The sun was setting on Los Angeles, as the city was getting ready for the saturday night, Isabella was returning to her house in her car. It was her birthday and she wanted to get ready for all of her friends to come and have a good time… Well, some of them at least, as most people she invited weren't really her friends, but people with influence that would help her become a bigger star in Hollywood.

Isabella: "Another boring birthday…" She said with a defeated tone. "But at least Sue and Liz are coming too."

Once she arrived, as the blonde star was entering her house, she was received by her manager, and was happy to see her.

Susan: "There is the birthday-girl! Gimme a hug, sis."

Isabella: "Hey, thanks Sue!" As she hugged her friend. "And thank you again for helping me set up my place for today's party."

Susan: "Don't mention it. We are getting everything ready for your special day, go get yourself prettier and relax, we got everything covered."

Isabella nodded in appreciation and went upstairs so she could be ready for when the guests arrived.

At the same time, in Santa Monica pier, Liz just finished her last photo shoot of that day and was in one of the shops that served as a dressing room. Before she exited her room, she stopped by the entrance and searched her bag for a little purple box with a golden ribbon over it, and she opened it revealing a platinum necklace with a sapphire gem shaped like a heart as a pendant.

Liz: "I know it's not the best gift ever, but I hope you like it, Izzy." She thought happily.

Many memories came to the brunette model's mind. She remembered the first time she met Isabella, and the fact that they didn't like each other that much at first, but after getting to know each other, they became friends in no time. Liz also recalled that her friend didn't have the same taste as her when it came to fashion, as Isabella always preferred simpler and more discreet clothing and jewlery.

Without noticing, she also started to remember the other girls, and got sadder the more she thought about them. She didn't like to admit it, but she missed them a lot, even after the big fight they had the last time they saw each other.

Liz: "I wonder how are you doing in your lives, girls." She sighed.

Suddenly, a window was heard breaking, and took out the brunette bandicoot out of her thoughts abruptly. She turned quickly towards the noise and spotted that one of the small windows close to the roof was broken. But what caught her attention the most, was a purple light shining on top of one of the support beams, close to the broken window.

Liz: "What was that? And what is that over there?" She said to herself as she got a little closer and spotted a gem, shaped like a pyramid, and shining in a bright purple light.

Liz couldn't help but feel really curious about it, and wanted to check if she could get to said rock.

Liz: "Hmmm… Who would throw an expensive gem away just to cause some trouble?" She suspected at first. "Ah well, mine now." She said while leading to a ladder at the other side of the room.

As she left her bag to a side of the pillar under the beam, she set the ladder to the other side and started climbing up towards the glowing gem. When she was about to touch it, she gasped as she lost her balance and grabbed the beam to avoid falling, but the ladder fell to the ground and the purple gem into her bag.

Liz: "Okay, that was close." She said while carefully climbing down the pillar by some of it's edges.

When she got back to the ground, she headed to her bag and found the rock glowing intensely. The bandicoot girl was hypnotized by it and felt the urge to grab it.

Liz: "What kind of gem… Is this?"

But as soon as she placed her hand on top of it, the gem shocked the brunette with it's energy. For a few seconds, the whole place seemed to "stretch" like if Liz was traveling at the speed of light. She screamed in pain as she tried to let go of the gem desperately, and when she managed to do so, she was sent flying and fell on her back as her bag was thrown further behind.

Liz: "Ow. Bloody hell… What did just happen?" She said while sitting, holding her head.

As she took a look around, she realized she wasn't in the changing room anymore, but that place seemed familiar. It was a bedroom, but it had plenty of beds around, like it was a guests room. "Where am I?" She asked quietly to herself while slowly standing up, but another voice was heard from the other side of a door close to where she was.

Voice: "Hello? Is anybody in here?" Said in a feminine tone, which sounded familiar to Liz.

The door slowly opened up revealing no other than Isabella herself, wearing an elegant aqua dress, blue stiletto shoes and some make-up.

Isabella: "Liz? What are you doing here? Are you okay?" She said in a worried tone, as she saw Liz was struggling to get on her feet.

Liz: "Isabella? Where are we?" She asked still dazed, as her friend got closer to help her.

Isabella: "We are in my house, how did you-"

Liz: "Wait, what? Your house?" She interrupted Isabella.

The brunette bandicoot started to look around the place, as she couldn't believe what was going on.

Isabella: "Uhm, yes, thats what I said. What happened? Are you hurt?"

Liz: "But I… I was in the studio… W-what's this?" She said nervously.

Isabella: "...Okay… I think you hit your head a little too hard. Come with me, the other guests are about to arrive."

Seeing that Isabella wouldn't believe her, Liz decided to downplay it for now and figure out what happened later. She took her bag and got out of the room with her blonde friend.

The Eau de 'Coot perfume factory was really silent as almost everyone ended their shifts and went home already, the scene was pretty much dark, some lights passed through the factory's big windows giving the scene a faint illumination. Steps were heard at one of the catwalks over the many big boilers the building had, where a certain scientist bandicoot girl remained thoughtful and with concern in her face.

"I don't like this, I've been zoning out too much recently." Megumi thought, trying to desperately think of a way to reunite the team. "I want to call them so bad, but they would just not listen to me… Why do they have to be so stubborn?"

The young scientist was in need of her friends, being a CEO of an important company along with the ridiculous wealth that came with it sounded good at first, but it's a lonely way of living when you don't have the people you trust the most by your side, because she knew how hard it was to find trustable people in this world, even for Megumi herself.

Megumi: "There has to be a way, they can't be angry forever." She said to herself. "...Right?" Asked in an insecure tone.

While she was lost in her mind, she realized that the room was brighter than before, in an unsual way. Once she came back to reality, the blue haired bandicoot decided to get closer to the source of the light.

Megumi: "Did they leave a flashlight on in there?"

To her surprise, when she got closer to that particular boiler, it wasn't a flashlight what was lighting up the room, but a strange shining gem in a shape of a pyramid, floating right above one of the open tanks with a hot mix for the perfumes.

Megumi: "Is that a gem? And why is it floating over there?" She asked herself as she got closer by the catwalk.

The glowing rock was under one of the sides of the catwalk, it was right above the center of the tank. Megumi felt so curious that she wanted to grab the gem so she can study it later.

Megumi: "I've never seen a gem of this kind." She then took a look at the hot mixing tank under it, if she fell, it would not be a pleasant swim. "I have to find my way to it." She sentenced with determination.

She got carefully to the other side of the railing and slowly got herself under the catwalk, she was closer to the floating gem, but she had to get lower to reach it.

Megumi: "Almost… There." As she stretched her arm for the glowing rock.

And finally, she succeded and reached the gem, but didn't expect the following shock that struck her hard enough to let go of the catwalk's railing, making her fall down to the hot perfume mix in the tank underneath. The young bandicoot girl's eyes widened in horror as she was falling to what could be a certain death. She closed her eyes expecting the worst, but when she was just about to touch the hot mix, the fall suddenly stopped.

Megumi slowly opened her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She was floating by nothing but a few centimeters over the tank.

Megumi: "U-uhh… A-am I dead?" She said in a trembling tone, and right afterwards pinched her own arm. "Ow!... O-okay, I'm not." She realized.

The young scientist wasn't able to think for a logical answer to what was happening to her, she was somehow floating right over the tank.

Megumi: "I have to g-get out of here… But, h-how?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Megumi then decided to try "swimming" away from the tank, she did it in a slow and clumsy way, but was able to get to a safer spot while still floating. As soon as she got out of the tank's limits, suddenly, she fell again, but this time to the ground, and on her rear.

Megumi: "Ouch…" She groaned, and slowly got up. "What did just-"

Male voice: "Miss Bandicoot!"

One of the security guards spotted her boss laying in the ground and rushed to her aid. Megumi quickly hid the gem, which was still on her hand.

Security guard: "Are you okay miss? Are you hurt?"

Megumi: "No no, I'm okay." She pretended like nothing happened.

Security guard: "What happened?"

Megumi: "What, here? I-I just tripped, that's all, heh!"

She knew the man wouldn't believe her.

Security guard: "Are you sure? I can call the doctor if you-"

Megumi: "No, don't worry! It's okay, i-it was just a little accident." She interrupted the guard, and quickly walked away. "Have a good night!"

Security guard: "...All right…" He said, dumbfounded. "But don't hesitate to call me if you need something, boss!"

Megumi: "Okay, thank you!" She answered in the distance.

When she got to a safe distance, Megumi took out the gem to check it again. This time, it was not glowing, it looked like one of the regular gems that Crash found through his adventures, but in a pyramidal shape.

Megumi: "I have no idea what just happened, but I have to investigate further." The blue haired scientist said, while heading back to her office.

Back in Interlagos, the final qualification session was coming to an end as a certain green haired driver went for a final try around the circuit.

Scott (radio): "Okay, Ami. There is less than 3 minutes remaining in this session, and you're half second away from the Pole. This next lap is your final try."

Ami: "It's enough time, I won't let this dude get away with it."

The bandicoot was just one position below her teammate, and didn't want to lose the pole position to him.

Scott (radio): "You have to admit, David has got some moves too, mate."

Ami: "But not enough to beat me." Sentenced with determination.

Ami has always shown a fierce attitude when it came to racing, didn't matter if she did it in the karts or in the top level open wheelers, winning was winning and there was nothing that could change her mind.

This mindset came along with both benefits and trouble, the fans and sponsors loved it, increasing the value of the green haired driver in the market and therefore her chances of becoming one of the best racers of all time, but at the same time, she didn't do well with her relationships, both with the teams she drove for and with the other drivers. She didn't mind as long as the spotlight was on her by the end of the day.

Scott (radio): "Give it your best shot, Ames." He said as soon as the lap began.

Ami nailed the first sector with ease, taking a flawless line around the first corners and saving a precious time.

Ami: "Told you, I got this." She scoffed.

Scott (radio): "Watch that overconfidence." He warned.

The second sector was doing pretty well for the young racer, but the car went a little loose of control over the last kerb and resulted in a notable time loss.

Scott (radio): "It's Okay, keep it up."

Ami: "Damn it, what went wrong with this car?" As she hit the steering wheel with anger.

Scott (radio): "Don't get distracted, you still have-"

Ami: "Dude, what's up with these fixes? The car didn't do this shit before!"

Scott (radio): "The car is just like it should, Ami. We will discuss it later, just focus now." He said in a serious tone.

"I hate these shit parts." She thought.

Not wanting to lose more time, Ami rushed through the third and last sector of the circuit, she again went for a perfect line during the last corners and went for the final stretch. It was about to be a tight finish as her time was pretty close to the best time, and right when she crossed the line, the session ended with no more time for more laps.

Ami: "Well, so how did I do?" She asked her engineer.

Scott (radio): "Okay Ami, so it was a time of 1:07.5, one tenth faster than the previous best. It's P1 for you."

Ami: "Yes! In your face David! That was quite a-"

Scott (radio): "Hold on. Marc wants to say something."

She didn't have a good feeling.

Marc (radio): "Ami, what was that?" He said in an angry tone.

Ami: "What do you mean? I got the Pole!"

Marc (radio): "And again you let down your engineers, too. You know this is a team sport, right?"

Ami: "What did you expect with these b-class wings, man? Yet I still beat everyone else!" She replied back.

Marc (radio): "Ami. We will have a serious talk when you get back to the garage, your team deserves some credit too, since those b-class wings you got still took you to the top of the grid thanks to their effort. It's not just the driver who makes the magic."

Ami: "But what about-"

Marc (radio): "No buts. Take care of the car on the way back and for the last time, cool your head down, missy."

The joy didn't last too long for Ami, and got grumpy on the way back to the pits. She started cursing inside her head and didn't want to have a lecture for an 'unfair' change of plans prior to the session.

But while she was entering the second sector during the in-lap, a lime-green light disturbed her vision, making it hard to see and dangerous as she was driving at 240 Km/h.

Ami: "Uhh… Is some random asshole pointing a laser at me or what?"

She tried to spot the source of the light, but it was hard with it being directed at her helmet's visor. "Can't see a thing" she thought while still speeding at one of the straights, unaware of a tight corner coming up. With no prior warning, Ami got a big hit on her helmet out of nowhere, followed by a painful shock.

The young driver got desperate as she tried to take out whatever was stuck in her helmet, right above the right side of her visor, while she was still being struck by it. As soon as she was able to take it out and the pain stopped, she saw it was some pyramid-like lime green gem, and took out a good chunk of her helmet and the halo of the car. When she looked back to the road, it was too late as the corner was already right there.

Ami: "Shit!" As she turned the wheel to the left.

There was no time for reactions, the car got off the track and hit the tire wall at more than 200 Km/h leaving a big cloud of dust in the process.

Scott (distorted radio): "Ami, are you okay? Please confirm."

When the dust came down, the car was severely torn up, the right side took the worst part of it and Ami could be seen in the cockpit with her helmet damaged by the impact with the gem, which was lost during the crash. The young driver wasn't moving or responding to her engineer, and the marshalls and paramedics rushed to her aid.

It was night time already in Los Angeles, and all the guests had arrived at Isabella's house for her birthday party. Liz was coming out of the dressing room, she asked Susan to pick up some clothes from her mansion as the brunette model didn't have time to change after what happened to her before. Both her friends were waiting for her outside.

Liz: "So, how do I look?" As she posed with dark purple leggings, a beige fuzzy sweater and beige high heel shoes.

Susan: "Stunning, Liz!" As she did a little clap.

Isabella: "That will do. We better get back outside, everyone is already here."

Everyone nodded and went outside the house and into the garden. The place was filled with plenty of flowers and victorian style benches and various decorations, along with a big fountain of the same style in the middle and a big sized pool surrounded by bushes at the other side of the garden.

Some famous actors got close to Isabella and wanted to greet her for her birthday.

Isabella: "Make yourself at home girls, I will be with you later." As she went with the other group.

Liz and Susan got to the fountain to do some small talk, but then, the blonde bandicoot's manager asked the guest about what happened earlier.

Liz: "You wouldn't believe me, mate."

Susan: "It can't be that hard to explain, I mean you can't just appear out of nowhere in the guests room, right?"

Liz: "Uhm, yeah… And what if I told you that did happen?"

Susan: "Oh come on, that's not true Liz, just tell me!" She laughed.

Liz: "I'm telling you the truth, Sue." She replied.

Susan: "What do you mean?" She asked doubtfully.

Liz: "Well… So, I was in the pier, doing a 'shooting today, and then..."

While Liz was explaining what happened to Susan, Isabella went for a little walk around the garden, greeting everyone for coming, but this exhausted the actress a little, as she knew none of these people were her real friends, so she went for a walk around the pool to clear her mind.

"I wonder how the rest of the girls are doing" She thought to herself. It's not that she didn't enjoy Liz and Susan's company, but she missed the old days, when her friends and also teammates were there for her, and she didn't have to rely on snobs that barely knew her. These thoughts were interrupted when a not-so-friendly female voice spoke to her.

Voice: "So here she is, the little miss star wannabe."

Isabella turned around only to see a certain Hollywood star she didn't like at all.

Isabella: "What? Phoebe? What do you want and what are you doing in my house?" She asked annoyed.

Phoebe: "Came to say hi to the b-day girl of course, and to remind you of your useless efforts to become a succesful star, I mean why they would choose you, a dirt-diggin rat, when they could give the spotlight to the best actress around here?"

The girl's mockery made Isabella angry.

Isabella: "Because I don't need a bed to show my skills to the directors, best actress." She snapped back.

Phoebe: "What did you just said to me, bitch?!"

Isabella: "Don't play dumb, everyone saw the video Phoebe, you were in everyone's phone and then you dare to talk crap about me in the gossip show?"

While the actresses continued arguing, Liz and Susan entered the scene, as the bandicoot model suspected something was happening to her friend when she saw her enter the pool area. Susan was trying to stop the fight between those two, but something else caught Liz's attention, the water was shining in an unusual blue, some 'sparks' were coming out of it, like if it was electrified, and the blonde bandicoot was really close to the edge. When she got closer, she saw the exact same shining gem she found earlier, but blue-colored.

Suddenly, her bag started shining purple, and she remembered that the other gem was still in there. When she realized what it was, she didn't have time to react and warn Isabella about what was about to happen.

Phoebe: "I will teach you some manners, you slut!"

Liz: "Wait, no!"

Right after that, Phoebe pushed Isabella and she fell backwards into the pool. The young actress was instantly shocked when she touched the water, and couldn't move or swim away from it, the pain was so big that she fainted while still underwater. Liz didn't think it twice and went for her friend's rescue, even if she would get electrocuted as well, she took off her shoes, dropped her bag and quickly got into the pool.

The brunette bandicoot swam her way to her blonde friend and took her out of the water, as Phoebe slowly backed off the scene.

Susan: "Girls, get out of there, quickly!"

Liz got out of the pool with Isabella in her arms, and then laid her on the floor. To her surprise, she didn't get shocked too by the blue rock.

Liz: "Isabella? Isabella answer me!"

The actress didn't respond.

Liz: "Susan, call an ambulance, quick!"

Susan: "O-okay okay, I'm on it!" She answered nervously.

Liz: "Come on Izzy, don't do this. Wake up!"

But Isabella didn't answer back. The girls kept trying to wake up their friend but nothing happened. All they could do was to wait for the help to arrive and pray for Isabella's well being.

Author's note: So yeah, I decided to split the first chapter into two because I thought it would be too long. I hope you enjoyed this introduction and be free to leave your comments and suggestions for future chapters. See you soon!