A peaceful morning lied outside, and the yellow pieces of grass on the ground somehow blew gracefully in the wind. Out the door of the inn, Shep came down the path from it, towards a small newspaper shop in the corner. He went inside, and started speaking with the shopkeeper.
"Nice to see you ol' mate", smiled Shep. "Now I would like the Daily Mirror please."
There was silence between the two... when the shopkeeper finally spoke.
"Je ne comprends pas l'anglais." (I don't speak English.)
"Damn, they speak French in this part of Holland", Shep growled, before coughing abruptly. "Je regrette." (I forgot.)
"D'accord", the shopkeeper smiled. (Okay.)
"Uh..." Shep tried to string his words together. "Je voudrais le 'Daily Mirror' por favo..." his eyes widened, realizing he almost spoke Spanish. "Ack! er... s'il vous plait!" (I want the Daily Mirror please.)
"Un minute", he smiled while putting one finger in the air. (One minute.)
The shopkeeper went over to the wall behind him and digged out, from all them French papers... the Daily Mirror. And it had a top story going against Jeffrey Archer on it.
"Tu sais, je suis mauvais pour monsieur Archer." (You know, I feel bad for Mr Archer.)
"Je n'a pas! Hmph!" He folded his arms, before pondering again. "Er... c'est combien?" (I don't think so! Hmph! Er… how much?)
"C'est 1.60 Euros", he smiled positively. (It costs 1.60 Euros.)
He placed his money down, and left with the paper.
"Merci beaucoup, au revoir!" he gestured at Shep. (Thank you, goodbye!)
"Oui!" Shep smiled before leaving… and as soon as he was outside he growled angrily. "Au revoir my ass, that's the LAST TIME I'M GOING ABROAD!"
As Shep kept on walking down the dusty path back to the inn, little did he realise that there was a figure in the darkness, around the corner from it.
Its piercing light blue eyes can only just be eliminated, and are in an anger formation. Its teeth started shining and it started coming forward. At the same time, Shep continued his stroll, when he saw... yellow shoes on the corner, hiding underneath the shadow. That's where he started quivering... and ran.
He stormed back into the reception, and kept on pressing the bell... but no one came to help him out. The figure emerged inside, and drew out a lightsabre. As it emerged into the light... it was that of Rugal. Shep's eyes, at this point, were small and frightened, causing him to scream.
---
Back up in the dormitories, Jessica's left ear rose, and that caused her to glance towards it. She took a step outside, and started calling out at the top of her voice.
"Hello?" She screamed, before walking further. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
She continued calling out for her journey. Over time, a shadow popped by on the wall, and her eyes suddenly focused onto it. She started sneaking towards it, with a great amount of stealth, A sharp corner was right ahead, and she rolled her way into it. The shadow flew along the staircase. Then she kept in the darkness, crouched down, and crawled on the floor. Once at the edge of the stairs, she stood back up. From that position, she started sniffing, and her eyes looked towards the stairs, going downwards. She grabbed onto the railings, and slid down. And she held onto the bar in mid air, and landed gently. Once again, she hid into the darkness for the way down into the next level. The shadow flew its way down the stairs. She continued following it down the marble stairs, sneaking silently, and halfway down, she grabbed the railings, and gently slid down. Her feet touched the soft carpet below, and as she came through the doors at the bottom... her eyebrows were raised with surprise.
Her eyes saw the scene, of Rugal, knocking Shep senseless, onto the floor below him. Her eyes was that of rage - an old enemy in contact again.
She drew out her lightsabre. However, its glow gave the purple tiger some immediate attention. They started leering at each other, brought back one foot, and looked at each other in the eyes.
Then they started charging at each other down in the long corridors among them. Their eyes now showed something of determination, as they had the same goal of defeating each other.
They finally came in contact, and started fighting with the light sabres. Ashes of hot light were sent down to the floor as they both struck each other. After a while, they both started struggling slightly. But on occasion, one of them would cause a tear in one of their clothes. However, that was one thing that Rugal shortly did 20 minutes into the fight. This sent Jessica onto the wall, looking up for mercy.
The evil warrior stepped over the dalmation with his light sabre aimed directly at her heart. Her face was now of extreme fear... but it wasn't for long when she took grip of her lightsabre and slashed it across his chest!
Finally, she earned the upper hand in the duel, and started knocking the tiger senseless. At the far side, Shep started to come to, and saw what was going on. He immediately started smiling. At this point, they were now at the front door, and her determination levels were rising. Her punches became harder and harder as time quickly went by, and as they reached the exit... she drew back her light sabre for one more time, and shuffled it towards Rugal, pushing him over the horizon. She started looking out at the sunrise, with a smile of victory on her face.
Then, she finally turned her way towards Shep, whose clothes were now bloodstained. His face showed signs of weakness inside him.
"Jess... help", he sighed before passing out.
---
The stone steps started shining with the late sunrise. As this occurs, footsteps were heard coming up. In a flash, we see Jessica dashing up there, with Shep in her hands. Immediately, she stormed through to the first door she came across, placed the collie down on a long table, and started shouting at them all.
"GUYS!!!" she screamed.
The shout caused Rexy to turn off her GBA and sigh once again. As she went around nudging everyone else in the dorm, she went up to her.
"Jess, don't you realise that I was this close to the crystal that time?" she said while gesturing a short length between her thumb and index finger.
"No, but don't you realise that Shep is this close to his demise?" Jessica continued to panic.
She looked over at him, and saw his brutal injuries. Immediately... her face was that of gloom. At the same time, everyone else started to awaken.
"What's going on?" James asked.
"Something's wrong with Shep", Rexy started to sigh.
"Do any of you have a first-aid kit?" Jessica asked. "I think that he's twisted an ankle here and there..."
"I'm on the case!" smiled Cortex.
He went out of his bed, and surprisingly showed himself in his daytime clothing. Immediately he went over to Shep, who started to recover, but his face showed uttermost pain.
"Calm down Shep, everything will be alright... now where have you hurt yourself?"
"Look", he tried to catch his breath, "on my chest..."
He followed his instructions, and once there... there were tearings of his clothes everywhere. And bloodstains covered him from head to toe.
"It's okay, just hold still", Cortex smiled.
Over time, he brought out a long bandage roll, and wrapped it around his chest. He started smiling again.
"Listen bud", Crash said as he sat up in his bed. "I suggest that you should stay behind for a bit and recover. The rest of us shall get going and hire a boat to Volcano Isle."
"Okay", Shep moaned with pain.
"I'll stay with Jess and Lozzy to miss on the sleep we've missed", nodded Rexy with blood-shot eyes.
"I'll help out too", said Eden as she passed through the ceiling to meet the others. "You'll need a bit of strong assistance."
"Shep, you're a truthful mate", beamed James. "I won't let you down!"
Shep looked at the others, surprised by the support received by his collegues. "Thanks."
"Well, I think we should be on our way there", nodded Crash. "Wish us luck!"
At that remark, both Crash and Cortex left the room, and instantly met with Smash, Wooffy, Spin and Rosie outside. Once they left, Shep turned to the others.
"If there's anything we can do, we're on the case."
"Okay, how about you put on Queen?"
At the call, James took out a CD and placed it in the CD player, labeled "A Kind of Magic". As soon as it started playing, he sang along to the title track, being "One Vision".
---
Outside Oxide's temple, a shadow figure came into the area, and started walking towards a temple. He looked up towards the top, and started making a rush inside.
He then walked through the corridors leading to a room at the end. As it emerged into the light of the room, he showed himself... as Rugal.
He emerged into the room, with scars across his face. And he immediately looked out towards Oxide, whom didn't look too happy. Also inside the room were Xeno and the Random Demon fighting over a roast turkey, and Chain picking with his axe.
"Oxide!" the purple tiger shouted. "I'm so, so sorry!"
"Lemme guess... you blew it again!" he growled angrily.
"It wasn't my fault!"
"I bet it was! If I had known that you'd let them get away, then I wouldn't have hired you in the first place!!!"
At that remark, Rugal lowered his head with shame.
"Look, cheer up Oxide", Chain sneered. "These guys are wimps! Can you at least send me through?"
"Thanks", Oxide sighed, "but I'm not having a house rat ruin my day even more."
"What did you just call me???"
"Er..."
"You're too stupid to notice! I'm the Prince of the Underworld, not your stereotypical mouse!"
"I know, but you're my guardian! I'll save you until the end!"
"Fine, have it your own way, you miserable hag..."
Oxide sighed, before looking around the other creatures in his den. "Okay, I'll pick... JAWS WATCH-FIELD!"
Julian looked to the right of him, and saw the brown black-maned lion, standing there, wagging his tail fiercely and slowly.
"Nice choice Oxide!" he started speaking with a growling tone. "If I do well with that bandicoot enemy of yours, I'd be more than happy to do the same to my stepson Smash and pulverise him like I should have done years ago!"
"I see you have overcome that one task since I last saw you", smiled Rugal. "Now it's time we take you to the ultimate challenge."
"I'm ready for it, tiger!"
"Remember, make sure you get your attacks just right!" Oxide smiled. "I'll be watching you on that!"
Jaws started smiling vilely, and he immediately went outside. The others started smiling at him too... until... a plate of turkey fell on Oxide's head. He looked at Xeno and the Random Demon, whom both started blushing with what they did.
"He better do the job quick", Oxide sighed. "I can't stand these idiots any longer."
---
The city of Honesty Shores was booming with powerful skyscrapers from the shores to the edge of town. People bustled through the busy streets, going about their business. And through the crowd, were the figures of Crash and his crew. He, Smash and Cortex had no problems squeezing through, Wooffy and Spin took the obvious and flew above them, but Rosie ended up getting her cloak caught between two pushovers. She pulled, and pulled, and pulled... but when she reclaimed it, a part of it was torn off.
"Oh no... does anyone have any thread?"
"We don't have any, and we don't care!" Wooffy sneered back at her.
"Wooffy, just keep your beak closed for once", sighed Cortex. "That's the ninth time you've insulted her on this journey!"
"Sorry Dr. Cortex... but I can't help it!" he snickered back.
"Kids these days", Rexy muttered angrily.
"Guys, hurry up!" Crash shouted on at them. "I can see the harbor from here!"
"Great!" Rosie sighed. "The sooner we finish this mission off, the sooner I can go to the tailor's."
They all reached the kerb, and looked out to sea. Among the waters were a set of wonderful looking boats, some of which with glass bottoms, some of which with beautiful flags on it... and there was another which got Crash's attention - one in which had a familiar anthro figure on the sail.
"AAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!" he screamed with happiness. "THIS BOAT'S GOT ME ON IT!!!!! Can we ride it to Volcano Isle? Please??? Pretty pleeeeeease???"
"Crash, it's just a plain boat with a fancy looking sail, nothing special", sighed Wooffy.
"I don't have anything against that, but look at the others", blinked Smash. "Their sails have been ripped apart, their bases look rusted, and it doesn't even look safe to board anymore."
"But if we take this boat over, it'll make us too obvious on who we are!" Wooffy growled.
"Then we'll sail with the sail's image pointing away from the island", smiled Cortex. Simple as that."
"I'll go make a reservation for it", nodded Spin. "Be right back."
And so she ran off towards a reception office. Once inside, she filled in a form handed to her as she went in, and handed it back.
"Merci pour ta visite. Votre voile sera prêt ce soir", the salesperson said. (Thank you for your visit. Your boat will be ready tonight.)
"I don't know what the heck you are talking about", growled Spin, "but yes, I do like eating toffee apples."
She left. Inevitably, the serviceman got confused, and scratched his head. Back at the docks, Spin returned to the group.
"It's all set!"
"Great!" Crash smiled. "Tonight will be a thrill of a lifetime!"
"Question is, how to tackle the same crowd all the way back to the inn...?" Cortex asked the others.
They looked back to the city centre. And the same crowd of people started bustling through as they went in. Immediately, they started making their way through. But little did they realise that in the crowd was a figure with four paws. Brown fur could be made out, but the people blocked out the rest of it. But through the blurs... sharp teeth were seen glowing in the darkness. The two of them came closer and closer... and at this stage they were 30 metres apart.
The outside of the town soon came, and the whole crew stood there, looking out to the horizon. Immediately, a finger was raised over one of the locations.
"There's the inn!" Wooffy shouted. "I can see it!"
"YES!" Smash smiled with happiness. "Boy are they gonna be in for a treat when we get home!"
"Yes, this is ours for the taking!" Spin said while jumping up and down.
But little did they realise... that a figure jumped out from the darkness. It pounced on every single one of them, scratching them, until they were heavily scratched. Soon after, they got back up, and started scowling at the figure.
"I need help", sighed Rosie. "I think I need casualty!"
"Don't panic Rose, it's just a scratch, no blood or anything", nodded Crash.
"I hope you're right", she said when looking down.
"On a matter of adding in a more intelligent line to this conversation", blinked Cortex, "show us your face!"
Four legs emerged into the darkness. Then a body with brown fur, a coal black mane, and glowing red eyes emerged into the darkness. At the look of it, Smash took several steps back at once, and his ears dropped down to his eyes. For he knew... that that was the face of Jaws Watch-Field.
"Well well well, if it isn't Smash Lion... I haven't seen you since I murdered your mother years ago!"
"Back off stepdad", he sighed. "I'm not letting you get your paws on any of my friends."
"That's the spirit!" Crash cheered on. "Keep on going, bud!"
"Hmmm", the black lion pondered. "You don't want me to harm any of your friends? Well... how about I do exactly what I did to your mommy..."
"And what are your plans, eh monkey boy?" Rosie growled.
"THIS!!!" he said as he scowled at Crash. "Try and guard your comrade as much as you can, however you'll just lose him like you'll be lost afterwards!"
"What are you doing???" Smash asked.
In almost slow motion fashion, Jaws leapt up into the air, brought out his claws, and started making a strike towards Crash. His eyes started widening with fear. Then... Jaws went on top of him. The next thing that was felt were scratches. Bits of fur were sent all over the place. And a trail of blood was leaking out.
"CRASH!!!" Spin gasped.
"Oh no", Wooffy panicked. "What's happened to him?"
In an instant, Smash went over to the scene. Jaws backed away, looking at Crash, covered in blood stains and scratches. His body was in an unconscious position... but... for Smash, it seemed a lot more. His face was of more anger than ever. Immediately he turned to face him.
"WHY???" Smash started to growl. "WHY DID YOU KILL MY BEST FRIEND????"
Everyone gasped at the remark.
"Oh no", frowned Spin. "Our hero... gone by the jaws of death... I feel so sorry..."
"So do I", sniffed Wooffy. "I only just got to know him..."
"Well you have to realize", Smash growled, "that Crash and I were great friends from the start of it all. And I don't want to let that relationship vanish."
He turned around, and faced his body. He attempted to bring his tears back... but they kept on going down his face.
"Crash... listen to me, a good soldier never leaves a man behind! You're a pure pal, and I promised I'd never let you down! And I still won't now!"
His face turned round to meet that of the brown lion. Immediately, his face was that of more anger than ever seen before.
A light zephyr blew across the scene, and this caused a few leaves to fall down towards the floor. At the same time, the two lions were walking around in circles, facing each other angrily. Their heavy growls could only just be heard. Back with the others, Spin and Rosie looked down over Crash's body. Then, they brought their heads back up, with curious and sympathetic facial expressions. This left Wooffy dragging his left wing around Cortex, and making his mentor bring his arm round his shoulder.
The two lions started roaring with rage. In fact, the sound caused a vibration onto the ground below. This even left most of them out on the side trembling their knees, and cowering behind a nearby rock.
Then, they started attacking. It was a case of all claws out, attempting to scratch each other, mainly across the face. Their manes blew in the wind as they moved around, trying to find a good aiming spot. And after a while... they pulled back for a couple of seconds.
Suddenly, Jaws came on the attack. On the bass drums, he slashed Smash across the face, and brung him even closer to the floor. All that the others could do was cover their eyes with distraught fright. Eventually, three sharper scratches were heard, and that sent Smash pummeling down to the tarmac below.
The brown lion came over and stepped over his stepson, claws still out, and his teeth showing rage inside. Immediately, Smash gave out a large roar, echoing the land surrounding him. Then, he pushed himself up and heaved Jaws away from him, until they were nothing more than a kitchen's length apart.
Once again they charged towards each other and started scratching. At one point, the two ended up on top of each other and ended up rolling across the ground, earning some dirt marks across their fur. Soon, they released grip, and stood back upright, and they charaged back towards each other.
This time, Smash gained the advantages of slashing Jaws across the face. This time, there were deeper scars than on Smash's muzzle. Out on the side, everyone's eyes suddenly largened with exitement. And then, came three louder scratches and a kick that sent his oppononet up the street, and then tumbling down the hill below.
"NO ONE SLAUGHTERS US AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!!" Smash shouted as he roared across the street.
"Way to go Smash!" Wooffy cheered, hugging him in the process. "You'll be my Simba any day of the week."
"Thanks", Smash suddenly frowned, "but I didn't do it for that."
He walked away from him, and then walked closer to the top of the hill, looking out towards the horizon.
Within the mid-sunset sky, Wooffy came up and sat down next to him. Eventually, Cortex came right towards them.
"I know how you feel, but what's better? A lost friend, or a forever ruined planet?" Wooffy asked him.
Those words caused the bandilion to prick his ears, and turn to the young owl. His eyes were showing his most deepest concern.
"I want you to think carefully about this", said Smash. "If the planet was forever ruined, then eventually, all life will die out, and we will eventually be in the heavens with that lost friend. But if we change the world back, then we will forever be miles apart from that great pal."
"What do you mean?" Wooffy asked.
"I know that we've gone so far", Smash said while he stood up on both legs, "but we have lost the war. I shall stand here today, and die for my greatest friend, rather than spend the rest of my life suffering."
At the words of Smash's speech, real meaning started to seep into Cortex's face. Until... a voice came from behind.
"Smash, your life is still precious", said Rosie. "Don't throw it away."
"I don't understand what you mean by that."
"I have an idea. We can still have a world with a hero, even if the original champion has gone. You can stand up, and take their place."
A few seconds passed. Smash's tail started to curl up into a small bunny tail formation. Then... he smiled.
"You're right", he sighed. "Life has to go on."
"Besides, think about your family", sympathized Cortex. "I know that all you have left is your sister, but think about her."
"I'll do just that."
With that, he stood up, and started walking downhill. Wooffy and Cortex followed shortly afterwards. Then, at the foot were two shadows. One were instantly recognisable.
"Smash, you don't have to go throught that phase just yet", smiled Spin optimistically.
"What do you mean?"
"Take a look around", she blinked. "What do you see that was different than before?"
He looked around on the gravel below. And by his surprise... the fighting area was as clean as it first was when he first came in there. Then... his eyes started widening, as he looked up again. A tall figure stood, and the top part looked incredibly furry. Green eyes could be seen in the background. Even with so little evidence of who it is, Smash's confused face... extended into a proper smile.
-end of part 4-