A Hero's Blood

Chapter 8

That evening, back in the first dimension, Gus and Nina were sitting on the couch. Nina was still very somber as Gus kept his arm around her, holding her close and stroking her short black hair. Nina smiled, enjoying that. Gus also smiled as Nina traced Gus' cheek with her metal thumb. Even though her touch was cold as metal, he smiled at the sweet gesture. In the moment, Gus placed his lips on Nina's and gave her a gentle kiss. Nina returned it, holding Gus close. Gus and Nina's tongues danced as they held each other. Uka-Uka appeared in the room and saw the kissing teens.

Uka-Uka immediately got disgusted as he started to yell, "Nina Tabitha Cortex, what are you...?"

Just then, an alarm went off in the headquarters, breaking the teens out of their kiss.

Nina asked, "What's going on?"

Uka-Uka answered, "That is the alarm system. I asked N. Gin to put it in after those upstarts attacked us a year ago."

"Upstarts," Gus questioned.

"Victor and Maurtiz, the Evil Twins," Nina explained, "What's this alarm for anyhow?"

Uka-Uka answered, "I asked N. Gin to build it to alert us if something goes wrong in the tenth dimension. Like an earthquake or a natural disaster."

"Or the whole dimension being destroyed in green glowing glow," Gus questioned as he pointed at the video feed of the tenth dimension.

Nina looked as she saw what Gus saw. The entire dimension was flooded with green that almost looked like slime.

Gus asked, "What's happening...?"

"Not sure," Nina answered.

Uka-Uka stated, "I sense those upstarts. They are alive."

Nina perked up at this as she responded, "And with Crash dead and my uncle along with John and Pete mad at me, we can't stop them with the Crash Twin Sanity team!"

Gus stated, "Then there is only one way. We have to talk to John and Pete, personally."

John and Pete were currently battling against Crunch's Conkeldurr and the match was pretty even. John launched a Volt Tackle while Pete did a Shock Wave. Conkeldurr managed to deflect the two electric type moves but something caught its eye. Conkeldurr threw one of its blocks at the bushes and out came Gus and Nina.

"Nina," everyone asked, in a surprised unison.

John asked, "And what that guy doing with her?"

Gus answered, "I'm her best friend – Gus Galvon – and not only that, I work for her."

Crunch asked, freaking out a bit, "Why would you do that?! She killed Crash! She killed my cousin!"

Nina protested, waving her hands in front of her, "But I never wanted to kill him!"

John questioned, rising an eyebrow, "How are we supposed to trust you?"

Nina answered, "I'll prove it in a Pokémon battle!"

"A Pokémon battle," Pete asked.

"Yes," Nina replied, "If you win, I'll leave. If I win, you listen to what I have to say."

Both John and Pete responded, "Bring it on!"

At that moment, Nina threw a poke ball and sent out her Typhlosion.

"Typhlosion," said the Volcano Pokémon.

John and Pete stood strong for they knew that battling a fire type, the battle was going to be hard.

Back at the houses; Cortex looked at the pictures of him, Crash, Nina, John, and Pete a year ago on this date. It was a year ago that they had tangled with the Evil Twins, Victor and Maurtiz. He was reflecting on those past events. John and Pete were giving each other silly poses as Crash had his arms around both Cortex and Nina. N. Gin came over and saw that page was opened.

"So much has happened since then," N. Gin stated, casually.

Cortex nodded and replied, "Yes, I know. John and Pete have returned, Nina is now the leader of my empire, and Crash is dead."

That last part came out sour and sad, according to N. Gin. He decided to change the subject to the history of the picture.

He asked, "Mind telling me the story behind this?"

Cortex smiled for the first time in a long time as he told the story.

-Flashback: One Year Ago-

The flash blinded the five heroes for a second as the two Pichu brothers rubbed their eyes.

"I think I've got purple spots on my purple spots," John stated.

"I hear ya on that one," Pete replied.

Nina smiled and commented, "This was still the best adventure I ever had!"

"Same here," Crash responded.

Cortex questioned, "But do you even think we'll be together like this again?"

"No doubt," John and Pete answered, in a happy unison.

Everyone smiled at their optimism as Crash turned to Cortex.

Crash also answered, pointing straight at Cortex's heart, "Plus, that is up to you."

Nina added, "We're not gonna force ya to make a choice. But you know that we are always here for you."

Cortex smiled at them as he hugged them, his three best friends and his niece – who he loved like a daughter.

-End of Flashback-

Nina commanded, "Typhlosion, Flamethrower!"

Typhlosion breathed in and fired the powerful fire attack straight at the two Pichu brothers. John and Pete quickly dodged the Flamethrower and landed near the Volcano Pokémon. John and Pete then used Quick Attack on Typhlosion but it didn't seem that phased.

Nina commanded, "Use Fire Blast!"

Typhlosion breathed in again and fired the other powerful fire attack at the two of them but they managed to dodge again, proving that they were as fast as their evolved form of Pikachu.

Cortex stated, "Course that was a long time ago when my best friend was still alive and well. And my own niece didn't turn on me."

N. Gin started to say, "I am so sorry..."

A voice stated, "We are still here for you but certain situations have forced the wrong cards to be played."

Cortex perked up and turned around. Both he and N. Gin turned white as a ghost...

AK1028: Well, that's the end of chapter 8! Things are getting really good around here! Eighteen days to go and I'll be 22! My gosh! Also today is a double feature. First, happy birthday to SnowAngel1999! Second of all, happy anniversary to my wonderful boyfriend: TimPrime1! Love and miss you much, hun. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!