Crash Bandicoot 4: The Wrath of Cortex

Retold by Mutitoon90

Chapter Eleven

As Crunch laid on his cot, his mind was filled with thoughts of the battles he had partakened with the Elementals, which was something he had objected in the first place, and he recalled each event with a remarkable detail.

During the first fight that he fought with Rok-Ko, Crash surprised him with by using the sharp end of the staff, and it was a complete fluke. Crunch chuckled at the destroyed Elemental, who was more like a childish bully that was cornered by someone stronger than himself; bullies usual run away when someone stands up to themselves and prove that they were the weaker of two.

Secondly, the fight, when he wore Wa-Wa, was a near success. However, Luna's sneak attack, if not sudden appearance, helped Crash out of the jaws of defeat. A laugh exited out of the maroon bandicoot's lips; Wa-Wa was the Water Elemental, but his military-like attitude hid the mask's foolishness.

Then, he was forced to fuse with Py-Ro for the third fight; what surprised him the most was the fact that Nathan's eyes glowed with the same determination as Neo Cortex, but the eyes were more brighter and more pure. Also, Nathan was willing to use a weapon to destory a living thing, even the unstable Fire Elemental.

Finally, the fight that pitted him against Crash, Nathan and Coco, who piloted airplanes and stuck him with Lo-Lo, the Air Elemental that took full control of the fused form. Even though the trio were using the radio to communicate with each other, he could hear what was said, and he was extermely grateful to the younger sister of Crash, who shot him with the relic.

He would have died from the fall from a thousand feet in the air, but Cortex was quick to rescue him from the deadly descent. Then, he was sent to his room to rest, which was one of the few things that he agreed with Neo Cortex.

As he thoughtfully looked at the ceiling, he placed his organic left hand on his chin as he thought about his enemies.

Luna Fang, the werewolf that helped stop Cortex's plans years ago, was the most deceptive and the most clever of the group. Her werewolf form was powerful, but it was her intelligence that her a deadly opponent. Of course, he learned that Luna lost to Nathan, while in a fit of fury; what caused the fury to occur was a mystery.

Nathan Cortex, or Nathan Charles, was Neo Cortex's nephew and the male hier of the Cortex clan. After escaping the academy that his father had sent him to, Nathan found himself on the Wumpa Islands, and helped Crash defeat Neo Cortex the first time. His determination was like Neo's in terms of strength, but intent was different. His intelligence was higher than Luna's in certain areas, but his true strength was something that Crunch wanted to see.

The Bandicoots, Crash and Coco, were siblings by the same parents and results of Neo Cortex's genetic experiments. Coco's strengths were in the field of computers and hacking, while Crash's talent was being very lucky.

Then, a thought entered in his mind: Why did he have to fight the Bandicoots? They were the same class of animals. If it were a powerful human, like Nathan, or a werewolf, like Luna, he could understand the need to battle, but Crash and Coco were weaker than the humans. Crunch just could not understand.

In a sudden moment, a pirecing pain formed in his mind, causing the burly Bandicoot to fall out of his cot. On his knees and metal hand, Crunch held his head with his flesh hand.

"Not... again..." Moaned Crunch as he felt the pain pulsate in his head, like blood in veins, as he tried to stand on his feet, "Why?"

The room's door opened and revealed Neo Cortex, who was holding two cups; one was smal and made of paper, and the second was larger and made of glass.

"Another headache..." The mad doctor announced as he entered the room and went to Crunch's level.

Crunch managed to look up and saw the two cups, and when he saw them, he hurried as he grabbed the cups and put the contents of the cups in his mouth; two pills from the paper cup and water from the glass cup.

Five minutes passed, and Crunch's tormenting migraine subsided, allowing him to move more freely once more.

"How come I'm get these damned headaches everytime I return from a battle!?" The muscular marsupial complained as he rubbed his head in an attempt to rid himself from any remaining pain.

"I can't say, Crunch." Cortex replied, "However, we have important things to discuss before the next battle."

"Next battle!?" Crunch looked at the doctor oddly, "I thought you were all for using the Elemental's power to conquer the world."

"I am." The scientist confirmed with a dark grin on his lips, "Although, the destruction of the four Elementals were extremely untimely, but it is only a minor setback of the plan."

"A minor setback?" The Bandicoot in dark red fur was more confused than he was earlier, "Then what's the backup plan?"

"Well, Crunch, do you recall what happened after each of the relics destroyed the Elementals one-by-one?"

Crunch was silent for a moment, examining his memories of the battles before he answered the doctor's inquiry.

"I recall seeing an aura each time, but I thought that was part of the end for each of the Elementals."

"Well," Cortex's grin widened as he spoke, "those auras were not a symbol of the Elementals' demise, but a taking of something of theirs."

It took a moment for Crunch to understand what Cortex meant, and when he understood, he was shocked.

At the portal room on Wumpa Island, a meeting had started upon those that knew about the Elementals, and within the first ten minutes, the first outburst was heard by everyone on the three Wumpa Islands.

"WHAAAAAT!? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"

The shout startled everyone on N. Sanity Island, Gun Island and Wumpa Island, but the ones that received any pain were Crash, Coco, Nathan, Aku-Aku, Mario, Ami, Megumi, Isabella, Liz, Artemis and Sash.

"Why don't you try yelling again, Luna," Sash growled at her cousin while she was still holding her ears, "I think some people didn't hear you."

"Oops..." Luna blushed as she spoke, "But, remember: what you're said is news to me, and I'm sure the others are thinking the same thing."

The others nodded in agreement, but they were still in pain from Luna's incredibly loud shout of surprise. Then, they glared at the brunette she-wolf, still mad about the shout.

"I really am sorry, guys." Luna apologized to the group, "This news is big!"

"Agreed." Nathan nodded to Luna roughly, "It also shows that he's not dumb enough to think of a backup plan."

"Which is good for him, but bad for us." Mario commented, causing the others to agree in their own way.

"But how?" Nathan inquiried, truly confused about how his uncle could have discovered a way to obtain such a power.

"I might have the answer." Aku-Aku interjected, "Remember that my brother, Uka-Uka, is aiding Cortex in his conquest.

"Or that Cortex found it by accident." Coco commented, knowing that Cortex was not very intelligent to think of anything on his own.

"Either way," Artemis spoke out to the group, "Cortex found out about it, and now we must find a way to stop him."

"Dad's right," Luna sighed deeply, "but how is the question."

"May I speak?" Megumi raised her hand to gain the attention of the group, which made the blue-haired bandicoot nervous.

"Speak up, and speak your mind." Luna nearly shouted out to Megumi, who felt more confident to speak.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could use the relics to obtain what Crunch has."

"That's not a bad idea." Luna commented brightly, "That is what the relics were used for originally."

"That is true about the relics' use, but..." Sash paused for a moment, seemingly unsure if she should interject her current thought.

"Spit it out, Sash." Luna sounded annoyed at that point, "If there's something that needs to be said, then say it!"

Sash breathed out loudly and said, "The relics were used not only to absorb the Elementals' powers, but they were also designed to use the power to destory them. That brings up a concern: what if the power could do the same to Crunch."

"Good point." Luna said in a thoughtful tone, "But we need to find out where Cortex is hiding before we can do anything else."

"You still going through with it!?" Sash shouted in shock, "That's crazy, Luna! It could kill him if we try to take the power from him!"

"Yeah, it could." The brunette werewolf replied to her cousin, "But I know of a special loophole that can aid us into getting the power back without killing Crunch."

"What are you talking about, Luna?" Crash's voice was wrapped in panic, "He's trying to kill me, remember?"

"I do."

"Then, why do you want to save him?"

"Simple," grinned Luna as she turned to the worried Bandicoot, "he's not really a bad guy by any sense of the term."

"What are you talking about?" Crash was more confused than before; Crunch was designed to destory Crash, and yet, Luna seemed to take the maroon marsupil's side.

"He's not evil; Cortex is controlling him."

The announcement shocked everyone, and Crash was the most surprised of the group. However, Nathan was able to see how Luna was able to know that bit of information.

"You used your empathic capabilities to find that out." The young man eyed at the she-wolf, who was grinning ear-to-ear as she said, "Of course."

"How's Cortex controlling him?" Ami asked the brunette werewolf, who answered bluntly, "That's something I can't answer."

"You're joking, right?" Crash looked at Luna with a doubtful look in his green eyes.

"Nope, but there's something that's off about how Cortex is controlling Crunch." Luna's jovial expression became more somber as she continued to speak, "It's as if Crunch is resisting the control."

"Are you sure?" Coco's voice showed interest at the theory about the 'superweapon.'

"There's room for doubt, but I'm more than positive that Crunch is trying to fight the control of Neo Cortex."

"That's not too much of a surprise." Mario Potoroo spoke up, "With a history of experiments that have resisted against him, it's likely that he did made a stronger way of controlling his minions."

The Trophy Girls nodded in agreement, knowing that Cortex had failed in controlling them before creating the Cortex Vortex years ago.

"Ain't that the truth!" Coco voiced out to her fellow experiments, while Crash said, "Well, it makes me feel a little bit better about him trying to kill me, but he's doing Cortex's bidding, none the least."

"But it's not Crunch's choose." Isabella pointed out the male Bandicoot, "After all, you should be the more sympathtic to him."

"Empathtic." Luna corrected the blonde Trophy Girl, who just glared at her.

"Either way," Isabella spoke slowly before turning towards Crash, "Crunch is being used in the same way as the rest of us were."

Crash sighed, announcing his defeat, since the others were in agreement with Isabella. He knew that he had to save Crunch. All he can hope at the point was that Crunch would not try to kill him.

"This is not going to be easy." Crash stated with another sigh.

"Don't worry," Luna smiled artfully, "I have a plan to end Cortex's control over Crunch and the power's of the Elementals."

"You don't have to explain the plan to me, Luna." Sash announced with a cunning curve on her lips, "I understand what my part is."

"Oh, boy..." Artemis sighed out upon hearing his daughter and her cousin, "They are their mothers' daughters for sure."

Nathan heard the male werewolf's statement and turned to him, asking in a curious tone of voice, "Their mothers?"

"Let's just say that their mothers were well in tune with each other. Of course, their mothers could read each others' minds."

"Can it be possible that Luna and Sash have the capibility?" Nathan's voice was caked with theory and curosity.

"That's a possiblity." Luna's father replied thoughtfully, "But I'm not sure. She hasn't said anything to me or her mother."

"Although, her mother would be the first to know, right?" Nathan commented with his understanding of Luna's similar attitude to her mother's.

"More likely than not." The brunette male sighed out loudly, knowing it was very true.

Then, the males humans returned their attention to the werewolf girls, who were gathering the relics together, confusing the others a little.

"What are you doing?" Crash asked the cousins, who answered, starting with Luna.

"We're going to locate Crunch by using the relics."

"All we have to do is infuse the relics to me, and I'll need the use of the portal to find Crunch more accurately."

"Are you able to do this, Sash?" Coco asked, concerned for the silver-haired werewolf, who answered sweetly, "I am, for I'm a Moon Mystic."

"Don't worry, Coco," Luna smiled kindly at the younger sister of Crash, "she'll be all right, and she can take care of herself."

"I hope so." The youngest Bandicoot said, still uneasy about Sash's course of action with the relics.

Sash smiled at Coco as a silver aura engulfed her body and the four relics, surprising all of the members of the group with the exception of the other werewolves. Moments passed, and the glow faded, leaving Sash without any of the relics in her hands.

"What are the relics?" Crash asked, which earned a few annoyed looks for the others of the group. When he noticed the glares, he asked, "What?"

"Crash," Nathan sighed in deeply before speaking to the male Bandicoot, "remember that Aku-Aku could fuse the power crystals into your body."

"Yeah, and Sash can do the still with Luna." Crash answered, "But it doesn't explain how the relics vanished."

"Oh, boy..." Artemis sighed out of fustration, "And this is the guy that defeated Neo Cortex three times before. I think we might be in trouble."

"Don't worry, Dad." Luna said, "He'll figure it out."

"Is it going to happen before or after Cortex conquers the world?" Artemis sarcastically remarked at his daughter.

"Let me explain it." Sash loudly spoke to Nathan, stopping Luna and Artemis from their banter between each other.

Crash looked at Sash nervously, not knowing what the werewolf with the silver hair was going to say to him. He managed to gather his courage and listened.

"Crash," the shirne priestess spoke in a gentle tone, "I can infuse myself with the relics, and I've done so to help with Luna's plan."

"Why?" The Bandicoot asked, still confused and causing Sash and Luna to sigh and express their annoyance of him.

"This is going to be a long day." Artemis groaned with some of the others nodding in agreement with him.

"Maybe so." Sash spoke to the father of her cousin, "Now is the time to seek out Crunch and the remaining powers of the Elementals."

The young, silver-haired woman went to the portal's main controls, and Nathan followed, caught up with and passed her, reaching the controls first. Sash also reached the controls and placed her hands onto the locater, the portal's reason for teleporting from Wumpa Island to anywhere in the world and the reverse.

Nathan looked at the cousin of Luna and asked, "Are you ready?"

"I am." Sash answered with a nod of her head, telling Nathan to turn on the machine.

As the machine hummed and came to life, Sash's body was covered with a mixture of the Elementals' auras: Rok-Ko's yellow aura of Earth, Wa-Wa's auqamarine aura of Water, Py-Ro's vermillion aura of Fire and Lo-Lo's purple aura of Air. The auras spiraled around Sash's body before moving to machine, which caused a portal to appear in front of the group.

"That's it?" Crash asked Luna, who repeated the statement back as the response, "That's it."

"At least, when it cames to the portal." Sash announced as she returned to the group with Nathan, who added, "Now, we need is someway to get Crunch without Cortex or Uka-Uka knowing that Sash is with us."

"Don't fret about it, Nathan." Sash said with an artful grin on her face, "I'll take care of that part." The priestess turned to her cousin and said, "If that's alright with you, Luna."

"It's okay." The brunette she-wolf grinned back at Sash, "I'll only regret the fact that I won't see Cortex's and Uka-Uka's face when you reveal the trick to him."

"What trick?" All of the Bandicoots and the lone Porotoo asked the female werewolves, who only giggled before replying, "You'll see."

Nathan and Brio knew what the girls were thinking, and so did Luna's father, due to his past experiences with the cousins. However, the others were confused, and that included Aku-Aku.