Chapter 2

While the sounds at Cortex Castle started ringing around the island, interrupting the quaint, golden silence surrounding the Crash Hut, the Bandicoot family was too busy going through old memories of battles in the past. There was the time where Crash had to save his girlfriend, Tawna, who ended up dumping him for that bastard, Pinstripe, for example. That adventure still hurt the poor orange bandicoot to the day he woke up all messed up.

Then there was the time where Crash was tricked into collecting crystals for Cortex. Coco was thankful that Cortex's plan had been foiled at the last second, and even to the day where she had admired the silence, she still seemed to be screaming inside because of Cortex's treachery.

The other adventures (like the time traveling, racing, and fighting with Tiny and Dingodile) were cakewalks compared to a very recent adventure. This was where the two orange marsupials had met the giant bandicoot friend, Crunch. Well, at the time, Crunch was bad due to Cortex controlling his mind. But, somehow, Crash was able to free Crunch and ever since then, he and Crunch had become the best of buddies anyone had ever seen.

But while Coco and Crash smiled over their adventure in saving the giant bandicoot, Crunch was most certainly not smiling as he looked back on all the pain he caused while he was evil. Drops of tears, like little water droplets, began pouring out of the giant bandicoot's eyes. Then, it happened. Crunch, overcome with misery and guilt, began sobbing quietly, disturbing the happiness Coco and Crash were bathing in. Coco looked up and faced Crunch, with deep concern in her eyes.

"Crunch? Are you okay?"

All Crunch could do was to just sob harder and harder.

"Crunch?"

Each time Coco asked Crunch if he was okay, all she got for an answer was a louder sob than the last one. Now Coco knew that Crunch was suffering from an emotional attack.

"Crunch, it's okay. You were being controlled. You couldn't help causing all that damage," the she-bandicoot whispered, gently. But her consoling words did no good, for Crunch just kept sobbing harder and harder. Coco couldn't stand hearing Crunch sob for so long, so she gave up and returned to talk to Crash about the new situation.

"Crash, I need your help. Crunch is sobbing really hard all because of what had happened to him while he was evil. I can't get him to speak!" Coco squeaked. "You've got to tell him it's okay and he's safe now! You're his best buddy and he needs your help!"

Crash stayed silent, thinking. Now Coco was furious. Both of her brothers weren't speaking. She was now trapped in a wall of silence.

"Okay then! Don't answer me!" she screamed. "You're so mute at times I—''

"Oh hush up, Coco. I'm trying to understand why there's so much noise coming from Crunch."

Coco's eyes widened as Crash turned to her.

"Did you just speak?" she gasped. "I always thought you were mute!"

"Of course not. I was only doing that because I didn't want to say my suspicions about Cortex while I was thinking about Crunch," Crash huffed. Clearly he was not in a good mood, for he had been deprived of his usual breakfast of Wumpa fruit. Now Coco understood.

"You mean Cortex has hatched up another plot to take over the world?"

"The day that guy quits will be the day I stop eating Wumpa fruit," Crash replied, shortly. He didn't want to talk to Coco right now, but he definitely felt like he needed to talk to Crunch.

"I'll be right back, Coco. I'm going to go talk to Crunch. You're right. I am his best buddy and I think he needs me," the orange bandicoot with the black eyebrows finally muttered as he walked to the giant bandicoot. Finally, Crash sat down next to Crunch and faced him.

"Crunch? Cheer up, buddy! I think you might get a chance to kick Cortex in the ass with your spike shoes!" the small he-bandicoot whispered, excitedly.

Crunch took one look at Crash and began sobbing all over again. Crash was worried.

"What's wrong, man?" Crash asked. Crunch sniffed a few times and turned to face Crash.

"I feel so bad about almost killing you and Coco when I was bad!" the giant bandicoot moaned as more tears fell from his eyes. "If only— If only—'' The thought of his past made Crunch so miserable, he continued his long weeping session all over again. Crash could do nothing but give the giant bandicoot a sympathetic look and a pat on the back.

"Crunch, I forgive you. I'm your best buddy and therefore you have to believe that."

But nothing Crash could say could make Crunch feel better. Shaking his head sadly, Crash walked back to Coco.

"It's no use. He won't stop sobbing about his past," the orange marsupial whispered. "At this rate, he won't be able to fight Cortex."

"Excellent." A voice had popped out of nowhere, making Crash and Coco jump. Then, they saw him. The big head, the N on his forehead. It was Cortex himself, only he wasn't alone. Dingodile, Koala Kong, and Pinstripe had come with him to try and capture Crunch and Crash. Crash was furious when he saw Cortex.

"You bastard! You're not coming to take Crunch! Especially because of his past haunting him! You've hurt his insides!" Crash hissed. "How could you stoop so low?"

Cortex smirked, but he was the only one who did. None of the henchmen who had come with him found his plan amusing at all. On the contrary, they were rather pissed off with Cortex for planning on capturing Crash and Crunch, Dingodile especially. The dingo-crocodile knew in his heart that if he let Cortex carry his plan out, his love, Coco, would soon be dead. And he had no intention of letting that happen again.

"Well let me tell you this, Cortex. YOU KEEP YOUR GREASY HANDS OFF CRUNCH FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS!" the orange marsupial yelled in the mad scientist's face.

Cortex scowled. He hated being spoken to like that. Finally, he spoke.

"I'll take whoever I want back and make them work for me," the short scientist finally snapped. "Even if I have to hurt them to do it." And he cast an evil eye towards Crunch's direction.

Now Dingodile was completely disgusted. He sort of liked Crunch, and if Cortex tried to hurt the giant bandicoot, things would get ugly.

"Don't you dare touch a single hair on Crunch, boss," the dingo-crocodile growled, angrily. "If you do, you'll be next on my lunch menu!"

Cortex paid no attention as he started walking silently towards Crunch. Then, there was an uproar.

Crunch had stopped sobbing to realize that Cortex was up to his no good tricks again. With a huge roar, the giant bandicoot leapt to his feet and gave Cortex a giant punch, sending the scientist sky high.

"YEAH! TRY THAT AGAIN, I DARE YOU! YEAH, YOU BUB!" the giant bandicoot bellowed as Cortex fell towards the earth. With a thunderous THUD, he landed on the hard earth. When he stood up, he was furious!

"This isn't over yet," he warned, ominously. "You and Crash will be mine soon enough, Crunch."