Disclaimer: I don't own the Star Fox franchise, or any related characters, plots, or settings. I don't even own the OC "Relics"; XxSanitariumxX does. Check out his stories, particularly "Exchange Student", which is still in progress.

Okay, one thing before you get started. What the heck, Comrade? Thanks for the continued support and reviews and all, but really? The one time I ask a question, and you don't even acknowledge it. C'mon, man!

But seriously, thanks for the reviews. It's good to know that the story's appreciated, even if I'm mostly doing it for fun.

I hesitated, staring at Krystal's soundly-sleeping form. After a deep sigh, I turned to Falco.

"Get in the car, Falco."

"What?" he asked.

"You said you wanted the truth. Let's go."

"I take it that's a 'no'," Jake said, heading for the driver's seat.

"Ditto...how can you just –"

"Falco, she will be safe. You want to know how I know? Get in the car."

He didn't move, looking back toward the school longingly. After a few seconds, he turned back to me. "It's hard to believe your words over my own eyes."

"We haven't got all night," Jake said. "Joanne told me she was taking the kids to a movie, so we could have the house if we needed it."

"What'd you tell her?" I asked.

"Everything you told me. She may worry too much according to you, but she really does care. And I'm not going to lie to my wife."

"I'll come with you," Falco finally said. "But if I find out that Lana got hurt because of you..."

"I know. Fire and brimstone," I said as he got in the passenger seat and closed the door.

"So, you gonna start explaining yourself?" Jake asked as he started the car.

"I guess. Where do I start? Well, the short version would be that I'm from a completely different universe."

"What?" Falco asked, turning toward me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I know what's going on. As far as I know, this entire universe is just a part of a story that, in my world, is fictional."

"So, we don't exist?" Falco asked sarcastically.

"Wrong," I said, looking back at Krystal, who had asked the same question. "I think Sharp knows more about it."

"Who's Sharp?" Jake asked.

"The guy who kidnapped us last night."

"Kidnapped?" Falco asked.

"Long story."

"I thought you didn't know who did it," Jake said.

"I don't know how to find him. He won't be at the base he took us to before."

"Base?" Jake asked. "What base?"

"I don't know. Some abandoned military base nearby. Same one that lost an arwing recently."

"So, why did you get taken? And how did you get out?" Falco asked.

"I think I was taken because I'm human. And I'm the one who took that arwing."

"You?" Falco asked. He tried to hold in his snicker, but eventually he was laughing at the story. "How long did it take you to come up with that crap?"

"I don't think he's being funny, kid," Jake said.

"I can't really prove it, though. I mean, I've got some glowing marks on my arm, but I'm not certain of what's going to happen anymore."

"What do you mean?" Jake asked.

I didn't know which one he expected me to explain, so I went with the future knowledge, since Falco wanted to know anyway. "Like I said, this world is based off of a story I read. I read all the way to the end, but it wasn't even finished at the time. Because of that, I know that Relics will rescue Lana tonight."

"And why didn't you do anything to help her?" Falco asked.

"It would've completely changed the story. My knowledge of it would be useless, and Lana might get in more danger. Besides, I would most likely kill someone who wasn't supposed to die."

"So, wait, what it is this? Time travel?" Jake asked.

"No. It's not unlike it, but I'm from the Earth of apparently seven hundred years ago."

"That's why you didn't know about hoverboards," Falco said. I nodded. "So, you're really from the future..."

"Well, the future of an alternate past, but –"

"That's pretty cool. You think you can get me a date?"

"Falco, in the story, you don't get a date. Ever."

"Son of a –"

"To be fair, you weren't supposed to meet Katt the way you did, either."

"Wait...you mean there's hope?"

"I guess so. As long as I'm here, anything could happen."

"We should hang out more."

"So, why couldn't you go help your other friend?" Jake asked. "Sure, she has a savior, but why not you?"

"Well...the experience brings them closer together, and changes Relics for the better. But aside from that, I wasn't sure I could do it."

"Couldn't do it?" Falco asked. "You took out Leon like nothing."

"Took out?" Jake asked.

"Knocked out," I corrected. "And he was only one person, who we surprised while he was distracted. I didn't want to kill anyone, and that's hard to do with a fully-automatic rifle."

"I would've helped," Jake said as he turned onto the house's street.

"Yeah, me too," Falco put in.

"Well, Falco, you still will," I told him.

"What?"

"In a few hours, Fox is gonna call you and ask for your help at the school. You'll need to go, or else something might change."

"Wow," Jake said as he pulled into the house's driveway. He put it in park, and leaned back in his seat. "An alternate universe? That explains some things."

"We should make sure she's okay," I said, scooting toward the door.

"Then wouldn't a hospital be a better idea?" Falco asked.

"She already talked to me a little. I think it's just some kind of drug."

"Then let's get her inside," Jake said, turning the vehicle off. I opened the door and stepped out, once again careful to keep her head from hitting anything. Jake led Falco and I into the house, and I carefully set Krystal down on the nearest couch. I collapsed onto a nearby chair and heaved a big sigh, glad that the adventure was over and she was safe. When I did, I leaned against the APIR, and took both it and the deflector off, setting them in my lap.

"You want me to take those again?" Jake asked.

"Yeah," I said, handing them to him. "But the deflector's yours."

"Well, if you say you need it again, I might be willing to get it for you. Of course, I trust you won't just use it to impress your friends..."

"Of course not," I said, smiling. "That's why I'm going to get a hoverboard."

"What is it with you and those things?" Falco asked.

"I don't know, to be honest. I just want to have one. Assuming I use it, of course."

"Maybe we should get back to the issue at hand," Jake said, gesturing to Krystal.

"Yeah. What do you know about it, Ditto?" Falco asked.

"Well...Krystal wasn't supposed to be kidnapped."

"What?" Falco asked.

"Well, Lana was, but only her. Krystal...wasn't supposed to meet you for a long time. Something happened when I got here, and Krystal was brought to this planet because of that."

"So what happened?" Jake asked.

"I have no idea. That guy Sharp said he could help me get back to my world if I wanted to –"

"You're not doing it, right?" Falco asked.

"Not if I can help it. But what he said got me thinking...is it possible that they've figured out how to travel between dimensions on Corneria?"

"I hope not," Jake said. "If humans or Cornerians tried that, it'd make more trouble than if someone used an EMP to shut down an entire planet."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"I'm not one of those eggheads behind a desk who knows that kind of stuff. But since you're here, I guess someone's gone and done something they shouldn't have."

"That can't be. I've done this kind of thing before, on my own."

"Well, do you have a way back on your own?"

"Not yet. Until the story's done, I can't leave."

"But you said Sharp has a way back for you."

"Yeah."

"Then we need to know more."

"Now, hold on," I said, standing, "we don't need to figure this all out. I just need to make sure nothing else changes until Relics..."

"Until Relics what?" Falco asked when I didn't continue.

"...finishes the story. He's the main character."

"What? Him? What about me?" Falco asked.

"You're the ace pilot of the fabled Star Fox team in a few years, so can it."

"I...I'm the...what?" Falco asked wide-eyed.

"I'll just put these away now," Jake said, finally leaving to stow the weapons.

"Still not the main character, though," I said under my breath as Falco came to grips with what I'd said.

"The ace pilot? Sounds fitting for someone of my talent."

"Falco, can you even fly an arwing yet?"

"Hey, I've shot down Fox in a simulator a couple of times."

"Have you even touched a real arwing?"

"I definitely haven't stolen one, if that's what you're asking."

"It was one time!" I shouted, before dissolving into laughter. He just folded his arms and leaned back against the wall.

"But seriously, what else should I know?"

"For one thing you can't tell anyone."

"What? Why?"

"The less people know, the better."

"Well, I get that, but why not Fox, or Bill, or Relics?"

I held up a hand and started counting off, "Bill wouldn't keep his trap shut, I barely know Fox yet, and Relics is the one person who can never find out. Who knows what would happen if Relics knew?"

"Well...who all knows?"

"Let's see...me, you, Krystal, and Jake."

"That's all?"

"Yeah. Remember, I'm trying to change as little as I can."

"That's no fun. You already know what'll happen if you don't change anything, so you should see what would happen if you changed everything."

"And then lose my foresight, along with any sense of security. Good idea, there."

"Alright," Jake said, reentering the room, "What now?"

"Falco should get home," I said.

"Why?" he asked.

"You need to be ready when Fox calls. And you need to arrive at a certain time."

"Oh, come on. It'll be a few minutes' difference."

"A few minutes could make Relics fail to rescue Lana."

"Listen to the time-traveler," Jake said, turning Falco toward the door.

"Not a time-traveler!" I shouted.

"You'll be okay alone with Krystal, right?" Jake asked.

"He's a guy. He can figure out how to make the parts fit," Falco said with a snicker.

"She'd kill me if I did. And then Miyu would get her turn at me. So yeah, we'll be fine," I called as they left the house. I watched the door close idly, and then turned toward Krystal, who was beginning to stir. Of course, I wouldn't do what Falco had in mind. And even if I'd wanted to, I was otherwise distracted.

"I'm hungry."

I ended up making myself a ham & cheese sandwich. And then I stuck it in their weird high-tech version of a microwave, which almost made it more like grilled cheese than what I had wanted. But the snack was done in under a minute, and I sat in the small kitchen eating it happily. After eating another sandwich just like it, I sat in the living room, in the same chair I'd collapsed into earlier.

I looked uncertainly between Krystal's sleeping form and the television. While it would be beyond creepy to watch her sleep, there wasn't really anything worth watching on TV. Still, I needed something to keep my mind off of Lana, so I grabbed the remote.

"Ditto?" Krystal mumbled, looking around lazily.

"I'm here," I said, kneeling in front of the couch.

"What happened? Where are we?" she asked, trying to sit up.

"Hey, you should lie down," I said.

"I'm done lying down," she retorted, but she didn't try to stand. She leaned forward and put her head in her hands as I sat on the couch beside her.

"Do you remember what happened?" I asked.

"Yeah. You and Falco saved me, because Lana and I were – Lana! Where's Lana?!"

"She'll be alright," I told her.

"I can tell when you're lying to me."

"Krystal, I'm serious. She may not be safe yet, but she won't be hurt."

"But why isn't she here with us? Did...did you leave her?"

"Well –"

"What?! You left her! Ditto, they said they'd kill us both! How could you do this?!"

"Krystal –"

"She was my friend. What...what if I never see her again? I..."

"Krystal!" I shouted, silencing her. "Don't you think I feel bad enough for doing that? What, like she's not my friend, too? And what about Relics? If he finds out what I did, he'll kill me himself! But you know full well, I had to."

"What do you mean...oh. So...this was supposed to happen?"

I sighed, glad that she was calm. "Yeah. Relics goes and saves Lana, and nobody dies. Not even Wolf."

"And...what you said at lunch..."

"Mmm hmm."

"Oh."

I stared at my shoes, thinking again about the poor girl I'd left behind. I knew all of the reasons I'd given myself, but logic didn't make it easier. I'd left her in the hands of her kidnappers without even trying to help, and it felt like I'd done it myself. I felt a lump in my chest, and I sighed to try to get rid of it.

"So what's wrong?" she asked, putting her hand on mine.

"You said it yourself. I left her to die."

"But she won't die," she said sympathetically.

"As far as I know. But what if I already changed too much? What if they step up their security because they already lost you? How do we know that Relics still saves her?"

"We don't," Krystal admitted, "but I have faith in Relics."

"Maybe not a good choice," I mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. But Relics will have to make a choice, and...I'm not sure which way he'll go."

"So...do you regret your choice?" she asked, looking at me expectantly.

"Y'know what? I actually don't," I said, finally looking back at her.

"And why is that?"

"Because I didn't make the decision quickly. If I chose again, I would do the same thing. But I still feel bad about leaving her."

"Yeah...I know what you mean. Maybe if I'd been paying attention, we wouldn't have been kidnapped."

"These guys were determined. For all we know, they would have just taken Lana later in the day. You're just lucky they decided to keep you alive."

"Oh, I'm lucky?" she asked. "I think we're all lucky, in that case."

"How so?"

"Well, if they had hurt me, I think you would be upset. And you might use one of those Sin things to avenge your girlfriend."

"Well, everyone else thinks that," I said, hardly paying attention. I was thinking about how badly I would've hurt Leon had he touched Krystal.

"And what do you think?" she asked.

My eyes widened when I realized what she had asked. I managed to keep my mouth shut so I didn't stammer, but my mind was racing, and I knew she knew, since her hand was still on mine.

"Something wrong?" she asked with an audible giggle.

"Of course not. It's just that I've never...had a girlfriend. My excuse was always that I had to focus on schoolwork."

"Boring."

"Why even ask what I think? You already know almost everything I know."

"Well, maybe I just want to hear you say it out loud."

"Well, we have been on a date," I said aloud.

"Only one, though. I've been kidnapped more times than we've dated."

"Yeah, about that; maybe you could stay not kidnapped for one day?"

"What if I just like being rescued?"

"There have to be easier ways to get acquainted."

"Like telepathy?"

"Maybe if I knew someone who could do that..." I began with a smirk.

"...you could finish each other's sentences?" she suggested quickly.

"...actually, I hadn't thought of that. And it'd be way too easy for you. Just like Charades or poker."

"Are you suggesting I would cheat?" she asked.

"Cheat? What? I didn't use that word. Why would I suggest something like that? I think someone's guilty conscience is getting to them."

"Oh, shut up," she said, hitting me playfully.

"Abuse!" I cried out, leaning away.

"Be glad I'm not Miyu," she said with a giggle.

"I am. Miyu would have stomped back to the school to take care of everyone involved."

Krystal sighed. "Ditto...please stop that."

"Stop? Stop what?"

"Bringing up Lana."

"...oh. Sorry, I was...sorry."

"It's okay. Just...guilty conscience, you know?"

"Yeah. You want to hear how Relics saves her?"

She smiled. "Sure. Maybe that'll help."

"Alright, let's see," I said, leaning back and trying to remember the story. I didn't actually remember that much, but I decided to fake it for the parts I couldn't remember. So I launched into a tale of how Relics fought off a school full of baddies by himself, just to save his girlfriend.

It didn't take me too long to describe what would be happening. I tried not to leave out too many details, especially Relics and Fara being locked in a room, and Relics pulling someone out a window. Krystal turned out to be a great listener, leaning forward during the particularly exciting parts, and actually holding her breath during suspenseful parts, despite my less-than-exciting storytelling abilities. Jake came home at some point, but I hardly noticed him as he headed up to go to bed. I finished the story before Joanne returned, ending on the same note of the sunrise that the original story had.

"Woah..." she breathed, leaning back. "So...it was all for revenge?"

"Yeah."

"And it takes Relics all night to save her?"

"Yeah."

"So, how does he get through school tomorrow?"

"He doesn't go."

"Huh?"

"Apparently Lana's parents are gone for a few months, so the two rest all day tomorrow. And no, they don't do anything inappropriate. I mean, they snuggle, but nothing else."

"That'd be nice," Krystal said, leaning against me.

"Th-the day off?" I suggested. Snuggling was still a little bit more than I was expecting.

"Sure," she said with a smile.

"Well, you went through a traumatizing experience. And for proof, they have the bullet holes in the school. I think they'll be okay with a short break."

"Can you get out too?"

"I already did high school. One absence won't kill me. Looks like you're stuck with me for tomorrow."

"Darn," she said, before giggling.

"Hey, I think it'll be fun. 'Course, it's a rainy day..."

She looked askance at me. "I'm starting to think you planned this."

"What? Me?" I asked, acting surprised.

"Yes, you. You're the one who seems to know everything."

"Except how to stay out of lockers," I said with a snicker.

"Well, that's why we're together," she said.

"We're together?" I asked.

"It's about time you said it," she said, leaning against me again.

"And I'm the criminal mastermind," I said under my breath as she finally turned the television on.

A/N: Okay, wow. That part shouldn't have taken as long as it did. Maybe because it was nothing but dialogue. Ah, well. Longest filler chapter of the story, then. And if you don't like the choice Ditto made, I'm sorry, but it's too late to change it now.

Also, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update over the next few weeks. There's a conference my church is holding, and whenever I'm not helping to set it up or take it down, I'll likely be attending. I'll still update as close as I can to my every-other-day schedule, but...we'll see, I guess. And if I miss too many days, I promise an enormous chapter at some point to make up for it. But I don't know when or how.

Oh, and "Christian Stario"? Thanks, even if you are my cousin.

EDIT (3/29): Okay, seems like it could be a tough week. The conference will eat up a very large majority of my time, leaving me a couple hours daily to write at most. Considering I'm used to six or more, this will throw a wrench in my schedule. On top of that, Comrade has decided to stop with his regular updates, leaving me surprisingly moody. Anyone else who wants to do regular reviews, please feel free to. But since I was supposed to update today, and the chapter's less than halfway done, I apologize for missing one update already.

For my regular/loyal reader(s), I'll still do my best. Any reviews, favorites, or follows are a huge motivation for me, and anything but cruel criticism brightens my day. And I'm making slow progress with Dragons' Legacy, but that story's pretty much on the backburners.

I feel like I should have a catch phrase. Like, something to end each chapter with. Ah, well.