A/N: YAY! THE FIRST COMPLETELY 100% NEW CHAPTER! Sorry it took so long to
get here. I wanted to go slow for those new to the fic and to refresh the
minds of those who read it previously. OK, Chapter 21 I felt was THE best
chapter so far. The importance of it was that now you know why Shane is a
bit of a burden on what Fox and Krystal had. Anyway, let's move on. Admit
it, for a first at romance this is pretty good! And hell, it's GOOD TO BE
BACK with this fic. Oh, in this Chapter, Fox is going to snap (and I mean
go crazy). You'll see. Also, to me this chapter seems VERY different from
the rest of the story (things really change in some of the characters
attitudes) and I hope that's okay.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox, Nintendo and/or Rare does. Any similarities between my made up characters and anyone else's is entirely coincidental
Chapter 22-The Girl is Mine
They held each other for a long time. The moment they spent embraced in each other was a moment in heaven for both of them. Fox especially.
Krystal looked up at him and broke the silence. "Fox I think I."
Fox put a finger on her lips again and looked at her with innocent eyes. The same innocence that Krystal had always seen in him. "I'm sorry Krystal. Sorry for everything." He spoke softly and rubbed his paws up and down her back.
"No, Fox," Krystal replied earnestly keeping a soft voice as well. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should've let you go. You were right about Shane."
That felt good to hear but pretty soon Krystal broke away. "Forgive me..." She began to trail off. Her confusion was taking her slowly. She loved Shane, and she loved Fox. But through the course of time, she never told either one just how much. The confusing part was that she didn't know whom she loved more.
"I'm sorry Fox. I should have more trust in you. Are you still mad at me?"
Fox slowly walked up beside her. "You don't have to be sorry Krystal, because you've already been forgiven. " He sighed lowly. "Well, I should probably go now." Fox said. 'For good?' he thought to himself. It was hard enough to see Krystal again, but to know he'd lost her to a human in disguise was disturbing.
Before Fox could walk out the door Krystal grabbed Fox by the paw. Almost as if she knew what he was thinking she spoke, "This doesn't have to be the end. Maybe we can start over..."
Start over? Could that work? Fox turned to face Krystal. He looked at her with a look of content now. "We don't have to start over, let's just pick off where we left off." Then he smiled and hugged Krystal again. "Goodbye Krystal."
***
Ransacked. That was the only way he could bear to describe his home. Shane looked up to where the mural of Mia had once been. Now it lay shattered to pieces on the ground. The most important and brilliant piece of art he'd done in his furry life...gone.
He left the shards where they were. He wouldn't be staying at home long, and he was about ready to leave the mansion for good. But where would he go? There was no way he could stay in Corneria. Or could he? No, Fox wouldn't allow it. Shane could always sneak into the village, to see Krystal of course. That sounded like a good idea.
Shane thought that tonight might be the night. The night where he changes back. He walked into his room and saw the rose that Krystal had left on his dresser. When he reached out for the rose his eyes bulged. His paw...was not a paw. Instead it was flesh. A human hand. Shane wanted to scream at the sight. "She never said it would gradually go away..." He said with a bit of worry. What was there to worry about? Krystal knew he was a human right? But what if he approached her as a human...then what?
He pulled a black glove out of his dresser and put it on his right hand. The sight of it actually frightened him a bit. It frightened him more that the hand was still in proportion to his body. After all, humans were a little bit taller than furs. Not by much however. He would hope Fox wouldn't see it. But Shane would look suspicious walking around with one black glove on, so he put another one on to match.
Shane had to wait until darkness would fall, then he'd make his way to meet Krystal. But this time he was certain it was for the last time.
***
As Mia, Katt and Jon were making their way back to the human village, Jon was awed with curiosity after what he had seen. "I want to meet him." He blurted out and had a serious look on his face.
Katt and Mia stopped and turned around to face Jon. His face was unchanged. "You want to meet him?" asked Katt.
"I want to meet Shane. Not just Shane, but I want to meet the man behind the fox's eyes." He insisted. "I want to see just how much he's changed. I want to meet the fox, and I want to meet the man."
Mia now turned to face Jon. "I'm not making anymore promises. I don't know which Shane you'll meet, but once I get through with him, he'll no longer be a man but the fox that he was destined to be." She turned around again and was about to start walking again. She stopped and turned around once again. "But I guarantee you that you'll meet him soon enough." With that she pressed on to the village. Katt and Jon asked no questions, they just followed.
***
Krystal slumped down in her chair trying to think. She was once again lost in her confusion. She had no idea who she wanted to be with. She started thinking again about the past few years with Fox.
Then she thought about the past week or so with Shane. Then her thoughts on Shane deepened. He was sweet, and was there at a point where she needed him most. That point was that one night she had with Shane.
Krystal started to feel guilty about the night now. She wasn't going to hide the fact that she enjoyed it. But now she started to feel like she betrayed Fox. What was worse? Shane had taken something from her that she could never get back...ever.
She stood up and sighed. "I should tell Fox shouldn't I?" She asked herself. It sounded like the best idea. But did he know? She hoped that he didn't. She didn't like to hurt others, but she couldn't hide any more secrets from Fox. It was no longer in her to do so.
Krystal walked out her door and began to press towards the hut in the center. Her decision was that she was going to tell Fox anyway. But was she going to say? She couldn't even find the words.
When she finally reached the hut, Fox wasn't there. What was worse..his dagger was gone.
***
Fox made his way through the woods and was heading to the north. Everything was lost now. He'd seen Krystal one last time, and now he was off to see Shane. He'd had his moment with Krystal, and now he was going to have "words" with Shane.
As Fox continued to walk forward he saw a figure dart by him in the woods. SHANE! He turned around and gave chase. Shane obviously hadn't seen Fox, for if he had then he probably would've stopped. Fox continued, but then realized that Shane doesn't know he's THAT mad at him. "Shane! Stop, please!"
Shane instantly came to a stop and looked back at Fox. "I'm...I'm sorry Fox but I have to see her again. Give me this last moment to see her. I MUST see her one last time."
"Why? So you can hurt her? So you can betray her and every fur in the village? I can't allow that Shane." It was then Fox realized that it wasn't dark outside and Shane was on his way to the village. "What are you really going to Corneria for?"
"I couldn't wait until dark for this one Fox. I have to see her one last time. Then I'll be gone; away from you all forever. You won't see me after this Fox, I promise."
Fox pulled out his dagger and tapped it at his side. "You 'promised' that after you left you'd never come back. How true to your promises can you be if you've already broken one?"
"But I PROMISED Krystal I'd come back tonight." He said. The sun wasn't going down yet. What was the hurry?
"Then you wait until tonight." Fox walked up to Shane and noticed he was wearing gloves. "Why would you be wearing gloves in such weather?"
Shane made his hands into fists. "My paws are cold. They're very cold."
Fox looked up at Shane. "Cold? In the spring? You think I'm stupid don't you? You're hiding something from me...from Krystal." Fox said.
Shane sighed. "What do I have to hide from you McCloud?" He said.
Fox didn't waste anymore time. He swiftly pulled the gloves off Shane and it showed. Flesh human hands. "You bastard! You think Krystal is going to want YOU now? She's just like every other fur you know?" Fox walked around Shane tapping the dagger to his side. 'What is he planning?' Shane asked himself never taking the eyes off the dagger. Fox stopped and stood in front of Shane. "She hates humans just as much as the next fur. What makes you even think that when you turn back she'll want YOU anymore? You should save yourself the trouble and never go back. She won't want a human for a mate."
Shane was getting upset now. But what if he was right? What if Krystal really was like all the other furs? What if she really did have a lot of antagonism towards humans but didn't tell him? What if Krystal only loved him because he was a fox?
"She doesn't love you for you Shane! She only loves you for your looks. She only sees what's on the outside. But I see what's inside of you. The same thing inside every human. You don't love her either. You only THINK you do because you're a fox. Once you turn back to a human you'll be your same self-centered, antagonists self." Fox continued to circle him. "She only thinks she loves you because you're a fox. But mark my words, once you turn back she'll no longer love you."
This was starting to break Shane. Then he thought. Wait, what about Katt Monroe? What about Mia? They were furs. They didn't hate humans the way Fox did. "Not all furs and humans are the way you say they are!" Shane protested.
"Sure they are. Name one fur that's different."
"Katt."
Fox laughed a little bit. "HER? She IS a human. A shape shifter is no different than a human to me!"
"Shut up!" Shane shouted and actually lunged at Fox, knocking his dagger out of his paw. Shane finally had Fox pinned down, just like in the mansion. "You think you're so tough! You know nothing! All you know is what you think you know! Krystal loves me! You're only trying to secure yourself because of what you think!"
"What do you know about my thoughts?" Fox asked.
"I know you love Krystal just as much as I do, maybe more." Shane said. "I know what you're trying to do Fox and it won't work! I'm going. I promise, TO YOU, that this is the last I'll see of Krystal."
Fox pushed Shane off and grabbed his dagger. "You can't keep that promise, and I know that you won't!" Fox said, his eyes brimming with hatred. What happened to him? He somehow snapped.
Shane kept his eye on the dagger. He was ready to fight but realized that this would solve nothing. He then turned his back to Fox. "No, Fox." He said. "I won't fight over something so trivial. I won't fight you, because you mean too much to her. Let's settle this like men."
Men? Did he just say men? This pushed Fox over the edge. As Shane started to walk off, Fox tackled him from behind. "Alright, we'll settle this like men!" Fox said. "Now which one is going to tell Krystal of the other's death?"
Shane pushed Fox off and stood up. "I won't fight you Fox. It's pointless."
"You said lets solve this like MEN! All men know is how to fight. They don't use how to use words. If this is what you want so be it!" Fox said as he raised his dagger and charged at Shane.
***
She started towards the woods now. If she went fast, she could probably get to Fox before he did something terrible. Fox's last words made it seem as if he were going to kill himself. Was that what the dagger was for? Or was it for Shane? 'Oh, Great Fox! I've got to stop him!'
***
Fox took a slash at Shane with the dagger and barely missed him, but that blow could've been fatal! Shane had dodged and even though he'd never been in this kind of combat before, he got an idea of what it was like by the books he read. Fox came for another slash and Shane dodged.
Shane finally kicked Fox's paw and watch the dagger fly and pin itself to a tree. "You want to settle this the hard way? Well, I don't. I thought you were more than this Fox?" Shane said. Fox didn't seem hear him and so he was hit by a rush.
"I have to do what I can to protect the furs from scum like you!" Fox said and pinned Shane down unsheathing his claws and digging into Shane's skin. He then moved his claws down and cut Shane. He heard the black vulpine scream in agony. "You wish you had paws NOW don't you!?" Fox screamed.
Shane managed to push Fox off of him and looked at his arms. "You're better than this Fox!" Shane screamed.
"Perhaps I am, but so are you!" Fox retorted. "What? You don't know how to fight back? You're human, this is supposed to be your specialty!" Fox said and broke off the branch of a tree. It was short. He approached Shane with the branch and held it high above his head.
Shane was silent and only backed away holding his wounds in fear.
"FOX, STOP!" Krystal shouted. She'd arrived just in time. She ran up to Fox and slapped him. "What's gotten into you?!"
Fox finally looked calm. He looked to Shane and then back at Krystal. She looked into Krystal's eyes that only pleaded "Why?"
Fox set the branch down and sat down up against the tree and held his head low. He put one paw against his head and closed his eyes. "Leave me!" He said.
Krystal helped Shane up. "You look terrible. Come with me and I can give you something for your wounds."
As Krystal walked off with Shane, she took one last look back at Fox. Her eyes once more asked "Why?"
________________________________________________________________________
A/N: This chapter seems VERY different to me, and it felt a bit darker. I had to do a chapter like this however. I thought this chapter was actually pretty good...well the change in Fox was a little strange, but that was meant to be.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox, Nintendo and/or Rare does. Any similarities between my made up characters and anyone else's is entirely coincidental
Chapter 22-The Girl is Mine
They held each other for a long time. The moment they spent embraced in each other was a moment in heaven for both of them. Fox especially.
Krystal looked up at him and broke the silence. "Fox I think I."
Fox put a finger on her lips again and looked at her with innocent eyes. The same innocence that Krystal had always seen in him. "I'm sorry Krystal. Sorry for everything." He spoke softly and rubbed his paws up and down her back.
"No, Fox," Krystal replied earnestly keeping a soft voice as well. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should've let you go. You were right about Shane."
That felt good to hear but pretty soon Krystal broke away. "Forgive me..." She began to trail off. Her confusion was taking her slowly. She loved Shane, and she loved Fox. But through the course of time, she never told either one just how much. The confusing part was that she didn't know whom she loved more.
"I'm sorry Fox. I should have more trust in you. Are you still mad at me?"
Fox slowly walked up beside her. "You don't have to be sorry Krystal, because you've already been forgiven. " He sighed lowly. "Well, I should probably go now." Fox said. 'For good?' he thought to himself. It was hard enough to see Krystal again, but to know he'd lost her to a human in disguise was disturbing.
Before Fox could walk out the door Krystal grabbed Fox by the paw. Almost as if she knew what he was thinking she spoke, "This doesn't have to be the end. Maybe we can start over..."
Start over? Could that work? Fox turned to face Krystal. He looked at her with a look of content now. "We don't have to start over, let's just pick off where we left off." Then he smiled and hugged Krystal again. "Goodbye Krystal."
***
Ransacked. That was the only way he could bear to describe his home. Shane looked up to where the mural of Mia had once been. Now it lay shattered to pieces on the ground. The most important and brilliant piece of art he'd done in his furry life...gone.
He left the shards where they were. He wouldn't be staying at home long, and he was about ready to leave the mansion for good. But where would he go? There was no way he could stay in Corneria. Or could he? No, Fox wouldn't allow it. Shane could always sneak into the village, to see Krystal of course. That sounded like a good idea.
Shane thought that tonight might be the night. The night where he changes back. He walked into his room and saw the rose that Krystal had left on his dresser. When he reached out for the rose his eyes bulged. His paw...was not a paw. Instead it was flesh. A human hand. Shane wanted to scream at the sight. "She never said it would gradually go away..." He said with a bit of worry. What was there to worry about? Krystal knew he was a human right? But what if he approached her as a human...then what?
He pulled a black glove out of his dresser and put it on his right hand. The sight of it actually frightened him a bit. It frightened him more that the hand was still in proportion to his body. After all, humans were a little bit taller than furs. Not by much however. He would hope Fox wouldn't see it. But Shane would look suspicious walking around with one black glove on, so he put another one on to match.
Shane had to wait until darkness would fall, then he'd make his way to meet Krystal. But this time he was certain it was for the last time.
***
As Mia, Katt and Jon were making their way back to the human village, Jon was awed with curiosity after what he had seen. "I want to meet him." He blurted out and had a serious look on his face.
Katt and Mia stopped and turned around to face Jon. His face was unchanged. "You want to meet him?" asked Katt.
"I want to meet Shane. Not just Shane, but I want to meet the man behind the fox's eyes." He insisted. "I want to see just how much he's changed. I want to meet the fox, and I want to meet the man."
Mia now turned to face Jon. "I'm not making anymore promises. I don't know which Shane you'll meet, but once I get through with him, he'll no longer be a man but the fox that he was destined to be." She turned around again and was about to start walking again. She stopped and turned around once again. "But I guarantee you that you'll meet him soon enough." With that she pressed on to the village. Katt and Jon asked no questions, they just followed.
***
Krystal slumped down in her chair trying to think. She was once again lost in her confusion. She had no idea who she wanted to be with. She started thinking again about the past few years with Fox.
Then she thought about the past week or so with Shane. Then her thoughts on Shane deepened. He was sweet, and was there at a point where she needed him most. That point was that one night she had with Shane.
Krystal started to feel guilty about the night now. She wasn't going to hide the fact that she enjoyed it. But now she started to feel like she betrayed Fox. What was worse? Shane had taken something from her that she could never get back...ever.
She stood up and sighed. "I should tell Fox shouldn't I?" She asked herself. It sounded like the best idea. But did he know? She hoped that he didn't. She didn't like to hurt others, but she couldn't hide any more secrets from Fox. It was no longer in her to do so.
Krystal walked out her door and began to press towards the hut in the center. Her decision was that she was going to tell Fox anyway. But was she going to say? She couldn't even find the words.
When she finally reached the hut, Fox wasn't there. What was worse..his dagger was gone.
***
Fox made his way through the woods and was heading to the north. Everything was lost now. He'd seen Krystal one last time, and now he was off to see Shane. He'd had his moment with Krystal, and now he was going to have "words" with Shane.
As Fox continued to walk forward he saw a figure dart by him in the woods. SHANE! He turned around and gave chase. Shane obviously hadn't seen Fox, for if he had then he probably would've stopped. Fox continued, but then realized that Shane doesn't know he's THAT mad at him. "Shane! Stop, please!"
Shane instantly came to a stop and looked back at Fox. "I'm...I'm sorry Fox but I have to see her again. Give me this last moment to see her. I MUST see her one last time."
"Why? So you can hurt her? So you can betray her and every fur in the village? I can't allow that Shane." It was then Fox realized that it wasn't dark outside and Shane was on his way to the village. "What are you really going to Corneria for?"
"I couldn't wait until dark for this one Fox. I have to see her one last time. Then I'll be gone; away from you all forever. You won't see me after this Fox, I promise."
Fox pulled out his dagger and tapped it at his side. "You 'promised' that after you left you'd never come back. How true to your promises can you be if you've already broken one?"
"But I PROMISED Krystal I'd come back tonight." He said. The sun wasn't going down yet. What was the hurry?
"Then you wait until tonight." Fox walked up to Shane and noticed he was wearing gloves. "Why would you be wearing gloves in such weather?"
Shane made his hands into fists. "My paws are cold. They're very cold."
Fox looked up at Shane. "Cold? In the spring? You think I'm stupid don't you? You're hiding something from me...from Krystal." Fox said.
Shane sighed. "What do I have to hide from you McCloud?" He said.
Fox didn't waste anymore time. He swiftly pulled the gloves off Shane and it showed. Flesh human hands. "You bastard! You think Krystal is going to want YOU now? She's just like every other fur you know?" Fox walked around Shane tapping the dagger to his side. 'What is he planning?' Shane asked himself never taking the eyes off the dagger. Fox stopped and stood in front of Shane. "She hates humans just as much as the next fur. What makes you even think that when you turn back she'll want YOU anymore? You should save yourself the trouble and never go back. She won't want a human for a mate."
Shane was getting upset now. But what if he was right? What if Krystal really was like all the other furs? What if she really did have a lot of antagonism towards humans but didn't tell him? What if Krystal only loved him because he was a fox?
"She doesn't love you for you Shane! She only loves you for your looks. She only sees what's on the outside. But I see what's inside of you. The same thing inside every human. You don't love her either. You only THINK you do because you're a fox. Once you turn back to a human you'll be your same self-centered, antagonists self." Fox continued to circle him. "She only thinks she loves you because you're a fox. But mark my words, once you turn back she'll no longer love you."
This was starting to break Shane. Then he thought. Wait, what about Katt Monroe? What about Mia? They were furs. They didn't hate humans the way Fox did. "Not all furs and humans are the way you say they are!" Shane protested.
"Sure they are. Name one fur that's different."
"Katt."
Fox laughed a little bit. "HER? She IS a human. A shape shifter is no different than a human to me!"
"Shut up!" Shane shouted and actually lunged at Fox, knocking his dagger out of his paw. Shane finally had Fox pinned down, just like in the mansion. "You think you're so tough! You know nothing! All you know is what you think you know! Krystal loves me! You're only trying to secure yourself because of what you think!"
"What do you know about my thoughts?" Fox asked.
"I know you love Krystal just as much as I do, maybe more." Shane said. "I know what you're trying to do Fox and it won't work! I'm going. I promise, TO YOU, that this is the last I'll see of Krystal."
Fox pushed Shane off and grabbed his dagger. "You can't keep that promise, and I know that you won't!" Fox said, his eyes brimming with hatred. What happened to him? He somehow snapped.
Shane kept his eye on the dagger. He was ready to fight but realized that this would solve nothing. He then turned his back to Fox. "No, Fox." He said. "I won't fight over something so trivial. I won't fight you, because you mean too much to her. Let's settle this like men."
Men? Did he just say men? This pushed Fox over the edge. As Shane started to walk off, Fox tackled him from behind. "Alright, we'll settle this like men!" Fox said. "Now which one is going to tell Krystal of the other's death?"
Shane pushed Fox off and stood up. "I won't fight you Fox. It's pointless."
"You said lets solve this like MEN! All men know is how to fight. They don't use how to use words. If this is what you want so be it!" Fox said as he raised his dagger and charged at Shane.
***
She started towards the woods now. If she went fast, she could probably get to Fox before he did something terrible. Fox's last words made it seem as if he were going to kill himself. Was that what the dagger was for? Or was it for Shane? 'Oh, Great Fox! I've got to stop him!'
***
Fox took a slash at Shane with the dagger and barely missed him, but that blow could've been fatal! Shane had dodged and even though he'd never been in this kind of combat before, he got an idea of what it was like by the books he read. Fox came for another slash and Shane dodged.
Shane finally kicked Fox's paw and watch the dagger fly and pin itself to a tree. "You want to settle this the hard way? Well, I don't. I thought you were more than this Fox?" Shane said. Fox didn't seem hear him and so he was hit by a rush.
"I have to do what I can to protect the furs from scum like you!" Fox said and pinned Shane down unsheathing his claws and digging into Shane's skin. He then moved his claws down and cut Shane. He heard the black vulpine scream in agony. "You wish you had paws NOW don't you!?" Fox screamed.
Shane managed to push Fox off of him and looked at his arms. "You're better than this Fox!" Shane screamed.
"Perhaps I am, but so are you!" Fox retorted. "What? You don't know how to fight back? You're human, this is supposed to be your specialty!" Fox said and broke off the branch of a tree. It was short. He approached Shane with the branch and held it high above his head.
Shane was silent and only backed away holding his wounds in fear.
"FOX, STOP!" Krystal shouted. She'd arrived just in time. She ran up to Fox and slapped him. "What's gotten into you?!"
Fox finally looked calm. He looked to Shane and then back at Krystal. She looked into Krystal's eyes that only pleaded "Why?"
Fox set the branch down and sat down up against the tree and held his head low. He put one paw against his head and closed his eyes. "Leave me!" He said.
Krystal helped Shane up. "You look terrible. Come with me and I can give you something for your wounds."
As Krystal walked off with Shane, she took one last look back at Fox. Her eyes once more asked "Why?"
________________________________________________________________________
A/N: This chapter seems VERY different to me, and it felt a bit darker. I had to do a chapter like this however. I thought this chapter was actually pretty good...well the change in Fox was a little strange, but that was meant to be.
