Rayman: Happy Neocreation Day! - Chapter 2
Characters created by Michel Ancel
Written by Andrew Kaiko
Rayman is © 2002 Ubi Soft Entertainment. The characters in the story, with the exception of Grunge and any other character introduced within, are all trademarks of Ubi Soft Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
As it turned out, the robo-pirate who called himself Grunge WAS very considerate, but only because he lost all the values he had while working on the ship, and he still couldn't speak properly. Without the memory of his days on the ship, his habits and original train-of-thought were lost.
He was told to sit beside the bed of one of the bedrooms (Ly's) and sit there until someone came in to tell him what to do next. He wanted to look at his new environment, but he was still blind. It was settled that he couldn't sit in the same room as Rayman, for it would run the risk of him regaining his memory and seeing his rival again! Ly's room was decidedly the best choice for where the keep the robot, for she was as bright and strong-willed as Rayman, and would most definitely know what to do if something went wrong.
The night sky brought out the brightness of the falling snowflakes even more outside the window. The robot's audio system was still in working condition, and could hear voices and other sounds coming from the main room. Even though it would be against their wishes, he got up, and placed his ear beside the door.
"Mottle, Pumpkin, those are for tomorrow night!"
"Rayman, whatcha' reading?"
"Tomorrow's program. Hmmm, Peet's Peak is still closed. All the really good ones always are."
"I'm going to go check on Grunge-"
Grunge knew they were talking about him, so he immediately rushed back to his place next to the bed, pretending to have sat there all along.
It was Ly, and she had brought him something something wrapped inside a box. Ly, under Rayman, had the best self-control, so she paced neutrally toward the bed and placed the box on it. "This is sort of an, early Neocreation Day gift." She opened it for him and inside was a tiny squeeze bottle filled with oil. She was going to clean up the hinges on both sides of his mouth so he could speak clearer.
Grunge was still a bit shell-shocked when she actually pulled his head to one side. When she was done, she asked him if it felt any better.
"Hmf! Hmh! Ugh! Uh! Ah! It! It feels MUCH better!"
"Uglette! The oil was the trick! Come here! Maybe we can inquire more about him now!"
Uglette only took a few of the children into the room. Rayman, although intrigued by this strange robot, entered the room, but stayed by the door.
Now that the robot was sitting still, Rayman could understand why the children so easily mistook him for Grandpa Gustav. For the first time, he noticed pieces of nails and metal arranged to look like a white beard covering the lower half of his face. He was somewhat portly, wearing a white and blue striped shirt, one side torn off his shoulder. Although nervous now, he could sense from the contours of his face that he was definitely confident and admirable when onboard the ship. And when he spoke, Rayman sensed a faint accent.
When asked about his earliest memory, Grunge replied, "I only remember waking up in the woods. There was someone else there, but I couldn't see who it was. I thought I heard him run away, and I tried to run after him, until I ended up here, and now I'm afraid that I'll never be able to thank the creature who freed me."
Rayman coughed in his hand.
Uglette and the children didn't know whom he was talking about, but Ly caught on quickly. "I know him, but I'm afraid he may not be. in the mood right now. to thank you." She gave a glance back at Rayman, who didn't budge from his place.
The children cut into the slow conversation and starting chattering like squirrels! "Can Grandpa Gustav sleep in my room?!" "No, he's sleeping in my room!" "He looks shorter than I pictured him!" "He looks sad." "Maybe he wants to get back to his home and make the gifts!" "He can make them here!" "No he can't! His supplies are back at his home!" "Mommy, can I shake his hand?"
Uglette tried to contain her worries. "Oh! Uh, not right now. He's definitely tired! I bet he needs rest."
"Do I hear children?"
Ly said he did and that the children wanted to see him, but not now. Uglette arranged that she'd divide her clan into groups and they'd see him one at a time. But all that would start tomorrow.
Rayman just thought of a good solution. "If the children think he's Gustav, why don't we just let him go now and get rid of the risk, with the children thinking he went back to make the gifts?"
Uglette responded, "That would be my first impulse, but under these circumstances, it won't work! I KNOW my children. They stick by their beliefs and are stubborn when they are told something else!"
Ly turned to them and added, "Yes, it being a holiday may not seem to be like a good reason to let him stay, but it's not only for the children alone. This robot has lost his memory, and has lost his bad composure as a result, and by the holiday spirit, we should take care of him. He is in bad shape, and with these factors combined, we can't let him go."
Rayman was still defiant. "I'll give him until tomorrow night, and then, he's outta' here."
He could tell Ly was a bit taken aback by his Grinch-ness, and finally he responded to her, "It's a holiday, but he's still physically a member of the enemy."
Ly, Uglette and Rayman guided him to walk around the unit, watching his every move. He got the sense that he was inside several walls, a fire was going, and he smelled food. They all decided to make him a guest, but only until tomorrow night. For underlining their hospitality was pure panic.
-
And where were Globox, Murfy and Clark, you may be wondering?
"My dear friends, please do not be alarmed by the short, blue Teensies working on my delicious Neocreation candy, for they are harmless and won't harm a flea, unless you're someone who has stomped on one once in a while. To your right, you see my newest and grandest creation- the Plumberry Pie Machine. I shant have to tell you what it does, unless your inexperience precedes you."
So said a Willy Wonka-esque owner (also a "rayman") of the biggest candy shop on the Summit Above the Clouds, which was working in full swing, importing ingredients all the way from Candy Chateau for the holiday season. Globox, Murfy and Clark were on a guest tour of the factory, and simultaneously, brainstorming ways to fulfill the children's wishes back at the lodge.
Globox couldn't keep his tongue from behaving! "Oooh! The Plumberry Pie Machine! Hey Murfy, we can get loads of them and not have to spend all that time trying to make ones of our own!"
But Murfy was uncomfortable in this environment. He was looking at the packaged bags of candy with a drawing of Grandpa Gustav on every one, the greeting cards, and the fake decorations! "I can't understand all this hodgepodge! When I was a little greenbottle, all WE did for Neocreation Day was dance in a glowing circle of dust chanting the Macarena and watch as many holiday specials as much as possible! None of this commercial stuff-Oh! Is that chocolate?!"
"Clark LOVE chocolate!"
"I may have to keep a closer eye on you two primordial organisms than I thought."
One of the tourists asked, "Is that chocolate river eatable-I mean, edible?"
"Why of course! You can eat almost anything here! Just don't lean too far over the edge, or else there's going to be some upset Teensies working night and day to maintain the river, and we'd be behind schedule."
"Why, Mr. Wookum, I thought you told us it was safe to eat here!"
"My dear, nothing is ever really safe if you think about it now, hmm?"
"My child would be killed!"
"And would also learn a valuable lesson after he's killed, which is such a blessing!"
Globox wanted to get at the plumberry pies immediately, so he quietly wandered away from the tour and tiptoed over to the bottom floors. Instantly, the Teensies who were working yelled at him to get back up there and that this area was for employees only! The shouting caught Murfy's attention! "Holy Cowmelon! I guess I should've expected this!" He dived downward to scoop Globox off the floor!
But he couldn't get back up to the group! Somehow, the machine was sucking both of them inside! That gigantic, monstrous fan that was twirling around at full speed must've had something to do with it! Maybe!
"Oh Polokus! That blue creature is about to be sucked into the machine!"
Mr. Wookum turned passively at the tourist. "Stop. Police. Murder."
Globox panicked and Murfy's wings were aching of strain, but soon the machine gulped both of them up!
"Guys!" Clark soon leaped off of the railing and CRASHED onto the factory floor, which was now broken!
"Oh, my factory!" Mr. Wookum took out a windpipe, played a tune, which summoned a Teensie. "Put the Plumberry Pie Machine on hold for now! And be careful the people stuck inside it don't end up in the Boiler System," he said very calmly.
"AAAAH! AHH!" Globox and Murfy were having a screaming contest as they traveled through a roller coaster of nuts, bolts, wires, tubes, cranks and jolts! Finally, the Teensie turned off the machine, but by that time, they were both out the other end, drenched in plumberry juice and pastry dough! Globox was in Heaven though.
They finally annoyed Mr. Wookum. "You break them, you buy them!"
"Well, we have enough pies to last your kids five years! Ya' happy?"
Globox had eaten several pies as he went through the machine, and was so stuffed now that he couldn't even get up on his two feet. Murfy rolled him back to the stunned group on his sides. Clark was about to aid him, when Murfy said, "Eh, don't worry! He's already as much of a blueberry as it is!"
'Teensie Weensie Wooka Wee Wick!
'Eat too much sweets and you will be sick!
'Try to live in happiness, too!
'Like the Teensie Weensies usually do!'
"SHADDAP!"
-
Grunge had regained most of his energy since waking up on Neocreation Eve Day, but thank goodness, not his memory! He even tried to fit in with the group he just happened to stumble into, since imitation was the one way he had to learn everything over again. Ly helped him to balance himself and told him where to go when he attempted to ski down the slopes, which embarrassed Rayman in front of the other passer Byers! And still, no one had the heart to mention anything NEAR the topic of Razorbeard and his ship!
Uglette huddled the kids over to a corner of the room and said, "Tonight's going to be a busy night for you kids! Your father will be coming home soon, and then we can start the dinner and games! And after that, Grandpa Gustav needs to leave, because HE needs his last minutes before Neocreation Day to make the gifts and send them out to all the children of the world!" They all cheered! Everything was going smoothly so far
That afternoon, Rayman was helping Uglette prepare the big dinner, when Grunge happened to walk by and also volunteer to help! Rayman was obviously a bit hesitant.
"Grunge, how much do you know about cooking?"
Grunge replied quite matter-of-factly, "Ly showed me a few things this morning, plus I was able to make up some good tips on my own after her help."
Rayman was surprised, and a bit alarmed, that Grunge was such a fast learner. By the end of the snowboarding day, he had mastered the basics of the sport. Why was Ly being the most supportive of this robot when she was so unsettled with Rayman when he was getting the tree last night? And, if he was such a fast learner, would it be quicker for him to remember that he used to be on Rayman's opposing side?
But Uglette insisted he join in, and Rayman decidedly relented.
To most of the party's distress, the dinner was ruined when Uglette accidentally left the meat too long in the oven! It was burned to a crisp black!
"Oh, dear dear dear! Oh, I feel so humiliated! Why did I forget to turn off the oven fifteen minutes ago?! I've never done anything like this before! Why, of all days?! Oh, dear! Oh, I'm so humiliated with myself!"
Rayman rushed over to her. "Oh, don't be sad! No, no, it's still good! I've read in a book a few years ago that the meat in the very middle of the bird is still good when it's burnt. All we have to do is scrape off the skin and we're set!" The bird they were cooking was a roast Stratifour, four feet long!
Rayman scraped off the bird's skin, but the layer under it was just as burnt. He attempted to scrape off that thicker layer, but it was STILL coal black. And so, Rayman had scraped off so much meat off the bird that it was almost down to its bones. "Um, hee hee hee."
Then something unexpected, but so cleverly clichéd, happened when Grunge hobbled over to the bird, examined it, handled the pieces of meat underneath the skin, soaked them in warm water, and placed them in a display. The pieces were now bright tan, shiny and juicy once more.
Rayman, Uglette, Ly, and the children all stared at the pieces in awe.
Uglette took a nibble of one of the pieces and announced, "Why, these are delicious!"
Rayman's head spun around to stare at Grunge.
"They're like new!"
Rayman asked, "Exactly what kinds of things did Ly teach you this morning?
Ly walked over to the kitchen area and said, "Lots, but nothing like that at all!"
Rayman continued to flash a look bewilderment to Grunge, who appeared to be proud and a bit flustered. Grunge then brightened and gave Rayman a faint smile. But Rayman just jerked away, even though he was still very astonished. This guy was getting to be too strange, but what wrong had he done so far? Was his extraordinary skills bad? No, the bird was very delicious, and Rayman had to admit he was learning that snowboard fast!
What was this guy's deal? He couldn't ask him directly, at least not in front of the others. He'd ask him himself, but he was scared of him nonetheless. He recounted his days fighting the pirates stationed outside their barracks, dodging the shots from their guns and watching them run this was and that. He had an epiphany of a thought- those robo-pirates were extremely skilled marksmen and fighters. Maybe Grunge, even with his memory lost, had applied his skills to helping them instead of killing them. Were his quick thinking and skills instinctive?
He decided to talk to Ly about his epiphany that evening when the kids were playing games with Grunge, and waiting for the dinner to be served.
Ly scratched her head. "It's a good hypothesis, Rayman."
"I was also meaning to ask you something else, Ly."
"Yes?"
"Why are you being so supportive of him when you deliberately showed me you were nervous and shaking of fear last night when he first came into the house?"
Ly's reaction was unexpected to Rayman. She perked up and acted a bit proud of herself, lifted her chin and smirked. "I guess I finally realized what this robot can give us."
Rayman's eyes widened.
Ly continued, "You know, I've never even celebrated this holiday when I was little. My family never told me of any holidays- everyday was the same. The first time I celebrated Neocreation Day was when, when I first met you. And even then, I never even heard of the outrageous tale of Grandpa Gustav, which I still think is too much of a ridiculous idea, mind you. But now, I find security when spending time with the kids, listening to their joyous excitement of Gustav living with us for the holidays!"
"So, you're a sucker for what comes out of the mouths of babes, huh?" Rayman replied, half comically.
"If the kids feel safe, I guess FEELING safe is better than BEING safe."
That last line had Rayman spellbound, and he realized it was real, if not completely true.
Feeling safe is better than being safe.
It made sense, because logically, if you feel safe, you'd know what to do in an unsafe situation. But logic wasn't on Ly's mind, he knew. She was slowly feeling the spirit of the holiday.
He was beginning to feel it too, and that's all that mattered on this Neocreation Eve.
"Thanks, Ly. I guess I've been acting too protective of myself. You know what, I'll be more open to Grunge!"
"'Tis the spirit!"
-
The Shoppe was bustling with shoppers trying to get the last items on sale for the holidays that evening! Globox, Murfy and Clark were trying to avoid the crowds and go to the least popular booths. Clark was already carrying a HUGE armful of presents and candy!
Their next stop was the music section and picture section, which had supplies from Picture City and Band Land! A French stereotype was displaying art supplies to the customers, and a big ol' guy in a Grandpa Gustav costume was parading across the area.
"Clark tired!"
They sat down and took a break from shopping, with Clark watching over the presents.
Murfy barked, "I feel pity for that guy! Well, at least he isn't doing it over the summer, when it's already hot as it is!"
"Ooo! Ooo! I want to go see him! Can I, Murfy?! Pleeeeeeease?!"
"You? The blue amphibian who jammed up the Plumberry Pie Machine and got himself hundreds off his health insurance?"
"I'll be good!"
"I don't think so. It's a wonder we didn't get sued in that place!"
"But MURfy! I, wantoseeGrandpaGustav, NOOOOOW!"
"Oh, fine! But don't do anything Clark would do!"
Clark gave him an offensive look.
Globox waddled over to the guy in the costume, who was waving to a kid as he was leaving. Globox poked him in the back, and he turned around and leaned forward to the creature.
The guy had a really sappy Yiddish accent. "Why, hello dere! Are you a happy little child today?"
"I'm no child!"
"Oh! Please forgive me! Here!" The guy struggled to find the huge mouth on the outside of the costume, and pulled out a tooth made of plastic. "Here's a special gift for you to give to your child!"
Globox paused and said. "Um, actually, I have about 6-"
"Oh, okay!"
"-hundred."
The guy in the costume made a more quick gesture, stopped in his task, and looked back at Globox. "Six hundred, you say?"
"Yes, being part frog, my wife and I are able to copulate more frequently than other animals!"
The guy was obviously hiding his inner annoyance in a situation that he job didn't prepare him for. "Well, why don't you give these other five teeth to each of the hundred kids you have, and they can share."
Murfy was getting restless just watching him. "Oh, please!" They needed to get EVERY one of Globox's kids something! So he flew up between the two of them and barked, "Hey, Gramps! I don't care if you got 50 teeth in there! His kids need goodies and we need it NOW! We're celebrating the holiday THIS evening, we're TIRED and HUNGRY, and we demand another 600 or so gifts NOW!"
"Murfy, calm down! Grandpa, we've tried all the other shops, and we still haven't gotten even CLOSE to a hundred! Please just contact the store owners and let them ship other items in!"
The guy felt the costume getting stuffier than usual. "I'm so sorry, but Grandpa is very busy, and he wants to see the other children here, so-"
"Hey, Mister! Didn't you hear me?! Or do I have to RIP OFF THAT FAKE HEAD of your's and repeat it!"
The 20 people standing around them turned around in shock! Murfy told Globox and Clark (who was still holding their purchases), to stand guard and get ready for a good shoplifting!
The guy inside was fed up now, but he STILL stayed in character as he howled, "You don't want to make Gustav angry! Or else, I'll have to summon my soldiers to aid me!"
"YOU'RE NOT GUSTAV! THAT'S IT! HEEEEEEEERE'S MURFY!"
Murfy shot himself into the head and twisted it off, expecting a rather skinny, pathetic-looking head under it! But it wasn't! The crowd gasped! Underneath was an automatronic skeleton! It was no guy in a costume! The entire thing was a ROBOT powered by a battery in the back of his head!
The real head spoke in a rather high-pitched, lanky tone with a lisp! "Okay, now thatht's the last sthraw!" He gave a loud whistle!
What happened next was really a sight! About a hundred other Gustav robots all appeared on and around the three worried customers, as well as other Gustavs appearing on the balconies above them!
"CHARGE!" yelled the first robot! "FOR THE PRESENTS!"
"FOR THE PRESENTS!"
All the Gustavs charged at the three, who gave each other a superhero-like handshake and reared their heads at them. It was a full-scale battle, like inside a castle at the end of a medieval-themed epic movie! Chaos exploded among all the other shoppers and the employees! Globox, Murfy's and Clark's only goal was to pull out as many colored teeth and batteries as they could, and leave each one powerless, collapsing onto the floor in a heap!
After a half an hour passed, Murfy saw that more were still standing! Murfy stood standing, armed with toy guns, and he wasn't afraid to use it! He whispered in an overly heroic voice, "This is it, men! These guys are a tough match! It's like they're energized, and they keep going, and going, and going, and going! Are you guys on my side?!" He turned around to see Globox and Clark, cowards as they were, hiding behind an overturned coffee table.
The last batch of the Gustav Army charged at him, to which Murfy yelled, "Eat WATER, ROBO-THUGS!"
Even though water couldn't kill anything, it did blow them down long enough for Murfy to gather the fake, plastic teeth and as many batteries as possible! When all the Gustavs were down and piled over one another in a huge heap, like a football pile, Murfy marched upward to the very top, and struck a heroic pose, with his water gun over his shoulder!
"Rayman, eat your heart out!"
"(*crak!*) Attention! Clean up on Aisle 3! I repeat, clean up on Aisle 3. Thank you, and have a nice holiday. (*crak!*)"
Globox then looked to his right and said, "Oh look. There's a 'Free Neocreation Teeth and Battery' booth right over there."
-
The festivities in the lodge that night were in full swing, or as full swing as they could get with Uglette burning the main course and Grunge accidentally sitting on one of the kids, who was fine! Soon, all of them were eating a big, filling dinner under low candlelight. Globox couldn't finish his dish from all the pies he had eaten earlier that day, but ate at least a bite of everything! Ly and Rayman were glancing back at Grunge from time to time, who was sitting in between them.
Grunge was about to eat his plate when he stopped, because he remembered something he had to do! He got up quickly in the middle of the dinner, and raced toward Ly's room! Everyone, especially Rayman, had a quizzical look in his eye, as Grunge raced back holding something in his hand.
Something red!
If Rayman's jaw was disjointed from his body, like his hand and feet were, it would've dropped all the way down to the floor! Handed to Rayman were one of his most personal possessions! Everyone stopped their chewing, and opened their mush-filled mouths!
It was the red bandana that Rayman had lost after the defeat of Razorbeard!
It didn't look anything like it before he lost it. It was now tattered, torn and had worm holes in it, but it was still in one piece! Rayman's hand slowly raised up to take the bandana and he held it in his quivering hands. How could Grunge had known that this item was his. BEFORE he had awaken in the woods, when he had lost his memory?!?!
"H-how in the world did you even KNOW that-"
"Oh, your name's written on the back."
Indeed it was.
"Happy Neocreation Day."
Rayman was now even more speechless than he was when he saw him fix the main course! For five minutes, no one even spoke a word, except for one of the kids, who whispered, "Grandpa gave Rayman a real early Neocreation Day present!"
Rayman finally moved when closed his jaw, his hands lowered, still clenching the bandana against his chest, and his mouth turned into a grin. Ly watched this change of heart immediately, and she smiled too. Rayman opened his eyes again, and stared at Grunge.
They shook hands.
But just then, something went wrong! Rayman didn't know what was happening as he felt his chest struggle to breathe, and he gasped for air. His upper body lunged forward and he tired to keep himself on the chair, but he was feeling weaker by the minute!
There was no doubt about it- Rayman appeared to be coming down with something!
Knowing exactly what to do, Ly silently raced out of the lodge, and into the woods, looking for an arrangement of stones.
(to be continued.)
Characters created by Michel Ancel
Written by Andrew Kaiko
Rayman is © 2002 Ubi Soft Entertainment. The characters in the story, with the exception of Grunge and any other character introduced within, are all trademarks of Ubi Soft Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
As it turned out, the robo-pirate who called himself Grunge WAS very considerate, but only because he lost all the values he had while working on the ship, and he still couldn't speak properly. Without the memory of his days on the ship, his habits and original train-of-thought were lost.
He was told to sit beside the bed of one of the bedrooms (Ly's) and sit there until someone came in to tell him what to do next. He wanted to look at his new environment, but he was still blind. It was settled that he couldn't sit in the same room as Rayman, for it would run the risk of him regaining his memory and seeing his rival again! Ly's room was decidedly the best choice for where the keep the robot, for she was as bright and strong-willed as Rayman, and would most definitely know what to do if something went wrong.
The night sky brought out the brightness of the falling snowflakes even more outside the window. The robot's audio system was still in working condition, and could hear voices and other sounds coming from the main room. Even though it would be against their wishes, he got up, and placed his ear beside the door.
"Mottle, Pumpkin, those are for tomorrow night!"
"Rayman, whatcha' reading?"
"Tomorrow's program. Hmmm, Peet's Peak is still closed. All the really good ones always are."
"I'm going to go check on Grunge-"
Grunge knew they were talking about him, so he immediately rushed back to his place next to the bed, pretending to have sat there all along.
It was Ly, and she had brought him something something wrapped inside a box. Ly, under Rayman, had the best self-control, so she paced neutrally toward the bed and placed the box on it. "This is sort of an, early Neocreation Day gift." She opened it for him and inside was a tiny squeeze bottle filled with oil. She was going to clean up the hinges on both sides of his mouth so he could speak clearer.
Grunge was still a bit shell-shocked when she actually pulled his head to one side. When she was done, she asked him if it felt any better.
"Hmf! Hmh! Ugh! Uh! Ah! It! It feels MUCH better!"
"Uglette! The oil was the trick! Come here! Maybe we can inquire more about him now!"
Uglette only took a few of the children into the room. Rayman, although intrigued by this strange robot, entered the room, but stayed by the door.
Now that the robot was sitting still, Rayman could understand why the children so easily mistook him for Grandpa Gustav. For the first time, he noticed pieces of nails and metal arranged to look like a white beard covering the lower half of his face. He was somewhat portly, wearing a white and blue striped shirt, one side torn off his shoulder. Although nervous now, he could sense from the contours of his face that he was definitely confident and admirable when onboard the ship. And when he spoke, Rayman sensed a faint accent.
When asked about his earliest memory, Grunge replied, "I only remember waking up in the woods. There was someone else there, but I couldn't see who it was. I thought I heard him run away, and I tried to run after him, until I ended up here, and now I'm afraid that I'll never be able to thank the creature who freed me."
Rayman coughed in his hand.
Uglette and the children didn't know whom he was talking about, but Ly caught on quickly. "I know him, but I'm afraid he may not be. in the mood right now. to thank you." She gave a glance back at Rayman, who didn't budge from his place.
The children cut into the slow conversation and starting chattering like squirrels! "Can Grandpa Gustav sleep in my room?!" "No, he's sleeping in my room!" "He looks shorter than I pictured him!" "He looks sad." "Maybe he wants to get back to his home and make the gifts!" "He can make them here!" "No he can't! His supplies are back at his home!" "Mommy, can I shake his hand?"
Uglette tried to contain her worries. "Oh! Uh, not right now. He's definitely tired! I bet he needs rest."
"Do I hear children?"
Ly said he did and that the children wanted to see him, but not now. Uglette arranged that she'd divide her clan into groups and they'd see him one at a time. But all that would start tomorrow.
Rayman just thought of a good solution. "If the children think he's Gustav, why don't we just let him go now and get rid of the risk, with the children thinking he went back to make the gifts?"
Uglette responded, "That would be my first impulse, but under these circumstances, it won't work! I KNOW my children. They stick by their beliefs and are stubborn when they are told something else!"
Ly turned to them and added, "Yes, it being a holiday may not seem to be like a good reason to let him stay, but it's not only for the children alone. This robot has lost his memory, and has lost his bad composure as a result, and by the holiday spirit, we should take care of him. He is in bad shape, and with these factors combined, we can't let him go."
Rayman was still defiant. "I'll give him until tomorrow night, and then, he's outta' here."
He could tell Ly was a bit taken aback by his Grinch-ness, and finally he responded to her, "It's a holiday, but he's still physically a member of the enemy."
Ly, Uglette and Rayman guided him to walk around the unit, watching his every move. He got the sense that he was inside several walls, a fire was going, and he smelled food. They all decided to make him a guest, but only until tomorrow night. For underlining their hospitality was pure panic.
-
And where were Globox, Murfy and Clark, you may be wondering?
"My dear friends, please do not be alarmed by the short, blue Teensies working on my delicious Neocreation candy, for they are harmless and won't harm a flea, unless you're someone who has stomped on one once in a while. To your right, you see my newest and grandest creation- the Plumberry Pie Machine. I shant have to tell you what it does, unless your inexperience precedes you."
So said a Willy Wonka-esque owner (also a "rayman") of the biggest candy shop on the Summit Above the Clouds, which was working in full swing, importing ingredients all the way from Candy Chateau for the holiday season. Globox, Murfy and Clark were on a guest tour of the factory, and simultaneously, brainstorming ways to fulfill the children's wishes back at the lodge.
Globox couldn't keep his tongue from behaving! "Oooh! The Plumberry Pie Machine! Hey Murfy, we can get loads of them and not have to spend all that time trying to make ones of our own!"
But Murfy was uncomfortable in this environment. He was looking at the packaged bags of candy with a drawing of Grandpa Gustav on every one, the greeting cards, and the fake decorations! "I can't understand all this hodgepodge! When I was a little greenbottle, all WE did for Neocreation Day was dance in a glowing circle of dust chanting the Macarena and watch as many holiday specials as much as possible! None of this commercial stuff-Oh! Is that chocolate?!"
"Clark LOVE chocolate!"
"I may have to keep a closer eye on you two primordial organisms than I thought."
One of the tourists asked, "Is that chocolate river eatable-I mean, edible?"
"Why of course! You can eat almost anything here! Just don't lean too far over the edge, or else there's going to be some upset Teensies working night and day to maintain the river, and we'd be behind schedule."
"Why, Mr. Wookum, I thought you told us it was safe to eat here!"
"My dear, nothing is ever really safe if you think about it now, hmm?"
"My child would be killed!"
"And would also learn a valuable lesson after he's killed, which is such a blessing!"
Globox wanted to get at the plumberry pies immediately, so he quietly wandered away from the tour and tiptoed over to the bottom floors. Instantly, the Teensies who were working yelled at him to get back up there and that this area was for employees only! The shouting caught Murfy's attention! "Holy Cowmelon! I guess I should've expected this!" He dived downward to scoop Globox off the floor!
But he couldn't get back up to the group! Somehow, the machine was sucking both of them inside! That gigantic, monstrous fan that was twirling around at full speed must've had something to do with it! Maybe!
"Oh Polokus! That blue creature is about to be sucked into the machine!"
Mr. Wookum turned passively at the tourist. "Stop. Police. Murder."
Globox panicked and Murfy's wings were aching of strain, but soon the machine gulped both of them up!
"Guys!" Clark soon leaped off of the railing and CRASHED onto the factory floor, which was now broken!
"Oh, my factory!" Mr. Wookum took out a windpipe, played a tune, which summoned a Teensie. "Put the Plumberry Pie Machine on hold for now! And be careful the people stuck inside it don't end up in the Boiler System," he said very calmly.
"AAAAH! AHH!" Globox and Murfy were having a screaming contest as they traveled through a roller coaster of nuts, bolts, wires, tubes, cranks and jolts! Finally, the Teensie turned off the machine, but by that time, they were both out the other end, drenched in plumberry juice and pastry dough! Globox was in Heaven though.
They finally annoyed Mr. Wookum. "You break them, you buy them!"
"Well, we have enough pies to last your kids five years! Ya' happy?"
Globox had eaten several pies as he went through the machine, and was so stuffed now that he couldn't even get up on his two feet. Murfy rolled him back to the stunned group on his sides. Clark was about to aid him, when Murfy said, "Eh, don't worry! He's already as much of a blueberry as it is!"
'Teensie Weensie Wooka Wee Wick!
'Eat too much sweets and you will be sick!
'Try to live in happiness, too!
'Like the Teensie Weensies usually do!'
"SHADDAP!"
-
Grunge had regained most of his energy since waking up on Neocreation Eve Day, but thank goodness, not his memory! He even tried to fit in with the group he just happened to stumble into, since imitation was the one way he had to learn everything over again. Ly helped him to balance himself and told him where to go when he attempted to ski down the slopes, which embarrassed Rayman in front of the other passer Byers! And still, no one had the heart to mention anything NEAR the topic of Razorbeard and his ship!
Uglette huddled the kids over to a corner of the room and said, "Tonight's going to be a busy night for you kids! Your father will be coming home soon, and then we can start the dinner and games! And after that, Grandpa Gustav needs to leave, because HE needs his last minutes before Neocreation Day to make the gifts and send them out to all the children of the world!" They all cheered! Everything was going smoothly so far
That afternoon, Rayman was helping Uglette prepare the big dinner, when Grunge happened to walk by and also volunteer to help! Rayman was obviously a bit hesitant.
"Grunge, how much do you know about cooking?"
Grunge replied quite matter-of-factly, "Ly showed me a few things this morning, plus I was able to make up some good tips on my own after her help."
Rayman was surprised, and a bit alarmed, that Grunge was such a fast learner. By the end of the snowboarding day, he had mastered the basics of the sport. Why was Ly being the most supportive of this robot when she was so unsettled with Rayman when he was getting the tree last night? And, if he was such a fast learner, would it be quicker for him to remember that he used to be on Rayman's opposing side?
But Uglette insisted he join in, and Rayman decidedly relented.
To most of the party's distress, the dinner was ruined when Uglette accidentally left the meat too long in the oven! It was burned to a crisp black!
"Oh, dear dear dear! Oh, I feel so humiliated! Why did I forget to turn off the oven fifteen minutes ago?! I've never done anything like this before! Why, of all days?! Oh, dear! Oh, I'm so humiliated with myself!"
Rayman rushed over to her. "Oh, don't be sad! No, no, it's still good! I've read in a book a few years ago that the meat in the very middle of the bird is still good when it's burnt. All we have to do is scrape off the skin and we're set!" The bird they were cooking was a roast Stratifour, four feet long!
Rayman scraped off the bird's skin, but the layer under it was just as burnt. He attempted to scrape off that thicker layer, but it was STILL coal black. And so, Rayman had scraped off so much meat off the bird that it was almost down to its bones. "Um, hee hee hee."
Then something unexpected, but so cleverly clichéd, happened when Grunge hobbled over to the bird, examined it, handled the pieces of meat underneath the skin, soaked them in warm water, and placed them in a display. The pieces were now bright tan, shiny and juicy once more.
Rayman, Uglette, Ly, and the children all stared at the pieces in awe.
Uglette took a nibble of one of the pieces and announced, "Why, these are delicious!"
Rayman's head spun around to stare at Grunge.
"They're like new!"
Rayman asked, "Exactly what kinds of things did Ly teach you this morning?
Ly walked over to the kitchen area and said, "Lots, but nothing like that at all!"
Rayman continued to flash a look bewilderment to Grunge, who appeared to be proud and a bit flustered. Grunge then brightened and gave Rayman a faint smile. But Rayman just jerked away, even though he was still very astonished. This guy was getting to be too strange, but what wrong had he done so far? Was his extraordinary skills bad? No, the bird was very delicious, and Rayman had to admit he was learning that snowboard fast!
What was this guy's deal? He couldn't ask him directly, at least not in front of the others. He'd ask him himself, but he was scared of him nonetheless. He recounted his days fighting the pirates stationed outside their barracks, dodging the shots from their guns and watching them run this was and that. He had an epiphany of a thought- those robo-pirates were extremely skilled marksmen and fighters. Maybe Grunge, even with his memory lost, had applied his skills to helping them instead of killing them. Were his quick thinking and skills instinctive?
He decided to talk to Ly about his epiphany that evening when the kids were playing games with Grunge, and waiting for the dinner to be served.
Ly scratched her head. "It's a good hypothesis, Rayman."
"I was also meaning to ask you something else, Ly."
"Yes?"
"Why are you being so supportive of him when you deliberately showed me you were nervous and shaking of fear last night when he first came into the house?"
Ly's reaction was unexpected to Rayman. She perked up and acted a bit proud of herself, lifted her chin and smirked. "I guess I finally realized what this robot can give us."
Rayman's eyes widened.
Ly continued, "You know, I've never even celebrated this holiday when I was little. My family never told me of any holidays- everyday was the same. The first time I celebrated Neocreation Day was when, when I first met you. And even then, I never even heard of the outrageous tale of Grandpa Gustav, which I still think is too much of a ridiculous idea, mind you. But now, I find security when spending time with the kids, listening to their joyous excitement of Gustav living with us for the holidays!"
"So, you're a sucker for what comes out of the mouths of babes, huh?" Rayman replied, half comically.
"If the kids feel safe, I guess FEELING safe is better than BEING safe."
That last line had Rayman spellbound, and he realized it was real, if not completely true.
Feeling safe is better than being safe.
It made sense, because logically, if you feel safe, you'd know what to do in an unsafe situation. But logic wasn't on Ly's mind, he knew. She was slowly feeling the spirit of the holiday.
He was beginning to feel it too, and that's all that mattered on this Neocreation Eve.
"Thanks, Ly. I guess I've been acting too protective of myself. You know what, I'll be more open to Grunge!"
"'Tis the spirit!"
-
The Shoppe was bustling with shoppers trying to get the last items on sale for the holidays that evening! Globox, Murfy and Clark were trying to avoid the crowds and go to the least popular booths. Clark was already carrying a HUGE armful of presents and candy!
Their next stop was the music section and picture section, which had supplies from Picture City and Band Land! A French stereotype was displaying art supplies to the customers, and a big ol' guy in a Grandpa Gustav costume was parading across the area.
"Clark tired!"
They sat down and took a break from shopping, with Clark watching over the presents.
Murfy barked, "I feel pity for that guy! Well, at least he isn't doing it over the summer, when it's already hot as it is!"
"Ooo! Ooo! I want to go see him! Can I, Murfy?! Pleeeeeeease?!"
"You? The blue amphibian who jammed up the Plumberry Pie Machine and got himself hundreds off his health insurance?"
"I'll be good!"
"I don't think so. It's a wonder we didn't get sued in that place!"
"But MURfy! I, wantoseeGrandpaGustav, NOOOOOW!"
"Oh, fine! But don't do anything Clark would do!"
Clark gave him an offensive look.
Globox waddled over to the guy in the costume, who was waving to a kid as he was leaving. Globox poked him in the back, and he turned around and leaned forward to the creature.
The guy had a really sappy Yiddish accent. "Why, hello dere! Are you a happy little child today?"
"I'm no child!"
"Oh! Please forgive me! Here!" The guy struggled to find the huge mouth on the outside of the costume, and pulled out a tooth made of plastic. "Here's a special gift for you to give to your child!"
Globox paused and said. "Um, actually, I have about 6-"
"Oh, okay!"
"-hundred."
The guy in the costume made a more quick gesture, stopped in his task, and looked back at Globox. "Six hundred, you say?"
"Yes, being part frog, my wife and I are able to copulate more frequently than other animals!"
The guy was obviously hiding his inner annoyance in a situation that he job didn't prepare him for. "Well, why don't you give these other five teeth to each of the hundred kids you have, and they can share."
Murfy was getting restless just watching him. "Oh, please!" They needed to get EVERY one of Globox's kids something! So he flew up between the two of them and barked, "Hey, Gramps! I don't care if you got 50 teeth in there! His kids need goodies and we need it NOW! We're celebrating the holiday THIS evening, we're TIRED and HUNGRY, and we demand another 600 or so gifts NOW!"
"Murfy, calm down! Grandpa, we've tried all the other shops, and we still haven't gotten even CLOSE to a hundred! Please just contact the store owners and let them ship other items in!"
The guy felt the costume getting stuffier than usual. "I'm so sorry, but Grandpa is very busy, and he wants to see the other children here, so-"
"Hey, Mister! Didn't you hear me?! Or do I have to RIP OFF THAT FAKE HEAD of your's and repeat it!"
The 20 people standing around them turned around in shock! Murfy told Globox and Clark (who was still holding their purchases), to stand guard and get ready for a good shoplifting!
The guy inside was fed up now, but he STILL stayed in character as he howled, "You don't want to make Gustav angry! Or else, I'll have to summon my soldiers to aid me!"
"YOU'RE NOT GUSTAV! THAT'S IT! HEEEEEEEERE'S MURFY!"
Murfy shot himself into the head and twisted it off, expecting a rather skinny, pathetic-looking head under it! But it wasn't! The crowd gasped! Underneath was an automatronic skeleton! It was no guy in a costume! The entire thing was a ROBOT powered by a battery in the back of his head!
The real head spoke in a rather high-pitched, lanky tone with a lisp! "Okay, now thatht's the last sthraw!" He gave a loud whistle!
What happened next was really a sight! About a hundred other Gustav robots all appeared on and around the three worried customers, as well as other Gustavs appearing on the balconies above them!
"CHARGE!" yelled the first robot! "FOR THE PRESENTS!"
"FOR THE PRESENTS!"
All the Gustavs charged at the three, who gave each other a superhero-like handshake and reared their heads at them. It was a full-scale battle, like inside a castle at the end of a medieval-themed epic movie! Chaos exploded among all the other shoppers and the employees! Globox, Murfy's and Clark's only goal was to pull out as many colored teeth and batteries as they could, and leave each one powerless, collapsing onto the floor in a heap!
After a half an hour passed, Murfy saw that more were still standing! Murfy stood standing, armed with toy guns, and he wasn't afraid to use it! He whispered in an overly heroic voice, "This is it, men! These guys are a tough match! It's like they're energized, and they keep going, and going, and going, and going! Are you guys on my side?!" He turned around to see Globox and Clark, cowards as they were, hiding behind an overturned coffee table.
The last batch of the Gustav Army charged at him, to which Murfy yelled, "Eat WATER, ROBO-THUGS!"
Even though water couldn't kill anything, it did blow them down long enough for Murfy to gather the fake, plastic teeth and as many batteries as possible! When all the Gustavs were down and piled over one another in a huge heap, like a football pile, Murfy marched upward to the very top, and struck a heroic pose, with his water gun over his shoulder!
"Rayman, eat your heart out!"
"(*crak!*) Attention! Clean up on Aisle 3! I repeat, clean up on Aisle 3. Thank you, and have a nice holiday. (*crak!*)"
Globox then looked to his right and said, "Oh look. There's a 'Free Neocreation Teeth and Battery' booth right over there."
-
The festivities in the lodge that night were in full swing, or as full swing as they could get with Uglette burning the main course and Grunge accidentally sitting on one of the kids, who was fine! Soon, all of them were eating a big, filling dinner under low candlelight. Globox couldn't finish his dish from all the pies he had eaten earlier that day, but ate at least a bite of everything! Ly and Rayman were glancing back at Grunge from time to time, who was sitting in between them.
Grunge was about to eat his plate when he stopped, because he remembered something he had to do! He got up quickly in the middle of the dinner, and raced toward Ly's room! Everyone, especially Rayman, had a quizzical look in his eye, as Grunge raced back holding something in his hand.
Something red!
If Rayman's jaw was disjointed from his body, like his hand and feet were, it would've dropped all the way down to the floor! Handed to Rayman were one of his most personal possessions! Everyone stopped their chewing, and opened their mush-filled mouths!
It was the red bandana that Rayman had lost after the defeat of Razorbeard!
It didn't look anything like it before he lost it. It was now tattered, torn and had worm holes in it, but it was still in one piece! Rayman's hand slowly raised up to take the bandana and he held it in his quivering hands. How could Grunge had known that this item was his. BEFORE he had awaken in the woods, when he had lost his memory?!?!
"H-how in the world did you even KNOW that-"
"Oh, your name's written on the back."
Indeed it was.
"Happy Neocreation Day."
Rayman was now even more speechless than he was when he saw him fix the main course! For five minutes, no one even spoke a word, except for one of the kids, who whispered, "Grandpa gave Rayman a real early Neocreation Day present!"
Rayman finally moved when closed his jaw, his hands lowered, still clenching the bandana against his chest, and his mouth turned into a grin. Ly watched this change of heart immediately, and she smiled too. Rayman opened his eyes again, and stared at Grunge.
They shook hands.
But just then, something went wrong! Rayman didn't know what was happening as he felt his chest struggle to breathe, and he gasped for air. His upper body lunged forward and he tired to keep himself on the chair, but he was feeling weaker by the minute!
There was no doubt about it- Rayman appeared to be coming down with something!
Knowing exactly what to do, Ly silently raced out of the lodge, and into the woods, looking for an arrangement of stones.
(to be continued.)