Author's Note: Hello everyone! I apologize for such a long wait! I did not have online access for quite some time. I'm very pleased people seem to enjoy my fanfiction, so I will continue and finish this one. The next chapter might be the last one, so stay tuned! Thank you so much for reading!

Chapter 9:

The guardian's heart stood still. His breathing grew difficult. The little teensy had stated the last thing Rayman wanted to hear. …But was it true?

"Pix…" the hero murmured. "You and Skye go wait outside."

"But what about—"

"Just for a second." He said more sternly.

Rayman needed to know if this was all true, and if was…he didn't want Skye to hear it. She was still young, but he knew she could understand. She would see him differently. And if it was true after all…he wanted to be to one to let her know. He would be there from now on. He no longer cared about finding other parents. If she was his, he was hers.

"…Okay." The sprite responded, taking the girl's hand and retreated to a safer area. But she didn't leave without giving one last look at him.

Rayman huffed, glaring at the Magician.

"What exactly do you mean? There is no way we can be… I don't even remember her."

The tiny menace smirked slightly. "Of course you don't. You see," he paused. "You forget that I'm a genius, and evil one at that. I have much more power than you think."

Rayman raised a brow curiously. "What are you getting at?"

"Oh Rayman," he cackled. "You limbless fool. Don't you understand? Under my control, I bred you two. Like subjects. Like pathetic, weak, subjects."

Rayman bared his teeth. "Why you—"

"I made this possible. I created a being much stronger than the two of you. And now that you brought her to me like the idiots you are, I can complete my plan and rule over the Glade of Dreams. Mr. Dark would be proud of me." He cackled evilly.

"You're a monster!" Rayman hissed between his teeth.

It was true. Somehow, Ales was able to get the two of them to produce an offspring… and forget it. He intentionally thought out that the offspring would never get to know her biological parents…until now. He made it so the parents would never remember the creation, the birth, and the memories they could have shared with this child. A child, they thought, wasn't even theirs.

"You heartless, little fiend!" Rayman spat, ready to swing at the said teensy.

The Magician made no retreat, but instead, continued to laugh manically as he reminded the hero of something—the dragons.

"I don't think you should take this off on me right now, after all, your precious home is being crushed."

The guardian lowered his fists as he heard the mighty roars of the beasts. He was right. He had to settle this after their home was safe. He couldn't risk it. After all he had heard, it was the last thing he wanted to do, but it was the right one. He huffed and quickly ran outside to meet with Pix and Skye, with little notice that the Magician was already gone.

Fortunately, the pair was okay. The guardian let out a sigh. He looked over to the sprite, the now confirmed mother of Skye. He gathered them together with him.

"Listen to me, both of you." Rayman said as calmly as he could, although in his mind, this was all hitting him with great force. "I have to put a stop to this, and—"

"You're going in there alone?" Pix asked. Now, she seemed much calmed since when they first met.

"Yes. I have to. Besides… I don't want this to become any worse."

"You don't get it. I never agreed to this." The dark eyes of the victim narrowed in sadness. Teardrops escaped her. "I never had a choice…"

The hero let out a sigh. He admitted to himself, he wasn't happy that she was a part of this, but he kept forgetting—she was innocent. Everything that happened…was because of the Magician. She never had the intention to harm anyone. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

"…Look, I'm sorry. This isn't your fault. But…right now, I need you to keep Skye and yourself safe."

The little sprite was going to speak again, but Rayman stopped her.

"This is something I have to do on my own. Now… I'll be back as soon as I can."

He then took off back into the Glade to face the nightmare. Pix took the child's hand and took her to an evacuated location. The mother looked back for a second.

"Be safe, Rayman."