A/N: Thanks again to dawnspirit and rayfan…you seem to be my only fans! That is why I'm deciding to write the next chapters anyway, because it's not fair that you two, who like my stories should miss out because some people won't review, enjoy ;). BUT if anyone PLEASE reviews I WILL be grateful.

Rayfan: you'll soon find out the answer to ALL your questions ;)

Dawnspirit: I am really dying to tell you what happened to polokus but it will give all the plot away :/ mumble mumble *shuts up*

Chapter 3 –

Rayman stared again at the cave. He turned round and round, sure that Polokus was around here somewhere…but where? He called for him, sure that Polokus would answer. Polokus always replied to anyone who called, even if it was just telling them to go away.

'POLOKUS! Hello? IS ANYBODY THERE?' shouted Rayman. He awaited an answer, but all that he received was echo after echo of his voice. What was Polokus playing at? Where was he? He must be hiding…unless…he wasn't here?

No…that'd be impossible! He had no reason to go out, and Polokus never did anything without reason. Now Rayman began to worry. What if this was connected to his dream? Maybe someone…or something didn't want his dream interpreted?

Rayman shot one last furtive look around the cave, searching for any sign that may show where Polokus was, or where he was going-but there was nothing. He walked out of the cave. Ly and Globox took one look at him and knew, instantly, that something was wrong. Rayman looked worried.

Ly looked at Globox, wandering in the news would scare him. Rayman-evidently-was thinking the same thing, he nodded at Globox, and shot him one of his usual smiles, it didn't work: it came out more like a grimace. Rayman turned to Ly. She waited for him to saw something, but he looked sideways at Globox. He didn't like the idea of scaring Globox, they had been good friends for a long time, although Globox had become much braver after his last adventure, it may have just been a cover. He thought for a second.

'Ly? Can I talk to you…in private?' He ventured, hoping that it wouldn't offend Globox. Globox however looked as blank as ever and sat down on a stumped tree near the entrance to Polokus' cave. Rayman looked at Ly. Ly knew that something was wrong, but Rayman seemed reluctant to speak. She was reminded again of her child-days:

'Hey Ly! Hello Auntie,' Rayman laughed. 'How are you?' Ly and Betilla both laughed.

'Formal as ever I see, Rayman.' Betilla smiled at him. Rayman laughed back, his eyes twinkling joy, like they always had. Ly found herself gazing into those deep eyes, young, yet wise. Happy, yet proud. And not without good reason, for he had recently fought off Mr. Dark's invasion, and rescued the Great Protoon; the heart of the world.

Betilla was carrying some plates. They looked heavy. Rayman smiled at her and stepped forward:

'Can I help, Auntie?' he asked, making a mock bow.

Betilla laughed again.  'Okay, but make sure you don't drop them.' It was a mark of her faith in Rayman that she actually let him carry them. She usually never let anybody carry them for fear that they would break them. But she trusted Rayman completely, almost as much as she trusted Ly. Betilla felt a sudden sadness at the loss of her husband, Ly was her only reminder of him. Rayman, sensing that Betilla wished to be left alone, turned to Ly.

'Hey Ly, wanna go play?' he asked her. She smiled at him. That was Rayman; always fun loving, always happy. He had been living with Betilla and Ly for two years now, and never had he slackened: always helping when help was needed, and never a burden.

'Ok,' she replied. She followed Rayman out of the door. Rayman was leading the way and Ly didn't know where he was going. She laughed at him. 'Where are we going?' she asked him. He turned and smiled at Ly. It was almost sad, but Rayman was never sad…not Rayman.

'You'll see. It isn't far from here, won't be long.' He led her through some tall grass. There were some trees on the other side: beautiful trees, just turning into blossom. She smiled at them. She had always liked trees, but especially in this state, happy and singing in they speech, and growing blossom. She stopped and looked at them, at peace with herself. Trees calmed her somehow: smiling out at her and speaking to her in their language. Like all fairies, Ly had a curious affinity with nature; she could speak with them. She had taught Rayman many things like that, but not magic. Rayman wasn't good at magic: he didn't have magical power. She turned and realised that she could see Rayman. For a second her heart stopped.

'Ly! If you wanna keep up you gotta keep walking' Rayman laughed at her. He emerged from the undergrowth, and she realised that he had been just a few feet away, hidden by the grass and tress. She laughed at him.

'No I don't! I can float!' And she did so, sticking her tongue out at Rayman. Rayman smiled at her.

'C'mon, not far now.' They walked for a while, chatting idly. Suddenly, there was a ruffling from the undergrowth. She froze. Rayman crept up the grass and leapt on it.

'AAAARGH!' came a male voice. Rayman laughed, but Ly could only manage a weak smile. She had been genuinely scared, without reason. It was only Globox.

'You scared me!' he said to Rayman.

'I didn't mean to!' Rayman replied. He looked at Globox curiously. 'Were you following us?'

'Well…no…' Globox said, shuffling his feet. This time Ly laughed along with Rayman. Globox was always a bad liar. Rayman smiled at him.

'C'mon, you don't have to lie to us!' Rayman said to him. Globox stared up at him, with utmost respect. Globox had always liked Rayman, and had always believed that Rayman was a better person than him.

'Ok, I was. But I only wanted to see--' Rayman stopped him.

'It's ok, but still you should have walked with us instead of following us,' Rayman said. 'It doesn't matter…err…Globox? Can I talk to you? Privately?' He spoke the last word with a glance at Ly. She wouldn't eavesdrop on Rayman, she didn't want to, and besides, if Rayman wanted to tell her he would in his own time. Ly walked over backwards a little while.

Rayman watched her before turning to Globox. 'Globox? Can I ask you a massive favour?' he asked.

'Sure Rayman,' Globox smiled. 'What is it?'

Rayman looked awkward 'Well…its not that I don't want you to follow us, but can you leave Ly and me alone? Just for a little while, because I've got summat important to tell her, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to speak to everyone about it.' He looked shocked at what he just said, and for some reason he almost looked sorry to have said it. 'Look, I'm sorry Globox but--' He trailed off, looking at Globox, who- to his surprise – was smiling.

'Sure Rayman! See ya around,' he smiled. He turned and headed back the direction that Ly went in and tripped over a fallen log. 'Oops!' Rayman laughed and went over to help.

'Thanks Rayman!' Globox called.

'You're welcome Globox,' said Rayman winking at him. Ly came over, and looked surprised that Globox was leaving.

'Where's he going?' she inquired to Rayman. Rayman sighed. He looked her in the face.

'I asked him to. He seemed happy to, so it's ok,' he replied. 'Look Ly, I gotta tell you something. And it's sort of important.' He sighed again. He looked like he wanted to tell something to her, but he seemed to be almost too reluctant, almost scared that he would hurt her feelings. He plucked up courage.

'Ly- I…well,' he paused and started again, 'Ly, I've been thinking a lot, and I've decided that I'm too much of a burden for you and Auntie Betilla.' Ly looked like she wanted to interrupt. But Rayman stopped her. 'Look, please don't interrupt. I just about managed to pluck up enough courage to tell you now, and I'm not sure if I could do again.' He smiled at her; a weak smile, a shadow of his usual one. She smiled encouragingly back to him. 'I've decided to move out.' Ly started in protest but Rayman interrupted. 'I didn't want it to be too far from you, because you are my family, and family's important. I've made a tree house. I could live in it, wanna go see?'

Ly looked at him in shock for a second before she smiled at him. 'Sure! Wait a sec…you made it yourself? I could have helped you!' She smiled.

'I know, but I couldn't tell you…I just couldn't!' He looked sad. 'If I'd known that you were going to be so-so kind about it I would have told you earlier…' Ly looked shocked at this. Why would she not be kind about it? She asked him. He shook his head.

'Doesn't matter, race you!' He laughed and took off. Ly leapt into floating position; cross legged, and floating she almost looked like she was sitting on a cloud – this was her usual for racing-- and gave chase. They went on for about a minute, at high speed expertly dodging trees.

'I win!' they said in perfect unison. They laughed. 'I guess it's a draw!' Rayman smiled. 'Well we're here!' Ly looked at the oak she was leaning against, gasping for breath. What she saw took her breath away.

It was beautiful, an oak, tall, with beautiful green leaves and acorns already growing in its leaves, safely protected by its shell. It must have seen at least a hundred years. It was hollow. And there was a door carved into it; seemingly with its consent, for it was smiling, happy at how he looked.

'Wow Rayman! It's…it's beautiful!' she gasped. And she meant it. She couldn't believe that Rayman had made this himself…or maybe she could? He was a very talented person, and she wasn't really surprised that he had made it himself.

'Well don't just stand there gaping at it, go in!' Rayman gestured at the door. Ly smiled at her. She was more than a friend to him. He was like a brother. She walked in. She gasped. It was beautiful inside too! Rayman seemed to have varnished the wood, but not so. It gleamed, but it seemed natural. There was furniture, not much, but nice anyway. Rayman had managed to acquire a velvet carpet. It felt nice to her bare feet. Rayman looked at her, as though waiting for her opinion.

'Well…it's not much,' he began with a downcast face.

'It's wonderful Rayman!' She sat down gratefully on a sofa, and Rayman sat opposite her on a couch.

'Really?' he asked her. She nodded.

They chatted for a while, talking about a lot of things. Suddenly she remembered that Rayman had not allowed Globox to come. She wondered why.

'Why didn't you let Globox come?' she asked curiously. At this Rayman seemed to undergo a serious internal struggle. Ly watched him for a second. He looked up.

'Well…it was just that I didn't really want to tell anyone yet, apart from you. I was going to ask auntie Betilla too but she seemed preoccupied.' Ly knew that he meant emotionally, he had always been better at that than Ly.

'Ok. Wait? What's the time?' she asked. Rayman pointed at a cuckoo clock on the wall, nicely crafted with ornate wooden texture, that seemed to be stuck to the wall. She looked at it. 'Gee, it's getting late. C'mon, we better go back.'

Rayman avoided her eyes, averting his own.

'I-erm…was gonna move in today…' he said. Ly looked shocked.

'Oh…erm…ok,' she said. It didn't seem right to her. It all seemed too sudden. 'Ok. What shall I tell mum?' she asked.

'The truth,' replied Rayman. He still hadn't looked up. She walked away. Rayman watched her. If she had looked back, and seen the haunted look in his face, she would have realised that there was something else that Rayman wanted to say, something that he hadn't had the courage to say.

Ly realised that Rayman had been talking to her.

'Ly? What's up?' Rayman asked her.

'Nothing, I just thought, never mind. It doesn't matter,' she replied.

'Ok. Look, just come in to the cave, it's too hard to explain. You should see for yourself.' She walked into the cave. Her reaction wasn't quite the same as Rayman's. She gasped and ran round the books and shelves. She turned to Rayman.

'If something was strong enough to kidnap Polokus…' She didn't finish the sentence.

'I know' replied Rayman. 'But we have to help him!' He looked almost desperate. 'But I can't defeat something as strong as Polokus…maybe stronger! I need help. I need strength. Power. Do you know anyone that can help?' he asked Ly. She thought for a moment.

'Yes' she said after she thought for a bit. 'There's an old teensie who lives in the village. He might be able to help us!' Her eyes glowed with excitement. 'He lives in the village. We should go to him first!' she volunteered.

They walked out of the cave, and Globox walked toward them.

'Hmm…I smell adventure! You two are going on one, I can feel it!' He narrowed his eyes trying to sound cool and impressive. 'I'm coming with ya!' he said. Rayman thought, and agreed. Globox had been a lot of help in his last adventure; if it hadn't been for him, Rayman would never have defeated Reflux.

As they walked off into the sunrise, a pair of red eyes opened. They seemed to smile. Everything was going according to plan…

FINALLY I completed chapter 3…long eh? ;) well, I'm going to have a break :)

Please R&R people!

(Can anyone notice something here? A prize to the 1st  person to guess ;))

****

:D rayfan, no need to be embarrassed, I'm not usually making as much mistakes I did (wring I know but I cant be bothered changing it :/) See rayfan? That's the good part of having two beta testers ;) Dawn? Ill send you chapter four (and you rayfan!) when I finish it…