Falling Ashes

Chapter 5

After the race, our five heroes saw that they were on Tenkee. John looked around as did Pete.

John stated, "Well, this place looks rather scary."

Pete added, "In more ways than one."

Nina looked at her uncle and asked, "So you had amnesia after all?"

Cortex answered, "Yeah, which is why I didn't recognize anyone."

Crash stated, "But you knew how to battle us perfectly."

Cortex replied, "That's the one thing I never understood."

John offered, "Perhaps Uka-Uka was controlling those features."

Pete asked, "But why is he doing all of this?"

Crash answered, "I don't know but one thing is for sure, we will find out."

Nina looked at her uncle and asked, "Can I talk to you?"

Cortex answered, "Sure." He took her aside and asked, "What is it, Nin?"

Nina questioned, "Crash said something that really made me feel awful. That 'Nance' was your sister and my mom..."

Cortex answered, with a question of his own, "What about it?"

Nina sighed as she asked the question that had been burning on her tongue for the longest time, "Is my mother still alive?"

Cortex smiled and answered, "Yes, your mother is still alive. She writes me every week, telling me how much she misses us." Nina's heart pounded in her chest. There was so many questions she had about her mother and about her father. Why did her mother leave her here? What happened? Did she...love her? Finally, Cortex waved his hand in front of her face and asked, "Nina?"

Nina answered, snapping out of her trance, "Sorry. I just...I have so many questions."

Cortex stated, "And I know the woman that has the answers. That's why I want you to come with me. Back home to London."

Nina was shocked by this. Go to London? But this island was her home for as long as she could remember. She was a little nervous but she wasn't going to let her uncle know that. No freaking way.

She asked, "Wait, what? After what I did to you?"

Cortex answered, "Nina, you only did what you thought in your heart was right. Much like I've been doing all of these years by working with Uka-Uka. I had to do what I thought was right. There's not a moment that goes by that I regret my actions. I have to face my past in ordinary to make a future."

Nina questioned, "What about N. Gin?"

Cortex stated, "Nicholas can do what he wants. I know it'll be a VERY long time before we're friends again. I accept that." He paused as he looked at his nervous niece and said, "Something tells me that this has to do more with you than with Nicholas. You're nervous aren't you?"

Nina asked, "Wouldn't you be?"

Cortex answered, "Petrified. But Nance is a good woman. She is, after all, my sister."

Nina hugged Cortex, surprising him. He returned the hug, a bit awkwardly at first but relaxed into it. Crash watched this from afar and smiled at the sight. At least some good was coming out of this.

...

-Flashback-

A young Neo was outside in the changing leaves. The boy had recently turned 6 years old and right next to him was his 8 year old sister, Nacey, and their oldest sister, Jasmine, who was 12. The youngest Cortex sibling stepped jumped into a pile of leaves. He had the biggest smile on his face. He had messy black hair, brown eyes, wearing a long sleeved blue jacket, a white undershirt, black pants, and black shoes. Nacey looked at her younger sibling as she joined him, laughing. She had short brown hair, brown eyes, wearing a long sleeved pink jacket, a rose undershirt, lavender pants, and white shoes.

Jasmine rolled her eyes. Being the oldest, she was quite tired of her older siblings being so energetic. She had long brown-blackish hair, brown eyes, wearing a long sleeved yellow jacket, a white undershirt, blue jeans, and yellow shoes. Their mother, Stacy Cortex, smiled at her two youngest children. 'If only they could stay that way forever,' Stacy thought. Stacy was about 40 years old, with brown-blackish hair, brown eyes, wearing a long sleeved red jacket, a light red undershirt, dark red pants, and white shoes.

Stacy commented, "Neo! Nacey! We have to get going to your grandfather's place. Your father is there wait for us."

Nacey and Neo pouted as the protested, "But mom..."

Jasmine stated, "You two heard mom. We have to get going."

With a pout, the two of them got out of leaves and rejoin their older sister. Stacy was relieved that Jasmine was so responsible with both Neo and Nacey, especially how hyper Neo got from time to time.

Stacy said, "Thank you, Jasmine."

Jasmine joked, "You can thank me by raising my allowance?"

Stacy laughed. Somehow, she knew that was coming and she wouldn't change any thing. Sure she lost her oldest son in Edgar so long ago but these three filled her life. She loved them. She loved her life. And she wouldn't trade it for anything else.

-End of Flashback-

...

Back on Earth, in London, a woman reflected on those events from so long ago.

"That seemed like it was so long ago," said a female voice, with a strong English accent.

She put down her tea cup that she had been sipping on and put it down on the table in front of her. Her name was Nacey Rose Cortex, the youngest daughter of the Cortex family. She was currently living in a small house that was a two story. On the first floor was the kitchen, living and dining rooms, and the closet. One the second floor were the bedrooms and the bathrooms. She got up from her chair, looking around her house. She had lived her for numerous years, right after leaving college. She entered the living room and looked at the pictures had collected over the years.

One picture was of her (age 10), Neo (age 8), Jasmine (age 14), Stacy, and their father (Robert) after their grandfather's passing. Robert looked a lot like the way Neo did currently, though Robert wasn't bald. Grandfather Cortex had been a rather interesting sort, being the one that had enrolled Neo into the Academy of Evil when he was seven. The other picture was of her and boyfriend, Ivan Mcnite. Ivan and Nacey had been dating for about a year. That was until one night, the two had too much to drink and had sex (which resulted in Nacey having Nina).

Though her and Ivan had tried to tie the knot, it didn't happen because Ivan wasn't ready to be a father and a husband. Nacey was a bit heartbroken about this and that's when she took Nina to the island. Nacey would admit that it was a mistake leaving Nina with Neo (in fear that Ivan would come back someday). But she knew that Neo was being 'evil' to protect himself and the little girl that they both loved.

"I have to see her," Nacey finally said, choking at the baby picture of Nina, "I have to see my baby girl..."

...

Wishmaker1028: That's where we leave it for today folks. Hope this chapter made a bit of sense. Please read and review. And always think outside of the box.