A Word from the Author: Finally, a recent chapter! I finished this one just yesterday. It features at least some connectivity to both Rayman, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Rayman 2: Revolution, AND Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. I'm proud with how the ending turns out in particular. Enjoy, enjoy!
Chapter 3: We are the Teensies
The cave was again a tunnel taking Rayman and Murfy to a new area of the forest. It brought them to a clearing where the light shone in from a hole in the cave's ceiling. Glass decorations hung from the ceiling, their shadows filling the place with color. The cave had a holy feel to it, especially the pit in the center; Rayman couldn't see what was in it, but he was sure there was something powerful. Both of them hid, though, because to their despair they were not alone in the cave.
In the clearing was a band of three Livingstones, chatting away about hunting stories. Behind them was a cage; it was hard to tell who was in the cage, but whoever it was they were quiet as a mouse. "I think we really lucked out!" one Livingstone said. "Those Robo-Pirates weren't any match for us! And they even had a cage for us to stick our captives in, imagine that!"
"Don't you think we should gag them, though? They might yell for help..." said a second.
"Nah, they're too scared of us to do that," the first answered.
"Aren't you?" the third snickered at the prisoners. One of the prisoners squeaked a "Yes."
"What should we do with them?" the second asked. "I'm sure Count Razoff would pay a pretty penny for them as his slaves."
"No, let's not deal with Razoff," the third grumbled. "That show-off would just take the credit from us. Never trust a Zaroff, I always say. Maybe we should just leave them here and hunt after that fairy woman that went by. She'd fetch us a higher price."
Rayman frowned. Nobody would take Ly, not if he could help it. "Come on, Murfy!" he whispered. Quickly Rayman jumped out from behind the rock and grimaced. "So, Livingstones, haven't learned anything have you?" he roared.
"Rayman!" they cried in unison. "Let's get outta here!" cried one.
"But where to?" whimpered another.
"That pit! I don't know what's down there, but I've heard it goes to many places. Let's go!" The three turned their backs and leaped into the pit. Rayman and Murfy winced as they heard three scared cries, fading away into nothing.
Within moments, Murfy got the cage opened. Out rolled four small gremlins in fine clothing. They were all turquoise with intricate spiral markings on their long, vertical heads. They were dressed in fancy green robes, even more stylish than Murfy's. Each had a cane and one had a pocket watch. That particular one checked the time. "Good golly," he exclaimed. "It is getting late!" One of the gremlins wore a tall, golden crown. He stepped forward and bowed towards Rayman and Murfy. "Bonjour, tout le monde! I am Raphael, King of the Teensies!" the artistocrat proudly exclaimed.
The Teensies were the dominant race of the continent's west, created by Polokus to guard the paths, doors, and walkways of the world. Though Teensies were humble and small they held great powers bestowed upon them by the gods. They were the rulers of the mystical Hall of Doors, a void where one could access any place in the entire glade via Teensie Highways. Once fearless, the Teensies became timid after the rise of Leptys and the Knaaren, who terrorized the Teensies. The ruling council of the Teensies was called the Grand Minimus, composed of a single king and three advisors. The Minimus was very ancient.
Unfortunately for us, Rayman, and Murfy, the Teensies we have encountered were very forgetful. The Teensie with the pocket watch coughed into a handkercheif, reached over, and snatched the crown from Raphael's head. "Quit that," he said with another glance at his watch. "Rayman, I am Ptiserrie, the true King of the Teensies!" he announced with a bow. "How do you do?" A Teensie with a mustache glared at Ptiserrie for a moment, then grabbed the crown and put it on his head. "Enough with this nonsense!" the old creature wheezed. "I, Francois, am the rightful king!" There were mutters of disapproval amongst Raphael and Ptiserrie. Suddenly, the fourth Teensie, which wore a monocle, shoved Francois out of the way and took the crown. "No, no, no. Rayman, the only true king is moi, Jacques!" Francois wasn't just going to let Jacques steal the glory, so he pushed Jacques and took the crown back. "Don't listen to him, Rayman, the king is me!"
"No, me!" scolded Ptiserrie as he retreived the crown. "Me!" demanded Raphael. Back and forth the crown moved from one Teensie's head to the other as they argued and mumbled and growled and shoved. Soon Rayman could not stand the constant arguing. "HEY!" he yelled, waking up Murfy (who had dozed off of boredom). "That's enough! Please, your majesties, just decide who's the king already! I need to know where Ly and Globox are!" The Grand Minimus stared at Rayman for a moment, appalled that somebody would speak to them that way.
"Rayman," Ptiserrie scolded, "do you know who we are? We are the Grand Minimus, and you shall not speak to us that way!" He glanced again at the time. "Oh dear, we are going to be late!"
"Late for what?" Jacques asked before being given a dirty look.
"You know what!" Ptiserrie snapped. "Our daily check-up on the Hall of Doors! Those pirates really gave us a set back, we must hurry up with things! What should the Great Lord say if the doors open?"
Raphael grabbed the crown and roughly placed it on Ptiserrie's head. "He'll blame you," Raphael mused, "because you are wearing the crown!"
"Your majesties!" Rayman whined. "Please, I would like to know where Ly and Globox are!" Ptiserrie glanced at the other Teensies for a moment with worry on his face. What would he say? He didn't want to break the news to Rayman, but there seemed to be no other choice! "Monsieur," he slowly began, "I am very sorry to tell you this, but I have some rather bad news. It seems Globox has been recaptured in the swamps and hauled away; to where I do not know. Ly ran right through here, but I'm sorry to say the pirates ambushed her. I do not know where she is now, but I do know where the best place to look is."
"And where is that?" Rayman asked.
"At the Front, where the rest of the freedom fighters are standing up against the onslaught of pirates. I have a brother at the Teensie Circle in the Minisaurus Plains. He'd probably know where Ly is now." Ptiserrie marched up to the pit and called Rayman forth. "Rayman, do you know what this pit is?" Rayman shook his head. Murfy smacked his face. "Come on," Murfy complained, "you have to be smarter than that, Rayman!"
"Monsieur Rayman," Ptiserrie explained, "this is the gateway to the Hall of Doors. We were on our way here when the pirates captured us. Every day we must trek up here or to another outlet to make sure all the doors are locked. If they are open, then time and space will forever be jumbled up. As you can see, it is a very important job. I can only hope that all the doors are locked; otherwise, the pirates can get wherever they please in an instant. We Teensies only open them in emergencies; Polokus would have our heads if we opened them for any other reason. Thank goodness this is an emergency." The King of the Teensies clapped his hands. "Lums, come forth! It is safe now!" he called. Four Yellow Lums fluttered down from the hole in the cave and launched themselves into Rayman. A Silver Lum fluttered down as well, straight into Ptiserrie's hands. "Rayman, surely you know what this is? A Silver Lum?" the king asked. Rayman nodded. "Well, we Teensies use them to open and close our doors," Ptiserrie continued. "They are very powerful. Stand back, this could get dangerous!" The other Teensies took some steps backward. Rayman glanced at them for a moment, confused. But rather than risk danger, he complied. Both he and Murfy moved back as well.
The sky grew dark. The wind grew into a ferocious storm. A cyclone plummeted from the heavens and through the cave's hole. It pierced the black pit and there seemed to be an explosion of wind and magic. "By the powers invested in we the Teensies," Ptiserrie yelled at the cyclone, "I declare this door...OPEN!" The Silver Lum launched itself from Ptiserrie's hands straight into the whirling storm. There was a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder. The Silver Lum grew in size and began to spin and spin. Tendrils poked themselves out of the lum, which began to turn blue and red and all colors of the rainbow. It spun and spun like a Spiral Galaxy, faster and faster, until gradually it slowed down. The thundering winds ceased their fury and all turned quiet. Rayman realized he'd been holding his breath and quickly drew in some air. It was over.
Ptiserrie bowed. "Rayman," he explained, "this is a Magic Spiral Door. They hide in altars and pits like this. Only we Teensies can reveal them if they are closed; but if they are open unattended, then mark my words! All chaos will consume the provence they lie in!" He raised a finger to enhance the effect. "Worlds ripped apart by this thundering hurricane of wonder! Why, if it weren't for the Purple Lums holding things together, we'd all be dead right now!"
"Where does this lead, though?" Rayman asked. "Sir," he quickly added so as not to be rude.
The King of the Teensies nodded. "I should have told you where we are sending you. This goes to the Minisaurus Plains, where my brother Copernicus is governor. If anybody knows where Ly is, he would. You must be warned, however, that this is also where the pirates are fighting the freedom fighters. We sometimes call it the Front now. But first, I believe you received a Silver Lum from Ly, Rayman."
Rayman flinched. "How did you know that?" Rayman asked in awe.
The other Teensies muttered amongst themselves for a moment. Ptiserrie gave Rayman a lulling, eerie stare. "I know these things, Rayman," he said in a hypnotic voice. "I know these things." He clapped his hands and again a Silver Lum fluttered down to his hands. "Rayman, this Silver Lum will allow you to do things you've never been able to do before. Instead of throwing your fist, you shall be able to fire balls of magical energy. It may seem like a handicap, but it would be better if a laser hit a magic energy ball instead of a fist, hm?"
"I...I guess you're right!" Rayman nodded in revelation. He rubbed one of his hands, remembering the pain of it coming in contact with a Hunter's bullet. Ptiserrie let the Silver Lum rocket into Rayman's chest, and again he felt the sensation of energy and power returning to his body. "Oh yeah!" Rayman cheered, feeling healthy as ever. "I feel like I could take out an army now! Woo!"
"Thank those Yellow Lums for that," Ptiserrie explained. "The more you have, the more Silver Lums can do for you."
"I'll be sure to collect a lot of them, then!"
"Me too!" Murfy chimed in.
The Teensie King turned back to the Magic Spiral Door. "Now then, Rayman, I want you to listen carefully," he instructed. "You too, Murfy." Rayman and Murfy turned to attention, ready for orders. "Murfy, I'd like you to help teach Rayman everything you can. You both are at the beginning of a big journey, and the road will be full of dangers. A little insight now and then from a flying encyclopedia will be a helpful thing, hm? And Rayman, protect Murfy and all the good people you meet. The less new captives to the pirates, the better. Both of you must seek out the Teensie Circle near the Minisaurus Plains. Copernicus is there, and I'm sure he'll be willing to help. Just tell him the Grand Minimus sent you.
"I'm afraid that this is where we all must part. I and the rest of the Grand Minimus wish you the deepest luck, and hope to see you at the end of the road. Now go, Rayman. Go, Murfy. Take the Teensie Highway, and do not look back." Ptiserrie coughed and looked at his watch again.
"So what do we do?" Rayman asked. "How do we use the door?"
"Well," Murfy advised. "If my books are right, all we do is jump in!"
Jacques nodded. "Indeed," he smiled. "It is good to know others carry the knowledge of the Teensies. Come, Minimus! Let us send them off with a grand farewell!" Ptiserrie and the rest of the Grand Minimus agreed. Silenting their ceaseless mumbling, they lined up in a row and waved good-bye. Here and there was a cheer wishing the two heroes luck on their journey.
"Thank you for all that you have taught us," Rayman said with a bow. Then he and Murfy waved farewell to the Teensies. They turned, and without looking back the two ran and leaped into the whirling vortex. As they faded away from the Forest of Light, Ptiserrie looked at the other Teensies with a smile. "Well, my friends," he said happily. "It appears I was mistaken. It seems we are right on time."