Penny hummed to herself while she cleaned the dishes, she didn't mind doing such a menial task but what she did mind was her long maroon hair that was constantly getting in the way. Tying her hair would've been the first thing she could've done but she was so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot to do so. In a feeble attempt to move the hair from her face she flicks her bangs to the side with a quick movement. It only lasted for a couple of seconds before falling back to her face, she sighs in defeat.
As she was about to resume cleaning when she felt a light tap on her shoulder which made her look over her shoulder to meet a pair of kind emerald eyes: it was Crash. He raised his brow quizzically at her where he gestured to her hair. It took Penny a moment to understand until it finally clicked.
"Oh, you mean my hair?" He nods in response as Penny sends him a sheepish smile. "Ah, well, I forgot to tie it up before cleaning the dishes and now it's kinda getting in the way."
The next thing she knew Crash moved to stand behind her and began to comb her hair with his fingers. She froze realizing how awfully close he was as his fingers continued to work on her hair.
Crash tied off the ends of her hair with a small hair tie where he excitedly gestured at his finished creation. "Buu-baa-raa-daa!"
Penny wiped her hand dry to move her hair to see which was beautifully made into a long single braid. She stared at Crash through wide eyes and struggled to form a proper sentence.
"Wait–how did you do? This is–" Penny's eyes went back and forth between her braided hair and Crash. "Since when did you learn how to do this?"
Crash simply shrugged, but she was still in disbelief. "You have to teach me how you do it!"
Penny watches as he approaches to stand beside her and begins to wash the many plates that were piled up in the sink.
She was taken aback and placed her dried hand on his arm. "Wait, Crash, I'm in charge of cleaning this, you don't have to do it."
He looks over to meet her lovely ashen eyes, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. With the way he looked at her as if to say, It's fine, let me help.
Her mouth hung open slightly, but no words came out. Her wide eyes, filled with disbelief, staring at him for what seemed like forever. It was as if the air had been sucked out of her lungs, leaving her in stunned silence, unable to speak or react. Then she felt her cheeks burn as she averted her gaze towards the sink.
"Alright, you can help, but just this once!" She said with a teasing smile. His chuckle filled the room as she grabbed a sponge and started washing the dishes, her playful mood making the task feel a little lighter.
In no time, Penny was able to finish her tasks much quicker with Crash's help. After drying the last dish, she began putting the plates away in their cabinets. The ones she could easily reach were no problem, but the floating cabinet above her? That was a different story. The last time she attempted to store plates up there, she'd almost taken a nasty fall. Thankfully, Crash had caught her just in time before she hit the ground. If it weren't for him, she could have seriously hurt herself.
"There, all done!" Penny clapped her hands together, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she admired their handiwork. She turned to Crash, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Thank you, Crash, for helping me."
Crash waved his hand and muttered his usual gibberish words, indicating that he was happy to help. Penny's heart fluttered, and she couldn't help but smile a little wider.
Their moment was soon interrupted by Aku-Aku, who floated towards them. "Ah, I see you're done with your tasks for the day, Penny."
Penny exchanged a knowing look with Crash before turning back to Aku-Aku. "I had a little help," she admitted with a playful grin.
Aku-Aku's expression showed genuine surprise, as if he hadn't expected Crash to assist her. But instead of commenting, he simply nodded. "Oh, well in that case, there's something I want to show you."
Penny's ears perked up with curiosity as Aku-Aku motioned for her to follow him. As she walked over to stand beside him, Crash tried to follow along as well. But Aku-Aku stopped him in his tracks. "Ah, ah, ah, you stay here, Crash. I'll be showing Penny how to navigate the island on her own."
Crash's ears drooped immediately, his eyes widening into a classic puppy-dog face. Penny felt her heart tighten with guilt as she looked at his sad expression. She walked over and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "It's okay, Crash. Aku-Aku will be watching over me, and we'll be back before the sun goes down, right, Aku?"
Aku-Aku nodded. "It'll only take an hour or two."
Crash let out a dramatic whine, clearly not happy about being left behind. But he didn't make a fuss, simply pouting as he watched them prepare to leave. Penny felt bad leaving him behind, but she trusted Aku-Aku's guidance.
As Penny and Aku-Aku walked side by side down the forest path, she couldn't help but glance back at the house one last time. Just before they disappeared over the hill, Penny turned and waved enthusiastically at Crash, her smile wide and bright. Crash's mood instantly lifted, his ears perking up as he waved back, watching them until they were out of sight.
The simple gesture had brightened his spirits, and Penny couldn't help but feel reassured knowing that no matter where she went, Crash would always be there, waiting for her return.
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As Penny and Aku-Aku walked through familiar areas of the island, Aku-Aku began explaining the geography. He told her that the island they were on was part of an archipelago, one of three islands. Penny's eyes lit up with excitement. "Three islands? That's amazing! I'd love to visit them one day!" she exclaimed eagerly.
Aku-Aku didn't dismiss the idea but spoke cautiously. "It's possible, but traveling between the islands is difficult without proper transportation. Coco's jetski isn't safe enough for such a journey, and I wouldn't want to risk your safety just to explore another island. There will be a time for that."
Penny nodded, though a little disappointed. She knew Aku-Aku was right, and she trusted his judgment. Sensing the shift in her mood, Aku-Aku smoothly transitioned into another subject, mentioning the island's other inhabitants: the tribesmen.
"Tribesmen? You mean there are other people living on this island? How come we haven't met them?" Penny asked, intrigued. However, she noticed Aku-Aku's expression shifted slightly into annoyance, something she rarely saw in him.
"Yes, there are tribesmen," Aku-Aku confirmed. "But they're not too fond of us, after Crash defeated their leader, Papu Papu a long time ago. For your own safety, I strongly advise you never to cross the river that separates the jungle from N. Sanity Peak, which is where they reside."
The gravity in his voice made Penny realize how serious the warning was, and she nodded silently. "I understand, I won't go near there," she promised.
Continuing their walk, Aku-Aku eventually led her to the edge of the jungle where the trees parted, revealing a breathtaking sight—an open beach. The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, and instead of dirt beneath their feet, the ground became soft and sandy. Penny's eyes widened in wonder.
"What is this?" she asked, stepping forward, her feet sinking slightly into the warm sand. She gasped in delight, her surprise and joy palpable. It was the first time she'd ever seen anything like it.
Aku-Aku watched her with a warm smile, enjoying her innocent reaction. "This," he said, "is called a beach. What you're stepping on is sand—very fine, granulated minerals. And that," he gestured toward the vast expanse of blue water in front of them, "is the ocean. It's an endless body of water that covers about 71 percent of the Earth's surface."
Penny stood there, awestruck by the beauty of it all. "It's... incredible," she whispered, taking a few more steps forward, mesmerized by the way the sand shifted under her feet and the sound of the waves.
Aku-Aku chuckled softly. "It is indeed. The ocean has many wonders, but it's important to respect its power. You can admire it from here, but be careful not to wander too far into the water."
Penny nodded, her eyes still fixed on the shimmering horizon. This new world was filled with surprises, and the more she explored, the more she wanted to learn about everything it had to offer.
Penny turned to Aku-Aku with wide, curious eyes. "Is it safe to put my feet in the water?"
Aku-Aku confirmed with a hum and a gentle warning. "It's safe, but be mindful not to go too far in. The currents can be unpredictable. I'd suggest staying within ankle depth."
Her excitement bubbled up at his approval. Quickly, she removed her white sneakers, letting them rest on the sand as she wiggled her toes, feeling the warmth of the grains beneath her feet. A soft giggle escaped her lips—it was a new sensation, one that made her feel connected to the earth beneath her.
With eager steps, Penny made her way toward the water's edge. As her feet dipped into the shallow, crystal-clear water, she braced herself for the cold, expecting it to be like the lake she'd seen earlier. But to her pleasant surprise, the ocean's touch was cool but comfortable, soothing against her fur. She let out a sigh of contentment, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a while.
"This feels amazing," she whispered, staring out at the endless expanse of blue. Penny was mesmerized by the contrast between the warm sand and the cool water, enjoying the moment as she stood there, letting the waves lap gently at her ankles.
"At night, the ocean looks just as breathtaking," Aku-Aku commented softly, floating beside her, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sky met the vast sea.
"Really?" Penny's eyes sparkled with excitement, the thought of the ocean transforming under the night sky filling her with curiosity.
Aku-Aku nodded. "Yes, and on rare occasions, you can witness glowing jellyfish migrating together towards the east side of the island. It's a beautiful sight." He sighed lightly, mumbling almost to himself, "It's a shame the others don't share your interest."
Penny smiled warmly up at him. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask them! We could all enjoy it together. Maybe even swim with the jellyfish."
Aku-Aku chuckled at her optimism. "I admire your enthusiasm, but I'd advise against touching their tentacles—they sting, and it's quite an unpleasant experience."
Penny's fox-like ears drooped slightly, but she refused to let the warning dampen her spirits. Sensing her disappointment, Aku-Aku added, "However, their heads are safe to touch. I've heard it's like touching soft rubber."
Her ears perked back up as a playful smile spread across her face. "I'm getting mixed messages here, Aku. So, do I touch them or not?" she laughed, her teasing tone contagious as Aku-Aku joined in with a hearty chuckle.
"Only the parts that won't sting," he said, his voice light with amusement. Penny's laughter blended with the sound of the waves, and for a moment, the worries of the world seemed far away.
True to his word, Aku-Aku guided Penny back to the jungle just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Penny walked beside him, her sneakers dangling in one hand and a makeshift leaf bag filled to the brim with seashells in the other. She was excited to show Crash and Coco her collection.
As they neared the house, Crash was outside, preoccupied with performing intricate tricks with his yo-yo. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice them approaching. Penny, eager to get his attention, suddenly shouted, "Crash!"
Her voice startled him, causing him to lose focus. He looked up, grinning and waving enthusiastically, but the distraction caused the yo-yo string to wrap around him rapidly. Within seconds, Crash was entangled, frantically trying to free himself, only to stumble and fall flat on his back in a comical display.
Aku-Aku sighed, shaking his head. "Oh, Crash."
Without hesitation, Penny rushed over, setting aside her sneakers and seashell bag, kneeling beside Crash. "Wait—hold on, Crash. I need you to hold still," she instructed, her tone both gentle and firm.
Crash immediately froze, his eyes wide as Penny began carefully untangling the string from his limbs. As she worked, Crash silently watched her, his gaze softening with every passing second. There was something in the way she concentrated, her hands working with delicate precision, that captivated him. He barely noticed when she freed the last of the string from his arm.
"There, all done!" Penny announced, neatly tucking the string back into the yo-yo. "You should really be careful with this. The string is dense and could leave a nasty burn on your fur." She finally looked up at Crash, expecting some kind of response.
Instead, she was met with the sight of him staring at her, his eyes half-lidded, a lopsided, dreamy smile plastered across his face. Crash looked completely lost in his own world, and Penny, oblivious to his gaze, tilted her head in confusion.
"Crash, were you even listening?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Crash shook his head sheepishly, still smiling, clearly unaware of the spell he was under. Meanwhile, Aku-Aku watched the whole scene unfold, his wooden face unreadable, but deep down, he couldn't help but acknowledge the growing bond between the two. Crash, despite his usual oblivious nature, seemed to be falling for Penny, and even Aku-Aku had to admit that this connection felt different—more genuine than anything he'd seen before.
"I guess I'll have to repeat myself later," Penny said with a laugh, standing up and offering a hand to help Crash to his feet. And as she helped him up, Crash's grin widened, his heart undeniably warming to the girl who seemed to brighten every part of his world.
Aku-Aku floated nearby, observing as Penny eagerly showed off the seashells she had collected at the beach. She held up each shell to Crash, her eyes bright with excitement as she pointed out her favorites. "Look at this one! It's shaped like a spiral," she said, turning the shell in her hand to catch the light. "And this one has little ridges, it's so smooth!"
Crash, however, wasn't paying much attention to the shells themselves. His focus was entirely on Penny. His eyes followed her every movement, a soft smile playing on his lips. Every time she laughed or got excited about another shell, his smile grew a little wider. He nodded enthusiastically whenever she asked for his opinion, but it was clear to Aku-Aku that Crash wasn't really taking in the details of the seashells—he was far more fascinated by the girl showing them to him.
Aku-Aku couldn't help but shake his head slightly, though a fond smile tugged at his wooden features. It was becoming more and more obvious that Crash had developed strong feelings for Penny. And while Penny seemed blissfully unaware of Crash's attention, there was a warmth between them that Aku-Aku couldn't deny. Watching their easy, joyful interaction, he felt reassured that, despite the strange circumstances that brought Penny to their island, she had found a place in their lives—and perhaps in Crash's heart as well.