Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox! It's owned by Nintendo, and Terra System, names, etc. are license of Galaxy Wulf, in which I own. The story took place during Star Fox 64, sometime after your battle with Star Wolf at Venom 2. I was wrong about my first two disclaimers. There will be FEW flashbacks here. Anyway, the narrator is obvious. I suggest reading my other fics, since they're also good! Go and read!

Rivals or Friends

Chapter 12: Friendship

"What!" Wolf shrieked as he looked at Slippy seriously. "What do you mean? The other me is slowly gaining control of my head!" He looked both furious and nervous. I can tell from his eyes.

I wanted to make him feel happy. I asked Slippy, "Slippy, tell us what you discovered. Come on! We'll try to take it in our stomach." Somehow, Wolf glanced at me after that comment, knowing that it meant something.

"Well," the toad gulped, "according to the scans we made on Wolf when he was wild, it showed irregular brain signals slowly developing from his normal ones. It is also showed that the signals will randomly settle down, meaning that we can't tell when Wolf will turn feral. I may conclude that the occurrence of O'Donnell's other self and his return to his normal self… Sorry…" He felt sad after telling that news.

Wolf then approached Slippy. "It's… it's okay, I understand," he replied with empathy. He then walked away, outside the bridge. I don't know where he's going, but I'm pretty sure it's the rooftop. We're parked at the Defense Force anyway, and that place seemed to be cozy enough…

"Go ahead, follow him," Peppy then reminded me after he tapped my shoulder. "It's best that he needs someone to talk to, and I can easily tell that it's you whom he needs companion. Lately, you two have become closer. You have forgotten that you were rivals; now you're the best of friends." I agreed. I realized how sad Wolf's situation was, so I felt sympathy. I followed him on his way outside.

When I walked outside the starship, I saw him sitting at the edge of the rooftop. He seemed to be looking at the sky, which was perfectly clear and blue today. I approached him, which startled him. He wasn't expecting anybody to come and greet him at that place.

"Huh? Oh Fox… it's you…" he whimpered out apathetically. He was in deep thought. I guess I disturbed him. "Um, can I ask you a question? It's about the time when I left you and Ruby behind… Did you enter the building and saw a woman?" Hmm… as I recall, that woman was taken to the authorities upon our arrival… Ah yes, I now remember her… that convict named Millie.

"Miss Millie Wright? Yes, I remember… We arrested her and sent her to the authorities. When you were gone, news reported that she committed suicide in her cell," I replied. For a second there, something came out of my mind. "You know, she had a suicide letter telling that she created a monster… Now that I think about it, we wouldn't be having any problems if she were alive. We could easily interrogate her for a cure…"

"I see," he just sighed out. I guess my answer was something he wasn't expecting. Yeah, I blew it. I knew he wouldn't like it. That's probably his last chance for a cure… However, I mustn't let him lose it. I sat beside him, making him glance at me for a while, smile, then look back at the view – the horizon.

I looked at him. He showed signs of depression. All he wanted was to change, but then all of these things started to pop up out of nowhere, and they got Wolf as their victim. "Wolf, I'm sorry… If I hadn't forced in that mission, you'd be fine by now… If I hadn't stopped you on your flight towards the enemy on our previous mission, you could've been working with us without worries…" He suddenly gave a serious look at me, making me pause.

"You're deeply wrong…" he exclaimed towards me fiercely. "If you hadn't rescued me, I would've been killed. If you hadn't intervened at Venom, I wouldn't realize that you're a true friend, not a rotten rival. I owe many things to you… You… you changed my point of view in life… You gave proof that there's always second chance… So don't say anything bad about you… You're the first true friend I've ever had…" Tears slowly dripped from his eyes. I suddenly felt touched. I didn't realize I was able to connect with him. "You made me realize that there were people out there who cared about me… Peppy, Slippy, Ruby, and even Falco… they cared for me… I thought I'd be lonely forever… I thought that working for Andross meant that you're a scum who doesn't deserve to live. You changed my whole life, Fox… You opened my eyes to reality my past kept on shadowing…"

I placed my arm to his shoulder. I smiled at him. That's I wanted him to be. Nobody deserved to be in the cold forever. I realized that. I know that he was once a ruthless mercenary that would work for the highest bidder, but deep down something told me that he wasn't… "I don't know… what to say, Wolf… Thanks… You know, I wanted you to change, for I know you don't deserve to be a criminal… I can also say that you're a true friend…" He finally smiled… He finally smiled back at me.

It wasn't long before somebody tapped my back. I was startled from that. When I looked behind, the one who startled me was none other than Falco Lombardi. "Hey, beer mates, Peppy wants you back at the bridge, pronto!" he told us. Well, we were a bit reluctant to leave the relaxing place, but I guess moping here won't do any good. Wolf stood up as well, and we walked away.

While we were walking, I heard Wolf talked to Falco. I believe he said, "Thanks for everything… I know you were a bit edgy at first, but I realized you were a nice pal after all… and a great battle simulator player!" I saw Falco smiled, giving an egoistic grin, but my wolf friend replied with, "Don't worry though! I'll make sure you won't plague the records with your name!" I chuckled a bit there, and Falco just gave a laughing remark.

When we entered back at Great Fox, Peppy gave an enlightening look. Wolf and I were wondering why. Ruby and Slippy were also angel-like. It bothered me for a while. "Great news, everyone! I've just found out a person who could cure Wolf's condition!" he announced joyfully. My lupine friend was shimmered with hope. He smiled comfortably.

"So, who's it gonna be?" Falco asked. I too was interested on who'd try to cure Wolf.

"It's Leon Powalski," he replied further, and from that name alone, I was a bit shocked. "I just remembered that he was taking up Psychology and Genetics when he, like Wolf, got reformed and found a new life at Corneria. I asked him about it, and he said that he already had an encounter with that condition."

"Who might that be?" Ruby asked Peppy. I wonder who that other person that has a wild nature was.

"Brace yourselves… It's Bill Grey…"

I was taken aghast by that answer. Bill? How could he? He has no link on any Venomian experiment, could he? Oh well, it's still best to check up on Leon. Wolf would probably be okay, since he knows Leon. "So Wolf, are we in?" I asked him for assurance.

"Yep. Let's go to Leon's…" he replied with a nod.