"So," Pasadena commented, a bit awkwardly.

"What is it, Pasadena," Crash asked, looking at her.

The two were sitting in Happily Ever Faster together as everyone was around and racing in one of the five lands. There was the Midway, of course. The first one was Mystery Island which had a pirate theme and features a large pirate ship in the middle of it. The second one was Happily Ever Faster which was like a fairy tale like world. The third one was Tyrannosaurus Wrecks which had a prehistoric-themed world, some geographical features include a volcano and an ice age-like area. The forth one was Tomb Town which was an Egyptian style world. The fifth and last one was Astro Land which was like a space themed world.

Pasadena answered, asking her own question, "Well, do you really think having Cortex around is a good idea?"

Crash hissed, getting to his feet rather quickly, "What is that supposed to mean?!"

Pasadena stated, "I mean don't you think that you are trusting Cortex a bit too quickly? The man practically caused the entire world to fall."

Crash replied, "But he didn't mean any of it."

Pasadena questioned, hissing, "How?! How do you know for sure?!"

Crash answered, coldly, "Cause I trust and I know him."

With that, Crash walked away from Pasadena, furious. He was SO glad that they had broken up.

"You look like something that the Meowth dragged in," John stated to Crash, who had joined them in Astro Land.

Crash hissed, "I cannot believe how close minded people can be towards Cortex right now!"

Pete replied, "It will not be easy having everyone forgive him after what happened."

Thunder responded, "Pete's right about that."

"...it doesn't surprise me anymore."

The four of them turned and saw Cortex standing there.

Crash asked, "Failed with Nina and N. Gin again?"

Cortex answered, "They don't seem to believe my story that I lost my memory and didn't know what I was doing." He paused as he looked at Pete and asked, "How did you forgive me so easily?"

Pete answered, "Well, at first I was furious, but when I decided to let you finish your explanation, I knew it wasn't your fault. It still isn't."

John stated, "The same goes for me."

Thunder nodded in agreement as he added, "And me as well. Plus all of the Pokemon."

Crash stated, "Seems like you guys are more forgiving than our friends right now."

"We are forgiving too."

Cortex, Crash, John, Pete, and Thunder turned to see Aku-Aku and Rika-Rika.

Cortex raised an eyebrow and asked, "You forgive me that easily?"

Aku-Aku answered, "Rika-Rika and I sensed that what you were doing as Phoenix wasn't of your own nature."

Rika-Rika added, "We knew Phoenix was Cortex before you all did."

John questioned, "Then why not tell us?"

Aku-Aku answered, "For two reasons. One: the amnesia was induced to stop whenever Phoenix was defeated."

Rika-Rika added, "And two: we have a problem."

Crash asked, "What kind of problem?"

That's when Pete saw something falling from the sky and answered, "Um, I think I know!"

Everyone looked as the saw a comet shooting through the afternoon sky.

Thunder stated, "That's not normal."

Cortex added, "Very unusual indeed."

The clouds started rolling in as ashes fell from the skies heavily.

Pete asked, covering his head, "Hey, what's happening?"

Aku-Aku answered, "There's no time to explain, we must get to Mystery Island quickly!"

Crash stated, "Right!"

With that; he led the charge with John on his left shoulder, Thunder running on all four paws, and Cortex following with Pete on his right shoulder.

Back on Kobold, N. Tropy and Velo were sipping some alien tea. Though it was brutly sweet for the time master, he continued to drink it.

"So why does the master want my services," Velo asked.

N. Tropy explained, "The ancients once predicted that one day in the future, a solder on the side of darkness will be starting to waver in the ways of the light."

"Cortex, I take it," Velo guessed.

N. Tropy stated, "All timelines in the river known as time know that as well as the next person."

"What does this have to do with my planet," Velo questioned.

N. Tropy answered, "Ah, that's where we get into the good stuff. You see, it isn't just your planet at stake but less the very essence of everything evil and unpure."

"Explain," Velo demanded.

N. Tropy stated, "This prophecy, has been in motion since the day that my time twister had been destroyed. The first realization of the solder swaying towards the light, if you will."

"So," Velo asked.

N. Tropy answered, "Cause the Light that the ancients once predicted that can wipe out evil and unpurity like the Void or the Darkness can be controlled by two people: Dr. Neo Periwinkle Cortex and his best friend and the pain the neck hero, Crash Bandicoot."

-Flashback: During 'Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped'-

After another plan gone awry, Crash was battling Cortex yet again. Crash and Cortex were fighting hand-to-hand. Uka-Uka and his good twin brother, Aku-Aku, were also fighting near-by.

Crash pinned Cortex down to the ground and stated, "Cortex, we don't have to this. Please come over to our side. Nina needs to raised in a safe environment where she can learn about her powers properly."

Cortex responded, "I know that, Crash. But, Uka-Uka is dangerous more than you ever know..."

"I wish you were joking," said the south Australian bandicoot, white as a ghost.

Cortex shook his head and told Crash, "I wish I was." He mumbled, "And I wish Cosmo was here to grant that wish."

"Huh," asked Crash, confused.

"Nothing," Cortex said, quickly.

Crash changed the subject and asked, "So, what are you going to do?"

Cortex started to answer, "I'm not sure. Not of yet. But, I know we have to..."

Just then, a blast between the two masks occurred.

It was something like Coco had never seen before. She was monitoring the battle on her laptop. N. Gin, Tiny, and toddler Nina were near-by also watching. Nina was at least four years old, short black hair, brown eyes, wearing a white shirt, black skirt, and black shoes.

Coco saw the girl and asked, "Uh, who IS this girl?"

N. Gin answered, without blinking, "That's Nina Cortex, Neo's niece."

Coco studied her and saw how good she was. She couldn't understand it. She wondered, 'How did this girl get mixed up in this?' Coco went back to the feed and saw that magic portholes opened up everywhere as the earth shook.

Dingodile came over as he picked up the toddler and stated, "Let's get Nina out of here!"

Tiny added, "Tiny says, the faster, the better!"

With that; Dingodile, Tiny, and Coco started running for shelter. N. Gin, however, went the other way.

"Hey, rocket head," Coco yelled, "Where are you going?"

No answer from him because N. Gin kept running towards the stadium Crash and Cortex was. Coco waved it off and started to run.

Meanwhile, N. Gin got to the battlegrounds and saw the trouble unfolding. Crash got Cortex up and the two of them ran towards the two masks, trying to get them to stop. However, the power from the two masks sent both of them back. N. Gin also felt the blast but continued to pursue and enter the fray. He knew that he had to save his master. The blast finally stopped as N. Gin saw Crash going down along with Cortex. Both of their hands started to glow a strange light. N. Gin ran over to Cortex and tried to wake him up.

"My master," said N. Gin, worried, "You've got to wake up!"

Cortex opened his eyes and saw N. Gin and asked, weakened, "Nicholas?"

Uka-Uka saw this and was disgusted by this display.

Aku-Aku asked, "Nicholas?"

Uka-Uka answered, "It does NOT matter. What does matter is that I stop anyone that dares challenges me."

Uka-Uka activated the magical portholes again as N. Gin was thrown away from Cortex, like a rag doll.

Cortex yelled, "No! Nicholas!" He knew that he had to do something and fast. That's when he went over to his best friend, Crash. He shook the bandicoot in total fear and pleaded, "Crash, wake up! There is danger!"

Crash didn't stir but Cortex brushed his hand up against Crash's hand. That's when something unexpected appeared. Some sort of light appeared, coming straight from the heavens above, blinding everyone. It was a sight to behold. It seemed like it was pure island magic and it was a pure energy source, the kind the two masks had never felt before. This light disappeared as the magical portholes stopped instantly. Crash and Cortex got knocked out from this, however.

Aku-Aku asked, freaked, "What was that?"

Uka-Uka answered, "I'm not sure."

He thought, fearfully, 'But I think that's what the ancients once predicted...'

-End of Flashback-

AK1028: And that people, ends chapter 2! Let me know what you think! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!