Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox. I wish I did, though. Non Nintendo characters are mine.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry about the long wait between chapters, but I just started High School(save meeeeeT_T), so I'm really busy. And, while I'm talking, thanks SOOO much to all the reviewers! I'm glad you all like my story! ^_^
*~
Fox had said nothing since he had returned to Great Fox, only punching some coordinates into the ship's computer and disappearing into his room for what was now an hour. The rest of the team, along with Krystal, had been left to their own devices, and they had spent the better part of the last fifteen minutes sitting silently in the cockpit. The tension was thick.
Krystal watched the others uneasily, leaning against the wall for lack of a chair. Fox's chair had been offered to her by Peppy, but she didn't feel comfortable sitting there without Fox's permission. Sierra had asked Rob for a scan of Fox's brain waves, and she was now studying that. The others were doing their own thing, but it was obvious they were waiting for Sierra to explain what was wrong with Fox.
Krystal left the cockpit, heading to Fox's room. Gingerly, she placed a paw on the door, but it didn't open. Krystal focused both ears toward Fox's room and heard his voice, but it was too muffled to hear what he was saying. His voice was rhythmic, though, so Krystal presumed he was chanting. She had a bad feeling about this.
Taking her staff in her paws, she pressed its tip against the center of the door and pushed lightly, focusing her energy into the staff. The door dilated just enough for her to see into the room.
Fox had pushed all his furniture against the wall, and was now sitting in the center of the room, chanting in a language Krystal had never heard before. Soft white lights hovered around him, circling him slowly. Krystal's eyes widened. Ghosts. She took a step back, her staff clattering to the floor. Fox's ears twitched, and he turned to the door just as it closed. Krystal grabbed her staff and ran for the cockpit.
*~
Fox stirred in his sleep. Opening his eyes, he saw Judex standing in front of him, now looking like a fox with golden fur. Fox rubbed his eyes.
"What's going on?" Fox asked, looking around.
"Danger," Judex said. "The vixen has seen to much for Irae's purposes."
"The vixen...?" Fox strained his memory. "Krystal!"
"Yes, that is her name," Judex said. "But... There is nothing you can do at the moment."
"What do you mean?" Fox asked, looking around helplessly for some way of getting at Irae.
"While you slept, Irae closed you in. Myself as well. He is very powerful," Judex said gravely.
"But... Krystal!" Fox cried.
"There is one way we can help her," Judex said. "And that is only if she is killed."
Fox buried his head in his hands. How could he help her if she was dead? He shivered.
"When she dies, her spirit will travel through this room," Judex said, "because she has a strong connection to you. You must not let her enter the white light, or she will be forever gone."
Fox nodded, shuddering. He wouldn't let Krystal get to the light if she ended up here, but he mostly hoped she wouldn't end up here at all.
*~
Krystal felt a strong paw grab her shoulder and spin her around. Fox wasn't happy. She held her staff defensively in front of her.
"Fox, what are you doing?" Krystal asked, backing away.
Fox said nothing, taking one step towards Krystal. She raised her staff.
"Don't make me hurt you," Krystal said, fear in her heart.
Fox took another step forward, and Krystal swung her staff at his head. Fox grabbed the staff and twisted it out of Krystal's grip, throwing it across the room. Krystal gasped, and Fox pinned her against the wall with a crimson sword. He pressed it lightly against her throat.
"Fox, what's wrong with you?" Krystal whimpered.
Fox laughed, but his voice was deep and liquid and deadly in a way that was not Fox's voice. He grinned.
"Fox is dead," he said. "And so are you."
The sword was thrust into Krystal's neck and quickly withdrawn. Krystal, eyes wide, slid to her knees, her head against her chest, watching the blood dye her blue fur purple. Everything faded away.
*~
Fox could see a small white light appear, and then he saw a flash of blue. He looked to Judex for an explanation.
"Krystal," he whispered.
Fox flew forward, intent on catching Krystal. The white light was closer to Krystal then to Fox, so he would have to be quick. He focused all of his energy on the task at hand, paws stretched toward Krystal despite her distance.
*~
Krystal was floating towards a white light in a half-awake stupor. Something told her she should wait, but she couldn't. The light got brighter as she got closer, and she looked away to avoid being blinded. She could see something else in the distance, but she didn't know what it was. No matter. She continued to drift towards the light.
She could remember her death, so she assumed this was what happened to those who had died. Maybe she would see Fox, if whoever had taken control of his body had really killed him. The light seemed very close now.
*~
Fox was racing frantically now, for Krystal was very close to the light and Fox still seemed very far away. he seemed to be traveling very fast, but it wasn't fast enough. The light was almost upon her.
"Krystal!" he yelled.
*~
Krystal froze, turning in the direction of the voice. It was Fox. She struggled to fight the pull of the light, trying to go to him, but she was moving far too slowly, and she knew there would be a rubber band effect after awhile.
"Hurry," she whispered, unable to yell.
Fox was coming to her fast, but she could feel the pull of the light growing stronger. She had to believe Fox would make it to her in time.
*~
Fox was almost upon her. Only a few more feet and he would have her in his arms. Suddenly, she began rushing to the light again. It was pulling her in. With new energy, he raced toward her faster than he had ever gone. He had to save her. The light began to engulf her. At this rate, he would enter the light as well. He didn't care. As long as he could save Krystal.
He took her paw, pulling her close. The light was around both of them, and he clutched the vixen desperately. He wouldn't lose her, no matter what.
Slowly, the light around the pair faded, and they were floating in blackness, staring at each other. Krystal smiled.
"Fox, I was so worried about you," she said. "I knew that couldn't be you!"
"Krystal, it's yourself you should worry about," he said. "I mean... You're dead. I think I might be dead."
"You are both dead, yes," Judex said softly. "But you can both be resurrected."
Fox looked to Judex. "How?"
"I am working on opening a gateway to your mind, Fox," Judex said. "If you can reclaim your body, you can resurrect Krystal as well. But it will take time."