AN- You know the drill. Janus, Melissa and Egbert are the only characters I own from this story. Anyway, did you know that Janus was a Roman god? Well, here's
Chapter 3: Janus' Threat
It was a beautiful day in the Fairy Glade. Morning dew dripped off of the trees, getting caught on spider webs. Lazy Squab Caterpillars basked in the sun, butterflies flittered around in the air, and bees buzzed gently from flower to flower. It was a perfect day for Ly the fairy to go visit her friend Rayman.
"What a day!" Ly said dreamily as she strolled through the Glade picking flowers. On her way, Ly met another, older fairy.
"Oh, hello Melissa!" Ly greeted her friend cordially. "Fine day, isn't it?"
"Yes it is, Ly!" Melissa replied happily. "I love the springtime!"
"Oh, Melissa," Ly asked, "do you know where Rayman is?"
"He's with that big, fat glutton Globox!" Melissa said, expressing her disapproval of Globox's eating habits. "Honestly, I don't know why a respectable young man like Rayman associates with a cretin like that!"
Ly looked sternly at the gossipy fairy. "Oh, honestly, Melissa!" She said, sternly reproving her friend. "Globox has a kind heart and would do anything to help his friends!"
Melissa knew that getting into a discussion with her friend wouldn't end well. "Oh, look at the time!" She said, flying off. "I must go make breakfast for the children!"
Ly sighed, glad that they had stopped talking about Globox. As she walked over to Globox and Uglette's house, Ly noticed a strange feeling in the air. It wasn't as cheerful there for some reason, and the sky was a bit darker.
"What's wrong, fairy?"
Ly turned around at hearing a dry, cynical voice. Standing behind her was a tall, gaunt man with brown hair. His gray eyes seemed to examine Ly's very soul.
"Nothing is wrong, sir!" She said hastily.
"That's not what you're thinking, Ly." The man told her.
"How did you…" Ly gasped
"Know your name?" The man interrupted her. "It's not important. I need you to do me a favor, Ly."
"What is it?" She asked.
"Go to the Fairy Council and tell them that Janus wishes to see the Rai' Muana in there at mid day." He replied.
"And what if I refuse?" Ly asked.
"Then I burn this forest and everything in it to the ground." The man replied coldly. "Now go."
Ly ran back to the Fairy Council as quickly as her legs could take her, not wanting to be near the strange man a moment longer.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Fairy Council was in an uproar when Ly gave her news. Although Ly had known how argumentative Fairies and Teensies were when they debated, she had never seen them like this before. Finally, an old, wizened Fairy named Egbert banged his gavel on a podium.
"Silence!" He roared. "Now, Ly, go on."
"He told me that if the Rai' Muana didn't show up at mid day he would burn down the forest as well as all of us." Ly told them. "I'm scared of this Janus."
"As you should be, Ly." Egbert replied gravely. "Janus is a terrible creature over thousands of years old. He was born from the nightmares of Polokus and waged a war against his creator. Much of the world's population was destroyed at his hands. Finally, the Rai' Mauna, a great warrior, came forth to defeat Janus. I fear that if he has returned all hope for the future is lost!"
"This is looking serious." Ly said. "But what is a Rai Muana?"
"Well," Egbert replied, "Legends tell that the Rai Muana was a creature with no arms, legs or neck. I only know one creature like that."
Ly nodded. "Rayman!" She suddenly took a whistle out of her pocket and began to play it. She had played for several minutes, when she heard another noise. The rapid beating of wings reverberated as Murfy the Greenbottle entered the Council.
"How's it goin, Ly?" He asked.
"Murfy," she told him, "go to Rayman and tell him this." She then gave the Greenbottle the same message she told Rayman.
"I'm on my way!" Murfy replied, flying towards Globox's house.
"Good luck, Murfy." Ly whispered. "Good luck, Rayman."
