AN- Here it is, part 2! If you're wondering why I took so long to update, I have 3 words for you; Advance Wars 2. Anyway, here it is!

Chapter 2: Orion's Revenge

It had been three days since Rayman had left the Fairy Glade. He had traveled through the forest, heading towards the sea to where the gypsy camp was. He had visited the camp many times since he had met Orchid, and he dropped by every few weeks ago just to see her. During his present trip, Rayman was practicing what he would say when he saw her.

"Hi, Orchid!" He said. "I picked these flowers for you. I didn't know what kind you like so I got you these Orchids because, well, you're named after them and…"

Rayman sat down for a while. "Confidence!" Rayman muttered to himself. "I need to be confident when I speak to her."

He then stood up and walked farther. "Oh, hello Orchid! You remember me, right? I brought you these flowers as a gif…"

Rayman could not finish his sentence. He saw the gypsy camp before his very eyes, but it was not what he had expected. The camp was in a state of disorder, looking like it had been attacked. Flames blazed among several tents, resisting the efforts of gypsies to put them out. Several dead and injured gypsies lay still as others frantically ran to pick them up. Despite all of this, Rayman could only think of one thing.

"Orchid!" He yelled. "Orchid! Where are you?"

Suddenly, he saw a familiar form huddled up by a burning tent. Rayman rushed over to it, noticing that it had a beard and a note clutched in one hand.

"Simon!" Rayman yelled. "Simon, are you okay?"

Simon didn't respond. Rayman, getting desperate, reached into a pouch by his side and pulled out a red lum. He placed the Lum on Simon's chest and watched as it began to disappear. Soon, Simon began to stir.

"Orchid? Where are… stay away from her…"

"Simon! You're alive!" Tears of relief were rushing to Rayman's eyes.

"Rayman?" The old man mumbled, still partially unconscious. "That you? You're a little late, Rayman."

"Simon, what happened here?" Rayman asked. "Where's Orchid?"

"A large, brown man burst into the camp. He picked up some kind of amulet and used it to set fire to this camp. He came over to where I was next. I tried to stop him, but he knocked me away. He left this note…"

Simon then fell unconscious again. Rayman picked the note from his hand and began to read. What he saw filled him with horror.

Rai' Muana

The girl is with us now. If you ever wish to see her alive again, come to Grimspire Keep.

Janus

*******


"What is… where am I?" Orchid mumbled. She couldn't remember anything that had happened ever since the large man came into the camp. Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into the face of her attacker.

"Awake!" He said, a sinister grin appearing on his face. "You're awake, I see!"

"Who are…" She mumbled. Suddenly, she remembered that she had seen a face like his before. "You… you're Orion!"

"You remember me!" He laughed. "That's good."

"Where are you taking me?" She yelled, finally coming to her senses.

"The Badlands!" Orion said. "We're taking a little trip to Grimspire Keep. Won't that be fun?"

"But why?" She asked. "What are you doing this for?"

"Let me explain." He explained. "I kidnap you. Your friend Rayman follows me. Then, when he catches up to us…" He ran a hand across his throat.

This threat silenced Orchid. Finally, Orion stopped at a sandy beach. He took out a leather whistle from his belt and blew it for a few seconds. Finally, he put it away.

"What did you…" Orchid couldn't finish her question. A gigantic creature suddenly surged forth from the water. It looked like a giant squid except for the hundreds of tentacles it seemed to possess and its blood red eye. It stared at them for a while before Orion whistled again. The creature bent down to let them climb aboard.

"The Kraken will take us to the Badlands." Orion explained. "Now, get on!" Orion pushed the frightened girl onto the Kraken before mounting the beast himself. Then, with a loud snort, the Kraken disappeared into the briny seas in a mist of seafoam.

*******

Ly was surprised the next time she saw Rayman. Her friend stumbled into Ly's home, carrying the old gypsy Simon on his back.

"Rayman," Ly asked, shocked, "what's the matter? You look terrible!"

"He's back, Ly." Rayman said, handing her a letter. "Janus is back!"

After reading the letter, Ly's face turned ashen in color. "This… this can't be possible! You destroyed Janus yourself!"

"Not according to this." Rayman sighed. "The letter says to go to a place called Grimspire Keep. Problem is, I don't know where that is!"

"Grimspire Keep…" Ly muttered. "Wait. I think I know what you're talking about!" Reaching to a bookshelf, she pulled out a gigantic atlas.

"Aha!" Ly shouted, evidently pleased with herself. "Grimspire Keep is located on a continent in our world known as the Badlands. The Badlands are a desolate place, full of swamps, deserts, volcanoes, tar pits, and other unpleasant places. The place known as Grimspire Keep is a rocky fortress that is said to be the birthplace of Janus."

"That's great, Ly!" Rayman said, excitedly. "But how do I get to the Badlands from here?"

Ly thought for a few minutes before she blurted out the answer. "Carmen!" Ly yelled. "Carmen can help us!"

"Great!" Rayman yelled. "Well, I have to go, Ly. Goodbye!"

"You're not going yet, Rayman."

Rayman turned around. "What do you mean, Simon?"

Simon had managed to stand up and was walking towards Rayman. "I'm going with you. I have to rescue my daughter."

"But you're hurt!" Rayman protested. "Are you sure you can travel after what happened?"

"I'm as fit to travel as you are, Rayman." The old man told him.

"Well, alright." Rayman shrugged. "You can come along too." Saying this, he and Simon left the house.

"I hope they don't get hurt." Ly sighed. "Good luck, Rayman! Good luck, Simon!"