So... it's been more than a week, I think? I don't know. It has been a while since I updated, which it sucks because I really want to be fast with chapters, but I can't because of school stress. *sigh* Hopefully this will all be over soon. I have to plan chapter 15 and that will take me a while too. So many things to do in such little time. Anyways, enjoy!
Cheers.
Dream Instant.
Chapter 14: Native Village frenzy
The orange bandicoot sprinted as quick as he could through the jungles of N. Sanity Island to get away from those brainwashed individuals. With lots of trees and plants on the way, it was almost impossible to go faster even if Crash left them and Cortex behind a long time ago. He accidentally tripped and fell forwards to the ground.
''Ugh...'' He grunted and got up from the ground. ''Did we lost them?''
''Indeed'' The witch doctor mask replied. ''I don't know where Cortex went after that. I also can't tell you where is the crystal that he took.''
''Well, this is just great! We lost the crystal and we don't know where it is. Might as well forget about it.''
''No, Crash. That's not the best thing to do. If Cortex gets away with the crystals, he will use it to do no good with his Mind Control Ray. Just look to the front.''
''I see a wooden wall... what's it gonna do?''
''It means that we're close to Native Village, Crash. Remember? I have a feeling that there is a crystal inside there. Cortex must have gave one crystal that he found to the Natives in order to keep it safe. He knows that you won't stand a chance against them, so he was wise enough to make them keep it.''
''Wait, you're saying that I have to... go in there? No way! I'm not going to be crushed by angry Natives again! Especially evil Natives.''
''You have gone through this a lot of times. Just-''
The sound of leaves rustling interrupted Aku Aku. They hoped that it wasn't any of the bad guys because they have had enough trouble.
''Great, what now?''
''Let me listen, Crash'' The witch doctor mask silenced him. ''I think it's coming from up there.''
''Do you see something?'' A mysterious female voice said.
''Nope. He's not there. All I see is tribesmen doing a ritual'' Another mysterious voice said. ''Uh-oh... I think I'm to fall!''
''Don't move, you idiot! You'll make me fall too! Remember what I- AHHHHHH!''
A tree branch broke, causing the two individuals to fall off. Crash felt surprised to see Heather and Chris here on N. Sanity Island. He doesn't know what brought them here and why were they up there, but they shouldn't be here because it is too hazardous. The orange bandicoot chuckled as he looked at them lying on the ground.
''I suppose you're gonna kill me now, Heather?'' The light brown bandicoot said as sat up on the ground and pulled a leaf out of his ear.
''Ugh'' She grunted and sat up on the ground. ''At least I landed on grass and not hard ground, or else I would have killed you...''
''Heather? Chris?''
The two marsupials looked up to see Crash and his guardian mask there. The surprise made them get up from the ground quickly.
''Crash?''
''Chris?''
''Crash?''
''Heather?!''
''Aku Aku?!''
''Crash?!''
''Chris?!''
''Heather?!''
''Crash?!''
''OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH!'' The orange bandicoot silenced them. ''What were you... doing up there?''
''A better question would be, why are you two here?'' Aku Aku asked. ''I told you to stay home, my children. It is too dangerous and I don't want anything bad happening to you.''
''But, you don't understand, Aku! We had to come here.''
''Why so?''
''Because I'm looking for my brother. Something tells me that he's here close to me and we were just up there trying to see if he was inside Native Village.''
The orange bandicoot looked at her strange. ''You really think so?''
''Yes. I know it sounds crazy, but it's real. Please, Aku Aku and Crash, you've got to believe us'' Chris said. ''We've been a searching him for hours and we've found nothing.''
''I see that you two have hope and I understand that'' The witch doctor mask replied. ''You may continue looking for him if you do believe that he's here, but just be careful. On the meanwhile, Crash and I will be stopping Cortex.''
''Oh, yeah! Speaking of Cortex, here's a little something we got from N. Gin...'' He tossed a power crystal over to Crash.
''Bingo! The power crystal that we lost. Now I just have to get in there while angry Natives try to hit me hit their spears! Goodie!''
''Look, Crash. I explored this island a long time ago and one thing I learned is that these tribesmen don't hate people or anything like that. They're just overprotective of their territory and if they believe that someone enters there to cause trouble, they'll try to kill you of course.''
''So, if they throw spears at me, it is just for their protection and to defend themselves? That's great!'' Crash said, jokingly. ''Well, I might just have to prove them that I'm no harm and they'll leave me alone.''
''Exactly. So, ummm...'' The brown bandicoot girl looked at the wooden wall. ''Who wants to go in first?''
The orange bandicoot gulped and walked slowly over to Native Village. He looked at his guardian mask and at his two friends, but they told him to keep moving.
''HALT! Who goes there?!''
Crash's heart jumped and he backed away a little. ''Who's there?! Who said that?!''
''Crash! Heather! Chris! Don't make one single sound!'' Aku Aku ordered.
The crew stood there silent until the mysterious person revealed himself. A Native appeared out of nowhere with a spear on his hand. He looked like he was in his mid-20's and was wearing a green skirt and had red face paint. He also had a bowl haircut.
''Who are you to enter our home?'' The brainwashed Native said. ''No visitor shall pass unless they demonstrate that they come in peace!''
Crash didn't say anything because he didn't want to anger him more. He feared that he might call the other tribesmen to make things even more serious if they said something. Neverthless, Aku Aku spoke to let him know that they are no harm.
''Tell your leader, Papu Papu, that we come in peace and please let us through.''
''SILENCE!'' The tribesman snarled. ''You think that I am going to believe that you, floating witch doctor mask and your furry friends are not here to disturb our peace? Turn around and leave!''
At this point, they couldn't do anything because he was just another Native that was brainwashed by the Mind Control Ray and got trapped inside this world of evil where he couldn't see who or what was good. He lifted his spear to attack them and the orange bandicoot did his spin attack on him to defend himself, leaving him lying on the floor unconscious. Of course, it was not the best thing to do, but there was no other choice. The crew gathered in a circle around him to check if he was okay.
''Is he okay? I hope I didn't harm him that much'' Crash said. ''Heather, I hope you've read books on reviving people.''
''Crash... what did you... do?'' The brown bandicoot girl asked. ''The whole point of this is to not attack any brainwashed individual that you run into. We're here to save them, not harm them!''
''Sorry, Heather. Shame on me for being so heartless'' The orange bandicoot said, sarcastically. ''Okay, what you said is true, but I really had no other choice.''
''He's okay. I might be able to cure him with my powers. Just don't do it again, Crash'' Aku Aku used his power to help the Native wake up. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes a little and groaned. He could see the faces of three marsupials and a witch doctor mask. ''All done. He's getting up.''
''Well, it looks like my spin attack worked. He's a good guy again'' Crash chuckled. ''Better start doing my spin attack on everyone that is brainwashed, then.''
''Ugh... wh-what happened?'' He groaned as he sat up on the ground. ''I felt like I was not myself and that something took control of me... now I'm back to normal.''
''You're okay. Here, I'll help you up'' The light brown bandicoot grabbed his hand and helped him get up from the ground. ''May I ask who are you?''
''I'm Hawk. I assist the leader, Papu Papu, in his things and when he's not around, I take over as the leader for the purpose of helping him'' The Native replied as he grabbed his spear from the ground. ''Sorry for trying to harm you earlier.''
''It's not your fault. It is Cortex who is to blame, but thanks to him, you're back to normal'' Aku Aku said, referring to Crash. The orange bandicoot smiled nervously at him in response. ''You were brainwashed by the Mind Control Ray.''
''Thank you for saving me, Crash Bandicoot'' Hawk replied. ''Cortex... oh, what a terrible person! I saw how he turned every one of my crew into these evildoers. I'm counting on you to stop this once and for all like you've done in the past years.''
''Everything will be back to normal hopefully. You can count on me. Although, I still don't know the whole purpose of that huge tower with an N on it up there.''
''Perhaps you should worry about what's inside that tower.''
''I have no clue, Hawk.''
''That's not just a tower, bandicoot. It's a place where Cortex is keeping the island inhabitants that were immune to the Mind Control Ray, or the ones who failed to become brainwashed by it. They were locked inside there to avoid anything fishy going on and someone has to free them.''
''How is it possible? Wasn't the Mind Control Ray super effective? What will happen to them?''
''That's just another failed invention by Cortex. A huge half got brainwashed and a small number of people didn't for some reason. I don't know what will Cortex do to them, but you must go there and see.''
Crash sighed. ''Yeah, if only I could find the other crystal somehow. It's four out of seven crystals and I still need the other three.''
''Power crystal?'' Hawk asked. ''I saw our leader walking around with this shining purple power crystal. If that's what you're looking for, then I suggest that you go in there and get it from him. I can help you.''
''That's okay, but it's not going to be very-''
Suddenly, the voices of evil Natives could be heard. The brown bandicoot girl looked over Hawk's shoulder and saw a group of Natives with spears and shields running towards them to possibly attack them. She tried to speak to let the crew know, but she was so nervous that all she could do was point at them and stutter. Crash, Chris, Aku Aku and Hawk noticed them.
''They're here!'' Hawk exclaimed. ''Run and hide inside a hut if you can!''
The orange bandicoot ran away with Aku Aku to avoid trouble, however, Heather and Chris were left behind. They tried to run away from them, but the Natives started throwing spears at them. Luckily, no one got hurt, but the two marsupial friends had nowhere to run anymore because the Natives surrounded them. Hawk just looked at them, wanting to do something to help, but he couldn't because he feared that his fellow tribesmen would punish him for helping them and for being on their side.
''Oh, h-hey Natives! Anyone want to play a good ol' game of Monopoly? No?'' The light brown bandicoot chuckled nervously at them. One of the Natives shouted something in their Native language and soon, all of them lifted their spears up. ''Or you can kill me...''
Meanwhile, Crash was still running away even though the Natives weren't chasing him anymore because they caught Heather and Chris. He looked behind him and decided to stop when he noticed that they were not there.
''Wait a minute...'' He looked around. ''Where's Chris? And where's Heather?''
''I thought they were following us the whole time'' The guardian mask worried. ''Are you thinking what I'm thinking?''
''Oh, no! Come on! We need to go back and save them!''
The brainwashed Natives were grabbing Heather and Chris to put them inside a cage. They struggled to break free, but they were too strong. Soon, the brown bandicoot girl was trapped inside a cage while her friend was still fighting to break free to save her. Hawk stood there, watching everything and wanting to save them, but he just couldn't.
''Help!'' The brown bandicootess cried. ''Ow! Hey buddy, watch the tail!''
''Don't worry, Heather! I'll-'' A Native pushed him with his spear, making him fall forward. Other Natives dragged him over to the cage and locked him inside there.
''CHRIS! Are you okay?!''
Crash and Aku Aku showed up to look for them, but they were too late. By the time they arrived, the Natives were running away with them locked inside a cage. The orange bandicoot's eyes grew wide open at the sight of his friends getting kidnapped by the brainwashed tribesmen. He saw Hawk standing there with his head lowered and looked like he did something that he regretted.
''Heather! Chris! Oh, no! Hawk, why didn't you do something? Why did you just let them take them?''
''I had no choice, my brave hero, for I could not do anything. If I dared to say something or make a move, they will punish me for siding with your marsupial friends'' The Native sighed. ''It is all my fault. I know it is. But how can you control someone who has no control over themselves because they are lost in this world of evil inside their mind?''
Crash felt bad for Hawk. Maybe he was a little too harsh on him. He decided to console him and to let him know that he is not to blame. ''You're right, Hawk. I understand. Maybe not getting involved in that was the best thing you could do because I wouldn't have you now if it wasn't for that.''
''Don't start with that, Crash. It is my fault'' He replied. ''Which is why I'm going to help you get that power crystal and help your friends get out of this mess.''
''You didn't have to, but thanks, Hawk. Do you know where they took them?''
''Right now, we do a little ritual in which we do a sacrifice and...'' He paused and cringed a little. ''Well, I guess I don't need to explain more.''
''Yes, I know... I understand'' The bandicoot sighed. ''We need to do something quick.''
''Here's what I have in mind...''
The ocean was calm right now. There were not that much waves like always, but it was good enough to go swimming for hours. A golden bandicoot could be seen approaching the coast of N. Sanity Island, swimming on the blue ocean. He could finally feel the white sand with his own hands, indicating that he finally reached his destination. His exhaustion caused him to sit on the ground to have a moment of peace and to take a break from all the swimming because going from that iceberg to this island was hard work. To him, nothing will happen... he won't find Heather, Chris, or even Crash. Maybe all of this was a mistake. Maybe they are not even here and this Crash Bandicoot guy doesn't even exist. Thousands of thoughts ran through his mind as he sat there on the ground, looking at the blue sky.
The golden bandicoot decided to shake it off and just get up from the ground. He started to look around the place and found it really nice. He has never seen an island this good in his life, but when he looked up, everything suddenly changed. He saw a tall tower with an N on it and immediately assumed that it was the enemy messing around again.
''Wait a minute... this is not the N. Sanity Island I've seen in pictures. What the heck is that thing doing up there?'' Desperate for an explanation, he reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone to call his friend, Marlene. After ringing three times, she picked up. ''Marlene? I'm here on N. Sanity Island and I have something important to tell you?''
''What is it, Alec?'' She replied. ''Oh, and by the way, you're in the wrong place. Crash's home is on Wumpa Island, not N. Sanity Island, so you won't find him there.''
''There is a huge tower thing here on the highest point of the island. It has a N on it and I assume it is Cortex messing around like always'' He replied. ''And yes, I know that, but since he's busy saving the world right now, I assume that he's here.''
''Officer Alec! Watch out! That's not just a tower!'' Marlene warned. ''It is said that Cortex is using it to imprison anyone who failed to become brainwashed by the Mind Control Ray. Don't let him see you because if he realizes that you are not brainwashed, he will take you there and you won't escape. Who knows what he could do to you!''
''Gee... thanks, Marlene. You just made this two times more complicated.''
''I'm sorry for not warning you about it earlier, Officer Alec. By the way, I managed to hack into Cortex's network. Looks like what you did back there on Cortex's lab worked for me too and I saw everything. Have you found Crash Bandicoot yet? Or have you seen Chris and Heather anywhere by any chance?''
''Still nothing. I've got to find him to tell him that Heather's brother is here to take her back along with her boyfriend and to help him stop this brainwashing frenzy. Got it? Oh, and I don't know what time is it there, but remember that if I'm not there by midnight, call the cops.''
''Yeah, yeah. Just leave it to me. You do your job and I do mine. Good luck!''
He shook his head and hung up. ''Well, time to take care of some errands...''