Epilogue: The End
Fox dozed lightly in the cockpit of the Great Fox. It was set on a course for Corneria, his home. He would be there shortly and finally get the vacation that was long coming to him.
The ring had been returned to the museum it had been stolen from. Pyra remained within it. When Fox regained consciousness, he was back on his ship. Most of his major injuries were gone, but he still felt weak and tired. He was just drifting off when a call came through. It was General Pepper.
"He has to stay in the ring," Pepper said, when Fox asked.
"Why?" Fox asked. It seemed like the thing to do at the time, but forcing Pyra to remain in the ring for all eternity didn't seem right.
"Because no one knows how to let him out," Pepper answered. "We can't figure out how to use the damn thing."
Fox let out a puff of laughter. "I guess he was the only one who could. Too bad, really. He was a good fighter. Maybe he could have even won in the tournament. Why didn't the Hands ever let him in?"
"Because he was insane," Pepper said. "Pyra's obsession with power had warped his mind."
"Well, being stuck in a ring won't help that at all," Fox muttered.
"True, but what are we supposed to do?" Pepper asked. "Break open the ring and get one of our own trapped?"
Fox shook his head. "No. I suppose not."
"You suppose right." Pepper straightened his hat and looked serious for a moment. "Now. Are you ready for your next mission?"
"WHAT?" Fox shouted.
Pepper began to laugh. "Only joking, McLoud. Only joking."
Fox settled back again and closed his eyes. "Well," he muttered. "I'll see you in a while. Right now I need rest."
And with that, he turned off the monitor, rolled over in his chair and went to sleep.