A/N: Hey, guys. In the previous chapter, Rayman destroyed the Infernal Machine, discovering from Murfy that the Hoodlums are cloning Reflux, and then passed through Clearleaf Falls, reaching the Bog of Murk to search for Globox. In this chapter, we will look at the point of view of both. Let's begin!
(''Southern Swamp- The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask OST'')
As he explored the swamp, Rayman looked around and saw that no one was there. He hoped that some Hoodlums wouldn't ambush him, otherwise things would be difficult.
''I wonder where Globox was imprisoned. Maybe not in that villa where that mad hunter lived.'' Murfy commented.
''I don't know, Murfy. He may have freed himself, but I know as much as you do.'' Rayman replied. A Muddibog popped up and threw a stone at him, but he smashed it with a punch and hit the monster with two kicks, forcing it back underground. By now, the two friends were worried. They hoped Globox was okay, but they didn't know exactly where to go or if their friend was still imprisoned.
A Stumbleboom attacked Rayman, but he jumped out of the way and fired his Magic Fist at it, knocking it off its stilts and into the water. He also faced an armored Slapdash, and after dodging its charge, fired the Shock Rocket Fist at it from behind at point-blank range.
''Look, Rayman!'' Murfy exclaimed, seeing Roméo Patti.
''Have you found your friend?'' asked the Teensie.
''No, unfortunately not. And I have no idea where he went.'' Rayman replied.
''The Rivers of Murk are nearby. There, you will find a boat. Use it to reach your friend.'' said Roméo.
''Good. I will do it immediately.'' said the hero.
''Be careful though: the river currents are strong, very unstable and tend to change. The direction of the current depends on which direction the water is moving, so you have to proceed at the right time.'' Roméo Patti warned, before leaving.
Rayman went on, and in the night lit by the two moons, he saw a Hoodboom with a wooden shield. He managed to dodge three explosive bottles of plum juice, but another hit him indirectly, causing him to suffer the recoil of the explosion. However, he fired both of his fists at the shield and then charged at another, destroying it and allowing it to knock out the Hoodboom with the helicopter. When he finally reached the boat, he went on board and began to advance. Shortly thereafter, the current changed, sending the boat to the right.
''Careful! Rocks!'' Murfy shouted.
The limbless hero tried to move the boat from another direction, and barely avoided the rock. The current forced the boat to move backwards, then go right and left again, then pushed it forward.
''This current is twisted, it's not normal!'' Rayman exclaimed, as he tried to avoid rocks, barrels, and piranhas leaping out of the water.
''What comes next? Stairs that change direction?(1)'' Murfy commented.
''We're not even in a building!'' Replied the hero. Suddenly, at least a dozen piranhas knocked him out of the boat and began to bite him, attracting other piranhas who tried to eat a piece of his flesh. ''And I didn't go all this way to get eaten by piranhas!''
The current changed again, and the boat was pushed to the left. A series of three Hoodstormers attacked Rayman from above, but were defeated, and by turning them into Red Lums, Rayman regained some health. It was now clear that the current was out of control, forcing him to stop the boat to avoid a possible shipwreck. ''A shipwreck is the last thing we need!'' Murfy exclaimed.
''You can say that again! '' Rayman replied, as the waves got stronger, making it difficult for him to stay aboard and at the same time decently control the boat. ''I just hope Globox is fine.''
(''Southern Swamp- The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask OST-s'')
Meanwhile, Globox was still locked up in some sort of prison. '' Oh, how I hate being imprisoned ... Rayman will be really worried about me... '' he murmured. Being imprisoned was something that reminded too much of what happened with the Robot-Pirates.
Suddenly, he felt strange and felt a pain similiar to an electrical discharge in his body. His small eyes turned red as blood, and two large hairy brows appeared. ''Hehehe! I want to get out of here and break everything!'' A strange voice said this, and Globox returned to normal. He was very confused, as he absolutely did not recognize that voice as his own.
(''Main Theme- Metal Gear Solid OST'')
The amphibian then turned his gaze towards a toolbox left nearby, and saw that there were some big nails, a hammer, some files and a chisel, and he had an idea: he would escape from prison himself, and then he would find Rayman. Determined, he took a file and began sawing through one of the bars, but after a minute, the metal made such a loud clatter that a Hoodmoonger Soldier aimed its rifle at him. Despite this, he did not give up, and when he raised his hands, he caught the enemy by surprise by hitting him repeatedly with the file, and his eyes turned red again, thus defeating the Hoodlum. Once this was done, he kept sawing the bars with the files, weakening them, then hit them with his shoulder and used the hammer and nails to try to make them give way.
''I have to hit! With all my strength!'' shouted Globox, hitting even harder with his shoulder, but the impact was so strong that it knocked him back, but it wasn't enough to destroy the door. After a series of punches and kicks against the bars, he grabbed one and shook it slightly. As a result, he heard some rather peculiar sounds, as if the bar was giving way, so he took a running start and charged with all his weight, completely destroying the cage, then saw a barrel of plum juice nearby.
'' I smell plum juice! I want to drink it and SMASH EVERYTHING! '' Screamed the strange voice, and Globox, after returning to normal, looked at the barrel. ''I think I'm not allergic to plum juice anymore. Rayman must be here somewhere, and I think drinking some plumejuice will help me.'' he thought, and drank it all in one gulp, giving him a feeling of greater strength inside of him. He felt stronger and more agile, and as he fled, he defeated the Hoodblasters and Hoodmonger Soldiers blocking his way.
Globox was no longer in prison, but now he was in an internal place he did not recognize. Suddenly, he saw a Teensie who was in a hurry. '' Globox! Thank Polokus you're free!'' he cried out, very agitated.
''What's wrong?'' asked the amphibian.
''Hoodlums are trying to capture five of my friends! I managed to escape, but they are trapped!'' replied the Teensie. ''You are in a Hoodlum fortress, and the prison you were in before is nearby.''
''It's terrible. I wish Rayman were here to help you, but we got separated last night: I heard strange noises that woke me up, then something hit me, making me pass out. I managed to escape, but I don't know where my friend is. I think he's in the swamp, but I'm not sure.'' Globox said, feeling sorry for what happened. They then arrived in the main hall, and when he stepped on a button, a door opened, but it closed immediately when he ran towards it.
The Teensie also stepped on the switch, but nothing changed. ''This door will allow you to exit the Hoodlum fortress, and the exit from the swamp is not far, but the switch requires a specific weight, and we are too lightweight. It would take six of us to be able to match your weight.'' he said.
''I see. Wait here on the switch. I'm going to save your friends.'' Globox said. Crossing a corridor, he saw two paths and took the one on the left. Three Hoodblasters and a Hoodmonger Soldier were attacking a Teensie, who was hiding behind some crates. The amphibian rolled over them and hit two of the Hoodblasters with a series of slaps, then lifted Soldier Hoodmonger, making him shoot his allies and one of them was defeated, then used the Crusher Punch and knocked out another Hoodblaster and Soldier Hoodmonger. After deflecting the bullets of the remaining Hoodblaster, he hit it with a kick, two punches and a head that defeated him, then went to the hidden Teensie. ''Are you OK? You're safe.'' he told him.
''Globox, you came to save me!'' the Teensie shouted.
''Of course I came to save you: a friend of yours is waiting for you near the exit. We need to find four more of your friends so I can escape.'' Globox said.
''How exactly did you end up here?''
''Last night, I had a dream about André, then I woke up with a start hearing a strange noise, and when I went to check, I suddenly lost consciousness. I woke up here this afternoon, and I just managed to escape. I think Rayman is somewhere in this swamp, but I'm not certain about that.''
(''Main Theme- Metal Gear Solid OST-s'')
(''Brinstar Depths- Super Smash Bros. Melee OST'')
Nearby, Globox defeated three other Hoodmonger Soldiers, thus saving the second Teensie in danger, and on the upper floor, he faced two Hoodbooms which he defeated using the LockJaw Fist by whipping them repeatedly and finishing them with an electric shock, and the third Teensie was also safe.
''Only two of our friends are missing. You know, Globox, I can't believe you've become so brave. '' said one of the Teensies.
''You can thank Rayman for that. After what I went through with him, including being a prisoner of the Knaaren, he changed me. If I couldn't protect Rayman, how could I protect my family?'' Globox replied.
''Good point. '' said another Teensie.
When the four returned to the intersection, Globox took the path on the right, and found himself in a sort of small maze patrolled by some Hoodmonger Soldiers. Being careful not to get caught, he fired an energy ball from his mouth that hit one of them, catching it by surprise, but for safety, he kept himself hidden, then managing to find and rescue the fourth Teensie.
Now only one Teensie was left, but at the end of the maze, four Hoodmonger Soldiers, three Hoodstormers and two Hoodbooms appeared, and the four rescued Teensies screamed in terror.
''Stay behind me! I'll take care of it!'' Globox said, and the Teensies nodded. After dodging some arrows fired by the Hoodmonger Soldiers, he hit one of them with a series of three slaps, then lifted one of them and knocked it out by throwing it at an explosive bottle of plum juice thrown by a Hoodboom, then used the Shock Rocket Fist and started fired bullets from his cannon arm, which he then slammed at another Hoodmonger Soldier, and a charged shot defeated two Hoodstormers and a Hoodboom. The Teensies, without straying too far from Globox, emitted a magical wave from their hands that defeated two of the three remaining Hoodmonger Soldiers, while the amphibian defeated the last two enemies by spinning with outstretched hands.
The last Teensie, hidden behind a door, ran towards the others, cheering. ''I'm safe! Free at last!'' he yelled. He expected it to be Rayman, but was surprised to see Globox. ''Globox? I didn't expect to find you here. What are you doing here?'' he asked.
''He was captured by the Hoodlums, but he managed to escape. What he went through with Rayman last month made him stronger and braver. He doesn't know where Rayman is, but he knows he can't get out of this fortress without us.'' one of the Teensies replied.
(''Brinstar Depths- Super Smash Bros. Melee OST-s'')
(''Danger (Main Theme)- Tomb Raider OST'')
Suddenly, a large number of Hoodlums appeared, all aiming their weapons at Globox and the Teensies.
''What do we do now?'' one of the Teensies asked, frightened.
''Everyone, get in my mouth! There's a lot of space in there, especially combined with my long tongue!'' Globox shouted, as the six began to flee.
''Are you crazy?! It's disgusting! '' the last Teensie objected.
''It's not safe out there, they're shooting us like crazy! I understand that it's not the best hiding place, but you'll be safe!'' Globox retorted. The Teensies, who now had nothing to object about, let themselves be grabbed by him so that he carried them into his mouth. He was right, as the Hoodlums couldn't hit them from the inside, and as Globox ran, he fired energy balls to try to slow them down. There was little he knew except that he had to go out and look for Rayman, but at the same time, he didn't know where he was apart from somewhere in the swamp.
(''Danger (Main Theme)- Tomb Raider OST-s'')
After defeating the Hoodlums chasing him and returning to the entrance, Globox pulled the Teensies out of his mouth and set them on the ground. '' You are all safe now, '' he told them.
''Globox! You saved them! Thank you!'' yelled the Teensie on the switch.
The five saved Teensies stepped on the switch, and the door opened. ''Thanks for saving us, Globox. I'm amazed at how much you've changed.'' said a Teensie.
''Hey, no problem. You should go back to the Fairy Council, you would be safe here.'' replied Globox, from the other side of the door. As he emerged from the Hoodlum stronghold, he smiled, seeing the Teensies teleport away.
A/N: Rayman has reached the swamp and Globox has escaped from prison! Will they be able to find each other again? And what's going on at Globox? Find out in the next chapters! See you soon!
(1): In the Harry Potter series , the stairs of the Grand Staircase at Hogwarts have a tendency to move constantly, alternating between leading from one floor to another or to the corridor of that floor.
