Looking at the light grey ceiling with his arms crossed behind his head, a deep sigh escaped his muzzle. How much time has passed since the Anglar Blitz? One year? Two? In all honesty, he stopped to count after the first six months and the fact that he was in space was not helping to keep track of the time. Now, the only members of the team were him and ROB 64, the robot/A.I of the Great Fox II...just like after the Aparoid Invasion. The legendary Fox McCloud had almost lost everything in this war: the vixen of his life, his celebrity, eclipsed by Star Wolf which gave the final blow to the Anglar Emperor, and what remained of his team.

Now, he was completely alone, in his Mother Ship, drifting around the orbit of Corneria. Since Krystal flew away at the end of the war, he didn't have any news about her whatsoever from Katt Monroe or Lucy Hare, the daughter of his mentor, Peppy Hare.

He only pushed her away to protect her, not to hurt both of their feelings. But in the end, it was useless because it left the two foxes completely devastated emotionally and she disappeared.

Fox hated himself for months after she flew away but he learned to live with this fact. A knot appeared in his guts everytime he thinks about it and all the other scenarios which could have happened if he had acted differently. A lot of question popped in his mind: where was she actually? What was she doing? Did she was involved in a romantic relationship with someone else?

At the last thought, Fox could taste ash on his tongue and in his mouth. It was the only thing he hated most than everything: imagine her in the arms of someone else...or those of Panther Caroso.

But now, what was the most important for him was the fact that everyone was happy. Slippy was married with Amanda and had two childrens for the moment; Falco created his own squad with Dash Bowman, Andross's grandson, and Katt. Finally, Peppy was still working as the General of the Cornerian Army.

The galaxy was at peace, so no one needed Fox's services as a mercenary…for now.

Not feeling sleepy anymore, he stood up and walked in his personal bathroom to take a shower. The hot water against his light orange fur was all he needed to be completely awake. One shower later and with a towel around his mid-section, Fox stepped out of his bathroom. Looking outside, a grin grew on his face.

From his personal quarters, he could admire Corneria, the space and Solar. Oddly, Fox always was someone interested in looking at the stars. It provided him a strange sense of calm and peace. Why? He didn't know. His best guess was he inherited it from his father, just like his flying skill.

Unfortunately, his train of thoughts was interrupted the voice of ROB talking through the speakers.

"Incoming call from General Peppy! Priority one!"

Walking to his nightstand, the orange fox took a wireless earpiece and pressed the single button on it.

"I'm coming ROB, just give me a minute,"

He grabbed the first shirt he had within his reach, put it on and did the same the other clothes before taking his old white jacket with the logo of the team on it. Quickly, he left his quarters and trotted to the main room, used as a living/briefing room. ROB was already there, waiting for him. Then, Fox sat on a leather seat, in front of a table with the holographic device on it.

"You can answer now,"

After pushing a single button, the screen was turned on and the face of an old rabbit with red eyes and glasses, in his late fifty, appeared in the middle of the room.

"Long time no see, old timer,"

"It's good to see you too, Fox,"

The vulpine crossed his arms and looked directly in the eyes of his mentor, a small grin plastered on his face.

"So, I suppose you didn't only call me just to see if I was alright, especially with the priority of the transmission. Am I right?"

"Nothing can escape you, can't it?" replied the hare, softly shaking his head.

"Nope, sir,"

"Anyway, I need your help. Andrew Oikonny had created his own army and is trying to take over Katina!"

The ace pilot chuckled "Again? I hope it won't finish like the Aparoid Invasion this time,"

Peppy smiled at this.

"How many are they?"

"Six hundred, at least,"

"Okay...and do we have any fighting force there?"

"Yes, they are under the orders of someone you know very well, the captain Bill Grey,"

A faint smile appeared on Fox's face while he nodded.

"And why not sending Falco and his crew, he'll be more than happy to kick that ape's ass,"

"I've already sent Star Falco on another mission,"

"Perfect. ROB, you know what to do,"

"Affirmative. Opening of the portal in thirty seconds from...now,"

"Good luck Fox, and come back alive,"

"Don't worry Peppy, everything will be just fine,"

The vulpine was about to cut the communication when he was interrupted by his old friend and superior.

"Oh Fox, I almost forgot, is 100,000 credits enough as your flee?"

"Yeah, I could use it to repair ROB and improve some parts of the Great Fox,"

"Good, I'm transferring the money as we speak. Peppy out,"

A simple nod was the only response the hare received before the call was stopped. A large green circle appeared a few kilometers away from the old Cornerian Assault Carrier which began to move toward it.

"Portal complete. No interference detected. ETOA: ten seconds," informed the robot.

The moment after, the mothership flew through the gate and finds itself not far away from a battlefield full of Venomian and Cornerian Carrier. Both followed by smaller ships, just for one pilot, the Venomian/Cornerian fighters. Andrew's ships were colored in dark red/gold and the Cornerian Army had ships painted in white/green.

"Fortuna's casualties evaluated at 40%. At this rate, and without our help, they'll be all killed,"

Fox nodded, acknowledging the situation.

"ROB, let the Great Fox away from the battle, I'll take care of everything,"

"Affirmative, I'll send supply if needed,"

The mercenary left the room, rushing to the elevator. He stopped on the device and pushed the down arrow, two times. It began its course before slowing down and stopping two floors lower. The sound of his boots against the ground made of metal echoed in the large corridor leading to the docking bay. When he was in the hangar, Fox rushed at fast as possible and jumped into the only ship present. The fighter itself was one of the legendary Arwings, known to be one of the most powerful, fast and maneuverable ship of its category. It was shaped like a 'Y' but upside down, also colored in light grey/blue, had two Laser Cannons and a Smart Bomb Launcher. A red flying fox was painted at the base of both wings, the logo of the Star Fox team. The design of the ship was the same as when Fox saved Dinosaur Planet.

Despite its age, two decades, the Arwing was still one of the best ships. Even the fighters of the Cornerian Army couldn't stand a chance against it.

The cyan cockpit closed itself, protecting its pilot from the outside world. A few sentences appeared on the green screen in front of the vulpine:

[Twin lasers: enabled

Alpha interface: enabled

All range mode: waiting

Beta interface: waiting

Secondary weapons: waiting

Primary weapons: enabled

Astrogation systems: enabled

Targeting systems: enabled

Nova bombs: waiting

Internal power: enabled

Life support: waiting

External power: disabled

Starflight mode: enabled

Deflecting shields: waiting]

"This is Fox, ready for takeoff. ROB, report in!"

"Communications line…green. The lift lock has been released. Arwing primed and ready,"

The rail which suspended the ship moved on its own and launched Fox in the space, at high speed. The Arwing made a few barrel rolls before stopping, deploying its wings and flying in the middle of the battle.

"Let's rock and roll!"

Meanwhile, at the other side of the galaxy…

Tonight was one of the most beautiful nights of the summer. The sky was void of any cloud, thanks to the weather team, and there wasn't a single storm or even rain scheduled for the next two week.

In the white and gold castle of Canterlot where lived the two Princesses of Equestria, a lone pony was sitting at the balcony of the observatory. The castle itself was built in the side of a mountain, giving the possibility to see a wide part of the country. The mare, with a crescent moon as her Cutie Mark, was staring at the stars…more precisely at the white orb which replaced the sun during a few hours. Her blue coat was as dark as the night sky and her flowing mane, despite the lack of wind, as deep as the space itself. Slowly, the smile on her face disappeared and was replaced by a slight frown. Something was wrong with the stars tonight, she could feel it.

Just at the moment this thought reached her mind, another pony, with white coat and multicolored flowing mane this time, walked to her at a slow pace and sat at her left before also looking at the sky. Her Cutie Mark was representing a picture of the sun.

"Is something the matter, Lulu? You were not in your right mind at dinner. If you want to talk about it, I'm all ears,"

The first pony, which also had a horn and wings, turned her head toward the voice, still frowning.

"I-I don't know Tia. It's like there's something not right with the moon, as if 'the nightmare' was back or as if there was a magical disturbance. It could be nothing but my instincts tell me otherwise. I'd like to be wrong,"

The other mare, slightly taller than 'Lulu', raised an eyebrow, "I thought that young Spike had defeated it when he opened his heart to the Element of Generosity, Rarity," she said, slightly surprised.

"I thought it too, but something's not right, I can feel it in my bones,"

Tia lowered her neck to her sibling's level and nuzzled her, with a smile on her face. "Don't worry little sister, even if the dark mist comes back, we'll face it together and with the Elements of Harmony. But for now, let not this beautiful night you made be a waste because of a dark thought,"

"I hope you're right Celestia, I hope you're right," whispered the dark blue Alicorn to herself with a light grin, looking one last time at the sky, before leaving the room.

Luna walked back to the throne room, sat on her chair, ready for the night court which could be resumed in long hours of boredom, some paperwork and talking with the guards.

But, what she didn't know is that another unicorn, the librarian Twilight Sparkle, was stargazing at the same moment and could also sense the strange amount of magic coming from the moon.