CHAPTER 4: Too Little, Too Late?
*Globox, Murfy and Teensies 4-5 run out of the hideout. Amazingly, the fear of magnets spread across the forest and there are no traces of Cyber Freaks anywhere*
Teensie 5: Where do you suppose we find magnets in the middle of the forest?
Murfy: I don't know. And why do we need magnets, anyway? It's not like we need better personalities.
Teensie 4: Magnets scramble computer code. The Cyber Freaks are made of code. Ring any bells?
Murfy: We're going to make pancakes?
Globox: Yay, pancakes! I was getting hungry.
Teensie 4: Hey, Murfy? Are you feeling all right?
Murfy: I'm okay. Hey, did you notice I can fly? And you're all stuck to the ground? HA! SUCKERS! I like lollipops. Cashews make me angry, SO VERY ANGRY!!! Why didn't you give the almonds a chance??? *cries*
Teensie 5: Man, what was in that dart? Imbecile poison? Looks like Murfy's going to be useless for a while.
Globox: I don't know, I like the new Murfy. I can really, really, really, uh-
Teensie 4: Relate?
Globox: That's the word.
Teensie 4: Great. We're being seriously held back with this pointless chatter. Are there any places at all where we can get magnets here?
Murfy: Hey, blue boy. I'm in the mood for some watermelon and potatoes. Want to find some?
Globox: Sure! Food is good.
*Murfy and Globox wander off, completely aimlessly*
Teensie 5: Hey, come back!
Teensie 4: Ah, let them dream. It's better than worrying about the end of the world. Now we need to scour this area, fast! Anything that looks like a magnet probably is one.
*Meanwhile, back at the Fairy Council*
Crant: I still remember the old GL47. It was truly a fearsome sight.
Rayman: You have some serious brain problems. What's the point in coming to a world, wiping everybody out then just leaving?
Crant: It's a simple matter of universal domination. Your world is falling and will continue until every last organism is wiped out. I know it will take a while, but in the end, the Cyber Freaks will be able to frolic wherever they please and build their own societies.
Rayman: You really are evil!
*Rayman is poked with a spear as several Cyber Legionaries force his way into the Fairy Council. Crant decides to stay outside and give more orders to his forces*
Legionary 1: Come on now, nice and easy.
Legionary 2: We promise we won't wipe you out.
Rayman: I'd rather be killed than turned into an evil war machine. Haven't any of you thought of that?
Legionary 1: Less chat, more walk.
Rayman: I mean, think about it. What's your future with that maniac? He does nothing but bark orders at you all day and what do you get? More orders! Is this the life you want?
Legionary 3: Yep. Couldn't be better.
Rayman: Come on, listen to me. I can let you leave this horrible regime and live a good life here.
Legionary 2: That's out of the question. We will not follow orders from an enemy.
Rayman: For the good of yourselves, this world and the universe, consider my proposition!
Legionary 1: ENOUGH!
*Legionary 1 tries to jab his spear into Rayman's back, but he misses*
Rayman: Well, if you won't join me, I'll have to stop all of you myself!
*Rayman runs deeper into the Fairy Council*
Legionary 4: The prisoner has escaped! Everyone, get him!
*The Cyber Legionaries begin to run towards Rayman. Seeing as how they are gaining on him, Rayman runs into a ruined corridor*
Rayman: This should buy me some time!
*Rayman punches a weak section of a wall. The Cyber Legionaries come into view, but as they rush towards Rayman, the wall collapses, creating a rock slide and a blockade*
Legionary 1: Damn, damn and damn! He got away!
Legionary 3: I wouldn't worry too much. Many of our comrades are in here. They'll catch him in time.
Legionary 1: I suppose you're right. Come on guys, let's go outside and report to Crant.
*The Cyber Legionaries walk away. Rayman takes a breather, then continues down the hallway*
Rayman: Now, what can I do. My only hope would be to enter cyberspace and destroy them from the inside, but those things might change me. Wait, that's that sound?
*Footsteps are heard and Rayman hides behind a rock. Two Cyber Legionaries stop and peer at the rock. They both look at each other in confusion then continue walking*
Rayman: That was close. Hey, wait a minute! Crant mentioned something about machines blocking the flow of the Heart of the World. Perhaps if I could destroy them, Polokus could aid us in destroying Crant and his army! But where is the Heart? I'm not exactly familiar with this part of the Fairy Council.
*Rayman continues walking and turns a few corners*
Rayman: This is all too easy. Perhaps if I-
Legionary 5: Hey, it's the traitor!
Legionary 6: Get him!
Rayman: Nuts!
*Rayman runs, with the two Cyber Legionaries in pursuit. Rayman throws punches at them, but there is no effect*
Rayman: I have to lose these guys or the world is doomed! Come on, think!
*Rayman continues to run, not looking where he is going. He crashes into another Cyber Legionary, significantly bigger than the ones chasing him. He is an Elite Legionary*
Elite 1: Hey, watch where you're going!
Legionary 5: Ack! Get out of the way!
*The two Cyber Legionaries both slam into *
Elite 1: Oh man, you two are in so much trouble.
Legionary 6: Crap.
*Legionaries 5 and 6 run, with the Elite following in anger*
Rayman: Another close call. Hey, wait! I don't believe it! The Heart is right around the corner!
*Rayman turns and sees the Heart of the World. Four large machines are emitting energy beams at the flow, with the Grand Minimus Teensies being held captive by some Cyber Legionaries. An Elite Legionary sits on the throne*
Rayman: So Crant's projection of it was accurate. Now, what can I do about those machines?
*Rayman sees the machine closest to him is completely unguarded*
Rayman: These guys are unreal!
*Rayman quietly moves in behind the machine and sees a control panel. He punches the controls. Some sparks are made and the machine begins to sputter. The Elite Legionary looks at the machine, then turns away*
Rayman: Now, time for the final touch!
*Rayman punches the controls again. There is a small explosion and the beam dissipates. The Elite Legionary gets up and walks towards it*
Elite 2: Hey, I know someone's hiding behind there. Show yourself!
*Rayman runs, and the Elite Legionary sees him*
Elite 2: Hey, come back here! Cyber Legionaries, attack!
*Rayman runs behind the second machine and pounds the controls. The beam fizzles and deactivates*
Rayman: Two down, two to go!
Legionary 8: I see him! He's going down!
Rayman: Oh no I'm not!
*Rayman jumps over the Cyber Legionary and moves towards the third machine. The Elite Legionary takes out a gun and fires*
Elite 2: Taste hot lead!
Rayman: Oh crap! He actually fired a gun at me! That's it, no more mister nice guy.
*Rayman rolls behind the third machine and destroys the controls. The beam deactivates*
Elite 2: This time, you're mine.
*Rayman makes a mad dash towards the fourth machinne. The Elite Legionary fires again, hitting Rayman in his right foot*
Rayman: OW! NO! You hit me! But I'll still save the world!
*Rayman limps forwards toward the fourth machine. A Cyber Legionary pokes him hard in the back. Rayman yells in pain and stumbles upon the controls of the final machine. However, before he can do anything, another Cyber Legionary pokes him again. This time, Rayman falls down and desperatly tries to get up. The Elite Legionary moves in and grabs him*
Elite 2: Caught you, you little rodent. I'm gonna take you for a ride back to cyberspace, GL47! The boss is gonna be so happy! I'll get a promotion for this! Hey, dumbheads! Don't just stand there, fix the machines!
Legionaries: Yes, sir.
*The Cyber Legionaries begin to rebuild the machine. All the captured Teensies look in horror as the Elite Legionary hits Rayman on the head, knocking him out. He is carried out. Meanwhile, back in the ruined Clearleaf Forest*
Teensie 4: Hey, come here! I found something!
*Teensie 5 hurries over to see Teensie 4's crown stuck to a huge rock*
Teensie 4: It doesn't look like a magnet, but it attracts metal.
Teensie 5: Hey, that's a lodestone! Lodestone is a natural magnet! You're a genius!
Teensie 4: Well, I am quite cautious.
*However, four Cyber Legionaries spot the two Teensies*
Legionary 9: Found you! Let's get them, guys!
Teensie 5: Time to beat them into the ground!
*Teensie 5 chips a small piece of loadstone with his crown, then throws it at a charging Cyber Legionary. The figure stops and yells in horror before becoming twisted and broken. The Cyber Legionary breaks apart and the fragments fall on the ground, completely motionless. The other three Cyber Legionaries run*
Teensie 4: That showed them! Now, we need to gather up as many Teensies as possible.
Teensie 5: Let's make a telepathic message. We are magical beings, after all.
*The two Teensies transmit a message with their minds. Almost instantly, many Teensies appear*
Teensie 5: Right. Teensies! You will each take a piece of this rock. Use it wisely, for throwing it on a Cyber Freak will destroy it!
*All the Teensies nod, then furiously chip the giant lodestone into smaller pieces*
Teensie 4: But, according to the message, over four fifths of the Teensie population has been captured! What if this doesn't work?
Teensie 5: We'll at least take some of them down with us. I agree though, this might me too little, too late.
TO BE CONTINUED
*Globox, Murfy and Teensies 4-5 run out of the hideout. Amazingly, the fear of magnets spread across the forest and there are no traces of Cyber Freaks anywhere*
Teensie 5: Where do you suppose we find magnets in the middle of the forest?
Murfy: I don't know. And why do we need magnets, anyway? It's not like we need better personalities.
Teensie 4: Magnets scramble computer code. The Cyber Freaks are made of code. Ring any bells?
Murfy: We're going to make pancakes?
Globox: Yay, pancakes! I was getting hungry.
Teensie 4: Hey, Murfy? Are you feeling all right?
Murfy: I'm okay. Hey, did you notice I can fly? And you're all stuck to the ground? HA! SUCKERS! I like lollipops. Cashews make me angry, SO VERY ANGRY!!! Why didn't you give the almonds a chance??? *cries*
Teensie 5: Man, what was in that dart? Imbecile poison? Looks like Murfy's going to be useless for a while.
Globox: I don't know, I like the new Murfy. I can really, really, really, uh-
Teensie 4: Relate?
Globox: That's the word.
Teensie 4: Great. We're being seriously held back with this pointless chatter. Are there any places at all where we can get magnets here?
Murfy: Hey, blue boy. I'm in the mood for some watermelon and potatoes. Want to find some?
Globox: Sure! Food is good.
*Murfy and Globox wander off, completely aimlessly*
Teensie 5: Hey, come back!
Teensie 4: Ah, let them dream. It's better than worrying about the end of the world. Now we need to scour this area, fast! Anything that looks like a magnet probably is one.
*Meanwhile, back at the Fairy Council*
Crant: I still remember the old GL47. It was truly a fearsome sight.
Rayman: You have some serious brain problems. What's the point in coming to a world, wiping everybody out then just leaving?
Crant: It's a simple matter of universal domination. Your world is falling and will continue until every last organism is wiped out. I know it will take a while, but in the end, the Cyber Freaks will be able to frolic wherever they please and build their own societies.
Rayman: You really are evil!
*Rayman is poked with a spear as several Cyber Legionaries force his way into the Fairy Council. Crant decides to stay outside and give more orders to his forces*
Legionary 1: Come on now, nice and easy.
Legionary 2: We promise we won't wipe you out.
Rayman: I'd rather be killed than turned into an evil war machine. Haven't any of you thought of that?
Legionary 1: Less chat, more walk.
Rayman: I mean, think about it. What's your future with that maniac? He does nothing but bark orders at you all day and what do you get? More orders! Is this the life you want?
Legionary 3: Yep. Couldn't be better.
Rayman: Come on, listen to me. I can let you leave this horrible regime and live a good life here.
Legionary 2: That's out of the question. We will not follow orders from an enemy.
Rayman: For the good of yourselves, this world and the universe, consider my proposition!
Legionary 1: ENOUGH!
*Legionary 1 tries to jab his spear into Rayman's back, but he misses*
Rayman: Well, if you won't join me, I'll have to stop all of you myself!
*Rayman runs deeper into the Fairy Council*
Legionary 4: The prisoner has escaped! Everyone, get him!
*The Cyber Legionaries begin to run towards Rayman. Seeing as how they are gaining on him, Rayman runs into a ruined corridor*
Rayman: This should buy me some time!
*Rayman punches a weak section of a wall. The Cyber Legionaries come into view, but as they rush towards Rayman, the wall collapses, creating a rock slide and a blockade*
Legionary 1: Damn, damn and damn! He got away!
Legionary 3: I wouldn't worry too much. Many of our comrades are in here. They'll catch him in time.
Legionary 1: I suppose you're right. Come on guys, let's go outside and report to Crant.
*The Cyber Legionaries walk away. Rayman takes a breather, then continues down the hallway*
Rayman: Now, what can I do. My only hope would be to enter cyberspace and destroy them from the inside, but those things might change me. Wait, that's that sound?
*Footsteps are heard and Rayman hides behind a rock. Two Cyber Legionaries stop and peer at the rock. They both look at each other in confusion then continue walking*
Rayman: That was close. Hey, wait a minute! Crant mentioned something about machines blocking the flow of the Heart of the World. Perhaps if I could destroy them, Polokus could aid us in destroying Crant and his army! But where is the Heart? I'm not exactly familiar with this part of the Fairy Council.
*Rayman continues walking and turns a few corners*
Rayman: This is all too easy. Perhaps if I-
Legionary 5: Hey, it's the traitor!
Legionary 6: Get him!
Rayman: Nuts!
*Rayman runs, with the two Cyber Legionaries in pursuit. Rayman throws punches at them, but there is no effect*
Rayman: I have to lose these guys or the world is doomed! Come on, think!
*Rayman continues to run, not looking where he is going. He crashes into another Cyber Legionary, significantly bigger than the ones chasing him. He is an Elite Legionary*
Elite 1: Hey, watch where you're going!
Legionary 5: Ack! Get out of the way!
*The two Cyber Legionaries both slam into *
Elite 1: Oh man, you two are in so much trouble.
Legionary 6: Crap.
*Legionaries 5 and 6 run, with the Elite following in anger*
Rayman: Another close call. Hey, wait! I don't believe it! The Heart is right around the corner!
*Rayman turns and sees the Heart of the World. Four large machines are emitting energy beams at the flow, with the Grand Minimus Teensies being held captive by some Cyber Legionaries. An Elite Legionary sits on the throne*
Rayman: So Crant's projection of it was accurate. Now, what can I do about those machines?
*Rayman sees the machine closest to him is completely unguarded*
Rayman: These guys are unreal!
*Rayman quietly moves in behind the machine and sees a control panel. He punches the controls. Some sparks are made and the machine begins to sputter. The Elite Legionary looks at the machine, then turns away*
Rayman: Now, time for the final touch!
*Rayman punches the controls again. There is a small explosion and the beam dissipates. The Elite Legionary gets up and walks towards it*
Elite 2: Hey, I know someone's hiding behind there. Show yourself!
*Rayman runs, and the Elite Legionary sees him*
Elite 2: Hey, come back here! Cyber Legionaries, attack!
*Rayman runs behind the second machine and pounds the controls. The beam fizzles and deactivates*
Rayman: Two down, two to go!
Legionary 8: I see him! He's going down!
Rayman: Oh no I'm not!
*Rayman jumps over the Cyber Legionary and moves towards the third machine. The Elite Legionary takes out a gun and fires*
Elite 2: Taste hot lead!
Rayman: Oh crap! He actually fired a gun at me! That's it, no more mister nice guy.
*Rayman rolls behind the third machine and destroys the controls. The beam deactivates*
Elite 2: This time, you're mine.
*Rayman makes a mad dash towards the fourth machinne. The Elite Legionary fires again, hitting Rayman in his right foot*
Rayman: OW! NO! You hit me! But I'll still save the world!
*Rayman limps forwards toward the fourth machine. A Cyber Legionary pokes him hard in the back. Rayman yells in pain and stumbles upon the controls of the final machine. However, before he can do anything, another Cyber Legionary pokes him again. This time, Rayman falls down and desperatly tries to get up. The Elite Legionary moves in and grabs him*
Elite 2: Caught you, you little rodent. I'm gonna take you for a ride back to cyberspace, GL47! The boss is gonna be so happy! I'll get a promotion for this! Hey, dumbheads! Don't just stand there, fix the machines!
Legionaries: Yes, sir.
*The Cyber Legionaries begin to rebuild the machine. All the captured Teensies look in horror as the Elite Legionary hits Rayman on the head, knocking him out. He is carried out. Meanwhile, back in the ruined Clearleaf Forest*
Teensie 4: Hey, come here! I found something!
*Teensie 5 hurries over to see Teensie 4's crown stuck to a huge rock*
Teensie 4: It doesn't look like a magnet, but it attracts metal.
Teensie 5: Hey, that's a lodestone! Lodestone is a natural magnet! You're a genius!
Teensie 4: Well, I am quite cautious.
*However, four Cyber Legionaries spot the two Teensies*
Legionary 9: Found you! Let's get them, guys!
Teensie 5: Time to beat them into the ground!
*Teensie 5 chips a small piece of loadstone with his crown, then throws it at a charging Cyber Legionary. The figure stops and yells in horror before becoming twisted and broken. The Cyber Legionary breaks apart and the fragments fall on the ground, completely motionless. The other three Cyber Legionaries run*
Teensie 4: That showed them! Now, we need to gather up as many Teensies as possible.
Teensie 5: Let's make a telepathic message. We are magical beings, after all.
*The two Teensies transmit a message with their minds. Almost instantly, many Teensies appear*
Teensie 5: Right. Teensies! You will each take a piece of this rock. Use it wisely, for throwing it on a Cyber Freak will destroy it!
*All the Teensies nod, then furiously chip the giant lodestone into smaller pieces*
Teensie 4: But, according to the message, over four fifths of the Teensie population has been captured! What if this doesn't work?
Teensie 5: We'll at least take some of them down with us. I agree though, this might me too little, too late.
TO BE CONTINUED