A Twinsane Wedding

Chapter 8 All In Agreement

Coco was led inside by her siblings and Aku Aku. Crunch on one side of her and Crash on the other. "Come on, let's get you to bed." Crunch said, closing the front door behind them. The two bandicoots helped their sister to her room, ready to tuck her in for the night.

She didn't fight or struggle against them, for Coco knew that that would be wrong. The group passed by Baby T, Pura, and Polar who all beared a worried look: their eyes wide as they slightly trembled and whimpered. Crunch had fed them and gave them all water before he went out to check on Coco, but they were still uneasy as they had heard her anger coming from outside earlier. "Don't worry, she's fine, just a little on edge." He assured as he gave Polar a pat on the back as he walked by, while Crash rubbed Baby T's head. The female bandicoot gazed upon the family pets and gave a reassuring smile to her tiger companion, "It's alright Pura. I'm fine. I'll be better in the morning." Pura then jumped up and nuzzled against her, before going back and curling up next to Polar.

All three watched as Crash and Crunch helped Coco down the hall to her bed before they drifted off to sleep. Looking up at her brothers, Coco gave a smile before rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment, "Look Crunch, I'm sorry for hissing at you earlier. It's just that I don't trust Cortex one bit. He's been after Crash for quite a while and don't forget, you worked under him as well, you served as his ultimate superweapon to destroy Crash."

"Don't remind me, he used mind control on me. I'm still greatful that you, Crash and Aku Aku freed me and got me out from under Cortex and Uka Uka's control. Because of you guys, I know that being good is the right path in life."

"It's the least we could do. Alright, come on children, we'll all feel better in the morning after we get a good nights sleep tonight." As they entered Coco's room, Aku Aku thought of an idea to benafit them all. "Coco, I just thought of a brilliant idea."

The youngest of the bandicoot siblings rolled her eyes and scoffed, what idea could the witch doctor mask possibly have that would benafit this family? Coco could only imagine, "Yeah, what have you got? Does it involve murdering Cortex in his sleep?" Crunch's jaw practically dropped to the floor, as Crash facepalmed at that unessacry comment. Not even his creator deserved that. Him and Cortex had a history when the bandicoot was first created years ago. Crash knew that he could never bring himself to hurt the scientist. Crash also knew that even thought Cortex said he hated him, he knew that the man felt the same about him.

Cortex would realize it eventually.

"Woah, hold it Coco, we're not going that far." Crunch explained. Coco stomped her foot on the ground and snapped her finger.

Aku Aku hated to rain on her parade, but he did so anyway, "Sadly Coco, my idea does not involve murdering him, I'm one for non violence. No, I was thinking, more along the lines of maybe you should join Crash and Cortex in their next session with Dr. Jacobson. Whaddya say, cause it seems that you and Cortex have some issues that need to be addressed as well?"

"Really? Is this because he tricked Crash into gathering Power Crystals to power his Super Cortex Vortex? Or when I gave him a what for for when he stunned me and led Crash away from the house to finish him off? I thought Cortex had kidnapped him, and you know how I feel about him." Coco's hands started to curl into fists.

Crash eyes went crossed and he stuck out his tounge. The witch doctor looked at Crash, then back to Coco. "I completely understand your frustration, I'm just implying that...well you did say that Crash and Cortex needed to sort out their issues as soon as possible, that's why you sent them to Dr. Jacobson. So maybe you should go with them next time so that the therapist can help you and Cortex as well, since you two have quite a bitter rivalry as well." Aku Aku suggested. "Hey, I'll even come along with you. Whaddya say?"

"Well, I did say that, didn't I? And that is the job of a therapist. Oh, you're right. Next time when those two go, you and I will tag along. And if I go, I'll be able to keep a close eye on Cortex to make sure he doesn't cross the line with me. I just now thought of that. You're a genius. "

"Good point. I think we would all feel better if you did that Coco. Nice Aku Aku, you're good when it comes to persuading people." Crunch observed.

The mask smiled. "It's my job, so it's settled, next week: group therapy." The group then split up, leaving Coco to get to sleep, before they departed to their rooms for bed. "Tomorrow will definitly be better."


The early morning sun rose over the horizon and peeked in through a small opening in the curtains, signaling a brand new day. What started out as a restless night, ended up being quite peaceful.

Nina slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Her uncle was fast asleep with his arms wrapped around the young girl. She hadn't heard him scream in fright once since she decided to stay with him. The more Nina thought about it, the more she realized that she didn't want to set foot back into the Academy of Evil, she never wanted to become deranged and obsessed like her uncle.

Cortex soon opened his eyes when he felt his neice nuzzle against him. This was warm, this was nice, the man almost didn't want to get up. But he had to. He patted the back of her head. "Good morning."

"Morning, I didn't hear you screaming once since I decided to stay with you. I take it you got a good sleep?" Nina asked, hoping that he would say yes. That was the very answer she got.

"Yes, but that one image of Crash from my terror induced nightmare is gonna haunt probably me for the rest of my life now." The scientist admitted, shuddering. Nina climbed out of bed and stretched as she let out a big yawn. She extended her hand out to help her uncle up. He grasped it in his own and was pulled up off the mattress, throwing the covers back soon after, "Thank you, not just for helping me up, but comforting and caring about me as well. I don't think I would have made it through the whole night if you hadn't come in to check on me."

"You're welcome. It's the least I could do for you. And you know what they say, you do for family." Nina smiled and hugged him. "How's your spear injury doing?" She wondered.

"It's feeling much better, the pain's all gone."

"Good to know. Come on, let's go get breakfast." She opened the door and gestured Cortex to go first. He started to, but then backtracked over to his nightstand and snatched up his weapon and the photo. He gave a sigh as he looked at Crash's happy (and goofy) face.

If Cortex hated him so much, why was he carrying Crash's photo with him and asking the bandicoots help when they first met the twins days ago? Did he have a tiny sliver of trust in Crash? Did he feel something other than hatred for his nemesis?

Surely Dr. Jacobson would help him with that today. Placing both items into the pocket of his lab coat, he headed out, letting his neice close the door behind them. An idea formed in the girls brain as she skipped behind him. Nina suddenly paused in the middle of the hall when she got an idea that involved her keeping an eye on him.

She ran up behind her uncle and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Yes Nina, something on your mind?" Cortex asked turning around to face her. The girl looked down and shuffled her feet before speaking.

"I was just wondering, since your last visit to Totem Hokum went kinda bad, would you like me to accompany you this time around?" She asked, hoping her uncle would agree and say yes.

Yes was the very response Nina got. He smiled and ruffled her hair, "I was wondering when you would ask that. Of course you should come. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."

"Relax, I won't let you down. Count on it." Nina was glad that she wasn't as evil as her uncle.


Nina and Neo headed downstairs to the main corridor to find Tropy, Brio, and N Gin waiting patiently for Dr. Cortex. The trio was clustered together, hands clasped behind their backs.

To top it all off, an unusually happy grin was plastered to their faces, but underneath, there lurked mischief and a thirst for anwsers, that they would get into soon enough. The N Team had been thinking last night about how to get Cortex out of the castle so they could do their investigating, until N Gin had finally drummed up the perfect plan.

"Good morning master." He greeted taking a step forward. "Care for breakfast?" Brio held out a silver platter and lifted up the lid, revealing a plate of pancakes. It was a tall stack that two people could easily share between them with Wumpa Fruit on the side. Dr. Cortex and Nina both looked at it wide eyed as N Gin led them to the dining room table.

Nina sat down and grasped a fork in her metal hands, licking her lips as she did so. The cyborg pulled out the chair for his master and once Cortex got situated, he pushed it forward, giving him easier access to the food that Brio carefully placed in front of him. Taking a knife and fork in hand, the chemist split the one tall stack into two shorter ones, dividing them equally between the two Cortex's.

"What's all this?" Cortex wondered as N Tropy held out a bottle of syurp and poured it over the warm, fluffy breakfast item. He was amazed that his minions had prepared all this for him.

Uka Uka winked at the team. This was all part of the plan...

Cortex bit into his food, amazed by how good it was that he didn't even notice the masks little gesture, "It's breakfast, made by us, for you. What do you think?" It took a minute to get an actual anwser. The food was so good that neither of the two could complian about it. Nina was smiling as she savored every bite.

"Delicious, I didn't know you guys were good cooks." Cortex admitted. "So...what's the occasion?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. He was completely clueless to the teams ambition to get him out of here. Sooner rather than later.

"No occasion sir, just felt like it." Tropy said, even though he was clearly lying. "We also have a little something for you." The three scientists stepped aside, to reveal Cortex's hoverboard, it gleamed as the sun hit it. It looked as if it were brand new. N Tropy enlightened him, "N Gin here went back down into the cavern to retrieve it after we had been burned by Spyro."

"Really and before me and Nina got back?"

"Yes. And strangely, your board was the only thing down there, when I went back there after our run in with that dragon, I discovered that my robotic creation was nowhere to be found. Mechabandicoots gone sir, don't know where, don't know how, but he's gone."

Cortex knew exactly what had happened, "Yeah N Gin your creation was retrieved by Crash so that me, him and Nina could defeat the Evil Twins." He explained.

"So, that's what happened?" N Gin slapped himself right on the side of his head. "That brainless furball stole my creation!" He was in shock that Crash even knew how to pilot it, but the part cyborg scientist decided he wasn't going to let it get to him. "Ah, it's fine, I can always rebuild it." He gave a confident smile.

"Alright, thank you for your thoughts N Gin. So now, going back to your hoverboard Cortex, me and the team decided to take the time before you arrived back here, and spruce it up a bit for you: new coat of paint, fresh new N sticker, we buffed out the scratches and dents, repaired the rockets, and we polished it twice. The whole, 'nine yards' as they say. You like?" Asked N Tropy. "We did this at the crack of dawn, but it seems like we pulled an all nighter."

Cortex was in awe, his hoverboard was exactly what he needed to get through Totem Hokum today and not have to duck into a shrub for safety. He could just float above the natives without worry. On the other hand, the scientist didn't have to worry about Nina, she had metal grappling hands that she could use to easily swing from tree to tree. "Why thank you guys. I'll give it a test run today after breakfast. I need to step out of here and clear my head. My brain has been how should I put this, 'cluttered' you know?"

The rest of the N Team understood completely. Uka Uka floated over, "Oh, we know. We got that impression when you said you didn't know if you had a plan to beat Crash or not."

"Yeah, I think not, I still can't understand how he keeps beating me. Speaking of beating, Coco wants to give me a good punch right in the face." Cortex explained as he plowed through the rest of his meal and pushed the plate back.

"Oh boy, Cortex what on Earth did you do?" Brio wondered.

"Dressed up as her to trick Crash into following me so I could finish him off." Cortex's right hand man didn't even begin to imagine that thought before he shuddered in horror.

Cortex wiped the food from his face and scooted his chair back, "Ok, I'm outta here. Come on Nina, back to Totem Hokum." Cortex collected his hoverboard and along with his neice, they headed out the door.

Uka Uka smirked as he watched them hop on and fly away. "Yes he's finally gone."

"Last one to his room is a rotten Wumpa!" Brio taunted as he sprinted up the stairs, getting a head start.

"Hey, that's not fair!" (Uka Uka)

"Wait for us!" (N Gin)

"We're all in this together you know?!" (N Tropy)

The rest of the team and Uka Uka scurried along behind him. How dare Brio taunt his fellow colleagues like that. The suspense of what awaited them in Cortex's room was unbearable, who knows what secrets lied within...

A/N

Hey all, we've returned! Ok Coco truly terrifies me now XD. Sorry stole your intro.

Yes, I know she does. It's alright. I forgive you. Que Mission Impossible theme for the next chapter.

You said that like 2 chapters ago.

Well, I mean it this time. Oh Deja Vu. *faceplam* And anyone wanna take a guess as to where the quote 'you do for family' comes from. Hint: it comes from a tv series that ran for 9 seasons on ABC.

Think long and hard guys and gals.

And I'm loving all the scenes with Nina so far, she's one of my favorite characters. I didn't intend to use her this much, by I'm glad I did. Hope she gets put in Nitro Feuled. Less than a week away baby! Woo! This Friday!

Reviewing time!

FlautaRara: Yeah, it will take some time for Cortex to forget about that image. Yeah, Dr. Jacobson is going to be rather confused, good point. I really don't think anyone can resist the puppy dog eyes look.

Anon: Glad you liked the last chapter. I didn't plan to use Nina as much as I have in this story already, but I love working with her. And let's just say Coco will have her revenge on Cortex much later in the story. Spoiler aleart: it doesn't involve her pounding the crap out of him. XD

Yeah, you've really done well with writing about me and her. Great job.

Thanks. Ok guys the N Team's investigation is up next, along with a one on one therapy session with Cortex and Dr. Jacobson.

How will this all pan out? We'll see next time. And could you untie me please?

Um...No! Until next time, keep smiling!