Finally, Disclaimer: Crash Bandicoot was created by Naughty dog, and is owned by Activision, Vicarious Visions, Toys For Bob, and Microsoft. Please support the official releases.
"Alright mates! Once we're ready, we're jumping into the portals, and grabbing those Crystals before Cortex, and that evil mask bloke does! We ready?!" Crash asked.
"Ready!" They all responded in unison.
Crash, and his friends, were now on the first island on the Time Twister, as they were choosing which of the five buttons that they would press, and go into one of the portals as a team.
They were going to make sure that they'll be able to stop Cortex once again, even if he is not alone this time, as he has some new friends of his. Particularly the scientist that created the Time Twister that they were going to put to use right now. As well as an evil mask that is known as Aku Aku's brother, Uka Uka himself. And he seemed like he was going to be a huge threat considering that he too is a powerful Shamen. But with Aku Aku on their side, they know they'll win if they try hard enough.
Now, the bandicoot gang was putting the Twister to use as they were ready to jump into the portal to which point in time, that still has the Crystals in it, as they made their decision on who was going in first.
Crash, and Tawna chose the first button, while Isabella and Megumi chose the second one, while Coco, and Nina chose the third button, while Ami and Liz chose the fourth one. Leaving Yaya to either choose the fifth portal to enter, or join any of them as the third teammate on their journey through their time portals. (All while Aku Aku was splitting off into spirits while he follows Crash, and Tawna.)
Yaya decided to join Coco, and Nina. Deciding that she'd rather be with her best friends, than to be alone on the fifth portal. Especially if she would protect them from the hazards, and enemies of their point in time.
Once they were all ready, they pressed the floor buttons, and jumped into the portals, one by one, as they began Crash's third journey, and their second journey with Crash, only this time, they were going through time.
With Crash, Aku Aku, and Tawna, they were flying through the vacuum of space, and time as they were shivering from the cold of their current flight through the time tunnel. They didn't think that travelling through space and time would be as cold as travelling through the snow back in their second adventure, if not slightly more.
But they didn't complain as they kept on flying towards their destination in time.
Suddenly though, they were now seeing a familiar face in Neo Cortex, who was appearing before them as Uka Uka was to his right.
"Crash Crash Crash, why must you, and your friends always muck in my mud?" Cortex asked in dismay, like he was feeling disappointed that Crash, and Tawna were now there, to fight against him, and Uka Uka this time.
"Well, why did you come back? Isn't that defeat we dealt to you back in your Space Station enough to have you retire from villainy?" Tawna asked, her hands on her hips in disappointment as she flew with Crash. All while Aku Aku glared at Uka Uka in defiance, which Uka Uka returned, with spite.
"Hmm… not really." Cortex casually said. Then he 'noticed' Uka Uka. "Oh look, I now have a mask helping me too. So, you both better be treading lightly, because we will find out which one is more powerful, soon enough." He then said menacingly, before vanishing.
Not that Tawna, Aku Aku, and Crash were bothered in the slightest at that tone, as they were continuing to fly through the time tunnel to their destination. Which was called Toad Village. And they seemed like they were going to end up in the Medieval Times, if the tents, the rope with a lot of triangular flags on it, and the dirt road was any indication. Not to mention the castle that was in the background.
Soon, they were out of the globe portal, and looked behind them, to see that indeed, they were in a place that was in the Medieval period. They just didn't know which kingdom they were in, as they looked around, seeing that they weren't far from a colorful tent that looked to be like a jester's, and across from the tent, was a house that was pretty fancy looking, having red shingles, white walls held together by round 2x4s, and even a chimney. It looked nice, for one that happens to be made in medieval times.
And there was a large castle that was in the distance, beyond the path that they were going to take, in between more of the tents that loitered the landscape. Obviously built like in the Medieval Times. Either way, this place looked beautiful to them. Even Aku Aku admired its beauty.
Both Bandicoots knew that they might need to head there for the Crystal, and probably the Gems, so they ran together through the dirt path that lead there while Aku Aku floated by.
Even though Crash was noticing some chickens that ran away from them whenever they approach it. He was tempted to chase after it in hopes that he could play with it, but Tawna grabbed his arm, before sternly staring at him alongside Aku Aku, as she waved her finger, nonverbally telling him not to chase those chickens, since they have no time for that. Which he conceded with as they continued onwards through the path.
Where they both jumped over what could be half of a log in their path, before seeing a Billy Goat that was walking side to side in their path. Which had Crash feeling tempted to pet it as he was jogging to it. "Hey look! A cute goat! Can I keep him?"
Much to Tawna's surprise, and concern, having learned about goats. "Wait, Crash! Don't!" She, and Aku Aku said.
Crash was slow to hear her, as he was about to pet the goat, only for the goat to launch him upwards into the sky. Before he then descended downwards.
"WHAAAA-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOIE!" He yelled out as he was descending, before hitting the dirt. Much to Tawna's horror, then chagrin as she was then glaring at the goat.
Who was now frightened as it tried to run, but Tawna clobbered the goat, before she then spun it away with her spin attack, sending it flying as Crash got up while shaking the stars out of his head.
"Hmph!" She huffed, before focusing on Crash. "Are you okay Crash? I hope the goat didn't hurt you to badly." She gently said, putting her hands on his head to have him focus on her.
"I'll be fine. It's not the first time I fell down." He said, getting the stars out of his vision.
Tawna was relieved as they were both on the move again. "Please don't assume that goats are friendly. Because I don't think they're in the mood for petting at this time." She spoke to him.
Crash obeyed as they ran in the water puddle together, continuing onwards through the path.
Which, had a bunch of humans, and anthropomorphic animals that was loitering the path as they were walking around, minding their own business, as they weren't crowding the path they were on, which made it easy for them to keep going without slowing down too much due to the gaps that they took between the people.
They were noticed by some of the folks though, as some of them either just looked on casually without much thought, or others were surprised to see a pair of Bandicoots running through the path. And there were others that looked on in shock at their direction. Mostly Tawna's direction, as she was, in their view, immodestly dressed to the point of nudity.
"My word. Put on some more clothes, madam." "Good gracious, give her a robe to cover herself!" "Give that poor naked girl a towel!" Was among the comments she heard from the folks that saw her passing by, due to her sleeveless top, and short shorts that she wore, which showed off her legs to them.
She ignored those comments though, since she knew that there is no point, nor time to strike back against those folks that accused her of being naked, just because she wore her current cloth. Besides, they should get used to it, and they should know that she's dressed modestly enough. Especially compared to Crash.
"Why is it that none of them are complaining about Crashie? He's literally shirtless." Tawna thought.
But she didn't think about it, as they just kept going onwards. Spinning away another goat that could've clobbered both him, and Tawna if they weren't careful.
They suddenly saw that there was a frog that was in the puddle that was in the way. It was a large frog that was larger than the normal sized ones that both Tawna, and Crash saw back on Wumpa Island with the Nitro Squad, and Coco. It even looked almost as large as them.
Both Bandicoots tried to pass around the frog, at least until it ended up suddenly dashing to Tawna. And before she knew it, she got kissed by the Frog, much to her surprise, and disgust when she felt its lips on hers. She tried to pry the frog off of her, but it wasn't easy due to the mucus.
All while Crash was livid at seeing that sight. While he too tried to pry it off.
Then suddenly, the frog ended up transforming in a flash, into a man who was well dressed like a prince. Yet he looked like one of the minions of Cortex and Brio's. Much to both Bandicoots' shock.
"Ah, I'm finally free from my curse of polymorphing." He spoke. "I thank you, fair maiden, for the freedom from my curse. Now I shall seek my vengeance on the wizard who has turned me into a repulsive creature. But first, may I know of your name, milady?"
Tawna didn't give him one. Instead, once her surprise ended, she merely glared at the man alongside Crash, before they proceeded to clobber the man together in a fight cloud, out of revenge for the kiss. While Aku Aku inwardly facepalmed at what was happening in front of him.
Once they were done, they proceeded onwards, leaving the prince-wannabe in a battered heap, with birds and rings flying around his head. "Was it something that I may have said to the fair Maiden?" He asked as they ran off.
Which was where they ended up seeing some knights that tried to lift their swords off the ground, but the swords were too heavy for them, and they only briefly got the swords off the ground before they get stuck on the ground again.
Neither Bandicoots felt like helping them with that. Especially since they too looked like Cortex's minions. Which they believed, was sent here by him, and that other scientist that made the Time Twister.
"You there, Bandicoots! Not another step, or once we get this sword out, we shall smite you where you both stand." He said, continuing to try to pull out the sword.
Neither Bandicoot felt threatened by him. Nor were they willing to obey, as they decided to simply run around him, once his sword was still on the ground. Just so that they won't get chopped in half.
They immediately crossed a nearby bridge, seeing some more houses, and tents, and some people that was just walking, until they came across another podium that had a platform on it.
"What's a platform like this doing here? And does it float like some of those other platforms in our past adventures?" She asked.
Crash shrugged. "If it's like a few of those bonus and death route platforms, then I suppose so. Only one way to find out."
"Right." She said as they both got on the platform. And soon, they were floating off of the dirt path, and was now floating upwards, and towards the right of the path they were on, and to another castle that they didn't notice.
Sure enough, it was a bonus platform. And they were soon running on the path on the castle catwalk, that had a bunch of boxes that was on it, for the Wumpa Fruit, before making it to the exit platform that they got onto to leave the bonus section which wasn't a long path that they took, and had only a few boxes that loitered that path.
Soon, they were back on the dirt path that they took, as they were on their way through the path towards where the Crystal should be.
On the castle, looking out of her room window, was a Duchess. Who was looking boredly at the land that surrounded her castle that she stood on the flat section of the roof of. And she looked… different.
She was a blonde Bandicoot, who had a ponytail hairstyle, wore a frilly dress, and some eyeshadow that showed off her status of a Duchess, along with her medieval dress. And she looked pretty similar to a certain blond-haired sibling of Crash's. Only she was born and raised in this timeline as a Duchess.
And she was simply staring out of her window, looking at the lands as she spoke with the knight, whom was female. And was another Bandicoot.
And she looks like Ami.
"Dear Duchess, I must stress that we must ensure that we have knights that can help protect you from whatever this world tries to throw at us." The Knight said.
"I know. But could there be a moment, where I can be free to explore this whole place, without being escorted? Surely the paths aren't dangerous for me." The Duchess said.
"Maybe so, but there could be thieves, and pickpockets among other dangers that is among the other folks. Not to mention those damned rogue knights with the letter N on their capes. You do know why you're safe here, do you?" Ami asked.
The Duchess nodded. "Because this castle ensures that I won't be stolen from or killed by bandits. But surely no bandit is on those paths."
"You'd be surprised. Especially when those guys led by that jerk with an N on his head, appeared." The Knight said. "Nevertheless, I understand why you'd be like this. Which is why you're allowed to travel with an escort at the least. Just try not to wander too far from your knights, and guards."
The Duchess smiled at her. "I won't." She spoke. "Even I know better than to be rebellious enough to try to escape this place, since I can definitely die out there." Coco said.
Which had the Knight smiling at her. "And that is why I am fond of being your trusted guard."
She smiled at her before continuing her look out into the land. When she suddenly saw something that caught her attention. Which also had her using a spyglass to look closer at what she was seeing.
Crash and Tawna was on the dirt path that led to the walls of the castle that the Duchess was on, as they were breaking a bunch of boxes together. Almost like they were looking for something in the boxes… or was breaking them for some other reason.
"Who are those figures? And why do they look… interesting?" She asked herself. Then she was paying attention to Tawna. "What kind of clothing is that shameless female, wearing?" She thought.
Nevertheless, they did look like friendly Bandicoots that she was seeing as they kept on going, obviously not attempting what she believes they are trying to do, as they were continuing onwards through the path.
With Crash and Tawna, they continued onwards ahead of them, continuing to break the boxes in their path, until they came to a bridge, where there was a Crystal that was on it. Unfortunately, it was guarded by a pair of knights. Both of which, were the minions of Cortex's, as shown by their banners that were Cortex's. As well as the armor decorations that were showing their affiliation to him.
And unlike the other knights that were attempting to wield the heavy swords, these knights had similar swords, yet was quite strong enough to hold those swords with more ease, compared to the others.
"Neither of you shall pass. Nor shall you gain this Crystal. Instead, either both of you surrender yourselves to Cortex, or die!" One of them said. While a couple more knights ended up joining the pair from the other side of the bridge.
It seemed that the forces of Cortex's have just barely found the Crystal first, and they were going to give it to Cortex once he comes along, when they came. Now they both knew that they just have to fight those knights for it.
"Ready Crashie?" Tawna asked, preparing for her fight.
"Ready as ever, my love." He then said, as their tattoos ended up glowing.
Which had the knights feeling surprised, and a bit weary of whatever the Bandicoots are planning to do to them, as it couldn't be anything good. (For them at least.)
Sure enough, the Bandicoots zoomed to them as fast as a race car. And before they knew it, the Bandicoots gave them uppercuts to send them flying upwards. Before they roundhouse kicked the other knights to send them over the edge of the bridge. Showing off their increased strength, that seemed to be given to them by the tattoos on them.
Which was one of the powers that they gained from the tattoos courtesy of Aku Aku's Mojo magic training. Along with some others that they could put to use in the nearest future. Especially the power to possess the Titans, and use them as their steeds once they meet some. So far, they had yet to meet them, but there was other powers that they have from the tattoos that they forgot to mention to Papu Papu back on Wumpa Island.
This is one of those powers.
And they were putting them to good use against the Knights, who tried to fight back. And even though they did end up getting in some shots in, particularly on Crash with their shield bash, they were only minor, and both Bandicoots were quite flexible enough to dodge their strikes. Particularly Crash.
Whom, easily jumped over one of the knights to kick another one in the face, before taking his shield to parry the aforementioned knight's sword strike on him, before he then kicked him in the chest to knock him down. Meanwhile, Tawna dodged another sword strike, before socking another knight in the face, feeling relieved that his helmet left his face exposed. Before she then kicked another knight upside his head, making him fall off the bridge when he tried to guard the Crystal from her, and Crash.
And there was another Knight that also tried to kill Tawna, only for her to punch him in the nose, before uppercutting him too, which not only sent him flying, but also knocked a gem out of his armor, much to her surprise at seeing another Gem like this, as she decided to have Aku Aku hold it for safekeeping until their fight is done.
Soon, their fight ended in the Bandicoots' victory. As they briefly celebrated their victory, with Aku Aku smiling proudly at them, before taking the Gem, and the Crystal, before continuing onwards through the dirt path, breaking more boxes, while avoiding the bottomless pits that was on the dirt path.
All while little did they know, the Duchess, and her knight witnessed the battle against the knights after the latter had her attention on them due to the Duchess telling her and proving it to her. And, having seen that the knights weren't theirs, they were impressed that the Bandicoots were able to beat those knights without any use of their swords.
"Did you see that, Duchess? I didn't think that they could do that against them." The Knight said.
"Neither did I. But they proved us wrong." The Duchess said. "And did you notice that those markings on them, were glowing?"
"I noticed too. What are they?" The Knight said, looking at their trek that went closer to the castle that they were on.
"I don't know. I hope to meet them sometime." The Duchess said, seeing them getting closer. Probably wanting to enter the castle.
Only for a Globe to suddenly appear in front of Crash, Aku Aku, and Tawna before they then entered it, and vanished inside it. Much to the surprise of the Duchess, and the Knight.
"Or… maybe someday." The Duchess said, hoping that she can still meet them again, regardless.
Which, the Knight admittedly echoed, since she felt that they could be friendly. But only Time would tell at this point.
Indeed, only Time would tell.
And done.
Sorry that this chapter was short. I wanted to get this out before November ends. But still, I have some interesting ideas for the Warped arc.
Like the one at the end of this chapter. Where the Duchess that looks like Coco, is an Ancestor of the Bandicoots' as well as the knight. And later on, they're going to meet the gang face to face.
And so will the other ancestors that they'll meet in the future. That's my idea for this fic.
Finally one more thing.
I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,
please give constructive criticism,
do not forget to read and review,
and once again, I do not own Crash Bandicoot, it was created by Naughty dog, and is owned by Activision, Vicarious Visions, Toys For Bob, and Microsoft. Please support the official releases.
Theodore the poet signing out.