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Carnal Combat

Episode X: A Fate Preordained

By FJE http://www.furaffinity.net/user/emerson/

First Draft 9/24/06

Second Draft 10/2/06 (Changed the ending 'cause it sucked donkey balls.)

Disclaimer: This series is a tribute to three of my favorite forms of entertainment - kick-ass martial arts, Mortal Kombat, and hot anthro smut. All characters are created by and owned by me (in whatever form you can own imaginary furry folk), unless stated otherwise. Special Thanks to Setta Flamowitz for suggesting Carnal Combat and Carnalities over my slightly cheesier idea of Immoral Combat and Sexualities.

Rhane was far from pleased when the Shadow guards had accosted her after her match. She didn't know what they wanted, but she knew that trying to fight all three of them when she was so tired would probably end up being a bad plan. Still, she found herself wanting to clock one of them as they roughly seized her, cuffing her paws behind her back before they led her off.

They led her down halls she had never seen before, until she passed through a small open yard, hidden away in the Hall of Combat complex. On the other side of the yard was a large set of doors, and she was led through them, into a large room.

The room had the Seal of Combat on the floor, and there were large pillars running down the center of the room on either side of the Seal. At the other end of the room was a slightly raised platform with steps that led to a single throne. In the Throne was Nobu Ra' Chi, and on his left was Khan and on his right was Kaine.

The guards released Rhane's paws, and once they were free she fixed her suit, pulling it back on properly. She glared at Khan bitterly, and then she looked to Ra' Chi.

"What is this about? Is this how you treat your guests?" She said dryly.

Ra' Chi smirked. "Why, isn't it clear? I'm giving you what you wanted, vixen. You've rambled on and on about how you wanted to fight Kaine for the Championship and to depose me. Well, here is your chance."

Rhane frowned. "Are you that afraid of losing that you would blatantly throw out the rules?"

"I fear nothing," Ra' Chi hissed. He then pointed at Rhane.

"Kaine versus Rhane," he said, glaring up at the stallion. "FIGHT."

* * *

After the other fighters had agreed to work with Ruin, the ninja had led them on a winding path of halls and corridors. Daichi, Spectre, Dusk, Hikaro, Stardust, and Suki followed along after Selena and Ruin, amazed at just how huge the Hall of Combat was, and how many secret paths there were. They had been walking for a good ten minutes when they finally met up with Hitomi.

The mouse looked worn and dejected, but she was otherwise all right. They greeted her, and the mouse even hugged Spectre, quickly apologizing for her actions towards him. As they took a moment to fill her in on a few details, Selena pulled Ruin to the side.

"Is it true?" She asked, whispering to the ninja. "Kaine has called for this?"

Ruin nodded, fixing his glowing eyes on the reptile. "Indeed. Ra' Chi is playing a dangerous game now. He is outright defying the Gods in his actions. If he isn't stopped, he will no doubt bring the Houses to war again."

Selena looked back at the other fighters, who seemed to be wrapping up their conversation. She frowned, folding her arms over her still-exposed chest.

"This is a sad day in our history, when we find ourselves defying the Master of our House and Grandmaster of the Tournament. I hope Kaine knows what he's doing."

"He's doing the only thing he can," Ruin said, summoning the group to follow him once more.

* * *

Rhane stared Kaine down. They now stood on the Seal of Combat, the fight officially underway. She could feel the energies flowing into her, working faster since she was still so fresh from her match with Hitomi. The fact that the Throne Room was apparently an actual sanctified arena wasn't surprising, but she did find her blood boiling at the thought of Ra' Chi watching the fight.

Kaine circled with her for a few moments. He looked angry, but together, and the vixen understood why the stallion had been Champion all these years. He was huge, definitely powerful, and the fact that he came to the match nude spoke volumes of his confidence in his abilities.

The stallion snorted. "I am sorry about this," he said under his breath. "I wanted a fair fight, not a sacrifice."

Rhane smirked. "Don't count me out yet," she growled, and she swung a high kick at the stallion's head. He blocked it with a forearm, and then he thrust his free arm out, striking Rhane in the chest with an open palm. She gasped and fell onto her back, rolling heels-over-head immediately to get back to her feet.

Kaine threw several punches at her, and the vixen dodged them. There was power there, but it slowed him down, making it easy for the smaller vixen to avoid him. She grinned, thinking that this would be just the advantage that she needed, but then the stallion threw a lightning fast side kick that caught her square in the belly, sending her to her back once again.

"I'm not slow," he snorted, as if reading her mind. "I'm just pacing."

"Quiet," Ra' Chi snarled. "Finish her off."

Kaine threw a nasty glance back at the dragon. In that moment, Rhane quickly moved forward and pressed her nose to the stallion's crotch, licking over his balls quickly. He let out a surprised whinny, shivering for a second as that warm tongue bathed his heavy sac. Kaine quickly lurched back, breaking away from the vixen's mouth, but it was too late. She had started him up, and he felt the arena energies flowing through him, arousing him. Perhaps, he thought, she had some fight left in her after all.

Rhane was back on her feet, and she made a dive for the stallion's legs as if looking for a takedown. He easily sidestepped her, just as she intended, and the vixen quickly rolled past him entirely, spinning around behind him. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she grabbed his balls and sheath, fondling them firmly. His lack of clothes was definitely to her advantage now.

The stallion gasped, his hips jerking as the vixen caught him once again. He grunted and tried to shake her free, but she was holding on tight. With a snort of irritation, Kaine lifted one hoofed foot and brought it crashing down on the ground, creating a shockwave that send Rhane tumbling backwards, dizzy and dazed.

While the vixen was down, Kaine strode in and stood over her. He shook his head and reached down, grabbing the front of her body suit in a big paw. One tug tore it from her body, jerking her body up as the fabric stretched and gave way. The vixen cried out, finding herself suddenly nude, and then the stallion grabbed her hair.

Kaine forced the vixen to her feet, making her bend over before he put her head between his thighs, forcing her to look at the floor. He bent forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, and then the stallion stood, pulling her up only to flip her around in the air, letting her land with her legs over his shoulders on either side of his head, and her pussy front and center to his muzzle.

Rhane whimpered, holding onto the stallion's head as he started to lick against her pussy, his tongue against her clit. She couldn't help but squirm, already so aroused from her earlier fight. The energies from the arena poured into her, and she was absolutely dripping against Kaine's tongue. Her chest heaved as she panted, her nipples stiff; she felt her ears fold back for a second.

Thinking quick, the vixen made a move to escape. She let go of Kaine's head, allowing herself to fall backwards. As she fell, she pointed her elbows back, and when she was about to come to a full hanging position from his shoulders, the vixen drove her elbows into his belly.

Kaine cursed into Rhane's sex, dropping the vixen as he staggered back holding his sides. Rhane barely avoided landing on her head, but she found that all she could do was lay on her back and pant. Her body was tingling with pleasure, and she had to get some measure of control back.

The stallion stormed back towards Rhane once he was over the pain in his sides. She could see him coming, his half-erect cock bobbing from the sheath as he approached. The vixen tried to get to her feet, but she was barely on her knees when Kaine grabbed her, once again grabbing her hair as he dragged her over to a pillar.

The stallion brought her to her feet, turning her to push her against the pillar, her breasts against it. He grabbed her wrists, lifting them over her head as he pinned them to the cold stone. Rhane cried out as she felt the horse rubbing his thick slab of meat against her ass, while he nuzzled at her neck.

"I'm willing to bet I can hold out longer in your ass than you can, cutie," he snorted, his cock getting harder between her cheeks. She knew he was out to humiliate her now; trying to fuck an opponent was terribly risky, but she knew he was right. As aroused as she was now, only an amateur would blow their load before she came, and Kaine was clearly no amateur.

The more she squirmed in her attempt to escape, the harder his cock got. She could feel it now under her tail, warm between her cheeks. Rhane knew that if he got it in her, she was done. There was no way she would be able to get off that thick length, not in her condition.

Once again, she made a concentrated effort to get free. Though her wrists were caught, her legs were not, and so the vixen drew her feet up, pulling her knees to her chest while her hindpaws pressed against the pillar. She kicked hard, and Kaine grunted as the force shoved the vixen back against him hard, giving her just enough leeway to get her paws free. She slipped away, scrambling to put distance between herself and the stallion.

Kaine looked annoyed that his butt-fuck had slipped away. He strode towards the vixen with a menacing look, and she panicked. She groaned, drawing on the energies in the arena. Her forearms began to bubble a liquid red, and she found the strength to shoot them forward in powerful jets of red rain, aimed at the stallion.

Kaine stopped short, and swung his arms forward quickly. His paws crashed together in front of him in a mighty clap, and the room seemed to shake. A powerful shockwave sailed out from his paws, meeting Rhane's liquid attack head on. She cried out as the shockwave turned her limbs to a fine red mist, and then the vixen fell to her knees. Her arms returned to normal, but she was spent. Kaine had knocked away the most powerful attack she had with the littlest of effort.

The stallion strode forward, eager to finish the match. He had no desire to play with the vixen further. This was no longer a fight, it was just a façade. When he reached the vixen, Kaine shoved her down on her back with a foot. He knelt down next to her, placing a paw on her pussy. His fingers went to work, rubbing her clit and stroking her folds.

"Just give in and let us be done with this," he whispered, watching the vixen writhe under his touch. "Enjoy the pleasure, and walk away."

Rhane's chest started to heave as the pleasure filled her. She listened to the stallion's words and she nodded, closing her eyes. It was just too much, she reasoned. No one could be expected to win two fights in a row, not this close together.

Kaine was dutifully masturbating the vixen, while Ra' Chi sat on the edge of his throne, leering. He was so close to victory, he could taste it. All that stood between the dragon and another year on the throne was a few more finger strokes.

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open. Both Ra' Chi and Kaine looked up, surprise on their faces as a large party stormed in. Ruin and Selena led the pack, but everyone was there: Hitomi and Stardust, Daichi and Spectre, Dusk and Suki and Hikaro.

"Nobu Ra' Chi," Daichi yelled, stepping forward. "We represent all the House's of this land, and we come to challenge your authority! Step down and explain yourself!"

Ra' Chi snorted, incredulous that the fox, that his own servants would go this far. He looked at Kaine, and the horse glared back, his paw no longer working on the vixen. Ra' Chi began to shake in rage, standing up slowly. The old dragon looked to his side for Khan, but the tiger had quietly slipped away when the other fighters had stormed in.

"This is MY House," he rumbled. "This is MY Tournament! You do not give commands to Nobu Ra' Chi!"

The dragon swept one paw in front of himself, and the entire invading party was suddenly flung onto their backs. Before they could get up, the dragon moved his paw again, and a shimmering purple wall appeared before them, blocking their path.

The dragon then strode down to Kaine. The horse started to stand, but Ra' Chi pointed at him, and with a moan Kaine fell back to his knees.

"Finish her," he said darkly, turning his paw slightly. Kaine felt his insides twist painfully, and with a cry of agony, he found himself putting his paw back on Rhane's sex, fingering her again.

The stallion looked back down at Rhane, but the vixen had stopped squirming. She was looking up at the newly arrived audience, her eyes locked with Daichi.

When Rhane saw her friends arrive, particularly her handsome fox friend, she felt her heart lift. Suddenly, she realized how much was riding on her victory here. She was fighting for her House, and all of the other Houses. She looked at Kaine, and the stallion looked back; for a moment, there was a sense of understanding.

Rhane felt her strength return anew. Peace washed over her, and she felt her pleasure fade away, letting her mind clear. She collected her fading pleasure deep insider her, like a ball of pure lust, and then she released it back into her body. Kaine gasped as the vixen suddenly melted into a puddle of red water, and he tumbled forward into it, splashing inside.

Though it seemed only to be a puddle, Kaine found himself sinking into its depths. He vaguely heard Ra' Chi cry out in anguish, and then the dragon's grip was gone. In its place, the stallion felt a thousand feminine paws stroking over his body, squeezing his balls, stroking his cock, teasing his anus. His mighty frame started to twitch and buck, feeling his pleasure level rise quickly, far quicker than it ever had before. He couldn't stop it, and as he drowned in the ecstasy, he felt his cock seize up, and his body stiffened. He was there.

Ra' Chi watched in disbelief as the red puddle suddenly reformed into the vixen, only now she had Kaine on all fours in front of her. She gave the dragon a cold look, and then she drove her hips forward against the stallion's ass. He threw his head back and whinnied, feeling Rhane drive what felt like a hard cock into his rear, and she began to fuck him hard. He hung his head and panted, his cock and balls swinging between his legs until he felt his pleasure snap. With a cry of delight, the stallion came hard. His cum poured out, spraying over his belly and chest, spilling onto the floor. When he was empty, the pleasure washed away and he felt the cock in his ass, rubbing his prostate, disappear. He collapsed forward into his own cum, beaten.

Rhane stood up, and stared at Ra' Chi. "Say it."

The dragon stared back at the vixen. "You fools," he sneered. "I am beyond the rules of your pitiful Tournament now. Your victory means nothing."

Back at the doors, the party watched Rhane's victory. A cry of triumph went up as she brought the stallion off, with Daichi leading the cheer; even Selena and Ruin nodded in admiration. As Ra' Chi blatantly refused to announce the winner, and in turn step down, the group took action. Ruin suddenly dissolved into mist, disappearing for a moment. Everyone watched as the fine gray mist swept under the magical barrier and behind the unaware Ra' Chi, and then reformed into the ninja.

With one blow to the back of Ra' Chi's head, Ruin sent the dragon to his knees. The barrier between the throne and the intervening group came down, and they all rushed to Rhane. Daichi hugged her tight, planting a hot kiss on her lips while the vixen returned it with gusto. Selena went to the side of the panting Kaine, helping him up; he nodded in respect to Rhane before he looked down at Ra' Chi.

"Carnality," Kaine said. "Rhane wins. I present the new Champion of Carnal Combat, Rhane of the House of Light."

The round of applause that followed was interrupted by a piercing growl of anger. Ra' Chi was back on his feet, waving paws before him. They glowed purple, and his fury seemed to pour out of him.

"I RULE THESE LANDS!" He declared, turning first to Ruin. Before the canine could do anything, Ra' Chi summoned up a giant disembodied fist from the ground, made of the same purple energy that surrounded his paws. The fist grabbed the ninja and flung him at the party gathered below, knocking Spectre and Hitomi to the ground.

"I will make you all my slaves," he snarled, looking back at the party. Daichi and Dusk were charging at him, but as they got to the stairs of the throne dais, thick purple tentacles swirled up and bound their ankles. They both grunted, trying to break free, but it was useless.

The same happened to the others. Kaine, Selena, Hitomi, Rhane; everyone soon found their ankles seized by the tentacles. Then, as Ra' Chi cackles and waved his paws around, hundreds of the slithering masses emerged from the ground, splitting the stone floor and breaking the Seal as they arose. They wrapped around wrists and tails, waists and necks, and soon the entire party was lifted into the air, held with their paws over their head and their legs spread, pulled up to their chests. The purple tendrils shred cloth from body, leaving everyone naked, and Ra' Chi grinned.

"All mine, your bodies, your souls. The House of Ra' Chi shall rule now," he said, and snapped his fingers.

Dusk was the first to feel a tendril attack. It pressed in under his tail and he gasped, bucking his hips as the mass slithered deep into him, rubbing at his prostate. Everyone watched the panther, and they squirmed, feeling the energies of the arena bend to Ra' Chi's will, not only forming the tentacles, but seeping into their bodies as well.

They watched Dusk moan and roll his hips until another voice cried out. Hitomi was next, and a thick tentacle had slid into her pussy, where it was already fucking her hard. She was moaning in pleasure, her cheeks red, when more voices started to join her. Daichi gasped as a tentacle slip up under his tail while another wrapped around his balls and his sheath; Suki whimpered as she found herself back where she started, bound and being fucked by tendrils.

Selena arched her back hard as tentacles wrapped around her breasts and squeezed them, subjecting her perfect body to a wide array of lewd activity. Stardust was groaning wantonly as she was fucked in ass and pussy by the tendrils, her eyes on Spectre, who was held in front of her as he was assfucked by one tentacle while another pushed over his hard cock, sucking it firmly. Hikaro received a similar treatment, but he also had a tentacle in his mouth, fucking that entrance as well.

Ruin groaned into his mask, feeling his ass stuffed full and his balls squeezed by a tendril. Kaine seemed to be getting it worst of all though, with his ass and mouth being fucked, his cock being jerked off, and his limbs being tugged hard, as if he were on a rack. His muscles strained, bulging in agony.

Ra' Chi easily manipulated the energy in the arena, fucking all of his enemies with glee. He felt power surge in him as they writhed. He was Nobu Ra' Chi, and he was invincible.

All of the captive fighters moaned and squirmed, slowly succumbing to the probing and throbbing tentacles. They all heard his mocking voice, but Daichi seemed to hear the words louder than the others, and it fueled a rage in him. He opened his eyes, watching Rhane held spread-eagle as the tentacles pushed wetly in and out of her ass and her pussy while the vixen moaned. He saw Spectre, rolling his hips as his hard cock was wrapped and stroked by tendrils. He felt his own body hum with pleasure as his rump and his erection were tended, making him a puppet to Ra' Chi.

Slowly, the fox started to summon up reserves of strength he didn't know he had. He felt his anger overwhelming his lust; he had come to bring justice back to the lands, but now the stakes were so much higher. Now, the fight was for the very survival of the lands. Ra' Chi would bring war to the Houses again if he was not stopped.

Daichi suddenly found his paw tugging at the tentacle that bound it. He strained himself, pulling at the tendrils that bound him, feeling them start to seep into his body. He was absorbing the tentacles, pure sexual energy, and in a single burst of power Daichi summoned familiar red flames around him, breaking free of the tendrils before he fell back to the ground, landing on his feet.

Ra' Chi blinked, staring incredulously at the free fox. Daichi wasn't sure if Ra' Chi was surprised that he'd broken free, or if he was surprised that the fox was still resisting him, but it didn't matter. With his eyes ablaze and his limbs still trailing a righteous fire, Daichi attacked the dragon.

Nobu Ra' Chi had little trouble maintaining the grip of the tentacles around the other fighters as he engaged in Combat with Daichi. He blocked the fox's flurry of strikes, easily glancing them away before he delivered his own powerful fist to Daichi's chin. Instead of dropping, however, Daichi growled and struck the dragon hard in the chest, sending him stumbling back.

The two fought furiously, exchanging bone-shaking blows that bruised and bloodied the other. Ra' Chi desperately tried to use his powers on the fox, but it only seemed to fuel Daichi's attacks, making his flames burn brighter. With each blow that struck the dragon, he felt more of his power slipping away.

The first of the captured fighters to fall was Ruin. The ninja groaned as he hit the floor, feeling his body come back under his control as the tentacles that had held him disappeared. He shook his head and looked around, watching Daichi and Ra' Chi fight across the Throne Room. The ninja then looked up at the remaining tentacles, watching them flicker.

Daichi, it seemed, was absorbing the energy that Ra' Chi threw at him, funneling it away from the tentacles. The canine jumped up, realizing he could give the fox an added edge. Ruin focused and then stuck his paws into a tentacle that was holding Hitomi, and the ninja drew the energy into his body, slowly dissipating into his mist form as he did so. It pulled more energy away from Ra' Chi, making the dragon even more vulnerable.

Ra' Chi felt his strength failing him as the fox pushed his offense, beating the dragon down. Ra' Chi looked away for just a moment, spying Ruin sapping his energy while freeing the other fighters, who were in turn doing the same to free their friends. The dragon made a desperate attempt to strengthen his grasp on the still-captured opponents, but it was too late. His energy, his focus, and his strength was divided in too many directions now.

Daichi saw the dragon's resolve vanish, and the fox brought a hard chop down on the crook of Ra' Chi's neck and shoulder. With a cry of agony, Nobu Ra' Chi fell to one knee before the fox. He reached up and grabbed at Daichi's fur, trying to pull him down, but the fox struck him again, and he fell to both knees. His control of the arena energies fled him, and all of Daichi's friends were freed from the grip of the tentacles.

The dragon was defeated. Daichi panted hard, letting the pulsing energy he had summoned bleed out of his body, returning him to his natural vulpine form. He glared down at Ra' Chi, letting the beaten dragon slump to the ground.

"Its over, Ra' Chi," he said, taking a step back. "You are no longer Grandmaster, and I suspect that you will no longer be Master of your House. You do them a grave dishonor."

"What shall we do with him?" Ruin asked, helping a panting Selena to her feet.

"Put him on trial, and punish him how you see fit," Daichi said, turning away from the limp dragon.

"No," said a voice, causing Daichi, Ruin, and the other fighters to turn their heads towards the sudden sound. Walking in through the open doors from the yard was a solitary figure, approaching slowly with a walking stick in paw.

The figure seemed to be neither canine or feline, equine or otherwise; he had no features that truly distinguished him as any specific race. Long white hair cascaded around his features, and his eyes glowed with a pure white light. He held heavy robes around his figure, and he carried himself with a strange, upbeat dignity.

"Daichi, son of the House of Stone...good job," the figure said, smiling as he bowed. "The Gods are most impressed with your tenacity. They are, in fact, impressed with you all," he said, nodding to the other fighters.

"You are...?" Daichi said, questioning the figure.

"Ah-hah, on to business," the figure said with a laugh. "I am Alexandros, Ambassador of the Gods. I have not been sent to the mortal realm in many ages, but I was asked to do so today to take care of two very specific tasks."

Ruin looked skeptically at Daichi, and the fox returned the look. "Those tasks would be what?" Daichi asked.

Alexandros nodded, and walked past Daichi, towards the fallen Ra' Chi. The dragon lay there panting, his eyes wide as Alexandros approached.

"Nobu Ra' Chi," Alexandros said, in a booming voice that shook the room. "The Gods have seen your treachery, and they wish to judge you in their own court for your crimes. Off with you."

Alexandros rapped the bottom of his staff on the floor, and Ra' Chi suddenly went stiff. His body arched hard, and he let out a single breath before he went limp on the floor. There was no question as to what happened when the fighters saw his color fade. Alexandros had released his very soul.

Nobu Ra' Chi was dead.

Alexandros turned back to Daichi and his friends. "That was the first task." He said, stepping back over.

"And the second?" Asked Kaine, having recovered enough strength to stand again.

Alexandros nodded to the stallion. "Excellent question. My next task is to oversee the changing of Houses here. Come, my friends. Let us start the process of undoing the wrongs that have plagued your lands for far too long."

* * *

The next morning, things were explained and worked out.

Though they were all skeptical of Alexandros's claim, no one could deny that he possessed powers far beyond anything they had ever seen. Alexandros had explained that the Gods had finally had enough of Ra' Chi's dictatorship when he outright denied the true Combat Champion her place, and her House's right to rule. He came down with Ra' Chi's sentence, and that sentence was death.

That evening, the gates to the Hall of Combat were opened. Representatives from all the Houses had arrived to learn of the outcome of the Tournament, and there was a great celebration waiting for them. They rejoiced when they learned that Ra' Chi had fallen, and even the House of Shadow seemed to breathe a sigh of relief in that fact. Honor could now be restored to the lands, to the Tournament, and perhaps to the House of Shadow.

The celebration started with the presentation of Rhane as the new Combat Champion. She bashfully accepted the title, and the vixen beamed all night as she was congratulated.

Alexandros sat by himself throughout it, watching over things with a bright smile. Spectre watched him, and shook his head. Deep down, he felt that the strange...canine? Feline? Well, whatever he was, Spectre felt he was telling the truth. He was an Ambassador of the Gods.

Apparently, the Gods did listen and watch. Spectre smiled, taking comfort in that. For once, he didn't mind being wrong.

He was in the middle of thinking when he felt a paw on his shoulder. He turned his head, finding Hitomi standing at his side. He smiled and nodded.

"Hello," she said, kissing his cheek. "I just wanted to apologize again. I know it was a bit rushed earlier, with things happening as they were."

Spectre laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he said. "It's water under the bridge."

Hitomi nodded and smiled, and then she listened to the crowd. "It's kind of noisy here," she said. "Let's go somewhere quiet so I can apologize."

Spectre arched an eyebrow and looked at the mouse. "That might be a good idea," he said with a grin, and he slipped off into the Hall with the giggling mouse.

Daichi watched his friend get away with Hitomi, and he laughed. The fox turned around and nearly walked into Rhane, who was approaching him from behind. They both chuckled, and then the vixen hugged the fox. He returned the embrace, kissing her between the ears.

"Congratulations," he said softly. "No one deserved that win more than you."

The vixen smiled, nuzzling under his chin. "You did," she said. "Promise me you'll come back next year to compete, and that you'll get to the end, and that you'll fight me."

Daichi smiled and nodded. "I'll try," he said. "It's up to the sensei and the Master, but I'll certainly try to persuade them."

The fox smiled at the vixen, and she smiled back. They kissed, letting it linger for a moment before they parted lips. Rhane nosed Daichi's chin and slipped away quietly, heading off to her duties as the primary guest of the party.

The fox made his way to the outer wall of the Courtyard, climbing the stairs to the precipice. He looked out over the party and his friends, and then out at the sprawling lands that surrounded the Hall. It was like a dream, to know that they were in honorable paws again.

Daichi took a deep breath of the cool air, and then smiled. His thoughts turned towards next year, and towards getting his paws on a certain vixen once more...

~ THE END ~

Special thanks to everyone who has read this series from start to finish and who have provided feedback and support. Carnal Combat will return!