Uprising Phoenix

Chapter 2

Crash's POV

(A few days later)

I couldn't believe it. My best friend...dead. And it was all because of me. I didn't care what Coco said that it wasn't my fault, I felt like it was. I literally couldn't believe that Cortex stood in the Doominator and waited for his death. Him and his Salamence. My mind was like paused at that moment. At that chilling, frighting moment. My best friend...was gone forever... No one saw Nina after the explosion nor N. Gin and Tiny for that matter.

Coco placed her hand on my shoulder and said softly, "Cheer up, Crash... It will be okay..."

I sniffled as I replied, "Maybe but it's all my fault..."

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "How?"

I perked up at that. She had a point. I hated when she did that... How was it my fault when Cortex accept his fate? I couldn't really answer Coco's question as I kept my eyes outside and my mind in the past... There was so much that happened back then. I wasn't expecting to be mutated.

I wasn't expecting for my first friend to be an evil scientist. I wasn't expecting to soften his heart. I wasn't expecting years, literal years, that we would be doing the same thing day in and day out. I wasn't expecting that one year, one year, would change all of that.

That was the year that the Evil Twins were here. Cortex and I decided to team up to get rid of them. With us were not only Nina but also the Pichu brothers, John and Pete. John and Pete, while they made a lot of jokes, they were also big help. They made things a lot easier. They were trusted with us.

Sure, Nina knew the situation between her Uncle and I. But she was willing to try evil. So things went back to somewhat normal after that event. Same old song and dance. Only Cortex was stepping out of the lime light. Now what happened before the explosion wasn't his fault - mostly. But what happened after...

...

Normal POV

"He's been like that ever since after the explosion," Crunch muttered, as he had Wumpa Fruit juice.

Crunch was sitting at the kitchen table while Crash was on the couch, by the window. Coco joined Crunch, worried about her brother. She never seen Crash so...depressed before. Granted, he was sad when John and Pete left after the Evil Twins incident and finding out that Pasadena wasn't exactly interested in him but she never (in her entire life) saw him so upset. It tugged at her heart strings. She felt really bad for him.

"He is taking this rather hard," Coco added, sadly.

Crunch sadly nodded in agreement. Although Crunch was a cousin to Crash and hadn't known him as long as Coco did but...he knew the depressed state very well. The two male Bandicoots bonded after Pasadena rejected Crash as a boyfriend. For some reason, during that night, Crash's mind seemed to be anywhere else than on what happened between him and Pasadena.

Aku-Aku stated, "It is unclear at this moment why he is acting this way but we can now presume that there was something going on between Crash and Cortex."

Coco added, "We should know more once John and Pete arrive."

Aku-Aku asked, "And when we will that be?"

Crunch answered, "We're presuming they'll be here Friday."

Coco looked up at the magical mask and questioned, "Any sign of the bad guys ever since that explosion?"

Aku-Aku replied, "Not yet. One thing is for sure, my brother will not waste time replacing Cortex."

Crunch whispered, "I was afraid of that..."

Suddenly, Crash spoke, "...the castle was cold that night..." Everyone perked up as they looked at him. He added, "...that day... That horrid day..."

Coco perked up as she asked, "What are you talking about?"

Crash sadly explained, "There was something between Cortex and me. ...we were best friends..."

Everyone looked surprised. Crash Bandicoot and Dr. Neo Cortex...best friends? It didn't seem possible. But it did explain a lot.

Crunch questioned, "You two were best friends?"

Crash sighed and answered, "Yeah...until that night... The night that...his sister came..."

Coco perked up at this and asked, "Who's sister?"

Crash answered, "Cortex's sister. Nacey and she brought a baby Nina." Everyone looked surprised by this as he added, "I was made captain of Cortex's army, not knowing his 'evil' plans. That was until Render - who was jealous that I stole the thunder from him - set me up and caused Cortex and I to become enemies sorta. We forgave each other rather quickly but by the time we were planning to get him on the side of good, Uka-Uka was already free."

Aku-Aku quietly stated, "Crash... I didn't know... I'm sorry."

Crash whispered, "Yeah... Me too..."

...

-Flashback-

Cortex was sitting on the tower ledge of his castle, letting the wind slightly go through his non existent hair. It was on nights like this he really missed home of London, England. He missed his older sisters: Jasmine and Nacey. Jasmine was the oldest Cortex sibling, technically. There was a fourth Cortex sibling named Edgar but he died when he was four years old during a fire. Cortex sighed, it had been a long time since he had been home, ever since he granted the Academy of Evil.

"Cortex," a voice asked.

The evil scientist turned and saw Crash standing there. The south Australian Bandicoot had just been created 48 hours ago and already he was very talkative and very open to Cortex.

"Hey Crash," Cortex answered, sounding a bit sad.

"Are you okay," the south Australian Bandicoot questioned, sitting with him.

"Sorta," Cortex replied, truthfully.

"What's the matter," Crash asked.

"Just homesick, thinking of my family back home," Cortex answered.

"Oh," was Crash's only response.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I've been home," Cortex stated.

"Isn't this your home too," Crash asked.

"I guess so," Cortex answered.

"Then you are home and with family," Crash stated, smiling.

"I am," Cortex responded, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm family," Crash replied, still smiling.

-End of Flashback-

...

'And now,' Crash thought, as a tear rolled down his face, 'He will be with his family above.'

...

Wishmaker1028: Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!