Chapter 8 – Explanation

 

With the help from the elementals, especially Lo-lo… he took off from X.Treme Island to head over to N.Sanity Island. Home of the tribesman and Crash bandicoot, along with his family of course. The island is much smaller than X.Treme Island… about one third of its size, but was still full of life.

 

Crunch walked through the sandy tracks, before it started to become more covered with grass and old leaves from the trees above. He arrived at the area of the Bandicoot hut, the small home in which Crash and Coco live, along with Aku-aku and their animal companions, Polar and Pura.

Crunch approached the door and knocked…

 

“Hey Crash, Coco! Are you guy’s home?”

 

He waited for a moment, but there was still no sign of them… he decided to open the door out of curiosity. He peered through… but it seemed no one was there. Just some half eaten wumpa lying around, Coco’s laptop and other various bits and pieces. Crunch shrugged and left the small opening of the hut…

 

“So, those little bandicoots aren’t here then?”

 

“Hmm I just wonder where they’ve headed off to…”

Crunch said after Wa-wa, but as Crunch was speaking… there was some laughter heard out in the forest, and slightly loud footsteps… or pawsteps. Crunch grinned and turned around, as the sounds got louder, two large beasts lashed out from the bushes and plants to Crunch’s left. It was a huge Polar bear, much like the ones on X.Treme Island but smaller. And also a large Tiger, around half the size of the Polar bear. Crunch looked over at them, and also noticed that Crash was seen, sitting on top of the bear, with Coco on the back of the tiger.

 

“Oh, Hiya Crunch! Nice of ya to drop in for a visit!”

 

Coco said in her high and cheery voice. She was on her pet tiger Pura… a Chinese tiger she found as a cub several years back while she and Crash were on their Time Travel adventures. She found him alongside the Wall of China, as a cub who was rescued from a circus.

Pura gracefully kneeled down to let Coco safely slip down to the ground. While Polar didn’t do much, as Crash took a big leap off the bear himself. Polar was also an animal Crash found years ago as a cub, orphaned on X.Treme Island during a harsh winter. Back when Crunch was still in space.

Crash and Coco walked up to Crunch with their usual welcoming smiles. And soon, Aku-aku joined the group… as they all stood around, waiting for someone to say something.

 

“It’s good to see you guys again too. I just haven’t had much time, with the caring of those little bandigers, heh. And man… Polar and Pura sure have grown a lot over the years… heh”

“Yeah they sure have! Though we are starting to think N.Sanity Island isn’t really their right home… but we’re going to look more into getting them the right home later! I wont even consider releasing them to their ‘original’ habitats in China and the Artic… with all that habitat destruction and such…”

Coco said, as she looked away for a moment and frowning slightly. Crunch’s ears went down slightly as well, as he was quickly reminded of the reason he needed their help.

 

“Speaking of… destruction, I actually need your help, as well as yours Aku-aku…”

 

“What must bring you here Crunch? Is seems as if something is troubling your mind, I can tell from the elementals too, mind…”

 

Aku aku replied to Crunch, and the elementals only glared back.

 

“Why yes, Aku-aku. It is about the state of our planet. Crunch will explain… but we do need to come up with a solution to the troubles, even if it means bringing… death. Hah.”

 

Py-ro said in a sadistic sort of manner. Which made Aku-aku frown at him. Crunch spoke after him

 

“I think I have a lot of explaining to do… shall we sit somewhere comfortable as I explain?”

“Sure thing Crunch! Come this way…I am curious to know what’s wrong!”

Coco said, as both she and Crash lead the way into the backyard of their home, with their large pets following, as well as Crunch and the masks.

 

 

***

 

Crunch had spent a good half hour or more explaining all that was raiding his mind. However, it was now night time… but that didn’t put them off anything. A fire was lit in the center of the area as they talked. Coco was only left with a worried and surprised expression, even Crash was looking somewhat shocked for a change. Aku-aku had an unsure expression, after taking in all that information.

 

“I… can’t believe it! Wow, so that means… in the future or so, anthros will be ‘normal’, pretty much!? Silly me! I should have known that earlier, since I’m the brains of this bunch!”

 

Coco said, and looked silly on purpose. Crunch could only smirk, as well as Crash

 

“Hey, I’m still nowhere near as smart as you! Brio was the one who explained it, after all”

 

“But still, that is astounding! But as for the rest you explained… that is, true. I may not have been out into the world for long but on the internet, I can easily look into the destruction around the planet… a slow sort of destruction. But I believe good will always come along and stop it someday!”

 

“Coco… I don’t think we should just stand back and do nothing though! That’s why I think we should have a look into the future first… to see for ourselves, what it would be like IF I take the elementals with me… and see if anthros really do exist”

 

“Crunch does have a point Coco… however, time travel can be dangerous. So we must be cautious if we are to look into the current future…”

Aku-aku said right after Crunch. And Crunch nodded, along with Coco and Crash, who was still listening to their convocation clearly. All three bandicoots stood up, with the masks still floating around them.

“Whoa man, we’re gonna look into THE FUTURE!? Sweet!”

Rok-ko said, and had a big grin on his face. While everyone else didn’t look as excited as he did.

 

“This isn’t all fun and games you silly mask! Well Crunch, lets head down to my VR-hub! I’ll track down the whereabouts of Dr Nefarious Tropy easily BUT… what should we do when we… encounter him? I don’t think he’ll let us use his time machine THAT easily!”

 

Crunch stood there for a moment and thought. Coco was right, this might not be too easy… and also, he tore off Tropy’s arm last time! So how could this be done? Crunch then said…

 

“Hmm you’re right Coco and err… I don’t think Tropy will like to actually err… see me again too…”

“Huh, how come? You can just use those elemental powers to contain him anyway!”

 

“The elements are not just for fun… they’re only to be used when in real need, and it’s kind of difficult to use them when there isn’t much magic around me and it can even be dangerous too... It was easier during the rein of Crimzon, because she set off a lot of magic around the world… but I’ll still try anyway, better than having to kill Tropy now, heh!”

Crunch said and laughed after his sentence, while Coco looked a little worried and Crash just smiled in a silly way.

 

They climbed down the ladder in the Bandicoot hut, which lead down into the large underground VR-hub. The same one Crunch saw years ago while on his quest to reverse the effects of the Anthro-ray. Coco was working at a large computer, with a big screen and many lights and keypads around. It took several minutes until Coco finally muttered a word…

 

“ok…ok…. AH, gotcha!”

She shouted, while the elemental masks looked at each other blankly. Aku-aku floated over towards Coco,

 

“So, have you managed to track him down?”

“Yes! But, he appears to be in some kind of… air base! High above the seas near Eastern Australia… and he also has a kind of protective shield around it, to avoid it being found by any of the navy, air force, government… and any other kind of air traffic. Quite a smart guy, Tropy is. But my teleporter will send us there so no sweat!”

“Well done Coco, we should all prepare for the teleported now then…”

Aku-aku said after Coco, who gave off a nod. Crash was smiling with excitement, while Crunch still had a determined look on his face… as for the masks, they all had curious expressions, of what was to come next.

 

The portal opened up in the entrance, and Crash stood in front first. Coco gave him the signal and he nodded, and walked through the portal, along with Crunch, all the masks and Coco following behind them.