Whew, Okay. This story is not my usual romance story. This takes place in an alternate universe from Rose Petals, but follows that storyline up to a point. This also takes place 9 years after Rose Petals. So it'll have SPOILERS!!!! BUT THIS IS NOT THE SAME STORY!!!! The main Character is Krystal/Kursed BUT it is NOT the Kursed we know and hate! I hope you enjoy this Tragic Romance Story! BE PREPARED TO CRY!!!!

WARNING!: Contains Torture, Sexual Content, Possible Rape, Foul Language, Tragic KrystalxFox Romance,

BUT NO CHARACTER DEATH!!! (This must be distinctly understood, or nothing good will come of the story I'm going to relate!)

P.S. Check out the back story page I will be posting up later, for more info on this universe.

Reassurance: THIS IS A KRYSTALXFOX FIC!!!!! DON'T BE FOOLED!!!!! EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH KEEP READING!!!! I PROMISE IT'LL BE WORTH IT!!!!

Prolouge: Birth of Kursed

Krystal McCloud's Arwing bucked as another charged pulse connected with her top right G-diffuser. Performing yet another somersault to shake off her pursuer, Krystal fired her fully powered laser cannons. The blue beams of spit fire made her opponents Wolfen buck for a moment, but were quickly deflected by the craft's red G-Diffuser shielding, made visible as the advanced fighter rolled away in a U-Turn. Krystal's Arwing bucked again as one of the Wolfen's wing mates came to assist. Krystal swore loudly and produced her own barrel roll, dulling the damage to her shields, but not deflecting it. The Wolfen III's firepower was significantly better than her Arwing II's shields.

"Fox! I can't shake these guys!" Krystal shouted into her headset's microphone. "I need help here!"

"Get in line!" Falco's voice came over the comm. Despite the avian's apparent frustration, Krystal could feel a kind of enjoyment as Falco dueled Leon Powalski above the blue vixen's head. "Aaaahh! Damn lizard! Hold still and let me shoot you!"

Hehehehehe... At last, a real test for my new ship!" Leon's voiced cackled. "What's the matter Falco? Losing your edge?"

"Shut up!" Falco's frustration was evolving into full-blown fury. Falco pulled a spectacular tuck and roll maneuver, catching Leon's ship full in the underbelly. With a short screech Leon rolled away from Falco's Arwing.

"Annoying bird! I'll teach you to respect the great Leon!" Falling back a safe distance, Leon let loose a barrage of charged pulses, the special ability of Rainbow Delta II. Krystal, while weaving and rolling to avoid the incoming fire from her own pursuer, used her peripherals to inspect Falco's shield gauge. It began steadily falling in large chunks, until finally with a bloodcurdling squawk, it disappeared completely and Falco's ship plummeted smoking to Katina's rocky surface.

"Falco! No!" Slippy's voice cried over the comm. Tears streamed down the young toad's face as smoke covered his friend's ship. "You'll pay for that!" Slippy pulled his ship into a tight somersault clipping the wing of Panther's Wolfen, The Black Rose II. The enraged amphibian flew straight at Leon, guns blazing away in a vain attempt at revenge.

"Slippy! No! Don't—!" Krystal warned desperately.

Leon cackled again and rolled aside letting Slippy's ship by harmlessly. No sooner had it cleared the area than a bright blue beam soared by, catching Slippy on the left wing, vaporizing 2 G-diffusers. With a wail, Slippy's ship joined Falco's on the ground.

"Panther!" Leon said angrily over the comm. Annoyed that he had been deprived of his kill.

"Sorry Leon." Purred Panther Caroso's voice. "But the runt was my prey."

"Slippy!" cried Amanda. The yellow haired frog began veering off in an attempt at retribution for her husband. Lucy Hare's ship pulled around to stop her.

"Don't be stupid! That's just what they want us to do!" The two junior members of Star Fox had driven away Krystal's pursuer, but were now under fire themselves. Lucy's ship was already badly damaged, and Amanda's shields were almost gone as well.

"We can't hold out against them forever! Their ships are too powerful!" Krystal said as she moved to assist. "Hold on girls, I'm coming!" She began pouring laser fire into the back end of the pursuing Wolfen, but it wasn't having much effect.

"C'mon little girl! Is that the best you got?" Pigma Dengar's voice guffawed. "Man, Star Fox sure has gone down the tubes since I was a member!"

"Shut up, you vile swine!" Krystal yelled channeling her husband's hatred towards Pigma. She was pouring all her Arwing's energy into the cannons, trying to shoot down her father-in-law's betrayer. Her lasers finally began diminishing the Wolfen's shields at a faster pace, but Pigma still had enough to be cocky. Guffawing loudly he rolled his ship to deflect the steady blue stream of laser fire from the vixen's assault.

"I'm bored. Guess I gotta shoot ya down now. Sorry." That comment that sent chills up Krystal's spine. Sensing his intentions she screamed at her friends to watch out. But it was too late, Pigma gave a deep throated laugh and released a Smart Bomb. Krystal watched in horror as the two women's Arwings caught fire and began breaking apart in the bombs wake.

"Noooo!!! Amanda! Lucy!" Krystal sobbed as her friends ships hit the ground. It was too much to bear! She had lived and worked with these people for years! And now she was watching as everything she loved was torn to shreds by the laser fire of Star Wolf! It was Cerinia all over again! Krystal's eyes filled with tears of sorrow and rage. "You bastard!" She screamed and rushed after Pigma's fleeing exhaust trail. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Worry about your own fortune, sexy!" Came Regi Temptress Teera's voice over the comm. Suddenly, Krystal's ship was hit by a charge pulse from behind. Teera's Wolfen was again behind her.

"Panther is right with you, my sweet." Panther's voice purred at Teera.

Teera rolled her eyes. "Don't call me that! I've only got eyes for the ladies!"

"It is one of your many pleasures that makes you even more appealing!" Panther responded undeterred.

"Whatever."

Krystal was having difficulty keeping her breakfast down. She couldn't understand why she should! The G-diffusers were functioning properly! Nausea shouldn't have been an issue. Nevertheless, Krystal found herself covered in half digested bacon and eggs with coffee. She cursed but couldn't give the mess any attention, the enemy's Wolfens were closing in, and her shields were becoming harder to sustain. Her telepathy was failing her as she was distracted by the nausea, and as a result is was becoming harder to avoid Star Wolf's attacks. Her mind was racked with grief at the loss of her friends.

"First Katt, then Falco and Slippy, and finally Lucy and Amanda." Krystal ticked them off in her head. All her closest friends were dead!

Suddenly, Fox's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Krystal!" Fox's Arwing sent a Smart bomb at Teera and Panther's ships and they broke off pursuit to avoid it. Fox maneuvered his ship so that he was flying next to his wife.

"Fox!" cried Krystal relieved. "I was so worried! I thought you might have been—!"

"Krystal, listen to me!" Fox cut her off in a desperate tone of voice. "You have to run! Get out of here! I'll hold them off to give you some time, but I can only delay them a minute or so! Use that time to get away, is that clear!" Krystal hope turned to despair. She shook her head disbelievingly.

"No! No, you're asking me to abandon you! I won't do that, Fox! You're my husband! I love you!"

"We don't have time for this!" Fox's voice was commanding but Krystal sensed the desperate plea in his tone. "Just go before they're all after us!"

"Fox! I won't leave you!" Krystal shrieked pleadingly. "You can't ask me to—!"

"Fox is right!" Came a familiar voice over the comm. Krystal looked up to see 4 first generation Arwings descended to form up with the two foxes.

"Red?" Krystal and Fox said disbelievingly. The young Pokemon Trainer nodded from the cockpit of his Arwing, adjusting his hat.

"In the flesh! We're here to give you guys a hand!"

"You didn't think we'd let you do this alone, did you?" Balthier's voice said in his sauve Archadian accent. "I wouldn't be much of a leading man if I didn't help a damsel in distress."

"Balthier and I will help distract Star Wolf while you get away." Roxas explained.

"And me and Red are gonna escort ya." Axel's grinned cockily.

"Don't worry, Fox!" Red assured the vulpine. "We'll get Krystal to safety!"

"Thanks guys!" Fox thanked Star Vixen and began breaking formation.

"Fox! You can't—!"

"Good-bye Krystal! I love you!" Fox said as he, Balthier, and Roxas disappeared beneath the clouds, and out of sight.

"Fox! Noooo!" Krystal screamed as she jolted up in bed. Sweat clung to her matted blue fur, and her bloodshot jade eyes were wide. Breathing heavily she looked down to her right. The bed was empty, of course. That spot had been empty for 6 years. Krystal's eyes looked down at her left hand. Two rings, one silver and one gold, stared dully back at her. Krystal's eyes filled with tears.

Hiding her face in her hands, she began to sob uncontrollably. It had been 6 years, but Krystal still dreamed about that day. The day her life ended.

Chapter 1: Aftermath

Krystal's eyes were raw from crying. The dream always had that effect on her. She went to the shuttle's kitchen sink, and retrieved a coffee pot from beneath it. Filling the pot with water, she began to brew some coffee. It was something she did mechanically. Over the years she had awoke countless times from bad dreams, so it had become a habit to make a pot of coffee, not wanting to risk sleeping for fear the dream might come again.

As she waited for the liquid to perk, she reflected on the days following Fox's death. She had, of course, returned with Star Vixen to Corneria. It was while she was there giving her report that she'd been stricken with nausea and vomited on the briefing room floor. She had passed out and been taken to a hospital. It was there that she had learned what would have been the happiest news of her life, if Fox had been alive to share it. After 3 years of marriage, Krystal was pregnant with Fox's son. Peppy had been the one to tell her, trying to be supportive and soften the blow. However, all the joy that could have been Krystal's at this news, was replaced by sorrow, the likes of which she had never experienced. Even the 2 years of separation were nothing compared to this!

For 10 months she'd led a retired life, waiting for the birth of the only piece of her husband she had left. With Andross's new army on the march, things had become heated as Corneria struggled vainly to keep his forces at bay. Sadly, without Star Fox to back them up, Corneria's ships were defeated time and time again. Not even with the help of Star Vixen. The team of inter-dimensional mercenaries fought valiantly, but in the end the inexperience of its pilots became their undoing. One by one, each was turned back into a trophy and was captured by Venom forces.

Star Wolf had made quite a name for itself. They swooped in out of nowhere, clearing the way for Venom's forces and receiving a large sum of money for their efforts. It made Krystal surge with hate and fury. They had gained so much from Krystal's loss! She hated them! Loathed them! They would pay for destroying her life one day!

Then came the day that Venom was on Corneria's doorstep. Millions of fighters had descended like locusts on a promising crop, leveling the cities, while Star Wolf decimated the Cornerian Defense Fleet. Peppy as a final act of selflessness, put Krystal and her newborn baby on his personal escape ship, and sent them off into the far reaches of space.

Krystal had fled the Lylat system with her son, Marcus and never looked back. For 5 years she'd lived in a distant system, the guilt, hate, and sorrow threatening to overwhelm her. All the love she could muster was directed at her son, telling him stories of happier times, of a happier Lylat, and especially of his father. Krystal didn't want Fox to disappear from her memory. By telling Marcus about him it seemed to her he was still alive.

During those years of isolation, Krystal had not been idol. She would have her revenge on Star Wolf. She trained herself, honing her skills for the day that she returned to Lylat. She acquired a fighter of alien design, and equipped it the best she could with her limited resources.

She became proficient at listening in on conversations, and gathered information on Lylat from the space pirates that frequented a bar on the planet she lived on. She learned that Andross was supreme ruler of the Lylat system. He ruled from Venom with an iron fist, crushing any insurgents that rose to defy him. Corneria, no longer the lush farm world of Krystal's memories, had become a penal colony for Venom's trouble makers, and resembled what Venom once had been in past years. It was covered in brutal prisons and work camps, and was a feared punishment among Venom malcontents. The Star Fox logo was considered illegal calligraphy, and any one caught drawing it was sent to prison.

Star Wolf was one of the most feared mercenary groups in Lylat. Each of its members had a substantial following of gangs behind it, and its military strength was rumored to be quite large. It was rumored that they operated out of Sargasso. Krystal intended to get even with them. No matter what the cost, they would pay for everything they had done.

On the sixth anniversary of Fox's death, Krystal's ship reentered Lylat space. It had been a little unnerving to be back, but Krystal had barely felt anything. Her revenge was all that mattered. She decided the best course of action was to make all haste to Venom. Even if it was the enemy stronghold, it was still the most populated planet. It was said to be a beautiful place to live, which was surprising since Andross had ruined so many planets with his experiments, yet Venom remained untouched.

Once there, Krystal would get an apartment under her assumed name, Kursed, and obtained the currency that would keep her family from starving and fund her schemes. Then, when she had saved enough, she would go after Star Wolf. The only problem was that she had no idea where she was. Her nav computer had been knocked out by a meteor shower on her approach to the system. She was flying blind.

Krystal was brought out of her reverie by the entrance of her 6 year old son, Marcus. He stared up at his mother with sleepy eyes. "Mommy, are you allwight?" Krystal rubbed the tears out of her eyes and sniffed loudly. Walking over, she picked up her son, hugging him close to her. He was the spitting image of his father, except for the blue fur. He talked in a childish Cerinian accent, like his mother, and was also telepathic. "I felt you crying," Marcus explained.

"It's nothing, sweetheart." Krystal assured her son, starting to walk back to his room.

"Were you thinking about Daddy?" Marcus asked.

Krystal nodded. "I had another dream about him," she admitted wearily. "But it's nothing that should worry you. Go back to sleep."

"Mommy, why do you always dream about Daddy?" Krystal felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she blinked them away.

"I– I just loved him very, very much. It's hard not having him around." She sniffed. "I miss him."

"I miss him, too." Marcus tried to console his mother. Krystal chuckled sadly, laying Marcus back down on his bed.

"I'm sorry you never got a chance...." Her voice trailed off. She swallowed back a sob and continued thickly. ".... to know him. He would've loved you just as much as I do." It was becoming hard to keep the tears back. Marcus's eyes were filling with tears as well. His mother's emotional overflow was becoming to much for him to bear. He began to sob into Krystal's chest.

Krystal too, began to sob and held Marcus closer to her. Together the two McClouds mourned their departed father and husband.

Later that day, Krystal was serving breakfast to a starving Marcus. They had fallen asleep in Marcus's bed, and had awakened to growling stomachs. Marcus gobbled down his blueberry pancakes and bacon, while Krystal sipped the coffee she'd neglected during the night. They were both feeling much better.

Krystal was pondering how she would get to Venom. She could just keep flying until she saw a planet, then stop and have her nav computer repaired. Of course, that could backfire a million different ways. She had already attempted a patch, but her resources were limited and the patch was second hand at best. Of course, it helped her tremendously. She was now quite sure that she was close to Katina. How close she couldn't say, but at least she had a general idea now.

"Mommy?" Marcus said as he sucked down his orange juice. Krystal looked up.

"Hmm? What is it sweetie?"

"You and Daddy used to live here, right?" Krystal nodded.

"In this system, yes."

"Where'd you meet again?" Krystal sensed what he wanted. He wanted a story.

"On a planet called Sauria."

"Dinosaur Planet?" Krystal chuckled at the old name.

"Yep."

"How'd you meet again?" Krystal looked over at him with a sly smile. She desired to humor him though and she launched into the tale of Fox's heroic rescue.

"And then, your father released the last Krazoa spirit, and they all started to spin around me!" She had become quite the story teller over the years, and she knew how to stimulate her son's imagination. "They glowed blue and purple, and they started to go inside me! Your father shouted 'What's going on? You said this would save her!' He was terrified that they were actually going to kill me and then he'd never get to tell me how beautiful he thought I was!" Krystal was laying it on a bit thick, but her son ate it up.

"And then all of a sudden, they all flew out of me into the big head on top of the palace! And it started to float. He called out to me, told me to wake up, and I did. The crystal holding me up exploded and I felt myself falling! But just as I was about to fall through the hole under me, your father extended my staff and caught me on it!" A nostalgic look crossed Krystal's face as she relived that moment. "He offered me his hand, and I looked up into his face. And right then my heart skipped a beat because I knew that I loved him!"

"Wow...." Marcus said in awe, still too young to comprehend what that really meant. "And he loved you?"

"Oh yes," Krystal laughed. "I felt that he loved me just as much."

"And that's when you went to live on his ship?"

"Yep. And together we had a lot of adventures!"

"When was I born?"

Krystal's eyes became a little darker. "About 7 years or so after that."

Marcus sensed his mother's discomfort and decided to drop that particular subject.

"Tell me about you're honeymoon." Marcus asked. "That's one of my favorites!"

"Krystal sighed and chuckled at her sons curiosity. "Okay."

For the next half-hour, she related the tale of their honeymoon on Sauria. When she finished Marcus was feeling confused on one point. "That was a good story, Mommy, but I don't understand something."

"What's that sweetie?"

"Why'd you and Daddy take so many naps?" Krystal laughed and turned beet red.

"That's something I'll tell you when you're older." Marcus was about to protest when suddenly an alarm sounded throughout the ship. Red emergency lights flashed and a electronic voice said "Warning! Warning! Unknown Vessel Approaching To Starboard Aft!"

Marcus squealed and covered his ears. Krystal's danger sense pricked and she picked up the kit and ran with him to his room. "Marcus! You stay here and don't unlock the door for anyone! Do you understand?" Marcus nodded. "If you are captured how do you talk?"

"Like this?" Marcus said in a make-shift Cornerian accent.

"Good. And what's your last name?"

Marcus shrugged and asked "What's a last name?"

"Atta boy. And what's my name?"

"Kursed." He flinched as he said the name. Marcus hated using his mother's alias. It made her sound evil. "And I don't know my daddy's name. He died before I was born."

"Excellent. Now be safe! I love you!" Krystal gave her son a squeeze and rushed out into the corridor. Taking a last look at Marcus, she blew him a kiss and locked the door. Rushing back to the cockpit, she slid into the pilot's seat and brought up a data readout on the ship.

It was a Dreadnought-class vessel, painted red, and it reassembled very closely Great Fox's I and III, though it was much larger than either ship. The markings on the dorsal wing and the transponder code made Krystal's heart sink. A cold fear and hot fury burned and froze her insides. The name of the ship was The Great Wolf.

Star Wolf had found her. Krystal could barely move. Why? Why did it have to be Star Wolf? She hadn't planned to meet them for months! Certainly not with her 5 year old son on board! It was true, she was cursed. Star Wolf had taken away everything from her! Her home, her friends, her husband! Now they were going to take away the only piece of her old life she had left! Her son!

Krystal shook off the despair that was gripping her. This was no time to go to pieces! She had to keep strong or else she'd never make it out of this alive! The comm beeped just then, and Krystal composed herself. Putting on her best sinister face, she accepted the link to enemy ship's comm. The old holo-screen buzzed to life. A large dog with brown fur appeared in front of her.

"Unidentified craft," he said in an electronic buzz. "What do you think you're doing? You're on Star Wolf's turf!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Krystal began in a improvised Cornerian accent adding a hint of seduction to her voice. "I didn't know! My nav computer got knocked out a few days ago! I'll leave immediately!" The dog glared at her from the holgram.

"Your signal's terrible! Don't you ever go to a mechanic? Anyway that's not the point! Your on Star Wolf's turf! Do you know what we do to creeps who barge in on our turf?"

"It can't be worse than your people skills!" Krystal shot back. The dog's face turned red and his face began to contort.

"You little bitch! How dare you talk to me that way? Don't you know who you're talking to?

"Ike Mansex? Venom's newest porn star?" Krystal was enjoying beating the crap out of this grunts ego and watching his face turn puce.

"What? Oh, you'll pay for that one! I'm gonna blow that piece of crap shuttle to bits! Then we'll see who's laughing!"

"All I see is a worthless mutt, barking at a fox, while his master's not looking!" Krystal poured as much spite into her tone as she could. For several minutes she heckled the furious grunt, who became madder and madder. She figured if she could get the dog mad enough, the argument would be so loud, eventually someone would come over to shut him up. Then she could be on her way. Her plan worked, but not how she expected it to.

"Put it on the main viewer," a deep voice purred loudly in the background. Krystal's insides shrank, she knew that voice all to well. The view changed and the upper deck of the Great Wolf's bridge appeared. Krystal managed to keep her face straight as the entire Star Wolf Team stared coldly back at her. The eyes of Wolf O'Donnell, Leon Powalski, Panther Caroso, Regi Teera, Pigma Dengar, and Andrew Oikonny met hers.

Panther whistled loudly. "Wow! She's beautiful!" Panther put a black-furred paw to his chin and stroked it thoughtfully. "I haven't seen a vixen that beautiful since McCloud's girl. What was her name again?" Krystal laughed inwardly. It was ironic that after all his desperate attempts to win her heart, he couldn't even remember her name.

"Krystal." Teera reminded her teammate. "Her name was Krystal."

"Ah, of course!" Panther's eyes lit up with recognition. "The lovely Krystal! Never to be forgotten!" He turned his attention back to "the lovely Krystal" and continued. "Of course, she couldn't hold a candle to you, my dear!" Panther stepped forward and bowed chivalrously. "Forgive me. Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Panther Caroso. Pleased to make your acquai—"

"Enough of this!" Oikonny cried stepping forward and pointing at the view screen. "This little tramp has trespassed on our territory! We should make an example of her and vaporize her ship!"

"Pipe down!" Wolf told the younger pilot who looked indignantly at his team leader. Wolf wasn't paying attention; however, his eyes were fixed on Krystal. Krystal felt her insides squirm as Wolf looked her over appraisingly. The way he looked at her....Did he recognize her? He couldn't, could he? Her appearance had changed subtlely over the past 6 years. Her hair was much longer, her fur was a dark storm blue instead of the rich sapphire that it had been, she'd dyed it to make sure. And she was older. How could Wolf possibly recognize her?

Wolf took a moment longer to think than asked, "What's your name, missy?"

"Kursed."

"Interesting name. You talk like you came from Corneria, your ship seems to confirm that. What's your occupation?"

"I'm a bounty hunter." Wolf's eye narrowed slightly.

"If you're here to collect the bounty on our heads, you're a little late. That hunt was called off a long time ago."

"I'm not here on a job." Krystal said contemptuously. "I'm lost. I was sent after a mark in the Kew System. On my way back, my nav computer was knocked out by a meteor shower. I didn't know I was this close to Sargasso. I'm returning to Venom to collect my reward."

"Who was your mark?" The question startled Krystal. This was a trick question and she knew it. Wolf was trying to determine wether or not she was lying. He also probably had the mark list on record, if not memorized.

"Son of a wealthy merchant." Wolf smiled evilly.

"There's no such job! We have the very latest list of all hunts currently up for grabs! And I've never heard of any hunter named "Kursed" before!"

Thinking quickly, Krystal spoke. "It was a private hunt from one of my frequent clients." She growled softly. Wolf sneered.

"Alright, who is this client of yours?" Krystal smiled nastily.

"Rule #1 for bounty hunters: Never reveal who hired you."

Wolf clapped his hands together a few times. "Bravo, I didn't think you'd know that one."

"Can we stop playing games?" Krystal sighed impatiently. "I'm a very busy woman."

"Just one more if you don't mind?" Wolf's voice was mysteriously charming. He raised his hands in front of his face. "Do this."

Krystal frowned and tried to figure out Wolf's angle. "Why?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh, no reason." Wolf said innocently. "I just want to avail myself on one point. As soon as I'm satisfied you may leave."

Krystal, still unsure of Wolf's intentions did as he asked, throwing her palms up towards the screen. "Good enough?" She asked impatiently.

"That's fine. You can put your hands down now." The vixen lowered her hands and looked Wolf in the face. The lupine was smirking up at her.

"Now, what was the purpose of that?" She asked.

Wolf kept smirking. "I needed confirmation. Thank you, Ms. Kursed. Your cooperation has been most appreciated." The older lupine turned to Leon and whispered something in his ear.

Leon squinted up at Krystal's fuzzy image. After a second, a long smile spread over his face. The lizard and wolf walked out of the bridges double doors. On his way out, Wolf leaned in to whisper something in Teera's ear. The red vixen nodded and approached the view screen.

"Ms. Kursed, Lord O'Donnell has ordered your immediate surrender." Krystal's heart sank in fear and she glared at Teera.

"What?"

"Come about and prepare to be boarded. If you resist your ship will be destroyed. If you launch any escape pods, your ship will be destroyed."

The link shut down and Krystal's mind worked feverishly to make sense of it. Wolf had recognized her, she knew it! How though? And why had he asked her to hold up her hands? It was a totally illogical.... A terrifying thought crossed Krystal's mind. Raising her palms to her face she examined them closely. Her eyes shot open as a glitter of silver glinted on her left hand. Turning that hand over, she made a horrifying discovery. She had forgotten to remove her rings!

"Idiot!" She cursed herself. "Of course he recognized the rings! Why didn't you take them off! Damn you!" Krystal knew she had no time to beat herself up. There was a transport full of angry thugs on their way to capture her, possibly kill her. Remembering her self-imposed training, Krystal quickly dashed out of the cockpit towards the armory. She would need to be prepared if she was to defend herself and her son.

Krystal laid the last of her sensor bombs under the deck plating of the corridor leading to Marcus's room. Similar charges had been set throughout the ship at areas a boarding party would take first. The charges were powerful enough to punch into the enemy, but not so much that they could create a hull breach. Krystal replaced the plate and retreated back through Marcus's now open bedroom door, stopping as she did so to make sure the reflector was attached sufficiently to the blast door. Satisfied it wasn't going to fall off, she blasted the control panel and entered the room where she had stockpiled her weapons. Closing the doors to the room, Krystal locked it tight and moved behind the makeshift barricade. She had overturned the young vulpine's bed and dresser, pressing the former against the wall to act as a shooting cover, and the latter into the corner, where Marcus would hide while his mother fought. It was a common practice among vixens, to hide their young from predators while the mother distracted them.

Picking her son up, Krystal carried him over to the dresser and hoisted over the edge into the small space behind it. "Stay there, Marcus." She ordered him sternly. "When the fighting starts, don't make a sound." Marcus nodded, sensing his mother's fear and seriousness.

"What's going on, Mommy?" the 5-year old's jade eyes looked into Krystal's.

"Some very bad men are coming here to take me away from you." Krystal explained. "But I'm not going to let them, I promise." she reassured him. "Here, take this." Krystal handed Marcus a pistol. "If anyone but me comes to get you, aim for their head and pull the trigger."

Marcus took the weapon in his tiny hands with awe. He nodded his assent though. "I love you, Marcus! Be brave!" Krystal felt the ship rock as another shuttle docked with her own. She crouched down behind the bed and reached for a pair of blaster pistols. She closed her eyes and used her telepathy to spy on the boarders. They moved in disorganized pairs through the shuttle. Knocking over furniture, yelling and screaming. It didn't take long for a mine to be set off. There was a loud boom and the shuttle shook as the one she'd hid in the kitchen exploded in the face of several grunts. Multiple explosions started going off as startled thugs tripped onto mine after mine. The shaking was nothing she couldn't handle, but with every new explosion the enemy was getting wiser. Wolf and Leon had both come personally, and they began taking command of the panicking troops.

"Watch where you step!" Wolf shouted at a pair of grunts who were about to step onto a mine.

"She certainly not taking any chances is she?" Leon mused. Wolf nodded.

"There's a method to this though. She's set the most charges down that corridor." Wolf pointed.

"She's certainly bent on not being taken alive." Leon chuckled fingering his blaster. "She must love her life." Wolf shook his head.

"No. Something about her manner says she hates her life. Anyone from Corneria must hate their life. Since the invasion I mean. No, she's protecting something. My bet would be a kid. No vixen's going to save her own hide when she's got a kid to raise."

Leon sniffed. "Hmm.... You may be right. There are two scents."

"Let's go." Wolf leaped over the mine field with incredible ease. "That's one patch," The lupine said removing a can of what looked like yellow spray paint. He misted the area so it turned yellow and leaped over another patch, repeating the process. Leon began following as did the rest of the boarding party, using Wolf's trail as a guideline to proceed. Krystal began feeling nervous. They were penetrating her defenses far faster than she'd anticipated.

Wolf finally stopped in front of Marcus's door. He looked at the busted panel on the wall and spat. Being careful to avoid the center of the door, Wolf knelt down next to the charred panel and began fiddling with the wiring. Leon came up and stood behind him taking the same care not to get too close to the blast door. The grunts however didn't. The charged into the small area, blasters charged to their maximum energy output and opened fire at the door. Without warning the Reflector activated and the red energy pulses soared back at the startled grunts who fell before their own onslaught.

Wolf spat again and reached over to grab the reflector off the door. "Blue shield." he mused sticking it in his pocket. "Haven't seen one of those in a while."

"Guess you were right then." Leon chuckled. "This is one "special" vixen."

Wolf finally gave up on the busted panel and turned to the remaining grunts. "Well, what are you fools waiting for? Shoot it down. Obediently the drones began charging their blasters. The red glow illuminating the walls around the area.

Krystal took a deep breath and braced herself. From the other side of the door, Krystal heard someone yell, "Fire!" The blast door gave a tremendous lurch and it bent inwards. Another minute passed and again the yell of "Fire!" sounded, this time a little louder. For the third time the order came again, and this time the door buckled. Grunts began trying to enter the room, but Krystal was ready for them. She stood up and began firing. Grunts dropped before the angry vixen's onslaught. She was acting on instinct alone, firing, crouching, reloading, and firing again.

The cycle continued for several minutes. Grunt after grunt came through the door, and fell to the floor in a pool of blood. Suddenly, a bright blue laser beam flew towards Krystal's chest. She dropped low to avoid it, which gave Wolf the opening he needed. He darted into the room, reflector outstretched, deflecting Krystal's shots back at her. Unable to fire, Krystal backed up against the dresser, growling menacingly up at Wolf, showing him her snow white fangs , her jade green eyes full of hate.

Wolf looked right back at her, smirking at the instinctual reaction. "Well, well. Looks like we caught ourselves a real feisty one!" Leon appeared behind Wolf smiling wickedly.

"Quite a beauty at that, too! Panther and Teera will be pleased." Wolf chuckled. Bending down, he took the snarling vixen by the front of her shirt and handed her off to Leon, who in turn handed her to two grunts who whistled and held her tight. Despite her drive and constant wiggling and snarling, the grunts still managed to hold her down while Wolf peered behind the dresser. He pulled his head back just in time to avoid a green laser that flew up where his head had just been. A little shaken, he called to the young fox behind the dresser.

"Hey! Kid behind the dresser! Hand me the pistol and no one gets hurt, you hear me?"

"Don't listen to him, Marcus!" Krystal ordered her son. "He'll only kill you, too!" Her two body guards hit her with the butts of their guns.

"Hand me the gun and your mother and you both live!"

"He doesn't mean it!"

"I give you my word you won't be harmed if you hand me the gun."

"His word doesn't mean squat!" Krystal snarled as the two guards hit her again. "You know who these men are! You know what they did to us!" Again the guards hit her.

"Let me put it this way," Wolf said pulling out his blaster and pointing it at Krystal. "If you don't hand me the gun, I'll kill your mother and then you. So what's it gonna be?"

There was a minute of silence as Marcus struggled with the decision. At last, the pistol flew through the air and into Wolf's hand. "Good choice." Wolf growled and overturned a the dresser. Marcus cowered in fear behind it, whimpering.

As Krystal screeched imploringly at Wolf to let her son go, the lupine scooped up the young pup and held him under his arm.

"Please Wolf!" Krystal was half hysteric with sorrow and panic as the lupine held her son up to inspect him. "Marcus is all I have left! Please let him go!" Wolf ignored her and continued his inspection. A smile curved around his lips. "Looks exactly like his father." He turned his attention back to the grunts. "Take her to the shuttle and handcuff her. When we get back put her in the brig, a few hours away from her pup is enough to make any vixen willing to do whatever you want her to. Put her in the cell with our other "guest." She'll be glad of the company."

The grunts laughed and began dragging Krystal kicking and screaming back towards the shuttle.

In the brig of the Great Wolf, Krystal was thrown sobbing into a cell, the force field around the bars zapped into place. The guards walked away chuckling at the huddled blue mass on the floor. She shuddered half crazy with worry. Where had taken Marcus? Was Wolf going to kill him? Why had he done this in the first place? The hate she tried to conjure to relieve her suffering, dissipated against the pressure of worry that had opened up inside her. It was like losing Fox all over again.

"Hey stranger, why so down?" Came a weak voice from the corner. Krystal sat up, her eyes trying to focus on the dark mass in the corner. She had forgotten this cell was occupied. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she lay back down on the floor, too worried to care if someone was there.

"Leave me alone! Touch me and I'll snap your neck!" The stranger chuckled from the corner and began dragging himself toward her.

"Guess your not very sociable, huh? Fair enough. May I at least enquire as to the lovely lady's name?" Krystal didn't answer. The stranger edged closer. "C'mon, I don't bite. Unless you're one of those Star Wolf punks!"

"It's Kursed!" She spat. The stranger chuckled again.

"Kursed, huh? Cool name. So what did they get you for, Kursed?"

"I was in their territory." Krystal explained unemotionally.

"Aren't we all?"

"Plus that scum O'Donnell has something against my husband's family. He took my kit and threw me in here."

"Oh. No wonder you're so mopey."

"What about you?"

"Me? There's a price on my head. Star Wolf's been after me for nigh-on 5 years now." The stranger mused.

"What'd you do that was so bad?" Krystal asked genuinely curious. She was becoming cheered by the stranger's non-chalant attitude.

"My team and I cause a lot of problems for the Great Emperor Andross. Perhaps you've heard of us? Star Falco?"

Krystal's ears perked up and she looked at the stranger. He was an tall blue feathered avian. His expression was cocky and his face was beaten and bruised.

"Star what?" She asked disbelievingly.

"Falco. Star Falco. That's me by the way! I'm the famous pilot Falco Lombardi!"

With a cry of joy Krystal pounced on her friend, who squawked loudly.

"Oh Falco! I thought you were dead! It's so good to see you!" She hugged the avian tightly abandoning all pretense of a Cornerian accent.

Falco looked confused and started to ask, "Do I know you?" but then something dawned on him and an amazed look over took his face. "There's only one vixen I know who talks that way!" Falco peered uncertainly at the vixen for a moment then asked, "Krystal? Krystal McCloud?"

"In the flesh, Falco!" Falco gave a joyful squawk and hugged Krystal laughing in relieved tones. Krystal hugged him back, tears of joy running down both friends faces.

"You beautiful Fox charmer! We thought you were dead! I never dreamed in a million years I'd ever see you again! How the hell have you been? Bill told me you had a kid! He must be Fox's clone with blue fur, right?"

"It's good to see you again Falco!" Krystal had so many questions for her former wigmate but she decided it would have to wait till later, as she sensed she was going to literally faint from joy. "Would you excuse me for just one second?" Krystal lost conscious in Falco's arms.

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