*Chapter 7: Native Fortress*
The village is incredibly peaceful, but to Crash it looks creepy. There are big straw huts and a central hut houses around him when being dragged by the guards. The other villagers turn to see him. Small children hid behind their mothers and fathers, speaking in a language that Crash still didn't understand. He can also hear the music and singing from the left side of the village. There is a hog pen on the right. Crash turned back to see the other natives who came in with food and dead animals in the different hut. He gulped a bit.
"Ohh..." Crash moaned nervously. He looked up to see a big hut with feathers, bones, and tikis around. The native guards push Crash inside the hut and block the exit. On the throne, there is an overweight chief, holding a staff. Next to him, there is a young girl with black hair in a braid. Crash looked up at the chief who look down at him with his dark eyes.
"What is this creature who enters my village?" He spoke. The native guard step forward and bow his head at his leader.
"Papu Papu, this is a creature that could be from that mad man, Cortex. He approached to the gate and we must bring him here." He said. Crash scratched his left ear. Papu Papu stares at him.
"Who are you, you evil creature of that mad man from outside our island?" He asked. Crash lowered his ears at him. He tried to tell he came in peace, but no sound came out of him. The native girl turned back to the chief.
"He could not talk, father." She spoke. "I believe he doesn't mean any harm."
"Anything from that mad man is an enemy, my daughter. This creature cannot be trusted." Papu Papu spoke. He spoke to his tribesmen to take Crash away to tie him to the stack in the village in his native language. Crash whimpered as he was taken out of the hut. The girl made a pity look in her eyes.
XX
Crash is tied to the stake, surrounded by spears pointing at him while the villagers are preparing things for him. Crash doesn't know what is going to happen, but he knows it's not good. He looked around for Aku Aku, but he is nowhere to be found. Maybe the mask is planning something to get Crash out of this situation. Crash turned to his left to see a small child looking at him in silent. The bandicoot gave him a friendly smile, but the child didn't do anything. Crash sighed a bit, lowering his head.
"Hello, bandicoot." A female voice greeted. Crash looked up to see the girl from Papu Papu's hut. She held a bowl with water with both hands. She kneeled down to give Crash water who drinks it gracefully. "My name is Tia'ka. I'm a daughter of Papu Papu." She said as she brought the bowl back from Crash's mouth. "Do you have a name, bandicoot?" Crash nodded at her, but he couldn't write it down for her or speak it. Tia'ka petted his brown hair. "I know you are scared. When you came in my father's hut, I see that you are not dangerous. But, is it true that you are part of the mad man outside the island?" She asked. Crash nodded a bit. "I see. That Cortex ruins this island by putting those strange looking boxes around. We hardly have any food because of them. No animals or fruit anywhere." She told him. Crash listened to her. This village is short on meals. Crash feels bad for this village.
"Tia'ka!" A voice yelled from behind. The girl turned back to see Papu Papu with his three tribesmen. He spoke to her in a native language like he is scolding her about something, using his staff to point at Crash. Tia'ka turned back to Crash and whispered to him.
"I'll find a way to get you out. You don't deserve this." She told him. She stood up and went around the spears to join her father. Crash watched the natives and the chief leave him. One old native woman stood outside the spears and throws the strange smelling red liquid with one hand at him. Crash shuts his eyes, grunting a little at the liquid. What is that stuff? He hears the chant of the old woman. After a minute, the old woman stopped and walked away with the bowl with the red liquid. Crash knows it's not blood, it's something else.
"Yuck..." Crash groaned, shaking his head. The smell on him is bad.
XX
Tia'ka walked down to the river to gather more water, but she hears something around here. Nothing is seen but butterflies and birds around. The girl gathered the water, but just as she turned around to see Aku Aku floating in front of her. Tia'ka gasped and dropped the bowl, water spilt on the grass.
"Fear not, young one. I am the Great Aku Aku, here to save a dear friend of him in order to save the islands and save his sister from the clutches of Dr. Cortex." Aku Aku spoke. Tia'ka's jaw dropped and bowed.
"The legends are true. You are the wise witch doctor! The Great Aku Aku." She said. "I am not worthy."
"Is the bandicoot named Crash inside the village? He hasn't been eaten by the natives yet, has he?" Aku Aku asked.
"Crash? You mean the orange bandicoot?" Tia'ka asked. "Well, if that is his name, he is unharmed for now. He doesn't seem dangerous to me and I want to help him get out of this village."
"Then we must get Crash out of your village before-" Aku Aku paused when he hears drums and chants in the village. Tia'ka made a face of horror. "Oh no. They are going to cook him!" Aku Aku said.
"I must stop them before it's too late! Aku Aku, you must come with me and tell my father and my people to release Crash!" Tia'ka said. She ran back to her village while Aku Aku flew above her to get to the spot where Crash is tied up.
The tribesmen are chanting, playing the drums as Crash is watching them in confusion. Then, Papu Papu took a step forward and turned to his people, speaking to them in a native language. The tribesmen let out a yell, raising their spears in the air. Crash gasped when he watches Papu Papu raises his staff as he turned to him. Crash shuts his eyes, preparing for the hit, but he hears a voice from the crowd.
"Stop!" Tia'ka yelled, pushing through the natives. Papu Papu turned to his daughter. "This shall not happen! Crash Bandicoot is innocent! Release him now, father!" Tia'ka said. Crash smiled at her. She is on his side for sure and she is helping him get out of this mess.
"This bandicoot will be our biggest meal." Papu Papu said. "A sacrifice must be made." Before Tia'ka could protest, a golden light appears above the stake, blinding the natives who spoke in confusion but in alarm. There is Aku Aku surrounded by golden light, glaring down at the tribesmen. Crash couldn't see what was happening, but all he see was beams of gold light.
"People of this Native Fortress!" Aku Aku spoke. "It is I, the wise Aku Aku, here to tell you to release the bandicoot!" The tribesmen gasped when they hear the name of the ancient mask and bow before him. Crash smiled a little at them. Papu Papu looked up at the mask in shock.
"The Great Aku Aku. The legends are true. Your soul is inside the mask you have created years ago. And you are here..." He said. "With all due respect, great one, but this bandicoot is from the mad man. There are creatures like this one. He must be devoured so my people won't be afraid."
"Crash Bandicoot is innocent, Papu Papu." Aku Aku said. "Release him. He is going to save your island and the second with me to bring peace in this world, and we will stop Cortex from taking over the world. He has harmed enough." Papu Papu stared at him, then at Crash, then at his daughter who made a nod at him. He let out a sigh and command his tribesman who is next to the bandicoot to release him from the stack. The tribesman obeyed and cut the ropes. Crash smiled and stretched out his arms.
"Thank you, father." Tia'ka said. Aku Aku came down by Crash's side.
"Are you alright, Crash? They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asked. Crash shook his head, smiling. He brought the mask in his arms to hug him. "Oh!" Aku Aku said in shock. Crash nuzzled him a little. "Crash, I know you are grateful, but can you release me?" Aku Aku asked. Crash lets him ago.
Suddenly, yelling is heard from the entrance. The natives ran away in panic. Crash turned to see a blue kangaroo hopping through the village in a straightjacket, throwing TNTs and Nitro crates around. He is laughing manically at everyone and at the sounds of explosions. Crash recognized him. Ripper Roo.
"What is that?" Tia'ka asked in fear. Papu Papu told his people to be in their shelters for safety in a native language and he will take care of Ripper Roo. Crash and Aku Aku followed the chief and his daughter to their hut while Ripper Roo is hopping around laughing his head off. Crash peeked out to see the blue kangaroo continue to throw TNTs around the village. Papu Papu left his hut, gripping on his staff with a grim look on his face.
"I will kill that creature myself." He said, walking down from his hut. Crash and Tia'ka watched the leader walking towards the dangerous kangaroo. Ripper Roo hopped towards him and uses his long, sharp nails on his feet to scratch Papu Papu's stomach. The chief didn't look like he is in pain. He uses his staff to hit Ripper Roo, but missed when the blue kangaroo hopped away from the strike. He hopped around the chief and hopped on his head. Papu Papu yelled and fall on his face. Ripper Roo laughed at him, spinning around in victory.
"Father, no!" Tia'ka cried. She ran from the hut and get to him, but Crash pulled her back, shaking his head at her. Aku Aku came by her side.
"It's too dangerous, Tia'ka! That creature could kill you! Let Crash handle this one!" Aku Aku said. But, Ripper Roo hopped away to exit the village by hopping on each hut to get over the gates. His laughter echoes in the skies. Aku Aku float over to Papu Papu and shut his eyes in concentration. The body of the chief is glowing. Papu Papu groaned a bit, holding his head and got up. The scratches on his stomach is gone. Tia'ka ran over to him.
"Father, are you alright?" She asked.
"Yes, my daughter." He said. Aku Aku faces them returning by Crash's side.
"Crash, do you know that strange kangaroo?" He asked. "What is his name?" Crash picked up the stick and wrote the name of the blue kangaroo down. Aku Aku and the chief watched in silent. After Crash is finished, he turned to see the damage of the village. At least no one got hurt. "Ripper Roo is the name. He could be damaging the island. We must go after him, Crash." Aku Aku said. But Crash turned to Papu Papu and Tia'ka. He extended his hand out to them, smiling at them. Aku Aku turned to them who stared in confusion. "He wants to shake your hand. He wishes you farewell." He said.
"Ahh. So you really are an innocent one, bandicoot." Papu Papu said. He shook Crash's hand. Tia'ka went up to him and embraced him. Crash returned the hug.
"Best of luck, Crash. But please come back to visit us. You are welcome here anytime." She said. Crash smiled in thanks.
"Wish you all a best of luck." Aku Aku told the chief. "Stay safe. We will stop Cortex's minions and save the islands."
"And I shall wish you both good luck in return." Papu Papu replied. "It was an honor facing you in person, Great Aku Aku. Always bring goodness in this world." Crash scratched his head, watching the ancient mask. He wanted to know about Aku Aku's past and why people address him as the Great Aku Aku.
The natives offered Crash a boat to go across the second island if he is ready to go there. The orange marsupial and the mask said their goodbyes to the tribe and head down the jungle to look for Ripper Roo since he left the village. They just need to look out for more TNTs and Nitro crates and his insane laughter around.