Sorry for the delay! Blame the excess schoolwork, and thank heavens for spring break! You will notice that throughout the story, the point of view will change. First, the chapter might start with a third person point of view (narrator) and then it will switch to first person (Crunch) or vice versa. Disfruten el capítulo, lectores! (TRANSLATION: Enjoy the chapter, readers!)

Cheers

- Dream Instant

Chapter 2: Evolved

The dense jungles of the island hide so many secrets which can only be discovered by someone who visits them. Who knows what kind of animal is hiding behind a bush watching every single step you take? Who knows when is that Venus Fly Trap going to come out of nowhere and try to bite whoever walks past it to satisfy its hunger? Despite these things, no one dares to disturb the peace of any life form in the jungles nor any part of the island. Everyone who resides in these islands has respect for the wildlife, flora and the environment, but of course... there's always an exception...

''This one is perfect.''

The scientist seemed so enthusiastic about his idea. He thought about the future and knew that if he did it, things will turn out like the way he wants them to. That burgundy colored bandicoot that he found roaming around the jungles of the island was the key to success. He couldn't wait to start, so he opened a cage that he brought and knelt on the ground as the bandicoot backed away from him slowly.

''Come on now. Get in'' He said, but the bandicoot didn't move. Desperate to get this over with, he quickly grabbed him before he could run away and locked him inside the cage. ''Don't worry, little one. Once I make a few 'modifications' to you, you'll be just fine.''

The sound of thunder made Cortex jump. It was going to be yet another stormy afternoon, which was no surprise for him because this type of weather is expected sometimes in these islands. He knew he had to go to his castle as soon as possible before it begins to rain.

On a stormy afternoon, the Cortex Castle was silent. Brio was probably working with a bunch of potions and different liquids, and the rest were nowhere to be found. Cortex is probably doing his business with whatever he is up to right now, he thought. He has not seen Cortex in the castle since this morning, which is weird because he always notifies him whenever he's going out and tells him where he is going, but he didn't say a word today. Speaking of Cortex, he has been really busy lately and Brio himself doesn't know why. For some reason, he has been hanging around his lab and the Evolvo-Ray quite a lot. Is he planning something new?

''Oh, this is g-going to turn out g-'' The beaker slipped and fell off his hand, leaving a huge mess on the floor. ''Not again!''

At that moment, Cortex entered the room and Brio noticed him. He hid the beakers and everything else to avoid having to provide explanations.

''Oh, it's you! Wh-where have you been?'' He asked. ''I h-haven't seen you since this m-morning!''

Cortex didn't respond. He smirked at him and left the room. He returned several minutes later with a cage on his hand and he put it on the ground in front of Brio. Brio knelt on the ground to see what Cortex brought in. To his surprise, it was another bandicoot. But, why? Last time he brought in a bandicoot, it ran away and refused to be loyal to him in any kind of way. Who knows if the one he just brought in right now will be different. Brio senses that trouble is coming, but he tried to not think about it.

''As you can see, I have been really busy.''

''C-Cortex? A b-bandicoot?'' He asked.

''Yes! He's going to be a killing machine once I'm done with him'' The confident scientist replied as he stared at the burgundy bandicoot, who stared at him too, frightened. ''Just imagine all the things that we could do.''

''Oh, b-but Cortex. D-Don't you understand? The last th-thing we need is another bandicoot jumping out of a window!''

''None of that is going to happen, Brio. Not this time.''

''Cortex...''

''Is the Evolvo-Ray working?''

''Indeed it is.''

''Well, we have a lot of work to do tonight.''

9:00 PM

Some say that nighttime is a mystery. You never know what will happen during that time. You never know whether or not you will live until morning. At least for a certain someone, it's different, for he doesn't know if he will see the light of the day.

And who was that person? ...

''Come on, Brio! There's no time to waste!''

''Cortex, wait a few minutes. Th-the Evolvo-Ray is not ready yet. We c-can't proceed!''

And Cortex, just like he usually does, paid no heed to what he said. He proceeded and let the laser beam stun the bandicoot's body, which brightness almost blinded him and Brio. To their surprise, nothing happened. The bandicoot looked the same, except that it was breathing heavily from the pain it felt.

''I have never seen something like this before in my life as a scientist!'' Cortex said in shock. ''How is it possible for the Evolvo-Ray to fail at evolving a subject?''

''D-Doctor, you must w-wait a few minutes. It's not ready to be used. Th-that's why n-nothing happened.''

Cortex shook his head and went over to the Evolvo-Ray. Though it seemed risky, he tried again for a second time. Brio noticed what he was doing and instantly panicked.

''YOU'LL KILL HIM!''

Brio spoke too late, because the laser had already been fired by the Evolvo-Ray. When they looked at the bandicoot again, he wasn't an ordinary bandicoot anymore, for he was a humanoid animal with a body so muscular that he could crush a metal wall.

''Oh, my... what have I created?'' Cortex asked himself as he saw the burgundy bandicoot tied to that metal table, astonished by his height.

''A bandicoot w-with super strength'' Brio replied as he examined the bandicoot's information in the computer. ''B-But according to this, he is weak at the moment. Have you got anything in m-mind to regain his st-strength?''

''Of course! With further genetic enhancement, it will be possible to turn him into a killing machine'' He noticed that the humanoid did not open his eyes, which worried both Cortex and Brio because the last thing they needed was yet another failed experiment. ''Is he alive, though? Brio, what kind of trick are you trying to pull?!''

''I-I did nothing. Th-the Evolvo Ray must have c-c-caused this. I w-warned you about it not being ready to b-be used. If you listened to me, n-none of this would have h-happened.''

''Perfect! Another plan ruined!'' The frustrated scientist said, and he went over to take a look at the computer with all of the bandicoot's information. ''Leave him there. He will wake up later. The Evolvo Ray must have sucked all the energy out of him, but on the meanwhile, the computer will monitor his physiological processes. Ever thought of giving him a name?''

''I just kn-knew there was s-something missing! Yes, a n-name! But he's your c-c-creation, so I'll l-leave that to you.''

It was really difficult to think of name. He has had so many creations that he cannot figure out a name for this one. Mash? Crush? No, that's not it. He thought and thought, scratching his chin for a couple of minutes until he finally had a great idea. Brio saw him type away on the computer and looked over his shoulder.

''Well, I suppose you f-finally came up with s-something, eh?''

''Crunch.''

The two scientists went through the subject's information once again, which read:

Name: Crunch Bandicoot

Gender: Male

Age: 24

Species: Bandicoot (Peramelemorphia order)

Abilities: Enhanced strength

Outward appearance: Tall, muscular, burgundy-colored fur

Status: Successfully evolved

Morning hit the island in just a matter of hours. You'd be surprised by how quiet it is out there. The morning is always peaceful, but only in Cortex Island you can hear the voices of many individuals planning their malignant schemes, slowly scaring away the peace and harmony with their threats...

Crunch's P.O.V

I was lying on that metal table, slowly regaining consciousness after being zapped by the Evolvo Ray. I opened my eyes a little and saw three individuals looking at me, but I didn't even know who they were. I didn't know where I was and why was I taken here. All I remembered was being taken by a yellow-skinned man to this lab trapped inside a cage, and after that, him and someone who was probably his assistant strapped me to a metal table. The pain was inevitable and so was the torture I went through, but I was forced to stay there until some laser beam zapped my entire body. Then, it's suddenly morning and I'm here strapped to the same metal table from the night before. That's all I could remember. Don't ask me about anything regarding my life before being taken out of the jungle, because I have zero recollection.

Wait... something is not right, I thought to myself. I was doing things that I never thought I could do before. I could think like a human, I felt like a human, and I understood every single word these three people that were there with me said. How was that even possible? Was I turned into a human? Although it looked like it, I wasn't. To confirm that, I looked at my arms to find that my fur was still present and even noticed that my muzzle was still there, so it's safe to say that I was still a bandicoot. However, I noticed that my body was muscular and had this human-like shape. Once again, I asked myself what in the world was going on with me.

''Is he waking up?'' The crocodile and dingo crossover asked.

''Shhhh! Speak lower, you idiot!'' Replied the koala. Not knowing him that much, I automatically thought he was annoying. Also, there was this weird blue kangaroo with us that didn't say anything. All he did was laugh, which I assumed it was his 'language'.

''Dingodile, Koala Kong. Get out!'' The scientist entered the room, and the three turned around to see him. ''And please take Ripper Roo with you. I just don't want you three messing something up. As for Brio, we have a lot of things to do.''

After they finished fooling around for a while, they left. It was just me, Brio, and Cortex. I was scared to say the least because I was thinking that they were going to do something else to make me suffer. After what happened the day before, the last thing I needed was more trouble. The first thing they did was untie me and make me sit, which was great because it meant that I wasn't going to suffer anymore.

''So, my newest creation ... you finally woke up from your beauty sleep'' His creation? This guy was out of his mind, I thought. ''First of all, let me introduce myself. I'm Dr. Neo Cortex, your master and evil scientist.''

''M-Master? I don't know what you're talking about'' Wait, I can talk? I was surprised by the fact that I said a complete sentence.

''Let me show you'' He held out a mirror, and I saw my reflection on it. I now understood everything that was going on with me, but was that it? Can I return home now? Or am I trapped in here forever?

''I... I have to go now'' I stood up from there and walked towards the door, but two of his lab assistants didn't let me through.

''Where do you think you're going? You just got here.''

''Home.''

''You are home, and you'll be here for a long time to help me achieve world domination.''

Was he going to leave me here? That was a big no for me because I value my own freedom, and this is not freedom. He doesn't deserve my help nor assistance for whatever he is up to. I was so furious that I punched the two lab assistants and broke the door with my own fists. Then, I made a run for it. I did not stop to wonder why I was so strong because others things were more important to me at that moment, but I still couldn't believe that I had this ability. I ran down stairs, but then I was out of luck once I saw a lot of lab assistants blocking my way. I turned around, and Cortex was there with Brio and more lab assistants. There was nowhere to run. I was doomed. The only thing I saw was a window that I could jump out of, which was a fantastic idea to me. Could I swim, though? I didn't think so, but I had to try because I had no other choice.

''What are you thinking?'' Cortex asked. ''Oh, don't tell me! I already know! You're going to jump out there just like someone else did a few years ago!''

''What if I am?'' I replied.

''Go ahead. You'll just drown and die anyway because I didn't give you the ability to swim! Plus, no one is out there to help you!"

I didn't care to be honest. I just wanted to get out of there even if I had to risk my life. Cortex could torture me, chain me, and even lock me in a cage, but there's no stopping me. I took a few steps back to pick up speed to run and jump out, breathing the fresh air coming from outside. How desperate I was to see something else rather than four castle walls.

One, two, three...

I could have escaped. I could have made a run for it once I counted to three and jumped, but there I was again inside that lab, waking up after getting shot with what I thought was a tranquilizer. Cortex was there too with his minions and with Uka Uka, and they just stared at me like I did something wrong.

''You refuse to be loyal to me, huh? That's not a good action you're taking as the leader of my army, which is right here standing before you'' Cortex said. ''I'm disappointed.''

''Heh, heh, heh... Doctor, this guy isn't going to last that long'' N. Gin said, and I actually agreed with him. Maybe I wasn't going to last that long here because death was closer than ever for me. Heck, I wasn't even sure at that moment if I was going to be alive by tomorrow. ''Give up on him.''

''Nonsense'' The evil voodoo mask spoke out. ''Cortex, Brio. You will work with him as I say, and I will make sure that you do it right!''

Then, he turned his attention to me. ''And you, Crunch... save your energy for later. Soon, you will be facing a real adversary!''