A/N: Hey, guys! Here is a new chapter in Rayman 2: The Great Escape! In the last chapter, Rayman defeated Ninjaws and found the Earth Mask, the second of the four masks. We are now halfway, but what will happen now? Let's find out! Before we get started, I'll make a premise: now the total views of my stories are at 669, and thank you for the support. I have decided that when I get to 1000 views for my stories, I will make a Q&A in my profile. From now on you can ask me any question you want by PM that I will answer in my profile. End of the premise, I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 11: The Battle of the 1000 Pirates(1)

Following the directions that the Grand Minimus had given him, Rayman went to the well, went down into the cave and went to the left. Near the fortress that led to the Whale Bay, he saw Clark in front of a wall.

''Hi, Clark!'' he greeted him. ''The Teensies told me you were here.''

''Hey there, Rayman! I heard you found the second mask. Follow me, I will open a path for the third one, but watch out: they told me that the Pirates are preparing an attack.'' said the giant, who destroyed the wall, and the two friends found themselves in front of a fortress from which a large number came out of pirates of all colors, arranged in horizontal rows of four.

''Clark, I think I need some help here.'' said Rayman.

''No problem!'' said Clark.

''Thanks, you are a true friend.'' said the limbless hero.

The clash began. The Robo-pirates opened fire, firing from their bullets to barrels, which greatly limited the space in which Rayman could move. The hero attacked, and began hitting the nearest pirates with punches, kicks and also using the body as a ball to take down more enemies, and Clark assisted him with his physical strength, delivering powerful punches, launching himself with all his body on the pirates or throw them away, even one on top of the other. They also began to attack together with combined techniques, with Clark throwing Rayman at the pirates or throwing him into the air to shoot a fully charged Magic Fist on the ground, creating powerful explosions. The pirates weren't a joke either: by attacking together, they limited Rayman's movements and caused him damage, so sometimes Clark would position himself in front of him to take the damage, allowing the limbless hero to approach and attack or climb on his back to use his Magic Fist without taking risks. The battle lasted for minutes that seemed like hours, and Rayman was starting to show signs of fatigue.

''Man, there's just no end of those pirates, how many are there?'' he asked, tired and injured.

''Come on, Rayman, hold on a little longer!'' encouraged Clark, who at this point continued to get hit in his place.

The hero charged his Magic Fist once more, and the explosion defeated all the remaining pirates.

''Yippeeee! We did it!'' shouted Rayman, who jumped torwards Clark and the two friends gave each other a high five in joy. ''Thank you, Clark! You were great!''

''You're welcome, Rayman. But there are other pirates inside the fortress. Go to the exit of the cave, from there, you will reach the Rainbow Creek, the third mask must be around here. I'm staying here to take out the remaining pirates.'' said Clark.

Rayman went across the cave, and found himself facing a cliff above the sea, with a large rainbow above them.

''You've reached the Rainbow Creek. This area is larger than Globox's House and the Minisaurus Plain, and there are thirty Yellow Lums to find and a Familiar spirit to save.'' said Murfy.

The hero crossed a bridge, from which he reached the Rainbow Creek Stone Circle, where he found the Grand Minimus.

''Rayman, you have arrived! I heard you were attacked by a pirate army. Are you all right?'' he asked.

''I'm fine.'' answered the hero. ''I have faced so many pirates that they never seemed to end, but Clark helped me. Do you have anything to tell me?'' he then asked.

''You are getting closer to the third mask. I'll explain you how to find it. First, you need to deactivate two generators to enter the Pirate Factory. The first generator is located in the Precipice, and the second one is in the depths of the Echoing Caves.(2) Once you enter the Factory, you should find access to the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava, where you will find the Fire Mask. Go get the hot air balloon to the east, it will take you to the place where you should find the first generator.'' explained the Grand Minimus.

''I understand.'' said Rayman.

''One last thing: watch your back. The Teensies you saved told me that Razorbeard knows you found two masks, and when he found out, he went mad. He wants you dead, so please be careful!'' said the Grand Minimus, with a growing sense of concern.

''Don't worry, I'll handle it.'' replied the hero, to reassure him.

Rayman turned back and saw a wall that only Clark could destroy, then he went to the right and took a Yellow Lum on the other side of the cliff, but was attacked by a group of pirates, which he defeated, then took the hot air balloon.

Yellow Lums found: 1/30, total 513/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 0/1, total 45/80

Meanwhile, at the Prison Ship, the number of slaves had risen further, to 33,524.

Spyglass went to Razorbeard's Personal Cabin again, but the red pirates at the door didn't trip him.

''What is it?!'' snapped the admiral, annoyed.

''Your Ferocity, Rayman-Rayman already has two masks.'' replied the robot, anxious.

''HE'S STILL ALIVE?! YOU IDIOTIC FOOL!'' screamed a furious Razorbeard, who threw his hat on Spyglass's head, who couldn't see anything. ''Just send the Warships! AND DON'T COME BACK WITHOUT HIS CORPSE!''

Spyglass left the cabin immediately. Razorbeard was terrifying when he got angry, and even when he didn't scream at the top of his lungs, he feared him, knowing that if he disappointed him again, he could have torn him to pieces with his own hands.

A/N: Oh, oh. Rayman has recently left the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire and has just faced a large army in such a short time, and Razorbeard wants him dead. Get ready for the next chapter, because it will be set in one of the most iconic levels of the game: the Precipice, plus another mission necessary for the story. I hope you enjoyed it and i'll see you guys in the next chapter!

(1): If you haven't understood, it's a reference to the Kingdom Hearts series, which I follow. In Kingdom Hearts II, there is the Battle of the 1000 Heartless, and in Kingdom Hearts III, there is something similar, the Battle of the 10.000 Heartless. The title of the chapter is also a reference to the high number of Pirates you will face.

(2): In Rayman Revolution, the PS2 remake, the Precipice and the Echoing Caves exchanged phases: in the Precipice, they removed the section of the rising water and replaced it with the two sections of the flying barrel of the Echoing Caves at the end, and in the Echoing Caves, they put the second one of the Precipice as the first phase, and the final phase comes from the ''Top of the World'' level, which appears here only as a minigame. The sections will be those of the original version.