Fox was standing in the hallway as he watched Slippy walk off. He had never thought about how their teaseing had affected Slippy. Fox would have to think of a way to make everything up to him. Fox returned to the kitchen. He quickly drank the rest of the juice as he walked through the door. Krystal and Falco had been talking about something. They stopped talking as they saw Fox walk in. Fox had a strange feeling that they were up to something, and he didn't like it.
" How's your shoulder feeling Fox?" Krystal asked, Fox glared over at Falco for a second.
" Hey, she would have found out Fox. This way it won't be because she hurt it." Falco said.
" I'll keep that in mind." Fox said as he walked over to join them.
" Well, I'm going to see Katt. She called earlier and I kind of blew her off. I need to make up for it." Falco said as he headed for the door. " I'll see you two later."
With that Falco walked out. Fox just shook his head, but had a smile on his face. Krystal was watching Fox as he stared at the door. He turned and looked at her.
" You seem to be in a better mood." Krystal said with a slight smile.
" Yeah, I am." Fox said as he wrapped his arms around her.
He hugged her tight, then kissed her softly. It was so peaceful at that moment. When he was with Krystal, everything felt perfect. When they broke the kiss, they gazed into each others eye's. Fox loved her beautiful emerald green eye's, they were always filled with light and hope. He could never find any sign of pain or sorrow in them. He knew that his dark green eye's held pain and suffering. He had always been able to hide his thoughts behind his dark eye's, no one could ever read them. No one except Krystal. Even if she didn't have her powers, she would be able to see through their darkness. Krystal nuzzled into Fox's neck. Fox closed his eye's as he nuzzled the top of her head. Just as Fox loosened his grip so they could leave the kitchen, they were interupted by R.O.B. with a message for Fox.
" Fox, there is an unknown white wolf requesting to dock. She won't give identification, what am I to do?" R.O.B. said.
" Can you open a channel to talk to her?" Fox asked.
" Yes, would you like me to?" R.O.B. asked.
" Contact her and inform her to wait a moment while I go to the bridge." Fox said as he headed to the bridge, Krystal following close.
" Affirmative." R.O.B. said as he did as Fox commanded.
" Do you know who it could be?" Krystal asked as they headed to the bridge.
" No, but it may be some one who has work for us." Fox said as they got closer to the bridge.
" What if Fang sent her? She might be here to try to kill you." Krystal said.
" That's why I'm going to talk to her first." Fox said as they entered the bridge. " Alright R.O.B., you can open the channel to the bridge."
R.O.B. opened the channel. It was the female wolf who had sat next to Wolf in the first meeting. Fox realized he didn't know who she was. Fang had never introduced her.
" Fox McCloud. I have come to talk about an urgent matter. That is all I can safely say over a channel. Please grant me permission to dock so I may speak to you." the white wolf said, Fox thought for a minute.
" Alright, you have permission to dock, R.O.B. allow her entry." Fox said.
R.O.B. did as he was told. Fox and Krystal soon headed down to the docking bay of the GreatFox. They had raced down there to meet the wolf before she had time to do any thing other than dock. They were soon in the docking bay and the wolf was climbing out of her ship. Fox and Krystal approached her.
" Thank you, Fox. I wish to speak to you in private. My employer insisted that I did so." She said, Krystal watched her carefully. " Oh, how rude of me. I have yet to give my name. I am Ziren Arbolsa."
Ziren bowed as she told Fox her name. Krystal looked over at Fox with a warning look. Krystal wasn't sure about the private talk. She had a strange vibe from Ziren.
" Fox, I wouldn't trust her." Krystal said quietly into Fox's ear.
" Please, I must speak to you in private. But not here. We must go to where the walls have no ears or eye's. The information I carry is precious. It mustn't be heard by any others but whom I am to deliver it to." Ziren said urgently.
" Any thing you have to say can be said in front of me." Krystal said, watching Ziren closely.
" No, orders must be followed as given." Ziren said.
" Ok, I'll go." Fox said.
" What! Fox, you can't be serious. What if she try's to kill you?" Krystal said in his ear.
" It's alright Krystal. I'll be fine." Fox said as he headed over to his Arwing.
" Just follow me Fox. I will take you where we can talk." Ziren said as she jumped into her own ship.
" Fox, I'm getting bad vibes from her." Krystal said as Fox opened his Arwings canopy.
" Don't worry Krystal. She won't hurt me. I know she won't." Fox said and then he gave her a soft kiss. " I'll be ok. I'll be back in no time."
Fox then jumped into his Arwing and followed Ziren out. They didn't make any contact while they traveled. Fox didn't really like the silence, it made him feel edgey. It had been nearly fourty minutes since they left the GreatFox. Fox was beginning to wonder where they were going exactly. Soon they came to a planet that was covered in jungle. Fox didn't recognize the planet, but he didn't put much thought into it. They soon landed in a clearing and left their ships.
" We must go into the jungle. It's not much farther." Ziren said.
Fox followed closely behind her. He was beginning to get a bad feeling in his gut. Some thing was definetly not right. Fox was on his guard as he followed Ziren. He felt a chill run down his spine. Fox began to watch the jungle around them. Suddenly Ziren stopped in her tracks. Fox watched as she quickly turned and point a blaster towards him. Fox froze, his hand over his own blaster.
" Don't move Fox." Ziren said.
" So, I was wrong." Fox said as he rested his hand on his blaster.
" To be wrong is only natrual in all existance Fox. And one who understands it, see's the truth of their existance. As well as that of others and what they bear in their hearts and souls." Ziren said. " Do you understand Fox?"
Fox studied Ziren's face. Fox had a strange feeling in his gut that told him what to do. Fox removed his hand from his blaster and stood still as he looked at her.
" Yes, I understand." Fox said softly, then he heard her blaster charge.
" I am glad that you do." Ziren said, then fired.
Fox felt the heat of the beam as it flew by his head. He heard a grunt as the beam made contact with something behind him. There was the sound of leaves rustling and then a thud. Fox turned and saw a reptile of some sort lying on the ground, in a black stealth suit. Fox then looked over at Ziren.
" Nice shot." Fox said.
" Thank you." Ziren said as she check to see if the reptile was still alive. " To bad, he would have made a good informer."
" Hmm?" Fox said.
" He was very stealthy, he was hard to read. If it wasn't for the fact I can sense the souls of other's, I wouldn't have known he was there." Ziren said. " But you could sense him in you own way, couldn't you?"
"Yes, so you can sense the souls as Krystal can sense the minds." Fox said.
" Yes, a trait of a Cerinian wolf. Legend states that wolves could always sense the souls of others and our packs in our ancestrial times. Where as Cerinian foxes could sense the minds and life force of others. The sly vulpines who didn't live in packs, but stayed in touch with their blood in ancestrial times. But we both shared a special perceptive trait of danger in the near future. A learning experiance for you, isn't it." Ziren said as she continued down the path.
" Yes, I was sure Krystal was the sole survivor of Cerinia." Fox said as he followed her.
" As I thought I was." Ziren said. " And I now why she was getting bad vibes from me."
" Really, why?" Fox asked as they appraoched a cave.
" Because, at the time wolves and foxes did not see eye to eye. In the end our two people destroyed each other, as well as our poor planet. In legend, it was said that two hiers of two races who were the same but different would rise and fight. The victor would only recieve the barren land that was destroyed by hatred and greed. I feel terrible that my people had a hand in Cerinia's destructon. When I descovered that I was the last wolf on Cerinia, I left, thinking I was the last to alive of both races." Ziren said as she walked into the cave. " I remember watching my brother fighting a fox, who was so similar to him in many ways. The only differences were that one was a fox, the other a wolf. My brother was a white wolf, the fox was dark blue, like the night sky. They both died, not by each others blades, but they took their own lives when they saw the planet was doomed and fighting was pointless."
" Thats awful." Fox said.
" Yes, fate can be awful. But sometimes destruction must come, for a new existance to begin." Ziren said. " Fox, the messege that I carry is most importent. Barous is getting suspicious. That reptile wore his emblem, he followed us from the GreatFox. When Barous' messenger dosn't return, he may not just let you onto Corneria. So a simple invasion will become the destruction of the capital. And some lives may be lost. You may have to destroy and kill. Saving Corneria means destroying it. That will spawn a hatred towards you. If it comes down to that, you will have to go to the barren land of Ceriania. Fang's orders."
" I see, I will try to avoid that." Fox said.
" One more thing Fox. I sense that a darkness has begun to tear at your soul, it may be in you mind and heart as well. Don't let it take over. It has grown since I last saw you. It feeds on your pain, guilt, anger, fear, and sorrow. If it takes over, you will forget those you love and those you care about. Don't let that happen Fox." Ziren said. " Wolf conqured the darkness that grew in him, you can conqure the darkness in you."
" I...I don't think I can. I felt it but I didn't know what it was." Fox said turning away from her.
" Don't doubt yourself Fox. Krystal hasn't, so you shouldn't either." Ziren said.
" Ok, I'll try to be strong." Fox said turning around, only to see he was alone.
Fox left the cave and looked around. He didn't see any trace of Ziren any where. Fox began his walk back to his Arwing. At frst he thought he had gotten himself lost, but soon found his way to the clearing. Fox couldn't help but think about what Ziren had said about the darkness inside of him. The thought of having darkness in his soul, his heart and his mind was upsetting. Fox shook those thoughts from his head as he returned to his Arwing. As the canopy of the cockpit opened, Fox notice an envelop in his seat. Curious, he opened it. There was a paper folded over once and a small pendent that had a strange jewel in the center. Fox pulled out the paper and read what was written.
Fox, you have a pure heart. You must never let that change. This pendent is a gift. It is called a Celestial Soul pendent. It will protect you when you are suffering from your pains, and help you to heal. I leave it in your care, you need it more then I. Always remember your kindness, and love. It will help you, even in the bleakest of times. May the light of your soul shine through.
Ziren Arbolsa
Fox couldn't help but wonder why she didn't give it to him herself. He shrugged it off as he put the pendent on. Fox tucked it away into his shirt so it would be safe. Fox jumped into his Arwing, and headed back to the GreatFox. He tried to think about what she said. She was an interesting wolf. Fox wondered how Wolf conquered the darkness in his heart. When Fox returned he saw Falco's Arwing in it's place and surprisingly Katt's ship was docked. Fox didn't know how long he had been, or what time it was. Fox yawned and sat there a moment. He closed his eye's started to nod off.
He felt a little tired, but he ignored that as his stomach let him know it was time for some food. Fox laughed to himself as he climbed out of his Arwing and walked off to the kitchen. As he walked down the hall, Fox noticed the ship was eeriely quiet. Fox stopped and listened for a moment. It was so quiet, too quiet. Fox walked into the kitchen and noticed the lights were out. Fox figured that someone had turned them off to conserve power, most likely Slippy. Fox found the light switch and flicked it. It was still dark. Fox flicked the swith a few more times, still dark.
" R.O.B. what's going on?" Fox asked, only silence answered. " R.O.B.?"
Fox stood there a moment before turning around and heading to Slippy's room. Fox knocked as he reached Slippy's room and went inside. Slippy wasn't in, and the room was a mess. Equipment every where. Fox turned around and continued down the hall. He chanced a look into Falco's room. It was empty too. Fox continued down the hall and check his room then Krystal's room. Both empty, Fox felt a chill run down his spine as he ran to the engine room. Fox hoped Slippy was making some repairs or something like that. As Fox enetered the engine room he scanned it with his eye's.
" Slippy? Krystal, Falco? Any one here?" Fox called out.
All that answered was an echo. Fox turned and ran down the hall. He looked in every room that he passed. There was no sign of his team. Fox raced to the bridge. Hoping, praying for some sign of some one. Fox ran trough the door and looked around. He could see R.O.B. standing, but he apeared to be shut down. Fox sat in his seat as he looked for records of what happened in the time he was gone. The screen poped up and image showing him leaveing after Ziren. Krystal was still standing there for a few more minutes then left. Fox sped the images keeping an eye on the timer. After fourty minutes went by on the timer and Falco came in. He docked, then the images turned to static. Fox didn't like that. He checked all other rooms, the same problem. Something had happened after Falco returned. Fox tried to scan the system for outside interferance. His scan came up with nothing. Fox tried to think of what could have happened. Fox stood up and walked over to R.O.B. to see if he could get him running. Suddenly all the lights on the ship were out. Fox carefully made his way over to the doors. He tried to open them, but they wouldn't open. The only thing that seemed to have power was the life support system.
" Something is definetly wrong here. I have to get the doors open and get out of here." Fox said to himself.
Fox took a few steps back and waited for his eye's to adjust to the dark. Fox bumbed into something, he thought it was his seat. Then Fox realized it was too tall to be his seat, he could hear breathing, and he knew it wasn't him. Fox froze as he felt something grip his shoulders. Fox felt chills running down his spine. It suddenly became very cold, and Fox felt some thing brush against his neck. Fox jumped forward and tried to open the doors again. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't care to find out what would happen next. Fox struggled to get the doors open and he managed to get them to part. Fox pushed them open enough to squeeze through. As Fox got to the other side he felt something grab his tail and try to pull him back in. Fox grabbed his balster and fired several shots behind him. Fox managed to hit what ever it was that was grabbing him. Fox raced down the hall, bumping into the walls. Fox could hear his footsteps echo through the hall, along with his heart beating in his chest. He stumbled as he came to a corner and fell against the wall. Fox was trembling as he tried to get up. He could feel chills running down his spine as something wrapped around him.
" Give in Fox. It is so much easier." Said a deep voice. Fox struggled to get free, but the more he struggled the harder it was to move. " Fox, give in to me. I can take away all your pain."
" No!" Fox shouted as he tried to pull free.
Fox struggled in it's grip. He needed to get get away from this thing that had it's cold grip around him.
" Fox, you can't escape me! I will always be with you!" The deep voice said as it's grip got tighter. " Just give in. I will make all your troubles seem like nothing. You won't hurt any more. All you have to do is give in to me."
Fox couldn't see any thing, it was so dark. Fox closed his eye's and managed to pull his arms free for a moment. But he only gripped his sides as the cold increased. Tears streamed down his face. He was scared, and felt helpless. Fox opened his eye's, still only darkness surrounded him. He closed his eye's again, as he began to lose to this strange force. Fox suddenly felt a warm sensation on his upper arms. He opened his eye's and saw a light. Fox felt the cold grip of the strange force loosen as the light got closer. Soon the darkness was gone and was replaced by a warm light. Fox was still trembling as he closed his eye's again. Fox could hear a familiar voice, at first he couldn't make out the words, but soon they became clear.
" Fox, wake up. Everything's ok." The voice said as Fox was gently shaken. " Come on Fox, pull together. Fox! Wake up!"
Fox opened his eye's. At first it was hard to see, Fox blinked a few times and saw Falco leaning over him. Fox was sitting in his Arwing. Fox looked around and every thing seemed fine. Fox looked at Falco, who had a concerned look in his eye's.
" Fox, you ok?" Falco asked as he reached up and wiped away the tears that still lingered on Fox's face.
" It was, just a dream?" Fox said. " It was just a dream."
" Come on Fox. Let's get you to bed." Falco said as he helped Fox out of his Arwing.
" No. I'm not tired any more. I must have fallen asleep when I landed." Fox said as he leaned on his Arwing. Fox could see Katt standing behind Falco.
" I don't know Fox. You look like you could use some rest sugar." Katt said as she gently put her arm around Fox's shoulders. " Come on."
" I really don't think I could get to sleep after that nightmare." Fox said.
Falco patted Fox's head as he looked down at him. They left the docking bay and headed towards Fox's room. Fox would rather head to the kitchen. Fox looked at Falco who was watching him while they walked down the hall. They stopped in front of Fox's room, then Fox's stomach growled and they all laughed softly.
" You wouldn't be hungry, would you Fox?" Falco asked in a teasing tone.
" Now what could have given you that idea?" Fox said with a tired smile.
" I have no idea." Falco said as they continued down the hall. " There's some thing I want to know about."
" What?" Fox asked.
" Where did that Ziren girl take you? What did she say to you? And who sent her?" Falco asked, confussing Fox.
" How did you know about Ziren?" Fox asked.
" Krystal. She's been worried about you. She said you left nearly three hours ago." Falco said as they walked into the kitchen. "You docked a half a hour ago. When R.O.B. said you hadn't left your Arwing, we thought the worst."
" Where are Krystal and Slippy?" Fox asked as he sat down at the table.
" Oh, right. R.O.B. tell Krystal and Slippy it was a false alarm." Falco said as he opened a cabinet. " They went to get the Medical Bay ready incase you were hurt."
" Sorry that I worried you guys." Fox said.
" Forget about it. Heads up Fox." Falco said as he threw the bag of chips at Fox. Fox looked up in time to get hit in the face with the chips. " Not very alert there, are ya buddy?"
" Falco, stop messing around." Katt said as she took a seat across from Fox.
" Ok. Fox, are you going to answer my questions?" Falco asked as Krystal and Slippy came into the Kitchen. Krystal ran over to Fox and wrapped her arms around him.
" Oh Fox, thank goodness your ok." Krystal said as she hugged him.
" Yeah, it's good to see that you're ok Fox." Slippy said
" I said I would be." Fox said as he opened the chips and began to eat some.
" Why didn't you leave your Arwing when you docked?" Krystal asked as she grabbed a chair and pulled it next to Fox.
" Fox fell asleep when he docked." Falco said as he opened the refrigerater.
" What? What happened Fox?" Krystal asked as she rubbed his back.
" I guess I was just tired." Fox said shrugging.
" No, I mean between you and that white wolf." Krystal said.
" You mean Ziren. Nothing much. She took me to a some jungle covered planet so she could deliver her message and no one else could hear. She gave me the message and left. Then I came back here." Fox said.
" Is that all?" Falco asked as he walked over to the table with a drink. " Did you ever find out who sent her?"
" Yes. Fang wanted me to reconsider. He didn't want my decision to be persuaded by you guy's. He dosn't trust you guys." Fox said, hoping they believed his lie.
" And, what did you say?" Falco asked, watching Fox.
" I said no. I already made my decision before. It hasn't changed." Fox said then he ate a few more chips.
" Really. It was that wolf that was never introduced at the first meeting wasn't it?" Falco asked as he opened the drink. Fox only nodded as he continued to eat the chips. Krystal nuzzled Fox's neck, then suddenly stopped and pulled back.
" Fox, can I talk to you, alone?" Krystal asked as she stood up and gently grabbed his arm.
" Sure Krystal." Fox said as he stood up and the two of them left the Kitchen.
Krystal walked further down the hall. She wanted to be out of ear shot of the others. They kept walking until they reached her room, it was closest. They walked inside and Krystal turned to look at Fox. She had a very serious look in her eye's.
" Why is her scent on you neck Fox?" Kystal asked. Fox froze, whether he lied or told the truth, he was in big trouble. Fox took a moment to think before saying any thing.
" Krystal I swear there is a reasonable explanaition." Fox said softly. " But if I tell you, you can't tell any one else. It's very importent that you don't."
" It depends on what this explanaition is." Krystal said as tears began to brim Krystal's eye's.
" Don't cry Krystal. I swear I never touched her, she never touched me. Her scent must be on the pendent she gave me." Fox said and Krystal gave him a strange look. " Look, I never broke the deal with Fang."
" What!" Krystal said.
" I have a very good reason for that. You see, Fang personally knows President Ervon, and General Barous. He said they've got some pretty bad plans for Corneria. I'm not going let them do any thing to indanger Lylat. They're trying to keep us away from Corneria so we don't interfer with their plans." Fox said quickly.
" He could be lieing Fox! You don't really know the ture intentions of Fang." Krystal said.
" I do Krystal. I don't know how, but I know he isn't lieing to me." Fox said as Krystal turned her back on him. " Krtstal...do you think there's a darkness growing in me?"
" What?" Krystal said in a surprised tone as she turned around. " Why would you ask that?"
" Ziren told me, that she was a Cerinian wolf. That she could sense the souls of others. She said she could sense a darkness in my sous, and that it has grown since the last time she saw me." Fox said as he sat down on Krystal's bed. " And I can feel it. It scares me Krystal."
" A Cerinian wolf." Krystal said. " The wolves and foxes of Cerinia..."
" Didn't see eye to eye, and fought each other." Fox said, finishing Krystals sentence.
" Yes." Krystal said as she sat next to Fox. " How did you did you know?"
" Ziren told me." Fox said as he leaned over, crossing his arms over his knee's.
" Show me the pendent." Krystal said, holding her hand out.
Fox reached into his shirt and pulled the pendent out and handed it to Krystal. The chain still around his neck. Krystal examined it carefully. She looked at Fox who was looking straight. Krystal stoked his his cheek, making him look at her.
" Well, what do you make of it?" Fox asked.
" It's a pendent that the wolves wore, they called it a celestial soul pendent. The jewel that rests in the middle comes from the moon. From time to time a piece of stone would fall down to the surface of Cerinia. Often the jewels were inside it. The wolves belived they were sent to them. The jewel itself has a strange magical force, almost like that of Sauria. It was worn to stop a darkness from consuming some one, who was supposedly cursed or who has suffered so much that they could no longer fight the darkness in their own heart." Krystal said. " It was said to never fail. Actually, I remember that all the wolves who fought had thrown their pendents aside. Claming that they surpressed their ability to fight. But I think it surpressed their ability to hate."
" I wonder." Fox said softly under his breath.
" What Fox?" Krystal asked.
" Ziren said Wolf had recently defeated the darkness that had consumed him. I wonder if she gave him a pendent." Fox said softly.
" She could have." Krystal said.
" Then, I do have a darkness inside of me." Fox said as he leaned against Krystal's shoulder.
" We all have a darkness inside of us Fox. It's just a matter of if we give in to it." Krystal said as she put her arm around him.
" I won't give in to the darkness that's in me, not ever." Fox said as a tear streamed down his cheek.
" That's good Fox. I'll be right here with you. I know you won't give in to the darkness that's inside you. You're too strong to let it." Krystal said as she nuzzled him.
" We all are too strong. As long as we stand together, there isn't any thing that can stop us." Fox said softly as he closed his eye's with a soft smile on his face. " Krystal, you can't tell the other's about what I just told you."
" I don't know if I can Fox." Krystal said as she stroked Fox's head, his smile faded.
" Please Krystal. Please don't tell them." Fox said as he buried his face into her shoulder.
" Fox, I'll try." Krystal said.
" Thank you Krystal." Fox said.
Fox felt so tired all of a sudden. He was tired of everything, and just wanted everything to be over. They stayed there for a while, not saying a word. Fox was beginning to slip into sleep as Krystal watched him.
" Fox." Krystal whispered into his ear.
" Hmm?" Fox said as he was drifting off.
" I love you." Krystal whispered softly.
" I love you too Krystal." Fox said under his breath before he drifted completely into sleep.