A/N:Time For Chapter 9 of the story! Here we go!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Crash series for reasons that should be obvious ;)
The group had just gotten home from their night out and seemed to be in high spirits, Crash more so then the rest. "*giggle* You seem to be in a good mood bro." Coco spoke giggling to herself as she took in her brother and his sudden happy go lucky attitude change.
Crash continued walking bouncing off the back of his heels as he did, "You bet I'm happy! I just got my girlfriend back!" He said fist pumping for a moment. Jack just chuckled at his brother-in-law retorting back "Okay Lover Boy, reel it in before you make a bigger fool of yourself." This got a laugh out of his wife and an irritated shout of "HEY!" from the bandicoot he just made fun of.
At that moment Aku-Aku decided to change the subject. "Diane, didn't you tell us earlier today that we all need to get stronger?" The tiki guardian asked getting a nod from Diane in response. "I did say that. Why do you ask?" "How are we going to get stronger exactly?" Diane thought over the question before give her son a nod saying that "He'll explain.." Jack cleared his throat as he took in the attention everyone was sending him before he spoke. "Well, the easiest way for all of us to get stronger quickly would be to use THAT room.."
Diane and her husband nodded in agreement, however the bandicoots were still confused and a little uneasy from not knowing what to expect. Seeing this Jack decided to let his wife ask the question they were all thinking. "What room are you talking about?" She asked as Jack began to look around, almost looking like he was making sure he wasn't being watched. "Fallow me into the house and we'll show you.." He said before beginning to lead everyone into the house.
After the group went in, Jack led them to the game room. "What's so important about this room?" Crash asked looking confused, Jack chuckled to himself muttering "You'll see.." before going over to one of the walls and reviling a hidden panel with a keypad on it, he then began to put in a long passcode no one could figure out before the keypad accepted it. Within moments the room began to change and morph until it looked like a giant dome with some form of device in the middle of it. "What does this do?" Coco asked looking like a excited child in a candy store making Jack laugh at her antics.
Jack then began to explain after getting Coco to calm herself, "Basically, my mom and I created this device that can send people in to a realm that can help you to train in a quick amount of time.." Seeing no reaction Jack continued, "If it takes two months for someone to get stronger in the real world then in here.." Jack trailed off pointing at the device, "The amount of time will be shortened drastically." Coco then spoke asking "Then if you're training takes a year or two in the real world it would take a day or two at most in there?"
Jack smiled honestly impressed that the girl could summarize it that quickly, "Yes Coco that is exactly it." "That's incredible.." Crash said astonished. "That it is Crash but for now I think our main priority should be getting to bed don't you think?" Diane asked receiving a nod from everyone present. "Okay then we'll get our training started tomorrow agreed?" Jack asked before everyone nodded again.
With that everyone headed of to their rooms after Jack reset the room back to it's original state..
Jack was now laying on his bed, waiting for his wife to join him after she finished changing clothes. While he was waiting Jack was thinking to himself (You know I never did introduce Coco to him yet..) With that he began to clasp the necklace in his hand reciting an odd chant as he did, within seconds there was a bright flash before a husky with black & white fur stood in front of the bed. The dog took a moment to get it's barrings before barking happily and going over to his owner to let him scratch behind his ears. Jack just laughed happy to hear his companion was pleased.
"Do you feel better now that you can stretch your legs Cerberus?" Jack asked as Cerberus yiped happily in response, "Am I hearing a dog?" Coco asked as she came out of the bathroom. Within moments Coco found herself pined to the floor by a happy Cerberus whom now looked like a husky puppy, "Oof! *giggle* you must be Cerberus then?" She asked not needing an answer as the pup began licking her face making her laugh. "No! Down boy! Stop it! haha!" Jack laughed as he got the pup off her, to help her off the floor.
"I see you've gotten acquainted with him?" "You could say that." Jack took a moment to look his wife over before saying "You know I think you should leave your hair down like it is now." Coco turned crimson as she processed that before quickly stuttering out "What makes you say that?" still blushing bright. Jack took a moment to think before he spoke "I just think you look nice with your hair down is all.." He said blushing a little himself, Feeling flattered she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Consider that a thank you."
With that the two of them fell asleep with the husky pup sleeping in between them..
Coco was woken the next morning by Cerberus sniffing her "Stop it boy! I'm up now okay?" She said as she tried to swat the dog away, after taking a few minutes to change she headed into the kitchen "Morning everyone.." She mumbled Jack chuckled "Still half asleep?" He received a slow nod, "Figured as much.." He trailed off for a moment before shouting "Cerberus! Here Boy!" Within seconds the sound of barking could be heard as the husky came barreling down the hall and into the kitchen, stopping in front of his owner whom seemed to be looking at a stop watch.
"Wow, 10 seconds faster then before! nice going boy!" He said as he went about filling the dog's bowl, Crash then decided to bring up the obvious elephant in the room "WHO THE HECK IS THIS DOG!?" He shouted which got him a konk on the head from Coco along with a retort of "Lower Your Voice Dang it!" "Sorry Sis." The older of the two apologized, Jack then cut in before anyone else could say something, and explained the story of Cerberus to Crash, Crunch and Aku-Aku as they were the only ones out of the loop.
"Ah, so That's the story on dog boy over there.." Crash said as the (now looking full grown) husky looked at him curiously. Jack just nodded before he took everyone to the hidden room where the device was kept, after finishing breakfast. "Now before I start this thing up I need you three to put these on your person." He said as he handed Coco & her brothers what looked to be beads of some sort,"Why?" Coco asked honestly curious. Having expected that question he began to elaborate "The things I just gave you are trackers, We'll need them when we arrive in the world that the device sends us..." He said as he began to put in a long string of code on the device's keypad.
Before anyone could ask what he was doing they were cut off by the device crashing and clanging as it sprung to life before it opened up a portal of sorts and went quiet again. Jack took a moment to look over his shoulder at the group, "You guys ready?" He asked receiving firm nods from them in return. Then without missing a beat Jack leaped through the portal with Cerberus beside him, then went Diane & John leaving the bandicoots whom took a moment more to work up the courage to jump in as well.
After taking a moment to get their vision back, the bandicoot family took a look at the realm they were now in. They took note of a giant mountain in the distance which seemed to have a large amount of snow on the top, there was also a mountain similar to it right beside it the only obvious change with the other one being that the top was the opening to a volcano.
"This place is.." Coco muttered almost breathless, "..Amazing!" Aku-Aku said finishing the young girl's sentence.
"HEY!" The group suddenly heard what sounded like a voice calling for them, fallowing it they quickly found what looked to be a large flight of stairs and at the bottom was Jack, calling for their attention with his parents not to far behind him. The group quickly descended the stairs to rejoin the rest of the group, "Well, What do you think?" He asked smiling broadly.
"This place is incredible!" Coco said speaking for the group making Jack nod, "Glad you think so.." He then trailed off as he began to circle the bandicoot's & tiki mask, "Now on to the next order of business: Whom will be training with whom?" He then took on a serious expression akin to an army commander before speaking again.
He looked at Crash causing said bandicoot's back to straighten on instinct, "I'll be training you personally.."
He trailed off as he looked to Crunch next, "My father will be training you.."
He then smirked as he looked to Aku-Aku & Coco both, making the two flinch under his intimidating gaze. "My mother will be training the both of you.."
He then trailed off as he turned to look out at the landscape, his parents went over to stand on either side of him facing the group putting them all on edge again. The bandicoots couldn't help but sweatdrop at these three as they all thought (Just how intimidating can they be?)
"We should make some things clear however.." John suddenly said drawing everyone's attention, "The training we'll be putting you through will be brutal, it will feel like your going through hell, if you like us now, by the time we're done you'll love and hate us all in one!" He finished glancing over to Diane, indicating it was her turn to speak.
"The thing you need to survive out here is a will to survive and live! Because if you don't have the will to survive.." Diane trailed off glancing at her son whom was now glancing at the group over his shoulder giving them a clear view of his dark black eye, "..The beasts that live in this world will TRY and WILL kill you should they get the chance!"
He then turned fully before he and his parents all said the same thing "ARE WE UNDERSTOOD!?"
As soon as that was said, everyone of them saluted (minus Aku-Aku of coarse) and shouted "SIR YES SIR!" Diane's stern expression was quickly replaced by a happy smile. "Good, now do any of you have questions?" Jack laughed a little as she asked that because the group suddenly relaxed in a way that it was almost comical, Aku-Aku was the one who spoke next turning to Diane as he did. "I get training Coco, but why train me? I'm nought but a tiki guardian.." However diane quickly said "I can fix that.." and within moments Diane and the tiki mask were enveloped in a pillar of light.
The group could only stand astonished as Diane began to chant in a strange language and Aku-Aku began to change in form and shape, first a skeleton appeared behind the mask, then the organs and muscle mass appeared. The nerves and everything else came next and just as quick as it came the light faded leaving Diane and Aku-Aku to themselves.
No one dared try to move, they were to worried that something may happen too Aku-Aku if they did! Eventually Coco found her voice again carefully turning to her mask friend and asking "Aku-Aku, is that you?" However instead of answering her he took off the mask, revealing a tan looking indian man. He took a moment to let his eyes adjust before he spoke smiling at her as he did, "Yes Coco, it is..it's really me." At that moment Coco's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, she didn't know what too do, what too think! So, she did the only thing her body would allow, embrace her friend and cry. Then to her surprise Aku-Aku began to do the same.
After that Crash and Crunch both went into the hug crying just as much as the other two, No one said a word Who could really? anyone who had seen this would have been at a loss for words. The tender moment continued for a few moments before Jack cleared his throat getting everyone's attention, "I hate too be the one to ruin the mood but we need to get going before we start losing daylight."
With that the four got their nerves under control and Jack summoned Cerberus teling crash, "Your riding on Cerberus. Make sure you keep up with me.." The bandicoot did as he was told and began fallowing Jack into a dense forest area, leaving the others to their own devices. "Well then, let's be off.." Diane said getting nods from Coco and Aku-Aku as she began to lead her group in the direction of the snowy mountain helping Aku-Aku get used to his now human body along the way. That just left Crunch and John the two just shared a nod as they began their trek, towards the volcano.
And so Jack and the bandicoots year of training to get stronger, surpass their limits and shatter their own glass ceilings has begun.
A/N:Boom! That's chapter 9 done! this was a blast to write and I hope you all will have a blast reading it!
You all know the drill let me know what you think in a review!-Foxhound Out!