A Twinsane Wedding

Chapter 19 Question The Impression

A student with a bat like appearance and long front bangs, dyed with a single fuchsia stripe entered the main office of the schools headmistress. She got down on one knee and bowed her head in respect twords her mentor. Leaning forward, the Brat Girl peered down below her into a green mist and cleared her throat, "Madam Amberly, we found Nina, she's returned to us. The silent alarm was tripped moments ago and an airship was spotted by our searchlights. Alongside that, the flying gargoyles that rest on top the schools weather vanes gave me and my partners a heads up." She revealed in a high pitched voice that was almost equivalent to whining.

A large overweight woman in a black dress, elbow length long gloves, complete with a jewel necklace with a large red A insignia adorned upon her forehead was hoisted up out of the mist. Long thick steel cables with one end attached to a pack on her back and the other tied to a motorized machine down below the large pipe organ helped to support her weight.

"Are you zure it's her?" Madam Amberly questioned in her definite German accent, with one eyebrow rising higher above the other one. She needed her suspicions confirmed, she just wasn't buying that story.

"Positive, she and someone else were seen in the hall. Some of our students who were cutting class said they recognized her right away due to her...well 'our' facilities attire. White and blue school uniform, red tie, white socks, black shoes. Kind of hard to miss since you assigned us to wear them and we all pretty much look the same. All of us except me and my gang of rouge miscreants that is." The Brat Girl noted. She thought about her fellow minions who were probably lounging around in the classrooms or annoying the rest of the students by mocking them. Sometimes they would shout at them through a mega phone, making the students even more annoyed. Just for their own amusement and nothing more. She sneered at the headmistress who decided to let that topic of the conversation slide. The Brat Girls origins as to how Nina Cortex had created them in the first place were shrouded in mystery.

"Zo, Nina haz decided to come back? Excellent. Go alert your allies and then zpread yourselves and the rest of zee ztudents throughout zee academy. Catch her by any means necessary." Amberley rubbed her hands together. She had a hunch that the goth girl would come back eventually. All she had to do was wait.

'By any means necessary? Ooh, our favorite way to do things.' Her protege's eyes lit up with delight as she grinned devilishly, clasping her hands, "Yes mam. You can count on us Madam Amberley. We shall not fail." Standing up, the Brat Girl gave a small bow and exited the room in a hurry to go round up her partners in crime. A smirk grew on her face as she plotted out how they were going to do this. She decided to wander around and gather some students up and ask them if they had any ideas. Which would be easy, considering this was an "evil" institution. Someone was bound to have an evil scheme or two up their sleeves.


Crash tucked the baskets handle under his arm as he headed tword the back of the house to dispose of the weeds. On the way there, the bandicoot couldn't stop smiling and thinking about what the next therapy session had in store for him and Cortex. Ever since Cortex had requested his assistance to help carry out his plan to take the Evil Twins down a peg, the feeling of working alongside his creator was still the main thing on his mind along with another emotion. That feeling that he almost couldn't describe. Crash didn't know where it originally came from but ever since his mutation under the Evolo Ray and inside Cortex Vortex, the bandicoot had always felt a little something twords the doctor. The feeling even bubbled up during all their previous confrontations. Crash suspected that Cortex must not have hated his guts completely since when Victor and Moritz first arrived, the scientist didn't seek help from anyone else, given the fact that almost nobody else (except Tiny, Nina and Dr. Jacobson. Maybe Brio?) even remotely liked him or was able to tolerate his irritable personality. On top of that, nobody else was even around during that brief moment of encounter that sparked one heck of an adventure. Which after a few tense and unexpected events, led them to warp to Twinsanity Island.

Following their immediate arrival in the dark, treacherous 10th dimension when he witnessed Cortex hugging his evil counterpart, Crash's speculations had well been proven.

Even though Crash knew that the Bandicoots and Cortex's were meant to be polar opposites (the whole 'good versus evil 'as Uka Uka had mentioned) he didn't completely despise the scientist who had created him and then tried to erase him right out of existence. Crash thought therapy was the best thing that ever happened to him and Cortex. Crash was greatful for his sister and Nina doing this for the both of them, even if he did think that Nina was a bit of a different character, given her goth like nature, she was a Cortex after all. He was positive that Coco felt the same about Nina that he felt about Neo. Even if the feelings between the rivals weren't hardly ever on the surface. Of course, they were more or less frenemies? Ever since their last crazy, dramatic filled adventure.

Crash couldn't agree more when Aku Aku had hoped that him and Uka Uka could work together. Crash knew the ancient witch doctor was good at being persuasive, Aku Aku was a good listener and he didn't like dealing with conflict. His evil brother was more stubborn, given that he was the exact opposite. It was just like Crash and Cortex and Coco and Nina. Why couldn't everyone just get along? The orange bandicoot just wanted everyone to be happy and not worry about things. Of course, without good there wouldn't be evil and their dimension (opposite the 10th) wasn't exactly a utopia.

Dumping the weeds, into a large yard debris pile that had already accumulated by the shed, he gave a satisfied sigh. Eventually Crunch would take the time to squeeze 'properly taking care of the pile' onto his to do list. Crash opened the door to the storage shed and sat the empty basket down inside, knowing his older brother would likely appreciate that. Crash wasn't always lazy, he just preferred to rest when he could get it. He then closed the door seconds later and (being the happy-go-lucky bandicoot that he was), he took a detour and started to wander along the sandy shores of his island home to take in the tropical, calming scenery. Just for the heck of it, not having a care in the world due to his head always being clear, on top of his laid back personality. He sometimes wished that everyone could be as nonchalant as he was. Especially Coco. The young inventor always seemed to have an aura of vigilance surrounding her at all times no matter what mood she seemed to find herself in.

But given the Bandicoots bitter rivalry with the N Team over the course of the years and all the events and schemes that followed it, (the Cortex Vortex, The Time Twister, Elementals, Twinsanity Island and the Evil Twins, Evil Crash, the NV) Crash didn't think that that would happen in the near future anytime soon. The bandicoot reflected back on that while his feet took him tword the far eastern side of N Sanity Beach.


The interior portion of the evil academic institution was something to be desired. Water dripped from the decrepit, leaky ceilings overhead, the dark hallways of Madam Amberley's were only illuminated by the dim lightbulbs hanging on the walls, reflecting the light and bouncing off of the dusty floors. Some parts of the hard floors were chipped and weathered due to the acid seeping up from the flooded underground boiler room. Groups of scarab bugs scurried along in some places, cobwebs and spiders decorated multiple objects in another. The academy did however have robot janitors to assess with the cleaning (even if chores were only carried out once every three weeks) while the students studied for their upcoming exams and finals. Those who actually studied and didn't slack off or cut class that is, like a good handful of students. Hall monitors were on guard at their post in some corridors, armed with a flashlight. Their allies were laying low confined in various rooms, twiddling paper airplanes in their hands, ready to strike when the signal arose. The hallways that had them were lined with dented lockers and loose, broken shelves.

Neo and Nina carefully tip toed around, with caution and a full awareness to their situation. If they could make it out of here without getting caught and drawing attention to themselves, it would be a miracle for Neo. The quicker he could exit this place, the better. He didn't want to add to the discomforting position he was already in. While Nina had grown to be somewhat accustomed to the way things operated around the academy, the fearful memories of a cruel, humiliating childhood started to overtake her uncle. He sniffled and could feel the tears staring to build up in the corners of his eyes but he scratched at them so they wouldn't spill. Which was the very thing that symbolized the embarrassing nickname that his fellow students had christened him with. Neo pushed the memories back down to where they came from, completely unaware that they would be back very soon.

As they proceeded down another long hallway, they caught sight of a robot janitor sweeping the floor a few feet away, shooing away the robot dummies if they mindlessly wandered twords him. He was so focused on the task at hand that he didn't even notice the pair. Both Cortex's took refuge behind objects jutting out from the wall (a bookcase and a stack of glass containers housing mutated animals such as a frog with bolts protruding from either side of it's head and a small kangaroo like creature with talon hands and an extra eye. It was foaming at the mouth and scratching at the inside of it's transparent prison. It didn't want to be confined, it wanted out to roam around freely. A long tounge shot out of it's mouth, it collided with the container with a loud, wet smack. It caused Nina to jump. These altered animals were the results of evil experiments from the Biology class since "bio" meant life.)

Raising a finger to his lips, Neo gestured the signal to be silent. Nina noticed and kept quiet, though her curiosity was on full blast. Readying his ray gun, the scientist took aim at a bell next to a classroom door. Closing one eye in order to get a more precise aim, he fired the plasma shot. Multiple ears shot up in an immediate reaction to the clang. Moments later a group of students dashed out, trampling the janitor, sweeping him away with them and giggling like the mischievous kids that they were. Turning back around to face Nina, Neo was greeted with a shocked, wide eyed expression. "What? This is what I had to do while I was combing the dorms trying to find you." He shrugged before continuing their walk twords Madam Amberly's office, completely unconcerned that students lurked around the next corner in the dark, waiting to strike.

"As soon as they waltz down this corridor, we've got them right where we want them." A Brat Girl twirled a rope in her hands, while a goth like boy snickered from the opposite side of the hall. They were hidden in the shadows, taking refuge behind the bookcases among other Brat Girls. Some of which tried to squish the hoards of bugs that crawled around at the base of their feet. The students had to place their hands over their mouths in order to not make a sound of discomfort for the pests that scuttled around.

Heading down that very hall, Neo took a deep breath to try and calm the anxiety in his nerves. He was finding it difficult to do so. "I definitely don't wanna come back here ever again and I get the sense that you don't want to either right?" His ears pricked up when he didn't receive a response right away which started to worry him even more. "Nina?" Looking over his shoulder, he found that Nina had stopped in her tracks. Her eyes were glued to a photo on the wall, one that she had never noticed before until now, "What's the holdup?" He wondered.

The goth girl pointed in front of her. With her head titled at a forty five degree angle, Nina's eyes were solely focused on a photograph of a former student from years ago. Clothed in the same attire as her with the white and blue, alongside a red tie, except for having a blue vest and shorts rather than a dress like hers. A set of red rubber gloves and boots covered his hands and feet: he had short black curly hair and pale yellow skin. A small, silver lowercase N was branded on his forehead. Two teal parakeets were perched just so on his shoulders and both his arms and his hands were at his side. There was a small, almost mischievous smile curling his lips. He looked all too familiar to the girl and pretty soon, her eyes widened in comprehension while a dash of reality hit Nina like a wave. Gasping, Nina quickly took a step back in surprise and looked at her uncle. "This is you and the twins before you evolved them, which actually sent them to the 10th dimension isn't it Uncle Neo?" The niece of Cortex had to admit, aside from that small smirk on his face, her uncle was quite adorable as a kid.

Neo almost had to force himself to look upon the picture, knowing in his mind that he would regret it, "Hm? Yes, yes, that was me, from like nineteen years ago. Like I said I was the most popular student here. Everyone except N Gin and Brio all loathed me for being a genius. And why is that photo still dangling on the wall in the first place?" He groaned, placing his hands over his face. "I will never be able unsee that image now. Come on let's pick up the pace and get you unenrolled shall we?" The scientist could feel himself trembling with each step he took forward but Nina didn't want to continue on just yet.

"What's the rush? I mean, I want to exit this place too but I'm starting to get the feeling that something's seriously troubling you. Is it connected to the academy here? And why are you freaked out by a photo?" Neo's eyes dialated with sheer dread as his brain processed those questions. The memories that he had tried to suppress pushed their way forward into his frontal lobe. He didn't want to lie but the devil began pulling the invisible strings that were attached to him, causing him to do just that.

"No reason. Nothing's wrong, what gave you that impression?" Cortex felt himself starting to sweat. Nina raised an eyebrow, which proved her concerns. He knew he'd have to suck it up and tell his niece the truth. She would understand wouldn't she? Cortex had said it himself, he needed Nina by his side, "Well the truth is...ahhh!" Neo tripped on an outstretched leg from the shadows, landing hard on his stomach. As high pitched laughter, similar to a hyenas soon rang in his ears, a sharp pain resulting from the harsh impact made it's way down the scientists left side, opposite to where previous injuries resided.

"Now!" The teenage goth boy named Bruce (who was known to everyone as "Brute Force") yelled. Bruce was a tall muscular boy who was built like a brick wall though he was not the smartest student. He had anger issues and mocked everyone who tried to go against him. And due to his lack of smarts and highly aggressive behavior, he was currently the only student to have been held back the longest. Over two decades with no hope for a degree but he was the one who had given Neo his nickname all those years ago. Amberly and the Brat Girls worshiped him, while everyone else feared him. Every school had it's own bully and the academy was no exception. The lead Brat Girl flung the rope forward and lassoed Neo's ankles and her ally roped his wrists before he could get up. Giving a mighty tug together, they both reeled Cortex tword them like a fish on a hook, wrenching him down the hall with brute force. He was their catch of the day. A smirk appeared on the boys face as Cortex was dragged closer. He clearly recognized Neo from a long time ago. "Well, well, well. Lookie what we reeled in as the catch of the day: Crybaby Cortex. Madam Amberly keeps asking me to replay and break down the whole rundown on you and your 'incident' from years ago and I gotta say, it is still rich. And as for you Nina, the headmistress figured you'd be back sooner or later."

Neo's blood ran cold as he heard that nickname, while all the humiliating, repressed memories of his younger days in the academy all came back to him. This is what had been troubling him and now the horror was real... so very real. Whimpers of fright stared to escape his mouth.

Whistling into a megaphone which amplified her voice and made their creator squirm, the rest of the Brat Girls allies came out from hiding and dashed twords their leader. They all cackled in delight. Catching the two figures was easier than they had expected. "Hello Nina, Madam Amberly knew you'd have to come back eventuality and now, here you are."

"Yeah, well I'm not here to stay guys." The goth girl stated, raising her metal fists at them, ready to sock it to them if needed. "And what are they talking about Uncle Neo?" Aside from not knowing about Smiling Jimmy's and that tragic past, this nickname was all new. Nina could only figure that is was equally as embarrassing as what his family had put him through. Out of the corner of her eye, Nina saw tears in Neo's along with something that she never thought she would see in her uncle...

Pure dread.


Crash enjoyed a good walk once and a while. He always had time for it in his schedule that was pretty straightforward: eat, sleep, be a hero when he was needed and comfort his siblings. He prayed his sister would be good when the time came to revisit Dr. Jacobson. Sure Coco had hissed at Crunch and threatened Cortex but it wasn't as if she always did stuff like that. It came as a result of both anxiety and getting worked up about something happening to Crash. The older marsupial knew Coco was always worried about him but that's what happened when it came to putting your family's needs before your own.

Between now and the when the time came for therapy, all he could do was try to keep his sister calm and make sure she didn't lose her mind and her temper. He didn't want Coco to attempt another threatening attack on his creator. Sure he was fully aware that she nor Crunch could stand Cortex but that was their own perspective. Crash himself however was just built differently. He could tell the scientist was probably having it rough, especially when it came to trying to eliminate the bandicoot himself. Failed attempt after failed attempt. Cortex would try to take over the island constantly but Crash would foil his plans, it was an endless and viscous cycle. Crash assumed that Cortex wasn't always the deranged, madman he had been when they first encountered one another. Teaming up alongside his nemesis for a trip to an alternate dimension, Crash had noticed all the karma that had been thrown Cortex's way due to previous problems in the past. Maybe it was due to the stress caused by Uka Uka or the small number of people who actually cared enough to be concerned about him? Perhaps something from his childhood? The Australian bandicoot was close to compiling a list of potential ideas.

Whatever it was however, Crash knew that hate wasn't the primary feeling Cortex had always had tword the orange marsupial. He had given Cortex that hug when them and their little group returned from Totem Hokum and even to Crash's own amazement, he couldn't beleive the scientist didn't try to shove him aside and paint an annoyed scowl upon his face. Even after Cortex had jumped into Crash's arms to avoid getting skewered, Crash awaited his creators demand to put him down but that response never came. He gladly welcomed it, taking advantage of the opportunity. Stopping briefly he sat down on a rock and scratched his head, trying to think of what that was all about. Did Cortex actually have a sliver of faith and trust in him? Crash assumed he did. The feeling that he been swirling around in the pit of his stomach had moved up into his brain. Alongside Nina, Cortex did care about him too, he wasn't completely heartless and cruel.

Crash knew one thing: he had loved Cortex from day one, there was no denying that. As he looked twords the sea, he started to think. Did the scientist feel the same?

He continued to ponder that as he stood up, heading back tword his family's bungalow home to await dinner. The bandicoot hero had a feeling that after group therapy, him and Cortex's current rocky, normally hate filled relationship would blossom into something entirely new and hopefully things would smooth over between his sister and Cortex. Crash just had to stay positive like he always did. However he was completely unaware of what his creator really thought about him and also who his beloved sister was working with.

A/N

Over 60,000 words archived in the story. Accomplishment! I actually had this chapter finished days ago, just wanted to wait until the release date of Crash 4 It's About Time and now the wait is over! And this is definitely my favorite chapter so far. And the first chapter title that rhymes! :3

I thought every chapter was your favorite? *raises eyebrow*

Oh yeah. XD *awkward chuckle*

Crash, you have no clue as to how Cortex really feels about you. XD Hey readers, I know it's been radio silence. On this tale and especially the oneshot series. (Truth is I'm thinking about trying a drabble series on the Crashtex ship. Another spin off but more...short and sweet stuff you know? *groans* It's so hard! Plaugedoctorbeaks over in the archive makes it look ridiculously easy. XD) However, I did take a break from this wedding story to focus on a oneshot for the Office. I love that series so that was fun and a nice change of pace. :) It's posted both here and on AO3. It's called Last Words. It's a Dwight x Jim story. I'm just proud of myself to have written something entirely new. Yes the Brat Girls from Titans and Mind Over Mutant, originally Nina's minions. I couldn't resist, I just love refrences. The part of this chapter set in the academy is sort of like a combination of both Crash and Cortex's sections in Classroom Chaos. That just the way I saw it. And more plot twists! :P

Yeah, this whole fic is littered with references and twists. And I'd just love to get out of the Academy with my dignity in check thank you very much. *sits down at a table across from Crash and crosses arms*

Yeah, I don't think that's happening. :P Sorry. Lol. XD

Ugh, I hate you. *pushes the cup closer to Crash* Here Crash, Samantha says we can share this. She trying to mock me.

Ok that time again reviews:

Gucci Mane LaFlare: Thanks. I do enjoy different points of view as well. Adds a little variety to the story. XD

Only one review? Makes it easy.

Yup, until next time, keep smiling!