A/N: Hey, guys! Welcome to the new chapter! I apologize if I haven't edited much but I was busy in school activities at home because of the Coronavirus. Hope you don't mind. However, in the previous chapter, Rayman found out that his friend Clark is sick, and must find the Elixir of Life for him. Get ready because you will find something disturbing before you. I decided that from now on, if I insert a trivia that not everyone knows or references, I will insert a number in bold brackets, like this: (1).

Chapter 7: The Elixir of Life

Through the door, Rayman returned to the Minisaurus Plain, and headed for the Marshland, this time going to the right.

''The Cave of Bad Dreams is somewhere here. In the Marshes of Awakening you must find fifty Yellow Lums and save four Familiar spirits.'' said Murfy.

Jumping between leaves, Rayman took four Yellow Lums, and shortly thereafter, destroyed a cage, freeing the snake Sssam.

''Rayman! You freed me! How could I ever thank you?'' said the snake.

''Oh, forget it, Ssssam.'' said Rayman, calmly.

''Ah, I had forgotten how nice it was to stretch out! Senssssazional!''

''Tell me, Ssssam, do you know where to find the four maskss of Polokus?'' the hero asked.

''Sorry, Rayman. I don't know what you're talking about, but I saw that two pirates arrested Globox.''

''Where did they take him?''

''I only know it's beyond the swamps. Do you need something?''

''Yes, I have to find the Elixir of Life for Clark. He is not feeling well, and I have to go to the Cave of Bad Dreams to recover it.''

''Well then. Shoot my scarf to hold on, but watch out for piranhas, bombs and other obstacles.'' said Sssam.

''Thanks, Ssssam.'' replied Rayman, who shot an energy ball at Ssssam's scarf.

For the hero, it was like being on water skis. The two came across zombie chickens, piranhas and a couple of bombs, and they found twenty-five Yellow Lums and destroyed all four cages, freeing the Familiar spirits inside them, then entered a dark tunnel.

Yellow Lums found: 25/50, total 262/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 4/4, total 27/80

On the other side of the tunnel, there was another passage, and Rayman and Ssssam, having avoided bombs, zombie chickens, and monsters, found eighteen Yellow Lums, dodged the shots of a pirate and reached the other side.

''We have arrived.'' said Ssssam.

''Nice. Thanks for picking me up. Now I'm going to get the Elixir.'' said Rayman.

''Rayman?'' The snake called out to him.

''Is something wrong?'' asked the hero without limbs.

''It's goodbye, isn't it? Come back and see me again if you can.'' The snake cried silently, believing that he and Rayman would never see each other again.

''Of course I'm going to visit you, but I have to defeat the pirates first. I will come back, i promise.'' he said, reassuring him. He gave him a hug.

''I will miss you, my friend.''

''Me too. There's no time to lose! See you soon, Ssssam!''

Rayman then saved a Teensie, but instead of following him, he went back and took the seven remaining Yellow Lums on the rocks, then read a sign with the handwriting of Razorbeard, on which it was written: ''Warning! Unknown territory not recommended for tourists!''. Instead of going to the right, he went straight, where he saw a green monster with one yellow eye, skeletal hands, a purple hat on his head(1) and a stick with a skeleton.

''If you want to pass, you have to tell me the name of this place.'' said the guardian, whose name was Jano.

''It's the Cave of Bad Dreams.'' replied Rayman, somewhat disturbed by the guardian's voice.

''Correct. Since you know the name, you can enter. But first, I'll tell you one thing: I hid a precious treasure in here. You can take it if you are faster than me. I will give you an advantage, but don't delay: if I get you, I will be ruthless...'' said Jano, who opened a portal and Rayman entered it.

Yellow Lums found: 50/50, total 287/1000

Saved spirits: 4/4, total 27/80

Rayman ended up in a disturbing place, with ghosts, bones and skeletons everywhere.

''Murfy, are there any Lums to find or Familiar spirits to save?'' He asked Murfy.

''No, there's nothing. I don't like this place at all. You should know that Polokus is capable of creating what he dreams of, but his nightmares are locked up here. We find the Elixir for Clark and get out of here before Jano gets us. '' Murfy replied, clearly frightened.

''You're right. Let's hurry.'' replied the hero.

After a long journey, between Mini-Janos spitting fireballs, zombie chickens, bony hands, walls that widened and tightened at will, skull-shaped platforms and purple rivers, he found two spheres and placed them on their respective bases, he broke a crystal blocking a hole and went down to the lower floor. Shortly thereafter, Murfy heard something.

''Your trip ends here!'' shouted Jano, suddenly popping up.

Rayman and Murfy screamed in terror and began to run away, then sliding down a slope as the greenbottle flew away from the guardian who wanted to eat them.

''Jano wants to eat us! If you hit a crystal you're doomed!'' shouted Murfy.

After a while, Rayman had to face Jano himself. Hitting the skulls, he blocked them and used them as platforms, forcing the guardian to step back more and more while hitting him for three consecutive fireballs. The hero did not give up however, and forced the monster to retreat.

''At last, it's over! Now what, invincible psycho monsters to attract with gongs?''(2) asked Murfy.

''Murfy, does this seem like the time to make jokes to you? If you try to predict the future at my expense, it's not good at all! Besides, you're breaking the fourth wall!'' said Rayman, a little annoyed.

''Sorry.''

''It doesn't matter. Let's get out of here!''

Rayman entered a room full of gold and gems.

''Yesss! Umbelievable... it's gold!'' he shouted.

A coin fell in front of him, and he picked it up. Then he heard Jano's voice.

''You defeated me. My treasure is yours. Take whatever you want.''

It took a while for Rayman to decide, but he remembered why he was here.

''No thanks, I refuse the treasure. I need the Elixir to save my friend Clark.''

The hero found himself in front of Jano, at the exit of the Marshes of Awakening.

''You made the right choice. I can't believe you ran all this to save a friend. The Elixir of Life is yours, and you deserve it. Guard it preciously.'' said Jano, before giving him the potion.

''Thanks.'' Rayman said. Leaving the Marshes of Awakening, he went to the Stone Circle of Globox's House and returned to the Menhir Hills.

''I hope it is not too late. Hold on Clark. I'm coming.'' he thought.

Once back where Clark was, he was relieved to find out he was still alive, and gave him the Elixir.

''Here, Clark. Here's the Elixir.''

"Thanks, little buddy."

As soon as he finished drinking the potion, he felt full of energy, and lifted Rayman off the ground.

''Now I can crush a bunch more pirates! Thanks!'' he exclaimed.

''Cool, but put me down first, okay?'' asked Rayman, amused.

Clark did so, and with a run-up, he destroyed a wooden door. Amazed by what he saw, Rayman went somewhere else to get three Yellow Lums, then followed the giant. Swinging between the Purple Lums, he took a Yellow Lum and saved the sixth Familiar spirit, then went to the other side and hit the switch to make way for Clark, who destroyed another door.

''I have to go look for Polokus' masks. Are you coming to help me?'' Rayman asked.

''Now I'm tired. I'm going home to rest.'' said Clark.

''All right. I hope you will join me later.''

''No problem. Good luck!''

''Bye, Clark! See you later!''

''Bye, kid!''

Yellow Lums found: 34/50, total 291/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 6/8, total 28/80

After exiting the training center, Rayman found four Yellow Lums and saved two Familiarspirits, making him feel strengthened. Then he saw a steep hill, and he passed it riding a missile. During a long run through the hills, in which he avoided falling menhirs, he found the remaining twelve Yellow Lums, then he saw a spiral door and jumped with the whole missile, falling into it.

Yellow Lums found: 50/50, total 307/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 8/8, total 30/80

A / N: Well, the chapter is over. If you have noticed that this chapter is longer than the others, it is because only with the Marshes of Awakening would it have been too short. However, Rayman found the Elixir and healed Clark. In the next chapter, Rayman will have to save an old friend. See you in the next chapter!

Trivia:

(1): Since purple is considered taboo in Japan because it is the color of death, many characters have been changed in the Japanese version of the game: Rayman's shirt becomes blue, Globox and his family lose their scales and their mouth turns pink, Ssssam turns green, Clark turns from yellow from green, Jano's hat turns red, the Teensies have a different sprite and Ly turns silvery and her face is different.

(2): This is a reference to Rayman 3: Hoodloom Havoc: in the fifth world, the Knareen Desert, Rayman must face the Knaaren, psychopathic monsters that he cannot damage, and must distract them by playing a gong.