Chapter Four

Krystal sat on the floor of her room with her knees brought up to her chest with her back to the foot of her bed. In her hands was an old photograph with a midnight blue fox with soft brown eyes and a black polished stone with white speckles and a large hole through the top and a string going through it and acting as a necklace on him. He was smiling and the sun was shining as the wind ruffled his hair. He had his left arm wrapped around a young smiling Krystal who was wearing a similar necklace, only it was white with black speckles and the two rocks seemed to be slightly glowing, the black was glowing white and the white was glowing black. Krystal sniffed again. 'Kenya…' She thought as another tear fell. In her other hand was the white necklace, not glowing. She gripped it harder to her chest before putting it back in it's box. It was made of wood with soft leather lining. She carefully placed it inside and put the picture next to it. She was gently closing the lid when she heard a knock on the door "Who is it?" she called with a surprisingly hoarse voice

"It's Fox, can I come in?" She heard a familiar voice say

Krystal immediately wiped her tears and opened the door, trying to sound pleasant "What do you need Fox?"

"I just wanted to make sure you where okay" He said with worry edging into his tone "I know this must be kinda rough on you, with Cerinia and all"

Krystal sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. Fox hated to see her like this, sure he had lost both of his parents, but he had a chance to avenge them. Not to mention she had lost all of her friends and her home planet, he on the other hand, still had both. He sighed and came over to sit next to her. "You know, if you want, Falco, Slippy and I can always do this without you" He said with a soft voice. Krystal slowly closed her eyes as an involuntary tear fell. "He killed them, Fox" she said softly after a moment and looked at him "Do you really think that I'm going to let him get away with that?" she said with anger and sorrow shining in her cerulean eyes. Fox was about to respond when Peppy's voice came over the intercom " Alright, Team, were going to land on Corneria around Seven A.m tomorrow, so be sure to get to bed and rest up. Now. Goodnight team!" He finished before heading to bed himself. Fox sighed before giving Krystal's shoulder a soft squeeze before leaving " Goodnight Krystal" " Goodnight Fox" she said before Fox closed the door behind him. She sighed and got into bed. She knew she wasn't going to sleep well.

" Kenya! Please don't go!" A sixteen year old Krystal cried

"I have to, Krys, Nobody does that to you and gets away with it" A slightly taller darker blue fox said as he strapped a long curving sword to his back

"Please! Just don't go!" She cried again before turning him around to face her. He had tied a camouflage bandanna across his forehead "no, I can't let him get away with that" He said "I was supposed to protect you, and I didn't" He said softly, then his voice hardened "So, now, I'm getting payback" he finished before giving her a soft kiss and a grin " I promise, I'll take care of him and come back for you" "promise?" Krystal asked warily after they broke apart. Kenya gave her another, longer kiss "Promise" he said before walking away…

Krystal woke with tears in her eyes. Oh, he had promised, be he hadn't been able to keep it. After he walked away, she never saw him again. And when she flew away in her ship, the planet was destroyed, and him along with it. She quickly wiped away her tears and got up, getting dressed in a fresh uniform and heading towards the com room, only to notice that besides ROB and herself, it was unoccupied. She looked towards a nearby clock to realize that it was only 3 A.m. Laughing lightly at herself for getting up so early she went to the kitchen to get some coffee and breakfast, knowing that she wouldn't possibly be able to go back to sleep, if that's what you could call it, and that she needed coffee. Upon entering she saw Fox leaning against a counter with a steaming mug in his hands. He was already dressed in his uniform (they all have their uniforms from Assault) and seemed to be deep in thought, so he didn't notice Krystal coming in. Curious, Krystal read his mind 'I wonder if… no, she probably didn't. Why would she? But then again, why wouldn't she?' She heard him think. "Who might what?" Krystal asked him, grabbing a mug of coffee and standing next to him. Fox looked up, slightly startled, and answered "Hm? Oh, nothing" He said before taking a drink of coffee "Just wondering about something is all"

"Well I know that" she said with a grin " I was just wondering what, though I suppose we all have our secrets" she said before taking a long gulp of coffee " So how did you sleep?" she asked him

"I didn't" He said blankly "You?"

"As well as to be expected" she said, choosing her words carefully, not wanting to upset or worry him. Fox just nodded. " So, why didn't you sleep?" Krystal asked him

"I couldn't" he said before taking another drink "So, I'm substituting" He said, holding up the mug. Krystal laughed lightly before taking a drink "I know what you mean" she said after a moment before laughing again "What's so funny?" Fox asked her

"Oh, nothing" she said "Do you remember the time Slippy painted Falco's Arwing Hot pink?" She asked him

"Are you kidding? And forget Falco's face when he saw it? And then Slippy's face when Falco found out who did it?" He said with a laugh

"And then, to pay him back, Falco made him put pink and purple flowers all over his own Arwing?" She said with another giggle

"And the best part was when Peppy came in and saw both of their Arwings" Fox said as they both shared a good long laugh "You know, I forget why Slippy even did that" Fox said

"I think it was because Falco kept pestering him for new paint for his Arwing" She said with another laugh

"Well, he got him some" Fox said before they both burst out laughing again and talking about past experiences. Before either of them knew it hours had passed and Falco, Slippy and Peppy made their entrance to two laughing fox's. " Well, now, what's all the commotion for?" Peppy asked while getting himself some breakfast, cold cereal. "Nothing, Peppy .Just talking is all" Fox replied

"Uh-huh, riiight" Falco said " I'm sure that's all you where doing" he said with a suggestive wink while Slippy made kissy faces at them. Fox blushed furiously and Krystal giggled lightly. "Why you little-!" He was cut off by Peppy "That's enough you three" He said with warning looks at the three boys

"Ya, but he started-!" fox pointed an accusing finger towards Falco

"Who, Me?" Falco feigned innocence "Muah? I am Insulted!" he said sarcastically while putting a wing up to his chest as if he really was insulted

"Yes. You." Fox growled back. He was about to get cut of by Peppy when Krystal beat him to it.

"Now, Boys, do stop fighting" She said with a grin and a wink in Fox's direction "If you keep this up Falco, I would say that you're jealous that Fox can have a conversation with a female without screwing something up" She said with a look towards Falco, who just glared and grumbled something about 'Girlfriend Back-up' and got himself some coffee and cereal. Peppy smiled and kept eating while Fox whispered a 'thank you' in Krystal's ear before going and getting some cereal for the two of them before it all got eaten. "Thanks" She said before eating. Their food was almost all gone, fortunately, they had gotten a large sum for their part in the Aparoid war and they had enough money to buy food and some new parts for the Arwings, which desperately needed it. That, and the fact that they wanted to get a better briefing on the mission, were the two reasons that they where headed for Corneria. "Oh, and by the way team, we'll be arriving at Corneria in about an Hour, so make sure you're ready to go" Peppy said before going down to se ROB and make sure everything was going as planned. Meanwhile Fox was examining Falco, scrunching his face every now and then and just plain staring. After about two minutes of this, Falco got irritated "What are you staring at me for?" He asked finally

"Hm? Oh, nothing, just deciding whether or not Hot Pink is a good color for you. After all, that color seems to come up often. First Katt, Now you're Arwing" Fox said with a shrug as Falco turned Beet red, though on him it looked… Hot pink. Looking at him, Fox fought to keep his face serious "honestly, I think that you where destined to be connected to that color" he said before taking a drink out of his fresh cup of coffee. Falco started seething and stormed out of the room before he lost his temper completely and tried to beat the crap out of Fox, which he knew he would get in major trouble for, though right now, he was debating whether or not he cared.

He didn't. He came running back in and tried to pounce on Fox's back, who rolled to the side just in time for Falco to fall face first on the tiled floor. "ooww….. He moaned as he got up and rubbed his head. He was about to pounce again before Peppy's voice came over the intercom.

"Half an hour until landing team! Make sure you're ready to go!" He said before shutting it of and everybody scattered to there rooms to get there stuff packed. Fifteen minutes later they all sat in the main room with about a suitcase each, except for Krystal, who had a suitcase and a backpack, along with a case for her Staff, which she explained, she hardly ever went anywhere without. Just then, Corneria came into full view

"Were Here!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whoot! Chapter Four is complete ( I have achy fingers to prove that )

Please keep reviewing!!