Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Chapter 5: When in Rome

Crash found himself in Rome, specifically in the Colosseum. He looked up to see Tiny, who was chained between two poles. Dr. Cortex was seated behind the mutant, glaring at the shaking Crash.

"You've got this, Crash! I know you can do it! I believe in you!"

Crash looked around for the source of the voice, his eyes eventually landing on his sister. He gave her his signature grin before reverting his attention to Tiny, who let out a loud roar before freeing himself from the chains. He reached to the side and grabbed a trident before jumping down and attempting to impale Crash with the sharp weapon. After a few minutes, the trident became stuck in the ground. He tried to pull it out and was not paying attention to the task at hand, for Crash immediately spun into him. Tiny roared yet again and returned to the platform he had previously been standing on.

Crash was caught off guard when numerous lions charged toward him. The bandicoot gulped, as he believed he was finally done for. Simply spinning into the lions, however, was enough to dispose of them.

Yet again, Tiny hopped down and proceeded to attack Crash, or at least he tried to. After being hit just a couple more times, the muscular mutant had to surrender. As a result, Cortex growled angrily and disappeared through a portal. Crash tilted his head in confusion, as he noticed that the portal looked different. Coco must have noticed it as well, for she looked down at her brother with a look of concern etched on her face.

The two bandicoots returned to the Warp Room, where they instantly noticed that Natalie was no longer present. "Hey, where's Natalie?" asked Coco.

"About that..." Brio began.

***

Natalie had snuck into Cortex Castle, going straight to the room in which her father used to stay. She opened the desk drawer and shuffled through the numerous papers. She soon found what appeared to be a sealed letter and proceeded to open it, gasping sharply once she read its contents.

"Father...what have you done?" she wondered before slipping the letter into the pocket of her jeans. Afterward, she sneaked out of the castle and made the trip back to the Warp Room.

***

"She went to Cortex Castle?" asked Coco. "Why would she do that?"

"She wouldn't exactly say," Brio replied. "She just said that she h-had some 'business' to take care of."

Much to everyone's surprise, Natalie soon arrived. "I'm back," she said. "Hope you weren't too worried about me."

"Why'd you go back to the castle?" Coco asked.

Natalie pulled the letter out to show everyone. "I want the lot of you to listen carefully..."