FSE

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Just days after he and Fara had become engaged, they had embarked on a luxurious voyage aboard the space liner Ocean Breeze to attend the wedding of Slippy and Amanda Toad. On that voyage, he had been introduced to Fox McCloud and his exotic wife, the telepathic vixen Krystal. The startling revelation that he and the famed Star Fox leader were third cousins once removed was just the beginning of an incredible week for Kei Reinard.

He spent those weeks on the voyage to and from Aquas getting to know Fox and Krystal on a first name basis while partaking in the many shipboard activities. For Kei, there were two highlights that were the most memorable from that voyage. The first had been a seminar by Master Yun Bao. The renowned martial arts master from the Yazhou Mountains monastery had given him a private lesson to help him refine his sword forms. Upon hearing of his duel with Fara's would-be assailant, Maurice Ducharme, Master Bao had been so impressed by how he had conducted himself that he had offered to take Kei on as an apprentice to further develop his sword-fighting skills.

The second was the highjack attempt that had been thwarted by Fox and Krystal McCloud. Kei still shivered at witnessing the retired Star Fox mercenaries in action. The battle had been brief and violent, and had left Kei feeling troubled even though he knew that it had been necessary. Krystal was right about one thing. The love of a mate was the best thing to soothe a troubled heart.

Fara had taken him back to their room and made love to him through the rest of the afternoon. Afterwards, she had completely babied him, putting him in a thick diaper with booster and a pink baby girl footed sleeper and baby bonnet. She had then bottle feed him warm milk laced with honey. Kei had fallen asleep peacefully in her arms with dreams untroubled by any memory of violence and death and had awakened the next morning to another bottle feeding.

Once on Aquas, he found himself getting to know some of the most amazing people known throughout Lylat, all close friends of Fox McCloud. First, there was Falco Lombardi. The avian admitted he had been disturbed to find out he was a crossdressing male, but had warmed up to him upon learning of his relationship to Fox and that they had the common interest in flying.

Falco's wingmate and partner, Katt Monroe, found him endearing in the dress he had worn to the wedding. Truthfully, all the females liked that he was a crossdresser. Fay Spaniel though was the most outspoken. The fluffy white, floppy-eared she-dog had all but gushed over him, declaring Kei to be even more girly than she was, which he found difficult to believe, given the lovely pink bow and ribbons in her ears and her bubbly personality.

Though he was now the Commanding General of the Cornerian Defence Force, Peppy Hare was a grandfatherly figure that Kei could relate to. Then there was Panther Caruso. The black feline exuded a strong aura of masculinity that left Kei feeling self-conscious until he showed open respect and admiration upon hearing of his sword-fighting skills and his apprenticeship to a Yazhou Mountains monastery sword master.

The wedding ceremony of Slippy and Amanda Toad had been beautiful in the tropical setting of the Southern Leeward Islands of Aquas, and the reception afterwards memorable. The two-week return journey from Aquas back to Corneria had been for the most part pleasant and relaxing. The exception being that Master Bao had insisted that there was no better time than the present for him to begin training. As the master succinctly put it, his apprentice needed to be physically fit before he could even begin to hold up a sword effectively.

To his dismay, Kei found himself spending two hours each day doing push-ups and stretching exercises, running the full length of the Promenade Deck from fore to aft and back 10 times, and being trained in basic empty handed fighting techniques. The end result was that Kei spent every afternoon in the ship's spa where sore muscles were soothed.

*****

Upon their return to Corneria, they had parted ways with the McClouds and he and his fiancée had returned to their daily routing at Space Dynamics. His afternoons after work were quite full, however. Thrice a week, his cousin Fox had taken him under his wing, becoming his personal flight instructor. While he had learned all the basics to flying an Arwing when Fara had taken him out on his first flight, Fox trained him in all the fundamentals. Many hours were spent in classroom instructions on the basic principles of flight controls, flight regulations, flight planning, emergency procedures, and so forth. More hours were also spent in simulators where Fox would train him in atmospheric and space flight.

On alternate days, Fara would fly her fiancé to the Yazhou Mountains where she would sit back and watch Kei train under Master Bao. The mental focus and stamina he developed from practicing ever more complex empty-handed and sword forms and techniques had the added bonus of improving his flying skills.

Making use of Fara's duel-seat Arwing trainer, Fox had taken Kei up in atmospheric flight to put into practice his simulator training. For the first time ever, he had actually performed a take-off maneuver, though unlike his first time with Fara, it had not involved streaking low across the space port field and pitching up into a ballistic climb. He had instead accelerated and climbed at a more sedate pace.

They had then flown to the smaller airfield at Havenwood. With Fox's hand also at the controls, he had drilled Kei in multiple touch-and-go landings while flying around the air traffic pattern. After two weeks of repeated landing drills, Kei had become proficient in negotiating the turbulent air near the ground and gently touching down on each landing. He would never forget the final day of that second week.

Kei was doing his twelfth final approach that day when Fox instructed from his rear cockpit. "Come to a full stop landing and idle the engine."

"Yes sir." Kei acknowledged. With Fox no longer touching the controls to correct his student, Kei performed his twelfth landing and pulled back on the vertical thruster power to bring the fighter's power plant to idle. To his surprise, Fox then opened his canopy and climbed out. "Are we taking a break here, Sir?"

"I am, but you're not." Fox replied with a grin.

"What should I do?" Kei asked, not sure what his flight instructor had in mind. His heart thudded hard in his chest upon hearing his cousin's reply.

"Take off and land three times, of course."

"B-by myself?" Kei said nervously. He knew that he'd eventually solo, but had not expected it to happen so soon.

"Kei, you are ready for this." Fox reassured him. "I wouldn't be cutting you loose if you weren't." Fox then depressed a switch on the side of the Arwing and the rear canopy lowered shut. He then jumped down onto the tarmac and gave his cousin a thumbs up before walking away.

And in an exercise of nervous exhilaration, Kei took off by himself, flew around the pattern, and landed the Arwing, and did so three times. He winced at his first solo touch and go, coming down harder than planned and nearly bottoming out on the landing struts, but the second was as perfect as ever, and the same went for his third and final landing.

With the engines once again idle, Fox climbed back into the rear cockpit. "Congratulations, you've just made your solo qualifications."

"Yeah....I did, didn't I."

"You sure did. Now, fly us back to base." Fox commanded. And Kei did so, taking them back to Corneria City Space Port. Upon landing, they headed to the pilot locker rooms where both changed out of their flight suits and into comfortable clothes, which for Kei was a white blouse and green skirt.

"Let's go to the CDF Pub to celebrate your first solo flight." Fox unilaterally declared.

"Sure." He followed his cousin to the eating establishment, which normally only catered to CDF personnel. Inside, they were met by Bill Gray and his crew. By then, the pilots of Bulldog and Husky Squadrons were well aware that Kei Reinard wore feminine clothing and was Fara Phoenix's fiancé. There had been playful teasing at Kei's choice of clothing when they had first met Fox's effeminate cousin, but all accepted that this was who he was.

Also present was Krystal McCloud and standing next to her was Fara, who had in her hands one of his pink shirts. Before he could ask his fiancée why she had brought it, Fox placed a hand on his back and called out to get everyone's attention.

"I'd like to announce a momentous occasion. As most of you know, I took my cousin here under my wing a few weeks ago and began his flight training, and in an Arwing no less." Fox began.

"How many replacement Arwings did Fara have to build for him?" one of the pilots quipped. The playful jest elicited a few barks of laughter.

Fox grinned and waited for his fellow pilots to quiet down before going on. "Oh, a few of his early landings were rough, but I am pleased to say that, with my guidance," Fox emphasized while slapping his cousin's back, "he has demonstrated the mental focus and steady hand that it takes to master the basics of flying such a craft in the last two weeks. So today, we celebrate Kei Reinard's first solo flight."

Amid the cheers and shouts of congratulations, Kei felt the heat go to his cheeks. He at first did not notice the absence of Fox's hand on his back, nor did he feel or hear the snip of scissors cutting through the back of his collar above each shoulder. He then heard Fox declare, "Today, Kei no longer needs my guiding hand," just before he felt a hard, downward tug as the back of his blouse was ripped off of him.

"What!!! Fox! What are you doing?" Kei shouted in confused indignation. With no support, the front of his blouse slid off. Fara then stepped forward and handed him the pink shirt she had had on hand for him. Kei slipped it on and turned to see Fox lay on a cleared table the back of his blouse. With the other pilots watching on, Fox and Krystal drew on the ripped portion of Kei's garment. In only 15 minutes, there was a beautifully rendered watercolor of an Arwing flying through clouds towards a landing field. Krystal drew in flowing script below the drawing the words: 'Kei Reinard's Solo Flight' with the date below.

The watercolor pigments were quickly absorbed and dried in the fabric of Kei's ripped blouse back. Fox then picked it up and walked to the back wall of the pub where other shirt tails commemorating solo flights hung and tacked the back of Kei's blouse to the wall among them. Kei's eyes drifted to other names commemorating solo flights, and found himself deeply touched by the honor and company he kept on that wall. Here were many names he recognized, including Miyu Lynx, Fay Spaniel, Bill Grey, and Krystal, and just two shirt tails over was the back of Fox McCloud's shirt. And above it, enshrined in a glass-encased frame, was the shirt tail of James McCloud.

*****

A very large formation of Arwings streaked along at 5000 meters above the waves, heading south towards the Phoenix family's private island. At the front of the formation were Fara Phoenix and Kei Reinard, each in their own Arwing. Kei had himself only two weeks before been issued his pilot's license by Fox McCloud himself. That very same day, Kei had come home to find a brand new Arwing sitting on the tarmac next to Fara's personal Arwing, complete with a bright pink bow on it.

For Kei, the experience had an unreality to it. Here he was in his own personal Arwing in loose formation with his fiancée, flying to their wedding where he and Fara had first become lovers, and where they would spend their honeymoon. And along with them were the most renowned pilots in all of Lylat. Behind him to his left, he could see the 24 Arwings that comprised Bulldog and Husky Squadrons, all flying in tight formation like the professional military pilots that they were, all personally trained by Fox and Krystal McCloud.

Behind to his right beyond Fara's Arwing were the legendary Star Fox pilots, reunited again for this special occasion. In the lead of the echelon formation was Fox McCloud, with Krystal on his right wing, and beyond in the formation were Falco Lombardi, Katt Monroe, Slippy Toad and his wife Amanda, Dash Bowman, Fay Spaniel, and Lucy Hare. And at the end of the formation was Peppy Hare, co-founder of the original Star Fox team and general of the Cornerian Defence Force. Thirty-six Arwings they were and Kei and Fara were in the lead of them all. Behind this large wedge of elite fighter pilots was a Phoenix Corp shuttlecraft piloted by Vanessa Chambers carrying Charles Phoenix, his siblings, and their families, and Kei's parents, Dietrich and Josephine Reinard. Also aboard the shuttle was Chief Justice Malinae Brock, who would be officiating over their wedding. Providing the rear guard were three Wolfens, piloted by Wolf O'Donnell, Panther Caruso, and Miyu Lynx.

Fox McCloud could not have been happier and prouder that day. While his cousin was nowhere near what it would take to become an elite fighter pilot, Kei had nonetheless fully mastered the Arwing and could fly his fighter in all atmospheric and space weather conditions. His training had been thorough and rigorous. Kei had learned all the essentials, from flight planning to air and space regulations, from basic flight procedures to every system in his Arwing. He had also thoroughly drilled him on emergency procedures, from engine out landings to when and how to actually bail out.

Fox's happiness was also bourn by the fact that Kei would be marrying Fara, and would thus ensure the lasting happiness of the vixen who was to this day very dear to his heart. His joyful musings were set aside by the sight of the Phoenix family's private island coming into view. With Fara and Kei in the lead, they began their descent. When they had decelerated to subsonic speeds and were flying at 500 meters, they circled around in a traffic pattern around the island. Below, they could see The Flying Phoenix, Charles' private yacht, moored at the dock. A single bungalow sat perched atop the island where Kei and Fara would spend their honeymoon. On the opposite side of the small island was a large concrete tarmac.

Kei and Fara landed their Arwings first in one corner of the tarmac. In formation, Fox and his fellow Star Fox pilots landed together next, quickly followed by the shuttlecraft and the Star Wolf pilots. Bill Grey, leading Bulldog Squadron, landed next while Husky Squadron broke off and began to patrol around the island, keeping out of earshot of the peaceful island ambiance. In the ensuing quiet that set down upon the island with the last engine shutting down, fighter craft canopies swung open and the boarding ramp of the Phoenix shuttlecraft lowered.

Kei took off his helmet and climbed out of his Arwing. Joining his fiancée on the tarmac, they watched the rest of the wedding party also egress from their respective crafts. Fox could not help but smile when he saw Wolf stride straight to Vanessa when she walked down the shuttle's ramp. The lupine embraced the white vixen in his arms and mashed his muzzle against hers in a passionate kiss that left her breathless and her legs wobbly.

"I'll wager you better than even odds that those two end up married within a year." Fox heard next to him. He glanced over to Fara and shook his head. "I'm not dumb enough to bet against that." He looked back to see his old rival actually smile while holding Vanessa possessively.

Kei joined them and asked his cousin. "When did they meet?"

Fox explained. "The pressure suits we wear when we fly in space is a new innovation that was introduced with the Arwing Mk3. Before that, we depended on our cockpit escape pods to keep us alive. It was the same for Wolfens. Prior pressure suits were just too bulky to wear in the tight confines of a fighter's cockpit. I told Wolf about the new, slimmer design in our pressure suits, which actually saved my life some time ago during training exercises."

Fox nodded his head towards Wolf and Vanessa. "I introduced Wolf to Vanessa as she was the primary designer for the pressure suits and the one who would do all the measurements for fittings. Somehow, those two hit it off big time from the get go." With thoughts on his own pregnant wife, Fox declared. "I can even see some white and grey folf cubs in their future."

Kei took Fara's hand in his, kissing it. "I know Fara and I want children as soon as possible too. The moment she goes into heat, we are going to see her Aunt Florence at Corneria City General's genetics clinic. We are not taking any chances since we are different fox species."

Krystal nodded in understanding. Even though it was possible for fennecs and red foxes to have children naturally, the likelihood was less than it was with parents of the same vulpine species. She and Fox had also gone to the genetics clinic soon after they had returned from their honeymoon. Fortunately, even though she was Cerinian, they had been genetically close enough to have children without any manipulations of their genes to make offspring naturally possible. "I look forward to seeing both our children becoming friends."

The entire wedding party by then had gathered and all made their way across the island towards Charles Phoenix's personal yacht. Fox noticed Peppy making a call on his communicator and angled towards him while they walked. He heard his old mentor finish his call. "Very good. Maintain perimeter as planned. General Hare out."

"What was that about?" Fox asked.

"Just confirming with Commander Summer that the airspace around here is secure." In the distance out of earshot, they could see the 12 Arwings flying among the clouds. While the other 11 pilots of Bulldog Squadron were setting up to camp by their Arwings, Bill Grey joined the rest of the wedding party as Fox's close friend.

"Wouldn't the Senate complain that this is a misappropriation of resources?" Krystal asked.

"They would, except that I reminded them that it would be good policy to stay in Fara Phoenix's good graces as she's the heiress to Pheonix Corp. I also reminded them of all the help her father has rendered to Lylat over the years. Besides, Charles paid for the expenses of maintaining CDF patrols around the island through to the end of Fara and Kei's honeymoon."

"Good idea. Unlike Krystal and me, they will not have the Krazoa to protect them from any who would try to crash their honeymoon."

At 126 meters in length, The Flying Phoenix was beyond large enough to hold the entire gathering. Under long awnings, the aft end of the yacht had been prepared for the wedding ceremony. A banquet table was waiting for them, with dinner settings for all the guests and the soon-to-be-wedded couple. Aft of the table, chairs were arrayed in several rows. In the front row sat Charles Phoenix and Kei's mother, Josephine Reinard. The remainder of the front row was occupied by Charles' siblings, Edward and Andrew Phoenix and Anne Vulpus and their spouses. The remaining rows were comprised of a mixture of Fara's cousins, friends, and Star Fox and Star Wolf pilots.

Facing all the wedding guests at the far aft end of the vessel, a pergola had been set up with tropical flowers from the island itself. Under the pergola, Fara stood in a black and burgundy tuxedo. Next to her stood Fox, dressed in a black and green tuxedo, once again resuming the role he had for Slippy's wedding six weeks prior. Fox smiled to his former girlfriend and whispered to her. "Remember how we talked about maybe getting married? Funny how it ended up with us standing together here, but in completely different roles."

Fara covered her muzzle and vainly tried to suppress a giggle. "Oh goodness, you're right. It's so ironic that I'm the groom instead of the bride and you are my chief usher." Further thoughts were pushed aside with the opening stanzas of the music that announced the arrival of her betrothed. Keeping with tradition, Fara faced forward to wait for her bride to arrive.

Fox though was not required to look straight ahead. Gazing back, he beheld a startling sight. Kei Reinard was a stunningly beautiful bride, dressed in a long flowing wedding gown. His redish-brown fur was visible through sheer long sleeves in a flowery appliques that extended from his arms to above his chest, ending in a plunging V neckline. The embroidery continued down his bodice to his hips. The veil covering his face and muzzle was held in place by a thin white diamond halo tiara, gifted to him by Charles Phoenix. Walking with him down the aisle was his father, Dietrich Reinard who held his son's hand. Dietrich was dressed in black tuxedo over a white shirt, with a red cravat tied about his neck.

Behind the eight-meter long train that was part of the outer layer of Kei's wedding gown was Krystal McCloud, who would stand as his matron of honor. Surrounded by their guests, Krystal's empathy was nearly overwhelmed by the strong emotions of amazement and wonder at seeing her husband's crossdressed cousin in his wedding dress. Those emotions were eclipsed though by the joy and happiness radiating from Kei and Dietrich.

She was finding herself moved to tears by the love and acceptance of Kei's father who found himself in the unusual role of giving his son away as the bride. When they reached the front and Fara gazed to her side to see her betrothed in his beautiful wedding dress, she was moved to tears of joy that matched those now glistening Kei's eyes.

Kei and Fara barely heard the chief justice's sermon on love and marriage as they faced each other and held hands. It was not until the badger drew their attention that couple declared their love for each other. Kei took it upon himself to voice his feelings first. "Fara, before I met you, my life had been pedestrian. I was shy and introverted, and thoughts of love were the last thing on my mind. It was not until I literally bumped into you that my life was changed forever. You helped me open up and instill in me a sense of confidence. You also helped me learn things I never knew about myself, including helping me discover my feminine side. I now cannot imagine a life without you, and happily stand before you as your bride."

Fara then spoke. "Kei, when I met you, I saw this adorable, shy tod who appreciated me for who I was and not because of what I was. Before you, I had forgotten what it felt like to be loved and how much I had missed being in the arms of a strong male. You may have taken on the feminine role in our relationship, but are very much a tod who knows how to make a vixen like me feel loved and appreciated. I am also deeply touched that you love me so much that you'd willingly take on my family name instead of me taking on yours as is traditionally done in this patriarchal society."

"You have now declared your love for each other." the chief justice announced. "I now call upon you to exchange your vows before these witnesses."

Still holding her hands, Kei promised, "I, Kei Reinard, take you Fara to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Fara then made the same solemn vow, "I, Fara Phoenix, take you Kei to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Fox then handed to Fara the gold wedding band, which she slid over Kei's finger. "With this ring, I am wed to you." Krystal then followed suite and handed the gold band she held to Kei, who in turn slid it onto Fara's finger. "With this ring, I am wed to you."

Maline Brock could only smile in amazement at the beauty of a most unusual wedding where the role of the bride and groom were reversed. With their exchange of wedding rings, he declared. "By the powers invested in me by the High Court of Lylat, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He then addressed the witnesses. "I now present to you Fara Phoenix and her husband, Kei Phoenix."

With cheers from their guests, Kei and Fara drew together to meld their muzzles in a joyful kiss as a married couple. When the small orchestra began playing in the background, the celebration moved on to the banquet table. Fox was then introduced to Kei's parents.

Fox could immediately see a vague family resemblance to his mother in Dietrich Reinard's aged features. When the two tods shook hands, Dietrich said, "So I hear from my son that we are second cousins, twice removed."

Fox had to pause and think through the relationship of the two branches of their respective family trees to confirm what Kei's father had stated. "Uh....yeah. Kei is Mom's third cousin. So you would be my maternal grandfather's second cousin....So yeah. We are second cousins, twice removed." Fox rubbed the back of his head. "Unfortunately, I never knew my grandparents. They died before I was born." His eyes drank in Dietrich's features. "But I do have an old photo of Grandpa Reinard and can see the family resemblance."

He smiled to Kei and his wife. "And when you two have children, they will be my fourth cousins."

"And about time too." Dietrich declared. "Charles and I have been waiting forever for grand-children!"

Kei laughed. "Don't worry Dad. You'll have those grandchildren you've been pestering me about."

Fox became thoughtful. "You don't seem bothered by the fact that the Reinard name will not be passed on."

"Bah! Whether they are Reinards or Pheonixes, I'll love and spoil my grandchildren regardless."

Fara leaned over and kissed her father-in-law on the muzzle. "And you'll always be welcomed to spoil our children. In fact, Daddy, Kei, and I talked it over and we want you and your wife to move into Phoenix Manor with us."

Dietrich and Josephine were taken aback by the generous offer and tried to politely decline. "No, we could not even think to impose on you..." Josephine said before her son interrupted her.

"Mom, Phoenix Manor is so huge that the suite for you and Dad is as big as our old home in Havenwood. Fara and I have our own suite in a separate wing on a different floor, and Father Phoenix has his own on the top floor." Kei explained.

Fara went on to say, "We would each have our own kitchen, living room, dining room, and several bedrooms. We'd not get in each other's way, but would be within walking distance to just visit each other."

Kei pleaded. "Mom, Dad. I know you like to be independent. You'd still be, but not be so far away in Havenwood. Please say you'll move in with us."

Kei's parents looked towards their son's father-in-law and saw Charles Phoenix nod. "Until your son moved in with my daughter, it had been only myself and Fara. Phoenix Manor was not meant to be so empty. In past generations, its many rooms had been occupied by the families of both the husband and wife. My dearest Katherine's parents had lived with us as well until their passing."

Dietrich and Josephine looked at each other and nodded slowly. "Well, when you put it that way," Kei's mother said, "who are we to deny our future grandchildren our love by living so far away."

During the wedding reception dinner, much to Kei's embarrassment, Fara regaled their guests with the story of how she had met Kei when he had literally bumped into her, knocking her drink onto her chest in the company cafeteria. Kei had not even recognized Fara at first and had been mortified by his gaze being unavoidably drawn to her wet shirt. Amid the dying laughter, Fara's smile softened. "I think on some level, I started falling in love with this sweet tod from that day."

Kei voiced his own recollections when his wife paused. "We both started having feelings for each other, but I was too afraid to let her know how I felt back then. I could not imagine how a lowly middle class fellow like me would be of romantic interest to an upper class heiress like Fara until I learned she had fallen in love with me as well."

Charles in turn spoke up. "When I found out my daughter had fallen in love, I was so overjoyed. And like Fara made clear to my son-in-law, I did not give a damn about his social standing, or that he's a crossdresser for that matter. The happiness he brings her and the smile on her face are all that matter to me."

"And the grandchildren he and Fara will give us!" Dietrich quipped, eliciting laughter from everyone at the table.

"Ah yes, well, that too." Charles admitted.

Kei gazed out to the side of the yacht they were on at the bungalow where he and Fara would spend their honeymoon. "This island has become very special to Fara and me. It was here that we became very close." He looked down at himself and the wedding gown he wore. "It was also here that she convinced me to try on a dress for the first time....I was so embarrassed and felt I must look silly in that lavender dress of hers....It wasn't until she had me see myself in a mirror that I realized how pretty I looked in it."

Josephine then spoke up. "You were always so effeminate, Kei, even in your adolescence."

"I know, Mom. And from that day on, Fara helped me get in touch with my feminine side, and her family's complete acceptance of that part of me has helped me become the tod I am today."

"Don't you mean vixen?" Fara's cousin William quipped.

Kei laughed, "Yeah, you've got a point there."

Fara drew a hand under her husband's muzzle to get his attention. "Oh, he's very much a tod where it counts, William." she asserted with a husky voice. "He's definitely more a male than some macho tod we know."

"Oh? Who might that be?" Miyu asked.

"Nobody worth knowing, that's for sure." Kei declared hotly.

"A stuck-up fennec who kept trying to convince me that I would never find any better than him as a potential husband." Fara explained. "Kei and I were in matching ball gowns at the Phoenix Garden Ball. Everyone there who did not know Kei had mistaken him for a vixen until someone caught on that he as a male. Maurice Ducharme could not live it down that I would love a middle class crossdresser over an upper class male fennec like him."

"I have always shied from confrontation," Kei admitted, "but when he threatened Fara, and said those awful words, it awakened in me a rage like I had never felt."

"I usually can take care of myself." Fara admitted. "I've come up on top in many fights during the Lylat War, but that cad caught me completely off guard when he grabbed me, but Kei came to my rescue and shoved him away from me."

"That can't have been the end of it." Bill speculated.

"You're right." Charles said darkly. "Minister Frost was also attending and he and I were wanting to compare a replica of a pre-industrial age sword he had commissioned with a vintage original in my collection. That filth grabbed the replica, and would have killed both Kei and my little girl if not for William here tossing Kei my vintage original."

"Remarkable!" Panther exclaimed. "As beautiful as long flowing gowns are on ladies....and effeminate males it would seem....such attire is not conducive to winning a sword duel in." He nodded to Kei. "And yet, you have successfully defended the vixen you loved."

"My ball gown is actually not that restrictive, Panther. You'd be surprised at how easily I could move in it." He smiled ruefully after glancing down at the long train of his wedding dress which was neatly folded upon the floor next to his chair. "Can't say I could fight a sword duel in my wedding dress though."

After the laughter had died down at Kei's self-deprecating humor, Panther nodded while stroking his chin. "I pride myself on my masculinity, and know that that is a quality that my dearest fiancée admires in me." Panther mused out loud to Kai. "But you sir are, in every way that is truly important, an honorable male compared to this poltroon against whom you have so valiantly defended the vixen you love, and have my deepest admiration for it."

Fox stood up and raised his wine glass. "I'd like to propose a toast." When all picked up their respective drinks, Fox said, "To the girly boys and the ladies whose heart they have won. May they always be able to protect those they love."

"To girly boys!" everyone cheered.

"And with that in mind, I'd like to present a gift to the wedded couple." Fox announced. "Not many of you know this, but in our semi-retirement, Krystal and I have taken up some hobbies. We have been going to the Corneria City College where we've taken several courses towards that endeavor. One of them is an art class where our art teacher, as it happens, is just as effeminate as my cousin Kei here. For our final project, Professor Ashley posed for us in an outfit that we used as inspiration for an oil-painted portrait, which we completed just a week ago, and would like to present to the newlyweds as our gift to them."

Fox stood up from his chair and walked over to where all the wedding presents were arrayed. Among them was a carefully wrapped picture frame, large enough to hang over a fireplace mantle. He brought it over to Kei and Fara, who both took it and began to tear the wrappings off. The revealed image left the newlyweds speechless.

In the painting, Kei was wearing a green leather corset and knee-length skirt combination. The corset itself had 5 buckled straps going across the front. The top edge of the corset was hidden by a short white leather jacket that extended down to his midriff and had the red Star Fox logo upon the shoulders. He wore white leather knee boots with short heels and steel buckles that matched those on his corset. A leather belt rested upon his exceedingly feminine hips, from which hung the sword his father-in-law had gifted him with. Brown leather gloves went up to his elbows. A wide-brimmed sea captain's hat sat upon his head. His outfit was completed with a red silk ascot, very much like the one Fox was known for from his Star Fox days.

Kei's arm was wrapped around Fara's waist in this portrait, with his other hand resting on the pommel of his sword. She herself was wearing a pink sheer gown that went over her right breast, curled around her waist, and flowed down to her ankles. A separate piece of sheer fabric was draped over her right shoulder and was clasped over her left shoulder. A lavender leotard covered her exposed areas and was visible through the fabric of the dress that had once belonged to Vixy Reinard. A separate long shawl of the same pink sheer fabric hung from her arms above long white elbow-length gloves.

Kei was at a loss for words. He had always loved Fara for her strength and had been quite happy as her submissive, effeminate pet and diapered baby girl. Seeing himself depicted as a tower of feminine strength evoked in him feelings of confidence and protectiveness that he only felt that night at the Phoenix Garden Ball when he had come to defend his future wife from that coward Maurice Ducharme. In a moment of introspection, it dawned on him that that sword fight brought to the fore a part of his character that was always there inside him, which this incredible portrait so accurately depicted.

His dearest wife had brought forth a sense of confidence in himself that gave him the courage to publically crossdress and made him want to be the one to wear the beautiful wedding dress he was in. Even though he felt safe and protected in her arms as her diapered submissive in the privacy of their living quarters inside Phoenix Mansion, his love for his wife was all the stronger because he would always be very protective of her. It was why above all else that he trained religiously to develop his mastery in sword fighting.

Kei looked up from the portrait that had left him mesmerized to meet his cousin's gaze. "It's beautiful, Fox. It....you've really captured how I feel about myself and Fara."

Fara herself was deeply moved. Her former boyfriend and lover had truly captured her beauty in his late mother's pink dress, and she adored how her husband was depicted as the epitome of feminine confidence. Truthfully, Fox and Krystal could have depicted Kei in the pink dress and her in the female Star Fox sea captain's outfit and the painting would still have been perfect, except that it was Kei who was the skilled sword fighter. "We'll cherish this portrait, Fox. Thank you so much."

More stories were shared while all partook of the banquet before them. Kei also got to finally meet Andrew Phoenix's wife, Florence. The physician that she was, Florence spoke highly of the hospital where she held residency. "We have the best genetics and neonatal center in all of Lylat."

"I know, Aunt Florence." Fara gazed lovingly at her husband. "Kei and I discussed it not long ago. We both want children as soon as possible. So we will come by the moment I go into heat."

When most had finished enjoying the dessert course, all stood up and ambled to the dance floor where the unwed males and females stood in separate groups to partake in a time-honored tradition.

Kei held his bouquet of flowers in hand and gazed out at Vanessa Chambers, Lucy Hare, Miyu Lynx, Katt Monroe, Fay Spaniel, and Fara's cousin, Beatrice Phoenix. With a wink to the jostling females, Kei turned his back to them and tossed his bouquet high over his shoulder. After hearing squeals and laughter, followed by cheering from the males, Kei turned back to see Vanessa triumphantly hold up his flowers.

Fox slapped Wolf O'Donnell on the back and grinned to the lupine. "You're in for it now."

Wolf grunted while he smirked back to his old rival. "Oh, is that so?" He then strode purposefully to the center of the dance floor and joined Dash Bowman, Panther Caruso, Bill Grey, Falco Lombardi, and Fara's cousins, John Phoenix and William Vulpus.

With much whistling and cheering, Kei stood in front of the group of unwed males while Fara knelt down and sensually slid her hands up his leg under his wedding dress and pulled down a very special garter. When Fara stood up and held the garter up high, Slippy laughed and gave a dire caution in jest. "Careful guys, the last male who caught that garter actually did get married."

Kei laughed. "He sure did, and he ended up wearing a wedding dress too." His comment brought laughter as all recalled the event just weeks before.

Kei had joined his then fiancée at Slippy and Amanda Toad's wedding. Even though he was dressed as a vixen, he had been unsure about joining the other girls in trying to catch Amanda's bouquet. But when Slippy had reached under his wife's wedding gown to remove her garter, Fara had practically pushed Kei forward to join the other unwed males who were all jostling to catch the prize.

Fox's thumbs up salute to his cousin was all the encouragement Kei had needed. He had smiled back before setting his expression into one of resolution. When Slippy tossed the garter over his shoulder, Kei had been ready to leap harder and higher than any of them, but was astonished when the garter practically beaned him on the nose and landed in his hands before he could even jump for it.

Everyone cheered, whistled, and howled when Fara took the prize from her fiancé, knelt before him, and slid the garter up his leg under his dress. It had been as strong an affirmation as any could have of the love he and Fara had for each other. And Kei had kept that garter close to him, with the full intention of wearing it to his own wedding.

Fara held up the prize and grinned to the males in front of her. "Alright boys. Who's getting married next?"

Kei watched his wife turn and knew she had not seen the fierce look of determination in Wolf O'Donnell's countenance, nor did she see him whisper to his wingmate, Panther. She did not see Panther's ears flatten briefly at whatever challenge Wolf had declared to his rival for the prized garter before the feline grinned back and bowed slightly to the lupine.

When Fara prepared to toss his garter over her shoulder, Panther actually stepped back while Wolf crouched and tensed his muscles. The other contenders did not stand a chance. With a snarl and grunt, Wolf O'Donnell leapt up and snatched his prize. A quiet settled over the wedding party when Wolf turned to Vanessa, who smiled uncertainly to the lupine she had fallen in love with almost from the beginning when they met.

Still holding Kei's bouquet of flowers, she watched while Wolf strode towards her exuding that aura of the strong alpha male wolf that had enraptured the vixen from the start. Wolf stood before her, holding Kei's garter and then looked around to the others watching, each wondering what the leader of Star Wolf was going to say and do.

"All of you who know me know the reputation I have garnered over the years. I was the feared war criminal, pirate, and leader of Star Wolf, in the employ of Andross." Wolf admitted. "I then redeemed myself by siding with Star Fox in its battle against the Aparoids and again against the Anglars when I renounced my old ways, earning a pardon from the Cornerian Senate. Since then to this day, I carry an official charter by the CDF and letters of marque and reprisal against Lylat's enemies."

"I consider Star Wolf my pack and I am the uncontested alpha male of that pack." Wolf fiercely declared. His features then softened into a rare display of vulnerability while his voice took on a softer tenor. "And yet, an alpha is nothing without the support of his she-wolf..." He then knelt down on one knee before Vanessa and lifted her leg so that her foot rested upon his thigh.

While everyone watched, he took that garter, which had first belonged to Amanda and then had been passed on to Kei, and slipped it up Vanessa's leg while he looked up at her. "Vanessa, I do not have a ring, but when I saw you look towards me after you caught that bouquet, I knew I had no further reason to delay in asking you this."

Vanessa brought her hands up to her muzzle and sniffled upon realizing that Wolf was about to propose to her. His hand reaching up her thigh intimately to slide the garter in place left her both aroused and deeply moved by its tenderness while he asked that most special of questions. "Vanessa Chambers, my dearest vixen, will you be my she-wolf? Will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes! I'll marry you, Wolf!" Vanessa cried just before throwing her arms around her beloved alpha male wolf.

The aft end of the Flying Phoenix erupted in cheers and tears of joy. Bill and Fox patted Wolf on the back. "Congratulations, Wolf! After everything you've done since the Aparoid War, you deserve some happiness too, my friend." Fox declared. "Way to go, Wolf!" Bill grinned.

Panther also offered his congratulations. "Well done! A uniquely romantic way to win Miss Chambers' heart." He held Miyu close while she wept, deeply moved by the way Wolf had proposed to his vixen. "And I can tell you that my fiancée approves." He then whispered a question into her ear, and when she nodded while still sniffling, Panther turned to his long-time associate. "In fact, how about we make our upcoming weddings a double celebration?"

Wolf, still riding a sense of elation at the notion of actually being engaged to such a beautiful, charming vixen, nodded to Panther. "Vanessa and I will have to think about it, but it's not a bad idea. We can discuss the details later."

Kei wandered up to the two betrothed couples. "First it's Amanda's, then it's mine, and now it's Vanessa's. That garter is going to become a legend."

Wolf smirked to the effeminate tod in the wedding dress. "Indeed, Mister Phoenix. And given its track record, it makes me wonder if the next owner will be a male."

Fara and her husband laughed at the notion. Kei looked around and chuckled. "Perhaps, but I can't imagine Falco, Bill, Dash, John, or William would look as good in a wedding dress as I do." He looked to his wife and nodded towards her gay cousin. "John finds effeminate males attractive. Does he have a boyfriend?"

Fara shook her head. "Not that I know of, unless he's been keeping him secret from the family."

At that moment, the music started up again and couples began to pair off. Kei looked behind him at the very long train of his wedding dress. "I think I'm going to take off my gown's train. Fara and I will be back shortly."

Kei and Fara walked forward to their private suite aboard the Flying Phoenix hand-in-hand. Once inside and the door was locked, Fara helped detach the outer layer of his wedding gown, carefully folding it along with its exceedingly long train and placing it on a chair in the corner. "Lay back on the bed, Sweety."

Understanding what she was intending, Kei complied, pulling up his long flowing white dress while resting his feet on the mattress to reveal a thick, white diaper. "I only wet myself a bit during our dinner."

Fara carefully slid a finger along the insides of each leg gather to confirm that the fit was still snug. "So no sagging then, even with the extra contoured booster?"

"My corset's holding it up really nicely." Kei replied.

Fara ran her hand up the front and sides of her husband's diaper and confirmed that the waistband of his padding was still tightly tucked under the bottom edge of the white overbust corset he wore under the bodice of his wedding dress. "Comfy?"

"Uh-huh."

With a smile down to her husband, Fara patted the front of his diaper. "Perfect. You should be good for the rest of the evening."

Kei stat back up, let his dress cascade back down, and stood to embrace his wife in his arms. "I want to dance all night."

And dance they did. Under a starlit sky, the joyous celebration went on late into the night. Kei danced most of the evening with his beautiful wife, though he did one dance with his father-in-law while his own father danced with Fara.

With Charles leading his son-in-law in the dance steps, he said, "I had for a long time dreamed of seeing my daughter in a wedding dress and giving her away to a handsome, loving tod."

Kei bit his lower lip upon hearing this confession from Fara's father. "Sorry Sir...."

But the Phoenix patriarch interrupted any further apologies. "Don't be. When I recall how much of a tomboy my little girl was growing up, and how she is with you, it seems all the more fitting that it be Dietrich who gives you away as the bride."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Please. Don't call me 'sir.' We are family now, and I've come to love you as the son I never had with my Katherine."

Kei felt overcome with a convolution of emotions, and before he knew it, was embracing Charles while resting his chin on his shoulder. "Thank you...Dad...."

Charles Phoenix reflexively squeezed his son-in-law upon hearing Kei's heartfelt words and grew tearful when his son-in-law asked, "I wish I could have met your wife....Do you think she'd have liked me?"

"She would have adored you." Chares replied in a voice choked with emotion. "It is why I gave you that tiara you are wearing. It was what she wore when she married me, and I know she would have wanted you to have it."

Kei had not known where his father-in-law had gotten him the tiara. Hearing that it had belonged to his late mother-in-law, he embraced him fiercely and sniffled. "I'll cherish it Dad."

They continued to dance until the band finished the current set. Kei then looked around for his wife, and could not suppress a giggle when he saw her give his mother a brief bow and extended a hand out to her. Josephine actually blushed and demurely accepted, taking Fara's hand and letting herself be led unto the dance floor.

Upon feeling a tap on his shoulder, Kei turned to see a smiling John Phoenix bow and extend a hand out to him. Truthfully, he knew he should not have been surprised that Fara's gay cousin would ask him for a dance and grinned to the fennec tod before taking his hand. Letting himself be led by the son of Andrew Phoenix, Kei said, "You came up in a conversation Fara and I were having with Wolf O'Donnell."

"Oh? I hope it's all good." John replied while guiding his cousin-in-law with the music along the dance floor.

"We were wondering if you had a cute boyfriend yet."

John shook his head. "Sadly not....though there is this cute fennec nurse I know at the hospital where Mom works."

Kei smiled coyly. "Well, if he's gay or bi, and you ask him out, I'll let Wolf and Panther know."

"Huh? What are you getting at?"

"So that they can invite both of you to their double wedding."

"Uhhh....Sure." John replied.

By the second hour after midnight, the festivities were winding down. Charles, his siblings, and his niece and nephews, along with Chief Justice Malinae Brock, all began to make their way to the Phoenix family shuttle. In the distance, they could see Wolf and Vanessa kissing passionately at the base of the shuttle craft's ramp. The family of foxes stood back to give the newly engaged couple a private moment, but large fennec ears could not help but hear their passionate words.

Wolf broke off the kiss to give his vixen a moment to catch her breath. "Move in with me, Vanessa. I do not want to wait until we are married for us to start living together."

Wolf's vulpine fiancée responded by grinding herself against her lover and betrothed. "We'll have to soundproof your apartment in Corneria City."

"And why would we need to soundproof my apartment?" Wolf asked with a smirk.

Vanessa replied by tracing her finger under her fiancé's chin. "If I am to become your she-wolf, we can't have our neighbors complain when I howl."

"And have you been practicing, my dearest? Show me that you can sing the song of wolves." he challenged her.

The blush coming through her pale white fur was more than evident under the sea of stars blanketing the sky. "Here? N-now? I....I don't think...."

But before bashfulness could draw any further hesitancy from her, Wolf reached down and roughly groped her rump while pulling her against him.

Vanessa threw back her head and let peel from her throat a clear howl of passion. Her lover responded by adding his voice, joining her in that most ancient of songs his lupine ancestors sung since countless millennia ago.

Aboard the Flying Phoenix, Amanda and Slippy, Bill and Fay, Falco and Katt, Fox and Krystal, Lucy, and Peppy each were selecting quarters to sleep off the evening's libations. The only ones sober were Krystal, who was six weeks pregnant with her first child, and Falco who had sworn off alcohol months ago.

Fara and Kei had just wished all their friends a good night, and were walking along the pathway to their honeymoon bungalow when they heard Wolf and Vanessa sing their lupine duet. While Vanessa's voice rang out clearly, Wolf's howl was loud and strong, befitting of his heritage. Fara paused to listen to the betrothed couple's song. "Who knew foxes could howl like that. Wolf must have been giving her lessons."

The power of Wolf's howl was born by the joy in his heart. Years of conflict, violence, and hatred were finally left behind to be replaced by happiness and joy in the arms of this passionate vixen who so easily saw beyond his dark past.

Having voiced their passion and happiness to the heavens, they parted with a slow, chaste kiss. Wolf glanced to the side and smirked. "I'll see you tonight after you've dropped off our audience."

When Vanessa followed her fiancé's gaze and saw the Phoenixes and Reinards a short distance away, she felt the heat rise up to her cheeks and groaned. "When Fara finds out, she's never going to let me live it down."

"She'll find out that you have a lovely voice, worthy of any she-wolf." Wolf playfully growled. He gave her a final kiss and walked away towards the tarmac where Panther and Miyu were doing their pre-flight checks on their respective Wolfens.

Seeing her passengers approaching, Vanessa groaned again and walked up the shuttle's ramp to start her own pre-flight checks.

From the balcony of their bungalow, Fara and Kei watched the shuttle with their family lift off, quickly followed by the three Wolfens that would escort them back to the mainland. Off at one end of the island, the dying ambers of a campfire could be seen where the pilots of Bulldog Squadron were sleeping for the night. After sunrise, they would be relieving Husky Squadron, which was still patrolling around the island out of earshot. At the other end, the lights aboard the Flying Phoenix were going out in each window as their remaining guests went to sleep.

Kei turned away from the island vista to drink in Fara's features and her smile for him, and his heart was filled with a sense of wonder. She was now his wife, and he was her husband. Without saying a word, both retreated to the seclusion of their bungalow's interior bedroom. Kei slowly helped his wife out of her tuxedo jacket, pants, and shoes until she was wearing only her panties and bra.

His own wedding dress was, as is common of feminine clothing, much more elaborate than his wife's tuxedo. Starting with the back zipper of his dress, Fara helped her husband out of his wedding gown, which she let drape over the corner chair with the train. After helping him take his shoes off, she went behind her husband and set about loosening the laces in his corset. With the steel boned undergarment no longer endowing Kei with a shapely feminine figure, his soggy diaper sagged under its weight.

Fara pulled on the tapes over his tail and on the front, letting the wet padding drop into her hands. After disposing it, she laid down on the bed a fresh diaper for her husband. She turned to see Kei had removed his veil and was looking at the halo tiara in his hands with tears welling in his eyes.

Kei gazed up at his wife and answered her unasked question with a question of his own. "When Dad gave me this tiara, did you know it had belonged to your mother?"

Kissing her husband between his eyes, Fara affirmed, "Yes. When Daddy asked me if I was okay with him giving you Mom's wedding tiara, I told him that I could think of no better head it could sit upon than yours." Her eyes misted upon seeing her husband gently caress the precious head adornment against his chest before laying it reverently on the dresser.

He then turned around and walked into his wife's welcoming embrace. "I love you so much, Fara. I love your whole family, and I love Charles as a second father." he murmured into her shoulder while breathing deeply her feminine, musky scent.

They stood together in the middle of their bedroom, holding each other for several minutes until Kei began to squirm. This did not go unnoticed by Fara, who asked. "What's the matter, Sweety?"

A warm fuzzy feeling suffused through Kei at knowing how his wife would reply when he confessed, "I have to pee." Her caring, reassuring smile and words did not disappoint him.

Seeing her husband's bashful expression reminded Fara once again of one of the many reasons she had fallen in love with this adorable, effeminate fox who loved to be babied, and baby him she would. "Then let's get you into your diaper."

There was a rightness to what had become their nightly routine. Without any further urging, Kei laid down on the bed on his back, planting his feet down to raise his rump so that his wife could slip his thick, pink diaper under him. After powdering him between the legs, she lifted the front of his padding up over his crotch and taped it securely in place. Kei then rolled over onto his front and let her affix the tape in place above his tail.

"Don't use your diaper just yet, Baby." he heard Fara command before he even rolled back to sit up on the bed. Though he did not understand her reason, the thought of questioning her never crossed his mind. His tail instead wagged with a crinkle upon seeing her remove his footed sleeper and baby bonnet from their suitcase.

The footed sleeper was pink and had frilly white trim around the collar, the wrists, and the ankles, with mitts sewn into the ends of the wrists. The inseam in the legs of the sleeper had snaps that went up through the crotch for convenience in changing his diaper. The pink baby bonnet was adorned in embroidered white flowers, with lacy white trim along the edges.

With her husband's hand on her shoulder for support, Fara helped him step into the babyish garment and then pulled up the zipper behind him from the base of his tail to his neck. She then fitted him with his bonnet and tied it snugly under his chin. "Alright Sweety. Just lie back in bed and wait for me while I get your bottle."

"Okay...I love you." Kei said dreamily. While his wife went to warm his milk, he mused about the wonderful situation he was in. Traditionally, the wedding night would entail passionate love-making, but after a festive evening of good food, dancing, and general merry-making, Kei did not think either of them had the energy for more than a night-time snuggle at the late hour they were going to sleep. There would be plenty of love-making in the coming days of their honeymoon.

Fara soon returned with his adult-sized baby bottle. After taking off her panties and bra, she joined him in bed. Kei snuggled up against his wife, laying his head in the crook of her left arm. With her right hand, she held up the bottle and guided it to his muzzle.

A sense of peace suffused through Kei when he took the proffered rubber nipple into his mouth and began to nurse. The only thing that kept him from becoming fully relaxed was the ever growing pressure in his bladder, which was further brought to the fore of his thoughts when Fara placed her left hand over the front of his diaper.

"Is my baby still dry?"

When he nodded while still suckling, her reply did not surprise him and made him giggle quietly in happiness.

"Ooh. That will not do? Such a naughty baby, not using his diaper like he should."

With a sigh of contentment, Kei relaxed fully and let the floodgates open while he continued to languidly suckle on the warm milk his wife was feeding him.

The warmth radiating through the layers of padding and sleeper brought a quiet smile to Fara's muzzle. Kei was everything to her: adoring husband, best friend, passionate lover, devoted submissive, and baby girl. "Ooooh. Such a good little soggy butt you are."

Kei hummed and nodded while he continued to nurse, feeling loved and cared for. When he finished drinking all his milk, he voiced his feelings. "You are so good to me, Fara. And you'll be a wonderful mother to our future children."

A fuzzy warmth suffused through Fara at her husband's words. "I....I hope I can be..."

"Oh you will, and I'll gladly let you continue practicing your mothering skills on me." Kei murmured dreamily. His lips reflexively wrapped around the rubber bulb of his pacifier when Fara guided it to his muzzle. Tired from the late hour and after a wonderfully festive evening, sleepy from a bellyful of warm milk, and feeling safe and comforted in his thick diaper and the warm embrace of his loving wife, Kei Phoenix drifted off to sleep and happy dreams of the life that lay ahead of them.