LIV. Welcome Back
"You can't tell us you're not interested in getting her back.." Falco asked Fox, who had been interrogated for the past hour since getting Krystal back, he tried to show no interest and keep with his professional duties. "I am it's just getting this done is more important." Fox told him. "No wonder she left you..." Falco sighed. "She didn't leave him Falco..He just kicked her out you know that." Slippy said making the situation sound no better.
"Look I'm not going to go overboard on this, just going to be casual..She might be with Panther by now." He wanted to vomit at the thought of them together. "Nah she's disgusted by him. She wants out and you're her only hope at it." Slippy told him and Fox knew he was right. "Well it doesn't matter because I'll try my hardest to try and get her back but I don't see it happening." Fox told them. "How bad do you want her back anyways? You're acting like it's impossible." Falco continued pestering the vulpine. "More than anything I've ever wanted okay..I just don't know if things will work out the way I want them to." He said in a depressed tone. They had never seen him like this before and needed to find a way to end it.
The next day Krystal tried to sneak out quickly but was quickly stopped. "You're going to help them?!" Panther asked with a disgusted look on his face. "I thought you could get over your issues with Fox.." He continued on not even changing his facial expression. "This isn't about Fox." She lied. "They need my help..You see how terrible of a pilot he is now and besides I could easily trick them." "Mhmm.." He didn't seem to be buying it. "Look I promise I'll be back." She assured him, not wanting Wolf to get into this argument. "What good's a promise to me?" He asked slyly. "Well.." She didn't know what else to do and went to her alternative plan by kissing him on the cheek for a brief moment. "Well alright then..But i'll be waiting and if you don't come back I will come find you and him." He threatened and left her to do her own thing.
She hurried to her modified Arwing, gagging from her episode with Panther, launched and headed towards the locations Slippy had given her. Deep inside she looked forward to seeing her old friends again but she also feared that Fox wouldn't show interest in her this time and try to play it too conservatively. She also worried what Wolf would do when he found out, though she knew deep inside he wouldn't care at all about her.
Shortly after departing from Star Wolf's base Krystal found herself at her new "Home" The third version of the Great Fox. She took a deep breath as her nervousness kicked into full throttle causing her arms to shake slightly. "Just calm down we've done this before.." She told herself trying to maintain her calm. "Great.." She muttered seeing Falco and Slippy coming out to greet her. Taking deep breaths she unlatched the cockpit and climbed out to say hello to her old friends.
"Glad to see you on the right side again." Falco said quickly. Slippy was nicer and just told her "Welcome back." She was surprised Fox wasn't there to welcome her back and very disappointed to say the least. "Fox is inside, he's been acting weird lately so go fix him please." Falco joked bringing a slight glare from Slippy. It didn't need to be said she had definitely affected Fox and his lifestyle.
"Hey Fox." She said trying to sound as friendly as possible, focusing on maintaining her calm and keeping herself from shaking. "Hey Krystal, welcome back." He said sounding alot different than she remembered, she had affected him more than she could've imagined and had to fix it. Fox didn't even twitch he just sat there at the table looking over maps like nothing had happened. She was furious to say the least but could tell he was nervous around her once more. "So where can I sleep?" she asked hoping they had an extra room. "Room next to Fox's you'll tell by the trail of tears." Falco joked receiving another glare. "This isn't the time." Slippy whispered to him. "It's the first one the left." Fox told her looking up this time and showing her a slight smile. "I'll go get settled." She told him and went to the second room on the left to find it barren and untouched.
She sighed looking out the small window into space "Back to square one." She sighed, he wasn't trying to avoid her she knew that but he was just as nervous as the day they met. The more she thought about it the more she seemed to lose herself in a pool of emotions, she just wished one thing would work for her. Something telling her deep inside that if Fox were to take her back she would be happy for the rest of her life. She fell asleep thinking of the future that they may have.
"So that was your hardest?" Falco asked Fox making him blush. "What? I just said hello, I think asking her to go out now would be a little overboard." Fox didn't really know what to do in the situation and hoped Falco may help or maybe even Slippy. "You should've helped her pack her stuff in and just talk casually." Slippy added in giving what little advice he could. "She didn't pack anything but a couple pairs of clothes.." He sighed resting his head on his fist. "Well then that's a sign." Falco told him. "Just do whatever you did the first time but show you've changed a little too." Falco advised him before heading off to watch TV.
"Anglar Forces located near Katina." R.O.B alerted. "Great..C'mon let's go." "Fox go get Krystal we'll meet you in the hangar." Slippy told him. "Alright gimme a minute." Fox said getting up and heading towards Krystal's new room. "That'll give him a second chance." Slippy told Falco while heading for their Arwings.
"Krystal?" Fox asked knocking on the door. The door accidentally opened from his motions, apparently she hadn't bothered to lock it, so he decided to go in and find her. He looked on the bed and saw her sleeping and it brought back memories of their short time spent together, a time that he had ruined for them. He lost track of time and the world around him just gazing upon something so peaceful.
"Heh..You coming?" Falco asked nudging Fox. "You've been in here ten minutes isn't it about time you wake her up?" "Yeah..Sorry." Was all he could manage, he was at a loss for words. "Actually..I think I might just let her sleep.." He said still staring "Too late, I'm up now." She said yawning. Fox could only blush, how long had she been awake? "What's up anyways?" She asked him sounding as calm as possible. "Just a small Anglar force headed to Katina. Come on let's go you two." Falco answered for Fox. Fox's staring earlier visibly making Krystal blush under her fur.
"Took you guys long enough..The city could be in ruins by the time we get there!" Slippy told them as they got into their Arwings. "Everyone ready?" Fox asked as usual. "Ready." "Ready." "Ready." Krystal, Falco and Slippy told him. "Okay then let's go."
Luckily the Great Fox was close to Katina, getting them to the small Anglar attack as quick as possible. "Let's split up Fox." Slippy recommended. "Alright..Slip' take west..I'll take northwest..Falco you take the east and Krystal take northeast." Fox told them, they all followed their directions and headed off blasting every hostile ship in their paths. Krystal was happy to be near Fox for their first mission, she saw that with her on the team Fox seemed to be better than he was during their dogfight a few days ago, which didn't surprise her. Still it haunted her mind that she promised go back to Star Wolf with Panther, instantly putting a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Krystal one on you!" Fox yelled out for the third time before sighing and helping the vixen out. "Huh?" She asked now seeing that she had picked up an enemy while distracted. A second look on radar and she saw Fox had one on him as well. "Fox one on your back too!" She warned him but it was too late, he had just taken a hard hit to the back of his ship when she said that.
"Fox?!" Slippy asked worried from seeing his friend's ship losing 80% shields in only one hit. He didn't answer them he just focused and got the enemy off of Krystal before breaking off leading the ship on his tail off somewhere else. "Thanks Fox." She said but still no reply. "Fox??" She asked again. "Guys I need help I can't shake this one!" Fox finally yelled in distress. She had really never heard him ask for help like this before but was happy to lend a hand. "Hang on I'm coming." She told him seeing his shields dropping steadily from 16%, he was barely hanging on.
"Gotcha." she smiled getting a lock on the hostile ship and then sent a shot it's way. The Arwings lasers easily destroyed the ship in only one hit. "Thanks Krystal." He said panting slightly. It was weird for her to get used to him flying like this, he hardly broke a sweat from pressure against the Aparoid Queen.
"Well this area seems clear now.." Krystal said. "Clear for me too." Slippy added. "Just have one more.." Falco struggled to say. "Okay now I'm done too." "Well what's next?" Fox asked before they were answered by another, much larger ship flying down to meet them. "Great..Everyone come to us." Fox sighed knowing whoever this is thought he was a big shot.
The ship's pilot came down to them laughing almost maniacally at them. "You's took out my men now I'm taking out you's" He said to them, obviously an unintelligent being. Fox knew he was weak now with only 14% left on his shields he decided to stay back, as much as he hated it. "Okay..Fox try to get the bottom of the ship it's weak!" Krystal ordered out. He was amazed with her powers to find weaknesses once again. He fired as fast as he could and was soon reinforced by Falco and Slippy. It wasn't a total of twenty seconds before the large ship went down.
"Well..Not bad at all guys..Let's head back." Fox told them panting slightly. "Agreed." Falco said. Fox was glad this was over, his head was slightly aching from the beating he had taken.
-Author's Note: I didn't want to end this chapter but my brain is friend and I want it released tonight..HOPEFULLY I haven't left any bad errors and hopefully this will be a good longer chapter from me..NHL Playoffs have started so I have been watching that more than focusing on writing but hopefully I'll get three or more chapters out this upcoming week...but with me going out of town for the weekend I won't promise anything..Anyhow enjoy..More to come soon.-
