Starfox

The Aftermath Chronicles

The Sauria Crisis

DAY 1

5:00 AM

*BEEP-*

*BEEP-BEEP-*

*BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-*

*SMACK*

I jolted awake, to the pestering beep of my alarm. I got out of bed, and went straight for the Great Fox's pool. I did so every morning, to keep myself fit. It also helped me relax, and relieve the previous day's stress. More over, embarrassment. I seemed to be prone to it when Krystal arrived…

* 6:00 AM

"Ninety-seven…"

"Ninety-eight…"

"Ninety-nine…"

"One-hundred."

I had just completed 100 laps of the 100-yard pool. Usually, after a mission, I'd have only done 50, but I had energy to burn. I didn't notice, but I was panting. My ears were ringing with pure adrenaline, and could not function well at the time. But I heard clapping all the same. I looked up slightly, to see Krystal clapping. She was still in her native, bra-and-loincloth outfit she had arrived in. Quite honestly, I drooled a little bit, when I saw her. Trapped inside that crystal prison…

"H-How long were you standing there?" I asked, blushing slightly. I was glad I had fur.

"Long enough…" Krystal replied, giggling like a schoolgirl. With no warning at all, she jumped in, landing as close as possible. She broke the surface, coming up on the opposite side she landed on. She shook the water from her naturally blue hair. I began to blush even more. It started to show through my fur.

"Fox?"

"Yes, Krystal?" My blush could easily be seen, and the water around me was starting to simmer.

"…Race you to the other side!"

Even though she had a head start, I easily caught up, and passed her.

"Wow! You're fast!" Krystal complimented.

"You're pretty fast yourself," I replied, panting heavily now. I could only hear my heartbeat, ringing in my ears like a bell.

*Thump-Thump…*

*Thump-Thump…*

*Thump-Thump…*

"Fox? Fox, are you okay? Fox? Fox, can you hear me?"

I couldn't hear her, and I fell into darkness…

* 9:00 AM

"…Fox?…"

"…Hey, Fox?…"

"Yo, Foxie!"

"Fox? Are you alright?"

I opened my eyes. Blurry as my vision was, I still knew who was who. My vision instantly gravitated toward Krystal.

"What the hell happened to me? I feel like I'm in a hangover," I groaned, trying to sit up.

"You passed out from fatigue. You alright?" Krystal replied.

"Am now."

She giggled at that comment, and blushed slightly. I got up, and tested myself, to make sure I wouldn't fall over. After everything seemed okay, I headed for the kitchen.

I entered the kitchen, my stomach beginning to growl. I looked into the cabinets, and found the solution to my hunger. I found a box of cereal. I poured it into a bowl, added some milk, and sat down to eat.

After finishing, I went about my normal routine. Training. I took the elevator to the gym room. On the short ride, I had a chance to think. I thought of Krystal. What was it about her that made me so…weak? What was it about her that made me clumsy, and awkward? I knew I had a definite crush on her. But, was it possible that I… No. That's impossible. Such a beautiful girl could never fall for a cold-hearted mercenary… Could she?

I paid no heed to the fact that my ears felt slightly warm. The ding of the elevator snapped me to attention. I exited the elevator, and walked the last few yards to the gym. As soon as I entered, I saw Krystal, meditating.

'"So, Fox. What were you thinking about on the elevator?'" I heard a voice, but no lips moved.

'"What the—'" I thought in my head.

'"You know what you were thinking,'" the voice with no mouth mocked. I noticed it sounded like…

'"Krystal? How are you talking to me without speaking?"'

'"I'm a telepath. I can mess with your—anyone's—head. Don't worry about it. My culture had an unwritten code about this. I'm not allowed to invade your mind unless you let me."'

'"What the h-!"'

'"Stop worrying, I kinda like you."'

I saw her wink at me. I was really unnerved. I had no solace. Not even in my own head.

She walked towards me, her hips swaying hypnotically. Her tail swished cleanly through the air in the opposite way of her hips. I was frozen in place, paralyzed by her actions. Either she was trying to mess with me, or she was just plain flirting at me.

When she was close enough, she flung her arms around me. Confused, surprised, but mostly overjoyed, I returned the embrace, wrapping my arms around her waist. She stared directly into my eyes, and I stared into hers. Our muzzles inched slowly closer, as we both were gravitating closer. We were only a few centimeters apart. We could both feel each other's warm breath. But, of course, Falco dropped in unannounced. Krystal and I broke apart, and looked in different directions, to avoid Falco's comments. We were too late, as Falco had seen us.

"Am I interrupting something?" Falco asked with his usual cocky grin on his beak.

"Beat it, Falco, or you'll wake up in the Medical Bay," Krystal growled. The tone of her voice made me shiver, and quite frankly, turned me off a little bit.

"Okay! Okay! Don't kill me," he hissed as he backed away.

After I was sure he was gone, I ran over to the door, and locked it. I also "accidentally" put up the wall of silence.

"Now, where were we?" Krystal growled in a very seductive manner. I was once again lost, but I loved it. I was happy. She once again wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around her waist. We both began leaning in close, anticipating the moment both of us wanted so much. I decided to surprise her. I stopped, just millimeters away from her luscious lips. Not sure what was going on, Krystal stopped too. Before she could open her eyes to find out what was happening, I pulled in, and kissed her. I knew she was surprised, and her eyes probably shot wide open. But, as surprised as she was, she eventually melted into it. Time stood still, as we held our fiery hot embrace. It was not an aggressive kiss, nor was it just a peck. No, it was a true kiss. One that came with true love. It was gentle, yet strong, and was very passionate.

We both eventually ran out of air, and had to break apart. We didn't quite part yet. We still remained in each other's arms.

"…Wow…" I managed to speak, completely amazed that I had just kissed the girl of my dreams. "That was…"

"Perfect," purred Krystal, finishing my sentence.

I felt my muscles tense, and stiffen. I had been stressed on Sauria, and it was coming back now. I winced, as a knot formed at my shoulders.

"What's wrong, Fox?"

"Looks like Sauria has come back to hurt me. Maybe sleeping on rocks wasn't the best plan."

"Take off your shirt. Don't ask questions."

I could do little more than comply. I took off my shirt, and waited. Krystal turned me around, and I felt her rubbing the knots away. She found every knot, and was able to massage all of them away, with the magical touch.

"You don't have to do this," I said.

"Yes I do. You're tense. I don't like it when you're tense," she replied, still working at a knot in my shoulder.

Seeing as arguing would not help me, I silenced myself. Her fingers were precise. They found each knot, and loosened it, until it was nonexistent. When she finally finished, I actually felt my age.

"Thank you, Krystal."

"It was nothing…"

"I have to repay you so—"

I was cut-off as Krystal placed a blue-furred finger over my lips. "You talk too much." She replaced her finger with her lips, and kissed me. My eyes flew open, and I knew what it was like to kiss someone with your eyes open. But, I melted into it, and returned the embrace. After a good ten or so minutes, we both had to come up for air.

"You are full of surprises," I whispered, my eyes slowly opening.

"So are you," she teased.

I put my shirt back on. I tried to clear my mind, but miserably failed. I could only focus on the past few minutes. I had truly been hypnotized by Krystal… Not that it was a bad thing.

ROB's monotone blared over the intercom, "We will arrive at the Corneria City East Hangar in 30.5553 minutes."