Stephen, Crash, Nina, Gus, and Aku-Aku were on the path towards Cortex's Castle. Crash stumbled on the mountain path but Stephen grabbed his wrist in a quick fashion and pulled the south Australian bandicoot back up to safety.
Crash smiled as he said, "Thank you."
Stephen shrugged and replied, "No problem."
Nina stated, "Let's keep going."
Everyone nodded in agreement as they continued on the mountain path. When the group got to the top of the mountain, Dingodile was there.
Dingodile stated, "So, rumor has it that Stephen has magical aura. Uka-Uka wants you."
Stephen gulped as Dingodile started to blast everyone with his flamethrower. Everyone dodged it with quick speed. Bob and Bub fired their bubbles at the dingo and the crocodile creature. Dingodile took the hit but stood strong. Gus turned into the monster ghost to attack Dingodile. Nina got her grappling hands ready. Dingodile quickly used his flamethrower and created a fire wall.
The fire wall stopped Gus, Nina, and Aku-Aku in their tracks. Stephen pulled out his plasma gun and started to blast at Dingodile. Dingodile avoided them as Crash jumped up and did his infamous spin in midair, hitting Dingodile hard. Again, Dingodile stood strong.
"He might have collagen in his bloodstream," Stephen reasoned.
Crash stated, "Not good."
Dingodile extended his tail and grabbed Stephen. Stephen struggled to get free but Dingodile's tail was too strong. Nina and Gus were about to attack again but Dingodile was a step ahead. He pressed a button on his flamethrower, which caused a smokescreen. Everyone started to cough and by the time the smoke was gone, both Dingodile and Stephen were gone. Crash dropped to his knees, disappointed. Crash then punched the ground, hard. Gus ran over as did the others.
Crash stated, determined, "Stephen saved us. We save him."
"Absolutely," everyone said, in unison.
Nina thought, 'Hang on, Stephen. We're coming to save you. I promise.' Little did Nina know, Crash was thinking the same thing. At the castle, Dingodile brought Stephen to N. Gin, who had a strap table all set.
Dingodile said, "Here you go, mate. One magical and mysterious man named Stephen."
Stephen was thrown to the ground, rather harshly. Stephen got up and rubbed his butt from the harsh treatment. Stephen shot Dingodile a look. Dingodile couldn't explain it but even though Stephen's identity was pretty much a mystery, Dingodile could've sense some familiarity.
N. Gin stated to Dingodile, "Thank you, Dingodile. I'll take it from here."
Dingodile nodded as he left the room.
N. Gin turned to Stephen and started to say, "My name is..."
Stephen interrupted, "N. Gin Rocket, the assistant to Dr. Neo Periwinkle Cortex."
N. Gin was surprised by this as he asked, "How did you know that?" N. Gin then realized that Stephen was family friend to the Cortex's and then added, "Never mind."
Stephen perked up and asked, "Why did you say that?"
N. Gin answered, "Because I had a web cam following you and that vermin, Crash Bandicoot."
Stephen mentally cursed himself in his mind as N. Gin grabbed him by throat and lifted Stephen off of his feet in a matter of seconds. Stephen was surprised by this as he didn't expect for N. Gin to be this strong. N. Gin then pinned Stephen up against the wall. Stephen saw that the rocket scientist was actually tearing. That's right...N. Gin was crying.
"Why," N. Gin asked, as he cried, "Why did you covert Nina on to the good side? Do you not realize that she could be killed?"
'N. Gin,' Stephen thought, sadly.
Stephen reasoned, "Nina will be a winner and safer on the good side as opposed to evil. At least on the good side, her life won't be threatened."
N. Gin perked up at this. Stephen knew that he shouldn't have said that but it was the only way for N. Gin to listen to him.
N. Gin questioned, "How do you know that?"
Stephen sighed as he knew he was starting to run into a brick wall.
Stephen started to say, "Nicholas..."
N. Gin perked up at this, automatically. That's what the "N" stood for in his name. Only a handful of people knew his first name and one of those people was Dr. Neo Periwinkle Cortex himself. N. Gin thought, 'No, it couldn't be.' N. Gin turned to Stephen. N. Gin considered himself to be Cortex's best friend. N. Gin knew Cortex right away, even if he was in disguise. N. Gin started at Stephen for the longest time, nervous. 'Please,' N. Gin thought, 'let me be right for once.'
Finally; he stammered, "M-master?"
Amie/AK1028: Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!
