A/N

The nightmare continues in this first part. Enjoy!


A Twinsane Wedding

Chapter 7 We're Here For You

As he fell straight down, Cortex closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate (and his bitter end). He prayed that it would be fast. If Cortex had to go, he wanted it to be quick and painless...

But his end never came, instead he felt something furry with two arms catch him and wrap around him. Cortex looked up, tears in his eyes, but soon, they vanished when he saw the face of Crash. Crash had lept up and caught his creator in mid air.

The twins snapped their fingers in frustration, while Evil Crash simply huffed and walked away, hoping to catch a bird or something. There went his meal.

Cortex took a deep breath, he had never been more releived to see Crash in his entire life, "And where have you been?" He could only imagine. The bandicoot simply replied with a shrug. He had taken a stroll around the island until he heard the mans screams, then he came running. Crash was the hero after all, and even though it was his enemy, he still had to save Cortex if he got himself into trouble. Cortex instantly threw his arms around Crash, welcoming him in a hug. The tears returning, welling up in his eyes. The scientist looked up at him and trembled in his warm embrace, he didn't want to be let go. He tightened his grip on him, "The twins want their revenge and I thought I lost you." Crash felt his fur getting wet from his creator sobbing on his shoulder, he didn't want anything bad to become of Cortex either. Crash ran his hands up and down his back to calm him down.

Victor and Moritz almost felt the slightest pang of sympathy for Crash and Cortex...

Almost, if they hadn't decided to break up their little pity party. Both birds raised their hands, activating the telekinetic power once more, and pulling the duo apart. Moritz grabbed Cortex, while Victor took Crash. An idea formed in his brain as he did. Smirking, he whistled for Evil Crash. The malevolent marsupial sprinted over in a hurry. Sitting down on the ground and panting like a dog, he licked his lips as Victor lifted Crash up above him, and slowly lowered him down.

Pausing ever so slightly. Wanting to savor this moment. "On second thought doctor, instead of ending your life, we'll end Crash's instead. Whaddya say about that hm?" He suggested.

"Yeah, consider this payback." Moritz said.

Cortex spoke the first thing that came to his mind. Which was, "You two are deranged!" Cortex couldn't beleive this; the Evil Twins, his former childhood pets were not the same sweet little birds from his youth. They were twisted and mad, but he never would have known they would resort to anything like this. The scientist tried to run tword Crash, but Moritz's power held him back. If he had his ray gun, he would hesitate on blasting Victor and Moritz and disintegrating both of them right out of existence. But as he thought about that, Cortex soon came to the realization:

He couldn't move his arms, he mustered all the strength he could, but still couldn't budge. Their power was too great. Cortex knew this wouldn't end well...He just didn't know for who.

The man looked on in horror as Crash attempted to struggle, while feeling Evil Crash's breath on the back of his neck. It sent shivers down his spine.

Without hesitation or second thought, Victor let his hands drop and Crash fell down, his evil counterpart caught him in his mouth and clamped down on his torso. Razor blade sharp teeth peirced through a good layer of fur, sinking deep into his flesh. Crash cried out in pain, sniveling as his hands moved up to Evil Crash's mouth. Grabbing his jaws, he tried to pry them open, but they were shut tight like a bear trap.

Grinning wickedly, Evil Crash thrust his head back and forth violently, shaking Crash like a chew toy. Droplets of blood, spattered everywhere. "Crash! NO!" Cortex felt his heart break, splitting in two, right down the middle. The high velocity of the spatter resulted in the warm crimson liquid getting onto Cortex, Victor and Moritz, the twins of which wiped it off their helmets. Cortex on the other hand wasn't fazed one bit. He was just too in shock to notice. His lips quivered slightly, as he watched his creation go limp.

The twins just laughed at his misery, lowering Cortex back onto the ground. Evil Crash then roughly dropped Good Crash at his feet.

"Crash?" There was panic in Cortex's voice, as he awaited an answer. The suspense was nervewracking. But Crash didn't respond, the bandicoot laid there like a limp wet noodle. His fur matted and sticky from the excess blood. His eyes closed. "Crash!"


Cortex jolted awake, covered in a cold sweat. He shot straight up in bed, screaming, and his hands trembling. Tears streamed down his face, as his breathing came out in rapid rasps. His heart was beating a million miles a minute. Throwing the covers back, the man ran his hands over his midsection, feeling for any broken bones. To his releif, there were none. Just the one old spear injury that was feeling much better though with the pain all gone now. His lab coat was completely clean and blood free.

Cortex breathed in a sigh of releif, "Oh, thank goodness. Nothing more than a bad dream." He looked at the clock on his nightstand.

8:00pm. It was going to be a long night. Shifting to the right, he sat on the edge of the bed, letting his legs dangle.

"I say I want you out of my life, but do I really?" He reached over, picked up the photo of his nemesis again and looked at it.

"I don't think you do." The devil pointed out.

"Totally agree. Wait a minute, why am I agreeing with you again?" Angel Cortex wondered. "I hate myself." He looked at the devil and shook his head. "And I hate you too."

"Goody two shoes."

"Evil kenivel." They growled at each other.

'Conflict, within the internal conflict. Yikes.' Wincing at that, Cortex looked at the angel as he thought about something that had happened earlier. Opening his mouth he asked, "Hey, quick question for you: were you that little voice in my head telling me something different when I was deciding on weather or not to blast Crash?"

The being of light smiled and nodded his head, "Yes, yes I was. I mean, if Crash was gone, what do you think might have happened in Totem Hokum then? If he wasn't by your side, what would have become of you? You would have gotten killed for sure." He pointed out. "You're welcome."

"Thank you. Truth is I don't think I actually want him out of my life. I told the rest of the team that I didn't have a plan to beat him, and they thought something was wrong with me. They thought I was coming down with something." He growled, which was then followed by a groan. "Oh I'm so confused." Cortex buried his head in his hands, the tears refusing to leave.

"Here's a suggestion, go back and see Dr. Jacobson tomorrow. Talk it out with him, that's what the job of a therapist is; to help you with those and all kinds of problems. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find what you're looking for." The angel looked at him with compassionate eyes.

"But he said he doesn't want me and Crash back until next week." The mini angel fluttered his eyes at the scientist. Cortex, at that point didn't know weather to agree with him or vomit from that look. "Oh, alright. I'll go back tomorrow. But never flutter those eyes at me again!"

"Deal." The creatures of conflict vanished in a poof.

Falling back into bed, Cortex saw scenes of his nightmare flash through his mind as soon as his head hit the pillow. The scientist then gasped in fright as he curled up into a ball, shaking. Cortex couldn't erase those images.

He almost jumped out of his skin when a knock came at his door. Grabbing his weapon, he aimed it at the door. Finger on the trigger, Cortex was ready to shoot, "Who is it?"

"It's me Uncle Neo, can I come in?"

"Yes." Is what Nina heard from the other side. Cortex sat his gun back on the nightstand, and breathed in a sigh of relief, which then transitioned back into fear when he saw the painful images of Crash's death run through his mind. He flopped over and the shaking resumed.

Walking inside, Nina's widened as she saw her uncle lying there trembling, tears flowing down the sides of his face. Cortex looked almost pale, but that was probably from the fear and adrenaline surging throughout his veins. Nina ran over to him, "What's wrong, you look as if you've seen a ghost?"

"Quick question, Victor and Moritz are gone aren't they?"

"Yes, we defeated them. Why do you ask?" Nina wondered tilting her head to the side.

"I-I just had the worst nightmare."

"And apperantly it was about the twins, but I could also hear you screaming Crash's name as well." Having a room right next door, meant that you could hear everything.

Hearing the bandicoots name made his blood run cold. How much had she heard? "Was I screaming his name in my sleep?" Nina nodded yes. "Oh and duh, I forgot you're right next door." After a minute of collecting himself and wiping away the tears, he explained what happened. As he started to explain, choked sobs came out of his mouth. Cortex couldn't describe what had happened right away. "I, I..he..they...ah!"

"Ok, cry first then talk."

"Hold me." Nina wrapped her arms around him and Cortex gave the whole story. "I was back on Twinsanity Island, the twins wanted payback on me, and they were going to let me be eaten alive by Evil Crash. They had no sympathy, and they felt no remorse, even though I said I was sorry."

"Yikes. Sounds rough."

"Yeah, but Crash saved me. Here's the bad news though: Victor and Moritz, their take on getting revenge on me was to have Evil Crash kill his doppleganger. I know I've said I wanted him out of my life, but I really don't. I witnessed Crash being murdered right before my eyes. I know it was only a dream, but it felt so real."

Nina patted him on the back. "Well, it's all over now. You want me to stay with you tonight?" Cortex nodded and rolled back into bed. Nina climbed down in with him and wrapped her arms around his middle, taking caution as to not make his injury any worse.

"I'm also gonna go back and see the therapist tomorrow."

"Really? Sooner than later?" Her uncle nodded, "Alright, yeah you seem scattered lately. I also want you to know that anytime you need comforting, I'm also here for you." The girl reassured.

"Thank you." With his neice by his side, he fell back asleep, knowing he was safe and sound.


The sun started to fall over the horizon of the island. It would be dark pretty soon, but a certain female bandicoot didn't care at the moment. Coco cracked her knuckles, and shook out her arms as she approached the punching bag hanging from a tree. 'Thanks Crunch, I'm so gonna feel better after this.' She thought.

Reeling her hand back, she exhaled a long, slow breath. The bandicoot pictured Cortex standing right in front of her. Aiming right for his neck, Coco let out an angry scream and thrust her hand forward, landing a hard punch on the bag dead center. She hit it two more times before moving up to hit higher. Taking careful aim, (Somewhere, right between the eyes as she imagined) Coco, hit the same spot again before she jumped up to give a good ol' karate kick. The girl transitioned between punches and kicks.

Crunch had set his weights down for the evening, and was now leaning up against the door. Crash and Aku Aku had came back out after hearing Coco's raging scream. The trio was now watching her as she unleased the anger that was trapped inside her.

The young girl was oblivious to their presecne.

All three looked at each other. "At least she didn't hit Cortex when we were on the boat earlier. I managed to talk her out of doing that." Aku Aku informed. "And I'm pretty sure she wanted to slug him right in the face.

Crunch could fully understand that, "Ah, nice going. Yeah, her hatred against him, is quite something and I'm 99% sure she wants to kill Cortex sometimes. Sorry, all the time, make that 100%, but I also think that's a little extreme. I think she would be going a little too far if she did that. And that's coming from me. Personaly, if I was Coco I, would have hit him once and that would have been enough."

"Coco said she wouldn't hit him on the boat with me, Crash and everyone else there, but if it was just her and Cortex, then that would've been bad."

"She really doesn't like him. And to be fair, he did dress up as her, so it's understandable why she would want to do that." Crunch seemed to remember looking out the window of their house to see Cortex in a blonde wig earlier in the day. "And fyi, he can not pull off that cringeworthy look." He shuddered as that image flashed in his brain. "I hope I never see him dressed like that ever again. Cause that was...oh boy!" It would take time for him to forget he ever saw that. "Do you think we should get her inside so she can relax with a good nights sleep?"

Aku Aku couldn't agree more, "You're right, she can't stay out here all night."

"Ahh!" Coco landed one more hard punch and roundhouse kick on the bag before wiping the sweat off her face. Turning around, she saw the trio of friends, their eyes wide. "Ok, I think I got all my anger out."

"Alright, I think it's time for bed, you've had a long day. Whaddya say?" Crunch suggested. "You can't stay out here all night you know."

Coco looked at him, before turning her eyes on Crash who flattened his ears and gave his sister the puppy dog eyes look. Coco's angry expression lightened up, she couldn't be mad at the people who cared so much about her. Flipping her hair back, she smiled and walked tword them. "Alright after that tirade of mine, I feel much better. I'll sleep good tonight." Coco gazed at her brother. "Alright Crash, you can stop, I'm good now." Crash's toothy smile returned.

Aku Aku and the bandicoots helped Coco tword the door and headed inside for the night.

Even though Coco had regained her calm nature, one thought was still running through her brain:

Revenge.

'Mark my words Cortex, I will have my revenge on you for what you did. Count on it.'

A/N

Come back here! *throws a rope, ties up Cortex and carries him back over my shoulder* We're back, this chapter took a while, but I got it. Rest of Cortex's nightmare, done. And how's that for a twist? You all thought Cortex would be the one to get killed. Wrong.

See, he doesn't want Crash dead at all. And that was a heck of a nightmare scene! It was fun to write. And we'll be going back to Dr. Jacobson sooner rather than later. Speaking of Cortex...

Ahh! You cannot legally drag me back here against my will! *struggling in the rope* And I thought you said this wasn't a talk show? *reads this chapter then screams like a girl* Ahhhhh! My word, you've turned into a dark author!

I know, thank you for noticing. *smirks* You're right, this ain't a talk show. Sorry! XD

Reviewers

Thanks and stop squirming! Geez:

FlautaRara: yeah, Crash is sweet with just about everybody isn't he? I totally agree, and Cortex says he wanted Crash evil, but when they enter the 10th dimension, Dr. Cortex is running from Evil Crash. So proof there that he never wanted him evil. And sorry for keeping you waiting on this chapter. XD

Anon: Sure Coco hates Cortex, but somewhere, further down the road, she'll just have to start accepting it. *coughs* wedding moment *coughs* I'm so sorry for the dark chapter, but I thought you would like that little nightmare twist with Cortex and the twins. XD I know I'm so bad. I do think Coco should join her brother and Cortex in the next therapy session. I'll keep that in mind. :P

Yes, yes you are. You are bad. I'm so scared of Coco right now.

I know. Alright, not much more to say, until next time keep smiling! And the Crash Team Racing: Nitro Feuled game looks amazing!