--notes--

One - Kouga is pronounced like 'cougar,' except the r is softer.

Two - I realized I hate writing Arwing fight scenes. There will not be too many more of them…but the first few are needed.

Three - I'm sorry if the chapters turn out short…I'm mostly just writing this whole thing on paper and then translating it onto the computer afterwards.

"Somebody help me!" Krystal shrieked in a downright terrified voice.

"Krystal!" Fox gasped.

Wolf chuckled and whispered, "That's right…go after your precious girl and leave me wide open to kill that idiotic bird…"

Leon and Panther had successfully damaged Krystal's ship beyond repair, and they were attempting to drag her Arwing along with them.

Fox scowled. He couldn't stand to hear her screams of terror. He wanted desperately to go after he, but his job was to destroy Wolf…at whatever cost. Thus, he remained in the fray with Wolf.

"Good choice, pup." Wolf smirked. He then ordered to his comrades, "Get back to the Wolfen, you two!"

"No…" Fox said in disbelief as he watched the two vanish with Krystal. "FALCO! Chase after them!" He cried.

Falco shifted slightly in his Arwing. He then pulled up in Fox's view, and mumbled, "What about her?"

"Damn it, Falco! What have you done? Taking the enemy hostage…" Fox swore, laying the guilt on thick. "Just…go. Get back to the Great Fox when you are done." He rubbed his temples, almost ashamed of Falco. "Well that's a first," He thought.

Falco's expression fell. He honestly felt guilty now. Taking, rather, helping the enemy was out of line. But now that he had her…what could he do? He then shot after Panther and Leon, thinking, "At least I can use her as a wager for Krystal…"

As he was cruising along, he had several minutes to have to himself. For the first time since he'd begun the fight he had a chance to breathe. He though back to how angry and desperate Fox was…and then he felt horrible for leaving him to fight Wolf by his lonesome.

Then Falco say in silence, well, minus the low hum of the untouched Arwing. He couldn't help himself from looking at Kouga again. "If she's been here for so long, I'm surprised I haven't already seen her," He thought. He then sighed and glanced at her to find a beautiful kitten before him.

Her fur was a vibrant red, much like a polished ruby's. She had a large patch of white over her nose and mouth as well. Her hair was a bright, sleek shade of orange, close to her fur.

"Now her clothes," Falco thought, "are odd."

Kouga wore a strapless turquoise shirt, lighter green silk covered her forearms, with deep green pants. She also wore gloves the shade of trees on Sauria. A silver belt hugged her thin waist, and from what Falco could see, her boots were a standard silver. The cat also wore several accessories, including three earrings in one ear, two in the other, three tail bands, a golden choker, and an ankh around her neck.

"Heh. Seems we traded females… Panther's got Krystal and I've got this one…" Falco chuckled, throwing up his boosters again, trying to hurry somewhat to get to the Wolfen.

Meanwhile, Fox was still caught in the skirmish with Wolf, and things were not looking good. Often Fox had to turn almost completely around in order to dodge some blows. He needed to do a flip to attack, but Wolf was constantly closing the gap too quickly. It was turning out to be more of a chase, rather than a fight.

Wolf initiated his breaks and smirked in his Arwing. "It's quite obvious this is becoming a one sided war. I never realized how poor of a pilot you were, pup," he taunted.

Fox simply glared as sweat beads trickled down his face. He sighed, "I've got to retreat…but it'll be hell if I run to the Great Fox…" His mind was racing. He couldn't go to Falco this time, because he had no idea where he was or what exactly he was doing.

And that's when it hit him. "Play hide or get killed for a while in Corneria!" He thought, causing himself to laugh as he barrel-rolled and engaged his boosters. "Full speed ahead to Corneria…to buy Falco some time…" he whispered, smiling, knowing he was flying straight to his doom.

"Now…disarm yourself of all weapons and any valuables…" Leon hissed, eyeballing Krystal.

She was now captive inside the Wolfen. And as one would expect, it was very similar in interior design as the Great Fox was.

She sighed angrily, feeling this was quite unnecessary.

"Do it now, or we'll gladly do it for you," Panther purred threateningly.

Krystal glared at him, and then threw her blaster to the cold, tiled floor. It landed with a clatter upon the white flooring. She then looked around, moving only her eyes, finding that the room was one that a crazed warrior might be put into. The entire room was white. White walls, floors, door, chairs…everything.

"And the rest of them…" Leon insisted.

Again she rolled her eyes and thrust her grenades and mines into their open palms. Panther supported a satisfied smile, but Leon walked around her in a circle, making final observations.

"Fine. We shall be leaving now," The lizard snapped.

Krystal had been standing with an extremely straight back, head high, and now she slumped down into a nearby chair. She felt sick being trapped on a ship with Panther. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and her eyes fell closed, and she desperately wished for someone to save her.

The vixen then caught a hint of static in her ears. She opened her eyes slowly, and saw her communicator, which was hidden under her uniform, glowing with an image of Falco's head.

"Yo…Krystal! I've landed on this damn ship…just tell me where the heck you are."

"Well, that was fast…" She breathed.