*Chapter 1: A Surprise Confrontation*
Somewhere in Wumpa Island, two bandicoots are relaxing in the jungle. Crash was snoozing on the ground while Coco was typing away on her pink laptop. The stickers on the laptop are a flower, and a Naughty Dog logo with a red paw print between the words. Crash was snoring softly, dreaming about Wumpa fruits, and it makes him having his tongue out. Coco was typing something on her laptop, but then, her screen went black all of a sudden.
"Oh no!" She wailed. She pressed her keyboards, trying to get her laptop to turn back on, but to no avail. She turned to her sleeping brother. "Crash? Crash? Crash!" She shook him awake. Crash woke up, bringing his tongue in, looking up at Coco. He rolled to his side, yawning. "My battery is fried." Coco said, pointing at her laptop. "Make yourself useful, big brother. Bring an extra battery for me, please." Crash gave her a pouty look and roll back, trying to go back to sleep. Coco sighed a bit. "C'mon, Crash. If you give me the battery, I'll give you tons of Wumpa fruit I could find." She said. That made Crash get up quickly and salute to his sister. He ran down to the jungle to get to the house. Coco laughed a little. "Silly bandicoot."
Crash walked down the path, listening to the singing birds around him, butterflies fly across from his face. The bandicoot sure loved this type of life. Sure it's been a year since he lived here with his sister and close friend/father figure, Aku Aku, but he just loved it. He had everything he wanted. Eat, sleep, and live the life. Crash let out another yawn, stretching out his arms, and crack his neck. At least the house is only a block away. He'll just have to fetch a battery for Coco, and back to dreamland. As he was walking, he noticed something that wasn't there before. Four pillars around the floor and there is gold dust flying around. Crash didn't recall that being there, but he's so curious he walked up to it. As he took a few steps, he started to fade away with gold dust.
"Whoa!" He cried out as he is fading away in thin air. And everything turned white, making him blind. As soon as he's gone, the pillars have disappeared.
Crash appeared in a dark room with five doors. The bandicoot groaned, feeling lightheaded after being materialized. He looked around in shock. He looked at the doors with blue swirls inside that could lead somewhere. Crash ran around the room and see no way out besides the doors, but he doesn't know which one could lead him back home. His sister could be worried about him. Before he could wonder to himself, something came down, whirring a bit. A small floating machine. Then, a hologram appeared of someone Crash thought he never see again. Dr. Neo Cortex.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Crash Bandicoot...welcome." He spoke, smiling generously at him. Crash scratched his head in shock and confusion. He doesn't know what to think. "I apologize with the crude meanings of bringing you here, but I would have expected a written invitation to be turned down." Cortex spoke. Crash cocked his head to the side. Cortex spoke again. "I need your help."
"Huh?"
"Surrounding you are a series of five doors. Through each door lies a way a hidden crystal." Cortex shows a hologram of a purple crystal. Crash gasped at the image of it. "The crystal's look like this one here. Bring me the crystals, Crash. That is all I will say for now. We will speak again." The image of him and the crystal disappeared, leaving Crash so speechless.
Why does Cortex need the crystals for? And why would he want Crash to help him? After a whole year, Cortex needs help. Something must've happened. Crash doesn't know what to do. If only Aku Aku were here to help him with this. He'll know what to do. But Crash is on his own. He turned back to the first door. There are vines around the doorway. The bandicoot cautiously jumped through the blue swirly entrance and disappeared.
The ancient mask is floating around the jungles. Aku Aku then senses something around him. Gold dust appears behind him and he turned around to see Crash appearing before him. Crash held his head, stumbled backwards, feeling dizzy.
"Crash? Where did you come from? What happened?" Aku Aku asked in shock. Crash gibbered a little at him, trying to tell him about Cortex. Aku Aku tried to understand, but sees that Crash is acting all evil by making an evil laughter and uses his fingers and thumbs to make guns. "You mean to tell me that Dr. Cortex is alive? But, how could that be?" Aku Aku asked. Crash only shrugged. "What is he up to now?" Aku Aku wondered. Crash grabbed a stick and draw on the ground for giving the mask an answer. Aku Aku watched Crash's drawing. It's a shape of a crystal. Not really a good drawing because it's in the ground. "Power Crystals." Aku Aku said. "Those are the most powerful crystals in history. Why does Cortex need them for? He could use them to destroy the world. He is finishing what he started." Crash shook his head at him. He is pointing to himself, then at the crystal, gibbering some more. Then, he started to run down to the jungle. Aku Aku had to follow him to know what is going on. If they run into Cortex, Aku Aku will have to speak with him.
Crash doesn't recognize any parts of this jungle. He probably never been to these parts or never noticed. Of course, everything around him is peaceful and quiet. He would love to take a nap, but now's not the time. He must look for the crystals. And there is one somewhere around here. As he walked down the dirt path, he sees turtles with saws on their shells. Now that is strange.
"Hmm..." Crash mumbled. He just walk pass them, being very careful about their dangerous shells. Then he sees a pink vulture with some machinery on his head. It charges down at him and Crash avoided it by jumping over it and ran down the path.
"Something isn't right, Crash. These animals don't look or act normal." Aku Aku said. Crash nodded in agreement. They continue down the path, seeing more animals. Crash jumped over the pits, avoiding more of those vultures, and collect some Wumpa fruit for this adventure. "Crash, look." Aku Aku said, looking ahead of him. Crash looked up to see a Power Crystal floating above the branch of a tree. Crash smiled and ran up to a tree to climb. Aku Aku is below to watch his friend climb on the tree, reaching for a branch. Crash climbed on the branch and slowly crawled his way towards the crystal. He reaches for it with one hand. He got a little closer and wrap his fingers around the crystal. Then, the branch snapped and Crash fell.
"Whoa!" He yelped and land on his stomach, dropping the crystal. Aku Aku came over to him.
"Crash! Are you alright?" He asked. Crash got up and nodded, smiling away. He picked up the crystal and see his own reflection.
"Ooohhhhh..." Crash cooed. He felt so hypnotized by staring at the beautiful treasure. He's never seen anything like it.
"Now that we have found it, where did you meet-" Aku Aku was cut off when the crystal in Crash's disappeared in dust. Crash got dumbfounded by this action. Then, gold dust appeared around him and Aku Aku. "What's happening?" Aku Aku asked. They both fade away in the middle of the jungle.
Crash and Aku Aku appeared in the dark room and a hologram of Cortex appeared, smiling down at the bandicoot.
"Well done, Crash! I knew I could count on you." He said. His smile faded when he took a notice of Aku Aku floating above Crash's shoulder. "And what is your wooden friend doing here?" He asked in a rude tone. Aku Aku ignored it.
"Crash appeared in the jungle and I found him there. And he is mentioning about you and the crystals." He said with a glare. "What are you really up to, Cortex? And why do you need Crash to gather the crystals for you?"
"I have made a horrifying discovery." Cortex said. "I have come across a force that threatens to completely destroy the planet." Aku Aku raised a brow at him. Cortex sighed a bit. "I know what you are thinking, Aku Aku. You wanted to proof. Look, see for yourself. Same goes for you, Crash." Images of papers appear around the hologram of Cortex. Aku Aku took a good look at the papers while Crash is eating a Wumpa fruit. "If you really care for this planet, you would help me. Go along with Crash to find me those crystals. You both have 24 left to find around." Cortex spoke. Aku Aku took another moment to see the paper work, making sure it checks out. He returned back by Crash's side.
"This is a lot to take in, Cortex. If you are willing to save the planet with those Power Crystals, we can help." He said. "Right, Crash?" The bandicoot finished his fruit and look up at the hologram of Cortex who looks very sincere. He nodded at him. Cortex formed a smile. Crash couldn't find a smirk or evil on his face at all. Maybe he's serious about saving the world after all.
"Thank you, Crash! Oh, if you collect all of the crystals, I will reward you for you acts of heroism." He said. Crash grinned at him. "We will speak again when you get further in your progress." The hologram disappeared, leaving Crash and Aku Aku in the warp room.
"Cortex must have a change of heart after we defeated him." Aku Aku said. Crash walked over to the second door. The doorway is covered in snow and ice. He wasted no time but to jump in the warp hole.
