A/N: Alright, Fox has accepted the crown to Zoness. When the rest of the gang finds out what's going to happen? Well, when that comes up I'll let you know. Also, there hasn't been much "Romance" blossoming between Krystal and Fox. That will change in this chapter a bit. After all, the secondary genre is Romance and so there needs to be a bit of it.

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 16: Closer

Fox walked into the dining hall with the crown in his paws, not knowing what would befall him at the table. 'The King is really dead?' Fox couldn't believe. Right in front of his eyes he saw the King pass away. There was nothing that the vulpine could do about it. "This is my home now." He calmly stated to himself. "Now I own the hearts and lives of others."

He opened the doors to the dining hall with the crown in his paws and Katt slapped herself right on the spot, drawing instant attention. "Ignore me!" She shunned them away.

Lady Monroe eyed the crown in his paws. "So I take it the King has passed on to the after life?"

Solemnly, Fox nodded without any words. "I'm to rule Zoness now. And I have accepted."

"That is wonderful Arland. We shall have your crowning ceremony within the next week." Lady Monroe clapped. "All rise for your new King everyone."

Wolf, Krystal, Katt, Shane and Falco (virtually the only ones there since their customs differed from Corneria) could not object to the Queen. They all stood in place until Fox was seated. Once he sat in a vacant chair next to Krystal, he couldn't help but notice a look of sadness upon Katt's face.

"May I be excused?" Katt stood up, looking to Fox since he was now the 'King'.

Fox nodded and Katt was gone in a moment. It was then he noticed Wolf O' Donnell at the table.

"How rude of me." Wolf said. "I came here for a discussion. I guess I'd have to take it up with the new King?"

"No, not yet." Lady Monroe said. "Until he is crowned he isn't the King."

Wolf was now dumbfounded. So what made Katt's actions any different? They now had no choice but to try and work with Krystal's plan if this didn't fall through within the week.

Fox said nothing to Wolf. There was something about him that struck fear into Fox. He couldn't quite put his finger on it however. He'd have his moment with Wolf later on.

Wolf looked at the Queen. "Regardless of how dire our situation is you still refuse to help us I see…"

"Zoness has no intent on getting involved in such warlike affairs."

'What is she coming off of?' Wolf rolled his eyes, once more forgetting he was in the presence of royalty. "It isn't warlike yet. We can prevent a war at all cost but we need help to do it. Many furs have already worked together to form a resistance group. I'm one of the only contacts outside the Kingdom."

"I've told you once before. Zoness is in a state of peace. We have no intention of siding with Corneria here and now." The Queen replied almost bitterly. It was obvious she didn't like the lupine much at all.

"But you realize that either you slice it there will be war." Wolf stated clearly. "It can't be helped. It's in our nature I presume. Should you refuse to aide us in this desperate time I'm certain that Scales will do away with Zoness."

Fox sat in silence listening to this. He knew exactly what they were discussing even before the mention of Scales and Corneria. Still, he remained neutral. Corneria wasn't his problem…yet.

Katt returned shortly after Wolf's statement and sat back down. She had been in her room in thought about what to do. And she came to a conclusion. There was only one way she could really become Queen. That was to stop the crowning of course. They had at least a week.

Shane and Falco sat listening to every word of the small discussion that Wolf had. They probably didn't know they'd have guests.

"Please Queen. I've already told you the consequences of not helping us. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. By now you should feel obligated to help us!"

"Even if I wanted to help right now, I can't. Until Arland is crowned there is absolutely nothing I can do as of now. When Arland is crowned take your business to him."

This made Wolf angry. She managed to wiggle out of this one. "I thought you said you had to do what was best for the Kingdom!" Wolf stood up. "If you really cared for Zoness, you'd see how serious the situation was. Besides, you've had nearly twenty years of peace. By now many furs should've forgotten the last war!"

This was true. But Lady Monroe still refused. "Why must you continue to repent against me?" Wolf snarled.

"Because to me your situation is meaningless. I am not King Monroe. I don't like war and I'm not willing to rush into it."

'How can this be meaningless?' Katt thought. This definitely couldn't have been her mother speaking.

"Meaningless? You think it's meaningless? Several innocent furs are dying and not only that but Zoness is surely next! Yet you still say to remain neutral?"

Fox got up without even touching his plate. "I'm going to retire for now. Dinner was a pleasure as usual." He bowed and was off to his room. He looked back at Krystal and winked before he padded off. Krystal, nothing more to do got up and followed.

'This argument keeps repeating itself!' Wolf thought. "Lady, if I may. You may not like war but unless you at least lend me some troops there will undoubtedly be war."

"I grant you no such permission. Zoness has trained their troops hard. I can't lend them to you."

"What have you to hold back? And you still haven't explained why you refuse me." Wolf said as if he were talking to a commoner.

Falco and Shane watched. This little debate was going nowhere. Wolf kept repeating the same thing over and over. Yet for some reason the Queen refused to give him any help. Falco couldn't help but wonder why. Perhaps it was…that had to be it! The death of the King!

"I've explained enough. Zoness is no state to fight."

"Yes it is! You're citizens are in a good build and they're healthy. Cornerian troops wouldn't last long."

"I'm sorry Wolf but I'm not ready to take action as of now."

Wolf's jaw dropped. What more was he going to do? She sat there being difficult. "Lady, what would it take to convince you that Corneria desperately needs your help?"

A tear ran down her cheek. "There is nothing that would convince me to go to war otherwise." She spoke softly.

It was then Wolf realized that she was crying. Then it finally hit him. Of course Zoness wouldn't go to war. Once they got word of the King's death they'd be grief stricken. But dammit regardless of which that was no excuse to Wolf! "I now understand Lady. I shall retire to my room for now."

It was then he realized that Katt, Shane and Falco were still there. He turned away and went back to his room. Falco and Shane were about to follow him but they were given the order to go home. They didn't disobey.

"Mom?" Katt asked wiping a tear from her face. "Don't worry mom, it's okay."

"We can't be faced with this situation right now Katt." Lady Monroe shook her head. "Once the Kingdom finds out the King has died they won't be ready for a dispute so soon."

"But what if what Wolf said is really true? What if when Corneria is gone, Zoness is next? Then where would our neutral actions be? You always told me it was best to do what was right for the Kingdom. Are you going to disobey your own lesson? Mother please, consider Zoness if Wolf really isn't lying. We may have no choice but war."

Sadly the young feline was right. They'd probably have no other choice. Lady Monroe took into account that Wolf might be telling the truth. After all, if Wolf, the Vice King of Corneria came then it HAD to be urgent. But she wasn't ready yet. The death of King Monroe would be a moment for mourning in Zoness. After all, he was one of the greatest Kings they ever had.

***

"Come to tell me that I should go back to Corneria again." Fox began as he sat down on the bed.

"I've already tried my best with you. What am I supposed to do?" Krystal said.

"You told me that you loved me." Fox found himself speaking and taking Krystal by surprise. She blushed a little.

"Fox please…" She trailed off. "You have no idea what it's like to see you again. You're so tall now…and grown up." She said. "You've become wiser."

Fox knew where this was going somehow. Sure he liked it. Regardless of what Corneria was now, the fact that Krystal was here was soothing to him. They hadn't seen each other for ten years and now she looked even prettier than she did before.

She turned to face Fox. "You left ten years ago…but you never said goodbye. I missed you so much Fox."

Fox saw something in her eyes. Was this…a tear? It was the first time in what felt like ages that he'd seen her cry. "You're happy to see me?"

"Of course I am…but it won't last."

"What won't last? This undying love you've had for me since childhood?" And she thought he'd never noticed before.

Krystal slowly nodded. "Back then you made me feel much better about myself. I enjoyed what friendship we had. You can't honestly sit here and tell me you didn't miss me at all."

Fox's ears perked up. "I did miss you…but it probably wasn't as much as you missed me." He openly admitted. "Come sit by me." He said patting the open space next to him. "Nothing will happen I promise."

'I was afraid he'd say that.' Krystal thought making her way to the bed and having a seat. "Fox…tell me…those many years ago…what did you feel for me?"

"You tell me first."

Krystal knew that was coming. "You already know how I felt."

"I want the whole story."

"What story is there? I was an eight-year-old girl with a crush on a ten-year-old boy. My parents didn't like it because not only were you older than me, but also you were a prince. There was no way my parents could see me with any type of royalty."

"Relax Krystal. You can't let what others say get to you." How he wish he'd taken his own advice sometimes. "I admit…maybe I felt a little bit of something back then."

"Only a little?"

"But I felt a HUGE something last night."

"You liked this feeling." She smiled dangling her feet.

"Of course I did. I don't know what it is but I couldn't help it. I felt like…the wind."

"The wind?"

"I felt free Krystal. Being with you made me feel free. But you don't want to love a 'coward' do you?"

She knew he'd have to make a reference to that. "You know what I meant."

"Of course I do." Fox nodded. "I can't blame you. Truth is Krystal…I probably am a coward."

"But you're really not." She suddenly said. "I said I couldn't fall in 'love' with you because you were a coward…but ever since Mia had told me you were alive, I yearned for the day when I'd see you again. Even though I didn't believe her at first…when I finally realized that I'd actually be leaving Corneria…I…"

"What?"

"Realized that Mia was right. You were out there. And I hoped for the whole trek through the desert that I'd get to see you again."

It was comforting to have a childhood friend with him. He felt so much calmer with Krystal here. He let a smile come across his face. "You really kept going because of me?"

"Yeah…I guess I did." Krystal said.

Fox took Krystal's paw in his. "I don't really know what more to say." He said.

"But I do…" Krystal looked him deep in the eyes, and caressed his cheek. Her touch…it was soft…comforting…it reminded him of his mother. Now he wouldn't get the chance to see her again.

"Krystal…"

She whispered softly to him while rubbing his cheek. "Let's go where we could've gone ten years ago."

There was a burning flame inside of Fox's heart suddenly and he felt as if everything had grown brighter around him. "You're gorgeous." He found himself saying.

Her eyes shimmered with delight and so did his. They're faces grew closer to each other and their eyes closed as they were locked in a kiss that brimmed with passion.

Krystal suddenly broke that kiss and quickly came to a stance. "No…I can't do it…not right now." She said. "Corneria needs me…they need US Fox."

Fox stood up and walked up towards her turned back and wrapped his paws around her. His touch was so soothing to her, especially after what she'd gone through in Corneria. "Stay with me…" Fox whispered in a low voice.

Krystal closed her eyes and let Fox sway them both from side-to-side. "I can't stay…"

"I know." Fox replied. The only thing he could do was enjoy the moment.

"I love you very much Fox…" Krystal whispered in a low, almost seductive voice. It was a voice she didn't even know she had until now. This feeling…was it real?

"I love you too Krystal…" Fox nuzzled the back of her neck.

"But I have to go back to Corneria eventually." She sighed contently. "I won't force you to go back Fox…but please…think of Corneria."

Fox slowly led them back to the bed where they laid down with Fox's arms still wrapped around Krystal's warm body. "I'll think of Corneria."

Krystal began to breathe softly. "Please come back with me…" She breathed softly before she had fallen asleep.

It was odd to Fox. First she seemed more hostile about it and now she was…calm. Fox was still awake with his arms around Krystal. He started to think for a moment. Krystal was here for a reason…and he was beginning to understand what it was. He snuggled up with Krystal and soon fell asleep as well.

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A/N: I feel that this is a good place to stop for now. The next chapter I think we should head back to Corneria for a moment, I've mentioned about a resistance group being formed but they haven't really had their appearance yet. So we'll be taking a short trip back to Corneria in the next chapter and we'll see more of Katt and her problem.