Of Rupture and Rapture

Prerequisite: this takes place immediately after Star Fox Adventures, so if you haven't played it, you probably won't understand it (playing the other Star Fox games wouldn't hurt, either). Also note that I do not own any of the mentioned characters or places; they are all © Nintendo.

The ongoing sea of stars seemed more resplendent than ever before tonight, and for good reason, for somewhere in those depths was the Great Fox. The giant ship was not a stranger to this section of space, and it was still in poor shape. But, for the first time in four years, the ship contained all four members of its famous organization—the Star Fox Team.

Their widely-known, practically legendary leader, Fox McCloud, had a strong feeling of satisfaction taking over him. Sitting in the head of the mother-ship, his suit, boots and jacket, fit for action as they were, remained stained and tattered from his most recent adventure. In fact, this particular mission was probably the most physical, being that he only spent a fraction of it in his famed Arwing. To better discipline his flying abilities, the vulpine had been trained in strict martial arts, and on this mission, he made the very most of it. He never expected to have to do so much out of his aircraft, but the long journeys on foot, the collecting of precious stones and spirits, and the intense events of close-combat were all memories still very clear in his mind.

The celestial body, simply known as Dinosaur Planet (for obvious reasons), was still in sight from the Great Fox's hull window. Just looking at it brought back memories. Fox thought about it only for a moment. The entire ordeal was somewhat tedious, or just weird considering it wasn't something he was used to, and the assistance of its scaly, cold-blooded denizens was not too frequent, but strange when it came. But it didn't really matter; the vulpine was very capable. Regardless of his personal thoughts of the mission itself, Fox found it to be more than worth it. In fact, it seemed funny how everything worked out.

Tonight the ship held as much life as it ever did. For the past four years, it was just Fox, the senior member and mentor Peppy Hare, and the mechanical genius Slippy Toad. It was for eight long and grueling years, after the team had won the Venomian war with Andross, they roamed space, searching for work, for any task, whatever it may have been, that was fit for mercenaries and promised some pay. Somewhere in the middle of this period the estranged wingman, Falco Lombardi, having little patience and a large hunger for action, jetted off in pursuit of his own excitement. It was just a few moments ago when he came through the ship's hatch doors. Now dressed in a hunter green leather suit with spike-studded armbands, donning a pair of thick sunglasses, it seemed to the other team members that he had been busy, but obviously was still the hot-headed avian he always was.

Fox was glad to see Falco again, of course; obnoxious as he could sometimes be, he appreciated his friendship and it just didn't seem like the Star Fox team without him. What caused his new, overwhelming feeling of excitement and euphoria, however, was caused by something different.

The entire team sat around the head room, with Fox in the center in the captain's chair. Sitting closest to him was a vixen, and an eerily beautiful one at that. She was such a strange sight to behold because her fur was a light, cerulean blue; a shade none of them had seen on another person before. Her eyes were also of a similar color, and they shone with a pure and innocent glint. She was dressed scantily but still elegantly with gold; the choker and pendant around her slender neck, the headband in her short, brushy hair, and the sandals on her clawed feet all tastefully accented her pelt. Her armlets, shoulder pads and bizarre weapon, a gold-colored, jeweled staff, added a belligerent aura to her beauty. The top and loincloth she wore were also of a golden color, but more noticeably they left every finely toned curve and every runic tattoo of hers completely bare. Fox found himself near incapable of ignoring her; even harder was the ability to speak normally when she talked to him, as everyone else quickly noticed.

"You're not shy, are you, Fox?" Slippy said with a laugh when Fox only stuttered in response to the entrance of the strange vixen, whose name was Krystal. Fox wasn't a very shy person at all; not once could he recall being nervous…at least not like this. And when ROB, the team's robot, said, "My sensors indicate Fox's temperature is rising. Are you okay, Fox?" that didn't really help, but the vulpine tried to be humorous about it.

"I'm gonna be just fine," he said, and hoped to himself that it was true.

So there they sat, all eyes focused mainly on the blue stranger. Well aware of the attention she was getting, she couldn't help but squirm as she leaned against her powerful-looking staff. The old hare easily recognized her discomfort, and intended to change that.

"You're from Cerinia, correct?" he said, surprising the vixen.

"Yes…yes, I am. How did you know?"

"Well, if I recall, that color is your planet's trademark…or at least, it was. I had done some research a while back, but more recently I heard the planet was mysteriously destroyed. It's actually quite amazing that we're standing here with a survivor, since none were ever reported."

"Yes, well…unfortunately I'm the only one left. I was just a girl when it happened. I remember the sky turned a deep red, buildings were crumbling, and before I knew what was going on, everyone was running around and panicking. I evacuated the planet with my family…but as we left, our ship was sabotaged. I was the youngest in my family, and they sent me away in a smaller ship, the one I have now, before it was too late. I can faintly recall what they said, let alone who or what might have caused Cerinia's destruction…but watching the ship with my family inside catch fire as I flew farther away, being so helpless…is something that's still very clear."

"Peppy!" Fox snapped with displeasure at the old hare. Slippy, the closest one to Peppy, jabbed him in the side with a frown.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry…" said Peppy, rubbing his forehead with shame, "Sometimes when you get old…you forget how sensitive these things can be."

"No, it's alright," said Krystal, "It feels rather good to tell others about that. And I'm actually quite flattered that someone wanted to know about me. I've been wandering space for a long time, hoping to find answers, and pretty much everyone I've ever met hasn't been interested in what I had to say." She then looked around the room, her eyes examining the bright lights and screens with fascination. "This has to be the nicest ship I've ever been in since I've been out on my own. I'm very lucky to have met you guys. Fox…?"

She turned her pretty head over to Fox, peering into his intense green eyes and smiling joyfully. Her stare made him twitch and his reddish brown, black-tipped ears fidgeted with a kind of nervousness he still wasn't used to. "Um…yeah?" he responded, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Thank you…again. I know I was a bit of a jerk when I got out of that crystal, but you were right; I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you."

"You said that!? Jeez, Fox, you have a knack for saying the wrong things to girls!" sneered Falco with his wings crossed.

"Well, I…uh…I mean, I understand, Krystal. Hey, I'm sure if I was stuck in a giant hunk of glass with no food and water…I'd be cranky when I got out, too." Krystal gave a light, pleasant laugh in response as she slowly touched his paw. The blood stormed into Fox's face, making it beam red even through the thickness of his fur.

Falco had been observing the whole situation carefully since he arrived, and he couldn't help but find it funny. When he had boarded the mother-ship, asking to re-join the team (as if they could say no to him, right?), Fox seemed to be pretty much the same guy he always was. While the reunion under Andross's vengeful siege was a surprise, the bird wasn't really expecting any more. In fact, he had trouble deciding which a bigger shock was—the insane simian villain's return from the dead or the message of a beautiful female, addressing and thanking Fox. Nevertheless, he knew exactly why the vulpine was acting the way he was, and that he probably wasn't too sure himself, or at least wasn't ready to accept it. "What surprises me is that a little lady like you is traveling space all by herself." He said with a smirk.

"It's not like I'll ever be a renowned warrior or anything, but I've managed. I mean, I'm alive before all you guys, right?"

"As far as I can tell…" Falco then gave a peculiar glance at Krystal's staff. "Fox, you used this thing on the mission? Huh. That's a stretch."

"But it's helped me so much. I've had it with me since I was a child. On Cerinia, we believed in peace, but that it often comes only after much perseverance, that's why it's custom to undergo physical and spiritual training. This staff was a gift from my family after I had finished my training. After my home was destroyed, I only had the ship, this staff, and the clothes on my back."

("Which apparently isn't very much," snickered Falco so silently that neither of the foxes heard it.

"Oh, grow up, Falco!" snapped Peppy, "Don't make me wish you'd leave the team again!")

"…There's a lot of creepy stuff out there in the galaxy, and because of this staff I've been able to survive. I'll admit it's not as good as those aircrafts you have, but my ship is only good for getting me around. And when it got stolen by the SharpClaw, this staff was all I had."

"But I found the staff as soon as I landed on Dinosaur Planet…" said Fox.

"I received a distress signal from my ship, but when I landed, it was so warbled up I couldn't understand it, and I had no idea where I was. Luckily a CloudRunner came to my assistance and we searched together for a while, but as I approached the General's Galley…I dropped my staff. I kept going, I even stumbled into the Krazoa Palace, but, as you all probably know, I got stuck…and that all led to where we are now."

"Well, luckily for you we had reasons for going to Dinosaur Planet, as well." said Peppy. "If not for the mission, who knows how long you would've been there!"

"But in the beginning…when I first got there…I heard your voice, and you told me how to use the staff. If not for you…I wouldn't have had any clue…so, I guess I owe you thanks as well." said Fox, still struggling to be cool.

"Ah! Another famous aspect of Cerinia!" exclaimed the hare. "I had heard of your peoples strong spiritual, almost psychic abilities, and that you were even able to channel these powers into your own branch of advanced technology, but I was questioning if it was all true. It seemed like rumors and myths, but by judging by what I've seen with your staff…even the excellent maneuverability of your ship, it seems obvious to me that those myths were all true!"

"They are, indeed," answered Krystal.

"It's remarkable! It really is! Maybe you can even help out Slippy with the mechanics! God knows the Great Fox could use an upgrade!"

"Hey! I'm doing a fine job, thank you very much!" said Slippy, who, though sounded insulted at first, conceded to curiosity. "…But I guess it would be worth a try…"

"I'll try to help however I can." The vixen said very softly, as if to stress just how truly grateful she was. "I mean, sure I could channel my thoughts to give instructions about my staff, but it wouldn't have mattered if no one was there…"

"And I doubt those dinosaurs were planning to go near it!" said Slippy.

"Yes, well, I guess I've always been rather headstrong. That whole incident showed me that I've been taking risks every day…and when I was stuck in Krazoa Palace…knowing that I could have died in there…it was scary. From now on, I need to be more careful; this ordeal has showed me that."

"Well, you're young," said Peppy in a tutorial but comforting sort of way. "You want answers, and considering your predicament, that's understandable. And it seems to me that you also followed that distress signal in an act of kindness. You remind me a lot of Fox, actually."

"Uh…" Fox rubbed the back of his head and tried to smile in his feverish fluster. "Err…heh-heh…I'm sure he meant that in a good way."

"Yeah, as in Krystal probably doesn't care as much about money as you do." said Slippy with a grin.

"Hey!"

"Well, honestly, were you really going to go through with the mission if it didn't have sufficient pay?"

"…Probably not, but I'm definitely glad I went now." Krystal grinned at him in response, and Fox found it harder to focus on what he was trying to say. Summoning as much power in himself as he could, he managed to muster the best words he could as he stood up, trying to look like the proud leader he was. "Uh…Krystal? There's something else I've been meaning to ask you…"

"Yes?"

"Um…I was thinking…well, you seem pretty capable of fighting, and you already have experience flying…so I, uh…thought it might be a good idea if you were to…join us. You know; be a member of the Star Fox Team!"

The other three members gave out a gasp, not sure how to take this. Krystal looked down at the floor in embarrassment.

"Guys! Come on! I don't see any reason for her not to join!"

"Well, Fox, I'm sure she's telling the truth about everything," said Peppy, "and I think she's definitely worth considering, but we haven't seen her in action or anything."

The vulpine stood up and tried will all his might to be firm in his words. "…I trust her. I think she'll make a great addition to the team, and I'm the leader, so…"

"Fox," said the vixen, still speaking softly, "It's alright. There's no reason for me to just take me in with open arms so quickly. I mean, we did just meet. Really, to just let me be a part of the team so soon would be kind of silly."

"…But…"

"Hey now, what's there to get all upset about?" said Falco with an unwaveringly carefree tone, "Now that I'm back there's nothing to worry about! Besides, Krystal, you seem to make a perfectly good damsel in distress and I don't think Fox minds rescuing you, so long as you reward him…"

"Falco!" Fox snapped his neck towards the cocky avian; his face was near eruption with embarrassment and anger as he barked at him.

"Ha-ha! Fox, you need to relax!" said Slippy playfully. The pudgy little amphibian had been working on ROB the entire time, as everyone could tell by his webbed hands constantly fidgeting in the robot's opened back. He then closed the hatch shut and smiled. "Hey, Krystal! Maybe this will cheer you up!"

The robot immediately stood upright and waved its large, rake-like hand, as if in gesture. It then said, with as much emotion as a robot possibly could, "Hello, Miss Krystal! You are such a cute and lovely angel!"

The vixen giggled. "Well, it would be the first compliment I've gotten in a while…too bad it's from a thing…"

"Hey, I've been working on ROB's conscious circuit! He's practically a member of the team! And anyway, I'm sure Fox agrees with him, right Fox?"

"What!? I…uh…"

The amphibian laughed. "Hey, I'm just trying to help you out, Fox!"

Later on in the night, the Great Fox fell silent. The image of Dinosaur Planet was getting smaller every minute as it slowly shifted away behind the ship. With their auto-pilot destination set to Corneria, the Star Fox team was ready to head back home. Each member had retreated to their own separate rooms, except for their leader, who was speaking alone with the vixen in front of the captain's quarters.

"Fox, I don't feel comfortable sleeping in your room," said Krystal in a sympathetic tone.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Fox replied, "I'll just sleep in the lounge, no big deal."

"…You sure are going a long way to make me feel comfortable. I can't remember the last time I was given such hospitality." Krystal was rubbing her arm and looking at the floor, trying her best to conceal the pink glow across her muzzle (which actually made it all the more obvious).

"Well…you're the guest; I'm kind of obliged to help you out."

"But you've already helped me so much, you didn't even have to, and there's really not much I can do to thank you."

"…Well…there is something I would appreciate…" the vulpine bit his lip, hoping the relative sternness of voice wouldn't give out.

"Anything," she said, smiling.

"You…you could stay."

Krystal's pretty blue smile immediately broke. "Wh-what?"

"I would like it if you stayed with us. I mean, I think you're really brave and that you'd make a great addition to the team. I don't care what the others think, I'm the leader and they have to do what I say, and I'm sure after a while they'll learn to appreciate you as much as I do…"

"Fox, I…I don't know what to say…"

"Say you'll stay! Please…"

"But…" Krystal let out a sigh. The two foxes then had trouble looking directly at each other. "I don't know what help I could possibly be to you. I'd probably just be a burden."

"I don't really care about that stuff, Krystal."

"And it's not that I don't like you guys or anything, but I think I need to keep going. I need to find answers; the reason behind my home's destruction."

"But what makes you think there's anything out there for you? You don't have the slightest idea of where to look, and you can't possibly be sure there's anything to find in the first place!"

"What are you saying? That I've spent my whole life looking for nothing!?"

"It just seems pointless. I mean, it's not like finding answers is going to bring your family or your planet back!"

"But if I figure this out, maybe I can help prevent it from happening to other planets!"

Fox couldn't stop shaking his head, in disbelief of what he was hearing. This was not the conversation he planned on having. "Even so, how can you possibly do that all by yourself?"

"I don't know—that's why I need answers!"

"Ugh…fine. If that's the way you feel, I guess I can't stop you…"

"I still appreciate you letting me spend the night and all, but once we get to Corneria, I think I'll be on my way…goodnight." And she walked away, into the room, the door sliding shut swiftly behind her. Fox slammed his head against the wall of the ship and let out a disgruntled sigh.

"Grr…women." He said as he rubbed his head against the cold metal. After a few minutes of wallowing in self-pity, he stood upright and began to walk ahead through the hall, only to be stopped by the sliding sound of an opening door to the side of him. "Huh?" Fox's ears suddenly perked as he quickly turned behind him. Seeing no one there, he sadly turned around, only to jump back in shock. "Aah!"

It was Slippy. Having seemingly appeared from nowhere, his sudden presence made the fox's heart skip a beat.

"Hi, Fox!" he said cheerfully, his squeaky voice sounding even more high-pitched than usual.

"Oh, jeez, Slip! …You surprised me."

"You don't sound very happy—I take it things didn't go too well with Krystal?"

"What? I don't really feel like dealing with this, so if you don't mind…" Noticing the toad was planning to block Fox's path, he turned around, about to take the other way, but Falco and Peppy were already standing in his way. "What? Is this some kind of intervention?"

"Not really," said Falco, "but we do need to talk."

"Fox, why are you doing this to yourself?" said Peppy, his long ears drooping with heavy concern.

"What are you talking about? The only thing I'm doing to myself is losing sleep."

"You're just gonna keep telling yourself crap like that, aren't ya, McCloud?" said the avian. "You're either in total denial or you're even denser than I thought."

"Something else I had learned about Cerinia in my research…" said the wise old hare, "As it turns out, the people there had a very similar genetic code to those from the Lylat System. There's no way of confirming how that is, but there are many rumors about us sharing common ancestors, but recent enough so that evolution hasn't separated us into entirely different species, just different races. Have you noticed your translator is off? She actually speaks Lylatean like we do!"

"Oh please, Peppy! It's a very well-known language in the universe; I'm sure she picked it up in her travels. And anyway, what's your point?"

"No need to get upset, Fox. All I'm saying is that, when the time comes, you and Krystal will be able to produce healthy kits."

Fox's mouth and eyes gaped wide open. "What!? Oh, I don't believe you guys!"

"Well, fine then, Fox. If you honestly don't have feelings for that pretty vixen, then why don't you just say it?"

"Wha…? It's just…I don't…uh…I mean, I…well, the thing is…"

Peppy gave a soft laugh, amused at the situation. "Stuttering, huh? Funny…that's what your father did when he met your mother. You really are getting more and more like him, you know."

Fox let out a heavy sigh, slouched and lowered his head; his ears drooped all the way down. He was tired of making excuses and covering things up, in addition to be tired physically. "…But what am I supposed to do? She wants to keep looking, and I don't think I can stop her."

"I think you're looking at this the wrong way, Fox!" exclaimed Slippy.

"What do you mean?"

"Fox, you remember the day I came back from Venom only to tell you that James had been betrayed and killed, right?" said Peppy, "From that point on, you wanted answers, and you wanted revenge. Krystal probably feels the same way, but she's lost everything, and in one foul swoop!"

"Yeah, you need to stop being such an insensitive jerk!" sneered Falco, but with a strange tone of sincerity. "She's gone through ten times worse than you have."

"But you didn't go through it alone, because we were all there to help you out!" said Slippy, "So who's to say that Krystal has to wander space all by herself? It's not like job requests are piling up for us, so we'd have plenty of time to help her out. And if anything she'd have better chances of figuring stuff out with us than going it alone!"

"So, you're saying…if she joined, she'd be helping herself?" asked Fox.

"I think she'd be doing more than that." saidFalco.

"Just remember, Fox, it's entirely her choice," said Peppy, "but let her know…that you care."

"Will she stay if I do?" the vulpine was sounding more and more like a lovesick puppy.

"I'm sure she will," said the hare in the most reassuring voice, giving Fox a hardy pat on the back.

"Thank you, guys. Thanks a lot," said Fox. He gave out another sigh, but this was happier and more relieved. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I'll…talk to her in the morning when we get back to Corneria." And with that, he began to walk his original path through the hall and to the lounge. The loud clapping of boots quickly followed from behind as Falco soon caught up with him.

"Hey," he said smoothly. "Don't worry—she has no reason to say no to a guy like you, as long as you don't stay all sappy like this."

"Thanks, Falco…I think," Fox said happily but wearily.

"I must admit, you've done pretty damn well for yourself. I'm proud of ya, McCloud."

"Thank you. I'm sure one of these days you'll find a nice falcon gentle…or a cat or something…I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what you're into these days."

"Hey, Falco, when are you gonna tell us what you've been doing these past four years?" said Slippy.

"Hey, give me a break! Maybe I'll tell you later, but this isn't about me…it's about Fox." The bird cupped Fox's shoulder and, for the first time since he arrived, gave a real, honest smile. "Go get em',"

A few hours later, Fox had finally gotten the rest he so badly needed. Out in the lounge section of the Great Fox, a spacious room with a wide, glassy view of the deep nebula, and one could just hear the rumbling sound of the mother-ship moving closer towards her destination. Lying on one of the sofas, arms and legs hanging over lethargically, he fell into a heavy slumber, falling off his last bit of thought. "Falco's right. There's no reason for Krystal to just dump me. I did save her life, after all. And if she stays with me, she'll have a much better chance to find what she's looking for…not to mention the company along the way." He tilted his head just to look at himself. He was a smart, athletic, successful fox, in the twilight of his youth; young enough to still want to keep going and live life, but with enough experience to know how to deal with many situations…and old enough to know what he wanted. "I just have to remember not to put any pressure on her. I just have to be myself…and let her know…" he gave out a half yip, half yawn as he puts his paws behind his head and lowered his eyelids. "She sure is gorgeous…I don't think I'll ever see another vixen as beautiful as her. God, I hope she says yes…" his breathing became perfectly still, and his eyes completely shut.

The entire inside of the Great Fox was silent for many hours, only to be disturbed by the clacking of sandals against the metal floor. Krystal sneaked through the halls, quietly as she could, heading towards the lounge room. Past the door, she slowly seeped across the large room until she found what she was looking for. She leaned against the arm of the sofa where Fox slept and watched him for several minutes.

"What am I doing?" she thought to herself, "This has never happened to me before. I've never felt like this…then again I've never been rescued before, either." Still gazing upon the fox, she couldn't help but think of how the entire situation worked out. By what chance, or even some bizarre supernatural force, that she arrive on that place known as Dinosaur Planet while the Star Fox team is sent there on a mission, all with perfect timing so that they could rescue her when she fell into danger? She also thought it was a very unlikely happening to look up from the edge of the hole in the ceiling of Krazoa Palace from which she hung, only to see another fox with a friendly paw reaching for her. Not to mention…such a handsome fox.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he already had a girlfriend, maybe even several, but at least I didn't see a ring when I checked his hand, so…oh, what am I thinking!?" she placed her paws on her furry blue cheeks as the blood began to beam through them. "Dear, I don't think I can ever go back to normal now!" Knowing full well that looking at the sleeping young man again would only make her blush and tingle more, she peered over yet again and smiled while giving into the temptation of stroking his bushy, white-tipped tail. "He sure looks peaceful…I wonder what he thought of me when he saw me sleeping in that crystal…"

"Ermph…uh…" the vixen flinched when she saw Fox squirm and moan. Her eyes wandered back and forward to him and at the door, wondering if she should stay or run off before he could even notice she was ever there. Obviously she had made the decision to stay, for she firmly seated herself at the bare cushion of the sofa right next to him.

"Hey there," Krystal said very softly when she noticed Fox's eyes were opening. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"Uh…oh! Krystal!" the second Fox's eyes allowed him to see the vixen sit before him, he gasped and scrambled to sit upright. "I, uh…no, you didn't wake me…I just, um…well, I guess I'm not really tired anymore, heh-heh."

With the silver-white light of the stars, Fox could easily see Krystal had taken off her jewelry and had put on one of his larger, looser shirts. "Oh, I hope you don't mind."

"No, no! It…it's alright." Fox couldn't help but find himself pleased when he saw her like this. With all the glitter of her accessories gone, her hair messed up from sleeping; she still radiated a strangely delightful loveliness. She was a natural beauty.

"So…you're not mad at me?"

"What? No, of course not! What reason would I have to be mad at you?"

"Because of what I said…you know."

"Oh, that. Well, I think I'm the one who got a little too dramatic about the whole thing. I mean, my father was betrayed and murdered; I was orphaned at a young age, too, and when that happened, I just wanted answers, so I know what it feels like…"

"Really?" she said happily as she scooted over closer to him.

"Uh…uh, yeah!" the vulpine fell into a deep fluster the second he felt her hip touch his. "Well…except you lost your whole planet, as well. You had to start over again completely; I understand that now."

"Hmm, you know I think Peppy was right: we do seem to have a lot in common."

"Yeah! You know, they say having things in common is good for a healthy relationship…oh! I didn't mean that! I just…well, what I meant to say is that…"

"Fox?" Krystal silenced and soothed him with one word. He had no choice but to look at her and be at peace. Damn it, she's pretty, he couldn't help but think.

"Krystal…I'm glad you're here; I don't want to wait anymore. I'm sorry for what I said. I can't possibly stop you from trying to figure out your past, but there's no reason that you should do it all by yourself. I mean, I didn't, why should you have to?"

"Fox, I…"

"Because…if you join the Star Fox team, we will do everything we possibly can to help you out. Not only will the chances of you figuring it out be greater, but you'll have us by your side…for whatever happens, and we'll be there for you whenever you're done, whether you figure it out or not."

Krystal was completely speechless for several moments. Fox's paws were shaking, but he fought through his fear and took the vixen's paws, holding them tight. "Listen…I think you know how I feel, that I want you to stay…but it's completely up to you. If you think this is something you really need to do by yourself, then I guess I can't stop you. But if you leave, at least know that we'll always be around, and you can come find us whenever you need help, some kind of equipment or just someone to talk to…"

"But why, exactly, do you want me to stay so badly?"

"…Because…because, I…" Fox couldn't help but think of when he saw the vixen for the first time, sleeping soundly in the giant crystal atop Krazoa Palace. Since the very beginning he knew he had affections for her, and while he could've watched her sleep there for hours and hours (but Peppy interrupted him before he could get too comfortable), he also wanted so badly to get to know her. Now that he knew she was a brave, kind soul, with personal tragedies similar to his own and being perfectly capable of fighting by herself, rather than some damsel in distress, he found her more fascinating than ever before. Still, he thought confessing love for her would be slightly too much pressure, considering the reality that they had met but a day ago, though he planned on doing so eventually…if she stayed, that is. "It's not just you being a member of the team, but I want you around as a friend, and I'm sure the others feel the same. You're so interesting, Krystal; I really want to get to know you, and…and I already know that I care about you…a lot."

"Oh my god…" Krystal was shaking her head in disbelief, "No one…has ever been this nice to me. I've been so alone all these years, just fighting my way to survive… It would be so nice to be able to rest, to feel safe…and to have people there for me."

"You can have that—I think it's only fair you get the same opportunities that I have."

Krystal couldn't help but laugh. "I am really lucky that you found me, Fox. It's really quite funny the way things worked out just the way they did."

"I think that's called serendipity," the vixen tilted her head, "It's when good things happen by accident. I mean…not to undermine what you've gone through, but…"

"No, I understand, and yes, it does seem like that."

"So…does this mean you'll stay?"

Krystal giggled. "It doesn't seem like I have much choice now, does it? Even if I tried to leave, I'm sure you'd come following me."

"Well, I'm not sure if I'd be able to help myself…" the fox tried to be smooth, but his calmness plummeted once again into fluster as the blue vixen lunged at him from nowhere and nuzzled up against him. Still blushing heavily, he managed to wrap his arms around her back. "Welcome to the team, Krystal."