A/N: This chapter we'll get a better look at Wolf and what kind of furry he is and we'll start to learn some about Krystal (since my prologue left little insight on the characters). This chapter is to be another chapter that introduces us to the characters. Anyway, let's read on!

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

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Chapter 3: Wolf O' Donnell

It was a lovely evening at the palace in Cerina and Wolf had just made his way up the long stairs. Beautiful to the eye the palace was and he expected the Princess to be even more appealing.

As he stepped foot inside he bowed to the King and Queen, "Good evening to you both." He sounded.

The Queen was charmed at the politeness of his voice and the clean appearance of him, save for the patch over his right eye. "Greetings Wolf."

"You are but a friend, there is no need for you to bow down before me." The King smiled and Wolf raised his head. "My daughter is in her room at the moment, getting ready for our special dinner we have planned for you. Come to dining hall and we shall discuss!"

Wolf was quite pleased. "Yes, your majesty."

"Please Wolf, you don't need to address me formally. I am your friend and you can address me as such."

"You must let me address you formally once more then, your majesty." Wolf smiled. "It is a habit I have fallen into."

They began to make their way to the dining hall. "Wolf, from now on, you may call me 'father.'"

***

The jade husky was helping Krystal get ready for the occasion. She didn't like the forced marriage anymore than Krystal did but there was always that glimpse of hope. "What if this Wolf O' Donnell isn't so bad after all?" She inquired as she zipped up Krystal's nice silk dress.

"And what if I don't like him Jade? What if it's just another suitor my dad picked up just because he 'looks' like a nice guy? My father has a knack for doing that you know."

Jade sighed. This was true. While it was at this time Krystal was to be married, her father had been finding grooms since Krystal was twelve and letting her decide based on their charisma. This time, however, Krystal wasn't going to have that choice. It was all or nothing now. "You don't absolutely HAVE to marry this guy do you?"

"I don't think so. But no matter what it's my father who finds the groom. I have no say in who HE chooses! Why can't I choose my groom?"

"Tradition sucks." Jade huffed. She grabbed a brush and started to brush the fur on Krystal's head lightly. Krystal had such delicate fur. Whether Jade brushed it or not, it always looked stunning.

"Jade. I don't know about this Wolf O' Donnell." Krystal blurted out. "I can't keep being forced into a relationship with someone I've never even met before."

"As long as your father still sits on the throne, you don't have a choice." Jade reminded her.

Krystal closed her eyes. The thought of marrying a jerk…or even just an ugly guy didn't settle with Krystal. Her father didn't just have a knack for finding jerks, but if it wasn't a jerk it was usually some disgusting pig. They were nice at heart but in the end they just couldn't make the grade.

"When I become Queen the first thing that's going to go is this stupid tradition!" Krystal huffed.

"No it won't because it won't be you who decides it goes on remember?" Jade reminded her as she finished brushing. "Don't look so down. You can at least try to give Prince O' Donnell a chance right?

"I guess I can't just jump to conclusions. Maybe my father actually found someone good for me this time. But every time they say 'He's a nice young fur' that usually means 'he's a jerk who only wants you for your beauty.'"

Jade rolled her eyes. "Well, let's hope this one is the right one for you."

***

The table was set and The King and Queen were having a seat advising Wolf to do the same. "Tonight is a special nigh so make yourself at home."

Shannon stepped into the dining hall a little later with a look of disgust on his face. He sighed, knowing what he had to do. "Did you catch your thieves?" The Queen asked.

"No, they escaped again! I'm beginning to think there are more than just the same two I've seen. There's got to be a banned of them." Shannon suggested.

"Can't catch a thief eh?" Wolf smirked. "I've had my run in with thieves before. The question isn't can you catch them; the question is can you fool them."

"What makes you such an expert!?" Shannon growled but remained calm.

"Where I come from is full of thieves. You can't just chase a thief and expect to catch him. You've got to actually think like a thief. Anticipate what they'll do next and then beat them to it. That's why the thieves are always getting away. They know how you think. They know how to trick you and they know how to hide. You've got to beat them at their own game! Now shape up!"

Shannon bowed. He wouldn't do so if he weren't of royalty. Little bastard! Shannon wanted to say. He didn't like the idea of this little kid giving him orders. "I shall take my leave now."

As Shannon was leaving Krystal came walking in. He did a quick bow, regardless of how many times Krystal told him he shouldn't have to do so.

Krystal walked into the dining hall in a nice white silk dress, with Jade following close behind.

"You look absolutely stunning!" Prince O' Donnell stood up and bowed.

"You don't have to do that Wolf, you are a guest it isn't necessary." The King advised him.

"Oh, but where I come from it is only polite to stand up when a fine young woman such as her sits down. It is rather 'rude' to stay sitting, especially when it is your future wife."

The Queen smiled. She was still charmed by him. She looked at Krystal who had only rolled her eyes.

"Well, please don't do that." Krystal couldn't go without saying. "I'm not one to like a lot of formal presentations. The guest should never have to be so formal. He should only be self-respecting to his own dignity."

Was that meant to be an insult? Wolf raised a brow. At least he'd get a woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. That in itself should be very satisfying. "As you wish."

Krystal sat down next to Wolf and Jade had a seat next to Krystal. "So…" Krystal said nervously. She wanted to ask all the basic questions about Wolf but she'd feel stupid for it. He wasn't too bad looking actually, but so far it was obvious that he was only putting on an act in front of her parents. Krystal had seen enough jerks to know when someone was putting on an act and when they weren't.

"Speechless? Yes, I'd be speechless at times like these as well. Let me say that I was quite nervous as well. I know how you must feel and I can understand if this is not to your liking. It is a scary thought indeed to think that someone whom you've never met before is going to marry you. I'm just as nervous as you are." Wolf said.

He even knows the right thing to say… Krystal thought. Still, his voice didn't fool her.

"Let me ask you then. Do you even so much as agree with this tradition?"

NOW he had Krystal's attention. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I don't quite agree with the tradition myself. I can see it in your eyes."

"Well, no I don't agree with the tradition. Love can't be forced it has to be seen… it has to be experienced."

Wolf raised a brow. "That's a good way to look at it. Now that we both agree on the same thing. What say you that the first thing to go is the tradition?"

Is he serious? Krystal thought but her father was already shaking his head. "It has been a tradition, not just in this Kingdom but throughout the world. You'd have to be crazy to think the tradition can be changed."

"I have my ways father and I assure you I can make it work." Wolf said.

"May I be excused?" Krystal looked to her mother.

"Why certainly." She replied and Krystal was up and gone. Krystal hadn't even touched her dinner at all.

Feeling that she knew something was wrong Jade stood up and followed her.

***

Krystal stormed into her room, upset as can be. "What a fake!" She hissed under her breath. "And they're actually falling for this guy!"

Jade wasn't far behind her. "What's wrong Krystal?"

Krystal was taking off her silk dress and changing into something more comforting. "Can't you hear it in his voice? See it in his eyes? This Wolf is trying to fool us all!"

Jade shook her head. "Krystal, you've become delirious. You haven't even given Wolf a chance. He agrees that tradition should be changed."

That was true, but Krystal couldn't tell if that was a fake too. "He knows the right things to say, he's obviously been through a similar fate before." Krystal got into some more common clothes, which her parents weren't very fond of, by the way. A nice sleeveless blue shirt and some brown pants. She then grabbed a light brown jacket.

"Are you okay?" Jade noted the attire she was wearing.

"I'm fine, I just need a moment to relax on it. He's not fooling me. I can see right through him."

"I still think you should give him a chance." Jade said. "You never know what could happen. Let's say that you do get married and he really is a nice guy and you do change the tradition. What exactly would you have lost?"

Krystal thought on that. "And say a contradiction happens?"

"Must you always disagree with everything I say?"

Krystal huffed. "I know what you mean Jade. Maybe I'm not being fair… but you'd still have to be crazy to think that just because he makes a good first impression I'd still fall for this guy!"

There was then a knock on Krystal's door. It had to be one of two people, her mother or her father. It would be one of those two asking when she was coming back down to dinner probably. "Come in." Krystal said pleasantly.

To her dismay it was neither of them. Instead she was greeted by Wolf. "Hello." He uttered silently. Jade looked to Krystal and then back to Wolf. "Can you excuse us for a moment?" Wolf asked. Jade bowed and walked out the door.

Krystal tried hard not to let her disapproval of Wolf show but he could probably see through her like glass.

The two were silent. "Well…" Wolf began, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you view me to be about as dark as the nighttime sky. Am I right?"

Krystal didn't say yes but she didn't say no either. "You can fool my parents but you can't fool me. I've seen furs like you before. You'll butter my parents up and get their approval. Then you'll work your way around the kingdom, getting them all to like. Once you've let everyone see your shadow and you've proven to us that you'd never harm a fly you'll let it all go to waste. You wouldn't even be here if you weren't forced to meet me."

"You're right on part of that. I'm only here because I have to be. Not because I choose to be. But you're wrong on everything else. I've known your father for years. He approved of me a long time ago. You're mother doesn't seem to dislike me."

"I know furs like you!" Krystal snapped. "Its all an act isn't it? You only act like that in front of my parents and other royalty to get their approval."

"If it is an act, than that means I'm acting right now doesn't it?" Wolf looked her in the eyes. "If I really have fooled everyone, then that means I've fooled you too."

Now Krystal was starting to doubt things. "You're acting for me too!" She then said. "This is all part of your act. What exactly do you have planned for Cerina when you're King… IF you become King?"

"Why, Krystal, I'm hurt! You think I would do something to YOUR precious Kingdom?"

"My precious Kingdom?"

"Yes, your precious Kingdom." Wolf moved forward. "Think about it. I'm here from another Kingdom. See, I've an older brother…and the youngest one is forced to marry a princess in a neighboring Kingdom and so I was sent here. It wouldn't be fair of me to take control of a Kingdom that is rightfully yours."

She listened intently. Perhaps he WAS different than the others… but everyone has a dark side, and she knew SOMETHING would bring it out in Wolf. He wrapped his arms around her and it made her feel a little insecure but she let him proceed anyway. "So give me a chance. Give me three strikes. If I screw up three times, I'm out. I'll be out of your life forever. Can we make a deal?"

It didn't sound like anything sneaky. Still, the thought of what he was going to do to Cerina was a little disturbing. But they were to be distributed at HER disposal. She smiled and nodded "Deal."

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A/N: That wasn't so bad now was it? So what exactly does Wolf have in store for Cerina or Krystal for that matter? Or is he really a 'nice guy' after all? Well, we'll just have to wait and see now won't we? Anyway, R+R!