Well here is chapter 28 of the fic. This chapter will be the first part of a set of chapters that will be based on exploring a little more about the past of the characters, but all of them will deal with a specific theme of the past of the characters in question.

Chapter 28

Pressure and Confidence Issues Part 1

The rest of the week went by surprisingly well, despite the aftermath ranting of many civilians when Star Wolf will be given a chance for a clean slate and will be working at the military base's mailroom and the insistence of Phillipe Phoenix wanting either Bill or Sabre to be betrothed to his daughter, Fara.

How things were going so far with the repairs from the Aparoid invasion, construction crews were picking up the pace and were getting close to completing all the repairs that needed to be done. Star Wolf's first three days in the mailroom of the Corneria military base were going surprisingly nice in their favor. Though it's annoying that they had to have guards keep an eye on them constantly to ensure they don't steal anything, they're getting used to their new jobs and are getting paid pretty well.

Star Fox took some time to catch up with some old friends of theirs; Katt, Bill, Fay, Miyu, Fara, and Peppy's daughter Lucy, which had come to visit the planet a few days before Star Fox arrived there for his vacation. Although there's still a bit of friction between them, Fox and Fara were glad to be able to maintain their friendship after their breakup years ago. Though, Fox isn't sure that it would be a good idea to confess that, although his grief of his dad was part of the reason they can't be together anymore, part of why he broke up with her was because he discovered that he was gay, as it would probably end up in a disaster.

Slippy hasn't been able to get in contact with his ex, Croakella, to see how she was doing since the last time they met, however. He heard that she works as a nurse in a central hospital, but he's hoping that she's doing ok after the last time he saw her.

Peppy couldn't wait to see his daughter again after what felt like so long. He's very proud of her when she went off to work as an engineering teacher at a university on another planet to teach future engineers to work on new technology. She even heard a rumor about plans to make AI holograms!

For the past three days, they also took a bit of time to try and make some more peace between them and Star Wolf.

Krystal was able to begin to get used to having a conversation with Panther without him having to force his feelings onto her as well, thanks to a little bit of threatening looks from Sabre indicating that he'd do something terrible if anything bad happened to his sister with him (Panther) around. Sabre's starting to get used to the three former criminals too, though he doesn't trust Panther completely with his insistence on a romantic relationship with Krystal.

Falco and Leon are…still Falco and Leon with each other. Though, thanks to some persuasion from the others, i.e. Wolf, Fox, Peppy, Panther, and Slippy, they're trying to keep their rivalry with each other at a minimum so they could try and make a little peace with each other as much as they can. They still love to mock each other, though…

Slippy and Peppy are starting to get used to Wolf, Panther, and Leon too. Slippy doesn't feel very introverted with them around, when they're not fighting each other, like he has been a few days ago, and Peppy has started to grow a small soft spot on Wolf, thinking that he and Fox might've grown a bit close since the last few days.

Dash's still crushing on Fox, and, although he's on good terms with them, he seems to feel a nasty feeling when Fox is spending lots of time with either Falco or Wolf. Maybe even if he's hanging with both of them together. He's probably feeling jealous of those two. Dash is getting along with everybody else too, though he hopes that nobody discovers his dark past and that he's related to Andross and Andrew. Not wanting the discrimination and spite to happen again.

Fox is feeling conflicted that he has feelings for both Wolf and Falco. Despite his past struggles with them; his and Wolf's arch enemy history during the Lylat wars, and his and Falco's fallout when Falco helped out Katt's old team and left Star Fox, he still feels his affections for both of them. But the real reasons are that he's scared that either one of them would reject him and if he'd have to choose one over the other. Hopefully, he'll figure something out soon.

Falco and Wolf both had a hunch that both of them have the hots for Fox, and Falco just began to realize that he might have feelings for his leader as well, but the both of them were starting to become friends as well, a bit faster than the others were. Fox was glad the two of them were getting along better, though Falco and Wolf were feeling a little envy of each other for Fox's attention. Despite that, they were becoming good buds.

…

It was early noon on Sunday, and Fox, Wolf, Panther, Falco, Leon, Sabre, Krystal, Peppy, Slippy, and Dash were enjoying some nice, cold drinks and playing at a pool table in the break room on the Great Fox to get away from the public for a while. They didn't want to stir up any trouble that could make everybody go after them, and they wanted to have some chill time together.

"So, Lucy's gonna be coming over today?" Fox asked Peppy.

"Yeah," he replied with a hint of glee in his voice. "It almost feels like forever since I've last seen her. I wonder what she's been doing aside from her career as a teacher?"

"Probably hanging out with friends, going on dates," Falco suggested as he twisted chalk at the top of the poll he was using. "Possibly almost everything that everyone's doing these days."

"Right, and making some time to visit her old man isn't one of them?"

"I'm just saying," he said with a defensive tone.

"Well, if anything, she probably wouldn't want the three of us to be here," Wolf said, gesturing to himself, Leon and Panther on the other side of the table.

"Why is that?" asked Fox.

"Isn't it obvious?" Leon said with a negative attitude. "She'd probably react as to many of the other citizens in the Lylat system when they heard about our pardoning if she saw us here. She might even think that we went back on our word and have taken you guys as prisoners or something."

Most of the others have grown faces of grimace, minus Krystal and Peppy, when they heard the chameleon's guess. Wolf, Leon and Panther just gave looks that define the word "meh".

"You've got a point," Fox said.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Peppy said, trying to ease the tension. "I explained most of what's been going on for the past week and Lucy seemed alright with it. Though, she did show me some concern about the whole ordeal and how many of her co-workers feel about it."

"Was it bad?" Panther asked without thinking, which resulted in him receiving glares from his other teammates. "Forget I asked…"

"So, how long will it be before she gets on the Great Fox?" Slippy asked. "I can't wait to see her again!"

"She'll be here in about a few hours," the old rabbit replied. "Just enough time to get things spruced up before then." He slammed the tip of his poll to the ball that's required to hit the other balls into the holes on each corner and side of the pool table and was able to get a hole in one before telling everyone. "And while she's here, promise me that you all will be on your best behavior."

Everyone just stood there for a few seconds before bursting out in laughter, which made Dash and Sabre confused and Peppy to have a sweat drop and sighed.

"S-sorry Peppy," Falco said, trying to get past his hysterical laugh. "I-It's just…"

"Whenever Lucy is around, she tends to bring out the party people in us," Fox said as he calmed down a bit.

"Really?" said Wolf. "That's pretty cool."

Falco just turned his head in disbelief. "Why were you laughing then?!"

"Was there any reason?"

They kept on laughing for a few minutes till they went back to their pool game. Krystal couldn't wait to meet Lucy, she's excited to know what kind of person she's like.

A few hours have passed with everyone enjoying some entertainment, waiting until the pink rabbit would arrive. When it was almost time, Peppy ordered almost everyone to clean everything up and to make themselves as presentable as possible. At least, he didn't order them to change their clothes, as everyone in their respectful teams were still in their regular attires.

R.O.B. was also with the group at this time, as Peppy insisted that he will be present as well.

It was at that moment, everyone saw a small ship approaching the Great Fox. Upon seeing the ship, almost everyone present knew that it was Lucy almost on her way here. The ship was a small, pink, silver, and white ship known as the Sky Bunny.

The hanger door began to open to make way for the small ship, and once inside the large door closed from behind it. As she exited her ship and walked down the corridors, she took time to observe the interior of the mother ship. Although she bought this ship for the Star Fox team to replace their old one after the Aparoid invasion with the money she won from the lottery, she never really had the chance to observe the details of the interior until now.

Finally, she reached the main hall where they were all gathered. She first went to her father, whom she missed so much all this time from when she was away from Corneria. They shared a big hug to show how much they feel to see each other again.

After that, she greeted her childhood friends: Fox, Falco and Slippy. Then she went to greet R.O.B., then introduced herself to the Star Wolf team, showing a positive attitude in front of them. Finally, she formally introduced herself to Dash, Sabre, and Krystal, the only other girl on the ship besides her. She was happy to finally meet them again, as despite having to've been on Corneria around the same time as they've been, she was busy with other certain matters and was unable to see them until today.

After reunions and introductions have been dealt with, the group spent some time talking about various topics. Krystal was even able to thank Lucy for the pink mercenary suit, and the pairs of white boots and gloves that she's wearing right now. Then, Lucy inadvertently took out a piece of paper that she wanted to show Krystal, that had been given to her on Corneria shortly before leaving the planet to come to the Great Fox.

Fox, who was sitting near the girls, was able to spot something on the paper that caught his attention: a small image of a rainbow flag on the edge of the front of the paper. It was at that moment that Fox realized that the date of a certain event was approaching, and that made him feel very uncomfortable every time that celebration arrived every June of each year.

Here ends the twenty eight chapter. I hope you liked it.