After talking to Fox McCloud about the amusement park, Krystal felt as though she was in the mood to visit the park later that evening with her sister. It had been a while since last they stepped foot as the two got their wristbands that signified they had paid to be allowed in, and entered the park with much enthusiasm. The two needed this time together, and allowed to escape the reality of their lives even for a little while…
Krystal could not explain it, but she knew they were gone. Her parents still on Cerinia, and that the planet had been destroyed. She could feel it throughout the system with her mental powers. Even though she had no hard evidence, no concrete proof. She knew her parents had passed. That's why Krystal went through the legal system to be her sister's legal guardian, and was more like a mother figure than a sister to Garnette. She picked up her six year old sister and held her in her arms, looking cheery to try and forget.
"What do you want to do while we are here Garnette?"
"Can we go on the roller coaster!?"
"I don't think so little one, you aren't quite big enough for that." Krystal let her down gently as she knew Garnette wasn't appropriate age. Garnette thought about it for a minute until the sounds of games from the booth caught her attention.
"Let's go play the squirting game!"
"Sure thing." Krystal smiled as she carried her sister to the station, paid for their turns, and sat Garnette down on the rotating booth seat. As the time ringed the two shot their squirt guns, filling up the balloons attached to the clown faces filling them up rapidly. Time was against them but just as the buzzer was about to ring signifying the end, did both their balloons pop!
"Winners!" The avian behind the booth cheered for the two girls as he handed them each a prize, each a stuffed fox as it was charming and held comfort to Garnette as she squeezed her tightly. Just as Krystal was about to pick up her sister again, did a harsh and threatening grasp on her shoulder take place to her surprise and fear.
"Well Hello Krystal, I haven't heard from you in a while." The blue vixen let out a small gasp as she turned to face the creep she has been trying to dodge, as Panther Caroso gave her a look of menacing lust.
She took a step back as she hid her sister behind her. "What do you want Panther? I told you to leave me alone."
"Now Krystal, why so hostile? I just wanted to see how you were doing." He took a step closer as she took a step back, noticing Garnette's scared look at the tall feline man.
"You know how I'm doing, the court told you to stay away." Krystal started to fear for not only her personal safety, but her sister's as well. She knew Panther was a bad man, and figured over time he would eventually get the picture and the court official document that he needed to stay away. But as time went by he kept lurking around, and it started to get to a point it was a serious foreshadow of a violent type of meeting.
"Krystal." His expression changed of a charismatic charm he used to entice women, to a look of annoyance, a look that was done with playing games. "No document is going to keep me away for the love I have for you, or for your sister."
"I will scream. Do not push me Panther!" A small scene started to form around the booth, but all the beings knew who this man was. They weren't about to cross paths with a man known to be affiliated with Star Wolf, the mercenary gang driven on violence and crime. The poor woman and her younger sister was on her own as they all watched in frozen fear of what was taking place.
"You're pushing me away? No no no I don't think so my dear Krystal." He put a hand on her shoulder again as she quickly swatted it away. He only stood there for a moment, before he raised his hand against the woman, something unfortunately she had faced before behind domestic doors. She cradled her sister in her arms and braced herself for his rough backhand, although it never came.
The only thing she heard was the feline's grunt of pain, and looked up to see him in a rather uncomfortable looking key-lock grip by the very same vulpine her friends told her about earlier that day.
"Panther." Fox McCloud spoke as his son stood behind him a safe distance, Mark instinctively ran to Krystal's leg as he feared to see his father fight and hid behind the vixen's side. "Leave the lady and her sister alone, she has already voiced her opinion of you and I don't think you want to stay in this position for long." The blood must have went to the feline's head as he broke out of the form in anger, and looked to the vulpine with menacing eyes.
"McCloud, I don't know what you're doing here but you've butted your head in my plans for the last time." He drew an eight inch switch blade and dispersed it with no regrets, as he charged the vulpine. Krystal feared for the vulpine's safety only for him to duck and dodge with ease. Fox figured the feline man was either drunk on rage, or drunk on booze as it was rather child's play. Fox quickly swat the weapon out of Panther's hand, and make quick work of him. With his right forearm he propelled Panther's chest back, while sweeping out his legs with one hard, swift kick, forcing the feline to do a backflip landing on the cold, hard, cement ground with much force as he landed on his neck and backside toppling back.
After the skirmish the officials came to scoop up the ruined mess of a man on the ground, placing him in cuffs and escorting him out of the park and off the island eventually. A loud burst of cheers and praise from the crowds around, as Fox turned toward the blue vixen with a small smile.
"Thank you Mr. McCloud." Krystal gave with much thanks, not only in her words but as well as her expression. Mark went back to his father's side as Krystal put Garnette down as well.
"Of course." Is all he gave back. "I wasn't about to let Panther put his hands on you and just be a spectator like everyone else. Not when I have the ability to do something about it."
"Well you're much braver than I." Krystal admitted as she gave a light blush. She had never seen such fighting technique. She had heard about his deeds from the last war, that not only was he a commander in the sky, but a natural leader with the ability to inspire hope and rally his allies together against their foes.
"Let's just say that I repaid the favor you did for Mark and I earlier today." He rubbed his boy's head with much love and care. Mark thought it was amazing that his father could go from a man of fighting and bravery to a man of love and care, shifting his posture and attitude so easily.
"Of course."
"Well have a good evening Krystal." He looked down to the young lady around her sister's leg as she began to smile, wiping away her tears of fear now that the bad man was gone. "You too Garnette. You don't have to worry about that bad black cat anymore."
"Thank you!" She gave back gleefully as the two began to walk away. Krystal watched them go as she wished he didn't have to leave, not yet at least…
"Wait." Krystal called out to the two boys as Fox gave her a wondering look. "Would you…uhhh…" She was lost for words as she blushed hard. "Like me to show you around? We could spend some time together." Krystal offered hoping her disguise of her little crush on Fox McCloud would go unnoticed.
"Yea can we dad!?" Mark asked hoping his father would say in agreement. Fox thought about it for just a moment, but after seeing not only his son's face, but the faces of the two blue ladies, he couldn't say no.
"Sure that sounds like fun." Garnette and Mark cheered in happiness as the four got together, and started walking side-by-side around the park. Krystal showed Fox and Mark to some of the best rides and games around the park, and they all went together as a group of four through them. Creating laughter, happiness, and memories along the way. Krystal really enjoyed not only the time she shared with her sister, but the time she spent with this older gentlemen as well as she looked at him with such pensive eyes.
Although Fox didn't take note of this, Mark certainly did and that made him happy. Children often times paid much more attention to the little details than their adult counterparts, possibly because they were smaller in size, stature, and understanding of the world. Eventually the four came to a snack shop, and as Krystal pulled out her credits to pay for her sister and herself, Fox halted her hand as she looked up to his calm, handsome mug that was gentle and kind.
"Here let me." Fox gave without a second thought as he paid for the four of them, Krystal only putting her credits away and gave him a thankful look.
"Thank you Mr. McCloud, but you didn't have to do that."
"Well you're showing us around." Fox said back as he was handed the food four the four of them. "And you can call me Fox by the way." Krystal gave a nice smile as she took her food from the older man.
"Alright, thank you Fox."
"Thank you!" Garnette said kindly as she took her hot dog from the older gentlemen as he gave her an amused chuckle.
"You're welcome!"
"Thanks dad!"
"You're welcome Mark." He gave the two children their goodies as he took his own meal as well. She smiled softly to him as he gave one back, and thought nothing of it as he dug into his meal. Krystal looked at her sister as Garnette only stared at Fox with a look of much happiness and a type of innocent love.
"What is it Garnette?" Krystal asked as Fox put his attention on the young blue kit, only to notice she was looking at him with dreamy eyes.
"You're so handsome." Garnette said to Fox as the two adults only gave an entertained laugh. Fox wiped his mouth politely as he cleared his throat, locking eyes with the small child and her purple pupils. Children often times just speak their mind without thinking of the social cues that may come up with their sayings.
"Well thank you little one." He gave her a genuine smile. "You're a very pretty young lady yourself."
"Thank you." She gave back.
"How long are you going to be on the island?" Krystal asked the vulpine as they both wiped away their faces.
"At least until the 31st. That's Mark's birthday, maybe a day or two after the New Year and then we'll head home.
"Sounds like fun." Krystal smiled. "There is always a huge fireworks display on the island for the New Year. They say the best seats for the fireworks are the rooms with the balconies but that's not true. Go to the top of the roof for the show and it'll be much more mesmerizing and magical."
"Thanks for the tip." Fox looked to the two small children as everyone seemed to be policing up their meals and their mess. "Are we done here?"
"Yea let's go play!" Garnette quickly rushed her garbage to a nearby trashcan and headed off, with Krystal doing the same going after her. Fox and Mark did so a bit more slowly as the four stayed together still.
The two kids spotted a small train ride meant for smaller children, as Garnette looked to her sister with hopeful eyes.
"You two go ahead." Krystal gave with an approving smile. "We'll watch from here."
"Come on!" Garnette grabbed Mark's hand as she pulled him to the ride as the two adults stood back and watched. Garnette let Mark sit upfront since he was the younger of the two as well as the smaller child. The two adults stood next to one another, about arms-length apart as Krystal crossed her arms over her chest, and Fox casually held his hands in his pockets, watching their kids play together in perfect harmony.
"So Garnette is your younger sister." Fox broke the silence, however the two adults kept looking at the kids as they played. "Do you two live on the island?"
"Yes and no." She simply gave back. "The island, resort, and everything here is owned by one large company. We live in a housing area from the hotel until we are given our break from work. Then head back to the mainland for a week or so before coming back to work and live here again. We live on the southern side of Corneria City." Fox stayed quiet for just a moment. He knew well that the Southern end of Corneria City was the poorer district of its inhabitants. That would explain how she could meet up with someone like Panther. But then another question hit him.
"How did you get together with someone like Panther?" Krystal didn't answer right away, she only let go of her breath and held her head down in shame. She didn't know why she was answering to Fox McCloud, as it was none of his business. But if she was going to tell her troubles with the feline to anybody, who better than the man who fought against him as well?
"I simply don't know the answer for myself. He seemed like a nice enough man but very quickly I came to learn what life is like with him. I put up with it for some time, fearing the consequences I would pay for leaving a violent man. I only recently built up the courage to say I was done. I did it more for my sister than myself. Once I started working on the island I knew it was a kind of safe haven away from him." She paused as the two kids cheered, and wanted to go around again. "Until recently that is. I put a restraining order against him and it worked for some time. But I see now that a piece of paper isn't going to keep us safe from him."
"Well now he's in custody." Fox finally turned to the vixen, as she gave him a thankful smile. "He'll be put through the legal system, and I'm sure you won't see him again."
"Hopefully. Thank you again." Krystal moved her arms from her chest to behind her backside as she smiled to the handsome man. "You didn't have to risk your own neck to help us. Not many people would have the courage to do what you did."
"It was nothing." Fox shifted the conversation. "So, where are your parents? Garnette is rather young as well as you to be taking care of her." That's when Fox knew he made a mistake, he didn't intentionally mean to hurt the woman's feelings, as her ears drooped and so did her mood.
"It's hard to explain Fox, but our parents are gone. That I'm sure of. Our home planet was recently destroyed. There has been no word of it, and there is no concrete proof of it. But I know, I know in my mind and my heart that our home is gone, and most likely our parents along with it."
"I'm so sorry." Fox was lost for words. "I'm sorry I didn't mean any-"
"It's alright." Krystal tried to soothe the man's worrisome mind with her own calm and graceful poise. "I grieve little by little, in private every day. I have told my sister but she is hopeful and optimistic about it. The illusions of grandeur of a child." Krystal gave a small smirk as she looked back to her sister.
"Is there any chance that your parents or your people survived?"
"I suppose there is a slight chance. But only very." Krystal admitted, swallowing hard in the process. "She is my sister by blood, but I went through the legal process to be her legal guardian. I'm more her mother now."
"I know your struggle." Fox bowed his head as he continued. "My wife-"
"I know." Krystal interrupted, and the two turned toward one another. "I'm sorry for her loss."
"It's alright." Fox gave back, surprised himself that he was admitting it. He only looked to his son, giving a small smile as he went on. "It's been hard to let her go, but over time I know more and more I need to let her go. Mark is growing up fast, he needs a nice and loving woman to be his mother." The two looked at each other, with their smiles growing little by little. Fox just merely shrugged it off, but something strange grew inside Krystal as her heart beat faster. Fox looked away as he felt much better on the inside. Katt often times comforted him whenever he thought of Fara, and even now his heart stung a little as he thought of how the fennec was gone. But perhaps this is what he ultimately needed, to talk it out and realize that the weight of her death was not on his shoulders. It was a type of closure, in a way…
Although their backgrounds were different, their lives of parenthood were similar. They both carried heavy burdens from the past, and both were thrusted into the life of parenthood the way they did not expect. Both were making the best of the situation, and although both carried a heavy heart, they both found a way to carry on and smile along the road.
"It's like I froze in place." Fox admitted, speaking barely above a whisper as Krystal could hardly hear him. "But I'm learning how to walk again in a sort of way."
"I'm sure you'll find someone who will love you as well as Mark."
"Somebody…yea." The two let a sort of eerie silence built up, until their children returned. And each scooped and picked up their respective child. They still walked together as they reached their next destination, a fun house as the four entered with much enthusiasm. Garnette and Mark walked faster in front of the adults, until the fun was turned into a small horror for small children. Creepy clown faces now showed in every mirror around every corner, as the two small children quivered with fear.
"Ahhhh!" They yelled in unison as they both headed back for the adults. If this was the kind of fun house they had entered they simply wouldn't have had they known it was full of clowns and scary mirrors. However it did not go as planned. For whatever reason Mark ran to Krystal, and Garnette ran to Fox as each hid behind the adults' legs in fear of the scary faces. Perhaps it was because neither of the children had a strong role model figure of the opposite sex in their lives. Mark never got to know his mother before her passing, and Garnette was too young to remember what her father and mother were really like. Fox and Krystal just looked at one another as they said nothing, and just shrugged their shoulders and went with it. Fox picked up Garnette as Krystal picked up Mark and each tried to comfort the other's child.
"It's okay Garnette." Fox tried to calm the child as she tried to wipe away her tears. "He's not going to hurt you."
"Are you sure?" She gave back meekly as he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well just in case he does I'll be here to protect you." He comforted the young child as she snuggled into his shoulder to his surprise.
Krystal faced her own struggle to comfort the child, as Mark merely said nothing and hid his face into her shoulder.
"It's alright Mark, I'm here."
"Thank you." He gave back kindly as she bounced the young boy lovingly to try and calm his fears. Mark felt so at peace as his mind and his heart calmed down, and breathed easy being held by such a tender, loving woman. Fox took note of this as the two adults gave thankful smiles to the other for calming the other's children. From that point on they walked through the fun house all together, sure it was 'fun' but Mark was more focused on being held by Krystal even though she thought little of it. She was wearing some kind of pleasant perfume as it calmed his senses and gave him a sense of security and comfort, as he snuggled closer to the pretty vixen to her surprise.
"Aww." Krystal let out aloud as she wrapped her arms a little tighter around the small boy, giving him comfort as she could feel his mind starting to become more at ease. He didn't just feel comfort, he felt loved, the same kind of love he felt when he was held by his Auntie Katt. And the conversation he had with her last was brought back into his mind.
When you have a mommy again, you'll know what I mean. She will love you and your daddy more than I ever could. Mark could feel his heart beat faster as he closed his eyes and showed a small smile. The young kit of course loved his feline aunt, but he was starting to grow very fond to the blue vixen. She showed him a type of love and comfort no one else but his aunt had shown him. Unconditional love that all children need throughout their lives.
Krystal could hear his thoughts, and that's when she started to blush madly to the small child she was holding. He was cradling her so much more than just for comfort. He fully believed that Krystal was perhaps who was to be his new mother, the wondrous views of a child beyond logical reasoning. He loved his aunt Katt but she had said it herself. That when he would find someone to be Mark's new mother, he would know it himself. However Mark wasn't exactly keen to just how she would become his new mother, and how it involved his father as well.
For Krystal, she was surprised, and not necessarily in a positive sort of way. She had to admit that Fox McCloud was handsome, charming, and kind. Perhaps she had a little crush on him, and she really did think that his child Mark was just a darling boy. But this was much too fast for her or what she was comfortable with. Although it was a bit uncomfortable, as well as a bit weird and strange, she let the young child hold onto her if nothing else to calm his thoughts and give him the support he obviously lacked from not having a strong feminine figure in his life. She wondered if perhaps Garnette felt the same kind of way, as she probably had little to no memory of their birth parents, and probably viewed Krystal more as a mother as well than her sister. However the blue vixen wondered what her sister's mind was like knowing there was no strong male, father like figure in her life to give the same kind of support that Mark lacked.
Fox looked to his son with a strange kind of look, it's not that Krystal was giving the young boy the support that made him question, it was since when did Mark feel so comfortable around a women other than Katt. He was affectionate with Katt, but never this affectionate as he knew there was some kind of boundaries set between the feline and the young kit. However to Krystal he held onto her as tightly as if child to mother. He was normally so shy around women, but he treated Krystal as if they had known each other all their lives. Fox took note of just how quickly Mark was becoming attached to Krystal, and swallowed hard.
The couple finally made it out of the fun house, however through the scary adventures both of the children had grown tired, and so the two adults kept holding onto each other's child as they walked through the park. Looking for nothing in particular, just strolling down the street still holding each of the children and letting them get comfortable. There was an eerie, awkward kind of silence between the adults, until Fox looked down and gave a muffled laugh.
"Looks like they're both tired out." Krystal looked to her sister, who only rested her head upon the vulpine's strong shoulder as she gave a quiet snore. She looked down to the small kit in her own grasp as he too was lightly sleeping upon her chest. She gave a nice smile to the slumbering kit in her arms, and made sure her grasp was secure and comforting.
"It appears so. The two probably had a long day." She continued the conversation as they continued to walk down the path.
"This time of the year is always hard for Mark, always hard for me. I probably make it worse for him honestly."
"It's not something he would hold against you." Krystal tried to comfort the stricken father as he tried to contemplate her words for reassurance, but he didn't know if she was right after all.
"I suppose." He let out a small sigh as he looked to the blue kit in his arms. "Does Garnette feel the same way? You know…lacking a strong male figure in her life."
"I'm not sure." Krystal admitted. "I've never thought about it, honestly I haven't had much time or reason to think about it. She's usually very calm and chirpy. But perhaps she does."
"Must be hard for them." Fox looked back down to Garnette, making sure to secure his grip around her better. The two only walked toward the exit of the park, looking toward one another standing about arm's length apart.
"I had a wonderful evening Fox. I'm sure Garnette did as well, thank you for everything tonight."
"You're welcome Krystal. It was a great night for me as well as Mark I'm sure." The two smiled nice at one another, Krystal trying to hide her blush as she looked up to the taller man.
"Krystal."
"Yes Fox?" Fox only smiled sheepishly at the vixen as he let out a small laugh.
"I'm going to need my son back. I'll trade you."
"Oh!" She was so spaced out she had almost forgotten she was holding the wrong slumbering child, well wrong depending on how you see it. She first handed Mark to Fox, as he carefully moved them around his chest to not disturb either child. He then positioned himself leaning a bit back so Krystal could take Garnette, as she set her gently on her own chest.
"There we go." She looked down to her sister as she hugged her gently, planting a loving kiss on the blue kit's forehead. Fox looked at how Krystal treated her sister, just like a mother would treat her child.
"Well." Fox started, looking back to the park and then to the vixen. "Sleep well tonight Krystal."
"Perhaps we will…see each other again?" Krystal asked, a bit optimistic as she smiled to him. Fox didn't give her an answer right away and that made her worry. But after a moment he looked to her happily, almost as if excited.
"Perhaps". Is all Fox gave in a rather sly tone, playing with the vixen as they both shared a quiet laugh. After a moment Fox looked down to her, with pensive eyes as he spoke softly.
"Goodnight Krystal."
"Goodnight Fox." Is all they said before departing. Fox headed off toward the hotel as he and Mark headed out into the darkness, and Krystal lost sight of the two. She stood there a moment longer, thinking of the older man and his son. He was so good to her, good to Garnette and thought nothing of his deeds tonight that made her heart thankful and sing for the older man. She only smiled to herself as she looked down to Garnette, and headed off in the opposite direction toward their housing by the island company ready for bed and a new day tomorrow.
"I hope we see each other again." Krystal whispered out loud, looking down to her slumbering sister who held a smile. "For the both of us."
Author's Notes
Think of this story as one of those Hallmark movies. The ones where they make hardly any logical sense, but ALWAYS end up the way you can see they will a mile away.