name. I've seen her before." Fox didn't mention that he hadn't seen Mia for four years. She suddenly just disappeared one day.

"Glad you two know each other. But when she came to my home she wasn't the vixen. She was an old women. Back then I absolutely hated animals, there was no question about it."

"And thats why you have the trophies and such?" Fox interrupted.

"You've got to at least let me finish my story now." Shane said waving a finger in front of Fox playfully. At least now he was beginning to relax a little. "If it weren't for Mia I wouldn't be standing in front of you right now. Either that or you'd just be another trophey on my wall. Four years ago, I was a human Fox. That's the reason for the trophies on my wall. Mia turned me into a fox...this fox. She said the only way to break the spell was to fall in love with a vixen." He stood straight as he talked. "But I didn't think it would be this way. I thought I'd be glad to go back to being a human...but I won't be happy at all."

Fox stood in silence. "A human huh?" He walked up to Shane and looked at his blue eyes. "That's believable at least. You say you've been a Fox for four years now?" His anger started to cease, but that only made Fox want to hate Shane even more. Shane nodded at Fox as he continued. "You know I don't have a soft spot for humans. Let alone a human who would be so deceitful to a fur. I'm talking about Krystal. You may not think so now, but you're only using Krystal so that you can get back to your normal life. You think you love her, but deep down inside you're desperate to become human again."

Shane stood there hurt. His eyes twitched a little. Now HE was getting angry. "Who are you to tell me what I feel and what I don't?" Shane pushed Fox away from him. "What I feel is true. The problem is that when I change back...what will she think?"

Fox was about to push Shane back when he suddenly stopped. "I want you to leave and go back to the humans. I want you to stay away from all the furs." Fox turned around and closed his eyes. "You can see Krystal one last time before you go. But you really should leave Shane. Someone is going to get hurt, and I don't want it to be Krystal."

Shane regretfully nodded. "I understand. But please do me one favor Fox. Don't tell Krystal that I'm human inside." He started to walk out when he turned back to face Fox. Fox just stood there. He walked back up to Fox and extended his paw. "Let's call a truce amongst ourselves. I don't want to harm anyone, but to protect the furs, I'll go."

Fox was a little surprised. He shook Shane's paw, not knowing why he did so. "All right, this is a truce, but after you see Krystal I want you gone fromt he village."

Shane turned and left. Krystal would still be asleep by now, but Shane decided that didn't matter. What Shane didn't know was that Fox would be watching his every move.

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A/N: I'm not sure what to think of this chapter. I like most of it. But anyway, it isn't my decision whether you like it or not. Please R+R, and the next chapter will start to really tie some things together.