Crash Bandicoot

Chapter 9: To Be Continued

This was it. This was the moment that determined the fate of the island - no, the entire dimension. Lyra Pholez, an immortal anthropomorphic wolf from the 10th Dimension, a member of an organization known as the Masters of Darkness, would see to it that Crash and Natalie's lives were put to a gruesome end. No one would miss them, surely. She laughed maniacally at that thought. These two mortals had no idea the extent of her power. There was quite possibly nothing they could do against her.

The burning Cortex Castle could be seen in the mere distance. The air grew deathly still. Natalie, a girl whom Crash had literally just met, glared at the wolf standing before them. Crash, the nervous bandicoot who had just recently been evolved, had only his dear girlfriend on his mind. He was worried about the state of the world, sure, but he really wanted to find Tawna.

And Aku Aku. Where even was he?

As though a miracle, the floating mask appeared next to the bandicoot. Natalie jumped back in shock, but she was careful as to not fall off the airship.

"Where did you come from?!" she asked.

"I was searching far a wide for Crash here," Aku Aku explained. "It is about time I found him. Now tell me, who are you?"

"Just call me Natalie."

"ENOUGH!" Lyra boomed, garnering the attention of the three heroes. "This ends now! The dimension as you know it is about to be destroyed!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" a feminine voice said from nearby. All heads turned toward none other than Tawna Bandicoot.

"You! How did you escape the castle?!"

"I managed to make my escape right before the castle began to collapse. It was all thanks to Natalie here."

"You're welcome," a smiling Natalie said.

Lyra seethed. It was four against one, but she wasn't too worried. After all, the Masters of Darkness are known as the most powerful beings throughout the infinite dimensions. Even Aku Aku was aware of such.

Ah, Aku Aku. There was nothing some ancient mask could do against a Master of Darkness. The fates of Aku Aku and his so-called friends had already been sealed.

Lyra could no longer hold in her rage. She had waited long enough. The bandicoot would die right here and now.

"DIE!" she shouted, her voice now demonic.

She launched a ball of dark magic from her hand at the group of heroes. Crash spun out of the way in time, while Natalie summoned what appeared to be a large tuning fork to hit the dark ball out of the way. It almost hit Lyra, but she teleported out of the way; however, she never did reappear.

Did she give up already? Natalie wondered. Coward.

"Think again!"

A bewildered Natalie zipped around on her heel. Lyra was right in her face. The smell of alcohol was apparent in her breath. Had she been drinking? The better question was, was she able to read minds? That, too, seemed apparent.

"Crash, we have to be very careful," said Aku Aku. "Lyra is a powerful force to be reckoned with."

"You act as though you've already met her," Natalie said.

"While I was searching for Crash, I remembered that I have indeed met her. It was centuries ago. You see, she has attempted to destroy this dimension before, but with the help of my brother, who was on the side of good at the time, we were able to send her back to her dimension. It would seem that it was only temporary, though."

"You have a brother?" Crash asked the mask. As usual, he spoke in gibberish.

Sweat began trickling down Natalie's forehead. She couldn't let that marsupial know everything. Aku Aku did not have time to respond, for a fireball was flying toward them. They all ducked out of the way in time. Lyra, whose anger was building with each passing minute, teleported behind Crash, picking him up by the scruff of his neck. She held him over the side of the airship, but she wasn't smiling this time. No, her rage had built up at the point to where she no longer felt happiness. Even if she were victorious, her smile would perhaps never return. She had seemingly lost almost all emotion by this point.