A few footsteps were heard in the distance. Outside the Elemental Cavern, a short figure could be seen sprinting his way up towards the entrance. Voices echoed inside, and reached the ears. He took cover behind a rock.
"You must be the bandicoot that everyone's talking about", Lozzy smiled while speaking with a London accent. "Heh, tell us what you want and we'll deal with it, ante up!"
"Right", Crash nodded. "I woke up this morning and with a little help from my friends I found out that the world was broken into seven 'segments'. I've been told that you were based here, and you could restore the planet's... what's it called?"
"It's its natural balance, Crash", winked Smash. "Try and get that in your head."
"Sorry."
"I understand what he means by that", Spin said with a gothic voice. "If we don't join the segments back together all the plants..."
"...and animals will die, we know", Smash finished off her sentence.
"You do?" Rosie spoke with a strong English motherly voice. "Well we know just the place to go to restore the world."
"This place better be good", sighed Rexy.
"It's known as 'Volcano Isle'", said Eden in a peaceful New York accent. "It is the only place on the planet which has a link to the Earth's Core. We shall use that to bring the pieces back together."
"I swore it sounded familiar..." Cortex blinked to himself, before coming to his senses. "Ah! That was the island near the port of my birthtown. But how can it get from America to Europe within so little time?"
"You know this place?" Rosie asked.
"I hope I do..."
"Good, because you'd be a help to lead us down to the lifestream site. That's where the link to the core is based."
"And my mom and dad were right after all", gasped Shep. "These magical creatures really ARE real life magis!"
Back at the rock, the figure started panicking. His face started to turn red, although not quite visible yet. Then footsteps were heard coming out.
"So what's the nearest way to the island?" Jessica asked.
"I saw it near the port of Honesty Shores, which isn't too far from here", Shep smiled.
"That sounds like a cheap holiday resort", sighed Jessica, "but we'll try ther-"
The figure then sprung out, showing himself as a short figure. His fur was black, and his feet and hands were a deep purply-pink. He donned blue pants, a red shirt, and a jade green bandana on his head. Sharp teeth were seen in his mouth, and his sapphire blue eyes shone. The creature, did all sorts of crazy poses.
"YIKES!" Rexy shrieked. What on Earth is that?"
"I hate to say this to you but..." James gulped, "it's a Shadow Chao, directly from the planet Mobius!"
"I take the segment's new god has been playing too much Sonic, lately hasn't she?" Rexy sighed.
"You could say that", growled the dingo. "Besides, this looks like a real spineless whimp."
The creature spoke with a high-pitched voice.. "Who are you calling a spineless whimp? I'm Julian Chao, the toughest chao around! My master told me to take care of you once and for all!"
"You're too cute to be a tough creature", Rexy sighed.
"You saying that I'm too cute and cuddly to be a henchman? Oh great, now I've just suffered from another heart attack! I'll get you for this, and for stealing MY elemental gatekeepers!"
Eden turned her attention to Lozzy, whispering in her direction. "Since when were we property of this freak?"
"Lemme see... um... like..." she paused, before smiling broadly. "Never!"
"Just watch who you're talking to!" the chao growled. "You're all going down!"
He started charging towards them, and Wooffy broke out in front of them.
"Listen short fry, if you mess with us then you mess with my blades!" Wooffy sighed. "Off with your head!!!"
He took out his chainsaw, and rose it above Jules's head. However... he stood there, and gave out a fake yawn. Then, he took out his teeth, used them to take grip on Wooffy's wing, and tossed him towards the rock.
"WOOFFY!!!" James shouted from the sidelines.
He made a rush towards him. He looked at his injured body, and tried speaking to him... but no response. He was out cold. With that, James's face started to turn to an angry one. He took grip of his spear in his backpack, and starred in Julian's direction.
"You want fencing?" the chao smiled viciously. "Bring it on!"
"Shut up and let's fight!!!" the dingo growled back.
Jules took out his own spear, and they started getting involved in a swordfight with them. There were dangerous stunts to dodge the attacks, and a few scars were caused. Out of the two, Jules was the more aggressive, leaving James struggling, with a few scars across his body. He ended up sitting down on the floor, and looked up at Jules's face.
"Heh, looks like I win this round!" Julian screamed with happiness.
He rose his spear and rose it above his head, but... something started glowing in James's hands. A white glow occurred, and he thrusted it as soon as he can.
"ULTIMA 4!!!!!!" he shouted during his actions.
That pushed the chao about 200m from his opponent. He was now covered in scars.
"YOU IDIOTS!!!!!!" he screamed with a deafening tone. "YOU MAY HAVE BEATEN US, BUT NEXT TIME, WE'LL DEFEAT YOU!!!!!!"
He started making his run away, and was gone within a few seconds. However, James looked back at the others.
"Dude", Crash blinked. "did he say what I thought he said?"
"Yeah, the way he spoke sounded like it was a group that broke up the planet", the dingo sighed.
"Now this means we have another piece in the puzzle to solve", smiled Smash. "The villain is male, rode a spaceship, and has a group of enemies with him."
"I know!" Rexy shouted with a spring in her step. "It's Lord Zedd from the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers!"
"REXY!!!!!!" Crash sighed with an agitated expression.
"Uh... yeah... what a stupid guess!" she blushed.
"I think we'll figure it out by the time we get to the isle", winked Lozzy. "We have to get there like... right now!"
They left the cavern entrance in no time, but with Lozzy trailing at the back, carrying Wooffy's unconscious body. Now another piece to their puzzle was put together... what will this lead to next?
---
Back at a nearby temple, Julian dashed his way through the entrance, and once in he started screaming at the top of his voice.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!!!!!!"
The two guard cats were alerted by his call, and therefore stepped aside, giving room to allow Jules to storm through... but he ran into the wall and fell onto his back. Once back up, he just kicked the doors open, and made his run to Oxide, who was there with the Random Demon on his lap, licking on a bone of some sort.
"Julian, you're back!" Oxide smiled at him.
"Yes Nitrous sir, and it's not a pretty sight."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw an orange rat and his crew come out of the Elemental Cavern... with the Goddesses!"
"An orange rat? Could you describe it a bit more? And Chain, could you draw it out as he says it?"
"But I don't have any supplies!" the black bandicoot shouted with shock.
"Well use your axe against the wall!" Oxide commanded him.
And so Chain went up to the wall, and got out the pointy end of his axe. He started drawing as Julian spoke.
"Well he's wearing blue pants, with a trim at the bottom, brown sneakers with white laces, a yellow furry belly, a long snout, green eyes, bushy eyebrows, spiky red hair, pointy ears, fingerless gloves on his..." he stopped, when he noticed Chain drew mittens on him. "I said fingerless gloves!"
"But I can't draw them", he panicked. "You know I failed my Art examination in Hell!"
"That's because you didn't use fire that much!" the chao growled. "That stuff was everywhere... EVERYWHERE!!!"
The two started arguing with one another, and then they started pushing each other back and forth. All that Oxide could do was shake his head. Then, they stopped for a few seconds. They looked back at the picture. Chain brought out the axe again, and struck a small hole in the belly, carving in a tummy button. Oxide's face suddenly went into an uprising.
"It's official! Crash Bandicoot has entered the segment!"
"Bandi-what?" Julian asked with his eyes twitching.
"Jules, you know nothing about life on Earth, do you?" Chain growled.
"Sorry..."
"Well there's one thing that we do know", sighed Oxide. "You guys aren't cut enough to deal with this situation. I think we should send in a real killing machine to annihilate them."
A chicken suddenly walked across the area, and into a dark cave behind Oxide's throne. Once inside, there was a sound of fighting and squealing, going on for five seconds. After that, out from the cave... came a bone. The Random Demon jumped down, and started sucking it.
"This little monster is ready for a meal that he'd never forget!" Oxide cackled to himself.
---
A tall city stood nearby... but it wasn't as spectacular as it was supposed to be. The buildings had broken windows, and some of which had storeys ripped off! And the roads were rocky and dusty, not to mention a light shade of yellow. From one of these roads, our crew came over... but not in their usual spirits.
"Guys, I need a little help", James sighed with an exhausted tone. "I'm tired and hungry! I wanna go and find somewhere to eat!"
They looked to their left, and then to their right. And that was where they found a bronze coloured building, still intact.
"We're in luck!" Lozzy smiled. "There's an inn up ahead!"
"That's great!" Shep broadly grinned. "Now I can really find something to quench the thirst within the ol' scottie!"
"I need to ask you something", Rosie started. "Are you really Scottish? Because the men up there wear kilts."
"Don't make me go there", the collie growled.
Within a few seconds, they made their way into the inn, and started settling in. It wasn't long until they were all settled around a circular table, ordering food from a menu.
"Steak would be nice", nodded Cortex.
"I want a cheeseburger!" Crash chanted.
"Right, that's all the orders taken for the food", smiled Wooffy as he jotted down Crash's order onto a small piece of lined paper, using a small number 2 pencil. "Now let's see if we can get anywhere."
He clapped his wings, and passed a piece of paper to a passing waiter.
"I gotta admit, he's pretty civilised for a young boy", blinked Jessica.
But that comment just left Wooffy to lean for her ear and tug her face into his direction. "What did you say?"
"It was NOTHING!"
"Wooffy, let go!" Smash roared at him. "She didn't mean anything bad!"
And so he did.
"That's better", grinned Eden. "Now we need to attend to the next order of business here - who's going to be on night patrol tonight."
"Yeah, but..." Crash paused, "how are we gonna decide who's staying up all night protecting us?"
"I got an idea!" Smash grinned as he took the drinking straws out of everyone's cups. "I say we draw straws on this case!"
"And whoever gets the shortest will attend to the duty", smiled Lozzy. "Pure and simple."
Smash took out a claw and chopped off an end of one of the straws. Then he brought them out, and everyone grabbed hold of one. Then they pulled them out, one by one. And all faces turned to one direction...
"Bugger me, why do I have to end up with the shortest straw?" Rexy shouted, before sulking and folding her arms.
"Sorry Rexy, but it had to be a matter of luck", frowned Cortex. "Besides, you're a pretty good night owl."
"Oi mister Nutty Professor, if anyone's the night owl it's the Wolargoon back there", she growled while gesturing at Spin.
"I'M A WOLARCOOT, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!" she shouted with a piercing squeal. "Besides, I want a chance to relax for once."
"So much for the instant offers", Rexy sighed.
The wolarcoot breathed out angrily. "Alright, just to make you happy, we'll split ourselves into three rooms tonight, and three of us will be on guard. I'm with the other gatekeepers, and Lozzy stays up..."
"You little cheat", Lozzy shouted with anger. "Ante down!"
"I'll stay with Smash, Wooff and Shep", Jessica said, "and I'll be on the prowl."
"Damn, I wanted to stay with you!" said James with his ears lowering with sadness.
"That means you're left with me, Crash and Cortex", Rexy gestured at James. "Simple as that."
Jessica gave out a light smile. "Yeah, that sounds more efficie-"
Before she could finish, a bowl of spaghetti went in front of her. The waiter was there serving their orders.
"Now that's what I call fast service!" Crash grinned at the action.
---
Back round the entrance to the inn, a tall figure started moving stealthily along the area. Its twisted tentacles could be seen in the darkness, and the slime trail he left behind gave out a ghostly white gas. Then it turned around a corner, its red eyes glimmering in the darkness. Up ahead, three lit windows could now be seen, and that was where he looked up towards them. He took hold of the railings... and started climbing up.
---
The stars start shining in the sky, giving off a light light down onto the floor below. All lamp posts were turned on, which were nothing more than candles on metal sticks.
Through a nearby window, we see a frustrated Rexy, sitting on a chair. She was wearing a pair of headphones, and they were plugged into a GameBoy Advance, where she was there, playing one of the rollerball levels in Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced. She reached the exit for it... but there was one problem - she forgot the crystal. So she turned it off in a rage, and then placed the equipment back down. She silently made her way back to the window, looking at the sleeping faces of Crash, Cortex and James behind her, and then she took out a telescope and looked out towards the night sky. Her expectations were for a peaceful night.
In the neighboring dorm, we see Jessica, writing in a diary. As the camera peeks over her shoulder, she's been scribbling in the day's events, most of which were leaning towards backstabbing James. She also got on the line saying "I wish I can kill that fu..." when... the lead broke off. She sighed, and placed them down, and returned to the window. She made one last turn towards Wooffy, Shep, and Smash, before she turned her way back outside, looking at the stars.
And in a dorm directly above Jessica's, we see Lozzy. Even with the lack of space in the room, she ended up pacing up and down the room. Impatience suddenly started to rush inside her head, turning her eyes from grey to deep red. However... on one step, she took a step onto her long blue jacket, and tripped up. That caused Spin to grunt in her sleep and turn over, before drifting back again. She gave out a sigh of relief, and therefore, she took her shoes off and placed them outside, next to the empty milk bottles.
She looked out of window, at the stars. Funnily enough, she came across a constellation of a longhaired male, holding a pack of cards. She started smiling again, and once again she walked back up and down the room, looking back at it.
As she turned her back on it, a figure approached the window, with its grey tentacles gripping hold onto the windowsill. It started drooling at her, and claws emerged from inside the tentacles. However... that caused her to prick her ears. Quickly, the monster lowered himself down the wall. She turned to the window - nothing there. And she started smiling at the constellation again. Then she turned back.
The monster then came back up again, and immediately jumped into the room, leaning towards Lozzy.
"Aw damn, don't tell me that... it's a Xenomorph!" she screamed with anger.
Its tall claws started to tear the jacket away. Half of which was torn away; the rest went round his neck. Scars and scratches went across the red dress she was wearing. Her squeals suddenly echoed through the room, as it continued pouncing at her... until... something started glowing in her hand.
"ICY WIND ATTACK!!!!!"
A cold gust of wind entered the room, and it went around the Xenomorph. Within 10 seconds or so... it was nothing more than a frozen statue. However... it started shaking. Her face was wide-eyed with fear.
Meanwhile, outside the room, Rexy and Jessica heard her call from their own dormitories. In both scenarios, they closed their windows, took a quick drink of water from the bathroom, and made their way outside, where their eyes met.
"Did you hear something?" Jessica asked Rexy.
"Yeah", the dinosaur said as she looked up. "I think it came from upstairs..."
"Sounds peculiar", the Dalmatian blinked. "We should take a look at this."
"Yeah, but we have to be careful. It sounds like there's a fight going on up there."
"Bah, I've seen worse", Jessica sighed.
"Enough talking, we have to get going!"
A stairway lied to their right, and they started climbing their way up. The stone structure below them reflected not only their faces, but also their shadows. Once at the top, they started looking around, and then they saw a cold breeze coming from one of the doors.
"Over there!" Jessica said while pointing at it.
They started making their run towards it. Meanwhile, back inside, the Xenomorph continued to shake in its icy prison. At the same time, the two of them emerged into the room, and saw what was going on.
The ice cracked, and the Xenomorph broke out from his captivity, sending mini icicles everywhere. The eyes lied directly at the three of them.
"Lozzy, I'll sort you out!" Jessica smiled. "Rex, go deal with this thing!"
"But you're more experienced than I am!"
"Just go! Ask questions later!"
"Oh..." the dinosaur frowned. "Right."
The two of them started fighting. Their claws started to strike each other, and on occasion, Rexy would slap her tail into its stomach. Eventually, she ended up with scars across her face, with blood seeping out through them. She lowered herself down to the floor, with the monster about to scratch her.
As it came closer, she brought her leg out... and kicked it out of the window. The last thing that was heard was a crash landing into some trash cans. She stood up for five more seconds... and she collapsed on the ground, lucky enough to be still active.
"Rex!" Jessica shouted as she came closer to her. "Rex, you OK?"
"I think so", she sighed.
"It doesn't look like it, you're covered in scars", frowned Lozzy.
"I know..." the pain raced through her skin. "Ow!"
"ACK!" Jessica started to panic. "Just calm down, everything will be OK."
She took out a bandage, and wrapped it around her head... her chest, limbs, and belly. Then, she gave her the eye.
"Thanks a lot, now I look like a bloomin' mummy", Rexy growled to her.
In the background, Lozzy couldn't help but smirk... but she too suffered the same fate.
"You know, you really need to go to nursing school", she sighed towards Jessica.
---
In the darkness outside Oxide's temple, the Xenomorph made its way back into the temple. Once again, it was escorted up the alley. Once inside, he saw the two guard cats guarding the door. Chain was seen teaching Julian and the Random Demon to draw in one corner - Jules was having no problems with the spear he used to draw with, while the Random Demon kept on eating the stone work area - and Oxide was to the right, cleaning... demon droppings.
"That's the last time I'm feeding bones to that demon!" he then paused to see the Xenomorph make his way in. "Ah... Xeno, nice to see you here..."
Before he could say anything else, he started stomping his feet in rage. His roars echoed the area... then he placed his claws into a spiked formation on his head and started roaring with a girly voice... then he ended up squealing back at Oxide.
"What, Crash changed sex?" Chain asked Oxide stupidly.
"NO, YOU IDIOT!!!! It must be one of his companions... and he may have taken a lot of them."
"You're right! There's more than the bandicoot you know", nodded Julian. "Some dingo tried to take on me with his OWN spear!"
"This is an outrage!!!" Oxide squealed as he stomped all four feet on the ground. "Has SOMEONE at least had experience in taking down a furry orange marsupial, and changing the face on the planet?!?!?"
"I'll give it a try, boss", said a deep and shady voice. "I want to try out for this."
The person with the voice stepped out of the darkness, being... the tiger guard.
"Rugal?" Oxide gasped. "But... you're a guard! You can't leave your position behind!"
"Trust me boss. I was part of the planet Venom, and I made a strong attempt to remake it about a year ago."
"I saw your efforts, but..." Oxide blinked, "who will take your place?"
"I'll stand up for him", said Julian as he pointed to his chest. "I may be nothing more than a chao, but I'll take his place."
Oxide's eyebrows raised up at the two of them. The idea of sending a guard to annihilate the group sounded promising... but was it? On the other hand, could he be able to stop them from getting to Volcano Isle? Questions rushed through his head, as he made his choice.
-end of part 3-