Chapter 8

As the walls of Cortex Castle crumbled down to the ground, Crunch, Tiny and Koala Kong watched with broad smiles on their faces. Cortex was finally defeated!

"Thank god! We're free!" Koala Kong exclaimed. But Dingodile was not happy.

"Mates, do ya even realize what you've done? You've not only killed Cortex, but I do believe ya killed Komodo Joe as well!"

Crunch and Koala Kong smirked. "Serves him right. He blocked us from getting to Cortex."

"He should've! I told him ta!" Dingodile snapped. Tiny, Koala Kong and Crunch scowled.

"You traitor!" Crunch snarled. "After all the pain you went through with loosing Coco!"

"Tiny thought you wanted Cortex dead!" Tiny roared. "YOU LIAR!"

Dingodile's face paled over as Crunch, Koala Kong and Tiny advanced.

"Now, mates, relax. I was just trying ta— CRIKEY!" the hybrid screamed as he ran off, Crunch, Koala Kong and Tiny right behind him. But as they kept running, Crunch suddenly tripped over a tree root and fell. Standing up, he dusted himself up and then he saw a piece of paper on the ground. He picked it up, read it, and his eyes filled with tears. But this time, he was smiling.

"I can't believe it! Crash and Coco weren't killed after all!"

Tiny and Koala Kong turned to Crunch and their mouths dropped.

"But— But that's impossible!" Koala Kong gasped. "How could they have stayed alive?"

"According to Crash," Crunch replied, tears of happiness falling from his eyes, "N. Gin had helped them escape and made a Crash and Coco robot. Oh bless that guy!" The large bandicoot hung his head. "I hope he's okay."

Koala Kong and Tiny hung their heads too. They had not known that N. Gin had helped out. For a moment, all hope for N. Gin's survival seemed lost, until they heard a cyborg voice scream out.

"THE CASTLE! THE CASTLE! IT'S RUINED! I'M FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

They looked up and saw N. Gin dancing a jig. When N. Gin turned and saw Crunch, he skipped merrily over to the large bandicoot and smiled.

"Thanks to your brilliant reflexes, Crunchinator liberated me from Cortex's control!" he said. "I am very grateful."

Dingodile had overheard and came back, rolling his eyes. N. Gin scowled.

"I see you tried to ruin his plan!"

"YOU WHAT!" a voice shouted. Dingodile turned around and saw Coco. His mouth dropped.

"But— But that can't be!" the hybrid gasped. Crash stepped out from behind Coco.

"But it is, Dingo. And you betrayed Crunch. Nobody does that to my number one best friend and big brother."

"Dingodile, I am dumping you!" Coco shouted, fiercely. Dingodile blinked his eyes.

"No!"

"Yes! After what you did, it serves you right!"

Crunch looked up and saw Crash and Coco.

"CRASH!" he roared, running to Crash and hugging him, sobbing hysterically. As Crunch rubbed Crash's back, Crash grinned and rubbed his head against Crunch's cheek. After Coco gave Dingodile one last angry glare, she turned to Crunch and kissed him.

Koala Kong, Tiny and N. Gin watched in awe, tears in their eyes. Dingodile was too busy sobbing to take any notice.

"I LOST ME SHEILA!" he moaned. "I LOST ME SHEILA!"

Gin kicked him. "Don't ruin their moment!"

As morning turned to noon, Crunch let go of Crash, wiped his tears away, and thanked Koala Kong for helping.

"No problem, Crunch," the giant koala said, smiling. "I'm very happy you and your family are back together."

"Well, I'm off to go hang with Crash," Crunch replied. "Take care. Oh. And tell Dingodile this. If he EVER does this again, I WILL hunt him down."

"No need," Koala Kong replied, smirking. "As you can see, I'm a little shorter because I'm sitting. Look who my chair is."

Crunch looked and saw Dingodile, groaning. Crunch snickered.

"That'll teach you!"

"SHUT UP!" Dingodile snapped. Crunch rolled his eyes.

When he, Crash and Coco got home, Crunch turned to Crash. "I'm so glad you were saved," he said, happily. Crash grinned.

"And I'm glad Cortex is toast."

As day turned to night, life on the small island began to start over. The deaths of the forests, animals and humans were quickly mended and happiness spread the island once more. Animals and humans were soon working together side by side, happily and all was right with the world. As our story ends, we must remember that if we are to keep a pleasant world going like this, we must not use our humanly powers for evil.

It will mess us up.

THE END