AN: Well, I'm finally back from the video games I've been playing and I'm ready to write again! Okay… I don't own Rayman or the Rayman series, blah blah blah… And you know who I made up now, right? Well, let's get started.

Chapter 7: Diego's Past

Diego sat down on a slate of rock with almost every eye in the room on him. Rayman and his friends listened even more intently than anyone else as Diego told his strange tale.

"My life wasn't always that of a fugitive, my friends." Diego told them. "I was born to Kai'ran, king of the Phantoms and ruler of their kingdoms above and below the Earth. He was an old man, but he ruled the kingdom well. Since my mother died when I was a boy of six, my father was the greatest influence in my life. He was a kind man and I loved him more than anyone else in the world.

"And then tragedy struck. One of my father's best friends, a man named Tos'kio, betrayed him. He staged a revolt against my father and had him executed before my very eyes. Everyone else with us were sold into slavery… except me. Tos'kio knew that I was a threat to him, but he knew that our people would look down on the slaughter of a boy of thirteen. Thus, he had me exiled into the desert for me to die of exposure to the elements.

"But he never counted on my ability to adapt and survive in the harsh desert. I managed to find enough food and water to survive and plan how I would avenge my father's death. And then they began to hunt me down.

"I suppose that it was only a matter of time before they would go looking for me, but not just because of my birthright. Before I was exiled, I managed to pick up a little ornament that Tos'kio could live without…" At that, Diego raised his right arm to show the bracelet to his friends.

"He wanted this bracelet that adorns my right arm! He needed this because of the laws set down by the ancients… to rule with absolute power, one must possess the Daggers and Bracelets that were forged by the first dynasty. He has both of the Crystal Daggers, but only one of the Bracelets, so he can only rule as a General. He needs me dead and this bracelet returned before he can establish his own dynasty.

"And now he rules our kingdom like a spy state. Assassins specifically appointed by the General keep his enemies from breaking the silence, and soldiers patrol the Desert to take care of any outsiders; he doesn't want any outside contact or threat to his rule. And that is why I came down here; to settle the score with the General and help my people."

The friends sat in silence for a while. Finally, Rayman broke the silence with a question. "What does this have to do with us?"

He sighed. "I was going to lead you all into our Capital so you could help me overthrow the tyrant. I'm sorry, I know I should have told you sooner, but I knew you were in a hurry."

"Diego," Rayman told his friend, "you could have told us anytime and we would have helped you. I know I'm in a hurry, but I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't help someone in need."

Diego gave a rare smile. "Thank, you Rayman. It's good to have a friend like you."

"Don't mention it!" Rayman replied. "Now let's go find the General!"

"That won't be necessary." A voice echoed throughout the caves as a group of Phantoms walked into the room. At the head of the group stood a Phantom who was about a head above the others and held two daggers of pure crystal in his hands. He sneered at Diego and the friends.

"So you are back." He said, smiling evilly. "I had heard of your arrival a short while ago from one of your friends. You may be interested to know that you met one of my spies last night."

"Tos'kio…" Diego muttered.

"Yes." The General replied. By this time, Phantoms had begun to flood the room, vastly outnumbering Diego's supporters. "You've been a thorn in my side for a long time, kid. Now you and your friends are all going to die. Except for him." Tos'kio pointed at Rayman to emphasize his statement. "I have a friend who wants to see this one alive. You'll wish you were dead by the time he was through with you!"

Quick as a flash, Rayman struck the General in the face with his staff and pointed it at his chest. Before the guards were able to react, Rayman's staff begant to glow. "One move and this one dies! Now back off!"

"Do as he says!" The General hissed.

As the guards receded, Diego walked towards the prone figure of his enemy. "Let him rise, Rayman." Rayman removed his staff and Diego glared at the General. "I could kill you now, but I won't. Instead, I'll give you the chance you never gave my father. I challenge you to a duel, Tos'kio. Do you accept?"

The General glared hatefully at his foe. "I accept. You'll wish you had never been born, whelp!"

*******

The two Phantoms glared at each other as everyone else in the room turned to watch. The combatants unsheathed their daggers and began to walk towards each other.

"Ready to fight?" Diego asked his enemy.

Tos'kio didn't say a word, lunging at Diego instead. The smaller Phantom dodged this charge and gave his foe a quick kick in the back. The larger Phantom grunted and fell to the ground at the force of this blow.

"Get up." Diego spat, walking towards his enemy. Tos'kio, however, took the opportunity to grab Diego by the leg and toss him to the ground. The large Phantom reared up in triumph and stabbed at Diego with one of his daggers, but his nimbler adversary dodged and struck Tos'kio in the face.

By this time the two Phantoms were both panting from their exertions. Suddenly, Tos'kio threw a dagger at his foe. Diego tried to dodge it, but he wasn't fast enough. He grimaced in pain as the dagger buried itself into his side. Tos'kio ran over to his injured opponent and struck him in the face. Diego crumpled over and fell to the floor.

"It's been a good fight, kid, but now it's time for you go to your father." At that, Tos'kio howled in triumph and lunged at Diego.

"Never!" Diego hissed painfully, rearing up his legs and kicking his enemy in the stomach. He then began to rise painfully from the ground. Before Tos'kio could rise, Diego was on him. The young Phantom knocked his enemy to the floor and raised his dagger into the air.

"I've been waiting for this day my entire life." He said coldly. "Any last words?"

"Mercy, please!" The battered, bloody Phantom begged. "Please spare me!"

Looking into his enemy's frightened eyes, Diego saw something in them that reminded him of himself as a child. Reluctantly, he dropped his dagger to the floor.

"Alright." He said. "I'll spare you. You two, escort this one to the desert, give him a bag of rations and set him loose. You, Tos'kio, are hereby exiled from our kingdom. Let's see how you like reaping what you have sewn." At that, two large Phantoms grabbed Tos'kio and escorted him out of the mine, after giving Diego the remaining Dagger and Bracelet.

*******

"Diego! Are you alright?"

Diego looked at his friends' concerned faces before smiling slightly. "I'm okay, except for the pain in my side."

"I'll help with that." Ly said, extending her hands until a lum formed. She then placed it site of the wound, watching it instantly dissolve. Diego winced for a second, but then he watched in amazement as the wound closed up and the dagger fell from his side.

"How did you…"

"Ly's a fairy." Rayman explained. "She has extraordinary healing powers. I know from personal experience; she saved my life a few times!"

"Well, miss, you have my gratitude." Diego smiled. "Now, I have to repay you all for the things you have done for me. Do you still want to go to Grimspire Keep?"

"Yes!" Simon, silent all this time, said. "I need to see if my daughter is alright, so I'll have to go to the Keep."

"Well then, I can help you all." Diego replied. "Barthus? Where are you?"

The old Phantom from before hobbled up to Diego. "What is it, my liege?"

"Barthus," Diego told him, "I can't stay here. I have to go help my friends, and… I want you to rule in my place."

The old man stared at him in wonderment. "Me? But…"

"You were a good friend to both me and my father, Barthus. I need you to watch over my people for now. I order you to do it."

Barthus bowed before him. "I can't disobey you, sir. Come back to us soon."

"I will." He smiled. "Now then," he said, turning to the friends, "I'll show you where to go." At that, Diego walked through the mines for a little while, finally arriving at a rock wall.

"This is where we need to go." He explained to the friends as he showed another dagger-shaped niche in the wall. He then put his dagger in the niche and turned it. Suddenly, the rock wall began to slide to the left as Diego removed his dagger, revealing a long, damp tunnel.

"Here it is, friends. The tunnel to the Bog of Lost Souls."