A/N I decided to write this next chapter anyway because I liked writing the 1st chapter and the 2 reviews I got really made that worthwhile :)

DawnSpirit: thanks! And you will find out about the creature, maybe in this or the next chapter: we'll see! But the thing is that you will never truly know who it is until a lot of chapters later ;)

Rayfan: Gee thanks! And yeah, the effects on Rayman will be powerful, but the dream is in fact an important part of the story…won't say anymore just yet :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything here; it's all Ubisoft's apart from the emerald forest.

Chapter 2 –

~_-*-_~

Rayman awoke, with a start. He was gasping; sweating. He looked around wildly, confused and still trying to wake up from his dream. Being in a forest sure didn't help. It took him a good few seconds to realise that he was alive, and that he had just been dreaming.

'Rayman! Oh thank god!' Said a voice. Rayman raised his fists, prepared to defend himself. he turned, and saw Ly standing just behind him looking scared, and confused. This seemed to carm Rayman as he lowered his hands. He looked at Ly. Then behind her, there was Globox. He looked just as worried as Ly, but perhaps a bit more confused.

'AAAAARGH!' came a voice, followed by a bump. Murphy picks himself up from the floor and looks at Rayman 'Hey! What did I miss?' Everyone laughed at this, except Rayman. He was still troubled about his dream. He had had lots of similar dreams before, three to be exact.

Once just before mister dark's invasion, he had dreamed about a giant cake, which was being made by a cloaked figure holding a statue of the great plotoon.

Second a few months before razorbeard had come, he had seen a small figure, ordering some robots around.

And finally, he had seen André as a red lum, and a shadow of a scary figure turning him into an evil black lum. He had then seen him change many red lums black, which had happened only moments later…

…had Rayman seen the future? He shivered at the thought. If he had, this was going to be the most powerful and evil creature he had ever seen.

But this dream had been different, more realistic somehow; and it had lasted longer…much longer. What was happening to him? He tried to recall the dream. He was not even aware of the goings on around him. He put his hands to his eyes, trying to keep the memories inside him. He could remember the trees. Beautiful trees. He had torn down a lot of them. He felt sorry to them, even though they were only a dream, h felt that he had destroyed life. He tried to remember more…a castle. Some doors? How much? 1? 5? 2? He couldn't remember: it was like trying to keep water in cupped hands.

Then he remembered the screams, and it all came flooding back to him. Someone was being injured! Maybe right now! No…Rayman was sure that he would have heard them terrible screams.

Ly touched Rayman. 'Are you ok?' she asked.

Rayman looked at her. He tried to smile reassuringly, but didn't quite manage it.

'I'm fine'

'No you're not!' she accused him 'Look, I've known you for a long time. Please? what's the matter? C'mon what're friends for?' she smiled at him. He smiled back at her.

'Ok.' He sighed. 'I had a…well…a-a dream. But it didn't really feel like a dream. It was more like a sort of premonition.' He paused 'I dunno, but it was kinda weird you know?' Ly looked at him curiously.

'Go on…' it was a request, not an order.

Rayman looked at her 'well, I was in a forest' he sighed again 'a beautiful forest, with trees that felt nice to touch. It was a nice forest, full of nature. I would have stopped to enjoy the sights but I heard some screams. The felt like someone was being tortured. I saw a castle- I think- … but the rest is just a blur. I remember trying to open a door, but it was locked. I was loosing energy quickly' he faltered 'and then I saw…it' he stopped.

Ly gaped at him. 'A thing? What was it?' Rayman opened his mouth and then closed it again. He shook his head.

'It's too horrible to describe' he said, desperately. I don't know what to do! I've had dreams like this before, but never so clear.'

Ly looked at him in a curious way, almost as if she felt sorry for him. She remembered a time, long ago…

'Hello dear!' said Betilla, the fairy. 'Are you ok?'

'Yes mother' came the reply. Ly gazed up at her mother and smiled. Betilla smiled back at him. There was a huge bond between mother and daughter. They had some food, cooked -magically – by Bettila. Betilla was just about to ask Ly to go to sleep, when there was a sudden knock on the door.

'I'll get it!' volunteered Ly. She walked to the door, looking around the house. There were a lot of magical things inside there. Ly was quite a large fairy, so they had moved here. She had taken after her father, who, unfortunately, she had never known. As she reached the door she saw some of the magical "masterpieces" that she had made. She smiled remembering the times she had come home, and proudly showed her mother, who, in turn hung them up on the walls.

She opened the door. She gasped. In front of her was a young child, who looked lost. He was cute, but very peculiar. He had a large nose, almost like the teensies, and he had nice hair, that fell over his eyes. However, the most peculiar thing about him was that he had no limbs! No arms or legs, no neck!

Remembering her manners Ly invited her in. he smiled at her, in a cute way. He was about a half of her size, yet he seemed to be almost bigger in essence.

'I'm sorry, if I'm interrupting you but I think that I'm lost.' He looked down sadly, and almost ashamed. 'I don't want to waste your time, but could you please?' he trailed of looking both ashamed and embarrassed. He looked up into her face again 'no, in sorry, I'd only be wasting your time…'

By now Betilla was wondering what was happening. She came floating round the corner and smiled. She saw the child.

'Hello dear, are you lost? Would you like to come in?' she asked him, politely and kindly.

He looked up at her, astonished. 'y-yes please!' he paused, looking at them both, awkwardly. 'I'm Rayman.' Betilla smiled at him.

'I'm Betilla. Do come in, you look cold out there!'

Ly smiled as she remembered how Rayman had first entered they lives. He smiled at Rayman.

'Come on' she whispered to him.

He looked up into her pretty face as he had done all those years ago. 'Why? Where are we going?'

Her face changed; she looked almost grave. 'To see polokus.'

Rayman's face brightened 'Hey! Excellent idea Ly! He created this world, and he is kind of like the master of dreams isn't he?' he jumped up and started running. Turning back he laughed 'race ya!'

Ly smiled again, remembering the fun loving Rayman, who always saw the fun in things. She started running after him.

'You'd better hope I trip over' she laughed as she over took him.

'I know you should' he laughed with twinkling eyes.

Suddenly there was a loud CRASH and an 'oof!' from behind them. They turned and saw Globox on the floor. Evidently he had tried to follow them.

Laughing they turned back and helped him up.

'I think we better walk the rest' said Rayman with a smile. Globox looked happy, though he tried to hide it.

They walked for a few more minutes, chatting amongst themselves. They soon reached the temple of polokus. Rayman looked in.

'You two wait here. I'll be right back' he whispered, not knowing why. He walked into the cave.

The place looked like it had been ransacked. Pages of books had been torn, and the shelves upturned. It appeared that someone had searched the place…but the worst thing was, that polokus wasn't there…