The Grand Final
Chapter 2: Meeting
It took a day to get things ready for the Star Flight team along with Fisk, Keira, and their children to get everything they needed packed. Krystal ended up packing up the staff and jewelry along with the outfit she had when Fox had first met her. The vixen hadn't kept it in the Great Fox, but in a hi tech security vault on Corneria for safe keeping. The Cerinian didn't know how the mysterious specie knew about her, but was determined to find out.
At least some people were excited to travel. Lance, Fisk and Keira's now five year old son was a blur of energy as he couldn't sit still for long. And there was somebody else now in the lupine and husky's lives; a three year old daughter named Charlotte. She looked like her father, but had her mother's beauty and charm.
The ship that was to pick them up arrived near the Corneria Military Base. General Pepper was in a wheel chair and still didn't look well at all. But his eyes were on fire at the thought of getting better and maybe having a bit of an adventure. Everyone else hoped so as well as they took a look at the ship. It was sleek and colored white. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. It landed and out came a golden colored robot.
"Fancy," whispered Slippy, looking at the machine with interest. The robot then addressed everyone in a mechanical voice.
"You are Star Flight and the others that were contacted right?" All of the species nodded. "Then please, step aboard." Everyone grabbed the luggage they had brought with them and went inside the vehicle. It was very comfy, like a fancy first class ship.
"If you would kindly put the luggage in the corner and choose a seat, we'll be leaving shortly," said the robot, indicating a holding area for it. The species did so before choosing a seat. Krystal sat next to Fox just as she had done so when ever the Star Fox team had traveled and had been in briefings ever since she had joined the team. The vulpine did his best not to blush but to no avail.
In a little bit the ship had taken off and was making its way through the worm hole. Everyone could not only see the outside which was a swirling rainbow of colors but also that as soon as they entered, everyone began to change. General Pepper and Peppy got younger in the faces while the rest began to shrink down in size. The one thing that would remand with them was the abilities they had. That would remand with a specie that went through this worm hole. Another was scars that had been obtained in a specie's life. Those wouldn't disappear. The ride only lasted for five minutes and when the ship reached the end, the Star Fox team along with Fisk and Keira had the appearance of 17 year old again. Peppy and Pepper looked younger than before. After all eleven years had been taken off of them.
After coming out of the worm hole, everyone took a look at each other. Charlotte had fallen asleep on her mother's lap, but Fisk had noticed the entire change in everyone. He had been shown images before hand just like all the other little kids before him who had gone through this worm hole to prepare him for his parent's change. It hadn't bothered the child at all. And looking up at a now 17 year old Fisk and Keira, the pup knew they were still his parents.
Fox on the other hand glanced at Krystal and had to struggle to look away. The vulpine hadn't realized just how hot the vixen would look as a teenager who was now close to being 18 again. Again the fox wondered how in the hell he would ever get with her. She was like a goddess and deserved so much more than he could give to her.
The vixen then looked out the window and saw the planet they were approaching. This left her in shock. "I don't believe it," she whispered. This made Fox come out of his thoughts.
"What is it?" he asked.
"We're heading towards Eladard." This got everyone's attention.
"You mean you've been there?" asked Peppy.
"When I was younger," responded Krystal. This was news to the other members of Star Fox. The vixen had talked about some things from her past. But this was new to them. "I haven't been here in years."
"So is this where… Cerinia was?" asked Fox, but doing so carefully.
"No, it was in a different system," Krystal simply said. "I wonder how much is still the same as I remember?"
The ship then entered the atmosphere and landed near the outskirts of Teirm. General Pepper looked much better now; it was as if some of what was making him sick had been taken away in the worm hole. The hound managed to stand up out of his wheel chair. It was obvious that he was well on his way to recovery.
Everyone left the ship with their luggage, wondering who was going to meet them. When they had asked the robot they were told that he would meet them here. They had hardly left when they did notice somebody in the distance. And it was a fox. The vulpine walked over to Star Fox, General Pepper, Fisk, Keira, and their children, wearing the same outfit he always wore. He pushed a button on the let side of his sunglasses and they transformed into small square framed glasses. He came to a stop in front of the group before speaking.
"Now I can properly introduce myself. Especially to you, Krystal."
Everyone who knew him was surprised but not as much as the blue vixen. Poor Krystal was so surprised to see who it was, she almost fell over. She hadn't seen this vulpine for years, but was still able to recognize him. And now he was standing before her.
"N-Nicholas McCoy?" she asked in shock.
"Yes, it's been a long time," he said going over to her. She responded by slapping him on the face.
"Krystal! What…?" began Fox but trailed off while the rest of the team and the others stared at her in shock.
"It's alright; I deserve it," said the new vulpine, rubbing his right cheek where he had been struck.
"You do; that's for not coming to see me all this time," said Krystal with her paws on her hips; an annoyed look on her face. But then she reached out and hugged Nicholas. "And this is for me finally getting to see you again."
"That part of you hasn't changed," he responded as he hugged her back. The two then pulled back. It was then that Krystal got a really good look at him.
"You grew your hair out," she commented. The vixen then noticed his chin and saw the scar it had. "What happened to you? How did you get that scar?"
"My life's been one hell of a ride," responded Nicholas. "Let's just leave it at that for now." The vulpine then smiled. "I can see how much you've changed. Hard to believe you use to be this tiny kit. Now you've grown into a fine Cerinian. One who's become beautiful."
"Well you look like you've become quite the vulpine yourself," responded Krystal. Everyone else but Fox was watching the interaction between the two. The other vulpine on the other hand was just looking at the other male. The leader of Star Fox could see the spiral tattoos on the new fox's arms. Was this guy another Cerinian like Krystal? But that was irrelevant compared to how the two had interacted to him. From the looks of it, both of them knew the other quite well. More so then him and Krystal. Fox's greatest fear was that she would reject him for someone else. There had to be so many other guys that would be better suited for her. And from the looks of this Nicholas guy, he was one of them.
Nicholas then turned his attention to the others. "I certainly shouldn't keep the rest of you waiting." He turned his attention to General Pepper. "It's been a long time."
"It has," responded the hound.
"I know what happened to you and how you came into contact with those things," said the fox. "Aparoids, right?" The general nodded. "It seems you coming here through that worm hole was the right thing."
"How do you know about that?" asked the hound.
"I did some investigating while trying to find Star Fox," answered Nicholas. "That's how." He then looked over at Fisk and Keira. Their daughter was awake by this point.
"I'm glad you two could make it," said the vulpine. He then noticed the two children. "Are they yours?"
Lance hid behind his father's leg and looked around it at the vulpine. "They are," said Fisk. "This is Lance and Charlotte."
"It's alright," said Keira to Lance. "This is a friend of ours." The young male pup looked up at Nicholas who smiled at him. The female one looked at the vulpine with a curios look.
"We'll have time latter to get to know each other," said the part Cerinian. He then turned to the Star Fox team.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you guys," he said. "Allow me to properly introduce myself; I am Nicholas McCoy. It's an honor to have you here on Eladard. I've heard a lot about you."
"So you're Nicholas of Star Flight," said Peppy. "My daughter has told me about you and the team she joined." This got the rest of the team confused. They knew about Lucy of course. Just not what she had been doing.
"I have a team, just like you," explained Nicholas. "You'll meet them in a bit. When you do, I'll tell you about it. Now then, may I have the honor of knowing who is who?"
"Um, yeah," said Fox. He introduced Slippy and Falco before himself. He couldn't tell that Nicholas could read in his mind and that he saw that the leader of Star Fox was having a hard time being polite.
"It's nice to meet you," said the part Cerinian. "Now then, we need to find somewhere for all of you to stay. I didn't call you out here just for you to turn back."
"You mean you haven't found a place?" asked Keira. "That doesn't sound like you."
"I meant more for Star Fox," responded the part Cerinian. "I found the perfect place for you, your family, and General Pepper to stay at. But I couldn't find one in time for Fox and his team."
Krystal then spoke up. "Actually… I think I know one place we could stay."
X
"Are you sure Krystal?" asked Nicholas. "I mean this is..."
The vulpine and Star Fox including ROB were standing outside a house that had two floors. It looked well kept up and very nice. There were three others next to it. All had the looks of being empty. Except now that one of them had General Pepper, Fisk, and his family settled in one.
"I'm sure of it," responded the blue vixen. "I had a feeling it would still be here."
"What is this place?" asked Fox.
"This was the house my parents would stay in when they came to visit," answered Krystal. "Then when they had me, I would come as well."
"My parents figured that they or Krystal would come back here one day," said Nicholas. "They requested that this house to be ready for them even though nobody's lived in it for years. Are you sure though about this? I mean… I don't want you to feel sad about your parents Krystal."
"It still hurts thinking about them," responded the vixen. "But I've recovered from it for the most part." Everyone then went in.
The inside was just as nice as its outside appearance suggested. It was quite spacious and had four bedrooms, a large kitchen, three bathrooms, a living room with plenty of room, and a basement.
"Wow, I can actually see living in here for awhile," commented Falco.
"Yeah, this place is great," said Slippy. "Hey Nicholas, is there somewhere where I can set up an invention area?"
"Sure Slippy, the basement should have plenty of room." The frog took his backpack of mechanical stuff there immediately.
"Let's see," said Krystal. "Fox and Falco can stay in the guest room since it has two beds. Slippy gets the other one while Peppy gets the master one. Which leaves me with my old room."
After everyone got to their rooms Falco brought up a good question. "So what do you have to do for fun around here?"
"For now you guys are going to stay here," said Nicholas. "You just arrived after all. I think it would be best."
The team's next task was spent unpacking the luggage they had brought with them while Nicholas left to do something. Fox and Falco finished up first and then left their room because the avian had nothing else better to do, while the vulpine wanted to check on the rest of his team.
Krystal then entered to see how Fox was himself. She then noticed something on his bedside table; it was an old photo of a very young Fox with his parents. The said vulpine then came walking in.
"What are you looking at Krystal?" he asked.
"The cutest little Fox I've ever seen," she responded smiling and holding up the picture to him. The vulpine started to blush and tried to take the picture away.
"Give me that, its personal." The vixen let out a small, teasing laugh.
"You're going to have to take it from me."
Fox tried to take the picture away from the vixen for a good five minutes, until they fell onto each other. They're faces were very close and they both just stared at each other for about a minute until Falco walked in since he heard the commotion.
"Whoa, am I interrupting something?" asked the avian.
"No not at all," both foxes said nervously as they quickly stood up, the two blushing. They had both forgotten about the photo as it lay on the ground.
"Whatever," responded Falco. "Nicholas is back with food for a barbecue so come downstairs."
The three did so and met Nicholas out front who had many groceries with him. "I figured this would be best to start out with," said the vulpine. Peppy, you handle the grill along with Fisk. Fox, why don't you help me with the groceries while the others take care of the rest of the tasks?" The part Cerinian wanted to get to know the other vulpine better for a number of reasons.
Fox just simply nodded and went into the kitchen with Nicholas where they began to unpack the groceries. The other team leader didn't know how to begin talking to this guy. The vulpine figured he should just ask the one question that had been bugging him.
"So… Nicholas. How do you know Krystal?"
"Right to the point huh?" asked Nicholas. "Well her parents and mine were friends. So naturally when Krystal was born they took me and my younger brother to see her. I was seven at the time. Then time passed and she and her family would come visit us and visa versa." Fox didn't like the fact that this Nicholas knew Krystal long before he did.
"Were you two close?"
"As close as species can get," responded the part Cerinian. "You seem to be interested in this quite a bit."
"Oh? A little I suppose." Fox put on a fake smile for Nicholas; he didn't know that the other vulpine could tell. The part Cerinian had read his mind and saw that he had feelings for Krystal. It made the other fox smile inside his head.
"I guess I should be thanking you for looking out for her. It's nice that she's found others to be with after what happened to her home planet. In a way, you guys are like her family now."
"I suppose," responded Fox. "It's funny, she's formed a daughter/father relationship with Peppy."
"Is that so?" asked the part Cerinian as they finished up with unpacking and preparing the food that needed to be cooked. "That's good then."
They brought everything else out back and set it on the table that others had set and tidied up. While the food cooked, everyone spent the time talking amongst each other. Krystal spent it mostly talking with Keira while the husky's children played. This made Fox wonder why she was with Keira instead of say Nicholas. The vulpine did end up spending some time talking to her, but mostly everyone else, including the part Cerinian.
By the time they had finished eating, it was getting late. Nicholas stated that he would need some help tomorrow getting the other houses ready for the guests. Everyone agreed to help him with that. The part Cerinian then took off for the night as everyone then went to their rooms. One by one, they fell asleep, unaware that things were about to take an interesting turn.