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M** ission Five: "The Cerinian's Thoughts"**

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If it wasn't a plain enough fact known to the entirety of Lylat, there was little for anyone to do in an elevator whilst inside of one. Most elevators took a person up or down several floors, no more and no less. In Star Fox's case, however, as they were bound to head up from the first floor to the thirty-seventh, there was quite a bit of free time - a few minutes - for the dawdling members to kill. Thus, in their own ways with nothing else to do, awaiting the 37thfloor patiently, the family of famous space mercenaries entertained themselves in their own fashions.

For starters, being the oldest comrades on the Star Fox team, being the wise minds that they were and with no other way to ease their tension about the secrecy of the whole event before them, Fox took to quietly discussing with Peppy about what the possible meaning of the oncoming meeting General Pepper could be about. As Krystal's ears flicked curiously in their direction from where she stood, she sometimes heard catches of the conversation shared between the red vulpine as well as his old time friend of a hare.

"No... I don't think... That can't be..." Fox whispered to Peppy, looking unsure, "Nuh-uh... It's as Krystal said... everything is fine with Tricky..."

"If there's nothing wrong there... Perhaps Sauria requires... more protection..." The elder hare replied softly, not looking at his companion but straight ahead so as to not make anyone nervous about anything, "Do you think... Yes, that would make sense... Star Fox could join the forces around Dinosaur Planet... it would set Prince Tricky better at ease..."

"AUGH! Miyu! Not cool!" Fay barked suddenly, making everyone nearly jump out of their skin when the lynx had teasingly tickled her in the ribs. It was known that the petite spaniel had a slight fear of heights and seeing at how high the elevator was climbing now, the far sight that was the ground below was having an obviously fearful effect on the cute dog girl. That was bad enough without laughing Miyu abruptly poking her in the sides. "Seriously, that wasn't cool. You did that on purpose. You know how I get when this high up in the air. Don't do it again - AUGH, no, stop it!"

"Aw, c'mon, we both know that this is the only way to ease those building fears of yours." Miyu chuckled as she grabbed her resistant white, canine around the waist, pulled her in close and began tickling her without mercy, "Remember the time you and me were scaling the heights of Megall Mountain on Fortuna three months back? Remember how you wouldn't keep going unless I gave you a little jumpstart every so often? Well, that's what I'm doing now. I'm - just - giving - you - a little, teeny-tiny jumpstart, darling, to help you get over your nerves!"

"Ha ha, stop it! Heh heh, NO! Quit - Ha ha - augh - knock it off - I can't breathe, Miyu! Honestly, I *Snort* can't breeeeeeeeathe!" Fay cried out as her feline best friend went on relentlessly assaulting her sides with her twiddling fingers, working the border collie like a whacky instrument of some kind, "Someone, anyone, help me out here. I'm going to die laughing! HELP!"

"To be perfectly frank, everyone has been making fun of me for what happened in this place last year because of my supposed immaturity. All during our waiting on the Great Fox earlier, the team told me to act proper, behave formally and be mature today." Falco coldly butted in from the side, his arms crossed over his chest with his eyes narrowed in impatience, "Well, ever since we set foot in this place, all I've seen the rest of my team do is be immature. Like now, for example. But does anyone lecture Miyu for tickling Fay? Did anyone point out that that wolf girl at the front desk and her stallion buddy were flirting rather than doing their jobs? Oh no. That's all okay. The rest of the Lylat System can have its fun but Falco, nuh-uh, there's no way that he can have a good time."

"Aw, poor Falcy-Walcky isn't having any fun." Miyu mewed, putting on a pouty face as she let squirming as well as happily crying Fay out of her grasp. Then, flexing her fingers with a wicked grin on her face, the lynx approached the avian as she growled playfully, "As for you not supposed to be having any fun on this trip, I haven't heard anything about it. We can have some fun right here, Falco, my boy. What do ya' say, eh? Care to join the party?"

"Back off, cat." The ace pilot told the feline, glaring at her while stepping back into Slippy, "I'm good where I am. I'm having enough fun watching you be dumb with Fay. I have to be mature, you know. I have to be a grown-up today or I won't hear the end of it until the next time I come to UCDF - Hey, Slip, what the heck? Let go of me, bro."

"And so the funs begins!" The toady laughed aloud, holding Falco's arms behind him as Miyu leaped forward with a predatory yowl, "Have at him, Miyu."

"With pleasure, my good toad!" The lynx announced, her sharp fingers making the ace pilot yelp with mirth as she grabbed the ticklish parts of his abdomen under his shirt, "How do you like that and that and that, birdy? Too much for you? Too little? Having enough fun yet, Mr. Grown Up?"

While Falco vainly kicked along with struggled against Slippy's rather strong grip, while Miyu tickled the squawking avian - who was very much enjoying himself although he didn't show it - until kingdom come, while Fay even joined in tickling the ace pilot once she'd recovered herself form her own treatment, there was much laughter as well as commotion shared in the Star Fox elevator. The one who was actually enjoying herself the most besides chuckling Fox as well as Peppy was Krystal who had many a deep thought running through her mind.

Without a doubt, this was her family. Truly, after the ruin of her home planet of Cerinia, Star Fox had been Krystal's long awaited answer to regaining that which she'd lost long ago; loved ones. Apart for being a brilliant leader, Fox McCloud was her dearest older brother. Peppy Hare, wise and gentle, was her father figure. Falco Lombardi, although a bit annoying at times, was her loyal friend both inside and outside of combat. Slippy Toad, that reluctant yet lovable amphibian, was her little brother. And Miyu Lynx along with Fay Spaniel, both being charming and confident in their own rights, were her grand sisters.

During their years together, during their various missions across the reaches of Lylat, the family that was Star Fox had had good times alongside the bad times. However, in the past thankfully, the good experiences had drastically outnumbered the bad which had only served to strengthen the ties of friendship between all of the famed mercenaries. Today, in this elevator, even though having been apart for a year or two, the members of Star Fox were acting like they'd never left one another's sides. They were the best of friends still. They would always be the best of friends, without a doubt.

And soon enough, when they touched down on Dinosaur Planet in the near future, the already happy family of friends in the elevator would gain familiar members again. They would see the Cloud Runners, the Horn Tails and all other citizens of Sauria. Most of all though, they would see a grown up Prince Tricky who would most surely treat them to the finest foods, give them the greatest lodgings as well as tell them many a tale about what he'd been up to since the last time he'd seen them check on his home world since the end of the Aparoids.

Honestly, as she laughed at the antics of her friends around her, as she exchanged a content smile with Fox, Krystal couldn't understand at the moment how she was experiencing so much happiness when her previous life had been one of utmost sadness. How could she have lost her people, her family, her planet years ago but was now brimming with gladness? That was evidently due to the mercy of the gods, thank goodness. Rather than have allowed her to go on living her life alone on Sauria and maybe even throughout Lylat for the rest of her days, the gods had - by some miraculous chance - guided Star Fox to Krystal whom had, in turn at being accepted into its ranks, lived no longer with regret but with pride.

"You are meant for great things, Krystal. You will see that someday." The blue vixen suddenly remembered about her father with a jolt, seeing - with her mind's eye - smiling him standing over her during what'd been a very beautiful summer day during her childhood years, "You are just like your mother, you know. Heh, she never knew when to take no for an answer. Be it through telepathy, farming, fighting, she was forever ahead of the rest of us. Luckily, she slowed down enough to at least let me catch up with her... so that we could have you, our shining star. Live long, my dearest Krystal. Grow strong, grow beautiful, grow proud."

And if he could see her now in the elevator climbing upwards towards the 37th floor of the UCDF hq, Krystal's father truly would have been proud of his sole daughter; the lone survivor of the fabled, destroyed planet of Cerinia. For with her blue fur now shining softly in the summer light, with her eyes as green as ever, with a tempered yet regal body kept grand due to her constant fitness on Star Fox, the sapphire she-fox had grown into a finer than fine young woman. Amongst the many females of Corneria, truth be told, she was a goddess. One that sadly found... she didn't have a man to call her own.

When thinking back to how the wolfess back at the front desk had been speaking so romantically with the stallion clearly interested in her Krystal's thoughts of her friends around her was replaced with a solemn longing for a different kind of happiness. Mind, of course, by all means, the blue vixen had been made more than happy during her years with her family that was Star Fox. Even now while standing beside Fox and Peppy in the elevator, whole she observed Falco get free of Slippy as well as begin tickling yowling Miyu along with barking Fay next, Krystal was filled with gladness.

Yet, there was just something that, oh, well, hm, that... that... wasn't included in the family for Krystal at this moment. There was something important missing. And what that something in question was what had been said for her a moment ago; she had no romantic interest like the wolfess had with the stallion back on floor one. Truly, as of late with Star Fox not having any missions to speak of, the Cerinian vixen had been very eager in perhaps taking some time off of her schedule to see about dating. However, why would she do that when she had many fine men in her family of friends to consider?

Before this moment, very easily, Krystal could have always asked Fox about doing something like a dinner date. Still, with the both of them knowing everything about one another already, being practically brother and sister, wanting to keep their relationship on the team professional, what would that have accomplished? An awkward night of "ums", "gees" and "ohs"?

With his cockiness if not overconfidence, Falco had forever been something of a huge turnoff for the blue vixen so he couldn't give her the romance she craved. Mind, he was an excellent addition to the team that was her family. That was a sure face about him. However... he was just a bit too immature at times.

Slippy? Aw, he was sweet, he was loyal but ever so childlike. No worries, he'd find his sweet heart eventually. Just not in Krystal, no offense.

To be perfectly frank, ever since she'd joined the Star Fox team back several years ago, there was only one possible mate that'd taken a very rapid if not steamy interest in Krystal; Panther Caroso. The only issue with that budding relationship between them had been, well... it'd been forbidden, in a sense. It'd been a dirty, dirty secret romance back in the day. You see, although very charming if not handsome and chivalrous along with groovy, smooth talking and expert fighter Panther had been and still was a part of the rival team of Star Fox; Star Wolf.

And it had clearly been due to that fact, due to the reason that they'd been on opposite sides sharing laughs, kisses along with flirting over secret online videos, that'd made the rivalry yet romantics between Krystal as well as Panther so very enticing. Nevertheless, their little forbidden love had been a long distance one which had ended a year back. After the panther hadn't answered the seventeenth call from his supposedly precious bleu vixen, Krystal - with a rather shattered soul, depressed heart, teary eyes - had accepted the fact that she wasn't to be his one and... only.

Then... who was to be her one and only someday? Who out there in Lylat would enter her life, sweep her off of her feet, look her in the eye and say, "Hello gorgeous?" with sincerity rather than playfulness? Who out there was possibly the right fit for the lone surviving vixen of Cerinia? It was true, being twenty-one, Krystal was ever so young nowadays. She was too young to worry about maybe not finding true love. She was being childish, getting upset over a failed romance with a rival on Star Wolf.

Still, it never hurt for her to innocently wonder from time to time who would be the lucky man to fall into her life, did it? No. It was rather inspiring, in fact. It never failed in making her heart fill with hope, in making her eyes shine with faith, in making her clasp her hands together over her beating heart and murmur an inspired prayers to the gods that she would soon find her one and only. For when she did find him, she would never let him go. Hopefully, he in turn, would never let her go either.

Maybe, just maybe when she found her true love... he would even be included into Star Fox too? Oh, yes, that would be so grand if not beneficial for the team wouldn't it?! Yes, yes, yes, he'd be as good a pilot as Falco, as smart as Slippy, as wise as Peppy and as kind as Fox. He'd earn wanting looks from Miyu and Fay, of course, being the gentleman that he was. Yet, as she would wink at her family of friends, he would be all Krystal's. And her family, Star Fox, would be ever so happy for her.

And the wedding! Oh, the wedding between Krystal as well as her one and only... It would be glorious. Set up in Sauria's Horntail Hollow, alongside the river, with all of her friends, family, loved ones, the marriage would be one that nobody would forget for years to come-

"Krystal?"

When she heard her name called from what seemed far away, Krystal didn't react. She simply lost herself in her imagination; standing on the shore of the river that passed through Horntail Hollow, surrounded by her dearest friends, dressed in a grand wedding gown made from the colorful native plants of Sauria, her eyes looking up to the mysterious face of her one true love as he was leaning down to kiss her to make her his wife. It was only when she was shaken, it was only when her name was repeated, that the sapphire vixen came back to reality.

"Krystal? Hey?" Fox wondered worriedly, holding his telepath friend by the shoulders. The elevator had arrived to floor 37 during the moments that Krystal had been daydreaming. Now, the members of Star Fox were standing outside in the white hallway, watching her curiously. "Uh, um, you doing okay? You kinda had us worried. You were just staring off into space."

"Was I?" Krystal wondered innocently, trying not to blush as Muyi along with Fay gave her smug smiles. They could read her like a book. They proved that they were good friends of hers by doing so. "I'm sorry about that, Fox. There's no need to worry. I was merely... thinking was all."

"Thinking?" Peppy questioned fatherly, looking past the two foxes holding one another to the glorious view of the shining city of Corneria beyond the UCDF walls, "Hm, I was thinking you were lost while looking at that sight there. Our glorious city, bathed in summer light. There are few places in this universe that can rival such a view as we have here now."

"That's true." Krystal agreed quickly, nodding her head, "But no, I wasn't thinking about how beautiful Corneria was."

"What were you thinking about then, sister?" Miyu purred, grinning, "Do tell."

"Yes, do tell." Fay repeated, smiling sweetly, tail wagging.

"I was... I was..." The blue vixen began, knowing she couldn't speak of how she was dreaming about finding true love. Then, no matter if she hiding something, she in fact truthfully spoke her mind next. For truly, during the elevator ride, she had been thinking about more than discovering her "one and only". Yes, she had been thinking about them, about Star Fox, about how wonderful her family was. "Heh, I was thinking about us. I was pondering on how grateful I am to all of you, my friends."

"Oh?" Slippy wondered, looking puzzled but gratefully so, "You're grateful to us, Krys? Even to Falco here?"

"Watch it, toady." The avian growled teasingly, nudging the amphibian with his elbow.

"Yes. Yes, I am. You see... I don't believe I say it enough but you all have given me back that which I lost when my world Of Cerinia was lost. I had a family back in the day. When I lost them, you all came to me in turn. Star Fox gave me a new place to call my own. I found purpose once more in its ranks." Krystal explained fondly, stepping out of the elevator with Fox as her friends quietly listened, "That is what I was thinking over. That is why I was lost in my thoughts. I was happy. I was happy thinking about how all of you, my family, have made me happy. And I hope I too have made you just as happy."

Fay, actually tearing up because of the tenderness of the moment, couldn't keep from affectionately embracing the lovingly speaking sapphire she-fox. In turn, feeling like she too had to join in on the loving, Miyu wrapped her arms around both girls in a group hug. Off to the side, being comical, Slippy hugged Falco's waist who, being too cool for school, unlatched the toad off of himself.

"Lay off." The ace pilot growled at the saddened engineer. That was before he, smiling smugly, wrapped an arm around the amphibian and drew him back into a friendly hug, "Nah, just kiddin'. C'mere you."

Peppy exchanged a fatherly nod with Fox, seeing that Star Fox was in very high spirits about everything at the moment. Then, the red vulpine announced happily, "With friends like these, with a family like ours, nothing is impossible. Ain't that right, Pep?"

"Of course, James." The hare said before correcting himself, "Er, alas, that's right, Fox. Again, ho ho, you spoke just like your father there. Well said."

"Yes, with friends like ours, with a family like this, the impossible becomes possible." Krystal declared cheerily, parting herself from Fay and Miyu and strolling alongside Fox towards General Pepper's guarded, reinforced office, "And as for this mission we're about to hear, well, it's going to be easy-peasy for our team to fulfill."

"Heck yeah." Falco added happily, taking the lead for the group, "Now let's go find out why that old blood hound of a general has been so secretive about all of this."

"Manners, young man." Peppy sighed, shaking his head as everyone else chuckled, "Manners. He's no old blood hound. He's General Pepper. He's your general. He's the keeper of this universe's peace. Keep that in mind during this meeting, won't you?"

"Yeah, yeah, okay... But with those wrinkles threatening to droop over his eyes and all that extra skin hanging from his muzzle, Pep, you have to admit that our general is gettin' along in years-"

"FALCO!"

"Ha ha, alright, alright, Peppy, buddy." Falco chortled when Peppy looked to cuff him upside the head. The avian easily dodged the hare's assault and, holding up his hands, hurried away ahead of everyone else laughing at him, "I get it. I know. I'll mind my manners. I'll be mature. You got it."

"That's right you got it." Peppy grumbled under his breath, winking roguishly at giggling Krystal next as he added jokingly, "Truly, young man, you'll show manners or I'll let Krystal, my girl, actually roast your tail feathers off with her staff for all of CDF to see. If anything, that will teach you your place."