A/N: Hey guys! Here the new chapter! In the previous chapter, Rayman managed to find the Elixir of Life to heal Clark. Soon he will arrive at the sanctuary where the second mask is located, but he will need help. Now he has to save another old friend. Who is it? Find out now!

Chapter 8: Best Friends in the Canopy

Back in the Stone Circle, Rayman met the Grand Minimus again.

''Well done, Rayman. Now Clark feels better and will help you later. I have an important message for you.'' He said.

"Okay, tell me." said Rayman.

''I found out where the pirates took Globox. They took him to the Canopy, located inside a giant tree not far from here. However, due to a landslide, the passage is blocked by boulders.'' explained the Teensie.

''And how am i supposed get through now?''

''Near the entrance to the Menhir Hills, you will find a missile. If you crash it into the boulders, it should destroy them. Also, at Globox's House, there is a passage to the sanctuary where you will find the second mask, but you cannot get there alone. I'll explain better when you save Globox.''

''Alright. I hope Globox is OK.''

Rayman climbed on the missile and jumped when it approached the rocks, and the explosion destroyed them. Then, he found the giant tree and entered it.

Meanwhile, in the Prison Ship, the number of slaves continued to increase, and now, there were almost 30,000 of them. Spyglass went to Razorbeard's cabin.(1)

''I hope you have a valid reason to go back to my cabin, Spyglass.'' said the admiral.

''Your Evilness, he... he found the first mask.'' replied Spyglass.

Razorbeard was furious. ''What?! It's not Rayman, is it?'' he snapped.

''Y-yes, it's Rayman, Your Grumpiness.''

''He must be stronger than I thought. Take the Warship and kill him! Prepare an ambush, and if he also takes the second mask, prepare an army!'' ordered Razorbeard, and Spyglass, who feared his anger, ran away.

''This must be the Canopy. Globox must be somewhere ahead. Remember to collect all the Yellow Lums: in addition to composing the Heart of the World, they also provide you with greater knowledge. Collect at least 500 to find out more about the origins of the world.'' said Murfy.

Well, thanks for the tip. How many Lums and Familiar spirits are there?'' asked Rayman.

''In the Canopy, you have to find fifty Lums and save three Familiar spirits.'' replied Murfy.

Shortly thereafter, Rayman was attacked by a spider, which hit him with its paws four times and almost dropped him, but the hero reacted with a hook kick followed by a roundhouse kick and a bicycle kick, which threw the spider into air, and then he fired three energy balls with the Magic Fist, which hit it and killed it. Once the danger was over, he climbed the cobwebs and swung from a purple Lum, taking twenty-two Yellow Lums and saving two Familiar spirits, but was attacked by a second spider, which he launched into the air with an uppercut and killed it by rotating his hair to use the helicopter, then fell into a hole.

Yellow Lums found: 22/50, total 334/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 2/3, total 32/80

In the depths of the tree, Rayman defeated a purple pirate and took five Yellow Lums nearby, then read a sign with the handwriting of Razorbeard: ''Public enemy No. 2 is imprisoned here. His rain dance rusted many brave Robot Pirates.'' The hero immediately understood that the sign was referring to Globox, who he saw trapped in a closed door. Knowing him, he knew he was a pacifist and was easily frightened, but he was fast enough to keep up with him, physically strong and occasionally fought, if necessary.

''Rayman, there's a switch over there! If you press it you could free Globox!'' suggested Murfy. Rayman followed his advice and opened fire. The door opened, and Globox, realizing that Rayman had come to free him, immediately started celebrating.

''Yesss! Rayman is the greatest!'' shouted the amphibian, who jumped down and hummed with joy.

''Globox!'' cried Rayman, who ran to his friend and jumped into his arms. The two friends gave each other a strong hug, and parted a minute later.

''Are you all right, buddy?'' asked Globox.

''Yes, I'm fine. Oh, Globox, I missed you! I was so worried when we separated after you saved me, and I'm glad you're okay.'' said Rayman, happy to see his friend safe and sound once again.

''I missed you too. I have to go home, my wife must be worried about me.''

Shortly thereafter, the two found red lasers next to a Yellow Lum which the limbless hero took.

''We can't go in there...'' said Murfy.

''Who is it?'' asked Globox.

''This is Murfy. He knows many things.'' replied Rayman.

''Ah, nice to meet you, Murfy.''

''Hello, Globox! Rayman told me about you when he first met me.'' replied the greenbottle.

''Stand back. With my rain dance I can short-circuit those lasers.'' said Globox, who started to dance.

''What is he saying?'' asked Murfy, confused.

''Globox's species can summon a rain cloud through a rain dance to make it rain, disable machinery or rust pirates. But he told me that others can only use this ability through a special mask.'' explained the limbless hero.

With his rain dance, Globox disabled the lasers, then jumped down a hole and Rayman took five Yellow Lums.

''I don't think we can go on here.'' said Rayman.

''Don't worry! Leave it to me!'' replied Globox, who again used his rain dance to give birth to a plant, creating a flower.

''Thanks, Globox! Great job!'' complimented Rayman.

The flower took the hero to the other side, allowing him to take four more Lums, and then he dropped a trunk with a punch, allowing his friend to go to the other side. The group stopped again because of a wall of fire, but Globox turned it off with the rain dance. Shortly thereafter, they were attacked by a purple pirate, who frightened Globox, and Rayman struck him with a flying kick followed by an uppercut, which defeated him. The hero then went to check on his friend, who had hidden in a small and narrow area.

''What's the matter? Are you afraid?'' he asked.

''No, no! I'm not afraid!'' said Globox, who was clearly lying.

''Globox, it's normal to be scared, don't be ashamed of such a trivial thing.'' Rayman reassured him. ''The Warship and the pirates are very dangerous.'' Suddenly, he felt insecure, as he had not yet fully restored his powers, especially with the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. ''Oh, if only I had more powers...'' he murmured.

''Powers? I forgot about this!'' said Globox, who opened his mouth and pulled out a Silver Lum.

''A Silver Lum!'' exclaimed Rayman, astounded and happy at the same time, as he absorbed it.

''LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!'' yelled Globox, who had seen a yellow pirate behind them. Rayman reacted quickly, firing an energy ball with the Magic Fist, and noticed that it was now yellow instead of blue, then he accumulated energy and fired it at the pirate, creating a powerful explosion.

''Wow, that's really powerful!'' esclaimed Murfy.

''Ly gave me this Silver Lum to make your fist stronger. I already had it with me when you were captured, but I had already given you one and I forgot I had this one too. However, now the energy balls of your Magic Fist are as powerful as an exploding grenade, and the Silver Lum has granted you the power of Accumulation: now you can accumulate energy before shooting, and this increases its power and creates an explosion when it hits something.'' said Globox.

''Wow! Thanks, Globox! You're awesome!'' shouted Rayman, ecstatic with his new power. ''High-five!''

The two friends gave each other a high-five and went on.

Yellow Lums found: 38/50, total 350/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 2/3, total 32/80

After exiting a cave, Rayman and Globox found a Yellow Lum, but then stopped.

''Oh-oh, I have a bad feeling about this.'' said Murfy.

As predicted by Murfy, something appeared. It was a Warship, and Globox, out of fear, let out a high-pitched scream.

''Come on, Globox! I know you don't like fighting, but we have no choice.'' said Rayman, and Globox calmed down. They saw pirates come out of the Warship, and Rayman jumped over a group of four pirates, three green ones and a purple one, and hit his own body with his fist, making it fall on the robots(2), then hit them with a fully charged Magic Fist that destroyed them, and hit the ship with two shots from behind. Six other pirates appeared, four purple ones and two yellow ones, and Globox, with his rain dance, defeated the purple pirates, while Rayman used his body again, and this time, he threw it like a bowling ball, which hit the pirates(3). Five more yellow pirates appeared, and this time the ship also began to attack. All the blows pushed Rayman on the defensive, and the hero soon found himself trapped. Incendiary bombs struck him from all sides, throwing him away, wounded and scorched, and one of the pirates stabbed him on the nose with his hook, causing him to bleed.

''RAYMAN!'' yelled Globox, horrified, while Murfy was petrified. Suddenly, something snapped inside him.

''DON'T TOUCH MY FRIEND!'' he screamed, furious, launching himself against the Robot-Pirates. Globox is normally kind and friendly, and rarely loses his patience, but seeing his best friend so battered and unable to react pushed him to his breaking point. He hurled himself at the pirates with his whole body and destroyed one of them with a kick, then hit another with a slap, and then slapped another pirate and spun with outstretched hands, destroyed two others with a body slam with all his weight, and finally a last, powerful slap destroyed the last one.(4) After calming himself down, the amphibian immediately ran to Rayman to check how he was doing. ''Rayman! Rayman, are you okay?!'' he exclaimed, worried about his friend.

''I feel a little weak...'' replied Rayman.

''Get those Red Lums!'' said Murfy.

After taking the Red Lums left by the Robot Pirates, Rayman felt better, and with a couple of charged shots, he destroyed the Warship.

''Hey, Rayman, you should have seen Globox! He went on a rampage when he saw you in that shape and unable to react, so he attacked the pirates and beated the hell out of them!'' said Murfy.

''Geez, you're never that angry, Globox.'' said Rayman.

''You're my best friend. Rayman. I don't want to lose anyone, not you, not my wife, let alone one of my children. You are all too important to me, and if I lose one of you, I- I-''

Globox was unable to finish the sentence. He burst into tears and hugged Rayman, holding him tight against his chest as the hero tried to confort him.

''Shhhh, it's ok, Globox. I won't leave you, and i'll not die in this battle. Come on, don't cry, buddy.'' he consoled him, as he returned his embrace.

''Rayman? Are you afraid?'' asked Globox suddenly.

''A little, to be honest. It all depends on me, and I don't want anyone to die. Globox, I don't want to lose you either, I couldn't stand it.'' replied Rayman, who hugged Globox more tightly. After a few minutes, they let go and Globox stopped crying. ''Do you feel better now?''

''I'm better now. Thank you, Rayman. I am so happy that you are my best friend.''

''Me too, Globox. I'm sure the kids will be proud that you are their father.''

''I don't want to ruin the moment, but we have to get out of here.'' said Murfy, who stepped in.

''You're right, Murfy, my family is waiting for me.'' said Globox.

After Rayman took another Yellow Lum, Globox used the rain dance to deactivate some red lasers, then they passed through a passage, along which they found five Yellow Lums and were attacked by two purple pirates and a yellow one, which they defeated. Rayman then took the last six Yellow Lums and saved the third Familiar spirit through a Purple Lum. Globox then used the rain dance once again to grow a bush in which Rayman hid, eluding the surveillance of a pirate who confused him for a bush with a big nose, before releasing a Teensie.

"I can't go with you on your adventure, my dear Uglette wants to see me." said Globox.

''I know. Let's enter the spiral door, I will take you home. Your wife and children are very worried about you, I would be too if you had disappeared for so long. Let's go.'' said Rayman, and the two friends entered the magic door.

Yellow Lums found: 50/50, total 362/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 3/3, total 33/80

A/N: Well, Rayman has saved his best friend and is about to go home. What else must he do before finding the second mask? Find out in the next chapter! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the story and see you in the next chapter!

(1): I added this scene in the Prison Ship to explain the Warship attack at the end of the level.

(2): For who doesn't know about it, this technique is the Bodyshot, used in the Gameboy Advance version of Rayman 3.

(3): On several occasions in the series, Rayman can throw or use his body as a ball, and the above ability is also based on this.

(4): This is the fighting style used by Globox in Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, and he can also attack with a slap in Rayman: Hoodlum's Revenge.