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Chapter 7: Soulmates

Fox sat with Krystal on the beach looking out over the ocean while the afternoon sun got lower in the sky. He looked around, first squinting up at the sun and then up the slopes to the tree-lined bluff and saw the edge of the town of Nara. A string of thoughts quickly tumbled one after the other through his mind: this was Cerinia, this was from Krystal's memories, Krystal was Kurisutaru, and this could not be real. So they must be dreaming.

He turned to his soulmate, but she replied to his question before he could even voice it. "No Fox, this dream is not my doing. I didn't meditate before we fell asleep."

It then all came back to her vulpine who replied, "You didn't even have a chance to." His voice became choked up. "We cried ourselves to sleep."

The young Cerinian vixen bowed her head and sniffled, "and somehow, I know this will be the last time I see my old home, even in a dream."

Not knowing what else to say, or even think, Fox simply wrapped his arm around her and the two leaned against each other, gazing out into the open ocean while the sun sank lower in the sky.

"This may be a dream, but we are not." _ _ A melodious feminine voice was heard behind them.

Kurisutaru felt her heart slam into her chest and turned around to gaze upon the two foxes she had never dared hope to ever see again. _ **"Mama? Papa?" ** _She said, sounding like a lost pup.

Shiokaze opened his arms and welcomed his daughter who leapt into his embrace. _ **"PAPA!!"_**

"Your mother and I are so proud of you, my precious jewel."

When Onikisu hugged her daughter from behind, Kurisutaru found herself completely enveloped by her long-lost parents and broke down.

Fox watched his soulmate's reunion with her parents and wept with her, letting his tears fall to the sand at his feet. The two Cerinians who he had most ached to meet and despaired at ever doing so now stood before him. He tried to speak, but could find no words to express the emotions roiling through him. His heart felt like it would stop when Onikisu turned her gaze towards him and beckoned him to approach. The tod whined soulfully while the vixen who would be his mother-in-law drew him into her embrace. He continued sniffling silently and closed his eyes, feeling the matriarch gently enter his mind.

Kurisutaru's mother was deeply touched at how willingly Fox accepted her mental presence. "You are such a sweet, caring tod, Fox McCloud. My daughter could never have found a better soulmate, even on our world before it ended."

When he felt Shiokaze's hand rest on his shoulder, Fox's whole body shook with barely contained sobs. Onikisu and her husband continued to console their future son-in-law. "Such a kind heart, to grieve so deeply for our people as much as you grieved for your own parents. Be at peace, and grieve for us no more," he heard the vixen say to him. She then took the orange-brown vulpine's head in her hands and brought his gaze up to meet hers.

Fox struggled to reign in his emotions when he found himself meeting eyes with the kind, matronly vixen. She went on to reveal, "We were there, at your parent's grave when you expressed your heart-felt wish to have been able to meet us. We could not ignore such a pure hearted desire, especially not after you willingly endured our daughter's memory of our people's demise and helped her to finally grieve."

Even at such an emotional reunion, Kurisutaru couldn't help but feel boundless joy at seeing her parents welcome her fiancé with open arms. "And our daughter was also correct," Shiokaze affirmed. Fox looked back questioningly at his soulmate's father. "We do indeed consider you our son, and will be there in spirit to watch over the many grandchildren you bless us with. As much as you've welcomed Kurisutaru into the clan McCloud by the traditions of your own people, we also want to consider you part of our own family."

"Indeed," Onikisu agreed. "So let me officially welcome you to our clan."

Fox finally found his voice and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you. Your approval and blessing means so much to me. I...I can't even begin to express how grateful I am to be able to even meet you."

"We can read it in your mind, son." Shiokaze assured.

The orange-brown-furred tod nodded and sighed. "I'm glad. I saw in Kryst...Kurisutaru's memory how all of you so openly shared your thoughts. Even though I can't read minds, it still makes me happy to know you'd include me." He then thought of Shinju and Sanshain.

An instant later, Kurisutaru's sister and brother appeared at her side. _ **"Yay! I have another big brother!" ** _In the next instant, Fox found himself pounced by his little sister-in-law-to-be, which he drew into a heart-felt hug.

"Oh Spirits! You are the most adorable little sister I could ever hope for," he gushed. He then looked around at his soulmate and the rest of her family. They all read his unspoken desire from his mind and gathered all around, with his fiancée at the center with him.

Sanshain gave his future brother-in-law one of his radiant smiles, "Yes, I can easily see in your thoughts how happy you are to finally meet us."

Kurisutaru also knew something else that would bring joy to her fiancé and mentally expressed it to her siblings and parents. When five different hands were placed against the sides of his head, Fox immediately knew what was coming. He tightened his arms around his fiancée, closed his eyes, and waited.

Within moments, his heart felt like it would burst with the love that poured into him. "Oh Spirits! Please tell me you can all sense how much I love all of you!"

"We do, Sweety." Onikisu reassured him.

In that unique moment, Fox didn't think he'd ever feel as happy, especially when he also felt his soulmate's happiness at being reunited with her entire family, but he soon discovered he was mistaken when he met Shiokaze's gaze. The blue-furred tod smiled fondly. "I also heard your other fondest wish at the grave of your parents."

"My son." Fox's head snapped up upon hearing a voice he hadn't heard in years. When he turned around, his eyes welled with tears at the sight of James McCloud and Vixy Reinard.

The Cerinians all stood back to give Fox a private moment to reunite with his own parents. Fox rushed into his mother and father's open arms in a three-way embrace. "Mom! Dad! Oh Great Maker! I've missed you so much!"

They simply held their son, nuzzling him on each side of his face. "We're here now, Son." His father assured him.

Vixy kissed her son on the cheek. "Oh my little pup, how you've grown."

Fox drew back and looked at his mother, at a loss for words for how happy he was at this bittersweet reunion. He closed his eyes and sighed when she cupped his cheek, leaning his head into the tender touch that he had missed so much.

"Your mother and I are so proud of you, Fox." James smiled fondly at his son, so very much like himself. "We've watched over you as you completed what I started, and then went on to accomplish things I hadn't even dared to dream of during my life."

He turned to his father and voiced a question that had been on his mind since the end of the Lylat War. "That was you, wasn't it? Right after I had killed Andross and was making my escape, you guided me out of there."

"Yes. You called me out from the afterlife at a moment when you needed me the most to survive, and it allowed me to lead you to safety."

"Dad, how is that even possible?"

"It is possible for the same reason that your fiancée was able to draw her family to your shared dream, for the same reason I and your mother are able to visit you now."

"I don't understand."

"You will, in due time."

Seeing his parents now reminded him of each of their untimely demise. "I just wish you hadn't died," he glanced back at Krystal's family, "that none of you had died."

"We all wish we could have lived a full life," James said sadly to his son, "but know that nothing happens in the universe that isn't part of the Creator's plan."

Fox thought back to the lonely years that followed the death of his father, and how it had adversely affected his relationship with Krystal until they finally reconciled and now looked forward to getting married.

"I know what you are thinking, Son," said James. "As much as you and Krystal hurt each other when you two broke up, it was a good thing."

Fox gave his father an incredulous look. "Dad, how can you say that?"

"Hush Son. I know what I'm talking about. The afterlife can be a real eye-opener. Things are revealed to you that you never could have guessed before. So I know that what you and Krystal put yourselves through is a good thing and that is because when you two did reconcile, it gave each of you a deeper appreciation for what you now share together."

Vixy eyed her son's betrothed and waved her over, "and what you two now have is truly special." Krystal approached and let herself be drawn into the orange-brown-furred vixen's embrace. "Dear, it makes me so happy to finally get a chance to meet the lovely vixen who has won my son's heart."

"Fox has told me so much about you and your husband," Krystal said, smiling shyly to the mother of her husband-to-be, "and after seeing all his memories of you, I feel almost like I know you."

"Never having heard of your people or the whole concept of telepathy in my lifetime," said James McCloud, "I am delighted that my son loves what you do for him. I find myself agreeing with your own father, my dear. You are indeed a jewel."

Both of Fox's parents then drew the betrothed couple into their arms. "As my son has been welcomed into your family, I too welcome you into the McCloud family." James affirmed.

The two families then gathered together in a now larger family about their engaged children and Onikisu made the pronouncement. "As of this day, we are all one family."

Fox wistfully looked at his father. "I just wish Peppy was here in this dream with us. He misses you, Dad. He might even have some difficulty believing that all of you have actually visited us in this dream."

_ James shook his head and smiled at his son. "Then when you wake up, tell that old hare that he has my deepest thanks for taking care of you and guiding you when I couldn't." The old fox then gave his son a devious grin, "You can also tell him that I think he should start wearing that old good-luck charm he has, made from my fur._

Fox's eyes widened at the revelation. "I didn't know he had a piece of your fur, Dad."

"Of course you didn't, Son. He's kept it hidden in his dresser all these years out of guilt for leaving me behind to die. So you remind him that I ordered him to leave me; that I wanted to be sure he survived to take care of you. Tell him that he has nothing to be ashamed of, and that I want him to wear that piece of me with pride."

"I will, Dad."

They all sat there on the beach, looking out at the South Sea while the sun sank lower in the sky. Fox looked at his entire family arrayed around himself and Krystal and sighed. He knew such moments as this were not meant to last. "This is the last time we'll see any of you, isn't it."

Shiokaze placed a hand on Fox's shoulder and replied, "It has to be this way. Your time to grieve for all of us is over. You must now live your lives to the fullest. But do not despair. We will see each other again, when the two of you leave behind your mortal flesh and make the journey to this life."

Kurisutaru leaned against her father and sighed. _ **"We will, Papa, but I can't help but be saddened to think that when my bondmate and I make this journey, our people will truly be extinct."_**

"Our people will not die out, my daughter. There are others."

Both Fox and Kurisutaru asked in shock, "There are other Cerinians who survived?! _ **_You mean, I'm not the last of my kind?"**

"Do you recall that last day, when the High Elder sent us out on our missions?"

Both Kurisutaru and Fox nodded, the memory still fresh in their minds.

"We all sensed the High Elder's fear and heard his vague answer that our situation was dire. What he didn't tell us at the time was that he knew our world was being destroyed from within. He sent myself and the other guardians to Toba on the desperate hope that we could find a way to stop it, but knew we'd most likely fail and that the multiple anti-matter warheads would reach our planet's core and detonate, destroying us all."

Fox and his soulmate sat there in stunned silence, listening to her father.

"Knowing that our people were most likely doomed, he sent 49 others on another mission that he hoped would save our race. As you recall, there were other shuttles missing from the wreckage of the hangar. These survivors escaped our world's destruction in those shuttles and took with them the key to bringing our people back from the brink of extinction, and they will ultimately succeed, and the people of New Cerinia will become Lylat's greatest ally."

Shiokaze raised a hand, forestalling any questions his daughter and her fiancé were going to ask. _ **"I cannot tell you where they are, but know that in the near future, you will be reunited with them."_**

Fox's mind raced with possible locations where he might look for these Cerinians, but his father said, "Do not look for them, Son. They will be found in due time. In fact, it is your friend Bill Grey who will come across them."

Krystal looked at her soulmate, tears of happiness in her eyes. Fox drew her into a heart-felt hug, his voice thick with emotion. "Oh Krystal, you are not the last of your race. You are one of 50 survivors."

"Fifty-one, actually." said Onikisu with a coy smile.

"But Father said that..."

"Hush," Onikisu interrupted her daughter. "No more questions. Everything will be revealed in due time." _ She gazed out at the ocean, the sun now almost touching the horizon. _ "The end of our time together draws near."

_ Fox and Krystal both looked out at the sun which was beginning to set and understood what it signified. As a whole, the entire family all sat down on the beach to watch together the last sunset of Cerinia. Fox and Krystal sat together side-by-side. Behind Fox sat Vixy Reinard and Onikisu, his two mothers. Behind Krystal sat her two fathers, Shiokaze and James McCloud. All four parents jointly caressed their children as they leaned back against them. Between Krystal's legs sat her older brother, Sanshain who leaned back into his sister's embrace. Between Fox's legs sat sweet, adorable Shinju who snuggled into his arms._

Together as a family, they all watched the sun sink lower below the horizon. Nothing further was said amongst them. Nothing more needed to be said. Fox and Krystal would each look back occasionally at their parents, reach back to them to briefly squeeze their hands and continue caressing their siblings in front of them.

With the sun almost gone, they knew that their time with their family was almost up, and yet the soon-to-be-married couple felt their hearts buoyed with joy, realizing how blessed they were to have been granted this one last time with their parents and siblings and knowing that they had a life full of happiness ahead of them.

With the final sliver of the sun slipping below the waves, the stars came out in a beautiful night sky...

And Fox and Krystal awoke at the exact same time in each other's arms. As they lay there, it all came back to them: the sharing of her memories with her soulmate, both happy and not, culminating in the tragic ending of Cerinia and the outpouring of grief that followed, and the incredibly vivid dream they shared afterwards where they were visited by the spirits of their families. The two remained laying there with their arms, legs, and tails tightly wound about each other, taking comfort in the physical closeness they shared. After some time, they finally disentangled themselves. They sat up and looked at each other, their spirits soaring, liberated from all grief and regrets.

Just then, they heard the distinctive whine of Wolfen fighters roaring overhead. _"Sounds like Wolf and Panther have arrived,"_thought Fox.

_"Yes, let's go down and join the others,"_Krystal thought back while she picked up the large blanket they had slept on. With Fox's help, she folded it and slipped it back into her rucksack.

Fox then took his vixen's hand and interlaced his fingers with hers, and together they left the stone building and made their way down the hill, arriving at the campsite just as Wolf and Panther were making their way down the cliff side stairs to meet them there.

The sight that greeted them was a subdued one. Wolf and Panther shortly arrived at the camp as well and looked around at everyone gathered about. The Star Wolf leader frowned and put his hands on his hips. "If I didn't know better, I'd think this was a funeral wake."

Falco gave a mirthless laugh. "You aren't that far off."

Krystal sensed their collective emotional state and guessed. "From your emotions of sadness and concern for us, I'm guessing all of you heard us cry last night."

"Cry?" Panther asked. "My dear Krystal, this should be the happiest day of your life."

Peppy stood from where he was sitting, walked up to Krystal, and took her hands in his. "It was more than that."

The vixen then sensed a spike of deep sadness coming from Fay and saw the white she-dog looking devastated. With dawning realization, she looked around at the rest of them gazing sadly at her. "Oh no!...You felt my emotions, didn't you," she asked all of them. When Falco nodded, Krystal groaned. "Oh Spirits! I am so sorry!" Krystal sighed and sat down on one of the campsite chairs. "I had thought I had removed myself and Fox far enough so that my telepathy would not have affected the rest of you like this." She paused and frowned. "It should have been far enough."

"Alright. What's going on here?" Wolf asked.

Krystal quickly explained. "When Fox found me four weeks ago, he asked that I read his mind and gave me lasting permission for me to be in his mind as deeply as I wanted, whenever I wished."

Panther smiled and, placing a hand over his heart, gave Fox a small bow. "And win back the lovely Krystal's heart and her forgiveness."

The vixen smiled fondly at her feline friend. "He did much more than that, Panther. Fox bared his very soul to me, allowing me to read every single thought and memory he ever had. He willingly let me make him relive all those memories, both happy and not-so-happy."

"Like the deaths of your parents?" Wolf asked the tod.

Fox nodded, "Yes, as unpleasant as it was, I let her bring those memories up too."

Krystal went on. "The point being is that Fox gave me his total absolute trust. To completely drop your mental barriers like that is a precious gift to a telepath, and in the weeks that followed up to last night, we have become very close telepathically to the point that Fox has grown very receptive to my own thoughts."

"Remarkable," said Panther in awe.

"Yes...Well, as his bondmate, I would be his equal and opposite, but that couldn't happen unless I showed him the same deep level of trust he's shown me. So last night, I drew Fox deep into my mind so that even though he's not a telepath, he was able to read my every thought and memory."

Krystal glanced around at her other friends in concern. "The thing is that for me to draw Fox into my mind as deeply as I did, I had to drop all my own mental barriers. So Fox and I sequestered ourselves at the far end of the Hollow since I knew that it was very likely that I'd lose control of my powers, especially when I'd be reliving some of my more emotional memories."

Bill said in a grief-stricken voice while hugging his girlfriend who was weeping again. "Memories like your home world's destruction."

Krystal's ears laid back against her head, the vixen feeling contrite. "I had thought Fox and I were far enough from the rest of you to spare you from this." She frowned in thought. "You shouldn't have sensed anything."

"But we did, my dear," Peppy replied with a weariness in his voice. "We all felt your emotional pain and until last night, we never had any idea of the horrors you endured when your world was destroyed."

"What?! No wait! What are you saying?" Krystal stood and started hyperventilating, beside herself with worry for her friends.

"I saw flashes of your world's destruction and heard in my head your screams when you felt the minds of your people crying out as they died." Peppy replied.

While Fox had willingly endured the horror of that memory for his soulmate's sake, he was aghast that his friends had been subjected to that same terrible vision. "Did all of you see that?"

"Fara and I did too," added Falco. "The rest only felt your grief." He then turned towards Fay with a pained expression, "except for her. I think she saw more than just a flash of that memory."

Bill's distraught girlfriend wailed. "I saw everything! It was horrible."

Krystal closed her eyes and sighed. "My telepathic powers must have increased without my realizing it, though I don't know why." She took several deep breaths and then opened her eyes. Her face took on a resolute expression. "But I am not going to leave all of you feeling so broken." The vixen then gazed at the once bubbly spaniel with whom she felt a close friendship, "especially not you, Fay."

Fay Spaniel looked up through tearful eyes when her telepathic friend now spoke to her.

"It is because you recently let me read your memories of your day with Bill at River Rapids waterpark that you ended up being more sensitive to my telepathy, but I want you to know that I feel much happier today, and so should you."

Fay then gasped, feeling Krystal's intense sisterly love and affection pour into her mind.

"Feel better?" Krystal asked rhetorically.

"Oh wow! I can feel your love for me. Is this what you do to Fox all the time?"

"Yes, though I do it to him much more strongly. I have another gift for you that will completely take away the pain of what you saw." The vixen then placed a hand against her friend's head. "After Fox and I cried ourselves to sleep, this is what we dreamed about."

Fay's eyes widened, her voice full of wonder. "You and Fox dreamed of both your parents? I see a beautiful beach. You are all gathered there, watching the sunset. Was that Cerinia?"

"Yes, and we didn't just dream about them. Our parents actually visited us in our dream." Fox affirmed.

"Ooooh! Krystal, your sister looks so adorable!"

"That would be Shinju." Fox said with a beatific smile. His soulmate then lifted her hand from Fay's head and stood back, seeing a once-again bubbly she-dog. Without hesitation, she turned and placed one hand against the side of Peppy's head and the other against Falco's head and sent into both their minds a burst of her love and affection for her friends, along with the same brief memory of the dream she shared with Fox.

Falco inhaled sharply in surprise. "Wow! You are amazing, Blue."

"Oh my!" Was all Peppy could say.

She then turned to Fara and placed a hand on each side of her head. "You've felt my affection for you as a sister and because of that, you also were helpless to see the horrors I endured when I lost my world, and yet what horrified you the most is that I endured this first hand." Both Krystal and Fara were now tearful. "I lost my sister and brother when Cerinia was destroyed, but I've gained a sister in you, Fara Phoenix."

Krystal then sent her love surging through Fara's mind so strongly that the fennec sank to her knees in tears at the emotional experience and then gasped in wonder at the vision that filled her mind. "Oh by all the stars in creation, I can see your family, and Fox's parents too!"

Fox was deeply touched at seeing how Krystal and his ex-girlfriend cared so much for each other. When Fara had recovered, Fox wiped a small tear from the corner of his eye and smiled to his friends. He then sat down on a nearby fallen log, drawing his fiancée down to sit next to him. "Gather around everyone. Krystal and I have lots to tell you."

When they had all seated themselves, Fox began. "As you know, Krystal last night let me see all her thoughts and memories, and as you may have guessed, that included seeing her grow up on Cerinia, seeing her family, and the life she had there." He then nodded solemnly, "and I did experience the destruction of her world from her point of view and saw her race apparently wiped out by Andross."

Wolf swore. "Fucking ape. I sometimes can't believe I ever worked for that fiend."

Fox ignored the lupine's foul language and instead took his vixen's hands in his. "What I find hard to believe is how she didn't lose her sanity after telepathically experiencing her race's death."

Krystal looked down at her tod's hands holding her own and sighed. "I had kept all that grief bottled up for such a long time because I feared I'd lose my mind otherwise."

"And I feared for your sanity because you hadn't let it all out." Fox countered.

"Well, as most of you heard last night, I finally grieved for my people....Both Fox and I did." Krystal then paused and the others around them could see her face aglow with a profound happiness. "After we had cried ourselves to sleep, something truly wondrous happened."

"The dream where you said your parents visited you." Lucy said.

Fox took over and continued. "Yes. Krystal and I found ourselves looking out over the South Sea, near her home town of Nara, and there I finally got to meet her family: her beautiful mother Onikisu, her father Shiokaze, her adorable younger sister Shinju and her older brother Sanshain. Both her parents welcomed me into their clan. Her father practically adopted me. I got to really know them all."

"Anyhow," Fox continued, "After getting to know her parents and siblings...my own parents appeared." His voice nearly cracking, he took a shaky breath. "As you can guess, seeing Mom and Dad again was a very emotional experience for me."

"I would imagine, Pup." Wolf commented.

The tod shook his head in mild annoyance and glared at the lupine, "You really need to get this straight. I'm no longer a pup."

Said lupine blinked his eye at the unexpected comment, but before he could reply, Fox closed his eyes and continued in a dreamy voice, "But being held in Mom and Dad's arms, I felt like a pup again."

He then opened his eyes and gazed straight at Peppy. "Remember when I said I thought Dad had appeared to me at the end of the Lylat War to guide me to safety after I had killed Andross?"

The hare nodded, looking at his friend's son with wide eyes.

"Dad confirmed last night that it was him. He really was there, leading me to safety." Fox smiled fondly at his old mentor when he gave him another revelation. "Dad also had a message for you, old friend. He wants you to start wearing again that old good-luck charm made of his fur that you've kept hidden in your dresser all these years."

The old lagomorph inhaled sharply. "How did you know that?"

"Dad knows you kept it hidden there all these years out of guilt for leaving him behind and told me to remind you that he ordered you to leave him. He wanted to be sure you survived to take care of me. He's very grateful that you have and feels you should wear that piece of him with pride."

Peppy wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled. "I will." The old hare sniffed. "I find myself wishing I had been in that dream with the two of you. I do miss my old friend."

Fox glanced to his fiancée and nodded to her, "If you are willing, I don't mind you sharing that memory with him."

Krystal smiled and beckoned Peppy, "Come sit next to me."

James McCloud's old friend got up and unsteadily walked over to sit next to the telepathic vixen.

"Before, I gave you and Falco only a glimpse of what we dreamed about, but I agree with Fox. You should see this." She then placed a hand on each side of his head. "Close your eyes now."

When he did, Peppy suddenly found himself on the shores of the South Sea on Cerinia, witnessing the entire conversation between Fox and his parents. When it was over, Krystal withdrew from his mind, leaving a tearful hare looking back at her, who then lunged forward and drew her in a tight embrace. "Thank you!" he sniffed in a choked voice.

Krystal returned the embrace, her heart feeling warmed by the emotions of gratitude exuding from her friend. Peppy then got up and returned to sit next to his daughter who smiled and patted his hand.

Fox's fiancée then continued. "The memory of my world's destruction and the telepathic cry of my people when they perished will always be with me, but Fox was right. I needed to grieve and after crying so much last night, followed by being visited by our parents in our shared dream, we are able to finally move on.

"Like your father told us," Fox affirmed, "the time for us to grieve is over. We should live our lives to the fullest from now on."

"Yes, and I have lots to look forward to, especially now that I know I am not the last of my race."

"What?!" Several voices exclaimed.

"Before our dream ended, my father revealed that my world's High Elder sent 49 other Cerinians to escape before the end, and take with them something that would allow my race to rise again. He foretold that the people of New Cerinia would become Lylat's greatest ally."

"That's amazing!" Slippy exclaimed. "Where are these survivors?"

Fox shook his head. "Our parents wouldn't say, only that Krystal and I shouldn't look for them; they would be found in due time in the near future." He then turned to his canine friend. "Dad also said that you would be the one who finds them, Bill."

"Me!?" He frowned and then looked towards Peppy. "General, do you think it might have to do with the mission?"

"What mission?" Fay asked.

"Plans are underway to eventually send out a small fleet of exploratory ships to survey surrounding star systems." Peppy explained. "They would go out on several forays, each time in a different direction. I had asked if Bill would be interested in leading Bulldog Squadron as part of a defensive escort for that fleet."

Fay placed a hand on Bill's, "Were you going to accept?"

"I wasn't sure at first, but after I heard that you were going to be busy with Star Falco, I figured I may as well accept the general's invitation." Bill then turned to his long-time friend. "And it seems like your father knew I would be going out on this exploration mission."

Fox mused, "I guess Dad wasn't kidding when he said that the afterlife can be a real eye-opener and that many things were revealed to him, by the Creator I would presume."

Wolf grunted. "Well, I guess that's it for me being an atheist."

The lupine's comment elicited a few titters of laughter around the camp.

At that moment, they all suddenly heard a rumble echoing up the length of ThornTail Hollow. Everyone got up to look around, except Krystal who smiled and nodded towards the low end of the Hollow. "It's Tricky! I can sense him coming, and there are many with him."

Everyone turned to gaze in the indicated direction as the rumble grew. Around the corner came King Tricky, leading a procession of EarthWalker triceratops. On each of their backs were slung large backpacks that draped over their sides. Marching with them was a contingent of LittleFoots, with their chief marching along with Tricky. When the procession reached the edge of the camp, Tricky turned to Chief LittleFoot and nodded.

At once, the small saurian chieftain barked out orders to members of his tribe and they quickly proceeded to unload the backpacks on the backs of their larger compatriots. They commandeered the campfire and started setting up to cook a feast comprising of local game they had hunted. Others brought out long coils of vines that had been woven with flowers. One came up to Fox and asked him, "Where will Honorary LittleFoot be having bonding ritual?"

Fox quickly led several LittleFoots to the spot where he had first found Krystal's staff. "Here is where we'll stand, among these flowers."

In less than an hour, ThornTail Hollow had been turned into a magically festive setting with the decorations centering on the spot where he would marry his soulmate. Fox turned to his large friend, "Wow Tricky....It's amazing....I don't know what to say."

"Only the best for my pal. We're all grateful to both you and Krystal for saving our world, and are honored that you'd wish to be married here and have your honeymoon at Cape Claw."

Fox furtively looked around at the surrounding trees, feeling a touch of paranoia at the possibility of eavesdroppers learning of where he and his vixen would be consummating their marriage.

Having previously communicated with Krystal, Tricky could easily understand his friend's unease. "Don't worry, Fox. Your mate explained it t'me. With how you mammals like to hide when you mate, I find it really awful that these 'paparazzi' would dare to try takin' pictures of you two when you're doin' it."

Both Fox and Krystal blushed at Tricky's blatant statement of their upcoming sexual life while the saurian continued, shaking his head. "I really don't understand why they would ever do such a thing, but I'm gonna make sure you're left alone." The triceratops gazed fondly at his two friends. "You two are blessed by the Krazoa Spirits for what you've both done, gettin' them back to their shrines and savin' everyone. So when I appealed to them, they agreed to help."

"How?" Fox asked, clearly intrigued.

"After talking with Chief LittleFoot, he agreed to make the house they'd built for Krystal in Cape Claw bigger so that it's large enough for you two and your future children. They too give gifts to couples who become mates, and that is their gift to you."

Fox turned and bowed deeply to the diminutive chief standing proudly next to Tricky. "Krystal and I are deeply touched by your gracious gift."

"You save home of LittleFoot. It was honor to make house for you."

Krystal also bowed to the small chieftain. "Thank you."

Tricky once again drew his friend's attention. "And you saved us again, when the Aparoids came. So when I suggested it to the other chiefs and such of our world, they all agreed. Since no tribe currently claims that land, Cape Claw and all the surrounding territory is now yours personally, for as long as you two shall live."

Both Fox and Krystal were gobsmacked.

Tricky grinned at his two astonished friends and continued. "Consider that my wedding gift to you two. And the Krazoa Spirits will make sure your left alone. Whenever you are there, nobody will be able to bother you two. You could be mating right on the roof of the Ocean Force Point Temple at midday, and nobody outside of Cape Claw would be able to see you or get near at all."

Nearby, they heard Bill snicker. Fox turned and glared at the bulldog who raised both hands in a placating gesture while grinning, "I said nothing!"

In no time, everyone soon found themselves enjoying the festivities. Fox was in the middle of a conversation with Wolf, asking him how things were coming along with Star Wolf when Panther wandered near, looking uncharacteristically uncertain.

"So, you and your lady love shared every memory she had."

"Yes. She last night bared her every thought and memory to me, just like I had done a few weeks ago."

"Every memory? Including her time at Star Wolf?" the black cat asked.

Fox, finally understanding what Panther was nervous about, approached him while grinning. "Yes my friend, every single memory." He then grabbed the feline in a powerful hug, eliciting a yowl of surprise from him. "Including her memories of how kind and caring you were towards her while I was too stupid to realize what I needed to do to earn her forgiveness."

When the exuberant tod released him, Panther was at a loss for words for several long moments. He then sighed. "As much as I still fancy the beautiful Krystal, it is obvious it was never meant to be between us." He smiled ruefully at the fox, "and far be it for me to stand in the way of the pure love that you and your lady now share."

Krystal walked up at that moment, having overheard the amorous feline's heartfelt words. "Oh Panther, ever the romantic, are you?"

"Always, my sweet," he said, bowing to the vixen.

"Then let me give you a kiss."

"No. I could not accept that. You and Fox are meant for each other. It wouldn't..."

Krystal shushed him by placing a finger on his lips, and then kissed her feline friend on the cheek.

Panther could only smile fondly at the vixen for the chaste kiss. He then became nervous when she placed a hand against this temple. "Uh, Krystal, I don't know if..."

"It's okay. I'm not going to read your mind....Panther, while I'll never love you romantically, I do love you as a good friend." She then sent all her affection for the cat surging into his mind.

Panther suddenly found himself overwhelmed by the telepathic vixen's emotions pouring into his being, making him mewl like a kitten while his knees buckled. When she released him from her powers, he swallowed a lump in his throat, feeling deeply moved, almost to tears.

While their black-furred feline friend was recovering, Fox drew his vixen's attention. "Seems like now would be a good time to introduce them to teach other."

Krystal immediately understood what her vulpine was referring to and grinned. She turned and walked away through the other guests milling about.

Panther gazed at her retreating form in confusion, only to feel a hand clap him on his shoulder. He turned to the tod smiling at him.

"My friend, unrequited love like that is not good for the heart, and pining over someone you know you can't be with has left you blind to other possibilities."

They then both heard Miyu's timid voice. "Krystal, I...I don't know if I can do this."

Into view came Krystal, dragging a reluctant Miyu Lynx by the hand. "Oh hush. I did promise to introduce you to him. He's a really sweet kitten deep down who'd love to meet you."

Panther found himself gazing at the feline beauty approaching him, all thoughts of Krystal banished from his mind. "I am such a fool. How did I not even notice such a lovely lady before?"

"Just one piece of advice, Panther," said Fox. "Cut the suave, debonair bullshit. Miyu has been a longtime friend of mine, since childhood. I promise you that she'll really love seeing the real Panther Caruso."

Upon reaching them, Krystal introduced the two felines to each other. "Miyu, I'd like you to meet my friend, Panther Caruso." The vixen then turned to the black-furred cat in question. "Panther, this is Miyu Lynx, who's been a friend of mine since I came to the Lylat system, and a friend of Fox's for even longer."

The female lynx timidly stretched out a hand to shake it with an entranced Panther. "It...It's a pleasure to finally meet you..."

Krystal grinned to the black cat and added, "Miyu confessed to me that she fancies you."

Said lynx was now mortified and weakly tried to pull away, but Panther would not let her hand go. He instead ran a finger along her long cheek fur and whiskers, "I am deeply flattered....and embarrassed that I did not notice until now the lovely lady standing in front of me."

Miyu gazed up, wide-eyed at the tall, charming cat who looked captivated by her.

Fox linked his arm around Krystal's and smiled at the two felines. "We'll leave you two to get acquainted."

Tod and vixen wandered over to where Peppy, Falco, and Slippy were gathered. "Glad to see you feeling so much better, Blue." Falco said.

"Oh yes. I'm feeling happier than I have in a long time."

Fox then spoke up, knowing that this was the perfect time. "I think you'd feel even happier if you dropped your mental barriers around your closest friends."

Krystal turned to her fiancé, aghast. "Fox! I can't do that."

Cupping his soulmate's cheek, he looked earnestly into her eyes while addressing his friends. "When I was seeing her memories of growing up on Cerinia, the big thing that struck me was that Cerinians didn't put up such tight mental barriers amongst themselves. They'd feel each other's presence in their town, and among family and close friends would casually read each other's minds and think to each other. Emotions of affection and love would also flow freely between them."

Peppy, being the most perceptive, was the first to catch on to the significance of what Fox was saying. "And now that you live among non-telepaths, you've cut yourself off telepathically from others, wanting to respect our mental privacy....I had always wondered why you seemed so aloof at times....That's the reason, isn't it?"

Falco nodded, having gained further insight into his blue-furred friend. "Given that Fara, Peppy and I saw flashes of your world's destruction last night, it must mean you consider us close friends for our minds to be so affected, and Fay's whose mind I hear you previously read, became an even closer friend."

Krystal looked down contritely, but felt her chin being lifted up by lapine fingers to find herself gazing up into Peppy's eyes. "Nothing to be ashamed of, Child...and I'm perfectly fine if you occasionally read my surface thoughts, and maybe like Fox, I'd learn to hear you think to me too."

She then felt Falco rest a hand on her shoulder and turned to the avian who said. "And the same goes for me, Blue. You already know some of my personal secrets through Fox, and I know I can trust you to keep private anything you read in my head. So don't shut yourself out from us."

Krystal felt tears stinging her eyes, deeply moved by her friends' trust. She felt Fox hug her from behind and rest his chin on her shoulder while he murmured into her ear. "See, you are among friends who trust you. Now drop your mental barriers, let yourself read in their minds how much they care for you."

Krystal closed her eyes and nodded. She relaxed her mind, and took in a shaky breath when her mental walls fell, allowing her to feel the background hum of thoughts and emotions flowing about the wedding party and most strongly Falco and Peppy's minds.

"Such a sweet, kind-hearted girl, to have been so concerned about our feelings to keep herself from reading our minds." Krystal heard Peppy thinking. She immediately placed a hand against the old hare's temple and thought out to him, "Oh Peppy, you've been a wonderful friend and father figure to me. It's so nice to finally hear your thoughts."

Peppy's eyes widened in astonishment, "Oh my! I can hear you in my head!"

"Hush, Peppy," Krystal murmured. "Just think to me."

"I can see why Fox loves hearing you in his head."

"He'll be able to hear your thoughts too, once Fox and I form our telepathic bond."

"He will?"

"Yes, whatever I see through my telepathy will be seen by him. Our minds will be linked."

"Then, I guess he'll eventually find out. Let Fox know that I was aware that he made up the whole 'Cerinian tradition' of close friends having to wear loincloths. I know it's just to get back at Falco and Slippy for the way they were teasing him about having to wear one."

Krystal gasped, the astonishment carrying through the mental conversation she was having with Peppy. "You knew?! How?"

"I suspected it when Madam Samantha told me about this 'tradition' that Fox was having those two adhere to, but didn't include me. I decided to have her make a loincloth for me to keep up with the charade. My suspicions were confirmed by Fox's reaction to my volunteering to wear a loincloth."

"Yes, when I read in Fox's mind his intention to get back at those two, I went along with it. It is so deviously vulpine. He was so mortified when he realized his joke backfired onto you."

"My dear, I have no such inhibitions about appearing nearly naked in front of everyone, even at my age. You've never been to one of our warrens. We hares are even more open about nudity than you Cerinians. Within our enclaves, we don't even bother with clothes at all."

The others were bemused to see Krystal actually blush at whatever she read from Peppy's mind. The vixen heard Falco think, "Damn. What could Peppy be thinking to make her blush like that?"

Krystal kissed Peppy on the nose, sending a burst of her love into his mind before breaking telepathic contact. She then turned to Falco and placed a hand against his temple. "Sorry Falco, that's between Peppy and me."

Falco's eyes widened and he gave a startled chirp. "Wow! Nice to finally hear you in here, Blue."

"It's nice to finally hear your thoughts, Other Blue....Falco, it means a lot to me that you trust me enough to let me into your mind like this."

"You are a good friend, and I'm so happy to see you and Fox finally getting married. You two deserve each other." Krystal heard her avian friend think to her. She then saw his thoughts drift to Katt and saw a brief flash of a memory of himself with a prostitute and the intense shame it brought to his mind.

Falco had a moment of panic when he realized Krystal had also read that shameful thought, but then heard her think to him the last thing he expected, "You shouldn't worry. It seems Katt already knew about your 'indiscretions' for a long time."

"What! Oh no!"

Krystal could feel the rising panic in her friend and sent him calming thoughts. "Be at ease. I told Katt that you had strong feelings for her, and felt deeply ashamed with yourself for going out with those prostitutes. She already liked how attentive you've been since you two got back together, and knowing how guilty you felt for what you've done, she decided to forgive you."

Krystal could easily sense how relieved her friend was. Emotional tension that he hadn't realized he still had within him flowed out, unburdening his soul. When the vixen dropped her hand away from his head, Falco turned to see Katt standing there. He immediately closed the distance between them, taking her in a heart-felt hug and resting his beak on her shoulder.

Katt tentatively returned the hug, wondering why her boyfriend was being so emotional as it wasn't like him to express himself so overtly, but comprehension dawned upon her when she heard him whisper. "I'm sorry."

The pink feline smiled to Krystal and squeezed her boyfriend, acknowledging his apology. "I know you are. I forgive you. Just don't do that again."

"I won't. Just...don't leave me."

"Never. I'll always have your six from now on. We're a team, remember?"

Slippy looked down at his feet, feeling left out. "I guess I must not be as close a friend since I've not been as affected by your telepathy as Falco and Peppy were."

Krystal looked down at her other close friend. "Oh, I'm sorry Slippy. You are just as close a friend as Falco and Peppy. It's just that your amphibian mind is so different from a mammal's or even avian's that I haven't picked up on your thoughts."

"It's okay, I guess. Just as well. I don't think I could have taken seeing Cerinia destroyed."

The vixen smiled fondly at the toad. "That awful day is behind me now, and I don't want you to feel so left out." She kissed Fox on the cheek and stepped away from him to sit down on one of the fallen logs, beckoning her green friend. "Sit with me, Slippy."

When he did, Krystal placed a hand against his wide head and rested her forehead against his. "This will take some concentration on my part. Just relax and close your eyes."

When Slippy did, she did the same and began to focus on his mind, so different from any mammalian species she was used to. Fox and Amanda sat there, watching while Krystal attempted to telepathically commune with their friend. The vixen could already sense Slippy's emotions and was touched by how hopeful the toad was that she would be able to read his mind. Probing more intently, she found an orderly mind, typical of an engineer like him, but also child-like in its inquisitiveness. Her heart leaped with delight when she finally heard him think, "Krystal? Can you hear me? Please say you can?"

Krystal grinned and thought back, "Knock, knock."

Slippy gasped and excitedly thought back, "Krystal? Is that you?"

"Well of course, it's me. Who else here can read minds?"

"Oh wow! This is so neat! We're actually thinking to each other."

"It wasn't easy, but yeah, I can read your mind now. It will be easier for me to do so from now on since I'm now familiar with your amphibian thought patterns."

Slippy opened his eyes and smiled at his friend, a look of pure delight to find himself included among her close friends that she'd mentally speak to him.

Krystal gasped when she briefly saw herself through the toad's amphibian eyes. She reached out with her other hand and grasped her friend's sloping shoulder.

Fox became concerned and asked, "Krystal, are you alright?"

The vixen took a shaky breath and nodded, "Slippy sees things so differently from other mammals that I was caught unprepared for seeing myself from his point of view."

Amanda, who was medically trained as a nurse, spoke up at that moment. "I would guess that you've discovered how we amphibians can see completely around ourselves, and that we can only perceive things that move."

"Yes, it is so different than how I and other mammals see things....You can see all the colors that we do though, but only when things are moving." She sent a burst of affection into Slippy's mind and then withdrew, and kissed him on the forehead.

"I wonder how it would look if I saw from your point of view, Krystal."

"I'm afraid that would not be possible without me probing very deeply into your mind, and I'll do that only with Fox."

Amanda smiled and kissed her fiancé. "Mammals have binocular vision and see only right in front of them, but they can see things even when they don't move."

Krystal nodded, "The fact that toads see things so differently is part of the reason why their minds are wired the way they are, making it harder for me to read without some concentration, but now that I'm familiar with Slippy's mind, it will be easier for me to sense his surface thoughts from now on, especially when I'm wearing my focusing gem."

Fox sat down next to his fiancée and drew her into his arms. Krystal leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes, soaking up the ebb and flow of the random thoughts and emotions of her friends. She sniffed, "It feels so nice to finally let myself feel all of you. I....I have forgotten how much I had cut myself off from everything since my world's destruction."

She then sensed Fay Spaniel sit next to her and Fox and opened her eyes to meet her friend's gaze. "After our honeymoon, maybe you and Bill can take us to that waterpark."

Fay's eyes widened, finally hearing her friend in her mind. "Oh yes, Bill and I will take you there and we'll show you the best waterslides in Lylat."

Krystal winked to her friend and spoke out loud, "Yes, I know. I read it from your mind even before you said it out loud."

Bill chuckled, "There will be no keeping secrets from Fox and Krystal from now on."

Krystal looked down demurely at her hands, "I wouldn't worry about that, Bill. Part of a Cerinian's telepathic training is learning how to sense which thoughts a person would rather keep private even before reading that thought." She focused on Fay. "For example, I am now lightly tapping into Fay's mind and sense she has some thoughts about you that she'd rather I not see, and so I know to not probe any deeper and respect her privacy."

Bill grinned at his blushing girlfriend. "I think I can guess what she might be thinking, given how strongly she's blushing." The bulldog then become pensive. "So that is how I can expect these other Cerinians to be with me when I find them?"

Krystal nodded, "Yes, if I understood my father correctly, they will be in need of help, but afraid of what will happen to them when you encounter them. They'll probably lightly probe your surface thoughts to try and understand what your intentions are, as well as learn your language, but not intrude on personal thoughts you'd rather they didn't read."

Bill sat there, wringing his hands. "Hearing the details of your world's destruction and how your people were nearly wiped out just makes me sick to the heart....All I can think of now is wanting to find a way to protect these survivors."

Krystal smiled warmly at her friend. "And when they read those thoughts in your mind, it will go a long way to reassuring them that they will be safe." She then became thoughtful. "Bill, would it be okay if I planted a message to them in your mind for them to read?"

"Sure. Anything to let your people know that we're on their side." Without asking, Bill immediately drew up a chair and sat right in front of Krystal, who was deeply touched by his eagerness to help. She leaned forward from where she was sitting, placed her hands on his temples, and pressed her forehead against his. "Okay. Close your eyes, and let your mind go blank."

Bill did so, and waited while doing his best to not think of anything.

After a few moments, Krystal broke contact and smiled. "There, it's done."

"It is? I didn't hear anything in my mind."

"I planted it in your subconscious. It is my memory of my dream last night where my father foretold that they would succeed in their mission and our race would rise again with the help of the people of Lylat."

"Then, I'll let them know the moment they understand me that my friend Krystal planted a message for them in my head."

"Tell them my actual name: Kurisutaru."

Bill carefully enunciated the vixen's Cerinian name. "Ku-ri-su-ta-ru. Got it."

Krystal leaned back into her fiancé's arms once again and tilted her head back to nuzzle him. Just then, Fox's communicator went off. The tod immediately answered, "Fox McCloud here."

"This is the CDF Vigilant, arriving to relieve the Guardian. I have been instructed to inform you that Chief Justice Melinae Brock and General Pepper are on their way and should arrive at your location in approximately 25 minutes."

"Thank you, Vigilant. Fox McCloud out." He smiled to himself, glad that the retired general was well enough to make the journey. He then gazed at his vixen, his eyes shining with joy. "Should we change into our wedding loincloths?"

"Yes. It's time," Krystal nodded in reply.

Fox turned to the other guests. "Everyone, the Chief Justice, along with General Pepper, are on their way and should be here in less than a half-hour. Falco, Slippy,and uh...Peppy, it's time for us to get ready."

Slippy groaned while being dragged away by Amanda, who smiled at her fiancé. Falco closed his eyes and sighed, "I really was hoping Fox would have forgotten about those loincloths."

Katt grinned and also dragged her boyfriend to their tent. "Come on, Birdie. No way out of it. I want to see your feathery butt out in the sunshine."

Peppy smirked at Fox, giving him a wink, before also going into his tent to change.

"What's with Peppy?" Fox murmured while letting himself be dragged up the hill by his vixen. Once they were inside the stone building where they had spent the previous night, the two foxes turned their back to each other and began to strip. Fox only needed to change loincloths and remove his sandals. He stood there with his back to Krystal while she removed her bracers, leggings, and the rest of her guardian accouterments. While she was putting everything in her rucksack, she answered Fox's rhetorical question. "Peppy figured out that we were pulling a prank on Falco and Slippy to get them into loincloths, and decided to go along with the gag."

"He knew?!?" Fox turned to Krystal, briefly glimpsing her completely naked body from the back. "Oh shit!" He quickly averted his gaze and resolutely turned his back to her again.

Krystal sensed his embarrassment and giggled while slipping on her wedding loincloth and bra.

Fox huffed. "Yes, I know casual nudity was accepted on Cerinia, but I still refuse to see you naked until we are married."

"Yes, I know. I can sense how important it is to you. It is one of your more endearing qualities that I love so much. I feel the same way, which is why I'm also keeping my back to you until you've changed loincloths."

"You should already know that I'm done. I only needed to change loincloths and take off my sandals." Fox then frowned. "I noticed you've not been inside my head all day since this morning..."

"Yes. It's to make the mental bonding all the more special. Today is the last day each of us will be alone in our minds....And you can turn around. I'm no longer naked."

With a lump forming in his throat, Fox's eyes drank in the pure, unadorned beauty who would soon be his wife. Gone were her other accessories that had identified her as a guardian on Cerinia. She was in the process of even removing her tail bands which she put into her rucksack along with the rest. Next to come off was the necklace given to her by her parents. To his astonishment, he watched her slip her fingers under her headband and slide it forward to remove her focusing gem from her forehead.

Standing there resplendent in nothing but her pure white loincloth and bra, Krystal answered his unasked question. "Our positions and roles in life and society are irrelevant. Our wedding garments are all that we should be wearing."

"And your focusing gem?"

"When I link our minds, it must be by virtue of my telepathic powers alone, with no additional aids. This way, the strength of our mental bond will not depend on anything but our desire to be together."

Deeply moved, Fox stepped forward and drew his love into his arms. "Krystal, nothing could possibly make me happier than to unite my life to yours."

The vixen sniffled and nuzzled her tod. "Right back at you, Fox." She then drew back from his embrace and kissed him on the nose. "Come. I must meditate for the time remaining to prepare myself to link our minds."

Together, the engaged couple stepped out of the building and made their way towards the circle of flowers where they would unite their souls. The others were gathered around, idly chatting among themselves. Falco and Slippy had just emerged from their tents. With Katt at his side, Falco closed his eyes and sighed, unable to believe he was actually standing there nearly naked in his dark red loincloth for all to see. Slippy's dark yellow loincloth did little to hide the bright blush that now graced his green skin. If it weren't for Amanda's moral support, the toad would not have been able to make it beyond their tent. Soon, the two of them were in the center of the circle of flowers with Fox and Krystal. "You look great, guys." Fox said with a sly vulpine smile.

Panther smiled and nodded to the falcon and toad. "My compliments on a truly romantic way to please your ladies." He then turned to his new love interest and purred. "Does the fair Miyu wish that her panther also wore a loincloth?"

"Oooh. You'd look fantastic!"

Fara could only giggle. "Looking at those two, being in a loincloth is the last thing they ever wanted. I ought to take pictures."

Wolf grinned at the fennec and pointed to his prosthetic eye, "I've already recorded it."

"Oh? Looking to blackmail Fox and his friends?"

"Blackmail Fox?" Wolf grunted. "Ha! Look at him. He's not even batting an eye at being seen nearly naked."

"You've got a point there. He's pretty much gone native. I wouldn't be surprise if one day his fur turns blue."

"As for the other two...No. I don't think I'll blackmail them. It would be bad for business. With all the pirate activity going on out there, Falco and I have already talked about joint operations between Star Wolf and Star Falco."

Fara nodded. "Either way, I want copies of those recordings."

"Sure. I'll send them to you."

Tricky hummed thoughtfully. "I don't know what the fuss is about. Fox and his friends look fine to me without their clothes."

Fay and Fara both giggled at the EarthWalker king's pronouncement. Bill raised his water canteen in salute. "Right you are, Tricky. Clothes are overrated." The bulldog then took a drink.

From the back of the camp, Peppy emerged from his tent, wearing nothing but a forest green loincloth trimmed in deep blue, with the same Cerinian symbols for friendship along its edge that were also on Falco's and Slippy's loincloths. Without reservation, the general of the Cornerian Defense Force marched up the hill to the front of the gathering.

Bill was in the process of taking a large gulp of water when he saw the general march by, nearly naked, and again did a spit take. Unfortunately, he had just a moment before been talking to Tricky and ended up spitting his mouthful of water right into the face of the EarthWalker king.

"Hey! What's the big idea?"

"Oh shit! Sorry Tricky." Bill frantically tried to wipe the irate dinosaur's face clean.

Peppy turned around and eyed the bulldog. "That will do, Commander."

"Yes Sir! Sorry Sir!" Bill saluted and stood at attention while Fay giggled at her boyfriend's loss of composure.

Falco and Slippy were slack-jawed at seeing the old hare's nearly total lack of clothing, completely forgetting their own embarrassment. Fox was in awe, having never seen his old mentor like this. Krystal cooed. "You look really good, Peppy."

Though having a slight paunch due to his age, Peppy Hare was remarkably fit. Well-toned muscles could be seen outlined under a short, but thick coat of dark brown fur. "Being desk-bound since becoming general, I've been making use of the Headquarters gymnasium to keep fit."

"Wow Peppy, it shows." Fox said in admiration of his father's old friend.

Krystal kissed her fiancé in the cheek. "I'm going to meditate now until the Chief Justice arrives."

Fox nuzzled his vixen back. "I love you."

With that, the telepathic vixen knelt where she was, closed her eyes, and began breathing deeply, slipping into a deep meditative trance.

While his bride mentally prepared herself, Fox spoke in a quiet voice to all his friends who were gathered around. "Thank you all for coming. It will not be long before the Chief Justice arrives." His gaze drifted to his three closest friends gathered near him. "Falco, Slippy, Peppy, you guys are the best. For many reasons, Krystal and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. Thank you for standing with me."

Peppy smiled and placed a hand on Fox's shoulder. "Your father made me promise to take care of you and guide you."

"And you have, and I'm forever grateful that you've been there for me all these years."

"Yes, and now you are at a point in life where I can happily say that I've fulfilled your father's final wish. I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks....That means a lot to me." He looked around at his friends gathered around him, no longer knowing what else to say. Their presence already spoke volumes of the bonds he shared with all them, even if they weren't as deep as his bond with Krystal. "I...I think I'll just wait with Krystal while she meditates."

None could begrudge Fox for wanting to spend some quiet time with his vixen, and so all attendants soon milled about themselves in small groups, conversing quietly about anything and everything.

While Fox knelt in front of Krystal and watched her meditate, his mind drifted back to everything that transpired leading up to this moment, all the hurt and joys, hopes and fears. So many things had happened since that moment where he first found her staff at this very spot where they were kneeling now. And now, he was 27 years old and she was 20. Thinking of what would soon be happening here, Fox could feel nothing but boundless joy.

The minutes trickled by until they all heard the sound of a shuttlecraft roar overhead and land at the top of the cliff where the Great Falcon and the two Wolfens were already sitting. A few minutes later, a distinguished badger made his way down into ThornTail Hollow to join the wedding party, followed by an aged retired General Pepper in a hover chair.

Chief Justice Melinae Brock of the Lylat High Court took in the scene. To his surprise, he was greeted by a nearly naked General Peppy Hare who was wearing only a loincloth. The aged lagomorph though did not seem perturbed in the least by his lack of clothing. "Chief Justice Brock, glad you could make it. We've been expecting you."

"Indeed." He gazed over to Falco and Slippy, also wearing loincloths, and then to the engaged couple, wearing nothing but pure white loincloths. "Am I to presume that your current attire is based on the customs of the bride?"

"That is correct." Peppy affirmed. "and Falco, Slippy, and I, as the bride and groom's closest friends, are also dressed in accordance to the traditions of Cerinia."

"I admit I find it unusual, but it should not be a problem."

Peppy then turned to the aged hound dog who looked up from his hover chair at his friend. "George, it's so good to see you, my old friend. I'm glad you could make it."

George Pepper smirked while taking in the hare's near total lack of clothing. "It's good to see you too, though I didn't expect to see this much of you." He then noticed that Falco and Slippy were also wearing loincloths similar to his successor, and beyond them in a small clearing the bride and groom in pure white loincloths with silver trim. "I take it that this is all part of some Cerinian custom?"

"It is to some extent, George."

"Some extent? What do you mean?"

Peppy leaned forward and whispered in the retired general's ear. "I'll tell you later." He then stood up and winked before walking off towards where Falco and Slippy were waiting.

At that moment, Krystal's eyes opened and taking one more deep breath, she stood up, her groom standing with her.

Melinae Brock walked up to the groom and shook his hand. "Fox McCloud, it is a pleasure to meet you at last, and an honor to officiate over your wedding ceremony."

"The honor is ours, Chief Justice. Thank you for coming to this location that is very special to Krystal and me."

The badger looked around, taking in the scene. "Well, there's no denying that this is a lovely location." He then focused on the bride and groom. "So how did you wish to proceed?"

"We intend to start with the traditional ceremony as it is recognized in the Lylat system, to make our marriage official by our laws, first declaring our love for each other and then making our vows to each other," Fox replied.

The judge nodded in approval.

Krystal then continued. "We then intend to continue in the traditions of my own people which will culminate in my forging a telepathic bond between myself and Fox."

"Will I need to do anything for the Cerinian part of this wedding ritual?" asked the badger.

The vixen shook her head. "No. You need only witness and declare us married once we are bonded."

"Very well then." The judge then turned to address all who were gathered. "Everyone, come forward." The justice then cleared his throat and began.

"Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of that magic, and that is why we are here today. We are gathered together to be overjoyed for, and with, Fox and Krystal, who are so wonderfully suited to one another that it is a pure delight for the rest of us to see how happy these two vulpine are. They are the example of the love that has endured tribulations and become the stronger for it. They are the promise of possibility, the expectation of joyful surprise. We are here to celebrate, witness, honor, dance, laugh, sing, eat, and be glad because these two have found each other."

The judge then paused and smiled to the bride and groom. "Fox and Krystal would now like to declare in front of you their love for each other."

Fox took his bride's hands in his and spoke from his heart. "Krystal...my dear Kurisutaru, before I met you, my life had been empty. The death of my parents had been an open wound that had not allowed me to feel or express love. Until I met you that fateful day at Krazoa Palace, I had not believed there was such a thing as 'love at first sight.' Oh how wrong I was. Gazing into your eyes at that first moment, I was hopelessly lost to you, even though I didn't know it at the time. In the months that followed, you helped me come out of my shell and express that love for you." Fox smirked and added. "Of course, you being a telepath did give you an advantage over me. You already knew I was in love with you and with your help, I came to realize how deeply I loved you. Then, in a stupid, misguided desire to protect you, I drove you away and hurt you. Looking back on that awful time we were separated, I find myself agreeing with Dad. It was a good thing. It has made us all the more appreciative of what we now have since we reconciled and I will be forever grateful that you forgave me and gave me your love. I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul."

These were of course all things that Krystal already knew, having delved to the deepest part of her groom's mind, but it nevertheless filled her heart with happiness to hear him openly declare his love for her. She therefore could do no less. "Fox, when my world was destroyed, I didn't think I could ever feel happiness again. I was cast adrift, without purpose, struggling to maintain my will to live. As a telepath, those first few months after that calamity were the loneliest of my life. I did find renewed purpose when I received the distress call from Sauria, but even among the CloudRunners I felt alone. It was not until the moment when you rescued me at Krazoa Palace that thoughts of loneliness were dispelled. It seems we both had a 'love at first sight' moment. When you invited me to join Team Star Fox, you gave me back my purpose as a guardian. I could also sense your attraction to me, which you now know was reciprocated from the very beginning. The months that followed where we grew closer were the happiest since the loss of my home world. And the hurt I felt from our breakup pales in comparison to the joy I now feel. I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul."

Melinae Brock smiled to the bride and groom. "You have now professed your love for each other. The time has come for you to pledge yourselves to each other."

Holding hands, Fox and Krystal lost themselves into their shared gaze.

"I, Fox McCloud, son of James McCloud and Vixy Reinard take you, Kurisutaru, to be my lawfully wedded wife..."

"I, Kurisutaru, daughter of Onikisu and Shiokaze take you, Fox, to be my lawfully wedded husband..."

The bride and groom then continued reciting their vows to each other in one voice, "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for all eternity."

The Chief Justice blinked in surprise at the significant change to how their vows ended but found no fault in their desire to remain true to each other, even beyond death.

Fox slid his hands down to his wife's hips and waited. Ever since he had bared his very soul to the vixen who was without a doubt his soulmate, it had been his fondest wish that they would always be together. His heart now soared with joy at the thought that their very souls would merge.

Krystal placed her hands firmly against the sides of her husband's head and entered his mind. The newly married couple then declared to each other in once voice, "By the ancient customs of Cerinia, I declare that you are my soulmate. From this day forward, our hearts will beat as one, our minds will be melded, and our souls will be merged, for all eternity."

Krystal then leaned forward and pressed her forehead against her soulmate's. The couple grew still while the vixen delved into her husband's mind. Both breathed deeply, their breaths quickly becoming synchronized. They then intoned together the words written on their loincloths "One Heart, One Mind, One Soul." Fox could now feel his wife everywhere inside him, her presence making its way into every corner and recess of his mind. Never before had he felt his love so completely within his very being. The feeling of oneness became even more intense when Krystal began to draw her soulmate into her own mind. Like the previous night, Fox felt himself mentally fall inside his vixen, her thoughts, emotions, and sensations rushing at him as he found himself drawn deeply into her mind. Still in synch, their breaths quickened, both of them starting to feel overwhelmed at the intensity of their shared experience.

Krystal intensified her focus and concentrated on completing their telepathic link. With a sudden clarity, Fox knew his wife's every thought, emotion, and memory as if it were his own while at the same time feeling her presence everywhere within himself. Time seemed to stand still for the couple. Their awareness of their surroundings faded as they focused completely on each other until their souls merged. In the next instant, their senses exploded in an overwhelming duality. For each of them, sounds seemed to echo and smells intensified. Fox found himself gazing at his wife while simultaneously seeing himself from her point of view and Krystal also saw herself from his point of view while gazing at her husband. Their sense of touch also echoed in each other. Fox tightened his grip on her hips and gasped, feeling the sensation of fingers digging into his hips.

The tod whined, struggling with the sensory overload. His heart was pounding and his breath quickened, coming in gasps. "Relax...Let the sensations come to you." Came her soothing voice in his mind._ "I know it's overwhelming for you. It is a bit for me too. You'll get used to it before the day is over."_

"Oh Spirits! This is so intense. Is this normal?" Fox thought back to his soulmate.

"Yes. The bonding was often overwhelming for many couples on my world, but like them, we'll become so used to it that it will feel natural to us."

"Are you two alright?"

Tod and vixen turned as one to look at the Chief Justice. The badger was looking at them, concern written on his striped face.

Krystal and Fox panted together and unintentionally spoke at the same time. "Yes. We're fine. The bonding was a bit overwhelming at first."

"So should I presume you are done?"

The newlywed couple turned to gaze at each other once again. "Yes....We are One Heart, One Mind, One Soul."

Chief Justice Brock nodded and made the pronouncement. "Then, by the powers invested in me by the High Court of Lylat, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss each other..." the badger then added with a smirk, "if you two are up for it, that is."

Fox and Krystal wrapped their arms about each other and melded their muzzles into a deep, passionate kiss. The sensations, the taste and smell, of each other's mouths and tongues echoed back and forth to such an intensity that Krystal's heart was pounding and Fox whimpered in ecstasy, making his knees buckle. They broke their kiss and gazed back at each other, oblivious to the applause and cheers of their friends, their hearts filled with boundless joy at finally being married.