Well Everybody, this is it. We have reached the end of Time. It was a long and tiring journey, but I enjoyed writing it nonetheless.

First off, as always I would like to thank jojoker boy for reviewing this story and for providing me with any encouragement along the way. My thanks to you. I would also like to give a shot out to Jpbake and Owen96 for reviewing this story as well. I deeply appericiate it.

I also like to thank all to all of the 800 and something people who read this little fic. Even if you didn't review, the fact that you did read it, does matter.

Second, for the future of this story, The stories will still follow as if it were in the naughty dog universe, Wrath of Cortex is the only Non Naughty Dog game I will incorporate into the series but that is not going to happen for two more stories, so sit tight.

But for now, let's end this story

For this chapter, for the first half I recommend listening to Against all odds by Phil Collins. For the second half, I recommend listening to Phendrana Drifts from Metroid Prime.

Crash is not mine. OC's are mine. (This is so repetitive)

Epilogue

The time twister had been completely enveloped within itself, leaving no remains behind.

Milo Linda and Kage were overlooking the islands from the fishing boat, hoping to see a faint hint of orange.

Dave approached them.

"We have to get back to the dock; I don't think we'll find them, I'm sorry."

"No! We're not leaving." Kage snarled. "They aren't dead! Crash isn't dead!"

"Kage, I don't think they made it... We better go home." Linda sighed, trying to keep her tears back."

"NO!" Kage sobbed, angrily. "First my mother left me, then my father left, now their gone! Everyone leaves me! What did I do wrong! Was it because I'm crippled; is God punishing me!?"

"No…" Dave said, trying to comfort her. "You didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't your fault this happened."

"Dad, can we just look a little longer?" Milo asked.

Dave sighed. "All right, but for one more hour and then we need to get back. Kage, do you want me to have your grandparents come here to bring you home?"

"Go away!" Kage snarled.

Dave walked away leaving the three together.

"Kage, Crash would want us to be strong; he wouldn't want you upset, He needs you to be brave; like when your mother needed you to be brave."

Kage's thoughts drifted back to her mother; she could remember when her mother had told she was going to Milan for a runway show. The redhead had remembered how angry she had been at her mother. Kage had a horrifying feeling that if her mother went, she wouldn't come back. She remained so angry and upset for days that when the day came for her mother to leave, she refused to look at her. Her mother had begged her to look at her, but Kage remained with her face staring at the wall. She didn't feel any better when her mother told her she would be back in a couple of weeks.
Right before her mother had left, she had told she loved her. Still that wasn't enough for Kage to turn around and her mother left.

Not even a week later, her father had received a call that her mother dropped on the runaway from a heart attack. Her mother had been rushed to an Italian hospital. Despite the doctors doing everything they could, her mother's condition was too critical and finally ended with her going into cardiac arrest.

Kage couldn't believe her sixth sense had been right; she couldn't believe that she predicted if her mother went, she wouldn't come back. If she knew then what she knew now, she would have held her mother for as long as she could. Tell her how much she appreciated her, apologize for all the times she had been stubborn. Kage knew even now; she needed her mother more then ever, but she was gone. And She was the one who really knew her at all.

Now Crash and Coco, like her mother, had left her too. She gripped the armrests of her wheelchair in defeat.

"It's not fair." She sobbed quietly to herself.

Milo and Linda continued looking for their friends within the rough waters, but nothing could be found.

Dave walked up to them again.

"All right guys; it's the end of the end of the road. We're heading back to dock."

The three hung their heads in shame as they looked out towards the water one last time.

Early the next morning, Kage sat in her chair looking out the window. She couldn't believe she had failed her friends. When they needed her the most, she wasn't there.

The sound of voices could be heard outside.

"Is she in there?" Came the voice of her grandmother.

"Yes, but she's been in a fragile state." Dave answered.

The door opened before her grandmother rushed toward her.

"Oh my goodness Kage; are you all right?" Her grandmother asked, hugging her tightly.

"I'm fine." Kage mumbled.

"We need to go; we need to reboard the plane for Vienna within the next 2 hours. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."
Later that evening, Kage and her grandmother returned to Vienna where her grandfather was waiting for them.

Kage had made it very clear she didn't want to talk about what happened.

Several days went by; Kage had waited to hear if any news had been discovered, so far there had been nothing.

Kage had just woken up as the early morning light hit her eyes. She had gotten up and got herself into her chair.

She wheeled herself to her window; looking outside to see the town was covered in a thick blanket of fresh snow. The sky danced in beauty of soft grays. The cold but gentle wind blew along the trees. Kage felt herself smiling; the snow had given her a new feeling of hope. She now had a feeling that it wasn't over yet. She was convinced that the snow was letting her know that Crash and Coco were not dead. That they were alive.

Kage's negative intuition of the situation had faded. Hope was slowly reborn. She felt the gentle falling snow was telling her to be patient; that she would see her friends before she even knew it.

Kage wheeled herself downstairs to see her grandmother was already preparing breakfast.

"The snowfall is lovely, isn't it Grandma?" Kage asked.

Her grandmother looked back, smiling. "Yes it is. I'm glad to see you talking again."
"The snow has given me a new feeling of hope. I firmly believe now that Crash and Coco are still alive. But I need to let time run it's course for as long as it needs."

"You believe that?"
"Like Crash said: I'm willing to leave fate to chance."

Her grandmother smiled before looking out the window. "I hear that they are going to be putting up the Christmas decorations in the park today. How about we all go after breakfast and do our part?"

Kage smiled happily. "I think that would be nice. Hopefully this year I will be able to light all the trees."

After breakfast, Kage had been bundled up for her day in the park; a thick blanket wrapped all around her legs.

Her grandfather had taken hold of handles of the chair and began wheeling her to the park.

The snow fell all around. Kage found herself laughing and smiling; she hadn't felt this way in so long.

Her grandparents were so happy to see their grandchild in such a happy state.

Kage felt the wind blow through her long red hair; she was almost convinced she could see Crash among the snow. His all too familiar goofy grin on his face.

"Don't worry Kage, we'll meet again before you know it; Just let time run it's course. And don't worry about me, I'll be okay, I always am."

"Don't worry Crash, I trust you." Kage laughed.

"Kage, who are you talking too?" Her grandfather asked.

Kage smiled goofily. "Oh to myself… Do you hear that Grandpa?"
"It's the wind… What's so special about it?"

"It's a sign; it's a sign to never give up hope. I now know that Crash and Coco are alive, but I must let time tell me."

Her grandfather smiled. "And what will you do in the mean time?"

"Kage beamed at her grandfather with great pride.

"I'll just have to leave fate up to chance."

Goodbye for Now

The End! Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for the next installment: Forgotten.