A/N: Time for Fox and Krystal to do some catching up now. Krystal will start to enjoy this life but at the same time will try to convince Fox that going back is necessary.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Star Fox, Nintendo and/or Rare do. Any relation to my original characters in anyway is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter 12: The Rightful King

Fox splashed a bit of water on Krystal to wake her up quickly and with ease. When she opened her eyes she stared right at Fox, unable to believe that it was truthfully him. How could it be? He was supposed to be dead.

Falco, Shane and Katt watched as Krystal sat up once more.

Krystal couldn't believe her eyes but then she let it sink in. This really was Fox McCloud. "It really is you…" She said and then hugged him. It had been so long. "But why are you here? Why aren't you in Corneria? Why haven't you ascended the throne?"

"Ascended the throne?" Shane butted in. "What are you talking about? Fox wasn't about to kill a king. He's a thief! Or did you not know that?"

Krystal looked at Shane perplexed. "He's no thief. He's the Vulpine Prince!" She exclaimed and pierced Fox with her eyes. Her glare was enough to kill anyone. She wanted an answer from Fox. Not just any answer; the truth.

"I don't think so." Falco shook his head. "Fox is no Prince. Why would a Prince leave that kind of fame and fortune behind?"

Fox held his head low. "Falco, Shane stop that!" Fox commanded. "What she says is true."

"Did you know about this Katt?" Falco inquired thinking that Katt had to have known something.

"He has a royal crest on his chest. It shows that he's of royal birth of Corneria." Katt answered.

"If you're a Prince, by now you MUST be King!" Shane said excitedly. "All this time we've been in the presence of royalty and--"

"Stop it!" Fox demanded. "I'm not the King. Scales is."

"Who is Scales?" Katt asked.

"He's…" Krystal began. She soon realized that she didn't want to talk about any of this in front of Fox's friends. "Could you please leave us alone for a while?" Krystal asked politely.

"Hey, if Fox has to hear it, then I should be able to hear it." Katt suggested.

"This is something that I must speak of with Fox alone. After all, Corneria was his responsibility." Krystal retorted.

"Fox?" Katt pleaded.

"Maybe you three should go for now." Fox agreed with Krystal.

Katt, Shane and Falco turned around and began to walk off. Katt stopped and looked back at the two. Fox and Krystal had gotten up and started walking off. There was something going on that they obviously didn't want Katt to know. She shook her head and started walking with Shane and Falco.

***

"I can't believe that he takes only ONE measly little look at her and suddenly we're at the bottom of his list!" Falco stammered with a big of anger. He stomped the ground a little upset and unable to control his angry mumbling that to the others made absolutely no sense at all.

"Well, he did say they were 'best friends.'" Shane replied. "It's obvious that he's known her much longer than he's known us."

"I think they're more than just 'best friends.'" Katt crossed her arms. "They seem much closer. I wonder how long they knew each other before Fox had to go."

"I don't understand this whole thing about Fox being a Prince though." Falco stopped his utter mumbling. He was still a little angry but he had settled a bit. "I mean, what's happened to Corneria, and why did he really leave if he wasn't really a thief?"

"Because his father was murdered." Katt said. "I don't think Fox had a choice but to leave."

"Then who the hell is this 'Scales' character?" Shane busted out.

"Obviously he was a high official in the Kingdom. Probably the King's right-hand man; the vice King." Katt knew about most of this stuff. If Fox couldn't fulfill the duty as King then the Vice King would step into the mix. But that usually didn't happen.

"But why did he leave if his father was murdered?" Shane pondered. "Couldn't he easily come into power and execute who did it? That's what I would do."

They all came to a sudden halt after Shane had said that. True, Fox could've done something like that. "There has to be some sort of explanation for that." Katt beamed.

"Like what? If he wasn't really a thief, then perhaps he was a murderer." Falco said. "You said his father was murdered right? Well, maybe Fox did it."

"But why would he kill his own father?" Katt retorted.

"So he could become King?" Shane scratched his head.

"That wouldn't make any sense!" Katt protested.

"Why not?" Falco crossed his arms and tapped his foot. "It would be an easy way for him to get into power."

"But he had nothing to gain from murdering his father. He was already successor to the throne!" Katt continued to protest.

"But remember the day we met him his clothes were covered in blood. How do you explain that?" Shane replied quickly.

Now they had her. Katt really couldn't explain that one. "There's got to be some explanation. There is no one who'd be that desperate to become King when the power would be granted to them either way." Katt shook her head. "Fox left for a different reason, I'm sure of it. He didn't murder his father; no successor would do such a thing. And at age ten? He wouldn't know anything about ruling a Kingdom at age ten, and yet you STILL believe he would do something like that?"

Falco and Shane were silent. "Well," Shane began scratching under his chin and thinking of a retort to that. "It would be nice to be King for a long time wouldn't it?" Was the only reply he could think of.

"If he was going to be King then why would he run away after the murder?" Katt asked.

"He's ten years old!" Falco brushed it off. "You couldn't murder someone and not make it messy at ten years of age."

"You guys have to hear him talk. When he first got here, the only thing he ever talked about was his dad remember? Does that seem like someone who would murder their father?"

"Cover up." Falco replied.

"It's not likely for a ten year old, let alone a Prince, to do that. Even at ten I'm sure Fox would know that being a King isn't all its cracked up to be."

Falco and Shane both shook their heads in unison. "You really believe he didn't do it?"

"I'm sure that there is an explanation. I'm sure if we talk to Fox about it he'll come through and tell us something. Then we'll talk to Krystal as to why she left and get everything straight." She said and then they continued to the Zoness.

***

The lovely trees in the jungle made for a nice settling walk in the shade. Krystal was still surprised to see Fox in the flesh. Nicely groomed and very well dressed. Not only that but he was in perfect health. Then again, she didn't know where she was. She had no idea she was very close to her destination.

It was just like Mia said. She had said that Fox was alive. For some odd reason those ten years ago she refused to believe her. "So you've been here these past ten years." She broke the silence, trying not to shed a tear.

Fox nodded slowly. He was admiring Krystal's beauty. She had aged very well, even though she hadn't eaten much. She had a stunning beauty to her that he'd never seen before. Even though she hadn't been groomed or anything she still looked nice. It was a nice reunion for him and her.

Krystal sighed and shook her head as they walked the path. "Fox, please tell me. Why did you leave? Why didn't you stay and take the throne?"

They stopped at the top of a hill. Fox didn't feel like answering but he sat down anyway. Krystal sat down next to him and put her paw on his. He squeezed it gently and turned himself away from her. "I'll understand Fox. I promise I'll understand." She assured him.

"You wouldn't understand." Fox sniffled. He didn't want to cry, but he did want to forget about his father.

"I'd understand if you told me." Krystal said softly. Fox only shook his head in reply. This only caused Krystal to beg. "Fox, please tell me? I need to know."

"Why do you need to know?!" Fox asked harshly. Krystal let go of his paw and watched Fox stand up. He took in a deep breath and then started down the hill.

"What is he hiding?" Krystal wondered and began to follow him.

It was almost as if he was trying to lose her. They came to another one of the jungles many lakes and Fox stared into it. The ripples, he thought, could represent the tears that he never really shed for his father. 'My face.' he thought finally. 'I look just like him.'

Krystal sat down by the lake and looked up at Fox who was still standing. She could see a tear in his eye. Finally Fox sat down and dipped his feet in the water and splashed around a bit. The aroma of the moment was perfect for him. The sunset was nice, and the best part of all, Krystal was finally with him again.

"Fox?" Krystal whispered, trying to soothe his spirit for what he lost.

"I…I'll tell you later. I promise." Fox said and closed his eyes. The only thing he could try to do now was relax.

Krystal looked at his reflection and saw something that she almost never did see in him. It was fear. The last time she ever saw fear in Fox was when they were up against the red eye so long ago in the cave of the sharp claw. "Don't be hard on yourself. You can tell me and I'll understand Fox. I can try at least."

Fox took Krystal's paw. "First…I want you to tell me why you came here." He said calmly and collectively. "What's happened to Corneria?"

Krystal grew silent. She'd been to hell itself in Corneria and she certainly didn't want to go back now. She leaned onto Fox's shoulder. "Can we talk about that later?" Krystal suggested.

Fox didn't see any harm. After all, he wouldn't talk about what happened to him and why he left. It was only fair.

Fox wrapped an arm around Krystal's waist and sighed. "I'm glad to see you again." He said and watched as the sun slowly dipped into the horizon. "I've missed you so much."

Krystal was surprised to hear him say something like that. "You don't how much it means to me to see you again." Krystal said and nuzzled his cheek softly. "I've never been as happy to see you as I am now."

The sun dipped further into the horizon and it suddenly brought out the color in Krystal's eyes. A deep sea green that shined much like the beds of water in Zoness. Never had he seen such a dazzling sight. He turned to Krystal and hugged her close and closed his eyes. "I thought I'd never see you again." He whispered in her ear.

"And I you." She whispered back and licked his cheek. She let herself relax into his arms. A sigh of content slipped her muzzle as she closed her eyes and hugged Fox back.

Fox stroked her back and watched as the stars illuminated the night sky with such beauty. As Fox looked at the sky he saw one star he'd remember. It was a red star…his star.

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A/N: I thought this would be a nice place to end this chapter with a bit for Fox to think about. I think it would be better if in the next chapter, we head back to Corneria for a moment.