Chapter Twenty

The Aftermath

They did it. The greatest threat that any of them have faced has been destroyed. Ganondorf has been killed once again, General Scales took a little tumble out of the castle and Krystal won the battle of her very soul by destroying the evil Kursed once and for all. Four Arwings sat outside Hyrule castle as Fox, Falco, Krystal and Katt are, for the first time since coming to this planet, having a nice visit with Link and Zelda. Bill and the Cornerian Army had already left, heading back to Corneria. Star Wolf decided that the time to split came and went, Fox gave them his word that he would put a good word in with Peppy so they can get a nice paycheck for their assist. Slippy and Amanda gathered what they could from the battle such as the Landmasters and whatever weapons weren't used and headed back to the Great Fox. The Twilight Warriors already went back to the realm of darkness from whence they came.

Krystal was standing on a small hill looking over the field, "I wish I actually stopped to enjoy this place."

"You should have seen the lake," Fox walks up next to her.

Krystal jumps into Fox's arms giving him a big hug, "I am so happy we are together again," Krystal reaches behind her and takes out her ponytail and lets her hair fall. "It's been awhile since I cut it huh?" Her hair was partially over her shoulder and lying on her chest, while the rest was behind her and he could see it lined up under her arm. She grabs the part on her chest, "I probably should cut it off, what do you think, Fox? I mean you are probably used to me with short hair, right?"

Fox looks back to the vision that he had with her having long hair, cooking in the kitchen and Marcus running in. "Actually, Krystal, I think you look beautiful with your hair long."

Krystal has a big smile on her face, "Well then I'll keep it then, just get rid of these split ends."

Fox smiles back at her, "You are the best, Krystal," Fox is picturing two vixens right now, the one in his vision and the one standing right in front of him.

Krystal turns around, "No I am not."

Fox gets concerned and comes around her left side, Krystal then turns her head to the right, "What are you talking about?"

"So much time has been lost," Krystal's eyes start to water, "Before I was put in that machine, I heard what you said about me when you were at the lake. You loved me all this time, and I kept casting it aside."

Fox grabs her right shoulder and spins her around, her head looking down. Fox gambles and goes for it, "Our break up gave us a great opportunity."

Krystal looks at him with a puzzled look, "What? What good could possibly have come from it, if anything it nearly….."

Fox kisses her on the lips before finishing his thought, "We were able to feel what we missed from each other. And now I have the best feeling in the world, I have you back in my life."

Krystal looks back down, "That is sweet, Fox. But we lost over a year of our relationship."

"I am sorry for that as well, Krystal. I am so so sorry, I wish I could make it up to you."

"No, Fox," Krystal looks back at him, "It was my fault as well. How can I make it up to you?"

"Krystal, you are too perfect," the comment put a smile back on her face, "But there is something you can do to make it up to me," Fox gets a smug look on his face.

Krystal plays along, "Oh okay, what is that?"

"I wasn't joking in the castle, and now that I am not hurt, I can do this properly," Fox reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small blue case.

Krystal heart nearly stops as she puts her hands up to cover her mouth.

Fox gets down on his knee and does a proper proposal, "Krystal, I realized that making you leave was the worst mistake I made. Instead of getting you out of danger, I caused danger for us all, in more ways than one. I put this off so long that it cost us a year of our relationship, I should have told you a long time ago," Fox opens the case and inside was a beautiful 14 karat white gold ring with a genuine diamond and two sapphires studs one on each side of the diamond, "I have kept this in my pocket for over a year and a half now, wanting to ask you. I always thought you would say no, but then after you left, I knew I had to find you and tell you put it all out there. Krystal, will you marry me?"

Krystal put her head into her hands to cover up the tears coming down her face, "Yes." Fox didn't hear her because of her hands muffling her voice.

"What?"

Krystal falls to her knees, "I love you more than anything else, of course I will marry you."

Fox stands up and pulls Krystal up with him, "I love you too," Fox takes the ring out of the case and slides it on Krystal's finger.

As the two lovebirds share another kiss the rouge Falco looks on, "It's about time."

"I'll say," Katt stands behind him crossing her arms.

"I am happy things worked out between them," Zelda walks up next to Falco, "She always had a good heart and he loves her so much that he risked his own life to get her to see it."

"I don't know about that," Falco looks at Zelda, "My boy has always been stubborn."

Zelda gives a smile to Falco, "True love is always stubborn."

"Yeah, Falco," Katt gives Falco a hug from behind.

Falco looks at Katt who's head is on his left shoulder and smiles, "Yeah and you are just simply out of your mind."

"Oh come now, you were worried about me at the battlefield," Falco's smile faded away, "Say you love me."

"Whoa now, granted you are my friend and I do care about you but to love someone? That won't set with this lone wolf."

"Falco you aren't getting any younger," Fox and Krystal walk down the hill to join the rest, "Don't take her for granted, don't make the same mistake I did with Krystal. And never take love for granted," Fox bats an eye at Link as well, who is remembering the advice the vulpine gave him back in the desert.

"Well I won't tell my girl to leave. And when I want to tell her I love her then I will," Falco's eyes widened as he recollects the choice of words that just exited his beak.

"You love me? I am your girl?" Katt has the biggest smile, "Oh Falco, I knew it. I love you too."

As the hug gets tighter, "Wait a minute, wait a minute. That's not what I meant."

Link chuckles to himself and looks over at Zelda, "Are you okay?" Link puts his arm around her, finally acting as he will make his move.

"I am fine," Zelda rests her head on Link's shoulder, obviously accepting his gesture.

Fox chuckles and gives him a thumbs up, "There you go."

The moment changes as Fox's communicator goes off, "Fox this is Slippy, come in."

Fox pushes a button on his headset, "Go ahead, Slippy."

"I want to show you something, I don't think our mission is done."

"All right, Slippy," Fox turns off the communicator, "I hate to cut this short but duty calls on the Great Fox."

Link extend his hand to Fox, "Will we see you again?"

Falco beats Fox to the punch and shakes Link's hand first, "Oh you know it. We are friends now and we know where your planet is."

Krystal and Katt each shares a hug with Link and Zelda as does Falco who gives Zelda a quick hug.

"Fox thank you for helping me out."

"I should thank you and your princess, if not for you two," Fox holds Krystal's hand, "I would have lost her."

"No you wouldn't," Zelda adds in, "You love each other too much, it would have came to you someday."

"I have something for you," Fox pulls into his pocket and pulls out a blue wing and hands it to Link, "With this you can contact our Great Fox anytime."

"Thank you," Link looks at it with a look that says 'I give up trying to understand this technology', "You have a lot of strange stuff."

"Maybe someday I can show you more," Fox shakes Link's hand, "But for now we got to get going."

The Star Fox team each hop into their Arwings and fires them up.

Link and Zelda each waves goodbye as Link yells out, "Don't be a stranger, McCloud."

"I won't and remember what I said," Fox gives Link a thumbs up, "Don't take love for granted."

Link stands there with an embarrassed look on your face.

"You and Fox make a beautiful couple," Zelda waves at Krystal completely ignoring what Fox just yelled at Link.

Krystal giggles, "Thank you, so do you two."

Zelda gasps as she looks back at Link and smiles.

With that the four Arwings take off and head back to the Great Fox.

The bridge of the Great Fox opens as the four members of Star Fox walks in to re-join Slippy and Amanda. As everyone sits around the bridge, Krystal pulls her chair as close as she can to Fox's.

"Slippy, what's the problem?"

Slippy turns on a holocom and zooms in the bottom of the castle where Scales fell, and there was no body but a trail of blood that led away from the battle.

"You have to be kidding me," Fox is puzzled on how he possibly survived.

"Well he may have survived but he won't be coming back," Krystal has a proud look on her face, "Unless of course he wants me to mop the floor with him again."

Fox and Falco can't help to laugh at that comment, "Sure thing, blue."

After Fox is done laughing he looks at Slippy, "Is that all you wanted to show us?"

"Not quite," Slippy bends down under the table and comes back up with a big piece of metal and lays it on the table.

The Star Fox team stands up as they circle around Slippy, "What is it?" Falco is the first to ask.

"A piece from the enemy aircraft that attacked us."

"Okay, so we need to figure out where it came from….." Fox is cut off by Slippy.

"I found a clue," Slippy points to a large capital 'D' on the aircraft.

"Dash," Falco immediately blurts out, "He used that symbol on his fighter when he was with Star Falco."

"That's right," Katt continues, "I remember he left our team and returned to Venom."

"Well looks like this is your mission, I give you my blessing to leave and resume your Star Falco. I wish you good luck."

Falco and Katt look at each other and then back to Fox.

"Fox," Falco walks around the group and makes his way towards Fox, "Now granted the name Star Falco, obviously a better name."

Fox crosses his arms and gives him a smug look, "Oh really?"

"Yeah, but joking aside. I loved being the leader of my own team but let's face it, I don't get that true thrill and excitement as being with Star Fox and I miss the good times we have together."

"You actually miss something?" Fox has a smile on his face, he is enjoying every minute.

"Yeah, yeah. So what I am saying is, we want to stay with Star Fox," Falco extends his hand.

Fox shakes his hand almost immediately, "You are always welcome here."

Fox then turns to Slippy, "I guess we should pilot for Aquas so you two can go home."

"No way," Amanda blurts out, "Now I see why Slippy keeps coming back, we are staying put. Right Slippy?"

Slippy trying to hide a smile tries to play it off, "Whatever makes you happy dear."

"Well we only have four rooms and there is now six members of Star Fox. Obviously Amanda will join Slippy in his room."

"And I'll put all my stuff into your room, Fox," Krystal says with authority as if saying Fox you will not tell me no.

Fox looks at her who has her arms crossed and her a big smile on her face, "Yes ma'am."

"Well my room is still my room," Falco sits down and leans back in the chair.

Katt starts to feel down, "I guess I'll take Krystal's old room."

"I mean if Katt wants to move in with me to make herself feel better she is more than welcome….." Falco is cut off with a kiss on the cheek from Katt.

"Thank you, Falco. I'll move my stuff right now," Katt runs down the hall with Falco chasing her.

"No wait a minute, you won't girly up my room."

The rest of the team share a laugh an all too familiar rabbit face pops up on the holocom.

"Great work Star Fox team, I have just received word from Bill that the mission was a huge success. I even heard Star Wolf helped out, I will be sure to thank them properly. As for you Fox I will keep my promise and put you on the permanent military payroll as well as a bonus."

"Thank you, General Peppy."

"Just Peppy my friend. Just ask if there is anything I can do for you."

"Actually, Peppy," Krystal speaks up with a small tear in her eye.

Fox notices the tear, "Krystal what's wrong?"

Krystal ignores him, "Can I ask a favor?"

"Why Krystal, it has been a long time. You look lovely my dear," Peppy is overjoyed to see the young vixen back.

Krystal shows a quick smile but she still appears sad, "Thank you, Peppy. But this is important."

"Aw, yes. What is it? You can ask me anything, you know I think of you like a daughter just like I think of Fox as my own."

Fox now knowing they are about to be wed shakes his head at the gross and sick thought that just went through his mind with a chuckle.

"My parents are dead, and I have no real older friend," Krystal stops and takes a look and Peppy's eyes quickly realizing she may have insulted him, "no offense."

Peppy laughs, "None taking, I know I'm old. Hell I have a granddaughter; I think that qualifies me as a member of the old people group."

Krystal can't help but laugh at that, "Well anyway. I want to ask you if you would give me away?"

Fox opened his eyes wide and felt like he was slapped to reality.

"Give you away? What do you mean?" Peppy looks at the vixen who is now bowing her head with tears coming down.

"My father is gone and I feel like I can only ask you to give me away at our wedding."

"Wedding," Peppy is about to do jumping jacks, "Fox it is about time."

Fox laughs nervously, "Yeah, I believe so."

Krystal looks at him and smiles, "No kidding." She turns and looks back at Peppy, "So, Peppy would you?"

"Krystal you don't need to ask, it would be more than an honor to hand you to Fox."

"Thank you, Peppy and now to show you a preview for the wedding," Krystal runs around the table to Fox, grabs his shoulders and jumps into his arms and gives him a big kiss on the lips.

"We may have to deal with Dash though," Slippy interrupts.

Fox who now has just one beautiful vixen on his mind is in no hurry to have another fight, "We will talk about it after our wedding."

"But Fox," Krystal laughs as she is still being held, "We need time to plan the wedding a month or two at least."

"Shucks, so no fighting for two whole months, not to mention the honeymoon?" Fox shrugs his shoulders, "Oh well, I guess Dash will wait."

Krystal laughs as she pushes Fox's shoulders so she can hold herself up, "Where are we going for our honeymoon?"

"Sauria?" Fox asks.

"Definitely," Krystal shares another passionate kiss with her vulpine.

THE END OF LINK MEETS THE STAR FOX TEAM

The Star Fox team starting with four members now has six members and three couples. Well maybe two and a half. Now they head for Corneria for a well deserved break and a long overdue wedding. What will take place only the second story will tell, Readers be ready for my next story: Fox's Venom of Love and War.