*Chapter 4: Restless*

Months passed, and things are getting hard for Crystal. She didn't get enough sleep every night, because her baby is restless when it moves. What Crystal has to do every night is to play music by her stomach for her baby to hear.
Crystal is lying on the couch, rubbing her stomach, listening to music while Coco is on the chair with her laptop. Crystal took a drink of the Wumpa Whip.

"You feel okay?" Coco asked, facing her.

"Not really." Crystal replied, looking up at the ceiling. "This kid is getting restless."

"Hey, not much longer. You got a month left till the baby girl is born." Coco said with a smile. Crystal shuts her eyes to relax. Yes, the baby is a girl. When they went to Brio's lab for the checkup, and see that the child is a female, everyone was excited. Even the bandicoot sisters gave Crystal gifts for the child. Clothes, toys, and so many pink things that a girl will love. So nice of them to give Crystal those things for the baby.

"So, how's the new momma feeling?" Crunch asked, coming in the living room with Crash and Aku Aku.

"Stressed and very tired, thank you." Crystal told him with a playful smirk. Crash walked over to her, looking at her huge stomach. Crystal told him that he can touch her stomach to feel the baby. Crash places his hand over the stomach, smiling a little. He felt a small kick, catching him by surprise.

"Did the baby kick?" Crunch asked. Crash nodded at him. Crystal giggled a little.

"She's communicating with you." She said. "She knows your family." Coco looked up at the ancient mask.

"Hey, when the baby grows a little older, should we homeschool her?" She asked.

"It won't be so hard, right?" Crunch asked. "There's no school on the islands or anything. Besides, there are no kids anywhere."

"I believe homeschooling this child will be wise. And you are right about two things, Crunch. There is no school or children around." Aku Aku told the bandicoots. "By the time the child turns 4, we will teach her about the dangers. Never leave her out of your sight when she goes outside to play on free time." Every bandicoot nodded as Crystal strokes her stomach when she feels the movement inside.

"So, have you thought about naming the girl yet?" Crunch asked. "Might be a good start before she's born." Crystal smiled at him. She did think of a name for her daughter.

"I've been thinking it for some time, and I know it'll be perfect for her." Crystal said. "Her name is Ariel."

"Aww. That's a nice name for her." Coco says with a grin. Crash agreed by nodding. Crystal smiled in thanks. Aku Aku went over and use his magic to check on her body, including the baby inside her. Crystal smiled at the warm feeling.

"Things have been good, Crystal." Aku Aku said. "Once you are in labor, we will take you straight to-" He paused when he notices the dark aura around Crystal's body. It makes her wince a little. Aku Aku knew what is causing this. He told the bandicoots to stay with Crystal, and head outside and see Uka Uka floating above the house, chanting with his eyes shut. "Uka Uka! Stop this at once! You're hurting Crystal!"

"I may have, but the child of hers won't be. I want to give the little one a small present." Uka Uka said with a smirk. Aku Aku glared at him. He uses his rainbow beam to shoot his twin brother to make him stop giving away some dark mojo. No way Crystal's daughter will have dark magic against others.

"Stay away from Crystal! Stay away from us!" Aku Aku warned his brother. "The child will never be yours!"

"We will soon see once she is born." Uka Uka told him before disappearing. Aku Aku gritted his teeth in anger. Things are getting very serious. Crystal needs more protection than ever.
Crystal took a few deep breaths after whatever had happened while Crunch places a wet rag over her forehead to cool her off. Coco held her hand as Crash feels the stomach once more. Aku Aku returned to the living room, telling them that it was Uka Uka who causes the dark magic on Crystal.

"That jerk." Coco muttered.

"Why did he do that?" Crunch asked. Aku Aku wouldn't want them to know that the baby might possibly be born with dark mojo because of Uka Uka. He didn't want to scare Crystal. It's best not to tell them for now.

One night, Crystal is sleeping soundly in bed. Such a quiet, peaceful night, until something happens to Crystal. The female bandicoot shot up from bed, crying out in pain, holding her stomach. Coco woke up in alarm and turn on the light and see Crystal in agony.

"Crystal! What's the matter?!" Coco asked, running over to Crystal's bed. Aku Aku appeared in the bedroom with Crash and Crunch, half awake by this.

"What's going on?!" Crunch asked. Crystal started to sweat, panting heavily. She slowly looks up at Aku Aku.

"The...baby..." She breathed. "I...I think it's...coming!"

"What, now?!" Aku Aku cried out in shock. "But it's too early!"

"Tell that to the baby!" Crystal said. "Get me to Brio! Now! It hurts too much!" Crunch came over and picked up Crystal as Crash and Coco rush out to get to the basement. Aku Aku followed them down the basement to see Coco activating the portal.

"We must hurry!" Crunch said, looking down at Crystal breathing hard, holding her stomach. Everyone went through the portal to get to Brio's lair.

Crystal was rushed in the emergency room with the bandicoot sisters and Aku Aku as Crash, Crunch, and Coco were asked to be waited outside of it. Isabella is outside in the halls with the bandicoot who are very worried sick about Crystal. How could she be in labor already? The baby won't be born till next month, and now...things have changed.

"I hope she'll be okay." Coco said, pacing around nervously. "But, why does this have to happen now?"

"No idea." Crunch said. "We won't know till-" He was cut off when Uka Uka and Cortex appeared in the hallway. Behind them are Tiny, N. Gin, and Dingodile. The bandicoots glared at them, blocking their way from going to the room where Crystal is giving birth. Isabella came in front with a sneer.

"What are you doing here?"

"Heard that our bandicoot had other plans." Cortex said with a smirk. "One month early. But we don't mind of the kid arriving."

"Back off you freaks!" Coco said. "Ariel will always be with us! Aku Aku will-"

"Ohhh!" N. Gin chuckled. "They gave the baby a name! And...it's a girl! We're going to have a female general!" Crunch snarled at the villains. He came in front with Crash and Coco as Isabella sneaks away to warn Brio and the others in the room. Cortex got his laser gun out.

"Now, let us through." He told them with a sneer.

"Or face the consequences." Uka Uka growled. The bandicoots aren't showing fear or back down. They won't let their enemies get Crystal's child. They will fight to protect the new family member.