Crash bandicoot N sane and retold

by Theodore the poet

What if after the events of the first adventure, Crash bandicoot was not alone? As his girlfriend whom he rescued, joins him on his quests through the world, as they both battle Cortex, and his allies, as they continually save the world from their attempts to take it over. Along with some new friends that they make through their journeys. (Rated T for suggestive themes and safety.)

9. CSB Chapter 9

Here's another brief Q and A for this chapter.

Gucci Mane LaFlare: Thank you for that. And that's what happens when the gang provokes Brio into taking action.

Sirrah K: I feel that they're going to do that too once they reach that level. It would be amusing. Also, it's very nice that they're reunited. And you'll get your answer soon in this chapter.

Flawles: You're welcome about the logic behind the bee getting spun away, and thank you for the praise about Isabella and Tawna.

And yes, I am aware of the voice, and I indeed do plan to have him speaking properly in the future, by being taught by Coco and Tawna, as well as the rest of the Nitro Squad.

Doom King of Latveria: I'm using the Vicarious Visions design, but I plan to put them in their PS1 designs later on after the arc ends. And don't worry, it won't end in fisticuffs between them by the time the arc ends. (Although they might be at each other's throats later.)

Finally, Disclaimer: Crash Bandicoot was created by Naughty Dog, and is owned by Activision and Vicarious Visions and Toys for Bob. Please support the official releases.

---

"OH S#$!" She softly said into the speaker by mistake.

"Language please! A kid is here after all." Megumi said, flinching at the sudden profanity from Yaya Panda.

Whom was both frustrated, and scared at what she was going to go through on the path separate from the path that Megumi was taking in the Cold Hard Crash level.

Where in the beginning of the level, they both were running throughout another canyon in the snow, when they came to another such cave. Except unlike the other caves that was visited in the past, this one was harder to navigate through.

First off, there was the slippery ice patches, which Yaya and Megumi needed some time to practice on as they slipped around on the Ice, while Polar merely slid around on his belly on the ice. (All while pushing himself with his hind legs.) Megumi was quick to adapt since she was in the sections of Japan that snowed in the winter, making some ponds turn into ice rinks for her to skate on, prior to her capture.

Then there was a sudden increase in Nitro Boxes that loitered the pathway that both of them had to avoid. Especially the death route that Yaya was now on as she was trying to both avoid the Nitro Boxes, and skate on the ice without falling onto them.

Which was easier said than done, as ice skating and avoiding the Nitro boxes were hard to do at the same time.

Before that though, there was also some other hazards, which at first, it wasn't difficult as Megumi, Polar, and Yaya avoided the penguins that either spun, or slid down any slopes to try to knock them down into the pit. While Yaya clobbered some of the penguins with her kung fu.

There was also some floating platforms that was in the middle of the gap that the bottomless pit was underneath, which they used to jump to the other end one by one, and was fast enough to not be on the platform when it dropped down into the abyss below. Much to their relief.

Then there was the hazards in the cave that they entered, like the crushers that Crash, Tawna, and Coco dealt with, that Yaya and Megumi was now dealing with with only minor difficulty.

There was also Icicles that Coco, Crash, and Tawna also dealt with last time, that Yaya, Polar, and Megumi were now dealing with. And they were only slightly more difficult, but Yaya, Polar, and Megumi was able to avoid those without losing an eye. As well as their brains if the Icicles were sharp enough.

Then there was the rotten wood planks that they were running on. They were now weak enough to where they would fall to the bottomless abyss below due to age. And Wumpas to donuts that the cold air and the snow also played a part in rotting the wooden planks in the cave.

Which is a reason why nobody seems to be putting planks in caves.

Then there was the death route, that Yaya was now taking herself. And it was pretty full of dangers, from bottomless pits, one of which had a bridge of crates that she jumped on to have them breaking under her feet as she bounced on them to cross the gaps, with a risk of falling in if she misses a crate, (Which is easy to do as breaking those crates would up the risk of falling in.) to the fact that she had to jump those gaps while bouncing off the ice, which was a little hard. (But thankfully, there was iron boxes on the smaller platforms of ice, that would stop her in her tracks before she could fall off.)

Not to mention the crushers that was also in the death route too.

And the aforementioned Nitro boxes, which on their own, weren't as dangerous since she could avoid them, but the fact that they were also on the slippery ice, 'that' was where they were more dangerous than they should normally be on their own.

Not to mention having some holographic boxes that she needed to solidify, just so she won't end up missing some of them, thus missing her chance for the Box Gem, forcing them to come back for one.

And for this level, Yaya, Polar, and Megumi wasn't in the mood to come back.

And there was a bunch of them on the ice path that she was taking, all in a row that would risk her either overshooting the jump, and hitting the top Nitro boxes, or undershooting them, and barely touching the bottom ones, which would be enough to set them off due to their volatility. And that happened at least once, causing her to lose Aku Aku's spirit to the box since he was protecting her at the cost of his Mojo, from that accident. Now all three of them were on their own.

All while Megumi had a communicator on her that Yaya was speaking to her through, (Which Megumi gained from Brio to communicate with her squad before her freedom.) which is how Megumi was chastising her for her… dropping of the S-bomb. But if Megumi was in her place, she'd probably think the same thing.

"Sorry Meg-chan." Yaya said, using her nickname for Megumi. "But I think I'm about to die! I'm going to freaking die here!"

"I assure you that you won't die here. Just remember what I taught you about skating." Megumi said on the communicator.

"Balance is the name of the game in skating. I know." Yaya said, having been taught by Megumi on one of the patches of ice in a safe place in the canyon, before they entered the cave, all while keeping watch over Polar. Whom was currently with her on the normal path through the cave.

Then she pocketed the communicator into her Cheongsam before concentrating on how she could go through the row of Nitro crates without blowing herself up.

After a couple minutes of her hesitance, she gathered her courage, and skated her way forward while getting ready to jump over the boxes, then she jumped over the first one while quickly jumping again to clear the second one before she touches the box.

Only to fall on her butt when she landed, and now she was headed for the third box, much to her horror as she braced herself for what could be one way to go to the afterlife where pandas go, clenching her eyes as she had to do the split to see of she could stop short of the Nitro box before she could blow up.

Thankfully, when she opened her eyes, she saw that she was absolutely close, yet not close enough to set off the Nitro box as it was just a nose-hair length away from her.

Rather than stare and gawk at the close call, she decided to put that luck to use, and slowly back away from the box so she doesn't slide into the box behind her, then she stood up while keeping her balance. Keeping Megumi's advice in mind.

Then, when she was ready, she jumped over the box after skating forwards a bit. And soon, she was now reaching the end of the death route.

"YEAH-HA-HA-HAA! HECK YEAH!" She yelled out in celebration as she took the Gem on the way down of the hole, that she was sure would lead to the exit of the route, and to safer pastures where Megumi, and Polar should be. Considering that they split up in the cave, with Megumi and Polar taking the normal route.

The hole ended up leading to a slide, that ended up sending Yaya out of the cave as she landed in the snow. Much to her relief that the journey through the 'Cold Hard Crash' level is ending soon. She just needed to wait for Megumi to leave the cave with Polar in tow, before they could leave the level together.

It was a small waiting period, when Megumi ended up exiting the cave mouth, Crystal in hand as she was smiling at Yaya for living. Which she returned with her own as they hugged. Then both of them pocketed the Crystal and Gem, before running onwards.

"So, Meg-chan, how did it go for you both?!" Yaya said.

"It was pretty hard, what with the ice slides, bottomless pits, smashers, and spinning Penguins. Not to mention those darn Nitro boxes. But we persevered, and soon, we were able to get out of that cave while making sure to break all the boxes in our sight. And Polar-san helped too." Megumi said.

"Nitro boxes. What is with those things?! And where does Brio keep getting them?!" Yaya said, feeling quite frustrated at the Nitro boxes, as both of them hoped that they'll end their quest with their sanity intact, as they kept on running.

All while Megumi thought about telling her that she, or rather her mind controlled self might've played a part in their invention, but she feels that she can tell them later when she's ready. Right now, they just had to complete the level, as they ran.

Where they eventually made it to the exit podium back to the Warp Room after detonating the Nitro boxes, then getting the box Gem, since Megumi and Yaya broke the boxes on each of the routes when they split up.

---

Crash, Coco, and Aku Aku were now in a similar jungle Level called Bee Having that Tawna, Isabella, and Ami was, jumping over the bottomless pits, diving into the muddy ground, and even spinning away the hammer minion that tried to smash them if they were under the muddy ground.

And not only that, but they were also getting chased by large bees. Much to their surprise as they ran fast, then dove into the muddy ground to hide from the bees.

Coco didn't care about the mud on her overalls, she just didn't want to get her laptop all muddy when she dives. So she puts her laptop down on the ground after having laminated it in plastic, before diving in. Since there would be no harm in at least laying the laminated laptop on the surface since none of the large bees focused on it. Which is much to her relief. She just liked that laptop.

"Be careful of these bees big brother, they could really hurt. And I'd rather not know if you're allergic to their sting." Coco said, concerned for Crash, hoping that he won't end up getting an allergic reaction that could be fatal, should he get stung.

Although Aku Aku could be able to heal him from his allergy.

Crash didn't need to be told twice, as he continued to run ahead with Coco by his side, making sure not to suffer such a sting, (Having suffered one himself, a few days after Tawna did.) as he and Coco continued to run through the jungle's path, as well as the canyons, while diving into the mud to hide from the bees. And making sure to get out of the mud so they won't get smooshed by any hammer minion that they come across.

As well as spinning him away so that they'll dive into the mud freely without him ready to smoosh them with his hammer.

It was a good thing that the bees were far enough away so they won't grab their attention. Or that would've made them sitting ducks.

And there was still some bottomless pits that they had to jump over as well. It was like Brio was making a lot of them to stop them with, feeling that they're effective in stopping them in their tracks. It's too bad that they're flexible though.

And there was the acid spitting plants with the pointy vines that tried to melt them, like the ones that Tawna, Isabella, and Ami dealt with in Diggin It.

But none of them were able to stop either Bandicoot sibling, as they kept on running, and even taunting the plants with silly faces. (Like with Crash sticking his tongue out, while crossing his eyes, while Coco pulled her nose up while giving the angry plants a raspberry.) Before moving onwards, while the Plants merely growled in anger as they futilely tried to spit their acid at them.

And there was also Nitro Boxes that they avoided. Especially the ones that was also on the muddy sections of the ground that they were running on. As well as the electric fence gates that they were able to avoid. Even though Crash got zapped by one of them by mistake.

Suddenly, there was an unusual sight that had them stopping, with Crash and Coco looking at it after avoiding one of the hives that sent out at lest four bees.

It was a pile of boxes, both of which were Nitro boxes, and Iron boxes, making a few steps of stairs that they could jump on if the Nitro boxes didn't explode at a single touch.

And yet, they were glowing, but not bouncing up like they were about to blow up. Which is an unusual sight. And the fact that the boxes were making the shape of stairs, had them feeling tempted to climb onto them.

Which, was what caused Crash to test for himself as he slowly walked forward, before putting his finger on one of the boxes. "WAIT CRASH! DON'T!" Coco and Aku Aku yelled out.

Too late, as Crash had his finger on one of the boxes, only something unusual happened.

The Nitro box didn't explode. In fact, none of the boxes exploded when Crash touched them. It was like whatever substance that made them unstable and volatile, had yet to be added to those crates, and they ended up just behaving like regular iron crates.

"That's odd. Why didn't they blow up?" Coco asked as Crash continued to prod and touch each of the box, seeing if at least one of them is going to blow up.

Thankfully for him and Coco, none did. Even as he climbed onto one of them. Which had him excitedly turning to Coco. "Ey Coco, Aku Aku, dey save! Dey save!" He gibbered to her as he made some small hops to demonstrate.

"If you say so Crash." Coco said, climbing onto one of them too, as they both climbed to the top of the pile of boxes to see if they can get a view.

Only to then end up getting teleported together.

This time though, instead of getting teleported to the Warp Room, they suddenly saw that they were right on the side of a rocky mountain, complete with a waterfall by their side, while it also looked like they were in a canyon in between the mountains, and there was a path that they had to take.

"What the…? Why are we here? This isn't the Warp Room." She said confused.

Crash was as well, but he felt that this little area they're in would benefit them too, since it could have a Gem inside as well.

Coco ended up thinking the same thing afterwards. "Might as well make the most of it. Come on Crash, let's get that Gem." She said, thinking that a Gem could be in the area they're in.

"Oaky dokey." Crash said, running with Coco through the path on the mountainside, which has rock platforms that was flat enough for them to stand on, and they had moss on top of them that looked like grass was growing on them. It wouldn't surprise them if it was grass.

There was also iron boxes that they could stand on, and a rocky platform that had a pair of Moles that tried to attack them. But they easily defeated them, before a bouncy mushroom appeared. Which they bounced on to another platform.

Where, surprisingly, right off the bat, they saw a Gem. But not just the ordinary grey Gem, but a purple Gem. "Oh my goodness, a Colored Gem? Like the ones that you and Aku Aku used to save Tawna?" Coco asked, having been told about her save by Tawna herself.

"Yes Coco, and there are probably a few more of them left, since we have a few of the colored Gems even before your arrival." Aku Aku said. "They are Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow colored, and now we have a Purple colored Gem."

"Wow. And I'm guessing that Brio wants the colored Gems too. Maybe even the colored Gems are required for his laser." Coco said.

"Which would destroy that space station of Cortex's that you told us about?" Aku Aku asked.

"Yep. That's it. And considering that Cortex could be zapping the Earth with it, Brio has a reason why he would zap it." Coco said. "Although last time I checked, Cortex isn't destroying the Earth with that thing, but whatever he plans to do with that thing, to Earth, can't be a good thing."

"Hopefully, he won't be able to do that, should we know about what he plans to do." Aku Aku said, hoping that they would be able to stop Cortex before he can set his plan into motion, thanks to them.

"If he is planning to do that, then we know who to send after Cortex to stop his plan from succeeding." Coco said confidently.

Which had Aku Aku also feeling like smiling, as he too knew who would be able to defeat Cortex should he try to use the Space Station to zap earth with it.

While Crash was also smiling himself, feeling confident that he can beat him too.

Now though, they just took the purple Gem, and kept going onwards, while they were braced for whatever they were going to fight up ahead of them.

Which included some hunter bots that shot out large spinning bullets out of their blunderbuss's, which for some reason, happened to move so slow over long distances in the canyon. Which begged the question from Coco, and that was how they were able to keep on going through the air, even though at the speed they were going, they should be dropping.

And why did they explode when they hit the walls, or her brother when he got hit himself, though he thankfully was protected by Aku Aku. But he did feel that shot regardless as he had an ash face from it like in a cartoon.

Then there was the armored Armadillo's that they also fought against, which was hard since jumping on them would merely have them bouncing off of them.

Then there was the Nitro boxes that they too were avoiding, much to their dismay as they continued to dodge the bullets. Which also made the room pretty dangerous for them since they'd end up having to dodge both the bullets and the Nitro boxes. Risking getting hit by either hazard in their way.

Along the way, Coco and Crash had a feeling that they were being watched and followed by someone who was hidden. While Crash ignored the feeling and kept on readying himself for running ahead once he knows he can clear the bullets, Coco was looking around and trying to see what could be watching them running through the area.

That was when she saw a shadowy figure that had only her hands, and her grinning mouth illuminated. That figure looked quite familiar to Coco, so familiar in fact, that Coco was blushing at the figure since it looks like someone she knows. Especially since she felt, that they might meet each other, later on in the journey that they were going through.

For now though, Coco kept on following Crash through the path as they kept on making sure to not get hit by the spinning bullets that still somehow continue to slowly fly through the air.

Then near the end, there was a buzz saw turtle that they had to avoid, along with the hunter bot that tried to shoot them with his blunderbuss. Thankfully, Crash was able to spin away the turtle, while Coco then spun away the hunter bot, as he tried to pull the trigger.

Thankfully, the bullet failed to hit Coco as she jumped over it before hitting the hunter bot.

Now it was just the Bandicoot siblings and spirit mask that was in the canyon as they were now using the bonus platform to leave the hidden area that housed the purple Gem that they were after.

All while the figure made a giggle sound, like she was happy to see the Bandicoots taking the purple Gem from that place, as she swung her way out of the canyon.

"Brio is going to be pleased to know that they're still gathering the Gems too. It seems that Bandicutie has the right idea." She thought, before reaching the teleporter to leave the canyon with.

And soon, they were now back in the same place in Bee Having, and they were now continuing onwards through the path that they took before having been teleported to the Gem route.

Where they had to run from the bees again. Thankfully, Aku Aku would protect them from the stings, if the Bees catch up with them.

There was also other hazards from the other level that Tawna, Ami, and Isabella went through. Like the large stone idols that slid around while each shape rotated to show a different Idol's design, electric gates, explosive acid spitting plants, and even the bees that chased them. So other than the increased number of bees that the siblings had to run from, (Or spin away together.) there was nothing else to write home about.

After some close calls from the bees, nearly getting hurt by the plants spitting their acid at them, and even Crash getting shocked one time by one of the gates, and making sure to break every box that they see, and detonating the Nitro boxes, they eventually made it to the end after grabbing the Crystal. Where they got the Box Gem, and got back to the Warp Room.

---

That left the last Level for Tawna to take on, as she decided to enter the level, while with only Aku Aku's spirit with her. Simply so that Liz, Ami, Isabella, and Megumi would fully reunite in the Warp Room once Megumi was done with the level with Yaya and Polar.

For now though, it was just herself as she went through the Ruination level. Which was quite similar to Road to Ruin. Down to the similar design of the level that she was in, being the ruins of the Mesoamerican people of the past.

There was also some similar hazards from the Road to Ruin level, considering the frilled lizards, the idols that blew fire at her, and even some rat enemies that tried to kill her as well, but was unable to as she was too flexible for them.

And at the beginning, she smashed the boxes when she saw the Nitro boxes, like back in Road to Ruin. When she barely avoided setting off the TNT box, seconds before meeting and freeing Liz from her control helmet. Except this time, she has nobody to face off against after she broke the boxes and avoided the Nitro box. And it was in the beginning of the main route.

Other than the added difficulty of the level, and the fact that there was also jumping monkeys that also tried to hinder her, there was nothing else to write home about for Tawna.

Other than the fact that after she got the Crystal, and while she was destroying the boxes, she ended up finding a Gem platform, this time, was colored Green. Probably because of the fact that they have a Green Gem, that the platform was made, which she took, knowing that she'd grab another Gem in doing so. Not to mention the boxes that could be in the death route that she might need to break for the Gem.

It was not an easy course. But then again, when were the Gem and death routes easy?

Especially since she not only has more monkeys to face off against, but also the frilled lizards with the hot frills that tried to turn her into ashes.

Then there was the point where in the Gem route, where at the beginning of the route, she ended up meeting the Scorporilla titans herself, having heard about them from Aku Aku's spirit as well as Coco. And she was intimidated by their imposing looks. And considering that they were part scorpion, and part gorilla, she didn't wanna know if they were venomous, should she get stung by their tails.

"That's what they look like when Crashie and Coco fought them?! They're big!" She said, feeling a little intimidated of their imposing size. "And that's because of the Mojo being used?" Tawna asked.

"That is correct. Cortex seems to have used the Mojo to create these Titans, among others. And they're probably being used as his guards for these Gems. That scum." Aku Aku said, still angry at Cortex for having created the Titans. "If he wasn't trying to save the Earth, then I have hopes that the gods shall punish him for his tempering with Nature." Aku Aku said.

"There's that, but if Brio is in the right, then I feel that you may have your chance to punish Cortex, if he's up to his villainous ways again." Tawna said. "And if we're able to defeat him again."

"Let's hope so." Aku Aku said, as he followed Tawna through her route, as she continued to face off against the Titans.

They seem to be mostly trying to flatten her with logs though, so she feels that she's safe for now.

She still needed to duck the logs, or jump over them on her way to the Scorporilla. Before she was then able to spin him away from her due to her spin attack. After that, she needed to keep going through the Gem route.

Where she had to run fast over the brown colored rocks that fell under her feet when she lands on them, due to how rotten and weak the rocks were. Same could be said for the platforms that had some rocks below them, as they do fall, but it took more time for them to fall, unlike the floating ones that falls in under a second when she steps on them. Possibly because the rocks below the certain platforms were able to keep carrying the platform for at least a few more seconds, which gives her enough time to jump to another one, before falling, hopefully without her on it.

And there was still some fire breathing Idols that was also on the Gem route, that she had to run past when the fire isn't being spat out, and they moved left and right, which made it a bit more difficult for her to get past them if the fire was still getting spat out. Forcing her to wait for the fire to stop before keeping on going. Which, would be bad if they were in between the weak brown rock platforms that breaks under her feet. And unfortunately, they were quite near those platforms. Much to her chagrin.

But she was able to clear them, even though she could feel her fur on her arm getting singed from the second Idol, as she jumped to the safe platform.

But she had another Scorporilla to fight against as it threw another set of logs like a certain tie wearing ape. Thankfully, she was able to jump over them, and try to defeat the Scorporilla, who tried to smash her with its massive arms.

Thankfully, she slid under him from between its legs, got to its tail, and was able to use its stinger against it by stinging its back with it. Which caused it to fall off of the platform after turning limp, as she jumped off of it to the safety of the platform it was on.

Tawna then proceeded onwards, standing on the leaning tower platforms that kept on leaning up and down. She didn't know how they were able to do that, but she didn't feel curious enough to find out.

Then after that, she kept on going until she was at the open mouth Idol cave, where she heard the roar of a third Scorporilla. So she braced herself for another round of dodging the logs that the Titan throws her way.

Once she was on the path to the Scorporilla, and dodged the logs, the Scorporilla surprised her by throwing the log like a tomahawk, only it threw it with a side throw to make it spin horizontally, making it pretty hard to dodge. And Tawna took one to the noggin, which hurt hard as she fell to the floor in pain.

"AAAAUUGH!" She yelled out on the floor of the platform. Which luckily for her, wasn't the one that breaks under her feet. "Ooh, ow, that hurt." She then grunted out as she got back up while bearing the pain.

Sure she was protected by Aku Aku's spirit, who then faded after healing her head, but she sure felt that, and she swore that she might be bleeding from the head wound if Aku Aku didn't heal her noggin to where she might have only a bruise on her head, but she wasn't letting that stop her from continuing. She just hoped that she won't get hit again by the Scorporilla after this.

After that, and after dodging the Scorporilla's arms, she made it sting itself, had it falling to its doom out of revenge for the log throw, and was now able to find the route's Gem, before moving onwards through the route. Until she was then able to keep on going until she found the Gem platform that could be the exit to the route. So she took it until it sent her back to the same place that the Gem platform was, which was close to the monkey Idols that breathed fire.

Where she continued onwards through the Level, which was not that different to Road to Ruin, even though it was a little more challenging than that Level. But still nothing else to write home about, as she kept on avoiding the fire breathing Idols, the rats, and lizards, and the monkeys, until she got the Crystal, before she then kept on going through the level, (And made sure to break the boxes in the Bonus room.) until she reached the end after breaking the boxes, leading to her getting the Box Gem in the exit chamber, before leaving the level.

---

"Elizabeth-chan! It's great to see you again!" Megumi said as the bandicoot girls were hugging each other happily.

"It's great to be seen again. Especially by you gals." Liz said, happy that all of them were reunited.

All while Crash, Coco, Yaya, and Polar was looking on, smiling at the scene in front of them. All while they waited for Tawna to come back from the Ruination Portal that she entered, shortly before Megumi, Polar, and Yaya came back from the Cold Hard Crash level.

Which didn't take too long, as Tawna came back from the level as she had to catch her breath from the ordeal. Yet she was smiling when she noticed the girls hugging each other, happy to be fully reunited and free from Cortex and Brio.

"So, what'd I miss?" Tawna asked Coco.

"Not too much, just them celebrating the fact that they're together again." Coco said smiling, making Tawna smile too when she saw the sight of them hugging.

It seemed that they were going to have quite a few friends being made once this little journey ends.

Once they were done hugging, they looked at each other, before looking at the Bandicoot trio with smiles. "Grazie mille a tutti. (Thank you all so much.) You have no idea how elated I am to be with my friends again." Isabella said.

"It's no problem. Really." Tawna said.

"Ya, no pwobom jut hepin oud." Crash gibbered, also smiling at them.

"Now we just need to complete this journey, then I- er, my friends will help out with creating a new home for you all, once we're back on the island." Coco said, smiling.

"Be sure to tell your friends that a beach house would be nice to make." Liz said.

That was when they noticed that Tawna had a bruise on her head, much to their shock. "Blimey Tawna! What the heck just happened?!" Liz asked shocked, as was the rest of the Gang.

"Remember those Scorporilla Titans, Coco? I met them myself, and one of them was able to chuck a log at my head. Thank goodness that Aku Aku was able to protect my head, otherwise I wouldn't be here right now." She said as Crash hugged her protectively, which she accepted. She was glad to have lived so that Crash wouldn't lose her.

Before they could talk more, the room suddenly got dark when they were prepared to talk about what else they went through before reuniting. Showing that Cortex, or Brio was going to speak to them.

Cortex's hologram ended up appearing in the room. "Listen up. As you all should know, Doctor Nitrous Brio is masterminding the opposition that was sent to try to kill you all. As you also may know, he is the inventor of the Evolve-O-Ray. Brio was responsible for our… misunderstandings in the past." Cortex said awkwardly, like he was embarrassed to even think about what happened a year ago.

Which he was, but it's mainly because of his and Brio's defeat, being the reason why he was embarrassed to even talk about it.

"He forced me to assist him in his plot for world domination, and he's at it again. As we speak, he may be attempting to stand in our way." Cortex then said.

"Really? Cause he seemed to be a more neurotic, slightly insane, and nervous scientist that took orders from you." Ami said, with her friends in agreement. As well as Tawna and Coco.

"I know that he seems to be that kind of scientist. But trust me when I ask this. You know the saying, 'It's always the quiet ones you should watch out for'? Well Brio, is an example of that. For behind his seemingly shy, and nervous presence, is a cunning, and sneaky supervillain who would plan for your downfall, and I fear that I will be no exception, should he succeed in taking all of you down. Which is why, all of you should be on your guard." Cortex responded.

Which even though the crew still had their doubts, they felt that Cortex might have a point about Brio. After all, he was able to create his own army of animals, to try and stop the Bandicoots, when it was just Tawna and Crash on this journey. And even now, with Coco, Polar, Yaya Panda, and the freed four Bandicoot girls joining them on this journey, it seemed like he was refusing to give up, until they either die, or give up on their current journey.

And it's all, in spite of being a slightly insane, stuttering nervous wreck, who took orders from Cortex a year ago, when Crash was rescuing Tawna and Coco. So was he really in control of the old fortress from behind the curtains? None of them knew.

Other than someone, who was among them, and she was calling bull at the response that Cortex gave, even if he had a point about Brio.

Suddenly, there was an Item that Crash noticed, on the platform that he picked up, which had the entire gang looking at it once he brought it to their attention. It looked like a storage unit that was like a tiny fridge, and it was currently the size of a Rubix cube.

And when Crash pressed the button on it, it ended up opening up on the top, before a glowing bubble appeared, and was floating on the top of it, and it showed that all twenty Crystals were inside of it, as they floated around inside. Much to Crash's amazement, as well as Polar's, Tawna's and the girls.

"See this little storage device that is in your hands? I want you to take it, then take this platform, and deliver the Crystals from it, to my right hand man, N. Gin. And quickly, or Brio might send a minion to interrupt the trade. And one more thing, welcome back Liz. I am happy to see that all of you are alive and well. I have hopes, that your rewards shall be great, once this journey ends in my- *ahem* our victory." Cortex said smiling, before his hologram vanished from the room.

"As long as it involves freedom, then I hope so too." Liz said, even after the hologram vanished. While her friends agreed with her on that. But they do have doubts that Cortex might be willing to deliver on that too.

"Okay Crashie, let's make sure not to break that storage box, and give it to this N. Gin guy." Tawna said.

Crash nodded back in response as he closed the box, before they all got on the platform together, before it raised upwards to the hole in the center of the ceiling to help them exit from the mining tunnels of the Warp room.

Then their whole vision turned white as they got teleported once again.

---

The Gang saw the whiteness leave their view as they saw that they were on a catwalk that consisted of three platforms that was on some high towers. Not only that, but they were in a room that had an open window that lead into space as it showed the view of Earth in space. Showing them that they're on a space station that was orbiting Earth, that they believed was Cortex's.

"Wow. That view looks magnificent. It's like we're on the moon." Isabella said, amazed.

"Except we're on a Space Station that orbits Earth. And for some reason, we're inside a pocket where we're breathing oxygen, and not expanding like balloons in space." Megumi said.

"That's a relief. Otherwise, Cortex could've had us killed if he sent us into space without suits." Tawna said. "Unless we can possibly survive in space somehow."

"Which would be awesome if that's the case, considering that we're Bandicoots, we could survive just about anything that those blokes could throw at us. So what's to say that being in space can?" Liz said grinning with Ami in Agreement.

Suddenly, a flying mech entered the room through the open window. It had red colored paint on its shoulders, the middle of the torso that had a closed cockpit door over it, as well as metallic colored metal for the abdominals. It had a pair of cone hands that opened up to show some lasers inside of them, and the mech was held up by a pair of rockets that moved it around, as it headed for the Platforms.

And inside the glass cockpit was N. Gin himself.

"So. You both made it this far. I have to say, I expected that at least one of you would bite the dust on the way here. *Giggles lightly* Thank goodness I was in the wrong at this point." He said with an echoing robotic voice.

"So, you're Cortex's right hand man?" Tawna asked.

"T-that is correct. I am Doctor Nitrous Gin. *Wheeze* But my f-friends calls me N. Gin. And so can you B-Bandicoots! And like Dr. Cortex said, give the twenty Crystals you collected, to me!" He called out, a little aggressively.

Which had the Gang on edge, since he seemed to be aggressive to them for the Crystals which they were going to give to him.

But he seemed to be itching for a fight too. Almost like N. Brio was…

"Wait! How do we know that you're the real N. Gin and not some imposter?!" Coco asked.

Which had him provoked as his eye was twitching, while the rocket on his head ignited and was now burning. "HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH A-" He yelled out, before catching himself. Knowing that it could cause them to be more defensive of the Crystals. Which could lead to them fighting him.

So he had to take some deep breaths to calm himself before he could get aggressive, as the rocket's fire was extinguished. "F-forgive this poor soul in the Machine. I do get jittery and on edge sometimes, when provoked." He said giving them a kneeling bow in his mech.

"I see that you have some screws loose. And is that an actual rocket in your head?" Yaya asked, noticing how the rocket ignited when he got angry.

"Y-yes. You see, I suffered an accident in my lab, where one of our experimental rockets had a premature ignition during my experiments with Cortex, and another colleague. Probably back in the Academy of Evil. It ended up bouncing around the room, before getting lodged in my head, on the right side of it, as you can see." He said, cringing at the memory.

The Bandicoots, (As well as Panda, and Polar bear.) also cringed at the little backstory that N. Gin told them. Feeling like it had to hurt to have an unexploded rocket getting lodged inside one's head. "That had to smart!" Liz said.

"I know. I felt a lot of pain from that accident. T-thankfully, Cortex and our colleague was there to send me to the Nurse's office, where she was able to keep me alive, by robotizing the part of my face that you see before you. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to remove that rocket in my head without killing me, which is why she robotized a part of my face to keep me alive." He said feeling saddened. "But that's okay! *Wheeze* Because I still can be Cortex's best minion due to my survival!" He then said happily.

"Well… it's interesting, and a little heartwarming that you're still by his side." Megumi said, pitying the poor doctor with a rocket on his head.

"And who was this colleague?" Coco asked curiously.

"None of your beeswax." He said annoyed. "Now. Give me those Crystals… please." He said initially angry, before he then calmed down at the last part.

"Will do, okay Crash, open that box up. And after this, let's get those last five Crystals." Tawna said.

As Crash was going to obey though, they noticed that both Ami and Coco was hesitant, almost like something funny was going to happen. And that they might get stabbed in the back once the trade is done. In fact, Ami told Crash to wait for the confirmation that nothing bad will happen once they're done here.

And that is something that Coco was about to ask. "Just one question. Once you and Cortex have the required Crystals, and if you and Cortex are putting them to use, would you indeed be blasting the Earth instead?" She asked, much to the Gang's horror at the last part.

"NO! OF COURSE NOT!" N. Gin said, with his rocket reigniting. "Cortex would never blast the Earth to smithereens! He is not that monstrous! Trust me! *Wheeze* Even he has standards!"

"So what you're saying, is that he isn't blasting the Earth, and blowing it up? Then what explains the space station's cannon?" Isabella asked with Ami wanting to know too.

"Why… it's… to…" N. Gin hesitated, trying to find an answer to go with that could convince the Gang of Cortex's 'goal' for Earth as his rocket turned off again. Then he got an Idea. "To redirect the force! Yeah, that's it! It's so that once the Crystals would absorb the force, then the cannon could then drain that force from the Crystals, to prevent them from exploding, then blast the force away from the Planet. Thus, saving it!" N. Gin said with an evil grin, and a silly giggle feeling that he found his way to keep his lie up. "Not a bad Idea." He thought.

Little did he know, that it was what Megumi mentioned to the gang when she heard about the space station. Which made her relieved that she was correct in that assumption.

And that left the gang convinced that if what N. Gin said is true, then they could've been collecting the Crystals for the right cause after all. And Neo Cortex could actually be reforming back to the good side. And that N. Gin was actually just being paranoid, just in case N. Brio was planning on how to make the deal backfire. Which explains his earlier aggression.

It was like Neo Cortex was actually trying to save the world, and was hoping to apologize to them, by making them the heroes that saved it alongside himself. Not a bad way to apologize to your former prisoners.

Just as they were ready to get the Crystals and hand them to him though, Coco was still not convinced. (And by extension, neither was Ami or Isabella due to Coco's assurance to them, that they could still be doing a wrong thing.)

Which N. Gin noticed as he glared at Coco. "What?! What makes you still hesitant to trust me?! Do I have to create a cure for Cancer to get you to trust me?!"

"What is wrong Coco. You heard what he said." Tawna said, with Crash looking on in confusion.

"I know. I did hear him." She said to Tawna. Then she focused on N. Gin. "But, just one more question. Are you sure that if that 'Force' is real, and what that cannon could do is true? If so, then what if, on the off chance that this 'Force' is not real, that the station's cannon is still going to be zapping Earth?"

"Don't! I'm warning you-"

"And if that cannon isn't going to destroy Earth like you said it wouldn't, then could it be possible that he's got a more sinister purpose than that? Like he's going to drain the life out of it until it's nothing but a barren desert?" She then asked.

Which is much to Tawna's horror. Considering her fondness for nature, she hoped that what Coco said in her accusing question wasn't true, even though she trusted her, and that she could be right, which had her hesitating to have Crash give N. Gin the Crystals again.

"NO! Like I said, Cortex would never to such a thing to the Earth! He would merely zap the Earth to-" N Gin angrily said, before stopping himself in shock at what he nearly told Crash and the Gang.

Which was what had the entire gang feeling surprised, then hesitant about handing the Crystals to him, since Cortex's plan to zap the Earth, was seeming more likely if what N. Gin nearly told them out of anger, was true.

"To do what, N. Gin? To do what?" Coco asked smugly, like she called his bluff, and had the Gang also convinced that they might not be working for a good guy, let alone the guy that is trying to reform himself into a good person. And that had Crash closing the box at Tawna's request in doing so.

"To, um… uh…" He said as he started to hesitate on what to say to Coco to convince even her to side with him, even though it was starting to seem impossible at this point. He also was hesitant to try to kill them to take the Crystals too, since they would defend themselves, and probably defeat him, should they fight. (Although he is confident that his mech could still be able to kill them.)

And that hesitation was going to cost him.

"Let me think here, Um… ah-"

"SPIDERMONKEY ATAAAAACK!" A young girl's voice yelled out.

Then before N. Gin knew it, he was attacked by a mech, which appropriately enough, had a design of a monkey, being a metallic black in color, with white trims, especially on the robotic tail with a cannon on it. While also having some monkey feet, and having at least six arms on the sides of its torso. Sorta like a spider/monkey hybrid.

And it was currently clobbering N. Gin's mech as the Gang looked on in shock and surprise at what was happening to N. Gin and his mech, as well as wondering who the girl in the mech is. "SASSINRASSINFRASSIN, purgashorga, backflatten phillip munka morton, purka furmen looma, burton durton, bush, natten bartten anata, rattin rittin hittin bloat!" N. Gin gibbered out in both frustration, and fear at the unexpected attack, as the spider/monkey hybrid robot was pummeling his mech. He tried to defend himself, but there was nothing he could do as the robot wailed on him.

Until with a finishing blow from the chest mounted cannon, the monkey robot blew up N. Gin's mech as it broke apart into pieces as N. Gin flew off into space. "AAAAAAAHH! DON'T KILL ME CORTEX!" He yelled out in distress and fear, as he flew off into space.

Then the Spider/monkey hybrid mech turned to them, as it now climbed up to the towers before leaning the head of the Mech closer to the platforms as the Gang was nervous about what was going to happen.

Then the head opened, revealing who the pilot was inside of it.

It was a pale grey skinned teen gothic girl that wore a schoolgirl's outfit, complete with a short skirt, that had short hair with some of it sticking up to the sky, having blue eye colors that looked at them with excitement in her eyes, while also having some buck teeth that happened to be sticking out from her overbite, and most of all, she had a lower case 'n' on her forehead. Sorta like a familiar doctor that they know and hate. While she also had a pair of metallic, dark grey colored hands.

"Hello Bandicuties! My name is Nina! Nina Cortex!" She proclaimed, much to their shock at the fact that she happens to be related to Dr. Cortex himself.

And little did they know, one of them was blushing up a storm at the sight of the girl, almost like 'they' know her.

"Cortex?! Your last name is Cortex?! Could you be related to Neo Cortex?!" Tawna exclaimed in shock.

"Mm-hmm. He's my uncle. Which makes me, Nina, his niece. Interesting is it not? But enough about him. Let's just start with you Bandicuties." Nina said excitedly as she jumped out of the cockpit and onto the platform with them. While sounding like she was speaking in third person for a bit there.

All while the gang didn't really know what to think. On one hand, she just ruined the exchange, just as Cortex hoped wouldn't happen, and they felt that Cortex would be quite angry at the news once he knows, and it seems that she's working for N. Brio. On the other hand though, N. Gin did nearly say that Cortex planned to zap the Earth with his space station. Which would explain a lot to them about what Cortex's intentions could really be.

Which would also explain to them, on why Coco seems to be against giving the Crystals to Cortex as well. So thinking about it more, they feel like thanking the Goth girl for the ambush. Regardless of being Brio's ally.

"Bandicuties? You referring to all of us as that, even though it's pronounced 'Bandicoot'?" Ami asked.

Nina giggled at that, like Ami told a joke. "Of course I am. It's my nickname for all of you. But most of all, someone like you." She said, pointing at someone in the gang.

Someone, suspiciously blonde, and tomboyish looking, who was blushing when she looks at her.

As curious as they were about who this 'Bandicutie' is, they wanted to ask one question. "Why did you attack N. Gin?" Megumi asked.

"Well he was ugly for starters." Nina said casually. Which all of them had to admit, she wasn't wrong about that part. Even though Megumi was still upset at that statement. "And, it's also cause it seemed like he was going to forcefully take those Crystals, now that the jig is up." Nina then said.

"Wait. You mean, he was totally going to take them, because the jig is up?" Yaya asked.

"Yup. As he nearly pointed out to you all, Uncle Cortex was indeed going to zap the Earth from his space station. As for what'll happen if he does, well… it's definitely bad. Nina knows that much." Nina said, smiling with a shrug, non-verbally telling them that she doesn't know what he plans to do either.

"Oh no. I guess Coco might've had the right idea. Thank goodness she was hesitant to trust N. Gin." Tawna thought.

All while Nina was giggling at that. "But now that I'm done with him, what are the names of the Panda, the Polar Bear, and the first three Bandicuties that the four of you met?" She asked, referring to Crash, Coco, Tawna, Polar, and Yaya. All of whom, the Bandicoot girls met and befriended after getting freed.

After blushing a bit at the nickname that Nina was seemingly calling them by, they introduced themselves. "My name is Tawna. This is my boyfriend, Crash."

"And I'm his sister. Coco. This is Yaya Panda, and Polar." She said, pointing to Yaya and Polar.

"Nice to meet you all, especially you." She said with a wink, pointing to Coco.

Whom was still focusing on her hands alongside Yaya, feeling a bit somber about her hands. Even though she blushed at Nina's gesture.

"Those are some cool looking gloves you have there. It's almost like you have robotic hands." Yaya said, noting the metallic hands of Nina's.

Whom ended up feeling somber about the mention. "That's cause they 'are' robotic hands." Nina said sadly.

Which startled the gang at the news that she just told. Especially Yaya. "N-No kidding? What happened?" Ami asked.

"Uncle Cortex chopped my old hands off while I was asleep, and replaced them with these." Nina said, looking at her shoes.

The gang ended up gasping at the news they heard. "Now why would he do such a thing?! And to his niece of all people?!" Isabella asked, shocked alongside the gang.

"Because he wanted Nina to be like him, up to being smart, and evil as well. But I love the animals too much to be like him in a way, much to his chagrin. So he did 'this' to me. Sure, these hands work as grappling hands which I had fun with in swinging around, but every time I try to hug a critter, they just… pop like a water balloon full of red food coloring." Nina said, cringing at the memory, and with sadness at the hands. "And at a certain point after that, he sent me to his old Academy of Evil, in hopes that I'll be like him too. Just as smart, and just as evil as him."

The gang was speechless at the news they just heard from Nina. And they also near instantly felt sorry for her. Especially Aku Aku. After all, she was a Cortex, but she doesn't seem to share in her Uncle's ambitions. And she seemed to be a nice girl, and yet her Uncle Neo Cortex did 'that' to her because of it. And all so he could make her evil as well.

It seems that they have found another reason to despise Cortex. Regardless of him trying to save the world. That is, if he truly was, and the thing that N. Gin nearly told them about was a lie. Which they doubt that it was.

Then Nina brightened up in the next moment. "But then, Brio busted me out of the Academy, a few days ago. Now I am here as his Hench girl, to give thanks to him." She said grinning.

Which relieved the gang at how positive she still was. Even though they took that as a sign of her loyalty to Brio, (Especially with what she said about being his Hench girl.) who is still not much better than Cortex.

"But now, let's cut to the chase. Give the Crystals to me, to give to Brio, and then Uncle Cortex shall pay in a high price. Even though I still love him as an uncle. He is nice to me most of the time, regardless of my hands." Nina said somberly at the last part. "Otherwise, I feel that I have a lot of toys to play with, in my mech. Including the Bandicutie."

"I don't mean to brag, but are you referring to me?" Liz asked with a smile, curious if she was being flirted with, even if it's a girl that was flirting with her. (Which she wouldn't mind, even if she likes men too.)

Causing Nina to study her for a second in curiosity. "Eh, not really no." She then said casually.

Much to Liz's chagrin. "And who, pray tell, is the 'Bandicutie' then?" She said annoyed.

"You'll know soon enough, once those Crystals are mine and Brio's." Nina said smiling.

"And then they'll belong to Brio too? Even though he tried to kill us?" Liz then asked.

"He had no choice. You all kept on collecting those Crystals, with the intent on giving them to Uncle Cortex. Thus forcing him to attack you guys to make you all stop, even though he failed a few times. But he still gives all of you thanks, for the Gems." Nina said, giving them a bow on the last part. "I'm sure that if you stop gathering the Crystals, and if you girls would come back to him, then he'd stop attempting to-"

"No deal!" The Bandicoot girls angrily said in unison, catching Nina off guard.

"Wha?! Why?" Nina asked surprised.

"Say what you want about Cortex, but Brio isn't any better. He's still as much of a Stronzo (Scumbag) as Cortex! Considering that we were also his slaves beforehand!" Isabella said.

"I agree with bells on that. He could be the lesser of the two evils for this Journey, if Cortex would indeed zap Earth, but that's all about him that makes him bearable at the very least." Liz said.

"Not to mention the fact that he tried to kill our friends even before they freed us. We won't be his pets any longer after what he tried to do to Tawna and her friends." Ami said, still remembering that Koala Kong was still recruited by Brio. Who didn't even try to stop him, when he tried to smoosh Tawna, and Crash. And later, Coco, and Isabella.

Not to mention Pinstripe being hired by him to try to turn them to swiss cheese with his tommy gun. Or have his right hand lizards slicing them to ribbons, if they weren't lucky and didn't stay on their toes.

"Which is why, Cortex may be a jerk for what he did to us a year ago, but we refuse to return to that Baka no matter how much he begs." Megumi then said, showing that she too doesn't like Brio, regardless of her polite nature.

"So don't expect us to be back by his side when this Journey ends, because we won't. Instead, we shall be as free as a wild animal!" Liz then said joyfully on the last part, finishing the answer.

Which had Tawna, Coco, Yaya, Aku Aku, and Crash feeling like smiling at them for that. They were fond of the Bandicoot girls after removing Isabella's helmet, and they were glad that they were going to be free by the end, as they reminded them that they won't be back by his side once they were done with this adventure.

Sure they felt bad for Nina, and they hoped that they may become her friend someday. But as long as she is loyal to Brio, then they can't obey her when she tells them to give her the Crystals to Brio. Instead, they may have their own plans for the Crystals, after the journey ends.

"But we do apologize for what happened to you. What Cortex has done to you, is despicable. And we hope we can be your friend, if you aren't with Brio." Tawna then said, with the Bandicoot girls in agreement, alongside Crash, Coco, and Yaya Panda.

Nina felt touched at what Tawna said, as she smiled back at her. "Aww, thank you Tawnie." Nina said, calling her by her nickname that Nina made for her. "And I suppose you're both right. We would've been friends if I wasn't with Brio. But I do owe him for my rescue from the Academy. And I can't leave empty handed." Nina said, jumping back into the mech's cockpit.

"So until you girls pay up with those Crystals, and yourselves, this mech of mine shall be the end of your journeys! I do apologize for what Nina is about to do!" She then said as the cockpit closed.

All of the Gang, including Polar was feeling a cold chill up their spines as they saw that they were about to fight a goth girl in a spider/monkey hybrid mech. And it seemed to be a dangerous mech if the beatdown on N. Gin's mech wasn't a sign of that. They hoped they could survive the battle that's incoming.

"Please Nina! You don't need to do this! You can take just the Crystals if we can avoid this battle!" Coco said, like she was trying to change her mind.

"Trust me when I say this. I too feel reluctant in doing this. But Brio ordered me to take the Gems and Crystals, and the girls. And I can't leave with nothing." She said. "So say your prayers! Fire Tail Web Cannon!"

The tail's cannon then proceeded to shoot out some nets, like a web of a spider being shot out.

Which the Bandicoots knew what would happen if they get caught, so they tried to dodge the nets before they could get caught.

Which they were able to dodge, just barely, by staying in the gaps between the platforms that was connected to each other, as Ami barely felt the net just around her ankle. But she was able to tear it off due to her strength.

"Drats! No matter, Nina doubts that you Bandicuties can dodge this. Rocket attack!" Nina said.

Then there was rockets being shot out of the torso of the mech, and they were headed upwards before dropping down on the bandicoots like a rain of them.

"Quickly! Run from the spots where they're going to drop!" Coco called out.

The Gang did as they were told, as they ran around on the three platforms to avoid the missiles that was about to drop on them, while also avoiding any shockwaves that would result from the explosions.

Which, happened to be pretty small looking, which helped them in being able to dodge the missiles.

Much to Nina's dismay. "Double Drats! I had a feeling that I didn't give them some more blasting power than this."

But she wasn't giving up, she was going to take the Crystals for Brio, and take back the Bandicoot girls. She owed N. Brio that much.

"Firing MORTARS!"

The mech then had a bunch of bombs fired from its back after Nina energetically called it out.

And they were headed straight for the three platforms, much to the horror of the gang as they braced themselves for the incoming barrage of mortar fire as they tried to find whatever safe place that they could run to.

That was when they saw another set of platforms that was rising behind them, and a large set of them that made a large area at that, that was only a jump away to safety. They wondered if they were getting helped from behind the curtains. And if it was Cortex helping out.

Either way, they were taking it without question, as they all jumped to the other set. Before the mortar shells hit the platforms that they were on, destroying them.

Which Nina was not amused at seeing, as she resumed her missile barrage.

"We need to do something! We're gonna be blasted into chunks if she hits us at this rate!" Ami said nervously.

Tawna was mulling over how they could be able to do damage against Nina's monkey mech, as she and the Bandicoot girls wondered what to do against her.

Suddenly, she remembered fighting another mech that Megumi herself was fighting inside. And she remembered how to take it out. That was when an Idea came to her as she passed out some of the Wumpa fruit that she and Crash had on their journey.

"What are these for?" Liz and Yaya asked.

"We should throw these at the open spots of her mech where the missiles are. I'm certain that they should have enough weight to set off the explosives on those missiles as she fires them out." Tawna said quietly enough for the gang to hear, and not Nina. "Also, there are exposed parts of the mech that opens up when she fires the lasers too. I'm certain that the juices within these fruits should be able to short them out, and break the mech's weapons."

"Are you sure they could break the mech with these hitting the exposed parts? She might try to block them." Liz said.

"That's why we need to be fast in throwing these, that way, we can be able to hit those parts before she can block them, and break the mech that way." Tawna said. "Once she's ready to fire the missiles from the front, that's when we should throw them."

"What about this though?" Coco asked, pulling a bazooka out of her overall's pocket. Much to the gang's surprise. "Using science, I was able to put this in my pocket. This thing can launch our Wumpa fruit at a fast rate. Can any of you wield it?"

Crash raised his hand, along with Ami, Tawna, and Liz. "Let's pass it around, make sure that Nina isn't going to be able to blast it out of our hands, or snag it from us." Liz said.

"Got it." They all said, hoping that Nina isn't going to hear what Tawna told them.

Then, they ended up running to some cover, as Nina continued to shoot out some missiles out of her mech, hoping to hit one of them in the blast of her missile's explosion, not knowing that they were planning to turn the tide of the battle with some unlikely items in her mind.

"Firing Lasers!" Nina called out.

Then one of the main arms of her mech opened up to show a laser that she was now shooting right out of the mech. Which the gang dodged when she then swung around the laser in a pattern that they could recognize, and dodge. Also while Coco helped them along due to her experience with dodging in video games.

Which Nina saw, and rather than be upset, she was merely smiling at the scene in front of her, liking the way that her 'Bandicutie' moved with the Gang on the platforms. It was like soccer, only they're running away from the laser that she was firing out.

Coco on the other hand, was feeling a little reluctant in fighting back, let alone using the Wumpa Launcher. Which Tawna noticed. Sure Coco was being a good ally, but she was only giving them help in dodging the missiles, and the laser, but wasn't fighting back against Nina with her own Wumpa fruit.

Which Tawna did understand why she was hesitating, since Nina looked like a nice girl, who happened to be working for Brio. If only the last part wasn't true.

Then there was the opening hatches that appeared around the laser beams. Which they guessed, could be weak enough to damage with the Wumpa fruit. So they used the Wumpa Launcher to fire at the gaps of the lasers that Nina was shooting out.

Which, since the wiring was only covered by some flimsy rubber hoses, the juices were able to seep into the wires that powered the lasers in the arms while damaging the hose that covered the wires due to the speed of the fruit. Causing them to short out on one of the arms that shot out the lasers.

Which caused the left laser arm to break, and explode to where she lost it.

"WAHH! Einstein's beard!" Nina said, surprised at the shorting out of the left laser hand. "Aw, darn it. No matter, Firing Laser!" She said, after some calming breaths, using the remaining laser to try to blast them.

And barely succeeding on Megumi, while also zapping away the Wumpa fruit from the air to protect her mech's remaining laser hand.

While somehow failing to notice that the bazooka was being passed around, with the gang tossing it like it was weightless, and keeping it hidden in their pockets.

Then she fired some more missiles into the mix after the announcement. Which, reeling from Megumi getting hit, the Bandicoots also got hit by the missiles, forcing Aku Aku to protect them to the best of his abilities with Mojo.

They were barely alright when the barrage ended, but they all noticed how tired Aku Aku must be feeling from the strain of protecting them all with his Mojo.

"Hang in there children! There'll be another opportunity to strike the mech." Aku Aku said.

They all understood, regardless of Tawna's, Coco's, and Crash's concern for him, as they were bracing themselves for another barrage of missiles, as they proceeded to carefully dodge the missiles while waiting for Nina to use the laser hand again.

They didn't have to wait for too long. "Firing Lasers!" She called out. Feeling like she believes that calling her attacks would make them stronger, like in an anime. Which does beg the question, does she think she's in an anime?

They had to ask later, since they had to take down the laser. So they launched the Wumpa fruit again at a more faster pace with her Wumpa Launcher.

And luckily for them, they were able to hit the exposed laser part. And soon, the laser shorted out. Much to Nina's dismay, and horror, since she had no lasers to fire from her mech. Other than her chest cannon.

But she wasn't giving up that easily. "Firing Missiles!"

The mech shot out missiles, making sure that they would launch upwards then rain onto the Bandicoots.

Who then dodged the missiles now that they were able to see them coming. It wasn't easy though since there was quite the number of them.

In fact, there was the last set of missiles when Tawna, Crash, and Coco was struggling to dodge the set of missiles, showing signs that they were going to get hit. So the girls, as well as Polar, who was fast in saving Crash by having him ride on his back to the other end of the area, were quick in pulling them aside when they were going to get hurt by the last few missiles. Which showed just how much of a team they were with the three Bandicoots as their friends. (And that is regardless of Isabella's tension with Tawna. Whom was pulled to Isabella's side to dodge the missiles.)

Something that had Nina a little unnerved when she witnessed the save. She felt that if she wasn't in her mech, they could've clobbered her together. (Although she was hopeful that they would give her mercy if she loses.)

Now though, she knew that she has them on the ropes as she aimed her missiles at where they could be running to as she decided to do the lead the target tactic.

She fired out the missiles from her mech while aiming her mortar shot at where she expects the Bandicoots to run to, in their attempt to avoid the missiles while readying their Wumpa Launcher.

Once they went where she expected them to go, she proceeded for fire her single mortar shot to their direction, regardless of how hesitation.

Once the Bandicoots were on the platform that she was firing at, they noticed a little too late that they were about to get obliterated by the mortar round that she shot their way.

"OH CRAAP!" Tawna yelled out as they braced themselves for the shot that they were going to suffer.

Only to then witness Aku Aku protecting them with his remaining Mojo in his system. Making a shield that should be strong enough to protect the Bandicoot gang from the blast.

Which worked, even though he was knocked back from the blast.

"AKU AKU!" Tawna yelled out as she caught his drained form in her arms.

Aku Aku was breathing heavily as he laid in Tawna's arms with the concerned gang around him, hoping that he's okay.

"Do not… be sad children. I'm just exhausted of my Mojo. I just need to recover." He said weakly.

Tawna was hoping that it would mean that Aku Aku isn't going to be dead, rather he'd be asleep for a little while. "Y-you're not going to die. Right?" She asked hopefully, holding back her tears alongside Coco and Crash.

"No. I won't. I just need to rest… for a little while. The rest of this journey is up to all of you, now. But I hope… to come back if you ever fight Brio or Cortex, near the end of this journey." Aku Aku said. "Just do this for me. Please, make sure that you're all going to be alive when this journey ends… or when I return to your sides." He said, now floating in the air.

Then he ended up vanishing into the air, showing that he's teleported himself back to the Wumpa islands to recharge himself. Leaving only the gang, and Nina in the room.

As upset as they were at Aku Aku's disappearance, (Even Nina was upset at what she's done to him.) they knew that he'll be back, but they knew that without him, they're vulnerable to whatever hazards that Nina would throw at them, and whatever hazards they would face in the last leg of their journey. But they didn't let that fear stay with them, as they braced themselves for Nina's mech attacks.

All while all of them were glaring determinedly at her, ready to take her down for Aku Aku.

And they were making sure that Aku Aku's sacrifice of his Mojo won't be in vain.

Nina fired out some more missiles, this time, the gang was ready, as they proceeded to shoot the fruit at the missile launchers that was the middle arms.

Next thing she knew, she was missing her middle pair of the six arms of her mech.

"Oh crap!" Nina said.

And that was the beginning of the tide starting to turn in the Bandicoot's favor, as they were fighting with the fruit by shooting it at the vulnerable spots of the mech, making sure to hit the missiles on the remaining arms that has the missile launchers.

And as the battle raged on, Nina felt that she was getting closer to her defeat. In fact, she could already feel herself getting backed to the ropes in a figurative sense.

Nevertheless, she was sure that she can still win, especially with her tail cannon, that doubled as the net cannon that she tried to launch at the Bandicoots. And she still had ammo for it.

"Firing Tail Cannon!" She said. Then the tail fired out plasma shots.

Which surprised the gang, since they thought that it fired out only nets. But they were still able to dodge the shots even if it was by the length of a tiger's whisker.

But Nina was getting started, and she had a trick up her sleeve.

She fired her missiles again, making sure to fire them when she's sure that they won't be able to shoot or throw the Wumpa fruit fast enough. Making them run to dodge the missiles again.

Then she used her net cannon to try to trap the Bandicoot girls. Shooting out a web-like net out of the cannon, after another to trap the girls.

She half succeeded on Ami and Megumi, but the rest was still mobile. And they still had some Wumpa fruits left. And they were ready to shoot them when they get their opportunity.

There was still some Bandicoots that was still on the move though, and a pair of them were freeing Ami and Megumi, while the rest of the gang was focusing on shooting the fruit at the mech's remaining arms when she tries to fire the missiles. As well as distract her so she won't be firing at the Bandicoots that was freeing Ami and Megumi.

Only for her to then move around the room with her mech climbing on the walls, as well as the platforms under them, to dodge the Wumpa fruit. "Whew. That was close. I can't believe I forgot that could still move my mech around." She said to herself, facepalming.

Which surprised the Bandicoots at how flexible the Mech was as it climbed around them.

And that was when she took advantage of the surprise, by surprise attacking them with another net getting launched.

Now all of the gang, minus Crash, was trapped in the net. (And right after Ami and Megumi was freed.) And it seemed like the tide was turning back, and the battle could be ending in Nina's favor.

"Okay. Any last words? WAIT! Don't answer that! It usually ends badly for the bad guy that asks that question." Nina said, having learned that lesson from the Academy, and the movies. "Instead, just surrender the girls, and the Crystals, and Nina will give you mercy!" She told Crash.

Whom was merely glaring at her determinedly for trapping Tawna. And he doesn't like it if someone tries to capture, or kill her.

Luckily for him, the Wumpa Launcher was in his hands when the gang was trapped by the nets.

"Well? Cat got your tongue? Do you give up?" Nina asked playfully. All while the gang was protesting about getting trapped, and rooted for Crash to not give up. Even though the Bandicoot girls thought about doing such a thing in this situation.

Crash shook his head in response, letting her know that he isn't gonna give up. Much to Tawna's joy.

"So be it then." She said casually, admiring Crash's guts for not backing down. Even though she feels that she's going to miss him after the battle. So she proceeded to aim her mech's chest cannon at him, deciding to use it as a finishing weapon.

Not knowing, that Crash was aiming the Wumpa Launcher at it, and that it also has a weak spot.

What she then noticed, was that Coco was by his side when she got out. She didn't know if she had a sharp knife in her overalls, or was able to squeeze through the small gaps of her net. (Which was said to trap a full grown hippo, and was elastic to make it harder to break, which is why she made the nets to trap the whole gang with.) Thus freeing herself, and rushing to his side.

"Aim for the chest when it opens. That's its weakness." Coco said loud enough for only Crash to hear.

After nodding, he proceeded to aim the Launcher.

Which was right as Nina was opening her chest cannon to obliterate Crash with. Only to then notice what was in his hands, and what he was planning to do.

"OH CRAP! Abort! ABORT ON FIRING!" She yelled out to her bot, and pressed whatever button to cancel the chest cannon's fire.

Unfortunately, she didn't program her mech to cancel her charging and firing on her chest cannon, now it was charging, and ready to fire on Crash and Coco, and she could do nothing to stop it, as she hoped that her cannon could fire soon enough to obliterate the Bandicoot siblings before they could shoot her chest cannon.

Her hopes were in vain, as they were able to shoot out the Wumpa fruits, and have enough of them fired out of the Wumpa Launcher to cause damage to her mech.

Which was enough for the battle to end, as the mech was now breaking down, and exploding as Nina was panicking in her cockpit, trying to find a way out of her mech, and to safety.

"EJECT! EJECT!" She yelled out, as she pressed the eject button.

Only to miss her obvious problem in why she shouldn't have done so.

Her cockpit separated from her mech just in the nick of time as it blew up into several pieces that got sucked out of the room. As the cockpit the proceeded upwards…

right into the ceiling of the room, exploding on impact.

The gang, now freed from the net with Crash, and Coco's help, ended up looking away from the impact, while cringing at the sight of her cockpit hitting the ceiling. That looked like it hurt like hell for Nina.

By the time the smoke cleared, they saw Nina, who looked like she was stuck to the ceiling from the impact, covered in soot, and was dazed from the accident.

"Oooh, I forgot that the ceiling was above Nina's mech. I'm so bad at escaping sometimes." She said.

Then she slipped off of the ceiling when gravity took over. Then she felt herself starting to get sucked out of the room, since she ejected to the side of the room where the open side was, and now she could feel herself getting pulled out.

Which is much to her horror since she could get sucked out, and suffocate in space, explode like the animals she hugged, or get taken by Earth's gravity and fall to it like a meteorite.

With a yelp, she launched her robotic grappling hand to one of the platforms, and was trying to pull herself towards the platform. Only to immediately see that she's going to be on the same platform with the Bandicoot gang in doing so, and she got scared and hesitant since they could be ready to give her what for, due to her attempt to kill them in her spider/monkey hybrid mech.

As well for trying to make the Bandicoot girls return to Brio, instead of staying with the original three Bandicoots.

Which leaves only her third choice, which is to teleport herself out of the space station and back to Brio. If only she hadn't left it in her exploding mech. So she was hoping that she might have a back up in her dress if she was able to look for it inside.

The gang on the other hand, was conflicted. After all, Nina happened to be a nice girl who was working for a mad scientist that controlled them. And she doesn't seem to have any signs of becoming hostile if they save her. On the other hand, she did try to kill them in her mech, and force the girls to go back to Brio, so what's to stop her from trying again if she has a new opportunity?

"P-P-Please! Have mercy on me! I don't wanna die! Or get pounded into paste!" She said fearfully as she could feel the suction on her, trying to pull her out into space. So she was starting to choose to pull herself to them, even though she was scared of their wrath. And she hoped that they won't beat her down if she decides to join them on the platforms.

It seemed that she might get sucked out of the station's hole, and into space since she was quite scared of them. It looked like that was it for Nina.

Only for her to then feel herself getting pulled away from the hole, and towards the platforms that they were on. And she was surprised since she wasn't pulling herself to the platforms.

And instead, she was being pulled to them by someone that none of the gang expected. Coco Bandicoot herself.

And she was pulling on her grapple hand towards the platform, much to everyone's surprise at what she was doing.

"Coco?! What're you doing? She tried to kill us!" Ami said.

"I know! But let's remember, it's cause she was ordered to by Brio!" Coco said, continuing to pull Nina to the platforms. "She isn't a bad girl! She can even be of help to us!"

Coco had a point about Nina, considering that she was a friendly girl who interrupted the deal, before it could've ended in Cortex winning and zapping the Earth.

"What's stopping her from coming back to him though?! What if she's still gonna be of help to Brio?!" Liz asked, feeling that Nina could flee back to Brio to plan another attack against them.

Coco had to think about it for a minute as she continued to pull Nina to their spot. Then she knew what to say. "Her friendship with us! That's what'll stop her!" Coco then said. "That's why all of you must trust me. And don't try to beat her up in revenge. I'm sure that she'll be a great friend to us later on, because of this save. Whatever she may do in the future, will be my fault too." She then said, willing to take the blame if Nina tries to kill them again.

That surprised the gang, as they thought that Coco was insane to save Nina, and yet, it seemed that she could be correct in saying that Nina would be friends with them. Regardless of having tried to kill them.

But nevertheless, Tawna, and Crash trusted Coco with what she was doing as Nina was almost to the platforms that they were standing on.

And soon, she was now safe on the platform from being sucked out. Much to her relief and joy as she had to catch her breath.

Once she had her breath, she was beaming at the fact that she was freed, as she was dancing, and jumping around with energy that is pretty similar to Yaya's, before focusing on Coco.

"Are you okay Nina? I hope that brush with death didn't give you any-" Coco tried to say.

Only to then get put in a tight hug by Nina as she then got twirled around while being held by her hips. Before being put back on the ground, while having Nina's hands on her cheeks. "You saved Nina, my Bandicutie! You're my hero!" She said excitedly. Before smothering her in kisses on her face, and even on her lips, making her blush.

Which surprised Tawna, and Crash, as they didn't expect that kind of response from Nina. As was the rest of the gang, who was also caught off guard at the response. They thought that she would at the very least, hug Coco, and twirl her around in celebration. And yet, she was giving Coco some kisses like a princess would to a hero.

It was like she loved Coco. And in a romantic way, regardless of their genders. Guess they found their 'Bandicutie'.

And both Crash, and Tawna, didn't know what to think about that image in front of them. Either way though, it didn't involve disapproval.

"I-I-It was no problem. R-really. I'm just glad that you're alright." Coco said, not minding the kisses from Nina.

Once she was done with the kisses, she then remembered that she was on the platform with the gang, which left her nervous again at what they'd do to her. Which caused her to Kowtow to them. "I'm so sorry. I just f-followed orders from B-Brio. I didn't want to disappoint him." She said, scared of whatever they could do to her.

The gang was still feeling pretty hesitant on whether to trust Coco, and let her have mercy, and probably let Nina join them, or to make sure that she won't cause them any trouble. (Not that they were going to kill her, just send her off back to Brio.) Either way, they acknowledged that she at least apologized for her actions, and it seemed genuine.

Which did help play a part in their eventual choice after a tense few moments.

They ended up hugging her back, much to her initial surprise at that. "Wha?" She asked.

"We forgive you Nina. We still know that without Brio, you would make a good friend." Ami said.

"Sono d'accordo. (I agree.) I have hopes that we'll be friends when this journey ends." Isabella said, with the rest of her friends in agreement.

"Ah twus ya doo." Crash said smiling, feeling that whoever his sister would trust, he trusts too. Alongside Tawna.

None of them had any idea, how relieved Nina felt from their acceptance of her apology. And it seemed to her, that they would be willing to let her join them if she wants to.

"Thank you all. Nina hopes to be a great friend to repay you all. Especially to you, Bandicutie." She then cutely said to Coco. Who blushed in response, yet was smiling at her.

"So I take it that you're joining us?" Tawna eventually asked once their hug was done.

"Might as well. Even though Brio would be mad that Nina has joined you guys too. But I don't think he can stop me now." Nina said, confident that Brio is losing, as she decided to take the communicator out of her dress, and throwing it out into space. Showing them that her loyalty is to them now.

After that, they were now teleported out of the Space Station, and back into the Warp Room. Where their journey would be nearing the end. They hoped they'll live through it, now that Nina is with them.

---

And done.

Here's the next chapter folks. And yes, in this, Nina is the second to last boss that the gang has fought, instead of N. Gin. And it seems that she's now their final member of the gang before this journey ends.

And yes. The 'Bandicutie' that she referred to at the end of Kong's and Tiny's fight, was Coco herself. Which means that she's gonna be Coco's love interest in this fic.

As for Nina herself, in this, I'm basing it off of her personality in the Crash purple/Spyro orange: Cortex Conspiracy game. Where she was a happy go lucky infantile girl in that one, before the Academy of Evil made her into the evil, sadistic, gothic bionic girl that we love to hate. In this, she's still happy go lucky, though less infantile, and happens to love and hate her robotic hands. And she sometimes speaks in third person, like in that game too. Is she still going to be evil later on, you may ask.

Yes. But for now, she's going to be tagging along as their ally.

And for the question of if there's probably going to be a crossover fanfic for this and FBD, like in Cortex Conspiracy. You can bet your bottom dollar that there can be. Someday.

Finally one more thing.

I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,

please give constructive criticism, just don't be rude,

do not forget to read and review,

hope you all stay safe,

and once again, I do not own Crash Bandicoot, it was created by Naughty dog, and is owned by Activision and Vicarious visions. Please support the official releases.

Theodore the poet signing out.