Chapter 13 – Ready to go

 

The bandicoot warrior arrived back at his Tree house home, where Tani and his bandiger children were already waiting for him. Coco and Crash were even there, along with Aku-aku. It seemed as if they were all prepared for a small trip, to check what the future would hold for them, this time around. Crunch looked and noticed the bandigers even seemed to be prepared to go with them, making Crunch raise his eyebrow…

 

“What the… bandigers are coming too?”

“Yeah, why not? Tawna and Crystal are too busy getting resources from Farmer Ernest and Brio today… and what harm would it do if they came?”

“But it might be dangerous!”

“Aww come on Dad, we wanna come! We never get to go with you on fun adventures like that!”

Crunch came to kneel down, in front of young Tasha. Tackle and Tayna were standing next to hear, and he spoke…

“Well… ok then… but Tasha, this might end up being a dangerous adventure, so please stay around us at all times! Going into another future is not fun and games…! And take as much as you need to, in your backpacks…”

Tasha gave Crunch a nod, a determined and serious nod, meaning that she did listen to him properly this time. Unlike last week, when she and the other young anthros got into trouble. She and her younger siblings ran into the room to pack their backpacks.

Tani was already packing a backpack too, but an even bigger one. She even packed some food, in case they wanted to rest there and have a snack. She also packed water bottles, in case fresh water was scarce, like in the bad future Crunch witnessed.

 

Crash and Coco waited for them, and it wasn’t until another half hour later, that they were prepared. Aku-aku simply floated there waiting for them. And finally, Crunch and his family were prepared.

“Ok guys, we’re ready. But Aku-aku… I just need to speak with you first, before we go…”

“Sure thing, Crunch”

Aku-aku and Crunch left the lounge of the Tree house, and headed outside on to the balcony. As they walked out there, the mood was very silent and full of concern and curiosity, for what was to come or happen after all of these events. Crunch stood there, with Aku-aku floating above, but next to him.

 

“Is something else worrying you, Crunch?”

 

“Hmm well yeah, kind of. You’ll be staying here, right?”

“Yes, why must you confirm that?”

“I just have a ‘small’ favor for you… since you are a protector of the good can you… please make sure the elementals don’t destroy people who are of good heart and don’t deserve a horrible fate?”

 

“Crunch… I’ll try all I can to save as many good hearted souls as possible, but I can’t be there for everyone, you see. The elementals have powers much wider than mine… but I will do my best, as I wait for you all to return…”

“Thank you, Aku-aku. You’ve always been on great help to me, Crash and Coco. You can take us to the Time Machine now…”

Crunch told Aku-aku, with a calm grin. While Aku did the same back to him.

They both walked inside, and stood close to each other. Aku-aku floated up… before working his magical powers all around the group of marsupials, before they suddenly vanished, with a puff of sparkling dust.

 

***

 

They were all at the familiar site of the Time Machine ship again, and strangely… this time, the doors where all closed up and locked. They were exactly the same as last time they left. Maybe the elementals did something to N.Tropy? No one was sure.

The young bandigers were all very curious of the surroundings. They’ve never been on a ship before, nor been so high in the sky. They looked all around them in awe, before being startled by their parents to follow along them closely, to avoid any unwanted dangers.

 

They walked down the same hallway, leading to the main room and strangely enough, N.Tropy was there. He had the same angered looking expression, but he didn’t look as if he wanted to fight… like he usually would want to.

Crunch simply gave him an intimidating glare, meaning he’ll kill if he has to… N.Tropy simply scoffed slightly, but then was surprised to see that he brought along his mate this time. Tropy had never seen Tani before, but he heard about her. He also saw their 3 offspring. What. 3 of them, hybrids? Strangely interesting, he thought. But also somewhat disturbing to his closed minded opinions on anthros and animals.

 

“You know you don’t stand a chance against me, so don’t bother trying to fight…”

“Who said I was going to fight you, you red weasel? Besides, I have better things to think about right now, and in all honesty, I don’t really mind if all you filthy anthromorphic creatures run away into the future, anyway. Better less of you, in the Present. Would make my life so much more worth living.”

Tropy told Crunch. The burgundy bandicoot could only roll his light green eyes at the blue man, but he could see that Tropy didn’t seem to care much about them using their time machine, but what if he was planning something? He thought it should be alright, with Aku-aku staying here to keep guard, and he still has the elementals there for him.

Coco walked over to the main controls, and looked at them to make sure they were still in the right time zone and settings. It was still set to around 8000 years from now, for them to arrive at ‘8am, 17^th of May, year 10,007’. The same time zone they leapt into last time.

 

 

“Alright everyone, it seems that it’s still all in place… with the exact same time zone as last time! Oh boy, I am so nervous… please be a good future… please!”

 

Coco said, feeling very anxious about the trip. N.Tropy rolled his eyes, and was probably thinking ‘just hurry up and leave, you pesky little rats!’

She went to stand with Crunch, Crash, Tani and the bandigers. Aku-aku was floating away from them, as they all walked towards the time portal… Crash and Coco went to look back at Aku-aku, even though they were planning to only be gone for a look, they still felt a strange feeling, being apart from their fatherly figure, a being that helped and protected them most of their lives.

They both had a slight tear in their eye as they waved back at Aku-aku..  

And with their very last wave of good bye… they all vanished, into the light.

 

…

 

…However, something was different this time. N.Tropy didn’t notice anything strange at first, but then he was quick to react when he saw a message on the main screen controls for the Time Machine, and his eyes widened, was this good news… or not? He didn’t even do anything to make this happen…

 

For now though, he grinned.


Chapter 14...