Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Chapter 10: Start Your Engines!

"Your next destination is..." Coco said as she looked up at the monitor. "Well, that's new."

"What is it?" Crash asked.

"Looks like you'll have to race for the Crystal."

That quickly got the other bandicoots' attention. The four of them perked up, but Ami was the first to step forward.

"Allow me," she said confidently.

"Are you sure about this?" Coco asked. "I mean, Crash is more than capable of--"

"Hey, we've been racing since we were kids. It's in our blood! Just let me do this favor for ya."

"Well...if you say so."

Ami jumped through the portal, immediately appearing on a racetrack of sorts. There was an empty motorcycle in front of her, initiating her to get on it. As she started the engine, she looked to both sides of her and noticed that the other racers were already present. Upon closer inspection, she recognized them to be none other than Cortex's Lab Assistants.

Except for one.

Said racer was unfamiliar to her. He was an egg-shaped being, and the grin he gave her was rather unsettling. It then hit her like a stack of bricks - that must have been N. Trance.

"Ah, I see that meddling marsupial has sent someone else to do his dirty work," he sneered.

"Buzz off!" Ami snapped. "I wanted to come here. I'm gonna show everyone that I am a faster racer than any of you!"

"Temper, temper. You will find that you are incorrect. I will be the victor, and I will get that Power Crystal."

As the light began to change, the announcer said, "On your marks...get set...GO!"

The numerous racers pressed on their gas pedals as hard as they could, trying to go as quickly as possible. Ami knew that she would win, but her confidence fell short when she had to dodge a variety of obstacles such as construction barricades and police cars.

The first lap was over before she even knew it, and she was distraught to see that she was in second. She heaved a sigh. There was still one lap go after this. She had time to make it.

She eventually caught up to N. Trance, who laughed hysterically as he stated, "Silly bandicoot. You will never defeat me!"

"We'll see about that!" Ami barked.

She tried to ram her motorcycle into N. Trance's, but it did no good. The Master of Hypnotism saw the display as pathetic as he continued to snicker evilly. His laughter was cut short, however, when Ami sped right past him.

Damn it, he thought. Shouldn't have been so distracted.

"Who's slow now?" Ami teased.

Come the third lap, N. Trance was gaining on the female bandicoot. "I'm right behind you!" he commented.

The finish line was not far ahead now. Ami and N. Trance were neck-and-neck. The bandicoot was starting to become nervous, an entirely new feeling for her.

Shit, shit, shit! she shouted inside her mind. I've got to win that Crystal! I've got to!

Sure enough, she sped past the finish line just before N. Trance did. She hopped off her motorcycle and cheered victoriously as she was handed the Crystal. The portal appeared not too long after, and N. Trance watched furiously as she stepped through it.

Back in the Warp Room, Ami's friends immediately congratulated her upon noticing her return. "That was amazing!" said Coco.

"That sure looked like fun," Crash added.

"Perhaps the two of you will get to race one day," Aku Aku said.

Raven smiled, but the others failed to notice. Her expression faded as she turned to Ami and said, "So...you had to face N. Trance."

"Yeah," said Ami. "Wasn't that big a deal."

"He was making you nervous."

"N-No he wasn't! He was trying to get under my skin, but I didn't let him."

"Although I can see right through you, I won't press the issue any further."

"Where to next?" Crash asked his sister.

"Looks like...Egypt," confirmed Coco after a few seconds. "I think I'll go this time."

"Aw, I wanted to go..."

"Crash, you need a break. Besides, it'd be best if we took turns. You don't want to be too worn out for your next boss battle, do you?"

"For a mortal, she has a point," Raven agreed.

"Okay, could you quit calling us 'mortals'?" Liz asked, albeit with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "We have names. Use them."

"I'll keep that in mind if, and only if, you do not speak to me in such a manner. I brought you here. The least you could do is show some appreciation."

"I-I...of course, Raven. I apologize."

"Your apology is accepted. Anyway--"

Before the feline could continue, a new face appeared on the monitor. It seemed to be a hybrid of some sort, but they weren't sure exactly what.

"G'day, mates," the hybrid began. "Dingodile's the name, and Uka Uka and Cortex gave me orders to bring the Crystals to them during the Ice Ages. So gimme the goods and shove off, or I'll roast yas!" His face vanished shortly after.

"Great," Coco grumbled. "Another one of Cortex's mutants."

"I can take him," Crash said. "Shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"But Crash, you have never faced him before," Aku Aku pointed.

"Eh, I'll be fine." Crash turned to his sister. "Now go get that Crystal, sis."

Coco smiled at that before jumping through the portal, making her way to Ancient Egypt. Afterward, Megumi looked around and asked, "Hey, where did N. Brio go?"

That couldn't have been a good sign.