I do not own Ultraman nor Star Fox. Ultraman and related characters belong to Tsuburaya Pro. Star Fox and related characters belong to Nintendo
Ultraman, Final Light
With Shadows on the Border
She sees two figures. One was a vulpine, undoubtedly Cornerian, and the other was completely different, his body red and silver, his face and head like a mask. The vulpine had his weapon trained on the alien being as it knelt before him, a red light flashing on his chest as he looked up, his expressionless face not betraying any emotion, but she could feel fear well up in her own heart as she yells. "FOX! Don't do this!" Fox turns to face her, his eyes black holes as he speaks.
"I have to." He looks back and squeezes the trigger on his gun and fires, the red and silver alien gone in a flash of light as she runs to him, tears running down her face as he turns the weapon on her and fires.
Krystal wakes up with a start, shouting "Fox!", her eyes wide. She looks around, seeing that she was still in her hotel room. Her nude body was covered by the sheets and comforter but fell away to her stomach when she fell back onto her pillows, her bare chest heaving in the early morning air. She looked to her left and she smiled at the sight. "How long have you been awake?" she asked the person lying on his side with a broad smile. Shin, the non-vulpine she had been taken to bed with had a slight smile of his own as he lied on his side.
"Long enough to feel the nightmare you just had," he replied simply. "I didn't know that you dreamed of me." Krystal laughed slightly and kissed her new lover.
"I just wished that they were good dreams of you," she replied. Shin ran his fingers through her hair, then Krystal took his hand into her own and kissed it gently before holding it to her chest.
"I'm just glad that you do dream of me," he replied softly. The Cerinian moaned softly as she held his hand to her chest and kissed him once more. Shin wrapped his arm around her as he leaned over her, her leg brushing against his thigh as she raised it and bent the knee to hold him to her body. As they kissed and rubbed, their warmth grew with their desire, and it was Krystal who acted first, thrusting her pelvis against Shin's hardening member. She looked up at him with a mischievous smile and licked his muzzle while giggling lightly. The non-vulpine nuzzled against her as she spread her legs and pressed them against his waist and she wrapped her arms about his neck, still having that smile even as he entered her for the second time. She tightened her walls about his member and he winced slightly as he supported himself on his hands and drove himself into her. She liked the sight of him like this, his body tensed and his face wincing as he went into her. It put a satisfied smile on her face knowing that he was enjoying this as much as she was. Her smile never faded as the stimulation grew and she buried her face in his chest when she reared up, nor when her body tensed and she climaxed just before he achieved his own, a low moan escaping her throat as she lied back down on the pillows. She giggled and brought Shin's face down to hers, their lips touching in a light kiss and she teased his lips with her tongue. Krystal laughed when he pulled away from the sensation and she stuck her tongue out playfully as he still gently pushed into her. "You know I can make you pay for that," he whispered softly into her ear.
"I'd love to see you try," she replied with equal softness. Shin's smile grew evil as she returned it in kind and they threw the covers over their bodies as they frolicked underneath.
The water poured down her body in a cascade of warmth as she washed herself with scented soap and shampoo. Her nether regions felt numb and hot, even before she jumped in, thanks to Shin. Her pelvic region felt warm and full from his loving and wondered that, with a fake body, if he could reproduce with her. The thought flashed across her mind as what she thought the child of an Ultra and a Cerinian would look like before chasing it away, telling herself that she'd ask Shin sometime later. Krystal shut the water off, drew the shower curtain back and stepped out of the tub, rubbing her body vigorously with a towel before wrapping it around herself and stepping out of the bathroom. Shin was waiting beside the door for her when she turned around. "All yours, big boy," she said with a smile. Shin returned it and stepped in. She heard the water turn on as she pulled out a pair of panties and an undershirt. She dropped the towel and slipped the panties on and let the shirt fall over her head as her face poked through the neck-hole. She was deciding on what to wear when rummaged through her shopping bags and pulled out a turquoise sweater and light jeans. It was getting colder outside and decided that it was appropriate wear, and she thought she looked cute in the somewhat baggy sweater when she tried it on in the department store. She heard the shower turn off and turned around to see Shin walking out with a towel around his waist and another one in his hands as he dried his head. He took a look at Krystal and smiled. "Come here," she gestured with her finger. Shin walked to her and Krystal brought him in for a kiss, which he happily returned. He pulled away to look down at the Cerinian before nuzzling her gently.
"I have to send a report back to my superiors on M78 that there may be a possible sighting in Lylat."
"And then?" she asked.
"Well naturally I'll have to investigate and find out if this…"living dark matter" is real or not."
"And if it isn't real?" she asked, afraid of the answer. Shin didn't know how to answer that.
"We'll figure something out."
"I could come with you," she replied, nuzzling up against his neck. "There's nothing left for me here now, I'm completely free. And also, I've always wanted to see the universe."
"Like I said, we'll see." Shin held her close as she nuzzled against him until she pulled away and licked his muzzle. Shin returned the gesture and held her close as she held his face in her hands, before traveling down his neck and stopping at his chest, resting her head against it.
"I don't want to lose you after just finding you," she said softly.
"I know,"
"It wouldn't be fair,"
"No it wouldn't,"
"I love you,"
"I love you too."
After Krystal left Shin alone to go to the shopping mall(and after making him promise that he'd join her after he was done contacting his superiors), the non-vulpine pulled out his communication device and held it in the palm of his hand. It levitated from his palm and he dropped his hand to his side when it began to glow and take shape in front of him. A face formed, one that looked a lot like his own 'real' face. Zoffy, the field commander of the Space Patrol and Shodai's superior, looked at Shin with his expressionless face. "Agent Shodai, what have you to report?"
"Commander Zoffy, it would seem that there has been a sighting here at Lylat after all."
"What have they described it as?"
"Something like 'living dark matter'." Zoffy looked away for a moment, then turned to his subordinate.
"Alright. You are to investigate the anomaly at once and report back when you have found anything conclusive."
"Yes sir." Zoffy signed off, leaving Shin alone in the hotel room. A part of him wants it to be nothing, but the other part, a more selfish part, wishes that this was the real deal, making the Ultra being feeling conflicted when he left the room.
The shopping center was one of the largest in Corneria, if not all of Lylat. Almost two and a half miles wide, and almost as tall, the building boasted at having anything and everything you could need under one roof. And it seemed to the Cerinian that it wasn't just an idle boast. Krystal looked all about her as almost thousands of people went to and fro out of department stores, small shops, restaurants and etc, while she parked herself at a bench and waited for Shin to come. She looked up at the holographic screens that showed various products and different media as the pedestrians walked underneath them. She didn't have to wait for long when she saw the non-vulpine walk in with his usual attire of a yellow jacket, shirt jeans and sneakers. She got up and smiled as she walked to him. She kissed him softly and looped an arm in his as he walked with her. An alarm went off in Krystal's watch, making her raise it and was surprised to see what it was; it was the signal given to Star Fox team members when they needed to be recalled. Shin saw it as well, wondering just what it could mean. He saw the surprise on her face and he matched it when the holographic face of Peppy Hare popped up. "Krystal. My dear girl it has been a while,"
"Peppy!" Krystal exclaimed. "But…what's the matter?"
"I need you to come by the CDF building as soon as you are able to. It's vital!" Krystal looked from Shin, who simply shrugged, then back at Peppy.
"I'm not doing anymore work for the military, Peppy. In case you forgot, Fox saw to my early retirement."
"I know, and I'm asking you to un-retire and head to the CDF. You're the only person I can count on for this."
"Why don't you ask Fox?" Shin heard the bitter tone in her voice when she said his name.
"I'll tell you when you get here. Please, Krystal?" The Cerinian saw the pained look on his face, and let out a sigh.
"Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can," Peppy looked relieved. She then turned to Shin and had a slight smile on her face. "Do you mind if I bring a friend with me?"
"Eh? A friend? This is not a social gathering, Krystal, this is extremely serious!"
"I was hoping you'd say that. We'll be there."
"Krystal, you-" she signed off before the hare could finish and turned to Shin.
"Shall we?" she asked. Shin gestured for her to lead on, not exactly sure on what she had planned.
The CDF building wasn't hard to find. As the pair entered the bullet-proof glass doors, uniformed personnel walked to and fro from office to office, handing reports to superiors and running errands for officers and NCOICs. Krystal let out a heavy sigh and led Shin to the reception desk, where a rather cute husky girl looked up. "Can I help you?"
"Krystal to see General Hare." The husky typed something on her screen and nodded at the pair to go ahead. Going by memory, Krystal led Shin down a hallway to a large wooden door with the words "Gen. Hare, Peppy" written on it. Krystal knocked once, and a voice within bid for her to enter. Shin walked into the office, and what he saw reminded him of General Pepper's office. It was as spacious as General Pepper's, in fact he'd bet this was his old office, with slightly different décor. He looked on one of the shelves on the bookcase and saw a picture of the old Star Fox team; Peppy Hare when he was almost thirty years younger, the late James McCloud and Pigma Dengar. Of the original team, Peppy was the last one alive, a burden he's had to carry ever since the end of the Aparoid Invasion. Behind the rosewood desk, the hare was going over PADs of reports and data before he looked up at Krystal. His haggard face livened up when he saw the Cerinian and put his PADs down and stood up.
"Am I glad to see you, Krystal. I…Fox?" he saw Shin, his face went from relief to puzzlement. "What are you doing here, I thought you were halfway to Venom by now."
"Venom?" Krystal asked.
"It's not Fox, Peppy," Shin said with a smile. "It's me." Peppy paused for a moment, looking at the non-vulpine.
"Shin?" he asked. He nodded. Peppy had to take a step back when he heard this. "I don't believe this, Shin!" he embraced the non-vulpine in a hug with a laugh, his arms wrapping around his body. Shin returned the laugh, his arms pinned to his sides by the hare while Krystal smiled at the sight. Peppy pulled away to look at Shin. "You don't look a day older."
"Neither do you," Peppy waved him off with a scoff.
"Don't give me that bull. Before I took this job, I look and felt twenty years younger. Now I know why Pepper is on his deathbed right now." He put and arm around Shin as he walked him about the office. "Things have changed quite a bit since you left, Shin. Star Fox is no more. Disbanded by Fox since I left. He's pushed all those closest to him away, including…well I guess you already know," he looked back at Krystal.
"Yes, I do."
"Anyway, what brings you here?" He looked to Shin. "Are the Aparoids back?"
"No, we're certain their gone."
"Good. That's the last thing we need right now. This whole system is going to hell! Rampant pirate raids, open revolt on the horizon from the outer worlds, a military that couldn't fight off a fly to save its life,"
"Sounds like you have your hands full,"
"It's a bloody nightmare!" Peppy exclaimed. "And now we have reports that there is activity coming from Venom!"
"Activity on Venom?" Krystal asked. Peppy turned to her.
"That's why I called you. We have reports about strange signals coming from Venom, and we need someone sent there to investigate."
"You said that you thought Fox was halfway to Venom," Shin replied.
"He was, I think. It's been awhile since I got a report back from him, but I sent him to Venom to scout it out, check on things."
"Has Oikonny returned?" Shin asked. Peppy had a rueful smile as he shook his head.
"We don't know. We haven't found his body yet, so it's possible he's trying to reform his army, again." Peppy let out a sigh. "Why do they never learn?" He turned to Krystal. "I've already contacted Falco and Slippy. Falco said he'd head there to make sure Fox wasn't in over his head, and Slippy said he was busy with some project to handle this. So now, I'm turning to you," he looked at Shin. "Both of you. Please,"
"Of course we'll…"
"No," Krystal stated plainly, cutting Shin off. Both non-vulpine and hare looked at her.
"What do you mean 'no'?" Peppy asked. Krystal looked away.
"Fox can take care of himself. He got himself into it, he can get himself out."
"This isn't just some gang of pirates he's dealing with, it could be the revival of Andross's army! If we're ever faced with a threat like that again, we can kiss the Lylat system goodbye!"
"Like I care! I'm not going to be staying in Lylat for very long after this is over!" Now both felt shocked at what the Cerinian said.
"Wh-what are you saying?" Peppy asked. Krystal walked to Shin's side, holding onto his arm as she looked at Peppy while Shin didn't know how to react.
"I'm going with Shin. He and I are together now and nothing is going to tear us apart, right Shin?" she looked up with a smile, while Shin searched for an answer but looked away as he slipped his arm from her grip. Krystal looked puzzled and worried. "Shin?" The non-vulpine looked to Peppy, his face determined.
"I'll head to Venom and see if Fox needs any help." Peppy nodded at him and looked to Krystal. Shin turned to her briefly then walked out the door, followed by Krystal.
"Shin, wait!" She grabbed for his hand but he pushed it away. He turned and saw the hurt look on Krystal's face. "Shin…why are you doing this?" she asked.
"Because I will not abandon anyone, including Fox." He could see the onset of tears brimming in her eyes. "If you think I'm going to take you with me just so you can abandon these people, you're in for a rude awakening."
"Fox is the one who abandoned me!" she pressed. "Why should I help him?!"
"If not for him, then for those who are innocent!"
"What?"
"Would you really abandon all those here to their fate if you had the chance? Peppy, Falco, Slippy?" Krystal looked down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze as he walked towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Me?" Her head snapped up and she looked into Shin's eyes, saw the same warmth and caring that she had seen when he found her at that bar. "Would you abandon me here if you had the chance?" Krystal felt the tears roll down her face as she looked down.
"That's not fair," she muttered.
"Life isn't fair. We deal with it." She felt his hands slip off her shoulders as he walked away. As she heard his footsteps receding, she was beginning to feel alone again.
"Damn you," she muttered before catching up to him.
Near the planet Venom, something vast was unfolding. By the dozens, then the hundreds until it seemed like thousands, vessels of varying sizes and shapes flew from the polluted surface of the planet. As they passed the debris field, they were unaware of another craft watching them. In his Arwing II, Fox made sure he got photographic and video evidence of the large armada heading for Corneria. However, these ships were not the usual Venomian make. These were more streamlined and had their surfaces chromed to a bright finish. The large armada passed impeded while Fox gathered the evidence. When he felt he had sufficient data, he turned his thrusters on and sped from the debris field. However, he was unaware of a shape following him. It wasn't until his sensors went off that he brought his ship around and was met with a familiar craft. The Sky Claw hovered in front of him not a few yards away, and Fox could feel the relieved smile play across his face before his headset went off. "Hey, Fox. Looks like you've been busy," Fox chuckled at hearing Falco's voice.
"So have you, Falco. Peppy send you?"
"Yeah. I was bored and had nothing to do, so I agreed to play babysitter with you." Even though Fox wouldn't admit it to Falco, he was glad he was there with him. His sensors went off once more, and Fox could see multiple signals starting to home in on them.
"Falco, we got company,"
"Yeah, I see 'em." The Sky Claw turned and faced the oncoming horde fighter-sized snub fighters. "They sure as hell don't look like Venomian to me,"
"Doesn't matter, they're still going down." Fox replied.
"You got the thousands on the right, while I got the thousands on the left?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way, old buddy." Both fighters took off in different directions, firing their lasers into the horde and downing fighters left and right. As both Arwing II and Sky Claw weaved through the intense laser fire, the fighters tried to reform, but the two arwings kept the confusion going with strafing runs before they could get better organized. Amid the confusion and light show, the arwings were unaware of another shape coming up from the rear. This one was anthropoid in shape and was at least fifty meters long. It was followed by another shape as it flew past the two arwings and started firing on the fighters. Shodai fired his Spacium Ray as he swept it across the enemy lines, reducing them to so much ash and debris. Fox and Falco were taken by surprise by this, and were just as surprised to see the Cloud-Runner fly up next to him and fire at the fighters that tried to make a run for it. Falco and Fox, getting over their initial shock, decided to take advantage of the confusion cause by the two and mop up the stragglers before they could get away. Shodai found the enormous fleet, the sight of it almost staggered him. He had rarely seen an armada of that size, used only to completely wipe out the population of either a planet, or an entire system. Even he might have trouble dealing with an armada of that size. Krystal saw the armada for herself, and felt her heart sink at the size of it.
'Shin, what are we going to do against that?'
'I don't know. Even I don't think I could handle so many at one time. We need to head back and warn General Hare about this.'. He turned around and headed for Fox and Falco. "Seems our paths cross once more, Fox McCloud." Fox looked up at the great silver and red being as it floated in space in front of him. Falco joined up with him, feeling relieved at the sight of the Space Patrol man. However, when he saw Krystal next to him, he keyed to her frequency.
"Krystal, is that you?"
"Glad to see you're still in one piece, Fox," came the reply. He was both glad, and puzzled at why she was with Shodai. However, the Great Fox II was near here. Perhaps he could get some answers from her soon enough.
