N. Brio's (sorta) Finest Hour
Sonic led the team to where Cortex was currently hiding out. Crunch still had Crash in an inescapable grip, as Crash was still afraid of doctors. "This is it." said Sonic.
"Cortex sure has been trying to keep this place a well-guarded secret." said Aku-Aku, who apparently did not see all the signs that read, 'Cortex's Secret Lair', 'Turn Back, Weak-Minded Fools!' and '24-Hour Parking'. Crash was still trying to escape, but with no luck. "Crash must know his way around Cortex and his goons, but he thinks he's at some sort of hospital." said Sonic. Coco, finally snapping out of her romantic day-dream, said "I know what'll get him motivated. Oh Crash, if your good for the doctor, you'll get tons of tasty Wumpa Fruits!" Crash's eyes widened, broke free from Crunch, ran to the door, banged repeatedly on it shouting, "WUMPA!" While he was doing that, a nearby air vent opened, and out popped none-other than N. Brio, covered in scorch marks, muttering, "Why did I have to invent furnaces?" He then took notice to the gang of good, and said, "Err… AHA! I have you five right where I want you! Just as I, N. Brio, not Cortex, had planned!" Crash continued banging on the door yelling, "WUMPA-WUMPA!"
N. Brio snickered and said, "You weak-minded marsupial, you cannot access through that door without a key, which, by the way, I invented!"
"Did not!" rebuddled Crunch.
"You will pay for doubting my skills, you over-sized rat, which I, not Cortex, invented!" said N. Brio. He then pulled out a vile of green liquid and said, "Your journey ends here!" Brio then swallowed the goo, just as Crash began to notice him. Brio then began to mutate. He grew and octopus tentacle over his left arm and a lobster claw over his right. His feet turned into brawny fish flippers, and his eyes fused into one. His mouth disappeared and then reappeared on his forehead, and finally his teeth turned razor sharp as his body began to bulk up. "Now you will learn the power, which I invented, N. Brio has to dish out to you five!"
"This doesn't look good in any way whatsoever." said Aku-Aku.
"Don't matter to me! Time to take the fool down!" said Crunch, popping his knuckles.
"Hmm… hey Crash!" shouted Sonic. Crash turned his attention to the hedgehog, and Sonic said, "I'll double the amount of Wumpa Fruits for you if you can take this guy down with me!" Crash's eyes widened again, swiftly nodded his head, and shouted, "WUMPA!" as he began to fight N. Brio. Crash grabbed the claw, and held it to the ground. Sonic began spinning around Brio rapidly in the sand, digging some kind of a trench. "I see what they're doing." said Coco, "Crunch, splash lots of water into the trench Sonic is digging!"
"Aw, do I have to?" moaned Crunch as Sonic dug like 5 feet into the ground while Crash was wrapping N. Brio's tentacle around his feet.
"Yes, now do it!" commanded Coco.
"Fine…" replied Crunch, he then made for the ocean, did a cannonball, and splashed right into the trench, making Brio sink into the sand. Crash got out of there before he was engulfed as well, then Brio complained as he was returning to normal, "Curses, why did I have to invent sand to become sticky after it gets wet?" Sonic walked up to the now-weak scientist, took the key from around his neck, then walked to the fortress door. "Too easy!" said Sonic, inserting the key, opening the door. The lock tumblers sounded, and the five went inside, leaving N. Brio a stick in the mud.