"You wanted to see me?"

Krystal sat down next to Fox, who was clearly troubled by something.

"Do you know why we're here?"

Krystal thought about it. Why did he ask her to accompany him to Sauria's Cape Claw? Is this a date? Was there something special here that he wanted her to know about?

"Not exactly." Krystal finally admitted after a few awkward seconds, "I mean, I have my theories."

"I originally planned on taking our relationship to the next level. I wanted to be more than just friends. I thought there was a chance this could work and that the relationship wasn't doomed to failure."

Krystal did not like where this was going. Fox continued.

"But I realized it wouldn't work. There's too much uncertainty in our line of work. I thought about taking the easy way and leaving you a note or telling you over the phone. But that wouldn't be right. That would send all the wrong messages."

"What was he trying to tell me?" Krystal thought. Fox continued.

"I think you should leave the team."

Krystal was devastated. Star Fox was the only family she had left. Fox continued.

"Like I said, there's too much uncertainty. It's not healthy for a relationship and is certainly not healthy for kids, if we ever went that far. The healthiest thing you can do for yourself is to leave."

Krystal hadn't noticed that Fox had gotten up until he was already standing in the water. Krystal felt she had no other alternative. Standing up, she pulled out her staff and snuck up on Fox. Before he could notice her, Krystal slammed her staff into Fox's head as hard as she could. While he was still dazed, Krystal tackled Fox and held his head underwater. After a few minutes of struggling, Fox passed out. Krystal dragged him back onto the beach.

Unsheathing a knife she had under her shirt, Krystal cut deeply into Fox's arms and legs. Taking her staff, Krystal removed the crystal and placed it on his chest. Grabbing the knife again, Krystal cut into her left index finger and let the blood drip onto the crystal. Grabbing the crystal again, she cut a line from his chest to a few inches below his bellybutton. Placing the crystal back on his chest, it was now just a matter of time before he woke up.

Krystal waited. For what felt like a week, she waited. Finally, Fox woke up.

"What happened?"

"Nothing much."

Fox was confused. He woke up on a beach, his arms, legs, and chest hurt, and he couldn't get up no matter how hard he tried.

"Do you remember what you told me before you passed out?"

Fox thought for a moment before he answered her question.

"I told you that our relationship couldn't work and that you should leave the team."

"That's right."

Fox's eyes went big as Krystal inched closer to him with a knife in her hand.

"You don't really have to leave." Fox pleaded when he saw the blood dripping from the blade, "No. I just realized that we could take our relationship to the next level after all. We could date and even get married if you want. Please, just put that knife away."

"You'll just leave me." Krystal told him as a smile formed on her face, "I can read your mind, remember? You plan on destroying m ship before taking off in your own, stranding me here. But you're not going to do that. I'm not going to let you."

The knife moved closer to Fox's belly. He knew what she was going to do.

"Please don't." Fox begged, "I was just kidding about you leaving. You don't have to leave. Please don't stab me."

"You're cute when you're desperate." Krystal told Fox seductively as she held the knife above Fox's stomach, "We're going to be together forever. Your soul just needs a little loosening from your body."

Fox screamed in pain as the knife plunged into his stomach. Krystal continued.

"The body has three 'centers'. The brain is the governing center. It governs the entire body. The heart is the spiritual center. It pumps energy throughout the entire body. The belly is the health center. The body's not healthy unless the belly is healthy. Now, I had to cut into the belly. To loosen the soul, I needed to attack one of your three centers. Attacking the others would let your body die too quickly for this to work."

Krystal crawled on top of Fox, making sure her chest was directly over the crystal. Krystal continued.

"The crystal on your chest will direct your consciousness, your soul, into me. Your body will die, but you will be trapped inside me. I will be your cocoon. Even after I eventually die, we'll still be permanently bonded. Also, you remember that 'fan girl' you slept with?"

Fox did not like where this was going. Krystal continued.

"That was me. It's amazing what a little fur dye can do. I'm glad you thought I was on the pill. Otherwise, you would have used protection and wouldn't soon be a father. That's right. Since you're going to be inside me, it's only right that I inform you that I'm pregnant. It's nice that you're going to be sharing the joys of parenthood with me. So many men abandon their mates after the first missed period."

It felt like hours before Fox lost too much blood and "died". Just like Krystal had planned, Fox was freed from his body only to be trapped inside hers. Krystal grabbed the crystal and forced it back into her staff before cleaning and placing the knife back in its sheath. She then picked up Fox's body and carried it back to her ship. It was only right that his body be buried close to his parents', not left rotting on a beach.