A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Rayman and Globox reunited and left the swamp with a boat. However, Globox is behaving strangely. What's happening to him? And where are they going? Let's see what happens.


The next day, Rayman awoke to see a rather familiar volcano, which he had glimpsed on the way to the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire, where he found the Mask of Earth(1).

''Are you sure we can go home from here?'' Globox asked, after a big yawn.

''I hope so. The current must have carried us while we were sleeping.'' Murfy replied.

''I think we need to get to the volcano and find a way to get to the other side. It's close by, and I think we can go home from there.'' Rayman said.

(''Surface of SR388- Metroid: Samus Returns OST'')

Arriving at the volcano, Rayman, Globox and Murfy entered a cave which led them into the crater. ''Whoa, it's worse than an oven here!'' Murfy exclaimed, hiding in Rayman's hood.

''You got that right, Murfy. This is certainly not the best place for me.'' Globox added. Suddenly, that strange and painful feeling returned. ''Oh, no! Here we go again!'' he exclaimed.

In fact, the eyes of the amphibian turned red again with hairy brows. ''Do you have any idea where we're going, you legless idiot?!'' the strange voice snapped.

Rayman was taken aback. ''Huh? Pardon me?!'' he exclaimed. ''It doesn't matter. The Hoodlums are trying to clone Reflux.''

This time, Globox could not immediately regain control of his body, and that evil voice came from his mouth. ''Ooooh, deliciously evil!'' said the voice, giggling madly.

"Globox, by any chance, did you get hit on the head?'' asked the limbless hero, shocked by what he had heard. He knew his best friend would never say such a thing.

Globox returned to normal, and looked very, very confused. He looked around and turned his head left and right twice, as if he had no idea where he was or what was going on. ''What's happening? Did I miss something?'' he asked, bewildered.

''Yes, you missed something. The Hoodlums are creating e Reflux clone. We have to stop them. '' Murfy replied.

''I thought we killed him, back on the Tower of the Leptys. Besides, their HQ is destroyed.'' said the amphibian, even more confused.

''And he's dead ndeed, but the Hoodlums are creating a clone powered by plum juice. I managed to destroy the Infernal Machine, a machine that creates plum juice for the clone, at Clearleaf Falls, but we couldn't stop the project.'' Rayman replied.

''What's happening to me? First, I get attacked in the middle of the night and lose consciousness, then I get imprisoned in the swamp, and now I sometimes act weird, too weird even for me. If I were a robot or an experiment, I'd be glitching(2).'' Globox said.

''To think about it, there is something wrong. Ly or Polokus will probably know how to help us. We need to find a way home.'' Murfy replied.

The volcano, as expected, was filled with seas of lava, prompting Rayman and Globox to often activate the Fire Protection to get past the lava without burns, and the deeper they went, the more lava in the area increased and the harder it was to tolerate the heat. Every now and then, they were attacked by the Hoodlums, which they defeated, but Globox got that bad feeling again and lost control of himself, accidentally hitting Rayman a few times, and the frequency of all of this began to increase to the point where they started. to emerge the first signs of tension between them, as the limbless hero began to get irritated by it.

''Seriously, what's wrong with you? I'm not an enemy!'' Rayman exclaimed.

''I told you, I know as much as you do!'' Globox replied.

Murfy began to worry. With what was happening, the two were losing focus, and Rayman was nearly burned by a fireball that burst out of the lava. ''Come on guys! I don't think it's time to argue!'' he said.

Rayman and Globox knew Murfy was right, but the situation was becoming difficult to handle.

(''Surface of SR388- Metroid: Samus Returns OST-s'')


(''Hot-Head Bop- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest OST'')

Later, Rayman, Globox and Murfy arrived at a small temple, and when they entered the main room, they saw five large standing stones with strange symbols, a closed door and a crossroads.

''I wonder what those menhirs are for.'' Globox said.

''We need to find five ancient magical runes to activate them so we can open the door.'' Murfy said, analyzing the symbols.

The group went first to the right, and Globox, separated from the others, managed to find the first rune, which had a symbol similar to that of a lightning bolt, realizing that it was the same symbol that was on one of the menhirs, but after having defeated three Hoodmonger Soldiers and two Hoodstormers, a metal gate closed behind him, leaving him trapped, as it was too high to jump over it, and neither the Heavy Metal Fist nor the Shock Rocket Fist could destroy it.

Meanwhile, Rayman battled two Hoodbooms with wooden shields and knocked them into the lava, eventually finding the second rune, which had a three-arrow symbol, but did not see where Globox is. ''Murfy, I found a rune, but I don't know where Globox is. Do you know where it is?'' he asked.

Murfy went to check and found Globox. ''Globox is further ahead. He found another rune, but he's trapped. We have to get it out somehow.''

Rayman was attacked by an armored Slapdash, but he dodged his charge and hit him in the back with a series of kicks and punches and knocked him into the lava, defeating him, then saw a lever and pulled it towards him.

The gate opened, and Globox reached Rayman. ''Hey, Rayman. I found one of those runes Murfy was talking about.'' he said.

''I found one too. Three to go.'' the Guardian of the Glade of Dreams replied.

(''Hot-Head Bop- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest OST-s'')

(''Lava Tower- Rayman 2 OST'')

The three left the path on the right and went to the one on the left, where they noticed a pool of lava so huge it looked like a sea, and there was nothing to cross it, so they kept using the Fire Protection to continue, facing other Hoodbooms with metal shields and a Heckler, which they defeated, not without difficulty, and at one point, Globox saw something hanging from a high ledge. ''Look! That must be the third rune!'' he exclaimed.

Murfy flew closer and saw that it was just one of the runes they were looking for, with an X symbol. Rayman tried to climb, but the walls were too hard, so he used the Throttle Copter, but the effect ended without him reaching the top. ''I can't reach it. Try to get it, Globox.'' he said.

Globox nodded and took a big leap, but didn't get there. He tried again, and gave himself more momentum, but he didn't get high enough to hold on. ''It's just out of reach. I can't jump at this height.''

''Globox! Give me a boost!'' Rayman said. He jumped above Globox, who threw him high, then used the Throttle Copter, and this time, he managed to get high enough to grab the ledge and get the rune. After reaching another area of the room, he jumped from side to side, using the helicopter to avoid falling into the lava, and climbed a rough wall, finding at the top the fourth rune, which had a symbol similar to two P's in different directions. After fighting with other Hoodlums, they were exhausted, but Rayman turned the Black Lums into Red Lums with a grimace, allowing the group to regain some energy.

The three went on and saw a rather peculiar wall. ''Leave it to me. This wall is destructible, so I would advise you to move away a little.'' Globox said. After taking a running start, he hit the wall with his head, knocking over several rocks and smashing it, and to his surprise, he saw the fifth rune, with a symbol similar to a moon. ''Look what I found, guys! '' he shouted.

''The last rune! Great! Now let's go back to the hall!'' Rayman exclaimed.

Back at the entrance, Rayman and Globox took all the runes and looked intently at the menhirs. Each of them had the same symbol shown on one of the five runes.

''We must place the runes in front of the menhir which has the same symbol as it. From here we will be able to exit the temple and enter the deepest area of the volcano, the Pit of Endless Fire. The exit from the volcano is nearby.'' Murfy said.

They all took the runes and placed them in the menhir of the same symbol. The stones glittered and emitted a light that opened the door.

''Nice, the door is open. Let's go!'' said Rayman, and they all entered the newly opened passage, hoping that the Pit of Endless Fire is near.

(''Lava Tower- Rayman 2 OST-s'')


A/N: It looks like the problem with Globox is getting worse, and this is creating some tension between him and Rayman as they explore the volcano. What's the matter with him? And what will happen in the Pit of Endless Fire? We will find out soon! See ya!

(1): In the Dreamcast and 3DS versions of Rayman 2, the Hall of Doors is replaced by the Isle of Doors, and the spiral door leading to the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire is located near a volcano.

(2): In the Lilo & Stitch 2 movie, experiment 626, Stitch, is victim of a strange glitch that occasionally causes him to lose control and cause trouble, also causing tensions in the friendship between him and Lilo. The glitch was caused by the fact that his creator, Jumba, couldn't fully charge his molecules because he was arrested, and Stitch had to be put in a fusion chamber before his Stitch molecules completely ran out of power, otherwise he would die. The reference comes from the fact that this sudden change in Globox happens sporadically and causes him to say things he wouldn't normally say, just as the glitch caused Stitch problems and made him lose control at random intervals.