It was coming down to this; just one week prior to the fight of their lives, Krystal has been studying the battle map that Fox gave to her at their meeting endlessly, and why not? It could very well keep her alive in the conflict.

That's enough for now. She got up from the couch, and went over to the restroom to freshen up. She splashed some water into her face, trying to rejuvenate herself. She had been studying endlessly now. She didn't know why, but all she could think about was Fox, why was that? It was interrupting with her studies. She dried off her head with the hand towel, but it wasn't enough, she still felt uneasy, about something.

Maybe a quick shower will help. She quickly undressed; and hoped into her shower. The warm water was a sensation to her tired and worn out mind and body. Just as she had finished and was drying herself off, the view screen sent out a ring; someone was trying to call her. She wrapped herself in her towel and walked over to the screen, and pressed the answering button; where Panther's image appeared. He didn't talk for a moment, he just studied Krystal's soaked figure.

"If you're not going to talk, I'm going to hang up."

"No sorry about that. Am I, interrupting something?"

"Not at all, what is it you want?" Panther turned his gaze back down to the screen, and pressed in a sequence of buttons.

"The battle plans have changed; I'm beaming them up to you now." Krystal raised an eyebrow; they had already gone over this.

"Changed how?" Panther looked up with an evil smile on his face, a sinister tone in his voice.

"Oh, a few more surprises for young McCloud, and his team. Just to ensure we are victorious. Have a good evening darling." Panther blew a kiss to Krystal, which she coldly ignored and his figure disappeared, the battle plans were just brought up, she studied them for a moment, and gasped as she read the final statement.

"What!?" she stated out loud, enraged in the change of plans, immediately she tried to contact Wolf, after a moment, his figure appeared.

"Krystal. What do you want?"

"What do I want? How could you!? Those plans were perfect."

"They were perfect, I just tweaked them a bit, to ensure that we make it out of this alive."

"How is Fox's death going to be satisfying if he's blown up by;" She paused and looked over to the screen, and read the last part out loud. "Stealth Strikers? Assassins? Where's the honor in that?"

"One, their pirates. Not assassins; and two, when you're survival is at risk, you do what you must to survive. If that means to enlist them to our cause, and sneak them in the planet wide shield to overwhelm Fox and his team, then I will."

"If you were in front of me right now; I'd smack you one for that. What happened to your honor Wolf? You're dignity?" He looked to her enraged, and spoke with showing his fangs.

"Best not contradict me kit; it would be a shame if you're pretty little face was damaged before this even started."

"But this, doesn't feel right."

"I learned a long time ago, when you're life is at stake. Honor doesn't pull through in the end. You best wise up, and follow my lead." Wolf's figure disappeared, leaving Krystal in his wake. Now she just felt terrible, she wanted to do this on her own, just like she and Wolf agreed to, one year ago.

X

Krystal was fleeing from Corneria, in the outer space that was the Sagresso space station, a haven for crime and smuggling trade; and was also the operation base of the Star Wolf team. Krystal had to stop her Cloud Runner right outside the asteroid field encircling the station, the astronomical charts had to be updated frequently, sense the asteroids moved at a incredibly pace, if she was to go any further, she would most likely be crushed before she even got to the station.

A light on her view screen flickered, someone was calling her, she admitted audio only.

"You are trespassing in a private sector, identify yourself."

"I am Krystal, former member of the Star Fox team; I must speak with Wolf O'Donnell, and the Star Wolf team."

"Liar, what would a Star Fox member want here? Prepare to be eliminated." But before the caller could do anything else. Panther interfered.

"Krystal? Is that really you my dear? My my, what a surprise." His deep tone was masked by the static of the transmission. Krystal had to play along, if she was going to get inside and speak with Wolf.

"Hello Panther darling, I must speak with Wolf; it's very important. Would you be a dear and allow me access please?"

"It would be my pleasure. I'm sending you the asteroid chart's now, Docking bay five is all yours, we will meet you there. Make sure you're unarmed." He ended the transmission, and the charts were beamed to her monitor, she carefully followed the path to gain access. She flew and landed in the docking bay with the big 5 over it's entrance, and saw three figures standing their; no doubt to be the Star Wolf team.

She shut down all power to the ship, and made a steady landing. She carefully twirled out, landing right in front of Panther, with Wolf and Leon behind him.

"My dear, what a pleasure surprise this is." He grabbed her paw and planted a small kiss onto it, she giggled at the feeling of his lips. Wolf arrogantly pushed him away from her, and stepped up to her, gazing her down.

"Well well, we have Fox's little girl in our hanger, and to what honor do we have for you're presence?" His small joke was quickly turned into him being pushed up against the wall by Krystal. Leon and Panther both pulled out their blasters and aimed for Krystal, but not firing. Wolf looked down to the enraged vixen; she spoke sinisterly; showing off her fangs.

"Don't you ever call me that again." Just a few days ago, she would have loved to be called that, but now. It was just mocking her. Wolf let out a strong chuckle.

"Strong girl, I like that. Al right then, relax." She loosened her grip from him and stood up straight. "What is it you want from us Krystal?" she crossed her arms, and showed wolf an evil smile.

"I have a proposition for you Wolf."

"A proposition? How so?"

"How would you like Fox's head on a platter?" Wolf studied her figure; she must have been serious about this. She shot up an eyebrow.

"I'm listening."

"Not here, not by you're common soldiers, just me and you're team. Take us somewhere private."

"Not a problem, follow me." Wolf led them away, from the ears of the common soldiers, and led them to their own private quarters. They discussed Krystal's previous battle plan, she would get a hold of Fox and tell them where to fight, and she would join up with Wolf and his team for the fun.

"So, a year from now?" Leon asked, he didn't sound too thrilled to wait an entire year before he would get to blow some holes in the Star Fox team.

"That's right, when the Great Fox and their Arwings are up and running; we strike and take them down."

"I like it. A year isn't so long; it'll be worth the wait." Wolf yawned and relaxed onto the couch, Krystal cocked him a sly smile.

"Exactly as I was thinking. I'll be on my way, see you in a year." Krystal walked out, leaving Wolf and his team to ponder on the idea.

"Do you think we can really trust her? How do we know she's not working for Fox still?" Leon asked his leader, though Wolf wasn't to fazed by it, he just yawned and closed his eye as he talked.

"I don't see why not, she didn't come here because she's with Fox. Life get's boring if it's all routine." He opened his eyes and sat up, looking to Leon. "Besides, any chance I get at taking down that vulpine is worth the risk, and the wait."

"But what if-"Panther tried to speak, but Wolf cut in, putting his paw in front of his face.

"End of discussion."

X

Krystal shifted back to reality; at how the agreement has now been broken, Wolf was going to get the surprise up on Fox, to ensure that they walked away as the victors, and alive. She didn't know why, but she felt guilty at this, it wasn't right. But wasn't this what she wanted? She told herself that Fox would pay, for what he did to her, but she just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea.

Maybe some training will help. She got dressed into her training outfit, and activated her simulation, it brought up a hologram of Fox, she aimed her blaster at him, but couldn't find the will to fire. She grunted out loud, she tried harder, her mind was telling her to pull the trigger, but her body wouldn't listen.

"Come on, damn you!" She stated out loud, she finally fired and closed her eyes; she slowly opened them, only to see a giant hole within her wall frame, missing the target completely. She grunted angrily and threw down her blaster, and turned off the simulation; she went downstairs into the basement and to the punching bag, with Fox's picture taped to the dummies would be head.

She put on her gloves, and started punching away at the bag, but she noticed she was getting tired extremely fast and easy, every punch, and movement was almost unbearable, taking massive amounts of strength and energy out of her. After just a few minutes, she buckled to her knees, taking in deep breaths.

What's happening to me? This cycled continued for a few days, all of her training got harder and harder, until it got to the point where she just couldn't do them. She had to admit to the divine truth, she had lost her will to fight.

"What's wrong with me? Isn't this what I wanted? This ensures Fox will…die, and I live on." Krystal whispered to herself, just lying in bed. She held a picture of her and Fox, taken right when she had joined the team, his arm wrapped around her shoulder's, pulling her close to him. She smiled softly to the photo, a few tears running down her eyes. Immediately she threw the picture down, why was she feeling this way? All her old feelings for Fox, was resurfacing to the surface.

She hid her face within the pillow, and screamed in it. Her feelings of love and hatred for her former lover, was mixing with her better judgment. Her mind was made up; she knew what she had to do. To ensure that Fox would make it through their surprise attack, even if it meant her own life. She knew what her heart was telling her, whether she showed it or not, her heart still belonged to Fox, and she wouldn't let Wolf temper with that, even if it costed her own life.

X

It was the night before the fight. Fox was holding the message he received from Krystal, it was late at night, he had snuck away from his room and Miyu. He remembered their slight encounter earlier that day.

X

Fox was walking away from the academy building, carrying a small brief case, containing papers to grade, they could very well be the last he ever does. Even though he had been given time off, he decided not to take it, and spend some last minute time with his students. As he set the brief case in, he heard a small whisper, and looked to his right behind a bush.

"Hello?" He called out, and slowly walked over to that spot. When he received no answer, he pulled out his blaster, and readied it to fire. He quickly cleared the bushes and aimed at a clock figure, knowing instantly it must have been Krystal. He didn't fire though, he gazed at her face. She looked weary, almost like she was suffering from something; she had tear stains near her eyes

"Krystal." He whispered gently. She reached for her blaster, he immediately held his up, ready to defend himself, but it never came. She just took a hold of it, and dropped it to the ground. After so, she gently had Fox point his aim down, coursing his arms downwards. She looked up to him, saddened; it was hard for her to speak.

"Here." She digged into her pockets, and held out a computer disk, Fox took it from her reluctantly, still thinking something was up; and she was putting on an act for him. She took her two paws, and had Fox's paw wrapped around the disk, as in making a fist.

"Please, watch this when you're alone." She picked up her blaster and ran off. Fox was confused, what was this all about? Before he could even ask, she was gone in a flash.

X

Fox was thinking if he really should watch the message. But for some reason, he felt committed to watching it. He slowly slid the disk into the plasma screen, and pressed the play button. It brought up an image of Krystal, she was crying, and holding what seemed to be a picture book; and a wetted tissue from her tears, she looked up to the camera, and spoke quietly and softly; her voice toned down by sadness. She breathed in deeply before she began.

"What I'm about to tell you Fox, is the untold truth." Fox sat down, and lowered the volume on the screen slightly, so the others wouldn't here, mainly Miyu. He tuned into her, feeling this must be important.

"I'll tell you now Fox, I've lost my will to fight you. All this time, during my training, my driving passion; was the fact that you betrayed me. You casted me out of you're life, but then I realized, you didn't do anything, you just simply followed you're heart, and I; blackened mine with your choice." She paused for a moment and breathed in deeply, wiping away a few more tears, Fox was beginning to get sentimental, because he felt exactly the opposite; he thought he had betrayed her.

"I leave this to you as a momentum, I may very well perish tomorrow, I just wanted you to know this." Fox felt saddened; holding his head down. This very well could have been a trick, to weaken him for tomorrow. But, he felt as Krystal was telling the truth. He was about to turn off the screen, until Krystal spoke again.

"This very well may be the last time I ever have a chance to speak with you." She paused for a moment; Fox lifted his head, a tear in his eye. "I just, wanted you to know that I…That I…" Fox waited for her final words of the sentence, and had a reassured feeling of what she was going to say…

"I, I care for you Fox. I don't know why. I don't know if anything will be possible, and even less if you even return what I feel; but I do know it is their, in my heart." Fox could feel the tears strolling down his eyes, just as their was in Krystal's, she showed the book to the camera screen, it was filled of pictures between her and Fox. In all of them, they seemed to be enjoying the company of one another, some in cute scenes like Krystal snuggling close to Fox, or Fox's arm over her shoulders.

"I look back to these pictures Fox, of the memories we shared. Their all I have left of you now." She set down her book and looked over to Fox. "I am sorry if this upsets you so, and I'm so sorry if you think I'm wrong, but I cannot deny what my heart is telling me."

Fox silently sobbed to himself, Krystal had been covering her true feelings all this time; but it was too late, their was nothing he could do now for her.

"I can't tell you the additional information, it just saddens me more." She looked to him, as he did to her, Fox gazed into her saddened emerald eyes, she put on a weak smile for him, as she knew Fox was looking at her.

"I feel; at ease now Fox. That I've made my peace with you, before I vanish. All I can do for you now, is wish you happiness." Her figure faded, and pop up's came onto the view screen, holding information for Fox, the one that she didn't tell him, about her joining with Star Wolf and the surprise attack. Fox just held his head and set his arm onto his knee. This was, to much to take in all at once. Krystal still loved him, as he did for her.

Miyu had hear the faint voice of Krystal and walked out into the lighten room, illuminated with the plasma screen's, she walked over to Fox, head down and tears falling to the ground. She placed a paw onto his shoulder, and kneeled down to his height.

"What's wrong?" She asked, much concern in her tone, Fox looked up to her; but didn't speak. He just let her see his saddened expression, he looked to the screen and hit the replay button, Krystal's message started playing again, from the beginning, Miyu tuned into what she was staying, and was honestly shocked. After her final saying, her figure faded; and the additional information popped up again, Miyu read it, and gasped about the trap they would have walked into. Miyu turned to Fox, who looked even more saddened, trying to choke back his tears.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" He looked to her, and spoke; his voice weighed down with sadness.

"I know she's telling the truth." He took in a deep breath, trying to soak this all up and stay calm, but it was just so hard now. How could he do the unthinkable; with this on his mind now?

"What are you going to do?" Miyu asked him, he got up and ejected the message from the screen and took it, he played with it in his paws, drying up the last of his tears.

"What I must." Is all he replied. She walked up behind him and put her paws onto his shoulders.

"Whatever that is, I'll support it all the way. Just please, don't do something you're going to regret." Fox turned around and looked at her; she tried to be strong for him right now. He wrapped his arms around her; she soon followed him, they stayed that way for quite a while.

"I regret nothing." He talked quietly to her. He then let go and headed for the room. Miyu reluctantly followed. They went and got into the bed, just hours away before the conflict. It was coming down to this, Fox would have to tell Peppy about the surprise attack, and retaliate to it quickly. Everything had to be in order. Their lives depended on it, as did so many other's.