A/N: Today's chapter includes a song, called Faint by Linkin Park. I do not own this song, nor do I own Starfox. But how friggin' cool would it be if I did? Other than that little tidbit, I got nothing for you. Keep reading and reviewing! And to those of you who HAVE reviewed, and do so on a regular basis, I commend you. Thank you. FORWARD MARCH! XD

Day 16

7:56 PM

Holy crap, I'm nervous. Four minutes. Four friggin' minutes until Katt gets here. I can feel my heart pounding. What if she doesn't— NO! Falco Lombardi, snap out of it! Katt is here for YOU! She'll show.

"Falco?" came a feminine voice.

"Yes, Krystal?"

"There's no reason to be nervous. Katt's on her way down as we speak. Peppy was just being an old man again."

"Either I'm obvious, or your reading me like a book again."

"Both."

"Falco, two minutes. Get ready," Fox interrupted.

Two minutes later, the door to the rec. room opened. The lights flashed on, and the song began.

(Violin entrance: Bill)

(Add drums: Slippy)

(Enter lead guitar: Falco, and bass: Fox)

(Exit lead & bass)

"I am,

a little bit of loneliness,

a little bit of disregard.

Handful of complaints,

But I can't help the fact

That everyone can see these scars.

I am,

what I want you to want,

what I want you to feel.

But it's like no matter what I do,

I can't convince you,

To just believe this is real.

So,

I let go,

Watching you,

Turn your back like you always do,

Face away and pretend that I'm not,

But I'll be here cause you're all that I've got.

(Enter lead & bass)

I CAN'T FEEL!

The way I did before!

Don't turn your back on me,

I won't be ignored!

TIME WON'T HEAL!

This damage anymore!

Don't turn your back on me,

I won't be ignored!

(Exit lead & bass)

I am,

A little bit insecure,

a little unconfident,

cause you don't understand

I do what I can

But some times I don't make sense.

I am,

What you never want to say,

but I've never had to doubt.

It's like no matter what I do,

I can't convince you

For once just to hear me out.

So,

I let go,

watching you,

turn your back like you always do.

Face away and pretend that I'm not,

But I'll be here, cause you're all that I've got.

(enter lead & bass)

I CAN'T FEEL!

The way I did before!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

TIME WON'T HEAL!

This damage anymore!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

(screamo replaced with guitar solo)

I CAN'T FEEL!

The way I did before!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

TIME WON'T HEAL!

This damage anymore!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

I CAN'T FEEL!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

TIME WON'T HELP!

Don't turn your back on me!

I won't be ignored!

(exit all)"

(Song used: Faint

Original creator: Linkin Park

I do not own this song.)

2 minutes after performance

It was over, yet I was still nervous as h-. We had all gone up to my room to congratulate, and celebrate a successful show. Sometimes, when Foxie and I got bored, we'd listen to music. I'd try to ear-play it, and I got Fox to try. He had a knack for the bass part. Slip joined us, and picked drums up like he was born with drumsticks in his hands. Fox did great as always, Slippy didn't slip-up, Bill f-ing rocked, and I had finally done perfect. During rehearsals, Krystal would make me hallucinate an image of Katt, sitting there, listening. Those rehearsals made me think about her. Why did I faint when I saw her? What made me collapse? What do I REALLY think of her? Do I…?

"Great job, Falco. You finally mastered the part," Fox congratulated me.

"I already mastered it. I just had to do it under pressure," I responded. "Thank you. All of you. You don't even know how much you've just helped me. Fox, you learned the second hardest part in the song, but the hardest I wrote. You see, I wrote that while I was away. It took me two years to write out, writing, erasing, and rewriting. You mastered it in two weeks. Props, dude, props.

"Slippy, you have been redeemed. For a while. I'm still going to mess with you, but I'll lighten up a little.

"Bill, you were a saving grace. You were the magical savior from nowhere. This wouldn't have happened without you. Thank you.

"Krystal… You deserve the most thanks. You—"

"Krystal was involved? How?" Fox interrupted, getting defensive upon mention of Krystal.

"I was getting to that, oh Impatient One," I retorted sarcastically. "Krystal, would you like to show them?"

"Sure," Krystal said simply.

The door opened and Katt walked in…kinda.

"You see, this is a hallucination," Krystal began, "a perfect perception of Katt. I made Falco see Katt during rehearsals, which made him miss notes. The first few times, it really did a number on his psyche. But he got used to it, and improved."

"Thanks, all of you. Now, scram before Katt gets here," I shooed.

*Fox 8:10 PM

"Krystal," I called softly, before the vixen could slip away, "I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Yes, Fox?" Krystal inquired. "What is it?"

"I'm…really proud of you. You succeeded where Peppy, Slippy, and I were not enough."

"I didn't do anything special," she argued modestly.

"Bulls-. You got my friend back. I can never repay that."

"Well, I'm off to see Peppy. I promised to tell him about the performance."

"Let me know when you're done. I have an appointment with Dr. Hare."

"Will do," she giggled, walking off.

*Peppy 4 minutes later

*KNOCK-KNOCK!*

*THUMP!*

"Aargh!"

"Peppy? Are you alright?"

"Come on in, I'm not getting younger!" I shouted, rather grumpy. "Though sometimes I wish I was."

"Hmm… Where to begin…" Krystal wondered aloud.

"I will begin. What's up between you and Fox?" I asked bluntly.

Krystal blushed, "Nothing. We're just friends."

"Do you want something to happen between you and Fox?"

"I—well, maybe—yes. Very much."

"But you don't know how to make him open up that shell of his."

"…have you been spying on me?"

"I have to know EVERYTHING that goes on with that boy. I'm his last family. Besides, I'm playing Cupid. It's about time that kid found a woman he liked."

"What do you mean, 'last family'?"

"Fox, is an orphan. Fox's mother, Vixy, was killed in a car bomb. Fox's dad…"

"You don't have to talk about it."

"…Send Fox in. He's got an appointment."

"What the h- am I doing with my life?" Fox said bluntly, as he walked in. "I mean seriously, I can get here from anywhere. Say a word, any word."

"…Eggplant," I complied.

"Eggplant is a vegetable. Old Man Jenkins got in a car crash, and now he's a vegetable. He can't do anything with his life, and I'm not doing anything with my life. What the h- am I doing with my life?"

"Wow. Just…wow. Fox, you need a personal life. A love life, if you will."

"What the h-? I have no significant other, and I'm not—"

"You've got Krystal," I smirked.

"I don't like her like that."

"You lie. Not just to me, but to yourself."

"No, I'm not."

I reached into my pocket, and pulled out a round, hollow stone. It was hot, as Fox lied.

"TAKE THAT!"

A red haze enveloped everything.

"Fox, you're lying. Very badly. You KNOW you like Krystal."

"What's your proof?"

"Every time someone mentions that you should ask her out, you flip. Personally, I think you should."

Fox blushed, and the haze faded.

"Fine, I give."

"Aww, you're no fun! I was hoping you'd struggle some more."

"So, what exactly does your Auma Hamaura want from me?"

"Why haven't you asked that woman out? She's so obviously into you, even General Pepper knows it. And he doesn't even know who she is!"

"Is this what you and she were talking about?"

"I'm the one asking questions!"

"…I'm scared."

"Let me guess. You fear that she'll say no. You fear that she doesn't like you like her."

He merely blushed and nodded.

"Remember the day, when Krystal boarded the Great Fox?"

"Yeah."

"Remember how Falco tripped Krystal, and she fell on top of you."

"Yup."

"I put him up to it. It was a test, you see."

"Did we pass?"

"With flying colors. You acted like a gentleman, and she acted accordingly. You two are a perfect couple."

*3rd person

Fox's head was spinning like a top. He couldn't think straight even if he wanted to. Poor kid couldn't even walk straight.

He opened the metal door to his room. He turned left, toward his bed. His room was more spacious than anyone else's. But he used his space modestly. He had a bed on the left wall, red sheets freshly cleaned upon it. In the front right corner was his holoscreen, and a loveseat. In the right rear corner next to the bed was his cherry nightstand.

Fox plopped on his bed, and took his laptop from his nightstand. He opened it, and logged in. He accessed the Internet, and typed in a web address. He accessed the Starfox fan site, and logged into the chat room.

(Chat room dialogue format.)

Dominatrix99: Hey, guys! Fox is back!

Slayer36: Hey! Fox!

Mod. Barrelroll: It's about friggin' time someone came and helped me! I almost had to pull out the ban hammah!

All: BAN HAMMAH!

Admin. Fox: Did this become a regular thing over my last mission?

Ducky von Karma: Yesh.

Walker: You had a new mission? TELL US!

Admin. Fox: I'll blog about it. Later.

Admin. Falco: Yo Foxie! When you gonna ask Krystal out?

CrystalShard: Wtf? I'm a guy, you know.

Admin. Falco: NOT YOU! Fox, here, met a woman while planetside. She was trapped, he saved her. Obvious crap is going on now.

Dominatrix99: *snickers*

Admin. Slippy: Get your mind out of the gutter! They're just…flirting at each other. Kinda.

Walker: So, when you going to ask her out?

Admin. Fox: Soon enough.

Mod. Barrelroll: Keepin' secrets, eh, Fox?

Admin. Fox: Yup.

*Krystal 12:34 AM

I shot straight up, looking around my room. I knew I had woken up from a nightmare. But what nightmare it was. I left my room. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I care. But I cared when I reached Fox's room.

"Might as well."

I entered Fox's room. I had expected complete darkness, but found the room lit. It was lit with dark red lights. I crept quietly through the room, to where Fox was. I shook him awake.

"…Oh, hey Krystal. What's up?"

"Nightmare."

"Want to talk about it."

"I'll show you."

I put my hand on his forehead, and transferred the memory. A few seconds in, I felt Fox boil in rage. It scared me, he was so angry.

"I can see why you came to me. That's just plain disgusting. What freaked me out was that I know that guy."

"If it's okay with you, could I stay here? I don't want another nightmare."

"Sure. Just let me set up room for me on the couch."

"Won't that be uncomfortable?"

"I'll be fine."

I glared at him. He did not answer correctly.

"…Fine. Hop in. Just don't put your tail near my—eep!"

"Oops. Sorry."

'"Calm thoughts, Fox. 3x8=24. 12x4=48. 17x3=51."'

Fox's mental math lulled him to sleep, his arms wrapped around my waist. It felt nice. I cuddled close to him, and drifted into a dream.