Crash Bandicoot

Chapter 2: Papu Papu

"Child! Young one, please wake up!"

His eyes fluttered open, his head pounding rapidly. He sat up and took a look around, wondering where he was. He couldn't remember much, aside from nearly being brainwashed. As for the events from before that, the memories were a bit fuzzy.

As the male bandicoot stood up, dusting his jeans off in the process, he noticed that he was on a beach. He rubbed his temples, as yet another headache was coming on. He groaned in agitation as he tried to recall the events from earlier. How long had it been since he washed up on that beach? He couldn't remember.

Then, it finally came to him. Tawna - he had to save her.

"Good, you're still alive. I was worried."

The bandicoot looked to the side, and he wanted to jump back in fright once he noticed a floating tiki mask gazing at him. Rather than doing that, though, he resorted to tilting his head to one side in bewilderment. He wanted to ask what happened, but he found that no words would come out. Instead, all he could manage was a little gibberish.

His voice. What happened to his voice? Or had he ever been able to speak? He couldn't remember that either. God, trying to remember was worsening his headache.

Despite the fact that he could only speak gibberish, the floating mask could still understand him. Knowing that, he proceeded to explain everything that he could recall, going so far as to include the fact that he wanted to rescue Tawna before she was brainwashed.

After hearing the explanation, the mask introduced himself to be Aku Aku. "I shall protect you at all costs," he continued. "Now tell me, what is your name?"

The bandicoot had to think for a couple of seconds, but he introduced himself to be Crash. He may have not been that smart, but even he felt that his full name, Crashworth Cortex, was ridiculous. He much preferred the shorter version.

"Well then, Crash, I will assist you in any way possible," Aku Aku said. "This Doctor Cortex sounds dangerous, so be very careful, child."

Crash nodded and then, without warning, ran in the opposite direction, toward the large group of trees. Aku Aku quickly floated after him. He had just met Crash, but he felt as though the young bandicoot might just be N. Sanity Island's next big hero. In that case, he had to make sure he was safe no matter what. Unfortunately, though, Crash seemed to easily become sidetracked, for he kept halting to eat the signature fruit, Wumpa Fruit, on the island.

"Child, we don't have time for this," Aku Aku warned. "We need to save your girlfriend before she is brainwashed!"

The mask's sudden outburst shocked Crash as the bandicoot dropped all of the fruit he had been carrying. Aku Aku heaved a sigh before speaking any further.

"I apologize," he stated. "I am just worried, and you should be too. If Cortex were to succeed in conquering the world...who knows what would become of this place?" Crash made an apologetic expression toward the mask. "I know you don't mean anything by your actions, being as you were just recently evolved. Now come. We must make haste toward Cortex Castle."

***

As Cortex stared up at his monitor, he snarled, "So that bandicoot has made a new accomplice, eh? And it's a mask? Well, two can play at that game."

"What are you g-going to d-d-do?" N. Brio asked.

"Patience, my dear friend. You will know in time. Now stay here and keep an eye on that monitor for me. I will be...elsewhere."

Something about the way Cortex spoke made N. Brio rather curious, but he didn't dare question his master. He simply nodded as he watched Cortex leave the room. The evil scientist went to the very next room, where Tawna had been caged up. Upon seeing Cortex enter the room, she immediately snarled at him.