Ahoy, readers, CrashGuy01 here! This story, this story right here, is a sequel to a previous story I've written, Crash Bandicoot: The Dark Fate. If you haven't read The Dark Fate before, then I would probably advise you to do it right away, so you can get all caught up to speed. Skim if you like. And if you have read that story already...well, good job, I guess. The following prologue is an excerpt from the prequel's epilogue, and there will be a prologue for every chapter of this story. Just a heads up.

Enough talking from me...enjoy the story!

Previously...

It has been four years since our lovable marsupial Crash Bandicoot and his allies defeated Exodus and pretty much saved the universe from destruction. Minus an occasional appearance from Cortex doing evil stuff and promptly getting his butt kicked, Crash, Coco, Aku, Crunch, Fake Crash, and Yaya (the newest addition to Wumpa Island) were spending their days relaxing and whatnot, not giving a single care about the world.

"Crash has been sleeping for six hours straight, nothing can possibly wake him up!" said Aku, as he and Crunch were looking down at the bandicoot, sleeping on the sand with his tongue out. Crash no longer had that collar he wore throughout his adventure, which mean that he was back to being the gibberish goofball we all knew and loved.

"Crunch know what can wake up Crash - pouring some hot water on his face!" said Crunch, although Aku objected this idea. "Hot water can make anyone up and alert, and I know that from experience!" Just then, Coco ran out of the house, with her laptop in hand.

"Is Crash still asleep?" the blonde bandicoot asked, and she would find Crash asleep, leading her to sigh. "Can one of you boys please wake up Crash? I just got an e-mail from Brio, wants us to visit his at his laboratory...got a bad feeling about this."

At Cortex's Castle, Cortex was busy working on his latest invention...and no, this invention had nothing to do with eradicating Crash. Rather, this invention had much to do with deep-frying, so it had no evil purposes whatsoever.

"Seriously, Cortex, is this the best thing you could create?" questioned Cortex's father, Archie, who was watching his son do his thing in the lab.

"Well if you hadn't told me not to build anymore evil inventions, then maybe you'll stop questioning me!" retorted Cortex, as he was configuring the buttons. "Also, my hot wife Zoey approved of this Deep Fryer 3000, so I'm just making her happy!"

"Always trying to charm your wife...sometimes I wonder where your head is it."

Just then, a knock was at the door. While Cortex kept working on his lame deep-frying machine, Archie got up and answered the door...and was surprised to see a fellow from Gemstone Island, Collator.

"Greetings, Dr. Archie Cortex, long time no see," the glounce greeted the scientist. "May I have a quick chit-chat with you and your son, for a hot minute? Got some important matters to discuss - VERY important matters."

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Sensing the start of yet another journey, Crash was packing up his Wumpa fruit as he, Coco, Crunch, Fake Crash, and Yaya were making the last preparations before heading over to Brio's lab. The lab was over at Cortex's Island, which meant that the bandicoot gang...and Yaya...had to enter enemy territory.

"Is the raft ready for sailing?" Aku asked Crash and Crunch, who were responsible for setting up the float. Both bandicoots gave a thumbs up. "What about the provisions, do we have enough provisions?"

"I don't think we need any, Aku - we're just paying Brio a visit," replied Coco, doing some last-minute objectives on her laptop. "Hopefully we won't have to stay around for long."

"We don't need any provisions, you say? Well I see Crash stuffing some Wumpa fruit in his suitcase...and now he's stuffing the fruit down his pants. And you're certain we don't need any provisions?"

"Where did Crash even get a suitcase, and why would he even...you know what, forget about it." Coco no longer wished to dwell on the thought, as she finished up what she was doing. Once she was done, she put her laptop away, and joined Crash on the raft. "Yaya, Fake Crash, we're about to leave!" Coco would call out.

"Coming!" shouted Yaya, as the panda came running to the raft, nearly out of breath once she arrived. "Fake Crash should be arriving shortly - he said he's dealing with a 'fearsome pest', or at least that's what he told me. Make of it what you will."

"GAAAAAAH IT'S COMING TO GET ME!" shrieked Fake Crash, running for his life...as he was being chased by a mere small crab. The bandicoot leaped unto the raft, only to break through said raft and leaving behind a huge hole in the process. Crunch saw this, and frowned as he saw the raft sink.

"Dang it, that's the fifth time that happened!" the burly bandicoot frowned. "Maybe Crunch needs to stop using stick glue to put the raft together. Now where dd I put that wood glue at, that should do the trick!"

Much like Crash and his gang, Cortex was also headed for Brio's lab. His castle and Brio's lab were pretty much in the same vicinity, so the N head didn't have to travel at all.

"Hurry up, you two, we must reach Brio's lab before it's too late!" Cortex would say to Nina and Tropy, who tagged along with the mad scientist. Or at least they were forced to. Nobody would willingly agree to go anywhere with cortex, would they?

"Uncle Cortex, we've been practically walking around in circles," said Nina, already tired of walking.

"I'm glad you noticed that, my dear niece Nina - it was a test to see if you were observant. And you've passed, with flying colors! As for you Tropy...you have failed!"

"I did not know about this stupid 'test' beforehand, so how could I have possibly failed?" questioned Tropy, also tired of walking.

"Talking back to your teacher, how dare you! If I hadn't failed you, I would have deducted points off your score! Now enjoy your grade of zero in peace!"

Cortex would look out the far distance, at the ocean, and gasped when he saw Crash and company, sailing towards the island on a fully functioning raft. Just the sight of Crash made Cortex furious.

"That marsupial Crash is trying to reach Brio's lab before I do!" panicked the N head. "We must hurry before Crash beats us!" So Cortex stopped walking in circles, and led Nina and Tropy on an actual path.

"All it took was for Crash to make Cortex lead us to Brio's lab..." remarked Tropy, as he and Nina followed after Cortex. "...told you that man was obsessed with Crash."

"He's just too insecure to admit it," grinned Nina, as Crash and company got closer to the island.

While Cortex and his crew were on their way to Brio's lab, Cortex's minions - N. Gin, Tiny, Dingodile, Koala Kong, the Komodo Bros, Pinstripe, N. Trance, Ripper Roo, and the newest addition, Rilla Roo - were stuck at the castle, bummed out that Cortex didn't ask them to go with him to Brio's lab. They were feeling disrespected, and thought Cortex should be giving them their due.

"Why would Master Cortex leave me back here at his castle, when I'm obviously his most valuable minion!" cried N. Gin. "Why, I helped him build all his evil machines! I even went to the Academy of Evil with him, for crying out loud!"

"Just because you went to school with Cortex, doesn't mean that he thinks more highly of you than the rest of us," said Pinstripe, with his Tommy gun in his possession. "If anything, I'M his most valuable minion - who in here has a Tommy gun? That's right, ME!"

"No, I'm the most valuable minion - I'm the smartest person in this room!" Ripper Roo bragged, wearing a collar than allowed him to speak intelligibly. "Must I remind you about my Ph.D?"

"Your Ph.D in insanity!" taunted Dingodile, making Roo furious. "I was created by Dr. Nitrus Brio, which alone makes me more valuable than all of you blokes!"

"Like that's supposed to mean anything, that's disputable anyways..." scoffed N. Trance, patting his claw hand. "It's not like you can hypnotize other people like I can!"

"Tiny the best minion because he the strongest!" boasted Tiny, as he flexed his muscles.

"Don't be mistaken, Tiny, for I'm the strongest!" Kong also boasted while flexing his muscles as well, if not more than Tiny.

"No, Komodo Moe and I are the best - two heads are always better than one!" said Komodo Joe, as he and Moe wielded their swords.

"Uroh uroh uroh!" Rilla Roo made gorilla sounds while banging his chest. The other minions looked at the mutant, believing that he was making serious threats.

"Look at Rilla Roo, using those fighting words!" N. Trance interpreted what Rilla Roo said, somehow. "I think we should have a fight, to determine who the best minion is out of the bunch!"

"Yeah, I second that - I'm gonna cream you punks, every single one of ya!" gloated Pinstripe, loading up his Tommy gun. Everyone else was getting pumped...everyone except for N. Gin, that is.

"Everyone calm down, I have a proposition!" the cyborg spoke up, as the animosity in the room died down. "How about all of us go to Cortex, and then we won't have to worry about beating each other to a pulp? We can get a direct answer from Cortex, rather than having a bloodshed to prove which one of us is the best!"

"First off, mate, you kinda sound like a suckup for Cortex, wanting to hear his opinion on every little thing," responded Dingodile, lowering his flamethrower. "Secondly, that's a good idea you got there. Let's go see what Master Cortex thinks!"

Cortex, Nina, and Tropy finally arrived at Brio's lab...or rather, the castle that contained Brio's lab. The lab in question was on the eighth floor of the castle, and Cortex and company were taking the stairs to reach the lab.

"We're almost there, you guys!" Cortex told the others, as they were now on the seventh floor of the castle. Sweat was running down Tropy's face, as he felt like collapsing on the steps.

"Are you sure this castle doesn't have an elevator?" the sweating master of time asked Cortex, wiping the sweat off his face. "Would be pretty convenient now..."

"Save your crying for later, Tropy - once we make it up these stairs and reach that door, we'll finally be on the eighth floor, where Brio's lab is. You don't see me griping and complaining while I'm sweating buckets!"

"Yet you were complaining about how dark the castle was when we first entered inside...also, where on earth is Uka?"

"He should be joining us shortly...or so I hope. Haven't seen that floating mask at all today. Maybe he ran away, went to go torture someone else for a living. Hopefully he sticks to it!"

After going up many flights of stairs, Cortex and company finally arrived on the eighth floor, and entered through a door. They continued down the hallway, minding their own business...before being ambushed from behind.

"Master Cortex!" exclaimed N. Gin, as he and the minions tackled Cortex, Nina, and Tropy to the floor. "We have come to ask you a serious question!" Cortex would fight N. Gin off of him, before getting up and seeing his minions gathered.

"Did I not tell you fools to wait back at the castle until I return?!" scolded Cortex. "And what is this 'serious' question that you have to ask me so?"

"Well, let's just say that this question...has a little something to do...with favoritism." N. Gin twiddled with his fingers, nervously looking down at the floor. "Who do you think is the best..."

"You know what, hold that thought...how did you minions even get here? Did you arrive on this floor before the three of us did?"

"We pretty much took a ride on that elevator over there," replied Komodo Moe, pointing at an elevator from a far distance behind him. Cortex saw this elevator, and his face sank.

"Hmph, knew there was an elevator all along," smirked Tropy.

"So if there was an elevator...and you used it to make it up here...then that would mean..."

"Dr. Cortex, is that you?" a voice asked Cortex; the mad scientist turned around, and saw Aku, floating near Crash who was standing at the end of the hallway, mindlessly waving to his arch-nemesis. "About time you made it up here, should've taken the elevator like the rest of us did! Brio's over in his lab, waiting for you."

"Blast it! Blast it, blast it, BLAST IT!" Cortex fell to the floor in anger, slamming his fist with rage. "That filthy marsupial beat me to Brio's lab! Why must Crash always win against me, how come I never prove myself victorious?!"

"Quite honestly, it's not that hard to see why," replied Nina, accruing a quick glare from Cortex.

"Ah, I see you've brought your minions as well. Splendid. There should be enough room in Brio's lab for everyone.

Contrary to what Aku thought, there wasn't enough room in Brio's lab, as everyone was closely packed together. There was scarcely any breathing room for anyone.

"Glad you all could join me today," Brio said to those present. "Wish the conditions were more feasible for everyone, but for now, it'll do...so Dr. Cortex, did Collator come to speak with you and your father?"

"Yes, and he told me to come speak with you," replied Cortex, squished in-between Kong and Tiny. "Brought Nina and Tropy along, in case it was just a trap and you were trying to pull punches."

"Riiiiiight...anyways, I'm sure you all remember Gemstone Island, the place where we had your little adventure involving that prophecy and all. Well I have invented a machine that will transport you back to that island, and I must transport you there right away...for an evil, powerful force has risen..."

"What exactly is this 'evil, powerful force' you speak of?" questioned Coco, as Brio dug into his compartment, and pulled out a mask that looked familiar to everyone.

"I'll just let you see this, it'll give you a good indication of whom you're going up against..." Brio would hold up the mask for everyone to see...

...and that mask, was Uka. The floating witchdoctor mask was lifeless - his mouth was open, but nothing was coming out of it. His eyes were unblinking; it looked like Uka was frozen in time.

However, there were words written across Uka's face, words that were written in a somewhat threatening way. Like whoever wrote it was trying to send a message. Crash would take a close inspection at the lifeless Uka, seeing the following words written on him:

The Dark Confederation has risen...

End of Chapter 1

Woo hoo, first chapter, in the books! Hopefully you all enjoyed it. Not gonna lie, coming up with a title for this story was somewhat hard, but I hope to stick to it. Stay tuned for the next chapter!