A/N: Now let's go inside the palace to the throne where Fox and Wolf are at. It's time to go into the heart of the battle by taking it to Scales himself. That last chapter wasn't the best but I decided that I rather like the whole fic. Tell me if I'm doing a good job here!

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

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Chapter 26: Hope

Shannon rushed down the steps when he saw Mia faint, in hopes that she wasn't going to die. His troops, with the exception of those who were with him, were off in other battles. Shannon stood next to Shane as the black fox slowly set Mia down. The wound didn't seem that bad, but even the smallest cut could turn into the biggest of wounds.

The battle roared behind them as Shane held his breath. "Mia…" He said.

"I'm fine." She replied but for some reason couldn't stand. "It's not a bad wound. Just give me a moment."

This didn't look like 'just a wound' to Shannon. To Shannon nothing looked like 'just a wound.' Before long it would turn into something so much more than that. "We have to get it treated right away."

"No…we have to fight for the best of Corneria. We're the last hope and things are going in our favor." Mia refused treatment and tried to stand up but couldn't. When she eyed the wound she noticed that her falling down like that caused the wound to open more. It didn't hurt as much as she thought it would, but painful nonetheless.

"We have to take you someplace where we can treat the wound." Shane insisted. "We have to go back to the hideout. Show me where it is." Shane instructed.

"Let me carry her." Shannon insisted as he handed Shane his crossbow. "You cover us from behind. Should anything happen I know you'll protect us."

"Shannon…" Mia but soon fell faint.

Shane didn't have to think twice about what Shannon had said. He took up the crossbow and sheathed his sword.

Once that was done, Shannon slipped his claws under Mia carefully. If he just scooped her up he could probably cause a much worse wound with his claws.

As Shannon began to advance forward, with Shane close behind, he could feel Mia cling to his armor. The breaths of the platinum vixen began to grow a little short. When Shannon looked down he could see that the bleeding had grown worse. It wasn't easy to get treatment when you were bleeding. In this Common Era even a paper cut could kill you in no time flat if it got infected.

Shane stayed close behind them making sure that there was no sharp claw following them…or worse, a red-eye. Little did Shane know he was with a claw that could kill a red-eye in the blink of an eye.

They made their way through the maze of Corneria they could hear the battle cries of the two opposing forces. This made Shannon think of what he told Fox. About how everyone was born to die. It made him think that perhaps they couldn't save Mia. Not only that but it made him think of how truly meaningless the battle was. But his thoughts were easily put aside.

As the three made their way through the alleyway they came to a complete halt when they heard something close-by. The thumping grew louder and they stopped in the shadows. "Red-eye…" Shannon whispered.

"You mean those huge lizards." Shane kept his voice low as well. He wanted to peer out and look but knew that where they were was as safe as they were going to get.

"Rumor has it that they see only red. Which leads to their taste for blood. If we stand still against the wall we won't be discovered. We'll blend in perfectly."

Shane nodded. "But this one is guarding our only exit."

"Listen well. You MUST have precise aim or we'll surely die. Load up two arrows. You HAVE to shoot them dead in the eyes. They'll go blind and if you're precise enough, maybe even die. But a blind shot is the best we can go for. You're only going to have one shot."

"How can I be sure it'll work?"

"Precise aim is the key. Many would doubt this because they want to do it the hard way but this is solid. Look," Shannon motioned with his head and Shane looked to the red eye that didn't seem to notice them. "It's completely unaware of our existence AND both of its eyes are in plain view."

Trying his best to remain in the shadows Shane held up the crossbow and aimed what seem precise to him. Who was he kidding? He wasn't skilled with any projectiles in anyway. He tried to line up the eye as best as he could. He tried to calculate everything out. 'Oh, hell with is.' Shane's mentality told him and he pulled the trigger. The first arrow hit in the eye but it wasn't precise. It was definitely enough to knock out the red-eye's eyesight though. As the red-eye screamed in agony Shane was already had a second shot ready and as the red eye screamed Shane shot off the second arrow. This one hit the red-eye in the throat… which wasn't what Shane was aiming for, but it worked nonetheless. The red eye fell over soon to die.

"That wasn't bad." Shannon commented and they made their way to the haven. It didn't seem as if Mia could make it. This must've been a pain for her to endure…literally.

When they were inside Shannon quickly set Mia to rest on one of the beds deep within the hideout. The wound wasn't too bad but it had opened more. It didn't look like they'd be able to save Mia.

***

Peppy, Krystal, Falco and Katt had captured Scales army. With Shannon's troops being there, along with Peppy's forces and Katt's from the front it happened with ease. The sharp claw in their band hand kneeled down ready to surrender.

"This can't be all the sharp claw." Katt said. "There have to be more at the palace."

Falco turned to face her and nodded. Then he began to walk around what Sharp Claw had surrendered.

The sharp claw with the red crosses on their arms listened for any sounds of an incoming attack…there were none. The sharp claws up by the palace were probably dead but that didn't explain where the rest of the army probably was.

"What do we do with them?" Krystal asked.

"Are you going to kill us?" A sharp claw in the middle of the crowd had asked. They couldn't see which sharp claw had asked but one thing was for sure, none of them were scared to die. They were ready for whatever was to happen to them.

"We'll let the King decide that." Peppy responded. "We'll make you all a deal. Join us."

"Why the hell would we want to do that?" A sharp claw growled loudly.

"I said 'let's make a deal.' You join us and we'll make it worth your while. We can give you some land if you want, maybe even let you back in the Kingdom."

It was then that Krystal pulled on his arm. "Are you crazy!?" She whispered. "These are the ones who took away our homes and families and you want to let them back in the Kingdom!?"

"They're not the ones to blame for their actions. Scales had given them the orders. How many do you think are fighting because they really want to?" Peppy replied.

"Listen Hare, you make a peaceful offer, but we can't be sure that you'll live up." The same sharp claw said.

"What's your name!?" Peppy demanded to know.

"My name is Larc, why do you ask?" He slowly stood up. He was…small. This small little sharp claw was probably only half the size of the others and he was taking a stand.

"Well, 'Larc' if you don't join us your only other option is to die needlessly."

"Scales has already promised us land and--"

"Scales is full of it!" Krystal shouted. "Scales promised US, the furs, land. Look what happened to us now? Do you think Scales is really planning on giving you land and letting you rule what kingdoms you conquer? He doesn't care for any of you, it's what he's doing to make you all fight."

Larc was silent for a moment. She had been right at least. He slowly walked up to Peppy with his sword in tow and all the other hostage sharp claw watched him stagger to Peppy. He soon fell to his knees once more and offered his sword to Peppy in surrender. "If you speak the truth of Scales…then lead us to victory."

***

Mia screamed in agony as Shannon held a cloth up to her open wound. "Your chances of survival are very slim you know." He said. That probably wasn't going to help.

"You obviously don't know who I am!" Mia screamed as the burning pain continued.

"No, I probably don't."

"I won't let myself die so easily." Mia determined.

"Then hold still and this won't hurt as much." Shannon instructed and applied the cloth again. This time Mia didn't scream but rather felt relaxed. It was then the wound began to glow. "What?"

Mia noticed it too and within time the wound began to close…but how?

"What was that?" Shannon asked in shock.

"I'm no ordinary vixen." Mia replied. "I've been around since the days of the Great Fox but even this surprises me."

Shane walked in a bit later with urgent news. "They're coming this way! More troops and they don't look like Shannon's."

"Then that means--" Shannon began.

"We stay here." Mia cut him off and finished. Shannon gave Mia a crazed look that was obviously saying 'You can't be serious.' Mia had noticed it and took a breath. "If we leave we'll only be leaving ourselves open for attack."

"We're already 'open' for attack!" Shannon argued. "We don't have a choice but to leave. We have to go to the palace NOW!"

Shane grabbed Shannon's shoulder. "Shannon, NEVER doubt Mia's words. Listen to her. If you don't it'll only hurt you in the end." Shane said recalling Macbeth.

"They'll pass us over. Our moment is done. The rest is up to Fox and company."

"I'm going." Shannon stood up. "Those troops are going to decimate us if someone doesn't do something."

Shane tried to make him sit but it was no go. "Shannon, listen to Mia and we won't get hurt."

"I can't stand around here. It doesn't matter whether or not they pass us over. I can't wait around idly for the enemy. If I step out now I can stop them."

"Leave that to Krystal and Peppy. They know what they're doing." Mia tried to tell him. It was to no avail. Shannon was already on his way back to the surface.

***

"Watch your Kingdom fall Fox." Scales cackled as Wolf, the nine bodyguards and he stood watching what could very well be the end of the battle. They didn't know that those captured had turned traitor…and Scales didn't know that a traitor was among him.

"Corneria won't die. Even if you kill me someone else will take my place."

"And what makes you think someone won't take my place?" Scales smirked. "Notice how when the commander dies there is always someone willing to lead the rest of the troops to victory. What makes you think my claws or Wolf won't take my place?" To this Fox had no reply and within time Scales grew tired of seeing his face. He walked up to Fox and smiled an evil smile and looked the vulpine in the eye. He drew his claw back and was about to thrust it forward when he was stopped.

"Don't!" Wolf shouted. "Not yet; don't kill him yet."

"Why not?"

"You gave me the honors remember? I thought you wanted him to see his kingdom die anyhow?"

"Looking at him now sickens me. I'd rather just get it over with. The battle is ours for the taking! We have them where we want them." Scales said. It seemed that way at least. In truth Scales was only assuming. He sent the last of his troops out and to him nothing could survive a hurdle of nearly 10,000 Sharp Claw approaching. It hadn't even occurred that Shannon was a traitor in his ranks.

Wolf knew otherwise. "Let me do the honors. As vice king and your most trusted advisor I think it is fair that I get the liberty to kill this one." Wolf said as he approached one of Scales guards that stood in front. The chief of the guards no doubt. The guard reached for his blade at his side when Wolf stopped him. "No, no, I can get it myself." With that the lupine yanked the sword from the sheath angling the blade so that it slashed through the guards gut as he pulled it out. When the sharp claw saw what was done they withdrew their blades quickly.

Without hesitation Wolf flailed the Arwing dagger at one further away and pushed a closer guard aside. As he pushed the guard away he withdrew that one's sword in the same manor. Now three of the nine were dead. Wolf quickly backed away pushing Fox back as he did so.

Fox was certain of Wolf's game now and turned his back to Wolf so that he could be cut free and as he predicted that's exactly what Wolf did before he handed him the sword.

Witnessing this Scales began to worry. 'Beware Fox McCloud,' was no ringing like morning bells in his mind. Scales thought for a moment and then it was clear. While these two were busy with the six guards he could make an escape, and escape he would do.

Fox had already pierced one guard and he went down in no time. It was then he could see that Scales was fleeing. Knowing that he couldn't just leave Wolf he was faced with the decision. He could end it all now if he went after Scales but losing Wolf wasn't worth it at the moment.

Two guards went after Fox. There were two choices he could make. He could stay and fight. The two guards held their blades up high and Fox able to parry them both. He rolled under them knocking one off his feet, which made him fall into the other one. Before Fox ran after Scales he took the moment to grab the Arwing from a corpse.

Wolf already had his own troubles being teamed up by three. Three of which formed a triangle around him.

Fox took the moment to stab one in the back with the Arwing. That sharp claw too, fell over dead. Wolf didn't have time to thank Fox as he was dealing with the other two. Not just them but the two that were on Fox just a moment ago had recovered and they were heading for the both of them.

Quickly Fox handed Wolf his sword and took his Arwing dagger in tow. "Use this and hold them off. I'm going after Scales." Fox instructed. Of course Wolf had no objection, it wasn't as if this would be a problem. These sharp claw were very inexperienced.

As soon as Fox was gone Wolf did a spin holding both blades out. It made three back away but one of them wasn't quite as lucky. While that sharp claw didn't die he was slashed.

As they backed away Wolf stopped spinning. He was a little dizzy but that couldn't stop him right now. They wouldn't hesitate to kill him…and vice-versa. He held his two swords ready for another clash. The four sharp claw all came rushing at him in unison and without warning Wolf threw a blade at one of them, which killed that one instantly. Only three remained now, two healthy ones and the one wounded.

Wolf dashed to the other side of the throne. There were a few more ways he could go about this. He could start down the halls but that would be no fun now…or would it? Wolf decided he'd fine out. By now his tactics must've grown predictable.

As Wolf started down the hall he could hear the sharp claw picking up weapons. Wolf looked behind him and as he did an axe…hatchet? Had barely missed him. Fighting fire with fire the lupine decided to call it as he dashed down the hall. The three followed behind him. There didn't seem to be a place for Wolf to hide right away but he stole away into the armory in the mean time.

The armory was full of weapons and armor and while it wasn't the perfect place to take his enemy out, it was certainly full of places to hide. Wagons decorated the room all around while several boxes of weapons stacked up also gave to the surrounding. Not to mention that hay covered the stone floor. Wolf didn't know what the hay was for exactly…maybe someone got bored one day.

There was nothing for Wolf to do so he hopped in a wagon in the mean time. He heard the doors swing open as he hid behind a few boxes of arrows that rested in the wagon.

As the three sharp claw entered they all three split up and went different directions. One started down the right, another down the left, and of course that left the middle to another sharp claw.

The three walked searching any wagons and pushing over any boxes and statues of armor. The armory was immensely huge but it wasn't a place to play hide and seek.


Wolf found himself surrounded. There was no way he'd get out of the armory if he didn't think of a way to get to the three of them. The wagon he was in was near the middle and he could smell a sharp claw close by. Thank goodness their sense of smell wasn't as good as his.

The box in which he had his back to was full of arrows. There wasn't a cross bow or even just a bow in sight. Wolf had to think, and he had to do it fast. Before long he decided on one thing. It was an armory right? He could always count on distractions. He stood up hoping that they hadn't seen him and he pitched his sword to the farthest wall there was. The noise distracted at least two of the sharp claw but the one near the wagon was still close by…Wolf knew it. 'He knows where I am…' Wolf thought. He wasn't about to go down.

He curled up behind the box thinking to himself. He just pitched his weapon and he knew he'd get another one. There were about four boxes in the wagon he was in now. Most of the wagons were actually empty due to the fact of Shannon taking supplies to the furs. Wolf quickly opened the box and grabbed a quiver of arrows and then took a single one. He swung the quiver over his shoulder and waited. His heart began to pound, as the sharp claw got closer. When the sharp claw was right at the wagon, he climbed on and the first thing Wolf did was pound an arrow into his foot. The sharp claw screamed and fell back as Wolf pounced him and put his paw over the sharp claws mouth.

The sharp claw bit Wolf and he grunted. He heard footsteps coming close and he realized that his only option was to do away with this one. He was hoping to avoid it with this one but he had no choice. He dispatched his prey.

Wolf quickly came to a stance and moved onward. As he did he made sure to knock over an armored statue to cause more noise. It led to a much bigger distraction as he got on all fours and started towards another wagon. He first hopped on top to see if there was a crossbow…he needed a crossbow. Nothing. Moving quickly he hopped off and went to another wagon. They didn't see him yet. He was moving on all fours, which gave him an extended boost of agility. He quickly found another wagon where luckily there was a crossbow.

As soon as Wolf had this in his possession he took one arrow and shot it blindly. As he suspected it alerted the two sharp claw that didn't seem to give a damn about their comrade's fall.

As quickly as he could Wolf jumped from the wagon and quickly made his way to yet another one. There he climbed under this one since he knew the two sharp claw were getting close. He also knew that the sharp claw would expect him to be in a wagon. Wolf held his ground beneath the wagon. It was dark enough under the wagon to hide him at least. Provided he didn't move up too close to the light.

Wolf remained hidden and the two sharp claw were suddenly all over the place. Wolf could take them both out but if he did it in his position…he could make NO mistakes. If he took out one he'd have only seconds to reload and kill the other…which wasn't likely due to his position. He could take two arrows from his quiver now. He could easily set one down next to him and load the other which would make for a quick reload. But with one eye the sharp claw to his right wouldn't come into view for a moment. 'Trapped!' He cursed himself.

Then the two stopped. "He's here!" One of them said. "I know he's here."

"He doesn't APPEAR to be here." The wounded one answered.

They took a moment and stood still. This was the opportune moment for Wolf but he didn't take it. Just as it was before, he'd only have two shots. Of course he could slide out the other side but there's a possibility he might not emerge from beneath the wagon fast enough. He really was trapped.

The sharp claw suddenly signaled something to each other and Wolf couldn't quite make it out but he had an idea. He reached back to his quiver and pulled out an arrow and loaded it into the crossbow. Then he pulled out a second one and put it in his mouth. 'Get ready…' he told himself. Both sharp claw went to the other side and Wolf start to crawl forward as the two pushed the wagon! They kept pushing and surprisingly enough Wolf was able to keep up. The arrow in his mouth made it extremely difficult but he somehow managed.

Suddenly the wagon stopped and so did Wolf. 'What now?' He asked himself. 'Plan A' obviously didn't work…so what was their 'Plan B' supposed to be? They weren't up against a wall and Wolf noticed that only one sharp claw actually walked around. 'They know where I am!' Wolf cursed himself again.

At the same time the sharp claw kneeled down and had Wolf in their sights. Out of instinct Wolf shot the first one but only hit in the shoulder as the other one grabbed him by the ankles and started to pull him back. As the one in front of him grunted from the pain in his shoulder Wolf was able to reload and shoot him again only this time in the forehead in which he died.

Wolf didn't have the time to reload one more time as the sharp claw that grabbed him by his ankles stood dangling him upside down. The effect was of course Wolf's arrows being scattered on the ground below. Wolf did the only other thing he could do. He took his crossbow and smacked him a good on in the ankle. This made the sharp claw drop him to the ground. Wolf scraped himself on one of the arrowheads on the ground but managed to do a sweeper kick that sent the sharp claw coming to the ground with a thud. Wolf grabbed an arrow from the ground and quickly loaded it. Before the sharp claw could sit up straight Wolf had already put a foot on his breastplate and pushed him down aiming the cross bow at him. "Nobody else has to die needlessly you know."

The sharp claw grunted, and Wolf realized that this was the one who was wounded. "You're already bad enough. I don't know if I should really LET you live." He doubted.

The sharp claw only looked Wolf in the face. This claw was ready to face death and Wolf was ready to deliver it to him. Wolf let off of the sharp claw and backed away. Wolf knew that he wasn't a killer. Staring at that sharp claw suddenly brought back the memory of Pigma…and Wolf didn't know why. He dismissed the thought of Pigma and ignored it. 'This is war!' Is what he told himself and he stepped on the sharp claw again. He pointed the crossbow at him once more. "Any last words?" Wolf asked.

The sharp claw only spit at Wolf's foot. "Regardless of what you do, Scales will still be victorious!"

"No," Wolf disagreed. "Scales won't be victorious at all. I'LL be victorious." And for what he hoped would be the last time, he pulled the trigger.

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A/N: One of the better chapters I think. I especially liked Wolf's segment and I hope most of you did too. The fic is almost done…about two more chapters should do it.