A/N: Now I'm pretty sure the fic is almost done. There isn't quite that much left on the battlefield but I'm sure you're all wondering about Shannon, Mia and Shane so this chapter will get to them. I'm also assuming you want to know what happened to Fox and Scales so that's there too.

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 27: A Final Confrontation

Two opposing forces stood their ground. One side where Falco was ready to charge, the other with what was left of Scales' army. "There's no way they can win now!" Falco thought. Most of the red-eye had been dispatched and SEVERAL of Scales troops had now turned against him…how could he expect to win the battle now?

The last of the enemy were marching forward and Falco didn't think they were serious about a final battle but it seemed that way. With Shane gone that put Falco in charge and he knew what was going to happen now. He turned to face the furs and sharp claws behind him. He withdrew his sword and spoke. "There is no mercy, only bloodshed." Then with a battle cry he rushed forward with the troops following behind.

***

Shannon could here the sharp claws marching and then come to a halt. They were too close to home base now and Shannon didn't plan on letting them get through this. He was in an alleyway when he saw the sharp claws raise their weapons and charge forward as he heard nothing but screaming.

Shannon decided that perhaps it wasn't best to get involved but he could stop the entire battle right now. Was he not a sharp claw? But it couldn't be that way it seemed. Wouldn't it be great to live in unity again? Wouldn't it be brilliant if all the fighting were done? Perhaps or perhaps not but the question wouldn't be answered now.

Shannon hid himself in the shadows of the alleyway watching the sharp claw run by him. The thought of useless bloodshed came to mind as he sat in the alley. He watched a bit of battle rage and more blood shed. He didn't really have anything he could use except his crossbow. Few rounds were left, however.

Shannon came to a stance and began to make his way out of the alleyway in which some troops were still catching up to others. They ran past Shannon as if he were an inanimate object. They probably still didn't know he was a traitor. Shannon took his crossbow and started to follow behind some of the sharp claw and before he knew it he was once again in the heat of battle. This time however, trying to avoid any confrontations whatsoever.

'Look at them all wasting their lives away.' Shannon thought as he managed to get through without any hassle. He went inside an abandoned home and made his way quickly up the stairs. There was still a moment to stop more bloodshed. The only blood meant to be spilt was Scales' and Shannon was going to see to it that it WOULD be Scales in the end.

When Shannon emerged on the roof it gave him more of a view of the battle from above. He made sure to stand in way of the sun, which would cast his shadow on the battlefield. As Shannon predicted the battle stopped. There was no longer any signs of bloodshed nor screaming. The entire battlefield froze as if Shannon were an all-powerful entity.

Shannon felt like the Great Fox for some odd reason. Standing high above everyone improved this atmosphere. He took a big breath and then he dropped his crossbow down into the crowd below. "What's the use?" He questioned loudly.

The question made several squint their eyes and lower their weapons. Silence had suddenly filled the entire Kingdom of Corneria. What the hell?

Shannon observed the battlefield and couldn't tell who was on whose side anymore. "Look at this! Sharp claw against sharp claw, Zoness against what we now know as 'Corneria' and a rebellion." Shannon sighed. "This disgust me so! We're only reliving history. ALL OF THIS has been done before. The sharp claw and Corneria already had one war and the sharp claw lost. What's the point of this one then? Zoness was involved in the last war as well. What have we all learned from history? Has history taught us nothing?" It made Shannon think to what he told Fox…about how the only thing history ever taught anyone is that we'll all die.

For once they all began to think. Falco breathe in a great breath of air and felt his weapon slip away and onto the ground below. The urge to battle wasn't there anymore.

"Look into the eyes of the one your battling!" Shannon shouted. "What do you see? For many of you it's your reflection! The reflection of the greed we all have! Stop looking PAST the eyes and actually INTO the eyes. You all wouldn't be battling if you weren't ordered to by your superiors!"

The soldiers actually took a moment to look into their enemy's eyes. Falco was looking into the eyes of a nearby soldier but he didn't see himself staring back…he saw Scales. Scales was there laughing. But when he looked deeper he saw himself. 'The only reason he's here is because of Scales…' Falco reconciled with himself.

Many other weapons hit the streets and it was silence heard around the world. The soldiers took the moment to look into the others eyes. Pain…sadness…guilt, it was all there.

***

From her standing point on the ground, Krystal could understand all that Shannon was saying. She retracted her staff and began to think. 'History has a way of repeating itself…' She started to tell herself. A paw then landed on her shoulder and she turned not to see an ally…but an enemy. She was a little weary at first and her breath stopped for a brief moment in time. Until a smile crossed the sharp claw's face. She felt comfort in this at least and couldn't help but force one of her own.

"So what are we all doing? Forget about Scales' world domination and let's help to make Corneria a better place. I want you all to envision yourself in the enemy's position. All the sharp claw, could you really blame the furs for wanting to rise up and fight? Did we not want to fight when we were forced out of our homes? Furs, would you ever for any reason disobey your King if your life were constantly on the line? Many have died for useless reasons and without the chance to say good-bye to their families. Let's call a truce. The ultimate truce, might I add."

All weapons were dropped to the ground and again not a sound was heard. Silence once again filled the kingdom of diversity. Then it happened…the ultimate truce happened. Tears began to form as they realized what they'd become.

"We've got no motivation." Falco said, addressing Zoness. "What are OUR motives for being here? I bet if it weren't for Shane's false hope we'd all still feel like Shane dragged us here for nothing. We ARE here for a reason. At leas we were… We were here to help Corneria and now look at us." Falco shouted.

Shannon looked to Falco and gave a nod. "Forget about Scales. He's no longer the king; Fox McCloud is our King and I guarantee he'll do a much better job than Scales. Remember; put yourself in your enemy's shoes. The furs of Corneria nearly died out because of Scales. And many sharp claws lost their lives because they weren't good enough for Scales army. Let's close the gap between furs and sharp claws." Shannon concluded.

From where they stood they looked to anyone next to them and joined hands in unison and all the seeds of war that were planted were gone.

Krystal watched Shannon come down the stairs and out of the building. She wanted to tell him that he was right about history and the fact that it repeated but she already knew what he knew. He was right and that's all there was to it. Rather than going to praise Shannon, she instead joined her paw with the claw of a sharp claw and they began to form a circle.

***

Katt stayed close to Falco as she grabbed the claw of a sharp claw and a little circle of unity was formed. No more useless bloodshed and no more tears. No more feelings of pain and despair. Instead there was only the feeling of being united as one. "We're all different." Katt announced. "But we all share this one world and this one sky. In the end we're left with no choice."

***

Shane and Mia didn't have a clue as to what just happened. "Hear that?" Mia asked.

Rolling his eyes Shane replied, "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly." Mia said. "Is it over? I don't hear any screams or crying anymore. There's no clashing of weapons at all." Silence once again. They listened and could only hear more silence. "Come, let's go see."

"Shouldn't you rest more?" Shane asked.

"No. This is something I hadn't planned on." Mia answered. "This troubles me." It didn't seem to trouble Shane at all but he went along anyway.

***

The two foxes rushed to the streets of Corneria and they were…empty? Why empty? Silence still filled the air but when they actually began to go further into the inner city what they saw was remarkable.

The sharp claws were helping the furs off the ground, as well as the furs doing the same. Both sides were healing the wounded and as Mia observed, they'd already started on beginning to rebuild the almost dead kingdom.

"This wasn't what I had predicted at all…" Mia mused but was glad. "I guess even fate has a way of bringing us all together."

"But one question still remains." Shane reminded her. "Where's Fox?"

***

Scales was nearing the balcony now and he could see Fox was clear behind him. 'Beware Fox McCloud,' rang in his mind over and over again. For once in his life Scales was actually scared! Scared of a vulpine that was shorter and younger than he was. Scales probably stood two feet taller than Fox. It was like a mouse to an elephant.

Scales was running of places to run and McCloud was gaining on him, and fast. Scales finally ran into a dead end where he found himself on the balcony. Of course he COULD jump but it seemed as if he were damned whether or not he fought with Fox or not.

"Turn around!" Fox shouted to Scales. "Turn around NOW!"

As Scales turned to face Fox it was clear that the vulpine had been waiting for this moment for years. Anger was written all over Fox's face and he was breathing heavily. The Arwing dagger in paw. The six-inch blade glowed a vibrant gold and Scales knew right then and there that he was doomed. But there was one thing he could do to save him hopefully. "Let's…talk this out Fox. We're both royalty you know…and violence never solves anything."

"Save it! You're no King. You're worse than any other…THING I ever meant before in my entire life. You killed my father and let my mother die. You didn't care about Corneria. All you wanted was the world! A utopia for YOU! You never gave a damn about anyone but yourself." Fox breathed and at that moment he understood what Shannon meant. Now Fox knew what Shannon meant when he said that him doing this for selfish reasons would make him no better than Scales. If Shannon hadn't said that then Corneria would only continue to rot away under his rule.

"Oh but I cared about my sharp claw. If it weren't for your father banishing us none of this would've ever happened young one!"

"Don't go off trying to blame my father. He was a noble fur and was only doing what was best for the kingdom. I wouldn't allow a tyrant such as you to step foot in my kingdom EVER! You may have been able to fool my father but I won't let you weasel your way out of this one."

Scales backed up just a little and soon extended his long razor sharp claws. "This isn't how it should end you know. The whole battle was meaningless boy. Fine I'll admit it. The sharp claw meant nothing to me. They had to fend for themselves, but you'll be the same way when you have your kingdom. Corneria is dead now so what could you do for it?"

"We'll rebuild what you have destroyed. As long as there is life, we'll always rebuild."

"Meaningless!" Scales screamed and waved his claw in the air. "What good will rebuilding do? You know that sooner or later it will be destroyed. Why do you rebuild knowing that destruction is inevitable?"

This struck something in Fox. "Why do YOU want to live when you know you can't live forever?" Was his retort. "What good would world domination have done you if you know you won't rule the world forever?"

There was nothing Scales could say in reply. He stood there dumbfounded. Life's existence never meant anything to him until now and he never thought of it since he never had an heir to the throne. "Then let's end it Fox. You and I can both stop this by ruling the lands together. Think of all the power and all the glory?"

"Don't try to bribe me into your plans. It won't work at all. Are you going to face me or are you a coward?"

"I wish not to fight with you." Scales said.

"Fine. Then I'll let you rot in a cell for the rest of your life is that what you want? And all over the world in the history books it'll read that you died helplessly in a cell. A KING that died in a cell."

"Fine then!" Scales shouted. But before he could say more, Fox continued.

"We're both royalty," Fox used Scales words against him, "but a king should die with honor, don't you think?" Fox said although he didn't know what 'honor' Scales had.

"Agreed." Scales said and rushed at Fox with his one claw held high.

Fox quickly made a dodge roll to his right as Scales passed him up. The Arwing was the only weapon he had and so he couldn't afford to waste it by throwing it at Scales. 'He has the better advantage.' Fox thought. 'But I have the blade of my father!'

Fox took the Arwing in one hand while Scales held his claw up. "Come at me with everything you have!" Scales shouted. "Don't hold back Fox, because I certainly won't!"

Scales and Fox both rushed at each other in which Scales' claw and Fox's Arwing clashed with one another and they were in a deadlock. Scales certainly wasn't kidding when he said he would give it his all. He was overpowering Fox but that didn't stop the vulpine from delivering a kick to his left knee. The kick was hard and it stalled Scales for a moment, but still left him for a chance to defend himself.

Scales managed to push Fox back as he recovered from the kick. Fox nearly lost his balance but pressed on to Scales. Their weapons sent a few sparks flying at times and it was probably due to the gold from the Arwing.

Scales had a few kicks of his own to deliver and they hit hard. He first kicked Fox in the stomach, which sent him flying back a few feet. When Fox was on his back Scales jumped on top of him. "This is all a terrible nightmare!" He said as he forced himself on the vulpine. "When this is all over you'll wake up in your bed as a ten-year old boy and none of this will have ever happened."

Fox didn't take this lightly and pushed Scales off. He knew what Scales was trying to do and it wouldn't work. Scales didn't take long to recover from this kick but as he stood from this one he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He screamed in agony and in retort he took the backhand of his claw and smacked Fox HARD, which once again sent him flying a bit.

Scales looked at his left arm, which was dripping crimson red. The cut from the dagger really hurt and before he knew it the cut was burning unlike any other. It was the same feeling he had when James slashed him only it felt worse. The Arwing may have looked small but the pain it gave was inflicted with a lot more pain than ANY weapon could give. The cut wasn't even bad. To Scales it was nothing more than a prick but that didn't matter, it still hurt like hell.

As Fox was standing, Scales was already in his face and he slashed at Fox again, this time with the front side of his claw. Again, Fox went to the ground. It left a scar across Fox's face but it didn't burn or anything. The scar was minor and Fox already knew that it was nothing.

When Fox fell on his front side he found that he couldn't move. When he rolled over, Scales stepped on his stomach and smiled. "It's time to wake up alongside your father Fox." Scales said.

Fox wasn't about to go down so easily. He quickly stabbed Scales in the leg and this time he made sure to carve into him. This made Scales fall back in agony. He was no defenseless! His left arm had been 'pricked' and his left leg had been slashed.

Scales didn't plan on going down either, and was quick to his feet. He came at Fox with a flurry of slashes, each one Fox carefully parried. Scales began to pick up the pace. Up and down, left and right, it seemed endless.

With each attempt that Scales made on Fox's life with each slash, Fox looked for an opening. Scales couldn't hold this up much longer.

As Scales was making his slashes there was suddenly a burning pain unlike any other in his left leg, which surprisingly enough he was still standing on. When Scales looked to the wound it was glowing red and soon caught fire. "What is this!?" He screamed. The Arwing had power! A power that James himself probably didn't see! The Arwing was imbued with fire.

Scales guard was down again but Fox didn't think it would remain that way for long. As Scales tried to ignore the flame on his leg and battle he knew it wouldn't happen. Each step he took hurt more than the last. When he swung his huge claw at Fox again, it was to no avail. When Fox hit back this time he took off a blade of Scales' claw and a spark of red emitted. Now his claw had caught on fire.

Finally Scales kneeled. He knew his time had come and now he was ready to face it.

"There will be plenty of flames where you're going." Fox said and held the dagger to Scales throat.

"If you must…then do it now!" Scales commanded.

Fox was still, looking at the fire on Scales' leg. Then Fox looked into the eyes of Scales. He saw himself and it frightened him more so than anything else had. For some reason Fox couldn't finish the job.

"What are you waiting for?" Scales said anticipating his death to come soon.

Fox wasn't sure anymore. "What am I waiting for?" He asked himself. "You're right. You killed my father; let tens of thousands of furs die as well as your own sharp claw. You aren't fit to be king or even a peasant of Corneria for that matter. The only thing left for you to do is die."

"The truth hurts." Scales nodded. "I do deserve to die, for that you're right, but look at me Fox and tell me that you don't see James. I know you do. That's why you can't bring yourself to kill me now. I'm on fire and suffering from more pain than ever now. I'm a sad sight to see aren't I?"

'It is a sad sight.' Fox's mind told him. Fox then stared into Scale's eyes but didn't see James. He only saw himself. A tear then welled up in Fox's eyes. He was standing just inches away from the one who killed his father and now that he was staring the killer in the face he couldn't bring about the means to kill him. He found himself lowering the dagger. "It wouldn't bring him back." Fox said aloud. He slowly backed away from Scales with tears welling up in his eyes. "Killing you would grant me nothing! Go Scales! Go into the desert and never return to the Kingdom. I don't ever want to see you again"

Scales was taken by surprise. He stood up and watched as the Arwing glistened again. This time it was a pale blue. "As you wish." Scales could barely stand. Then without warning he flailed what was left of his burning claw. "But not without a fight!"

This didn't surprise Fox at all and with the Arwing emitting a blue glow for some strange reason he made a slash at Scales and made a huge gash in his chest. But this time the blood was…blue? Why blue?

Scales felt like right then and there he was going to die. He stopped and looked down. "I feel…" He suddenly couldn't breath. "…Cold." Then his body froze over in cold stone. Fox watched in amazement, as the body became nothing more than glass. Scales then tumbled forward and when he hit the marble balcony his body shattered into one million pieces.

This was the true power of the Arwing and Fox knew it. But how did he activate it? Then it hit him. The gems on the handle. There was a ruby, sapphire and emerald gem on his handle. Ruby was fire, Sapphire was ice…so what was Emerald? Fox decided to activate this one next and as he did the wind began to blow and soon rain came. The power of Fire, Ice and Wind were with him. 'Did father know of this?' Fox asked himself. It was an answer that he'd probably never know.

Fox looked as the pieces of Scales lay still. "Death of a tyrant." Fox thought. It was over all of it was over.

Fox kneeled down to where the pieces of Scales were. 'History has only taught us one thing…that we will all die.' It was the only definite thing. When Fox looked up he saw a smiling Wolf. It was no ordinary smile.

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A/N: Well, it's over…but one thing still hasn't been explained and that's Wolf. Now his full story comes out in the next chapter. Please, R+R and try not to flame.