Chapter 1: Reunion

Walking through the city on Corneria gave Fox an odd feeling he couldn't quite shake as he made his way through one of the courtyards he had fought Aparoids in two months earlier. He could still remember the way the literal dogs of the military looked, completely succumbed to aparoidedation. The mechanical yet familiar look to their skin, almost like machine zombies. He thought about his old friend Bill, and if he might have been one of the many he killed to save Corneria that day. Fox pushed the memory out of his head as he exited the courtyard and headed down the road towards the cafe he was to meet Krystal at. Fox crossed the freshly laid street to the cafe, he studied it for a moment and realized it had been newly built as well. The sign on the outside read: "Cup of Corneria" Fox laughed quietly to himself at the name, as Falco had always joked about opening a coffee shop of that exact name back in the day.

Walking through the door the place was completely empty, which was unusual with how many people Fox had passed on his way there. There was no way that this place would be that dead… Was there? As he thought of this, Fox's entire team jumped out from behind booths and signs in the cafe, surprising him.

All: "Happy birthday!" They all cheered simultaneously. Krystal ran from behind her sign and gave fox a big hug, they locked eyes for a moment, it was as if time was standing still.

Krystal: "Welcome home Fox." Krystal said with a look in her eyes Fox hadn't seen since he rescued her from Sauria. The moment was instantly ruined when Slippy followed suit and tackled the two in excitement of Fox's return.

Fox: "Hey guys! Heheh… It's so good to see you all." Fox managed to squeak out from under his two friends.

Falco: "You haven't forgotten about me have you?" Falco said ever so snarkily as he emerged from a shadow in the cafe.

Falco: "You're easier to surprise than I remember Fox, still feeling edgy from the invasion?" Falco seemed almost unfazed by his friend's return.

Fox got up from under the pile and helped his wingmates up.

Fox: "Not a chance Falco, but I am hoping you'll stick around this time around now that we finally have peace."

Falco: "We'll see buddy, you know me, always where the action is. But enough about me, happy birthday ace."

Falco seemed to say that with genuine expression of his feelings, which was rare from the bird. Fox, Krystal, Slippy, and Falco all took a booth. Krystal was almost jumping out of her seat with excitement, and Fox took a notice to it.

Fox: "You're so excited Krystal! Heheh, reminds me of the first time you flew an Arwing."

Krystal put her hands on her cheeks and smiled.

Krystal: "You have to be wondering why we chose this place of all cafes in Corneria right?"

Fox: "Well I hadn't actually given it much thought, I had been lead to believe it was only you here, so I figured you just wanted to try something new. Heheh."

Krystal: "Okay, well here's the thing, I knew you were worried so I did some looking around Lylat to see if I could find him and-"

A familiar figure comes out from the back of the shop in a green outfit similar to an old Cornerian flight suit. The man approaches the table.

?: "Turns out she did."

Fox, Falco, and Slippy: "Bill!?"

Bill: "In the flesh, happy birthday Fox, it's good to see you guys again. I never thought I would have wound up here with you guys. But where's Peppy?"

Fox: "That's a good question actually, where is Peppy Krystal?"

Krystal: "I don't know… I tried to call him on his communicator but no one answered. Maybe he's sorting some things out with Pepper still. A lot has happened since we killed the queen."

Fox: "Damn, well, I'm sure him and I will catch up pretty soon here. But anyway, dude! Bill! It's been what? About ten years? How did you wind up opening a coffee shop?"

Bill: "Well, being the best pilot in your division helps a lot as it turns out. I got a huge bonus after I helped you guys get to Andross all those years ago, so I decided to leave it to you guys and go civilian. I took the cash and opened a shop about five years ago actually, but I was never able to get in touch with any of you. After the Aparoids destroyed what was once my old cafe, I wanted to keep it going. There are a lot of naval officers that love my coffee, so I couldn't disappoint you know?"

Fox: "Wow… It really has been a long time Bill, you haven't even met Krystal yet huh?"

Bill: "I was wondering who that lovely lady sitting next to you was, It's a pleasure Miss… Krystal was it?"

Krystal: "Yeah, it's nice to finally meet you Bill, I've heard the stories of what happened during the Lylat Wars. Very fine flying."

Bill: "Heh, it's Fox you need to complement, not me love. He's the one who defeated Andross, and saved my ass multiple times to boot!"

Krystal: "He's saved us all many times, even you Falco."

Falco: "I'm not that foolhardy Krystal, come on, I know he's done a lot. But I've definitely returned the favour."

Bill: "Well, before this pissing contest gets any farther, what can I get you four to drink? It's on me. Heheheh."

Fox and the team drank coffee and spirits until they were properly drunk enough to be dangerous. Several hours later they emerged out of the cafe to find that the sun had gone down and the city was lit up with all the hussle and bussle of the night at Corneria.

Falco: "I think I need to go home Fox, if I have to do one more shot because you outdo me for stories, I might hack up a pellet."

Slippy: "Yeah, me too Fox, I think I overdid it in there, and this is one mess you're not going to want to clean up for me."

Fox: "Okay guys, you be well and stuff, don't go getting tailed now Slip! You hear? And Falco?"

Falco turns around to find Fox waving his middle finger in the air towards him.

Fox: "Love you buddy!"

Falco and Slippy leave, making Krystal the only one still at Fox's side.

Krystal: "So, it's you and me now Fox. We haven't had time like together like this since you trained me for the team. Hehe, what do you want to do now? Do you even have a place in Corneria?"

Fox: "Well, I used to live across the street from here actually but…"

Fox turns to look at the rubble that used to be his loft in the city. His father raised him there in that loft. So many memories, so many personal effects, gone in a flash. Fox began to tear up, but quickly fought off the urge to cry. He wouldn't do that, not here, not in front of Krystal.

Krystal: "Fox… I'm so sorry. Well, you certainly can't fly back anywhere. Why don't you stay with me for the night? I have a place about a block from here, and we're both way too drunk for any other options. Plus I still have a present to give you anyway. Hehe!"

Fox turned bright red, he could feel his face burning up, but he didn't know whether it was from that remark, or his alcohol level. Shaking it off and clearing his throat, Fox finally said nervously:

Fox: "Sure, that sounds wonderful."

Krystal laughed and looked fox in the eyes.

Krystal: "Fox, it's not what you think. I'm a telepath, remember? I can read your thoughts when we're this close. But don't consider that door closed just yet." Krystal said cheekily.

Fox swallowed hard and the two started walking to Krystal's apartment. The night sky on Corneria was beautiful, a jet black colour with the casual twinkles the stars made. The city was so vibrant, with bright blues, reds, greens, and yellows painting the buildings. It made Fox think of the days he lived there with his father. They would get ice cream and fries at the local diner there all the time, and Fox used to marvel at how cool all the lights were in the city. They had passed that diner about a minute ago. An aparoid quadruped had wrecked the whole place, and destroyed one of the few places Fox had left to remember his childhood. Again tears welled up in his eyes, and even though he fought it as hard as he could, a single tear rolled down his nose off one of his whiskers. Krystal stopped and hugged him, as tight as she could. And so he broke, Fox began sobbing uncontrollably at the thought of what the aparoids had done to his home, and to his childhood. Krystal and Fox stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, holding eachother for a bit while Fox composed himself. Krystal put her head to Fox's.

Krystal (Mentally) "Fox, it's okay, I know exactly how you feel. My entire planet… Everyone I ever knew or loved died when it was destroyed, and I felt as you do now. Let's just make it to my place okay? I have something you'll want to see."

Fox looked at her for a moment, caught off guard that she could read him so easily. It really said how close they had become, as Krystal can only read thoughts so clearly when she has a strong connection with the person. Fox nodded and they continued to Krystal's apartment where they finally got to her door. Krystal let them in and Fox collapsed on the nearby couch.

Krystal: "Heh, don't fall asleep on me yet Fox, I still have something to show you."

Despite Krystal's request, it was too late. Fox had already passed out, and was happily sound asleep on the couch. Krystal rolled her eyes and put a blanket over her couch's most recent accessory. She decided that she would give him his present in the morning, and went to sleep, content that she had comforted her poor companion.

Fox stirred and gradually opened his eyes. His head was pounding and the room was spinning. He sat up and looked around, it was a beautiful apartment, completely new and furnished with expensive hand-crafted Cornerian furniture. There were pictures on the walls of Tricky from Sauria and the team from the Great Fox. There were miniature statues of the different warpstone guardians and models of the Great Fox and Arwings around everywhere. Fox had never thought Krystal for the model type but then again... Fox realized this was the first time he had seen her home. He turned a little red and laid back down. He looked at the time on his communicator: 09:14.

Fox (thinking): "Damn, I haven't been that drunk in a very long time. I wonder where Krystal is..."

Fox sat up and looked for where she might be. He went down the short hallway leading to a room and knocked on the door.

Fox: "Krystal?"

Krystal: "Come in, Fox."

Fox slowly opened the door to see Krystal in her purple nightgown, still halfway under the blankets. Fox again turned beet red and looked down.

Fox: "Sorry Krystal, I didn't realize-"

Krystal: "It's okay Fox, I wouldn't have invited you in if I had something I didn't want you to see."

Fox looked up and met her eyes. She was beautiful, even just after getting out of bed. Krystal smiled.

Krystal: "What's wrong Fox? Never see a woman before? Hehe, go into the living room, I'll be right out okay?"

Fox: "Uh... Heh, alright, I'll make breakfast then?"

Krystal: "Okay!"

Krystal approaches Fox and Fox backs up. The advance continues until Fox is up against the wall, and Krystal finally closes the distance.

Krystal: "You know, you're not the only one who has an attraction here."

Before Fox could say anything Krystal kisses Fox on the cheek and backs up behind her door frame.

Fox's mouth was open and his expression blank, it was almost as if he was still dreaming, or maybe it was from the hangover, but what just happened seemed unbelievable.

Krystal: "Good luck with breakfast, I'll be right out. And Fox? Happy birthday."

Krystal winked and closed the door. Fox caught himself and closed his mouth. He slid down the wall and sat there, absolutely bewildered at what had just happened. He had always known that he might have had a chance with her, but never did he dream it would be so sudden. Fox snapped out of it and got up.

Fox: "Breakfast, right!"

Fox went into the kitchen and looked around. At a glance he could make all sorts of things, but he went with something simple, something he couldn't screw up. Pancakes, he thought. Pancakes would work nicely. As he made them he could hear Krystal showering in the other room. He was excited, Fox hadn't felt this alive since he defeated Andross for the first time ten years ago. With the pancakes ready, he prepared the table and waited. The anxiety was killing him; he was thinking about if she would like them, does she even like pancakes? Does she prefer blueberry? What kind of syrup-

Krystal (mentally): "Fox, relax. Hehe, I love pancakes and you did well making them, I can't wait to have some. Now stop freaking out okay? I'll be out in a minute."

Fox had totally forgot about the telepathic aspects of his vixen interest, and turned super red with embarrassment that she had heard his thoughts. Fox just sat quietly trying not to think about anything too bad. Krystal came out into the living room and sat down next to Fox.

Krystal: "Yay! I love pancakes Fox! How did you know?"

Fox: "Lucky guess?"

Krystal: "You know me better than you think. So let's eat yeah?"

Fox: "Heh, yeah..."

Krystal: "What's wrong?"

Fox: "Krystal, I... I've just never done anything like this before, and I want to make sure I do it right."

Krystal was already through about half the stack Fox had oh so carefully placed on her plate, and through a mouthful she said:

Krystal: "What? The pancakes?"

Little bits of pancake fell out of her mouth as she spoke.

Fox: "No... You and me."

Krystal stopped and set down her fork. They looked at eachother for a moment. A full minute passed before Krystal finally broke eye contact and looked down.

Krystal: "Fox, we've been interrupted by work so many times we haven't ever given eachother a chance."

Tears began to well up in her eyes.

Krystal: "So just once, let's give it a go. Let nothing get in the way, not work, not Andross, not the Aparoids, nothing. Just you and me, together at last!"

Krystal looked at Fox with tears in her eyes waiting. Waiting for Fox to say something, anything...

After a while Fox finally spoke up.

Fox: "Krystal... I couldn't agree more."

Fox takes Krystal into his arms.

Fox: "We'll make a go of it, we won't let anything get in the way, not this time."

Krystal: "Fox..."

The two sat for a long time talking about how they had made passes at eachother during the whole Aparoid invasion. About an hour had passed before Fox finally looked at his communicator, the time: 11:58.

Krystal laughed.

Krystal: "I can't believe it's already been two hours. Time flies when we're together. Hehe!"

Fox: "Yeah, it's odd, almost as odd as you being able to read my mind all of the time."

Krystal: "I can stop if you want me to... It's actually completely voluntary."

Fox: "No, it's fine, just don't be surprised at anything you hear me think aloud okay? Heheheh."

Krystal: "What's that supposed to mean hmm? Hehe."

The two continued the banter for another half an hour until there was a ring on Fox's communicator.

Fox: "I have my slate cleared for another six days, who could that possibly be?"

Fox looks at the communicator, it's none other than Peppy Hare. Fox answers the communicator and a hologram of Peppy's head springs out.

Peppy: "Hey Fox! Long time no see eh?"

Fox: "Yeah, we've been so busy mopping up the Aparoids, that there hasn't been much time for celebration has there?"

Peppy: "Yeah, and unfortunately it would seem there's more to do."

Fox: "What? I thought the program finally took care of the rest of the Aparoids, that's why I'm home."

Krystal shifted uncomfortably in her seat at what Peppy was going to say next.

Peppy: "Pepper needs Star Fox again. There's a station, a little bit farther than Venom. There seems to be a single man that was affected by aparoidedation, but not released by the program. This man is raising an army and being revered by Lylat's criminals as a god. He needs to be stopped Fox, lest we have a repeat of what happened ten years ago, but with a force far more dangerous than what Andross had."

Fox: "Peppy... I..."

Fox looked at Krystal, her sitting there with tears in her eyes, trying not to cry in front of Peppy.

Peppy: "Is, is everything alright guys?"

Fox: "Peppy... Krystal and I can't. We're planning on taking some time off, if not indefinitely. There are things that we've decided, and I'm going to have to say no this time. I'm sorry Peppy..."

Peppy: "Fox, I know you two. I know you guys want to try and build your lives together, but what about the Lylat system? What will you do when an armada of Aparoid-worshipping fanatics show up on Corneria's doorstep? Think about the bigger picture here, both of you."

Fox looked at Krystal to find that the tears were gone, and an angry expression had replaced them.

Krystal: "Peppy, can you excuse me for a minute?"

Krystal was almost somber in her tone, but her face read anger. She got up and walked other room. She shut the door and collapsed on the bed, quietly sobbing, and cursing her shit luck over the years. Somehow, Fox knew what Krystal was doing in the other room, and he furrowed his brow thinking about what to say. Finally, he turned to Peppy's face and said:

Fox: "Peppy, we can't. You're one of my oldest friends and a part of my family in my opinion, but right now especially, you can't expect her and I to do this."

Peppy: "So I see... Fox, I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. You love her as much as James loved your mom. He would be proud of you."

Fox turned a little red that Peppy could tell so much about him just from a few questions, but what about the threat? What was General Pepper going to do if he wasn't there to bolster the fleet?

Fox: "So what now Peppy, what are you going to do?"

Peppy: "Fox, there is no war, no demi-aparoid-deity. I just had to know if you really cared about her that much to not go back to combat. Does this mean you're retiring already?"

Fox was amazed. The whole thing was a sham? Peppy just wanted to know what he had in his future this whole time? Fox breathed a visible sigh of relief as he registered what Peppy had just told him.

Fox: "You really have a way of scaring the shit out of me sometimes you know that Pep? What the hell man! You could have just asked!"

Peppy: "Well, I had to be sure, and words are tricky things, it's actions that speak volumes, and you chose to stay, despite the massive threat. I can't say whether that's the stupidest or noblest thing I've ever seen. Heheheh."

Fox: "Well, you don't have to worry about me Peppy, I have a few ideas on how Krystal and I can make some money."

Peppy: "And you're not going to tell us about it? I know you kids are trying to be all lovey-dovey and stuff, but we still need work too! We're officially unemployed now you know."

Fox: "You're saying you want to join me in whatever crazy things I have cooked up?"

Peppy: "Sure! After all, we are Star Fox. If you leave and we don't follow we'd be Star Peppy, or Star Falco, something stupid like that"

Falco (through the communicator): "HEY! What's that supposed to mean gramps!?"

Peppy: "Oh nothing, heheh. But Fox, just tell me when you're ready for whatever hair-brained scheme you have cooked up, and the rest of us will be here for you."

Fox: "Thanks Pep, I'll be in touch."

Peppy: "Oh! And Fox, happy birthday."

Fox: "Thanks buddy, Fox out."

The communicator closes the channel and Peppy's hologram shrinks and vanishes. Fox was so confused at what had just happened. Peppy had wanted to know if he was retired? And he knew about him and Krystal, but then again who didn't? Krystal! Fox thought, he remembered she hadn't heard any of what Peppy had revealed, he had to tell her. Fox went to Krystal's room and knocked quietly on the door.

Fox: "Krystal...?"

Krystal (Mentally) "Come in Fox..."

Fox opened the door and saw that Krystal had sat up, she looked like life had returned to her. She got up and hugged Fox as hard as she could.

Krystal: "Peppy's an ass."

Krystal spoke through a few tears of joy knowing that they really didn't have to fight all the way through Lylat. That finally, after so long, she could finally try a relationship with someone she cared about. Fox hugged her back and ran his hand up and down her back.

Fox: "It's okay, he had good intentions you know. He had to be sure I guess."

Krystal: "I know but... For a second I really did think that everything we had spoken about this morning was for nought. I'm so happy I was wrong."

Fox: "Me too."

The two stayed like that for some time, both contemplating what the future held. Fox was sure that it would be nothing but bright from here on out.