A/N: Time to head to Corneria. Remember, we still haven't had Vixy's funeral and Wolf is now officially a good guy. So if you were expecting him to be a villain in this fic, I'm sorry. Oh, In response to Morpha's question. Send me an e-mail or contact me in some way and we can discuss Shane a bit.

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 13: All Is Lost

Her casket, a clear glass casket that was decorated with herbs all around. Inside the casket were even more special herbs. These would preserve her body and keep her looking youthful. A sad fate to see the Queen end up like that. "She had lost all hope in the end." Mia said. She wanted to cry so badly, but alas she had no tears left to shed. She had to stay strong now.

Wolf watched as many of the villagers attended and brought a flower. Though the flowers were dead, there were some that were alive. It was a tragic event for the Kingdom to see. Wolf was no longer wearing his crown and he refused to. Many of the peasants looked at him and snarled. Of course, none of them were going to do anything at all to him. He was the vice king.

When most of the peasants were gone, Wolf stepped forward and removed his ring. The same ring given to you when you're crowned. He took his ring off and set it down on the casket. If there was anything that he could do to pay any respect at all, this was it.

Of all those in the kingdom, Scales wasn't there. There were no sharp claw either. Scales didn't care. Now that Vixy was gone he could further carry out his plan now. This was sickening to Wolf and he couldn't bear to see it anymore.

After the memorial service, Wolf stepped outside the palace and down the steps. He was stopped by Mia who had bread for him. "Take this on your long journey." She said. Then she took out a note. "Go to Zoness and ask the King and Queen for help."

Wolf wasn't going to object to any of this. When he turned around he finally saw what a ruin Corneria had grown to come. As he walked through the Kingdom to the entrance he saw many furs trying to survive. Some were being beaten by sharp claw. "Stop that!" Wolf demanded them whenever he saw the chaos. Of course the sharp claw would listen to him. Wolf didn't think it was necessary for the furs to suffer this kind of torture.

Wolf stopped when he noticed two furs. Both were foxes. The older one Wolf assumed to be the father. The younger one, his son. It reminded him of James and Fox. He held his head low and a tear ran from his only eye. "I'm sorry." He said and couldn't help but weep a little. Soon it would all be over, or so he hoped. The two vulpine were trying to grow something it seemed. "I wish them luck." Wolf said.

When he was at the entrance he noticed a few sharp claw. "What are you doing here gentlemen?" Wolf asked

"We heard that a blue vixen escaped the Kingdom with the aid of a hare. Scales told us that no more are allowed to leave unless he gives the OK to." The sharp claw said. "Apparently they killed a red eye as well."

"Well, I've got business to attend to outside the Kingdom." Wolf stated.

"I'm afraid I can't let you go sir."

"I'm Vice King, and I'm only going to settle disputes between us and other Kingdoms." Wolf said and was about ready to kill the sharp claw if he didn't let him pass.

"I need to verify this with Scales first. Unless you have some sort of proof." The sharp claw said.

Proof? What exactly did he have. Then he remembered the note Mia gave him. "Here's my proof. It was written by the King himself." He lied. "He wants me to go to Zoness on business."

The sharp claw looked at the note and then nodded. "Alright you're clear." With that, Wolf was gone in a flash.

***

There was almost no hope left for Corneria. The only thing left to do now was pray. That was all they could do right? "I hope Krystal is okay." Peppy said. There was a small refuge in Corneria and that was where most of the furs run out of house and home had gone. There was some food but not much. They learned to ration it out, not only that but they sometimes went off on a hunt. Some even resulted to eating sharp claw.

"Krystal will be okay as long as we trust what she does." Slippy said. "I'm worried about her. But she was still lucky." He curled up and started rocking back and forth.

"Don't worry about it Slip. I'm sure everything in the end will be fine. Krystal will bring back help." Peppy said. "In the end we'll all be fine and Scales will be out of power." Slippy didn't seem to believe Peppy. Not only that, but Peppy wasn't sure he believed himself.

***

"Where is Arland?' King Monroe asked in his bedridden state. Still a little ill but nonetheless he was still doing OK.

"Arland is with a friend." Katt answered as she sat at her father's side.

"But I wanted to talk to him." King Monroe said.

"Why? I'm here. You can talk to me." Katt assured her father.

"Listen Katt. You've been a good daughter to me. But Arland has been like a son to me for ten years. The son I never had before."

"What?" Katt said in disbelief. "Father, you can't possibly--"

"I want him to be my successor to the throne." He stated loud and clear.

"What's wrong with having a Queen in charge? Mother would never object." Katt said with furry. "I'm ready for the responsibility." Katt tried to convince her father. But it was no go. He obviously wanted a male to lead Zoness. Katt was angry for this even if Fox had seemed like a son, the throne should go to someone with the royal heritage of the Monroe name. Not just royal birth. "He can't be your successor." Katt stated.

"And why is that?" Monroe questioned with a look of confusion on his face.

"He has his own duties to attend to. As much as he'd like to, he doesn't want to be King." Katt said. It was actually true, Katt just didn't know how to explain it. She never mentioned that she'd tried to talk Fox into being her King and her being Queen.

"What business would that be? Anyone should want to be King." King Monroe said. "It is a great opportunity to have that kind of power. In the care of a female it wouldn't be the same."

"How so? Whenever you had a leave of absence, Mom always had the Kingdom in much better shape than you ever did!" Katt snapped. She really did want to be Queen pretty badly.

The words spoken to the King had hurt. "You really think you're mother was better than I was?"

Katt realized that her father wasn't a bad King. It was just that when there was rule under her mom the Kingdom was more efficient than it was with him. He was great at settling dispute without war (even though he did fight alongside Corneria). He was also good at keeping the furs well fed. But her mother…she was able to bring furs out of poverty and give them a home. She was able to keep a well-balanced economy without sending everyone on a tax hike. She gave back to the people.

Just then Lady Monroe walked in. "Katt, please, you're father is only doing what he thinks is best for the Kingdom. Besides, you could still be Queen if you married Arland."

Katt grew a little furious. Sure that's what she wanted, but if she had asked HIM then it would give HER the power. "What does the world see wrong with a female putting her foot down?!" Katt shouted and stormed out.

"Time is short." King Monroe said. "I want her to have the throne. I speak that with all my heart, but Arland has really been like a son to me."

"But Katt is your REAL daughter. It really isn't fair to force her into a marriage you know. It also isn't fair to put Arland at a higher status than your own daughter just because he is male."

"But you said that I was doing what was best for the Kingdom." He said like a kit.

"But it would be better to do what is best for Katt." She said and placed her paw in his. "Let Katt be the Queen. Do you really think Arland could do a much better job than your own flesh and blood?"

He took this into consideration. To him, Arland was nothing more than a peasant who couldn't take care of himself. To choose Arland to be King wouldn't be very wise at all if he had no one that he could've looked up to for an example. To King Monroe, this was enough to make him rethink his decision. But still, it would've been nice to have a boy as an heir to the throne.

***

"She's only been here for a day and we're already non-existent!" Falco snarled. "We've been like brothers to him and he dumps us for a girl!"

Shane shook his head. "He's known her all his life. They've got to be as close as Brother and Sister." Shane said trying to be relaxed. Then he smiled. "I was the dad too…"

"Awe, look at that. Your little baby is all grown up." Falco teased. It would be much better if he could've teased Katt though.

Katt came in a little later, upset. "What's wrong Katt?" Shane asked.

"My dad wants Fox to be the head of the throne instead of me, his own daughter." Katt balled up her fists.

"Doesn't Fox have his OWN Kingdom he should be ruling?" Falco raised a brow. "I mean I could understand where you're dad is coming from with this. By now he must be thinking of Fox as a son."

"And that's why he's doing it!" Katt shook her head and tensed up a little. "He thinks that a male could run the Kingdom much better than a female."

"Then prove him wrong. That's all there is to it." Falco said.

"And just how do I do that?"

"You leave Fox where he is and take the throne. Show him that you'll be a better Queen than any King could've ever been." Falco smiled.

"What would be the point if he didn't see it?" Katt couldn't help but say. "He'll be dead once I come to power."

"He'll see." Falco grinned. "Even when he's gone he'll see how much more in control you are. He'll be proud of you."

Katt didn't quite understand what Falco meant by that. She hadn't been taught in that way. She had always been taught that once you're dead…that was it. You were dead. She said nothing more and decided to change the subject. "Where is Fox anyway?"

"He's with Krystal again." Shane spoke up. "He doesn't even acknowledge us anymore it seems."

"Well, I guess I shouldn't disturb him." Katt said.

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A/N: I threw in that little dilemma for Katt, and it won't be the last we see of it. The next chapter goes back to Fox and Krystal and things between the two finally get out. Fox will say why he left and won't go back, and Krystal will detail why she left. Anyway please R+R.