We thought that the rise of the aparoids one year ago was a coincidence; that they appeared out of nowhere while we were fighting a battle on Fortuna. Never have we been so wrong. I had suspicions that the attacks on Sauria and Corneria were linked, but would never have guessed that the purpose was only to weaken us for what came the year following. The aparoid invasion was an eclipse, a dark shroud to cover over the terrible threat rising from our vengeful enemy. The Omega Aparoid, still unknown to us except as the commander of Andross' forces, tested us to our very limits with his final assault on our home planet. His army was stronger than any Corneria had ever seen before, combining the military strength of the Venomian army with the corrupting power of the aparoids.

But somehow, we managed to overcome. I'm still not sure if it was because I found out the enemy's plan beforehand, if it was because of some miracle that the Katina and Fortuna reinforcements arrived in time, or some combination of the two. If any one of us failed, the war would not have been a victory... That is not to say that we escaped without suffering many casualties. Of the pilots serving the Cornerian military and Defense Force, only half of them survived the battle. Buildings burn with dark smoke, roads lay destroyed, and we all must recover from our wounds... but we will endure. Corneria always does; they will rebuild just as they did before, until their city is once again the crown jewel of the Lylat System.

As for the pilots of the Star Fox and Star Wolf teams, of course we went our separate ways. Star Wolf was recognized this time for their efforts in saving the city; their names were cleared, no longer to be viewed as criminals until they decide to break that streak. Fox, Falco, Slippy, and I were paid for our work throughout the entire struggle with Oikonny, though it was not of much concern to us. Like Fox said before the war, this mission was not about money; it was about defending our home. We fought against Andross' army because they were our enemies, endangering our lives and threatening our allies.

With the knowledge that their leader once served under Andross, we searched the Cornerian archives for a trace of his name and background information, but none could be found. Surely, he must have deleted all important information on himself before leaving Corneria. Now I know what Bryan meant, when he said "he is one of us..." The fox leading Andross' armies was once a Cornerian himself, he was one of us, and that was how he was able to manipulate us so easily. Now that he is gone, the Cornerian military and government should become trustworthy once again. It will take time to mend the wounds left on both sides, but Corneria will soon be what it once was before its corruption.

Though he's been defeated, something about our nameless foe continues to resonate within me... Not only with the words that he said, but how he acted. He never fully explained what he meant about his suspicions when I was captured, and during our final battle he mentioned the destruction of my home planet, Cerinia. Did he discover this through the Cornerian databases, or did he know more about me than he led me to believe? I haven't thought about home since Fox rescued me on planet Sauria... I promised myself that I would leave the past behind me once I became a member of Star Fox, but something inside me feels awakened. Why here, why now, after so many years being free from the thoughts that torment my heart and mind? This feels like something I will struggle with for some time to come...

After the war, we still had amends to make with Bill... In the aftermath of the battle, the bulldog revealed that Bryan was truly his younger cousin. Fox explained his involvement in the ambush on Katina and the concealment of the aparoid files, apologizing that we did not reach him in time. Though we failed to save his life, Bill did not blame us for the loss. He was always good friends with Fox, and knew that we did all that we could for his young relative.

Once the war was over, Beltino Toad investigated the weapon systems built into the Orbital Gate, still curious about their origin. He traced their creation back to the original blueprints, indicating that the plan to overtake the space station was implemented with its original design. Beltino deduced that the commander of Andross' forces was involved in the gate's development, secretly installing a program to control the ship's hidden weapons once the time was right for him. The thought is very disturbing; it worries me that our enemy has always been inside Corneria's infrastructure, since the days of Andross. Fortunately, Beltino was able to convince the Cornerian military to have the Orbital Gate disarmed immediately, resuming its role as a transportation and research station only. All threats have been eliminated aboard the space station and all information has been analyzed to be sure that Corneria alone holds access to its scientific and historical documents.

Two other scores had to be settled with our enemies; the natives of Venom, who assisted our enemy in the war on Corneria, and the research station on the outskirts of the aparoid homeworld. After negotiating with the Venomians, we reestablished the peace treaty that had endured over the past decade. We returned their prisoners who had surrendered during the war, only with the promise that they would not go back on their word again. We explained how our involvement on their planet was necessary to capture Oikonny, and apologized for what seemed like an attempted invasion.

The Cornerian Military sent forces to the research facility where I was taken after being captured immediately following the war. We evacuated the scientists working for our defeated enemy and destroyed the base, ensuring the end of his dangerous schemes. The research, however, was entrusted to Beltino Toad, who in the future might be able to use this information for the better of Corneria. The aparoids themselves still remain somewhat of a mystery, but hopefully their threat will forever cease to exist.

The offer for Lucy to join the Star Fox team remained once everything settled down. Surprisingly, she refused. Though she did not wish to express her feelings to everyone, she told me the reason why she declined after wanting to join the team for so many years. "I have spent my life living in envy of what Fox and his team have," she said. "But after everything we have been through together, I've realized that I don't want to be anyone else other than Lucy Hare." Though it was sad to see her go, I know that she made the right decision. She is now proud of who she is, and knows that she has her own legacy to live.

Katt Monroe, of course, also refused to join Star Fox in the end. I sense that she still has strong feelings for Falco, but she has never been one to stay in one place for too long; the two are so alike. I have a feeling that we will not be seeing the last of Katt anytime soon. After developing a bond with Lucy, maybe the two will fly together for a while. Who knows what the future holds for them?

Once again the heroes of Corneria, the Star Fox team was finally free to rest. Corneria's enemies are now few, giving us all some time to recover from our exhaustion. After defeating the aparoid Queen a year ago and now fighting a war for the Lylat System, General Peppy agreed that we deserved a temporary leave of absence. Once the reconstruction of Corneria City was in good progress, the Star Fox team went off duty and took a small vacation from mercenary work for nearly a week. Slippy spent most of his time tinkering in his shop, making repairs on the Cloudrunner and working on a new line of Arwing fighters for the rest of the team. Falco disappeared for several days, surely flying beside Katt and taking some time to rest while away. He returned at the end of our vacation, pledging that even though he missed the beautiful feline, he would never abandon his close friends on the Star Fox team.

When Fox asked what I planned on doing during my vacation, I knew that he wanted to spend it with me before even reading his mind. So I decided that we would pay an old friend a visit, like I promised. It was no honeymoon, yet, but Fox and I flew to Sauria to spend a week there. The dinosaurs of the Thorntail and Earthwalker Tribes were already beginning to heal from the devastation caused by the Redeye Tribe, growing and rebuilding as they had done after the aparoid invasion a year prior. Though we promised to leave work behind us and enjoy ourselves, Fox and I still wonder about the ominous message the Krazoa Spirits left with me, and what trouble we will see in the days ahead of us.

Fox and I visited the beach at Cape Claw, climbed the mountains in the Snowhorn Wastes, and met with King Tricky at the Walled City while swapping stories and memories the entire way. I can't say that I've had so much fun in a long time! I felt as if a large weight had been lifted from my shoulders after spending a vacation on Dinosaur Planet with Fox... We were both disappointed that we had to leave the beautiful scenery behind as we returned to our work, but we came back to The Great Fox rejuvenated and refreshed, ready to combat the enemies of Lylat and face the future together.

We are the members of Star Fox, the guardians and protectors of peace in the Lylat System. From Corneria to Venom, we will always be on guard, ready and willing to defend our home from all threats. We have defeated Andross, General Scales, the Aparoid Queen, and now the true villain behind the aparoid invasion and the leader of Andross' rebel army. Fox, Falco, Slippy, and I are a team, and most importantly, a family. After everything we have been through together to keep Lylat safe, nothing can stand in our way.

I am Krystal of the Star Fox team, and this is our story.