Author's Note: This is an homage again to R.A. Salvatore, who used a similar ploy in The Halfling's Gem. Also: Disclaimer, I do not own Star Fox nor anything related to them. They are owned by Nintendo and any others involved in their creation that I've forgotten (or am too lazy to list, take your pick, lol.)

Chapter 13 : Fox's Facade

"Sirs, please, we really must be going," Peppy tried, but it was clear the guards wouldn't back down.

"We assure you, this'll only take a minute." Peppy heard Fox take a breath as if to speak, and mentally begged him not to. They'd know...

"Please... let us pass... I beg of you..." The hare looked over, startled, at the ragged, painful tone Fox had used. It sounded like he was suffering somehow. Seeing the hare's reaction, Fox looked at him. "I know you cautioned me not to speak, my brave, loyal friend, that my throat's nearly gone. But we must leave, before..." He hesitated, and the guards played right into it, one asking,

"Before what?" Fox shakily sighed.

"Before I have another... attack..." He suddenly began to tremble. "Oh no! ... not... not again... AAAAARRRRRRR!" Fox doubled over, nearly dropping to his knees as he let out a wail of agony. Everyone looked over, startled, and the guards backed up. Fox panted, as if trying to control his pain, and Peppy dropped to his knees beside him, sincerely concerned and wanting to help, wondering at this mysterious malady that Fox had neglected to mention. The vulpine seemed not to notice any of this as he began to sob, whimpering loudly, "It hurts... hurts so bad..."

"What's wring with him?" The guard sounded frightened. Peppy didn't answer, didn't really know how to, and after about a minute Fox calmed.

"My... my apologies..." He slowly straightened. "Sirs, I beg of you to be silent on this matter. I cannot let it be known that I am so... ill."

"Ill?" They backed up.

"Yes. It is a vile disease, which burns at me from the inside out. See for yourself, witness my suffering!" He drew out his arms and showed them, and gasps filled the room. All over Fox's arms were bleeding whelps and sores of a most unhealthy sort.

"Keep away from me!" one guard exclaimed.

"It is not contagious, as long as none touch the sores," Fox said, tucking his arms away. "My brave brother here had agreed to risk the affliction, and travel with me on my final quest, to see all the land's temples. But I have not a moment to spare, as every moment brings me closer to my demise. Please, let us go." The guards were only too happy to move, wanting nothing to do with them. The headed for the door, and a Peppy opened it Fox went into another convulsion, as if about to vomit. He ran off into the woods, and Peppy followed.

They ran back towards the others, and didn't stop until a good ten minutes were between them and the town. There Fox waited for Peppy to catch up.

"What - what has happened?" he asked instanntly as he reached Fox's side. "You were not ill last night. Let me see your sores." Fox chuckled.

"I'm not sick. I was just fooling them. C'mon, I'll explain after we reach the camp, and you'll have to explain those 'poems.'"

"Very well." They were quick to rejoin the others after another twenty minute walk.

"How'd it go?" asked Slippy when they arrived.

"Successful, if not smooth," Fox replied as he removed the robes to reveal his arms, covered in the sores. He grinned. "I'd say I did that act better than the first time."

"So they bought it?" from Falco, looking amused.

"Oh yeah. Those Sharpclaws - yes, they're Sharpclaws - couldn't get us out fast enough." Now the vulpine turned to Peppy. "As I said, I'm not sick. We thought there might be trouble, so Falco, Slippy, and I decided to resurrect an old role I played in school." Very carefully he pulled off one 'sore.' "See? It's wax." Peppy's eyes darted to the candle stub.

"So that's why the color is so odd!"

"Thanks to the pack," Slippy said, giving it a pat. "We just dripped the melted wax onto Fox's arms, and then a quick yank would pull out enough fur to make them bleed a bit."

"I did that when I doubled over," Fox added as he sat down to remove the rest by more comfortable means. "All of the rest was acting and a fake voice."

"Well, I am certainly impressed," Reverent Peppy admitted as he too sat down.

"So, what messages did you get?" Krystal wanted to know.

"I was informed on a dear friend's well-being, and told of dire tidings." He sighed sadly.

"The Great Lady and the Hunting Dog," surmised Fox. Peppy nodded.

"We've had to call ourselves my code names, such as myself as the Gentle Breeze, or Sir Fox as the Shining Light. Of the Lady I cannot say much, for her peril is the greatest of all. But, for now, she is safe. And as for the Hunter..." Again his eyes filled with tears. "It indicates another resistance member, Sir William, had been captured by Andross and is his prisoner." The Star Fox crew looked at each other, then back at the reverend.

"He wouldn't happen to go by the name Bill, would he?" Falco asked. Peppy nodded.

"You know of a similar person on your world?"

"Yeah, we know Bill." Fox removed the past bit, and the reverend reached over to lay his hand on Fox's wrist. His eyes closed a bit, and he murmured under his breath, and Fox felt a warm tingling flow through his fur. All saw the minor wounds close up by themselves, and the fur regrow, until there was no sign of the damage at all.

"How'd you do that?" asked Slippy, astonished.

"My divine gifts include healing magics," he answered. "I can heal nearly any wound, and restore lost limbs. About the only thing I cannot do is restore lost life. Only the gods can give and take life."

"Magic..." Slippy muttered. Fox shook off his surprise.

"What are the chances we could rescue Bill?" he asked.

"None," Peppy answered. "The best we can do for him - and for everyone - is to free the king's soul."

"Then lets go!" They headed our that very moment.