As the S.S Bandicoot sped through the calm waters, Kessler sat near the back of the vessel, his hands clasped together as he looked down at the deck. A million thoughts ran through his mind, he had no idea what he was in for, what was to come, what was to be. All he knew was that this was the new chance that he so desperately craved all his life, and now that he had it… he had no idea what to do with it.

Meanwhile, Crash, who was sitting across the boat from Kessler, almost in the same position as Kessler , scanned the boat looking for Pasadena. He finally spotted her standing at the railing, viewing the ocean landscape. It took no time for crash to rise up and start to walk her direction. As the orange hero proceeded with all the confidence in the world, he felt a pressure in his chest, pulling him back. As much as Crash wanted to chalk this up to his nerves, he knew exactly the problem. Still standing, just 10 feet behind Pasadena, Crash pullet out his wallet from his back pocket and flipped it open. Sure enough, the first picture he saw was of his first love, Tawna.

Crash gazed deeply into the picture, rubbing it with his thumb sentimentally. It was a picture of Tawna being given a piggy back ride by Crash, they both were staring into the camera with absolute bliss and love in their eyes. It was the last time Crash could remember he actually felt happy.

~POV Crash's Mind (Flashback)~

Crash: *Thinking to himself* This is so strange…she's been gone nearly a week…Should I call her again?…

Crash picked up and dialed the phone.

Crash: Hello? Tawna? It's me Crash…again… If you get this message, call back soon. You haven't picked up for a few days now and I'm starting to worry about you…So um…. Call me back ok? I love you.

Crash found a receipt for a ticket to Chicago about a week ago. He was seriously worried that maybe someone had kidnapped her again, trying to get him to follow her right into a trap. That was the only thing keeping him from bolting through the door in pursuit for her. Crash's thoughts were interrupted when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He quickly whipped it out of his pocket and fumbled to see what it could be.

1 New Message

Tawna

Crash quickly opened it in excitement to see what it could possibly be. The following message read:

"Crash, I'm fine. I will be back tomorrow. Don't worry,

I'm being taken care of. Do not come over here."

Crash felt the blood rush to his feet. He didn't care, he was going. He was going to find out why she was acting so strangely. He walked himself in a hurry to the old warm room and was able to get himself to a suburb of Chicago. Once there he instantly knew where to go.

Crash: *Thinking to himself* "I'm being taken care of"? Oh, I know where exactly what that means…

He had always suspicious of Pinstripe… The looks he and Tawna snuck to each other whenever the three were together were the same looks Tawna once snuck to Crash not too long ago. As Crash made his way in the city, he had no idea what to expect. He just knew where he was going.

It was easy to know when he reached his destination, all Crash had to do was look up and see Pinstripe's face on the very top of a skyscraper. It also didn't take long for him to find exactly what he was looking for. There she was. First floor. The love of his life. His bitter enemy… And Crash just caught a glimpse outside a window. At first, it was innocent. They were both dressed nicely, Pinstripe wearing his suit as always with his trademark slick back hair. Tawna was wearing a shimmering red dress that she wore on her first date with Crash. Crash continued to watch outside until he finally saw what he needed to see. Pinstripe leaned over, and planted a kiss on Tawna's lips, she responded by turning as bright red as the dress she wore and giggling… Crash didn't walk in, he didn't scream, he didn't make a scene, all he did was modestly nod his head and walk back to the suburb where he could go back home.

When he returned later that night, Crash violently stormed into the Bandicoot home and walked right past Coco who looked concerned, frozen in fear on the couch where she was watching TV. Rage was an emotion that Coco felt her big brother was immune to, but she knew he had it, as rare as it was, it just made those few moments of genuine rage that much scarier.

Coco: *Following Crash* Crash? Crash? What are you doing?! Where are you going?! What happened?!

Crash merely ignored his sister's pleas and went to the room he and Tawna shared, grabbing anything he could find that belonged to her.

Coco: Crash! Please calm down!

Crash just stormed back outside of the house and tossed Tawna's belongings out to the sand. Coco realized this this isn't something Crash would do from a little fight, she knew his never dying love for her, his willingness to risk his life, he was serious in his actions. Coco wisely decided to let her brother run out of steam, supervising the mayhem to make sure Crash didn't harm himself in the process. A few minutes passed until Crash had no more of Tawna's things to throw away. With that, Crash sank to his knees and yelled in pain to the jungle that surrounded him. His screams soon turned to sobs as Coco ran over to wrap her brother in her arms.

~End Flashback~

With every step Crash took towards Pasadena, he felt the same pain he felt that night. All he could do was catch the former racer's attention. Crash was able to muster a friendly smile, that she graciously returned to him, and Crash slinked back into his seat on the boat.

As Crash faced his debacle, Kessler finally was able to break eye contact with the deck to look up add see Coco, who was busy driving her boat through the seas with extreme focus. Kessler started to feel the same pressure in his chest, much like Crash did.

~POV Kessler's Mind (Flashback, 6 Months Ago)~

Kessler eagerly left his dormitory at the academy to receive his weekly mail, very confident he would get a letter from Valerie.

While at his time at the Academy for Black Magic, Kessler desperately tired to find a way to contact his home, N. Danger Island, hoping to find another person like him who shared his strange talents and dark past. He soon was able to contact a girl who called herself "Valerie". Over the next four months they would write to each other, and they soon developed a romantic relationship. They sent pictures to each other, Valerie strangely look a lot like Coco, but with darker hair and clothes. Kessler would lay awake day and night waiting for Valerie's letters. He couldn't believe that he found a girl who understood him, related to him, and didn't make him feel like a freak for the first time. Kessler couldn't of been happier. He felt love fill in the darkness of his cold heart.

Thinking back, Kessler remembered the last letter he sent to Valerie…It was one of the many poems that he wrote while thinking about her while in class:

"Every time I look at you my heart skips a beat. I wonder if you know, my love, that my heart is at your feet. I leave it there for you to do whatever that you wish. You could take my heart, and love me. Or just leave me in this bliss."

Unfortunately for Kessler the next letter that he'd receive after that would be the last…

Dear Kessler,

I can't believe it, but I finally realize who you are. You were a Viktori. Yes, we still talk about the Viktories here. They were a brave family, and ran this island… until they turned against us. They said our ways were barbaric and primitive. We made sure that they were overthrown, never allowed to bring weakness to our land again. You were supposed to die with them. You, along with the rest of your family. I have no desire to hear from you again, even though you're not dead, I will have to be content knowing that you will rot in N. Chanted Island for the rest of your useless life.

-Valerie

Kessler felt what little of a heart he had crumble… All he had, all he wanted was what Valerie was to him. He collapsed to his bed without making a sound, completely destroyed. He now had to deal with the pain of being hated in not only N. Chanted Island, but now the one place he felt he could belong, N. Danger Island. It didn't take long for Kessler to find the only place to be alone, besides his dormitory. Last Exit Bar…where he could drink the pain away…

~End Flashback~

Coco finally noticed Kessler looking at her, a light smile on his face. Coco looked back at him, waving her hand gently at the bandicoot, offering a warm smile.

And so there was Kessler and Crash, both bonded by the pain in their hearts. Soon, things would change, the teenage bandicoots could feel it in themselves. Crash looked Kessler in the eye, Kessler soon did the same to Crash, they both didn't understand it, but they accepted each other, relating to the heartbreak they could sense in each others eyes….Things will be different this time…. And these two new friends wouldn't have it any other way….

I know this chapter took forever to come out! But I hope I can make it up to you guys by making this one twice as long as usual. Keep those reviews coming! Suggestions are encouraged as well! :D

-Jeff Therioux