The grim situation on Fortuna will now be temporarily taken over by the joy on the Great Fox. Or does it? Is it happiness, or a dark shadow taking over?

Chapter 2: Disorder

His mouth falls open, and so does hers as they see the immense presents standing around on the bridge. Only two, but that's enough for just a 'welcome home' party. The one on the right is purple with rusty-like white separated by a black line. The one on the left is dark grey, not very flattering but still. Proud, the other members of the team stand in a line.

'Guys, seriously.' comments Fox. 'You really didn't need to do this…'

'*giggle* Fox spoiled me enough already…' claims Krystal.

Falco steps forward. 'Come on Fox. We did our best for these ones. Especially for *points at the grey one* that one.'

'*sigh* Fine, I'll open them.' confesses Fox at last. Krystal follows him closely. They approach the purple-white present. It is slightly higher than Fox and a lot wider. A perfect, red ribbon is placed upon the lid of the present. A small hole is in made on the side of the box.

Fox claps in his hands, once, and starts rubbing them for a good grip. Before he can get to it though, curiosity killed the vixen as Krystal jumps onto Fox's shoulder, taking her seat comfortably. The 'tower' is wobbling, but luckily, Fox is strong enough to hold steady. Krystal opens the package to see two familiar faces.

'Hai!' says the one with a soft voice on the purple side. Krystal is surprised and falls backwards, dragging Fox along with her.

'Woooooo…*fallen* AW!' shouts Fox.

'Who was that?' asks Krystal as her back hurts.

The one on the purple side grips the sides of the present, with her blue fingers and red-painted nails. The rest is covered by fingerless leather gloves.

*No, it… that can't be…* thinks Krystal as she rises from the floor.

'Hey Krys…' says a similar (as Krystal) toned voice she reveals her head. Her black irises shine in the lights on the bridge as her light purple hair is shorter. With a push from someone else in the box, she lands outside of the box. She looks up and walks towards Krystal. Like a supermodel on a catwalk, she shakes her hips (a bit too obvious) with every step see takes.

*Shake them booty…* thinks the one left in the box, peeking through the hole.

She stops a few meters in front of Krystal. She puts her right paw in her side and wips her hair back. With half-closed eyes, she takes a good look at Krystal. Still in slight shock, Krystal decides to do the same. While Krystal looks alike, Kursed has her original clothing on, only chanced it by a bit. It is still red, but the bra is replaced by a tube top with a rusty white stripe running down towards her, revealed, belly button, which has a crystal (cinnabar) piercing in it. The briefs are changed to a miniskirt, for a somewhat uniform-like idea. The whtie stripe continues downwards on the skirt. The white letter 'Ph' are tattooed on the right side of her left leg, close to her private parts.

*Holy shit!* thinks Fox confused. *She… has changed, by…by a lot*

'Don't go drooling all over her Fox.' he hears from the box. A rusty-white arctic fox jumps out of the box as well. He lands kneeled down, with his eyes to the ground. Phantom looks over to Fox and Krystal and walks towards them. He stands beside Kursed, whom he kisses briefly.

He's is changed as well. His grey shirt is mostly covered by the Universal camouflage patterned flak jacket with a double protection layer. His silver pants are repaired and have a turquoise blue stripe around the belt-area. A small scar runs under his left eye and his jaw is slightly misplaced, barely visible luckily.

'Can't you see she's my property?' continues Phantom, notching at the new tattoo. He places his elbow on her left shoulder while she is curious about Fox's reaction, tilting her head back a bit.

'Phantom?' asks Fox.

'Yep, the one and only…' he confirms as he lifts his elbow of Kursed' shoulder. As the two give each a manly hug, Krystal comes closer to Kursed.

'So, Krystal… how's it going?'

'Well, pretty good. How about you?'

Kursed shrugs, turning her head away from Krystal. Krystal sees this as a blame, for making Kursed leave, cause she couldn't accept her.

'Oh, I… I'm sorry Kursed… I… huh!?'

Before she can finish her sentence, Kursed hugs her firmly.

'I… I've missed you Krystal. It has been cold, with…without you…' she cries.

Krystal hugs back. 'How could I ever think that living like that would be easy? I was nothing; I missed something in my life… I'm glad you're back Krystal.'

'You too Kursed…'

She lets go of Krystal and dries her tears. 'I, I didn't cry… you hear me?' she says, trying to be threatening. Krystal nods: 'No, you didn't.'

'By the way, Phantom was there to fill up the cold you left…' she bites at Krystal. Krystal squeezes her eyes a little.

'Now I remember why I let you go…' she bites back.

'Ladies, please…' interrupts Phantom. 'Let's fight that out another time, alright?'

His interruption worked, as the tension between the girls is struck down. Silence takes over until Fox realizes the second present is still there.

'Uhm, guys?' he remarks as he points at the other present.

'Oh yeah.' says Phantom. 'That's a present for your uuuh… *snaps his fingers two times* oh, Syxx.'

Fox completely turns to the package as his fur color changes to black. His voice deepens again, but without an emotionless undertone. 'For me…? Looks promising enough…'

'Wow…' comments Phantom, seeing the transformation for the first time.

'Interesting Fox, never knew you had a dark side…' she says as she approaches him, in the same manner as she first approached Fox and Krystal. This time, the 'booty shake', isn't meant for Phantom, rather for Syxx. Syxx simply looks with a small grin at her as she slides over his left shoulder with her index finger. 'Kinda of *gasp* interesting…' she winks.

'Hey, *trying not to hard to remember his name* uuh, Phantom dude? Keep your whore close will ya?' remarks Syxx cynical.

'I love it when you talk *gasp* dirty…'

Phantom laughs at Kursed' worthless attempt to make him jealous. With his smile and his head bowed down to the ground, his right eye looking at Kursed.

'Phantom Menace.' he comments dry.

Kursed' eyes spring open. 'Grrauw…' she growls at Phantom, looking quickly at him. She looks at Syxx one last time, only to push his left shoulder away and returns to Phantom's side.

'Deifying the Kurse that has taken hold.' quotes Phantom, swinging his right arm around Kursed.

'Phantom Menace taken hold of heart.' quotes Kursed shortly following after.

'Puh!' he bites as he turns to the present with folded arms. He walks towards it while Krystal whispers: 'Thanks Phantom… I don't feel like being part of a triangle relationship.'

'No worries.' he replies soft while stroking around in Kursed' hair. 'She is a slave to the Menace. *even more silent* And I'm a serf to her curse… It feels good…' he assures her.

'Fox, I'm going to my room. Kursed, could you come with me?'

'Uh… sure Krystal. Be right back Phantom…'

'Don't be late.'

'I'm not you…' she jokingly bites at him, following Krystal away from the bridge.

Syxx now stands in front of the package. It's smaller than the other box and also less wide. A small lock is placed on the lid, preventing it from opening itself. Without further undoing, he reaches for his blaster. A steady aimed hip fire blows of the lock. He kicks the lid off, using a roundhouse kick. A paw reaches from the box which he grabs. He pulls out a grey-black vixen, dressed in her black suit she was wearing when she encountered Fox and Krystal in the SD silo.

'K…Kyla?'

'SURPRISE Syxx!' yells Phantom.

'Hey Syxx. I heard what you said, *quickly snatches his blaster and aims at him* and I'm here to deliver it to you.'

'Wow, wow, let's take it easy, like we did last time alright?' breaks Phantom. Fox slowly turns back into himself again as Kyla gives the gun back.

'I'm glad you're here Kyla. Even I got to admit that. Take a look around, this is the Great Fox I told you about.'

'I certainly will Fox.' says Kyla while escorted by the rest of the team.

'Phantom?'

'Hum, yes Foxy?'

'I'm gonna go check on Krystal and Kursed. Are you coming with me?'

'In a sec Fox. I got some business left to do.'

'Sure.' ends Fox as he walks off the bridge.

The hallway towards Krystal's room hasn't changed a bit. Still having the large window looking out into the blackness of space, decorated with stars and faraway and/or unknown nebula's. The window ends where Krystal's door to her room is. As soon as Fox comes around the corner, he sees something shocking; Kursed lies on the floor with three knives in her back. A large puddle of blood surrounds her. Her eyes are still wide open, indicating that she didn't expect her killer. The blood puddle is disrupted by two shoeprints: Krystal's and one unknown.

*Shit, Krystal!*

Completely forgetting about Kursed, he runs towards Krystal's room. The hall says to get longer with every step he takes as a being of pure dark engulfs the hallway behind him. He's not thinking, not fearing the danger following him on the heels. He stops in front of her door as the dark takes over everything around him. Only the small floor between him and the door remain highlighted. He approaches the door as the place he now leaves, is also engulfed, giving no way out other than Krystal's door. Disturbing sounds of moaning and screaming are heard (muffled) behind the door. With a shaking paw, his fingers reach for the door handle, which was never there before…

He pulls it down and opens the door to see what horror came upon Krystal; Panther is raping a now unconscious Krystal.

Arteries on his forehead grow as they start to bonk heavily. His muscles cramp together as sweat runs down his entire body, drenching his face. He squeezes his eyes together very tight, pinking a tear away. Peace of mind comes upon him as a white, octagonal diamond appears on his forehead, shining light at the ceiling above him. The arteries return to normal as his body relaxes. Feeling comfortable being back with the awake, Fox opens his eyes. He sees the ceiling of his and Krystal's bedroom, within the Great Fox. *Oh yeah, surprise number 3; Krystal and I have a bedroom together, just three days ago.* He quickly realizes Krystal felt his pain during her sleep. She placed her left paw on Fox's chest, spreading positive energy all over his body.

*Pfieuw, it was just another nightmare. And not just some nightmare… Panther, what a fucknugget. Everything happened, expect Krystal who left and Kursed coming with her, three days ago. Those nightmares suck… Ey Syxx, can't you do anything about it?*

*You think I'm not trying?* bites Syxx.

He turns onto his left side and closes his eyes again. The same nightmare tries to find its way back, but is stopped by Fox's (by Krystal's strengthened) spirit.

'*deep sigh* Thanks Krystal, my dear…'

However, even Krystal's support can't stop what sort of boost comes up from his soul. And it isn't Syxx for once…

He opens his eyes, looking into a pitch black room. It smells like barbecue. He is apparently standing up too.

'Hello?' he yells. His voice echoes back a few times. He's alone, in a giant room where he can't see a thing. Things get even more odd, when his right arm start to get jittery. It quickly spasms out of control as Fox tries to hold it down with his other arm. It seems to work, the arm becomes more calm. Until a sudden pull on the same arm launches him like a ragdoll into the air; the right arm is now chained. A pull on the left was to be expected; also this one, is now chained. He bungles above the ground, or a bottomless pit. It is so dark, he can't even see 30 centimeters in front of him.

'HAI!' is suddenly heard with a 'little girls' sweet voice. It hits him like a strong gust of wind.

Fox looks around, trying to find out where it came from as he jiggles with his ears, like trying to let an antenna face the right direction.

Out of nowhere, a light goes on, not too far from Fox; it is Syxx. His knees shudder as his tail and ears are shrunken. He's definitely afraid of something or someone.

'Syxx!' yells Fox. 'Help me out man!'

Syxx looks over to Fox. His face is even more shaky than his legs. Goosebumps roll over his body like every five seconds. His eyes are opening even more, processing to the extreme, as if that thing was coming closer to him.

'Syxx, whatever it is *cause I can't see it* get away from it!' shouts Fox.

Syxx is frozen solid, anchored to the ground. He opens his mouth, trying to release a scream but the light goes out, taking the scream with it.

'Syxx? Syxx!?'

*Slash*

A diagonal stripe of blood is thrown in his face and on his body.

'SYXX!' he yells, but there is no response. Two pairs of furious, hellfire red eyes come out of the darkness.

'I'M THE ULTIMATE PERSONA!' it screams with the same girlie voice, horribly deformed by demonic tones as it crashes into Fox. The blow breaks his lower jaw, like it did with Phantom. Right before it hit Fox, he saw what the voice already confirmed: the third persona. A dark green werewolf-like creature with the hellfire red eyes.

A random fire erupts from the ground in front of him. It doesn't enlighten much, but another one comes out right next to it. Followed by dozens of others, forming a path. Oddly enough, together they seem strong enough to highlight to entire room. Fox is unpleasantly surprised by seeing he's actually in a volcano crater. He looks up to see the poisonous skies of Venom. He is then scared shitless by his father, suddenly grabbing him in panic.

'D…Dad?'

'No time of explanation Fox! He's after me!' he says as he runs away from him, stopping in the middle of the crater. He looks around him, searching for someone.

'Fox!' he shouts. 'Come here and help your old man will ya?'

'*sigh* Sure, but first get these chains off of me will ya?'

'What chains?' he asks awkward. Fox lifts an eyebrow.

'The chains that hold me back here maybe?'

'I see no chains, all I see is Fox that learned how to float for some reason. Get down and come and help me!'

'What do you mean you can't see the chains? They're right around my arms! Get better glasses!'

A big hand a la Andross grabs James, appearing out of nowhere. It lifts him up while he tries to squirm his way out.

'FOX! Help me!' he shouts.

But Fox can't do anything. He tries to pull the chains out, without success. 'DAD!' he screams in agony as the hand throws James towards the ground. It breaks the rocky floor, revealing cooking magma boiling under it. As James's face slowly melts, he mutters: 'Why Fox, why?' before turned into a fleshy, cooking puddle.

'DAAAAAAAAAD!'

Everything is dark, again. *It…it was him… the third one…*

Fox?

The sweet voice is heard far away.

Fox!?

It comes closer and sounds more panicked.

FOX!

The dark disappears fast under the gap of the bedroom's door, uncovering the room. He sits right up in bed, drenched in sweat. Krystal is awake and is visually shaken by Fox's behavior. He breaths heavily as Phantom kicks open the door with Spectre at his side. He rolls in and aims for whatever is plaguing them, but there's nothing. The two return their weapons.

'Another nightmare?' asks Spectre annoyed. Phantom smacks him on the back of his head.

'AW!' he shouts.

'Shut your face then! *turns to Fox* Are you okay Fox?'

'*breath in, trying to compose himself* Yeah, thanks Phantom.'

'Uhm, it might sound somewhat odd… but uh, can use your bathroom? Mine is blocked *turns to Spectre with a hateful look in his eyes* by someone we all know…'

Spectre shrugs and walks out of the room saying; 'Good luck Foxie.'

Fox is too tired to even wave his hand, so Krystal waves him out.

'Of course Phantom, go ahead.' she says to him.

'Thanks.' he says as he opens the door. Krystal turns to Fox.

'Hey my Hercules *stroking his six-pack* are you okay?'

'Hum? Oh *breath* yeah, I… I'm fine, I guess…'

'The same nightmare again?'

'No, no, not with that fuckface. *smiles* You saved me from that, that's true. *turns more serious* No, it was the third persona. Argh, what's going on inside my head?'

He turns scared to Krystal, not knowing what to say to calm him. Fox now feels guilty for showing his fear to Krystal, who is now in indecision.

'*sigh* You know what? I'm gonna throw some cold water in my face.' he states as he raises from left bed half. 'That will awaken me for sure.'

Krystal nods; 'Be back soon, I can't let you go for so long…'

'Geh, hold for just a second my queen. I'll be right back.' he claims as he closes the bathroom door.

'Wow!' he shouts as he sees Phantom sitting on the toilet. 'Uh… need some privacy?'

'What? No man. Come on, we're man. No need for privacy bullshit. We both know what's down there.'

'So, still interested Phantom?' states Fox, notching to the scene where he's was captured by the Boss.

'NOT! Not interested…' he states. 'What are you doing here anyway?'

'Oh, freshening up my face. Cold water certainly helps.'

'Oooh, sure it will.' says Phantom as he grabs some literature.

Fox flips the faucet's lid and cold water streams out of it. Forming a bowl with his paws, he captures a lot of water. He throws it in his face and looks at himself in the mirror of the medical cabinet above the sink. He softly slaps himself a couple times, before throwing another splash of water in his face. He looks up to see himself in the mirror again, but sees something odd. A small, reddish brown dot in the middle of the mirror.

*A spot on the mirror? I could swear there was nothing the first time…*

He takes a closer look. Within a blink of an eye, the spot grows into a his father's head, skinless and in deep pain as his fists bonk against the mirror on the other side. As if launched, he falls to the ground, nearly hitting his head against the white wall behind him.

'AAAAH!' he screams as his father is now pulled away by the same hand again. The screams echoes throughout the Great Fox. Phantom doesn't know how fast he pulled up his pants as he kneels beside the traumatized Fox a second later.

'Fox?' asks Krystal calmly. '*more panicked* Fox? *jumps out of bed* Fox!'

She throws the bathroom door open to see Fox breathing in and out even heavier than before. Phantom is shining in his eyes with a small flashlight.

'No pupil reaction.' he diagnoses. 'He's in complete shock. Muscles blocked, no ability to hear or see for some time.'

'Poor Fox.' cries Krystal, also kneeling beside him.

Spectre breaks in. 'What the Fuck! *turns away* Falco, over here!' he yells at the door. Falco runs towards them.

'Shit, FOX! Argh, shit! Peppy, prepare the medical bay. Fox is down! Repeat, Fox is down!'

Fox, broken down by insomnia, nightmares and also hallucinations, is now on the verge of a burnout. Can the situation around them enlighten everything? Or will the curtains be closed and hope burned down, like the tragedy on Fortuna?

Wow, longest chapter ever. 3333 words without the comments (underlined). Enjoy it! And thanks for 600 views for Part 1, 989 views for Part 2 and 121 for Part 3. I LUV U ALL. (no gay)