*Chapter 13: Dino Might and Midnight Run*

Crash, Baby T, and Aku Aku arrived in the prehistoric times, and Baby T looked around the scenery, sniffing the air. He is back home, but he is needed for this timeline. Crash climbed on his back and have the dinosaur move forward down the black river while Aku Aku follows them closely. Crash was not looking forward to be back in this trip after being chased by a triceratops with Coco before, but he had to do this to find two more crystals that are around somewhere. Suddenly, Uka Uka appears in front of Baby T to make him halt and made a growl. Crash and Aku Aku looked over to see the evil mask who glared at them.

"Ah, hello my feeble brother." Uka Uka greeted with a growl towards Aku Aku.

"Uka Uka..."

"It's been too long since we last see each other before you have imprisoned me." Uka Uka said. "So you've been with these marsupials while I was trapped." Aku Aku glared at him. Crash and Baby T are silent the entire time, not daring to make a sound. Crash couldn't look away from Uka Uka's angry gold eyes, and it makes his fur rise a little.

"I've been with Crash ever since the beginning he awakens me from the temple that puts me to slumber because of Dr. Cortex." Aku Aku spoke. "The bandicoots have been under wing, and I took them in as my own."

"Your own?" Uka Uka laughed. "Don't make me laugh, brother! These creatures are mutant monsters! They are nothing like us! And this bandicoot here, is supposed to be the head of Cortex's army, but his brain resisted evil!" Crash narrowed his eyes a little at Uka Uka. Not his fault that his brain is immune to mind control, but he's glad to have that kind of brain. Uka Uka spoke once more. "The world will be ours, my feeble brother. You and your bandicoot friends will be no more!" Then, he vanished in thin air. Baby T whimpered a little, and Crash started to pet his scaly head to calm him. Aku Aku went over to face Crash.

"Don't listen to him, Crash." He said. "I will protect you and everyone from my evil brother. I won't let him harm you in any way." Crash half smiled at him. "Let's get going. We still have much to do." Aku Aku said. Crash nodded and have Baby T move forward. The pterodactyls are flying above them, making noises down at them. Loud rumbling is heard behind Crash and Aku Aku. The bandicoot slowly turned around to see a triceratops roaring at him, Baby T, and Aku Aku. It began to run towards them.

"Yah!" Crash cried out, making Baby T to dash forward to get away from the dinosaur, and Aku Aku follows them.

"Why does this keep happening to us?!" Aku Aku yelled. They run through the bushes and avoid more of those pterodactyls who fly away from them, but one of their wings hits Crash in a face, making him fall off of Baby T. The bandicoot recovered from his fall when the triceratops is getting close to him. Crash acted quicky and ran ahead, trying to catch up with Aku Aku and Baby T who waited for him ahead, but then, one of the pterodactyls grabbed Crash's shoulders and flew up in the air.

"Whoa!" Crash yelped, feeling a strong grip of the dinosaur's feet and feel its claws digging into his shoulders.

"Crash, hang on!" Aku Aku says, flying up to get to the pterodactyl. Baby T let out a roar as he watched. Crash is struggling to get free, wincing in pain as the claws dig into his shoulders. But what Aku Aku noticed is that there's a headset on the pterodactyl. This dinosaur has been mind controlled. "Crash, brace yourself!" Aku Aku said. He uses his rainbow beam to strike the head of the pterodactyl, making him cry out in agony and released Crash. The bandicoot let out a scream, looking down at the black river. Gold aura appears around the male bandicoot, causing him to stop falling. Crash was gently placed down on the back of Baby T who came over in a hurry, and Aku Aku came down to see Crash who let out a sigh of relief.

"Whew!"

"Are you alright, child?" Aku Aku asked. Crash nodded. "Good. It seems like Cortex's minions could mind control the dinosaurs as well. Be on the lookout, Crash. Things won't be easy." Crash gibbered a little at him. Baby T took the bandicoot down the river path to find the crystal and gems. Above the cliffs, there is N. Gin with a remote with a red button.

"You think you got away? Well try to avoid more of these dinos here!" He pressed the button. The roars are heard in thin air, and he let out a laugh.

Coco and Pura appeared in China and see that they are on the Great Wall like before. Coco got on Pura's back and the tiger began to run down the path, dodging the lab assistants that are dressed up. But Coco sees some people in dragon costumes. Pura jumped over them and let out a roar and Coco made a laugh. But the joy dies when Pura ran into a barrel, making Coco fall off of him.

"After them!" A male voice yelled. Coco looked up to see the lab assistants with sticks, slowly approaching her and Pura. The tiger shook his head and see the enemies. He got in front of Coco and let out a growl, extending his claws.

"Pura, no! There's too many of them!" Coco said, climbing on the tiger's back once more. "C'mon, just run pass them!" Before Pura could make a run for it, there's a net coming down on him and Coco. The female bandicoot looked around and see Boyd and N. Trance. Coco glared at them through the net.

"Well, well. Looks like we got ourselves a sister of Crash." Boyd said. "And her little tiger too."

"Good work, Boyd. Now, let us take her to Dr. Cortex and find that crystal." N. Trance said. But Pura let out a roar at them, making them back away from the net. He claws the net while Coco tries to find an opening to escape. "Pin them down!" N. Trance ordered the lab assistants. But Coco got out of the net and see that Pura is still fighting his way in the net, roaring at everyone.

"Pura!" Coco cried out.

"Get her!" Boyd yelled. Two lab assistants started to dart after the female bandicoot, but suddenly, a black horse with a figure on it pushes them away. Coco looked up to see a familiar mutant looking down at her. He is wearing a black top hat, a gold mustache, black glasses, wearing a white straightjacket, and his fur color is blue.

"Come with me if you want to live!" He said in a heavy, English accent. Coco didn't have time to think, so she climbed on the horse and held on the figure. "Onward!" The blue kangaroo commanded the black horse. They run down the wall, getting away from the enemies. Coco held on the straightjacket.

"Wait, what about Pura?!" Coco cried out, looking back to see her pet being held back by a net.

"He won't be harmed." The kangaroo told her. "Trust me, your pet will be fine. Natalie will watch over him at the doctor's lair."

"Huh?"

"I'll explain when we get to safety and find those two crystals! You have to trust me." The kangaroo said before Coco could ask him questions. They continue to run down the Great Wall. Coco is so confused right now. There's something very familiar about this blue kangaroo in a straightjacket... Only one mutant she barely knew could wear a straightjacket. No, it couldn't be...could it?

"Keep running! Don't look back!" Aku Aku shouted as Baby T and Crash run down the dirt path to avoid the pack of triceratops that are chasing them. They are roaring at them. They all have been mind controlled. Aku Aku didn't have enough mojo to stop them all at once, and Crash kept on running with his dinosaur. The bandicoot held two crystals and gems in his arms, trying not to drop them as he ran. He couldn't wait to get out of here. The portal appeared in front of them and Crash jumped in with Baby T, and Aku Aku went inside as well. As the portal disappears, the triceratops pack stopped running and let out roars, making other dinosaurs flee from the sound.

Four crystals have been collected from the timelines that Crash and Coco found, now they have 16 crystals. But what caught Crash by surprise is to see the blue kangaroo with Brio and Coco. Aku Aku recognizes the blue mutant.

"Brio, is that-"

"Why, yes it is." Brio said with a proud smile. "This is Ripper Roo, who is now cured from insanity." The blue kangaroo uses his foot to tip his hat.

"Nice to see you again, my friends." He said. If Crash had water in his mouth, he'd spit it out. Ripper Roo is now...intelligent. "And Crash Bandicoot, it's been...quite some time since we last encountered. I wanted to apologize about what I try to do to you back at the waterfall last time. But when Dr. Brio found me stranded, he put me to therapy and have me read many books. Now, I am made to be a very good doctor." Crash and Aku Aku stared at him for a long time. They are still in shock by this, but at least he won't be able to try to kill them.

"Yeah, I was shocked too." Coco said. "He was snooping around Cortex's lair and met Natalie there. I was almost captured with Pura, but he rescued me, but Pura is now kidnapped."

"Things have gotten complicated now, everyone." Aku Aku said. "We must stay on guard now matter what."