[Republished, because it was deleted previously for personal reasons].

I want to clarify that this is my first fanfic, so I am a newbie about writing stories. This will be a kind of alternative story, since the events when Tawna leaves Crash for Pinstripe (which I don't consider as canon) will take place after Crash Team Racing instead of before Crash Bandicoot 2 like in the Japanese mangas. I chose Megumi because she and Crash have very similar personalities, so they would get along pretty well.

If you find any grammatical error, you can inform me. I will correct it as soon as posible.

All characters belongs to Activision.

Chapter 1 - Disappointments

It has been 6 months since Crash Bandicoot, hero of Earth, had defeated the evil Nitros Oxide in a race for the survival of the planet. Now everything was almost peace and quiet.

Crash, along with Coco and Aku Aku, had been away over the weekend while Tawna, Crash's girlfriend, took care of the house and their pets Polar, Pura and Baby-T. In the center of Wumpa Island, there was a huge residential area called Wumpa City. In it, a conference was held with the super-geniuses of the entire planet, to which Coco had been invited thanks to her last experiment of 4 months ago: a machine called "Project C", pretty similar to the Evolvo-Ray, which she used to successfully operate her brother's brain to grant him the ability to speak, but leaving his personality and appearance intact.

Crash considers these events terribly boring, but he had another reason to accompany Coco to the city and not just because of this experiment: Crash planned to propose Tawna and was looking for a ring.

Since Crash and Aku Aku rescued her from the hands of the evil doctor Neo Cortex a few years ago, Tawna has lived with these two since then, even when Coco and their current pets joined the group.

During the time that Nitros Oxide threatened Earth, they met four bandicoot girls, who would be in charge of delivering the trophies to the winners of each race circuit. A short time later, Tawna and these four girls would form the Nitro Squad, a group of professional kart racers, which was very successful in its beginnings.

Crash and his family seemed very happy, or so others believed.

Lately, Tawna has been very distant with Crash. She was no longer as affectionate as before and was stressed most of the time. A month ago, the two had a private talk, where she told him that she wanted more than just a courtship. She wanted a promising future to make their relationship work.

From that awkward moment, Crash seemed to understand what she meant. After all, he loves her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, so he decided to take the big step.

After the conference ended, the sky was already getting dark. The two siblings and the magic mask were returning home through the jungle in the Bandibuggy. While Coco was driving, she could see her nervous brother in the passenger seat looking at the ring she got him in a jewelry store. It was gold with a purple diamond embedded.

"Big brother, are you all right?" Coco asked a little worried. "You seem very uneasy."

"I'm fine, Coco" Crash laughed to hide his nervousness. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm just a little dizzy."

"Don't worry, son" Aku Aku said with a reassuring smile. "It is normal to be nervous at such a moment like this. You are going to propose to Tawna. Don't worry, I'm sure you two will be very happy together."

"He's right, brother" Coco said. "Besides, you know if you need help, you can count with us. You have all our support."

"Thank you guys" said Crash, whose mood improved by his family's words. "You are right. Tawna and I love each other. We will be the happiest couple in the world!"

"Stop right there, Romeo" Coco laughed a little at her brother's reactions. "First the proposition, then singing victory."

"Oh, right" Crash laughed while being a little blushed.

The rest of the trip was quiet, not before Coco gave a few tips on how to propose to a girl. The moment was a bit embarrassing for Crash, but Aku Aku had a lot of fun seeing his reactions.

After returning home, they were happily received by their three pets.

"Hello guys! We are back!" Coco said while hugging Pura.

Polar and Baby-T literally knocked Crash down to cuddle him. They had missed him a lot.

"Calm down guys, we were only out for a weekend" Crash said happily, calming his two pets. "I missed you too".

"Tawna, we're back!" Aku Aku called Crash's girlfriend, but no voice was heard. "Tawna?"

The mask called her again, but no one still said anything. The three were confused.

"This is strange" said Crash. It wasn't normal of her to not receive them as usual. "I'm going to look for her."

Crash went to check in the room of his beloved bandicoot. He thought that, perhaps, she was asleep and had not heard them, since it had happened to him many times with his daily naps. But, when he went to check, Tawna wasn't there either. Instead, he saw that her belongings were gone.

"Guys, I can't find her!" Crash got very scared as he returned to the living room where everyone was. "Tawna's things are not even in her room. Where could she have gone so late?"

While Coco was thinking about what was happening, she noticed something strange with Pura and the other pets. Since they heard Tawna being mentioned, they looked sad.

"Pura" Coco said softly. "What happened here? Do you and others know where Tawna is?"

With that question, Polar decided to walk to the fireplace, where there was a shelf with photos of the whole family, including one with their friends from Nitro Squad. The bear pointed to the photo of Tawna, where next to it was a letter.

"Huh? What is this?" Coco said while opening the letter.

After analyzing the content a bit, she read aloud so that others could hear it:

Crash, I'm so sorry, but I can't keep up with this. Our relationship does not work.

I need to be with someone mature, who knows what he wants and who is in a position to give himself a good future. Sadly, you are not that person, but I don't want to blame you for this situation.

A few days ago, I was contacted by Pinstripe Potoroo, who offered me a decent life if I went with him. I had to accept, but I have my reasons.

I haven't told Ami and the others, but our Nitro Squad financial actions are in crisis. For a reason we don't know, somebody has boycotted our funds and we urgently need money. The team is the only thing I have left, and without the money Pinstripe has in his possession we cannot finance ourselves.

I know I sound selfish, but I do it for our own good, and for my friends.

Again, I'm so sorry Crash, but our relationship is over. It had no future.

I hope you understand this.

*Tawna.

Everyone was shocked when Coco finished reading. Not only Tawna was coward enough to break up with Crash through a letter, but she left him for Pinstripe, one of Dr. Cortex's biggest lackeys.

"THAT DAMN BITCH!" Coco shouted furiously. "How dare she talk about my brother like that?!"

"Coco, calm down and watch your language. You're scaring Polar and the others" Aku Aku said pointing at them.

Seeing the reaction of her pets, Coco took a deep breath a few times and calmed down, but all attention soon focused on Crash, who was still in shock processing everything that had just happened. However, his perplexed face then went on to an inexpressive one.

"Crash?" Aku Aku asked, worried about his adopted son. "Are you okay?"

"Excuse me… I need to be alone" said Crash, dropping the engagement ring to the floor.

"Crash, wait ..." Coco tried to stop him. She wanted to talk to him and try to cheer him up, but he ignored her and locked himself in his room. Everyone knew that this news affected him deeply.