Origins: Krystal

(AN: Just so we're clear on the chain of the canon for this. ZeroAdventuresAssault" Star Wolf Returns" ending of Command)

The Great Fox 2, outside of Kew airspace, Bridge

Just outside the rainy, lawless planet of Kew, the three remaining members of Star Fox and the whole of the Star Wolf team had gathered for a summit. And to begin this summit they…waited for a phone call to connect.

"Who are you friggin calling?" demanded Falco

Fox rolled his eyes, "Dude, it's rang like four times, shut up."

"Knowing from personal experiments, holo-phone calls on Kew have abysmal connections." Interjected the rose obsessed Panther Caruso of Star Wolf

"An' how would you know that buddy? Dated a few women on Kew?"

Panther's forehead wrinkled, "Yes, how did you know?"

Falco gagged, "Good grief," said the avian, "Go get checked out."

Panther hung his head, "Panther is quite familiar with that process as well."

"If you don't quit your yammering" interjected Leon Polwalski, Wolf's right hand, "I'll skin you all alive."

"Leon, simmer," Wolf commanded with a snap of his claw, "We're going into Kew with somebody who's pissed off at all of us. Might not be the wisest thing to do to piss off the backup."

As Leon gave an annoyed grunt, slumping against the wall, the call connected. A brown-furred humanoid minx and a white-furred cocker spaniel appeared on the screen. The minx was dressed in a leather jacket and had aviator sunglasses rested upon her head, whereas the spaniel was wearing a frilly, fashionable jacket, with a bow rested atop her head.

Slippy's eyes lit up, "Miyu! Fay! How've you been?"

"Great!" eagerly squeaked the dog, Fay, "Miyu and I got married!"

"Oh my gosh guys congratulations," Fox said, "Sorry we couldn't be there."

"No prob man," chided the significantly gruffer Miyu, "Kew really isn't the place for partying anyway. Plus, I doubt the marriage would hold up in a Lylatian court."

Slippy's forehead scrunched up, "Wait, I thought gay marriage was legal in Lylat."

Wolf groaned, "No you idiot, because it's on Kew."

"Wait a minute," demanded Falco, "Why are you two on Kew? Weren'tcha Academy instructors? Ain't that why you turned down our request to fly with Star Fox, which is why we had to get the old man and the frog?"

"Well," Fay said, rubbing the back of her head, "That's kind of hard to do when the Flight Academy and your house gets wrecked by the Aparoid invasion."

"Oh yeah…" Slippy whispered, his head hung.

"You still didn't answer my question!" squawked Falco.

"Because I paid for them to be," Fox explained.

"How? You lost half the Aparoid Invasion payday to investments. It's why the team split up in the first place," shouted Falco.

"Or…so you thought."
"What do you mean Fox?" pleaded Slippy, his eyes full of dread and sadness.

"That was the cover. The half of the Aparoid pay actually went to them."

Leon's eyes suddenly gleamed with understanding, and he was now cackling in the back of the room, "Oh my Creator, you didn't."

"What's with you lizard breath?" snapped Falco.

"What has been McCloud been chasing like a dumb puppy for the last half-decade?" Leon hissed.

"Krystal." whispered Falco, his eyes now full of understanding…and rage, "Fox, tell me he's just got a screw loose and he's lyin."

"Well, he's right."

"WHAT? WHY?" shouted Slippy

"You know Krystal and I's relationship hit a bit of a snag after The Aparoid Invasion. I anticipated her leaving me, and so I…"

"You paid Miyu and Fay to follow her?" Wolf snarled in disgust.

"Please understand," Leon began, "That I say this as someone that has tortured and killed multiple people, that's disgusting behavior McCloud."

"You don't have to rub it in! Krystal is foreign to our galaxy, and someone who's known only us and Star Wolf, who I don't exactly trust to keep a loved one safe."

"I'll remember that the next time you need a ride on my Wolfen's wing, chump," Wolf growled, flipping him the middle claw without looking at him.

"So…dubious legality aside, you paid our friends to stalk your ex-girlfriend and then what?" prodded Slippy.

"After the Anglar Invasion, I heard through the grapevine that a blue fox named Kursed was looking for passage into Kew. That obviously alarmed me…" Fox began but was cut off by Miyu.

"And so we went deep undercover," Miyu shrugged nonchalantly, "We approached her, told her about our experience in the military, and we formed a team with her. We're The Kursed Klaws."

"She's still going by Kursed?" guffawed Panther, "I had heard about thia through the grapevine as well, a staff-wielding dominatrix making ruffians' lives hell on Kew, and was so deeply hurt she was going by such an ugly name."

"What hurts even more is that you 'an Fox talk to the same people about this crap."

"Enough," barked Fox, "What's the lie we're going with girls?" he asked his counterparts on Kew.

"We talked it over with the boss. We explained a mercenary unit was interested in cooperating with us for a mission, but they requested not to reveal names until we all met."

"Good," Fox said with a nod, "You guys are off the beat after this."

"I mean, obviously. But Seriously Fox, thank you. Weird nature of the whole thing aside, you put food on me and Fay's table when we were homeless, and you protected a friend. I'll always remember that" Miyu said.

"Coordinates will be sent to you after this phone call. See you all soon!" said Fay, with a playful salute.

As the Kewian coordinates appeared on screen, Falco said: "Remind me to kick your ass during Physics Week McCloud I knew you had a bit of scum in ya, but I need to vent my frustration about the stalker crap you pulled."

"I second that," growled Wolf, which such venom that even Leon and Panther flinched.

"Heh, the Kursed Claws. Do ya think King K. Rool would like that name?"

"Not the time or the place Slippy," Fox growled

As the frog hung his head in a childlike shame, Fox said, "And Falco, I'll take that Physics Week beating as long as it doesn't get in the way of the mission,"

As Wolf had done earlier, Falco flipped Fox the middle talon in response.

"What a fool, willingly taking lumps like he's a street gang urchin," Panther said, disgust in his voice.

"Altruism begets idiocy," shrugged Leon.

"We're needed on Kew," Fox suddenly snapped, "ROB, take us down.".

"Affirmative," barked the robot.

In a flash, Great Fox II had broken Kewian airspace, and immediately became pelted by rain. The flagship headed for Kew's soul spaceport, which served as the demilitarized zone between Kew's wealthy Upper District, and dirt poor Lower District. The ship touched down, and the makeshift sestet stepped out onto a chromatic floor, which Fox noticed was eerily clean despite the hustle and bustle, no doubt tracking in the consequences of perpetual rainfall. From the back of the line, Leon hissed at them, "These are my people, let me take the lead." After waiting in a customs line that seemingly took an eternity, a fat looking humanoid, who appeared to have the body of a man, but the head and features of a snake, was the man at the counter,

"Name?"

"Leon Polwalski."

The desk agent's yellowed eyes went wide, "THAT Leon Polwalski?"

Leon grinned impishly, which sent shivers up Fox's spine, "Yes, I have assembled a crew of Lylatians to claim the bounty on the Kursed Klaws."

The desk agent matched Leon's evil grin, "If you do, you'll be no doubt be a national hero in The Lower District."

"I look forward to it."

The desk agent waved the entire group through, Fox jogged to keep pace with Leon, whispering, "Krystal has a bounty on her?"

"Welcome to Lower Kew junior, half the population does.' Leon shrugged.

"Why would we be heroes if we take out Kursed Claws?" Slippy asked from behind Fox.

Again, the chameleon shrugged, "Don't know. Maybe she's actually trying to fight on the side of right here? Foolish woman."

Fox growled under his breath as they came through the automatic doors that emptied into The Lower District. The first thing Fox noticed was the ramshackle buildings. The second was the shoulder to shoulder crowds as they melded into the mass of humanity . As they cut through the rainy city, Fox saw more street gamblers and women of the night than he had in even the lousiest Cornerian neighborhood. At about the midpoint of their journey they saw a tentacle fight between two gruff-looking Takorians. Fox blinked, surprised to see them at first, before remembering that Kew was technically the bridge between Lylat and Captain Falcon's Milky Way galaxy, as he had seen on a trip there, to both confront his double life living father James, and save a wealthy merchant's infant daughter from the clutches of Black Shadow.

If only Kew wasn't such a lawless piece of junk, then our galaxies' relationship wouldn't be so strained Fox thought, observing more gamblers, gun dealers, and provocatively dressed women looking to sell their services as he walked. Suddenly, Leon stopped.

"According to your friends' coordinates, their building is here," hissed Leon pointing to his left

Fox had to squint through the rain-induced fog to see it, an innocuous, yet pristine-looking metal buildings amidst a series of rotting wooden cabins. The group cut through the crowd, Leon knocking on the building's door. A sliding mechanism on the door slid back, revealing the crystal-blue eyes of Fay. The door opened, and Fay gestured them in, "Right this way gentlemen," said the spaniel.

Sitting at the table in the lone room of the hideout, were Miyu and Krystal. When the metal door they had come in slammed shut after everyone had ambled in, Krystal looked up, locking eyes with Fox.

"You," growled Krystal,

Fox sighed, "Listen, I'm not here to rehash old shit. This is business."

Panther interjected next, "McCloud speaks true my darling."

"I don't want to hear a word of your mouth Caruso. When we basically won the damn Anglar Invasion by ourselves, and I'd cry to you about being mocked in public by the ungrateful schlubs we saved, what did you do? Sure, you took me on nice dates, bought me nice clothes, and pleased me in the bedroom, but we never talked. You never addressed my feelings. All I had were your vain thoughts and memories of the girls you cheated on me with for company."

"You cheated on a girl who can literally read your mind. You friggin idiot," Falco chided.

Krystal chuckled. But it wasn't a chuckle of humor, it was one of disgust.

"Oh, Lombardi, I missed you, constantly talking down to everyone, deflecting your insecurities with humor. Maybe you can make laugh one more time before we take you out."

Miyu and Fay stood by Krystal's side, Krystal unsheathed a small, linear object from a holster on her back. She pressed a button on its side, unsheathing a black version of her Cernian staff, crackling with blue energy.

"Your thoughts are of surprise. Do you seriously not think Cernians would know how to build one of these with foreign materials?"

"Just thought we woulda seen it is all," Falco shrugged.

"For once, you're right in your usual sarcastic drivel. Lylatian weapons always did the job, and building it was a good way to distract myself between missions. I did savor savor a chance to use it. The feeling of connecting with another person's body with a bludgeoning weapon is something you Lylatians wouldn't understand. But you'll understand, as I'm sure you'll feel my joy as I shut your obnoxious beek once and fo all Fal- …"

Suddenly, her face went blank. Fox had seen the look many times. She only really looked like that when a telepathic thought hit her when she hadn't invited it.

Fox shot a look to Panther who looked deathly worried, "Do you think..."

"Oh no," was all Panther had to say.

Almost as soon as it happened, her blank, shocked look transformed into one of pure rage, teeth gnashing against one another. Before anyone in the group could blink, she jumped in the air, twisting her body to kick Fay right in the face.

"FAY!" cried Miyu.

She ran at Krystal, but a simple palm thrust to Miyu's stomach was enough to send her on all fours. She delivered an ax kick to Miyu's neck.

"HE PAID YOU?" screamed the blue fox, pushing her foot into Miyu's head whenever she tried to move, "I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS! WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS!"

"Krystal, that's enough!" pleaded Panther.

She readied her staff, blasting an ice blast at the unready Panther Caruso, freezing him solid.

Without so much as a word, Leon went to all fours, scampering across the wall, moving horizontally as a lizard does. This seemed to catch Krystal slightly off guard. Wolf saw his chance and leaped into a Wolf Flash. However, Krystal grabbed him by the throat as soon as he was within range, throwing him into Leon who was mid-jump. Both Star Wolf members head cracked against each other hard, and with the floor slightly less so. Falco charged next, throwing a winged punch. Krystal blocked it, grabbing his wing, twisting it, breaking it over her shoulder, and judo tossing him to the ground, slapping him a few times. When Falco lay prone, she grabbed him by the leg, dragging him to the pile with Leon and Wolf, charging up an ice blast shot, only to be interrupted by a flying kick from Fox.

Krystal wiped a smidge of blood from the newly formed cut on her cheek, "Look at you! You finally grew a pair. I thought you'd just stand and watch me turn your friends into ice sculptures, just like you watched me walk away when I didn'r want to be your damsel."

"That's not what this...".

"I've never met a man dumber than you," Krystal spat, "I cut a path of bodies teaming up with you all, I've cut a path of bodies through Kew. Do I have to cut through you too? Will that make you understan-?"

Fox threw a kick, but Krystal caught it, driving Fox into the wall. His head made a mighty "clang" with the wall. He was limp, knocked out.

That isn't enough. It'll never be enough. He can't understand. I'll make him understand.

Krystal unloaded with punches. Krystal felt a smile creeping on as she broke bone. Punching his stupid white knight face was oddly therapeutic.

Suddenly, she heard sobs, which jolted her back to reality.

It was Slippy. In the fray, she had forgotten he was there. The frog was on his knees, back against the wall. Tears were running down his face, and his hands were clasped, "Krystal, please. No more. Fox is my brother, and you were like a sister-in-law to me. I knew things were bad, but I never wanted it to be like this. Please, Krystal, stop."

Krystal's face suddenly softened, "Oh Slippy, what did McCloud say to you to trick you into this?"

"This was meant to be a Smash Bros invitation!"

Krystal let out a gasp of shock, "They want me?"

Slippy sniffled the tears stopped. Y-yeah!"

Suddenly, Krystal frowned, "It's a shame then, that you all have already betrayed my trust."

Firing an ice blast, Slippy Toad was caught mid-scream as he was frozen.

Krystal surveyed the room, thinking about what to do. Fay was from a wealthy family, so her parents would gladly pay a ransom, and she could probably pressure her into asking for more to free her wife. Wolf, Leon, Panther, and Falco probably had bounties on them, so she could turn them in. Slippy's father was a powerful political appointee, but in reality, she liked The Toads the most out of her present victims, so causing them any sufferage was out of the question.

"Sorry my old friend," she said, stroking the cheek of the frozen Slippy lovingly, "But you all are my ticket out of here."

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Fox's. An evil grin creapt to her face.

"You're too clean to have any bounties on you, and, while I like Peppy, he's enabled your do-gooder attitude, he needs a wake up call too."

Krystal stepped back pointing the staff at Fox, setting up a fire blast. The glowing caught fire, awaiting her release.

"And what better way to go about that, then roasting the prodigal son over an open fire."

Just as she fired the blast, a small object flew in between Fox and the approaching ball of flame. The object erupted into a blue diamond of energy. Before Krystal could even process what the object, specifically a Reflector, was, her blast blew up in front of her. The blast sent her flying backward, through the table, knocking her unconscious.

"Heh," laughed Falco, pushing Leon's body off of his to stand up, "Saved your ass again McCloud."

He pressed a button on his Smash wristwatch, "Somebody, anybody. We need…" he stopped to count, "Eight medical evacs. I think I'm concussed too."

Falco projectile vomited onto the floor, "Yeah, definitely concussed, "Get yo…get yo…"

And Falco passed out as well.

Doctor Mario's infirmary

Krystal awoke, her nose immediately wrinkling. The overwhelming smell of sanitation meant one thing, hospital. Krystal's eyes darted around the room. Judging by the stories Fox had regaled her with, the man in the doctor's costume, knelt on her left, was Doctor Mario. Fox himself was on the right side of the room, reading a magazine, one with them on the cover.

"What? Where am I?" weakly moaned Krystal.

"My infirmary. I'm..."

"Doctor Mario, I know,"

"Well, then you probably know you're in the Smash dimension."

"I do," Krystal whispered.

"Ah, you're awake," Fox began, "I was reading the tabloid published after our breakup. Did you know Panther leaked the story?"

"That was my idea. I knew it'd drive you crazy if Panther got quoted."

Fox growled, "It did.'

"I'm glad."

"That aside," Fox continued, "Like the good doctor said, you're in the Smash dimension, and we want you to be a Smasher. You'll be in the tournament."

"Do you think I'd trust anyone, much less your band, after what happened on Kew."

Fox cockily smirked. Krystal felt her heart skip. What was once associated with the moments she felt most attracted to Fox, now was insufferable and, if she had had more agency at the moment, would've been punishable by five across the jaw.

"I understand, but..."

"No you don't. You understand nothing," Krystal spat.

"Wow, what are you, five years old?" Fox shot back.

"Not a master communicator are we?" Doctor Mario grumbled, not looking away from Krystal's medical charts.

Fox blushed. Krystal suppressed a spiteful laugh,

" Regardless of anything that's happened between us, these are your options," McCloud continued, "You can either accept the invite, and we'll work to clear your name, maybe even set you up in the Milky Way Galaxy, and you'll never hear from me again. You decline, however, and we either dump you in Kew to get dogged on by the rest of the population, or you go to jail in Lylat for Star Wolf's shit. That decision's has been left up to me if you go that route."

"I accept to be one of the Smashers."

"Are you sure?" chided Fox, " I think you'd be the queen of the prison, judging how you kicked all our asses."

"I said I accept, you idiot! The only reason why is so that I can kick your ass, kick Falco's ass, and kick Wolf's ass, all without having to go to jail."

Fox shrugged, "Fair enough," he said, standing up, folding the magazine under his arm ready to leave.

"How are the others?" Krystal whispered.

Fox paused mid-step. The abrupt shift in tone was jarring. Did she hate him that much, that she'd hurt anyone near him to get to him. What was this all about?

Without turning to look at her, Fox gave her the details," Wolf got out pretty quick, Falco did too. Turns out that Doctor Mario's pills even reset broken bones. Slippy, Panther, and the others got out pretty quickly too, but they're at a hotel that we can't visit until after Opening Day. You can apologize to them then. You can apologize to us in the ring."

"When will that be Doctor?" Krystal asked.

"You'll be here till tomorrow, but training rooms open two days after that." Doctor Mario explained.

Fox wordlessly walked out of the infirmary, where he was met by Mario, his arms crossed. Mario waiting to speak until the door closed, but those blue eyes bore a hole in the pilot that felt like an eternity "Why do you Cornerians always cause the drama?"

"I don't know."

Mario frowned, "Is Krystal someone we're gonna put in the evil category?"

"No," Fox shook his head, "She hesitated when she could've killed all of us, especially Slippy. She's been hurt…by all of us, and we have to earn her trust again."

"I hope that you will, for your a-sake," Mario warned,

As Mario spun on his heel to leave, Fox blurted, "Do you think she's a problem?"

"If you want-a the truth I think-a you are."

"The hell do you mean by that?"

Mario turned back around, his expression soft and empathetic, "Look, I'm not a-gonna pretend to understand what it's like to lose familia. I am a-gonna say that if you want Krystal in your life, there are emotional burdens, even something as abstract as the possibility of death, together, otherwise you end up protecting someone when they don't need it."

"That's rich coming from you."

Mario tensed, but settled back into neutral as soon as it had come, "Low, but understandable. But it's something she and I…"

Fox stomped his foot in anger, "So, you have the audacity to compare what I'm going through with whatever weird cuckoid games you, Bowser and Peach play?"

"It's more therapy for him but…" Mario started, shaking his head, " I'm just tryna help. Think about what I said at least. Maybe Luigi's better for this than I. Anyway…dismissed."

Mario's fist clenched as he pivoted stomping away. Fox waited for Mario's clattering stride to go out of ear shot before he exited the medical wing truly, ascending up the stairs to the main lobby. That's where the anxiety of the situation hit him. He sighed, hanging his head . He'd have a lot to think about.