A Word from the Author: Ahh... The final chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it. And for one final time, I apologize for the shortness. Ha, this chapter still makes me laugh! Enjoy, enjoy!

Also, see if you can pick out all the Frankenstein references.


Chapter 12 - The Tides of Darkness

"I had begun life with benevolent intentions and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice and make myself useful to my fellow beings," Mister Dark explained to Rayman during the tour of his candy castle. "But the mind is by its structure peculiarly susceptible to forgetfulness, and so I forgot those intentions for a long time. A few years ago, I remembered them, and with my magic I created a sweet utopia. This plateau of candy was but an empty wasteland when I arrived. Look at what I have created from it!"

Rayman looked around as Mister Dark continued on the history of the Candy Château. Dark's history seemed eerily familiar, and it sent shivers up Rayman's spine. Why did he feel like he'd heard those words before?

Mister Dark eventually stopped in a large, open ballroom. "And here is where the tour ends," Mister Dark finished. Before Rayman could react, the wizard poofed himself onto a balcony. Beside him was a tall, iron lever. "And here is where your life ends," Mister Dark added.

"What do you expect to do with that old thing?" Rayman asked, showing no fear. "Hit me with it? That lever's too old and rusty to do anything!"

Mister Dark snapped back, "Well, Mr. Wise-Guy, let's see what you think when I do this!" Mister Dark yanked back the lever. A hole opened up in the floor, and from it rose a terrible monster. Its head resembled Moskito's. And if that weren't horrid enough, it had the corpulent body rivalling that of Space Mama's, and brass boots that were identical to Mister Sax's tapping toes. The monster was huge and frightening.

"What the heck is that!?" Rayman spat. "Some big scary hermaphrodite mosquitophone? Here's what I think," he explained as he turned to Mister Dark. "I think you've had a little too much plum juice!"

"It was cranberry!" Mister Dark yelled. "Now you're gonna get it! Fluffy, attack!"

"Fluffy? That's its name?" Rayman laughed. "I could take it down with my eyes closed!" The limbless wonder gestured challengingly to Fluffy. "You're going down, blood breath!" he taunted.

"I may die; but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful," boomed the monster in a monotonous way. "I shall squish you with my awesome girth!" Rayman watched as Fluffy jumped high into the air. Just before Fluffy landed, Rayman ran out of the way. Fluffy hit the floor with a crack, and before he could move any more the floor gave way. The giant Fluffy fell into a pit of darkness, never to be seen again.

"Mister Dark," Rayman remarked, "if there's anything I've learned from your tour, it was that candy crumbles easily." Rayman then ran towards an electrical outlet that was conveniently nearby and unplugged the single plug it clutched. Mister Dark was astonished--his electric guitar suddenly silenced. "Oh, there's that one other thing," Rayman sneered. "Your tour also taught me that I hate electric guitar boss music."

"No!" Mister Dark yelled back from his balcony. "My electric guitar music is excellent! Excellent, you hear me? Excellent!" Furious that nobody liked his music, Mister Dark ran out of his ballroom, never to be seen again. Rayman then underwent the difficult task of lugging the enormous Heart of the World all the way back to the Pink Plant Woods on foot. Afterwards, he finally was able to rest.

--

Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University poured some plum juice into his wine glass and turned to the world's hero, Rayman. "So," Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University remarked, "that's how it happened, was it?"

"To the exact detail, Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University," Rayman nodded calmly.

"But how did you know his song was bad?"

"Elementary, dear Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University, elementary. You see, while I was at Mister Sax's party I was able to check out the latest musical hits. It was then that I learned that Mister Dark's song, 'Around the World,' was a musical failure. Knowing that this was the key to victory, I stored this obviously important and useful fact in my brain, right next to my memory of how to get dirty with the ladies. It was all very simple, really."

"You are a genius, Rayman, a genius! But..."

"But what, Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University? What's wrong?"

"Well, I always thought the story was so much simpler... Like a streamlined, side-scrolling video game, almost. Don't get me wrong, your version is much more believable. But still..."

"Well you see, Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University, historians like to dumb up adventures like that. Those historians tell how things should have been. They don't tell the truth like I do. Only how things should have been."

Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University nodded his head. "I, Esteemed Doctor Charles of the Picture City University, for one am glad you told me that story." As he set his glass of plum juice down to get a refill, he asked, "Say, could you tell me what really happened in your second adventure?"

THE END


A Word from the Author: Well, it's all over! Be sure to check out the sequel, "Rayman 2 - How Things Should Have Twice Been." It has longer chapters. XD But don't be afraid to review this story; I love reviews. I hope you enjoyed the ride, and I hope to see you in the sequel! o Bye-bye!

Oh, and as one final comment, let me please remind you all to finish your fan-fics! All my favorite ones are unfinished.