A/N: School has started but I'm still keeping up! Anyway, after tweak after tweak after tweak I FINALLY know how I want to do this chapter. We all know that Fox is being a bit stubborn right now but he has considered what Wolf and Katt told him at least.

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

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Chapter 19: Bright Light

Late into the nigh, Fox went creeping through the palace of Zoness, with the Arwing by his side. The night was dark but he remained hidden. It wasn't right for Fox to leave the palace anymore. It seemed that as soon as he accepted the title to be the new King, those in the kingdom were always watching him. Fox didn't like that kind of attention. Suddenly he was every fur's best friend. In Corneria he never had to endure that. In Zoness NO ONE knew him except Falco, Shane and Katt.

Fox got to the front doors but decided that climbing out the window would be better. The doors would make too much noise and he'd be spotted for sure if he did that. He climbed out the window and the moon overhead illuminated the path in front of him. There were probably several furs that hadn't yet fallen asleep. Fox wasn't exactly willing to take the chance of getting caught. EVERYONE knew him now and that was pretty sad. Just ten years ago he was unknown and shrouded by the palace. Now everyone knew him as "King Arland."

Fox scampered behind several houses until he finally reached the outskirts of Zoness. The jungle was only a hop, skip and a jump away.

The night sky was clear and as soon as Fox looked overhead he eyed his star. Then he remembered what he had said to Katt. "Are you watching over me too, father?" Fox said aloud but continued to make his way through the jungle anyway.

He came up to the lake shortly in. It was the same lake he enjoyed a moment with Krystal when she first came. He remembered Krystal calling him a coward. He clenched his paws into fist at the memory. "What's the use?" Fox suddenly sounded to himself. "She was right. I am a coward…"

He sat down and dipped his feet into the lake and watched the ripples flow by. He looked into the water and saw his father staring back at him. "How can I go back with the deed I've done?" He said and let a tear stream down his face and fall off the bridge of his nose. As soon as it hit the water it began to glow a vibrant blue. "What?"

Fox looked at the water and saw something in the water. It was…a ring? Not just any ring, it was his mother's ring! The ring symbolized more royalty. Fox grabbed it out of the water and began to wonder how ring began to float as it had.

The water began to glow again and pretty soon there was a flash of blue light. Fox shielded his eyes from the glow. When the bright light grew paler he uncovered his eyes and before him on top of the lake's surface stood his mother.

"Fox…Fox…" She spoke. "Why? Why have you let Corneria die?"

At first Fox couldn't believe what stood before him and his eyes grew bigger. "Mom?"

"Please Fox, don't let Corneria die. You must fight to save what's left of it."

"But I can't go back! How can I go back?" Fox said. "I can't with what I've done. I killed father."

"You have done nothing!" Vixy snapped at him. "You didn't kill James ten years ago. You only think you did because you don't remember what happened that night."

"I…don't." Fox admitted. "But the dagger and my clothes…"

"All part of his plan." Vixy said and sat down next to Fox. Her eerie blue glow frightened Fox at first but when he felt Vixy place her paw on his shoulder he felt content. This really was his mother.

"Who?"

"Scales has had this planned from the very beginning." Vixy announced. "You've done nothing to disappoint your father. You've been tricked to believe you did the murder. It was Scales who killed your father, and Scales who smeared his blood on your clothing. You must think it pretty low of Wolf for what he did. But I'm glad that he did it."

"What did Wolf do for me?"

"Wolf has saved you. You think what he did by making you run away was low. But he saved your life. You should thank him for saving you from Scales."

"There's no proof I didn't do it…" Fox said.

The light around Vixy suddenly grew red and she began to grow angry. "Stop denying what you know is true! You know as well as I do that you've done nothing. What are you scared of Fox? Talk to me."

"I'm scared…of Scales." Fox shook his head. "I don't want to face Scales. That would mean facing…"

"Your past? Granted, sometimes the past is best forgotten. But with something like this, it's amazing how the past comes back to haunt you. You can't live in fear of Scales forever. You must go back to Corneria and avenge your father's death. Don't let Scales get away with what he's done."

"I…"

"No! Don't think about it. DO IT! Scales only cares about his own greed and ambitions. Even the sharp claw under his wing mean nothing to him. You can do this Fox. You must do this. Corneria is losing hope. Losing hope means that more furs will die. More death means that the furs will have less of a reason to stand up to Scales."

Fox was silent as his mother light turned blue again. "Mom…" Fox said.

"Yes?"

"What happened to you?" Fox asked.

"What do you mean?"

"How did you die. I only knew you for so long…then I was gone."

Vixy anticipated this. "I was hoping to see you once more. I didn't rest until I could, but in the end I gave up Fox. It had been ten years and you didn't come back…so I lost hope."

"You see me now don't you?" Fox asked.

"That's the only reason I'm here now. You've grown up Fox…but your heart hasn't."

"I've done good for myself over the past ten years haven't I?"

"Yes but you've forgotten about your origin. I've been watching you turn your back on Corneria time and time again. How much longer do the furs have to suffer Fox? When Corneria is gone…it's gone. Then he'll move for Zoness. He'll spread like a virus until everything is reduced to nothing. It isn't just Corneria you're fighting for…but the world."

Fox was well aware of this. "But…"

"No buts!" Vixy stated loudly. "Go back. You MUST. The world depends on it. Stop being greedy and selfish and open your eyes. When you heard your father was dead did that mean anything to you? What did your father's death mean to you Fox?"

"It meant everything to me. My whole world."

"And you're going to let him die in vain?"

Die in vain? No, not James. If there was any fur in Corneria that should've been honored it was definitely James. "No! I won't let father's death be in vain!" Fox stood up.

"So that means--"

"I'm going back!" Fox exclaimed.

Vixy came to a stance and gave Fox a big hug. "Don't let my death be in vain either." She then slipped her ring on his finger. "My work here is done. Go back and set things straight. You've finally come to accept the truth, and now it's time to set things back into balance in Corneria again." Vixy began to walk back to the lake. She turned around and her body began to sink into the lake. A tear ran down her face and she spoke clearly, these words to Fox for the last time. "I love you." Then she was gone and the blue light that surrounded her.

"Face the past…" Fox said to himself. He sat down and continued to ponder a few things. What about Zoness? He couldn't just get up and walk away…or could he?

It wasn't long before Fox finally let himself drift into dreamland. He was now filled with new purpose…and that was Scales.

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A/N: Short compared to the other chapters I know. But it was meant to be that way. It looks like Fox has FINALLY come to his senses. But how will Lady Monroe take it? Better yet, what about when she finds out who Fox really is? R+R!