It's in the eyes. Always the eyes.

Chapter Seventeen| A Disrupted Peace

         It was a sunny afternoon, the kind that perfectly encapsulated the laid-back spirit of the tropical island. The waves lapped gently against the shore, and the nearby palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze, their rustling leaves creating a soothing background hum. Close to the shoreline, the Bandicoot beach setup was as inviting as ever: surfboards leaning casually against the entrance, a colorful beach umbrella casting cool shade over a low table, a refrigerator stocked with cold drinks, a TV flickering with static, and a well-worn couch where Crash lounged, basking in the tranquility.

All seemed perfectly normal, perfectly peaceful, but Aku-Aku, the wise and ever-watchful guardian mask, was not at ease. He hovered at the entrance of the beach, his gaze fixed intently on the distant silhouette of N. Sanity Peak. A subtle tension marred his usually serene expression. Not long ago, he had sensed a disturbance, a shift in the very air around them—something ancient and powerful had awoken, though its nature eluded him.

Aku-Aku mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible over the rustling palms, "A great power has awoken..." His concern deepened as he tried to pinpoint the source of this ominous energy. He knew there was only one way to uncover the truth.

Floating over to where Crash lay sprawled out on the couch, completely oblivious to the world, Aku-Aku's tone took on a sense of urgency. "Crash," he called softly, hoping to rouse the bandicoot without causing too much alarm.

Crash stirred, his eyes cracking open just enough to see Aku-Aku hovering above him. Still caught in the haze of sleep, he blinked up at the mask, trying to make sense of the words filtering through his groggy mind.

"I fear it portends an event of reality-shattering proportions," Aku-Aku continued, his voice grave as he turned to look back at N. Sanity Peak. The urgency in his voice was clear, but Crash, whose body was still heavy with sleep, merely stretched lazily, his arms flopping behind the armrest before he succumbed to the pull of slumber once more.

Aku-Aku's frown deepened as he noticed Crash's head had lolled back, his soft snores signaling that he was, once again, fast asleep. "I feel it emanating from N. Sanity Peak. Quickly, we must go!" Aku-Aku insisted, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Frustrated but undeterred, Aku-Aku floated closer to Crash, his voice now carrying a firm edge. "Crash," he called again, this time more sharply. But the bandicoot remained unmoved, a blissful smile tugging at his lips as he dreamt away, oblivious to the world and its looming dangers.

Seeing that gentle coaxing was getting him nowhere, Aku-Aku decided more drastic measures were needed. He positioned himself directly behind Crash's ear, taking a deep breath—if that were possible for a mask—before bellowing out in a voice that echoed across the beach.

"CRASH!"

The effect was immediate and almost too effective. Crash jolted awake with such force that he comically launched himself off the couch, his limbs flailing wildly as he soared through the air. He landed face-first in the sand with a thud, groaning and twitching, dazed and utterly bewildered by the abrupt and rude awakening.

Aku-Aku shook his wooden head, his frown softening into something like exasperated fondness. "Come on, Crash," he urged gently, "there's no time to waste."