A Dragon out of Time, A Crash and Spyro Story

Chapter 16: Overcoming Adversity

˂YOU HAVE FAILED ME N-GIN! My life's work, squandered by your incompetence!˃

"M...m- master, I... I'm sorry! I'm not worthy to be you're apprentice! I don't deserve to live!" Crash, Coco, and Spyro stood above N-Gin as he began to sob. It was a hard fought battle, and lasted nearly thirty minutes. N-Gin did everything he could to stop Cortex's creations and their creature from the past from ruining his master's plan. He had studied his opposition and devised several mechs in an attempt to destroy each of them. He applied his master's teachings and was sure he could avenge his death by this bandicoot's hands and fulfil his dying wish. But now he had failed. N-Gin felt so unworthy, loathing himself for failing Cortex while he lay in anguish because his master's scolding.

"Well! What are you waiting for C1! Kill me, like you killed my master!"

N-Gin's expression haunted Crash. He was so young but had been so thoroughly controlled by Uka-Uka. And after what Aku-Aku had told him about Uka-Uka's influence on the N-Gin, Crash now knew his quest for vengeance was merely his attempt at reconnecting with the man that saved N-Gin's life and who meant everything to him. Crash had killed Cortex inadvertently through the destruction of the Time Twisting machine because of Uka-Uka's plot to use said machine to take over the world. And like with Spyro and his kind, Crash's good intentions led to dire consequences on others, and again Crash felt awful because of it.

"Eye m... S- So Sarr- e, N- Gin," Crash uttered as he looked to the floor.

"I never allowed myself to sympathize with Cortex" Coco continued solemnly to say the words that her brother couldn't. "For all my life I thought he was the worst person on the planet, and I hated him because of it. But N-Gin, I was wrong. He gave me and my brother life, and he saved yours. That was one thing I never understood but I think my brother always did, which is why Cortex's death always tormented him. When Cortex said that I was ignorant to the world so many years ago, he was partially right. Because I never had the chance to understand him and why he did the things that he did. I never knew that he was dying because of a genetic condition given to him by his grandfather, I never knew that I was the success Cortex needed to cure Anton's key and save him from a premature death. I never knew of the good in Cortex or the struggles he endured because that talisman on your neck corrupted his mind and forced him to do his evil bidding, like it has tried to do with you. But Uka-Uka has never corrupted you, N-Gin. He as only manipulated you to follow his will because Uka-Uka has hidden behind the façade of your old master, and has used his memories and his voice to control you. For eight years you have been following the commands of the very monster that ruined Cortex's life. But now is your chance to break free from him like Cortex never could. And you can live the life Cortex always desired, free of evil influences. You are Cortex's worthy successor N-Gin, you just have to be yourself instead of Uka-Uka's slave."

N-Gin looked at the tiki-mask draped around his neck, which for the past eight years had allowed him to communicate with his dead master, and hear the instruction he needed to carry out in order to please him.

"He... Cortex was like my father... The Time Twister was his life's work. I... made it for him, because he gave my life purpose."

"Yes, Cortex did save your life. Now live yours. Take that neckless off, and honor Cortex in the way he always intended, before Uka-Uka ruined his life."

"B... be ah gr- grate man N-Gyn, l- ly-ke our fa- ther."

Uka-Uka seethed with rage. Somehow, his brother has corralled Cortex's failed experiments into defeating him again. No, it was N-Gin's fault now. And he must suffer! N-Gin began to cry out in pain as Uka-Uka began to glow around his neck.