AN- Hello! This is the long awaited (?) chapter 9! I hope y'all like it!
Chapter 8: The Heart
Ly was depressed. She had been trapped in a cold, lonely prison cell for three weeks since Janus had taken over. She could no longer feel the life force of the forest, could no longer walk freely through the trees. Moreover, she didn't know whether Rayman was alive or dead. Suddenly, she heard footsteps. She turned to see the sneering face of Janus.

"Well, well, if it isn't his little fairy friend." He said. Janus loved to mock the fairy. "How are you enjoying your stay here?"

Ly turned away silently. "Do you hate me, fairy?" He asked. "Do you hate me for what I did to him? Do you hate me for what I did to your friends?"

Ly remained silent. "Answer me, fairy." Janus snarled. "You can't stay silent forever."

"Rayman is coming, Janus." She said. "And you can't stop him."

Janus inwardly winced at those words, but remained smiling on the outside. "My dear, you really think that the Rai' Muana will come and rescue you?" Janus laughed. "Look at me! I have more power than he ever will! And let me tell you another thing."

He leaned up against the bars of her cage. "Is that a tear I see?" He asked her. "Good. I gain power from all the misery, fear and hatred in the world. So cry your tears for your friend! They will only speed his demise!"

In another cell, the once cheerful Globox moped. Janus had purposely separated him from his family, so he could only comfort himself by talking to his Teensie cellmate.

"I remember one day in August when I took the family to Whale Bay! It was great!" He said. "And in September…"

"Shut up!" The Teensie yelled. "Shut up already!"

Globox's lip began to quiver. "Oh… I'm sorry." The Teensie reluctantly apologized. "It's just that I need to concentrate if we want to escape from this prison."

"Escape!" Globox yelled. "Great! How can I help?"

"By doing this…" The Teensie whispered to him.

*******

"Rayman! You're awake!"

Rayman woke up to the sound of Orchid's voice. The girl smiled to see her friend awake. "I'm so glad you're alright, Rayman!" She told him. "I was worried that you wouldn't make it!"

"Don't worry." Rayman reassured her. "I'll be alright. What's going on?"

"Murfy is looking for the temple that father told us about." She explained. "He should be back any… there he is! Hi Murfy!"

The Greenbottle flew into the camp quickly. "Sorry I'm late. Rayman! Good to see you up! Let me tell you what I've found…"

"Murfy," Rayman asked, trying to slow down the Greenbottle's constant chatter. "Can you tell us more slowly?"

"It's up on the mountain peak, about a two hour walk from here." Murfy told him.

"Alright! I'm going there now!" Rayman said, getting up.

"Hey, wait for me Rayman!" Murfy said, flying towards Rayman as his friend ran towards the summit.

*******

Rayman's first impression of the temple was one of wonderment. It was a large temple built of solid marble and supported by fairy shaped columns. The door of the temple was made of bronze, shining brightly in the sunlight. A large man stood in front of the door, looking at the friends.

"Who are you?" The man asked.

"Hello!" Rayman said. "My name is Rayman and these are my friends."

"Rayman…" The man mused. "Come here. Only you."

"Alright." Rayman nodded. "You guys stay here." At that, he walked towards the man. As he got closer to the man, he was better able to see him. He was a tall, pale man with blue wings. He was wearing a light blue robe and carried a staff. His blue eyes seemed to peer into Rayman's soul, examining his past and present. Then, the man smiled.

"I have been waiting for you." He said. "It is good to finally meet the Rai' Muana. I am Elkian, Guardian of the Heart."

"Hello, Elkian." Rayman nodded.

"The Heart is waiting for you, Rayman." The Guardian said. "To enter the temple you must show the sign of the Rai' Muana."

At that, Rayman lifted up his staff. The Lum Crystal at the end of the staff glowed as a beam of light shot from the staff. It hit the Lum Crystal on the door, causing it to slowly swing open.

"Go inside, young one." Elkian told him. "I can't come in with you; it is for you alone to see." Rayman didn't hear his words; he was already walked into the temple.

*******

The temple was the most wonderful place Rayman had ever been in. It was a simple place, really, but he somehow felt that he belonged there. There were several columns inside the room, helping to support the temple and providing a walkway. Scenes from the history of the world were carved on the wall in gilded images. In the center of the temple, lums flew around a giant sphere of light.

"The Heart of the World!" Rayman gasped.

"My son, it is good to see you again." The Heart told him. "I know why you are here; you have come to gain power to defeat Janus. Bring me you staff."

Rayman walked towards the Heart and placed his staff inside of it. As he watched, Rayman saw the staff begin to glow. Suddenly, a bright light enveloped the room. For a moment, Rayman felt like he was the Heart itself; he could feel the joy, sorrow, fear and love of all the people in the world.

"Now you are truly a Rai' Muana." The Heart told him. "It is your duty, like that of your predecessors, to take care of all the people of the world. And remember one thing; never hate another, not even Janus. Hate corrupts you and becomes the all consuming force in your life. It can lead you down the same path Janus took. Now, it is time for you to go and save the world from Janus' evil. Goodbye, my son…"