A/N: Hey, guys! I apologize if the last chapter was a little short, but it only covered the Pirate Factory. To avoid that this chapter is too short, I will insert both parts of the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava. Also, I had to re-edit the last two chapters because I was confused about the total saved Familiar spirits. Anyway, Rayman defeated Spyglass and his robot Biditank. What will Rayman face in the Sanctuary? And will he be able to find the mask before the pirates? Find out in this chapter!
Chapter 15: The Fire Mask
(''Swamp Theme- Donkey Kong Country 2'')
''Rayman, the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava is nearby. You have to find fifty Yellow Lums and save six Familiar spirits.'' said Murfy.
After getting off the boat, Rayman found three Yellow Lums and was attacked by four pirates, two yellow ones and two purple ones.
''Is it me or does this place remind me of the Bayou?'' he asked then.
''The hazards that are here are very similar. Be very careful of piranhas, if they bite you they could eat you, and I assure you it is not pleasant.'' Murfy warned him.
Hearing those descriptions was not pleasant for the hero. ''Good thing I don't have arms and legs.'' he replied. As he continued, avoiding piranhas and rolling barrels, he took eight more Lums and saved the first Familiar spirit, as well as a Purple Lum who used to go to the other side of a broken bridge, taking three more Yellow Lums.
''Are we close?'' he asked.
''Yes, the entrance to the sanctuary is right in front of you!'' replied Murfy.
(''Swamp Theme- Donkey Kong Country 2-s'')
By using the rain dance and solving a puzzle, Rayman opened the door of the sanctuary, but came across what appeared to be some kind of giant, blood-red caterpillar.
''Rayman! That's Chenille, the Caterpillar progenitor! The Caterpillars are among Polokus' nightmares, and since the Heart of the World was destroyed, they have spread out across the world, like piranhas and zombie chickens. If you hit Chenille, she will split into red and black caterpillars. To defeat her, shoot repeatedly and use the wall to your advantage.'' Murfy explained.
So Rayman started shooting his Magic Fist at Chenille. Fighting her was not easy, since all the Caterpillar, which emitted buzzs similar to those of bugs or sounds similar to a hiss of a snake, attacked him together, thus becoming annoying and difficult to deal with, but he managed to defeat them all, including Chenille, exploiting the walls to his advantage. After this victory, he took three Yellow Lums, saved the second Familiar spirit and went up a staircase that led him to the sanctuary.
Yellow Lums found: 16/50, total 713/1000
Saved Familiar spirits: 2/6, total 63/80
(''Castle Theme- New Super Mario Bros. OST'')
Entering the temple, Rayman defeated four black Caterpillars, and then saw a stone surface. ''It looks like i can climb this surface.'' he thought, and took three Yellow Lums, then hit a hidden cage and entered a room where he found three more Lums.
''Rayman, here is a water lily! It will probably take us further into the sanctuary, but they are easily flammable, so if they are hit by flames, they burn. If this happens, jump to the next one.'' said Murfy.
The limbless hero jumped on the water lily, which took him to a stone hole full of thorny plants, the nettles, and had to overcome flames by jumping from one water lily to another using the helicopter, taking six Yellow Lums in the process, until he landed on platforms, then took two Lums and saved the fourth Familiar spirit, and reached a door after pressing a time switch.
Yellow Lums found: 30/50, total 727/1000
Saved Familiar spirits: 4/6, total 65/80
Upon entering the door, Rayman found himself in front of a large floating platform on the lava with a tower, and after saving the fifth Familiar spirit, he found thirteen Yellow Lums as he climbed up and shot at a switch with the Magic Fist, then took five Yellow Lums. and saved the sixth and final Familiar spirit. Then he crossed nettle walls and took the last two Lums, then defeated baby Caterpillars and saved a trapped Teensie.
(''Castle Theme- New Super Mario Bros. OST-s'')
''Thanks, Rayman! Now I will open the door that will lead underground, where the depths of the Sanctuary are located. After you face the Guardian, you will be able to find the third mask. Go, I'm going back to the circle.'' Said the Teensie, who opened the door, allowing the hero to advance.
Yellow Lums found: 50/50, total 747/1000
Saved Familiar spirits: 6/6, total 67/80
Rayman found a magical spiral door that led him into the depths of the Stone and Lava Sanctuary.
''You almost reached the third mask, Rayman. We are in the center of the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava. There are fifty Yellow Lums and four Familiar spirits here.'' said Murfy.
Rayman, after a few steps forward, saw only lava, then looked up and there were only nettles.
''I can't go on. There is only lava in front of me, and I can't go up like this to get over those nettles. I'm stuck.'' he said, realizing he had no way to go on.
(''Freeing Ly- Rayman 2 OST'')
Luckily, Ly the fairy appeared.
''Rayman, I have some good news and some bad news.'' she said.
''Hey, Ly. Start with the good news.'' said the hero.
''The good news is that I managed to gather enough energy to restore another of your powers.'' began Ly, who gave Rayman a Silver Lum, and when his hair started spinning to use the helicopter, he broke away from the ground. ''The bad news is that now your mission is getting tougher. However, the Silver Lum I gave you has restored your Super Helicopter. Use it to fly to the other side of the Sanctuary.'' she concluded.
''Thank you, Ly! You came just at the right time!'' said Rayman, happy and grateful for Ly's help, just before she disappeared.
(''Freeing Ly- Rayman 2 OST-s'')
(''Beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava- Rayman 2 OST'')
The hero began to glide under a ledge near the lava, finding seven Yellow Lums and saving the first Familiar spirit, then flew on the ceiling and passed the nettles, finding two Lums, and felt a strong wind behind him.
''Those fans will push you forward if you use the helicopter. Make sure you don't miss any Lums because you won't be able to go back if you miss one.'' said Murfy.
Rayman activated the Super Helicopter and flew over molten lava cascades, taking five Yellow Lums on platforms and landing on another larger platform, taking additional six Lums and saving another Familiar spirit. After another small glide on the lava, he found five Yellow Lums on the ceiling and entered a hole.
(''Beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava- Rayman 2 OST-s'')
Yellow Lums found: 25/50, total 772/1000
Saved Familiar spirits: 2/4, total 69/80
(''Magmoor Caverns- Metroid: Samus Returns OST'')
Going down the hole, Rayman took two Yellow Lums next to a fan and activated the helicopter, starting a long flight over the lava, avoiding cascades of lava, thorns and nettles, taking fourteen Lums, then he saw a passage on the left and entered a room, where he took seven Yellow Lums and saved two Familiar spirits, which improved his defense. Shortly thereafter, he took the two remaining Lums and overcame other hazards until he came to a door that opened. He then began to look around, but did not notice that a strange figure was behind him. He was certainly a Guardian, and was almost identical in appearance to Axel, but he was yellow instead of blue, as was his aura. When he noticed this presence, it was already too late, and the Guardian punched him in the face, causing him to fall. He tried to reactivate the helicopter, but it was all in vain.
''I can't fly anymore!'' he exclaimed, and touched the ground and found himself face to face with the Guardian. ''You are Foutch, the Guardian of the third mask, aren't you?'' he asked, a little frightened.
''Yes. And you're Rayman? The mask thief?!'' snapped Foutch. Not even Axel wasn't so intimidating, and the hero started wondering if Ly was right in saying he was crazy.
''I'm not a thief. I need the masks to free the world from the Robo-Pirates.'' he explained.
''For me, you are a thief and moreover a liar. So get out of here, or die!'' yelled Foutch, who immediately began to emit flames from his hands.
''Ly was right: Foutch has literally gone mad!'' thought Rayman, as he ran away. His flames didn't give him a moment to breathe, he had to escape.
''Hit the stalactite!'' cried Murfy, and the hero did so. After three more hits, Foutch was knocked out.
(''Magmoor Caverns- Metroid: Samus Returns OST-s'')
''Foutch, please, I'm not what you think. Why are you acting like this? Is it because the Heart of the World was destroyed?'' asked Rayman, after the battle.
''Yes. Ever since the pirates destroyed the Heart of the World, I have lost my faith in others. Not even your fairy friend has made me understand it, and I'm sorry for what I put you through.'' Foutch apologized.
''It's OK, Foutch. Do you know where the third mask is?'' asked the hero.
''You are already in the chamber of the mask at the moment, you will find it nearby. Grab on to that Purple Lum and you'll find yourself in front of a hole. Drop down and you will find the mask. By defeating me and snapping me out of it, you are worthy of the Mask of Fire, Rayman. I warn you: Grolem 13(1), the Guardian of the fourth mask, the Mask of Air, hates intruders. It is not known exactly where he is, but if you meet him, be on guard.'' replied Foutch.
''Thanks.'' said Rayman, before the Guardian disappeared. Following his instructions, he clung to the purple Lum and went down into a hole, and heard Ly's voice.
''Rayman, can you hear me?'' she asked.
''Yeah, I hear you. I just defeated Foutch and he calmed down. But I lost the Super Helicopter.'' replied the hero.
''You did a great job. Anyway, you haven't completely lost the Super Helicopter. When you defeated Foutch, this power was partially restored(2), so you can fly over the lava thanks to the hot air that comes out of it if your helicopter is active.'' said the fairy.
''Nice. For a moment I thought I had lost it.'' said Rayman, before the telepathy ended. He began to run and his symbol immediately became active, revealing a brown mask with four points, green eyes and a sad smile.'' The Mask of Fire!'' he exclaimed.
''Excellent! You found the third mask!'' Murfy cried joyfully, and the two were teleported by Polokus.
Yellow Lums found: 50/50, total 797/1000
Saved Familiar spirits: 4/4, total 71/80
Rayman was then greeted by Polokus' wise and caring voice. ''Rayman, you're back! For a while, I was worried you weren't going to make it.'' he said.
''You were right to worry, Polokus. Razorbeard ambushed me in a mountainous precipice to try to kill me, but I managed to escape. Moreover, Foutch, the Guardian of the Rock and Lava Sanctuary, had gone mad ever since the Heart of the World was destroyed by the pirates. I mean, I almost died twice.'' replied the hero.
''Good heavens. It's a relief to see that you are OK.''
''Yeah. Anyway, I managed to placate Foutch by defeating him, and I found the Mask of Fire.''
''Great job! You found the third mask! You're almost there, if you can find the last mask, the miracle will come true.'' Polokus congratulated him, who placed the mask to the right of the Mask of Water. Shortly thereafter, however, he immediately created a spiral door. ''Rayman, if the pirates know that you have found the third mask, then you must hurry up to find the last one. Go, quickly!'' he said.
''Don't worry, Polokus. I'll make it!'' replied Rayman, before disappearing.
The limbless hero returned to the Rainbow Creek Stone Circle. To his surprise, the Grand Minimus wasn't there.
''Hey, Rayman! How did it go?'' asked a Teensie.
''It went good, I've already found the third mask.'' replied Rayman.
''You're great! Anyway, you must go to the Stone Circle at Globox's House. The Grand Minimus has to tell you something.'' said another Teensie.
''Ok, here i go.'' replied the hero, who entered a spiral door that led to Globox's House.
A/N: And with that, Rayman has three masks! If he can also find the fourth, he can awaken Polokus. But how will he reach the last mask? And what will you face later? Find out in the next chapter! See ya!
(1): Grolem 13 is an exclusive boss of the PS2 version, and is the guardian of the Mask of Air. In all other versions, Rayman instead receives it from a baby Globox that he had saved at the Pirate Mines.
(2): The Super Helicopter is exclusive of the ''Beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava'' level, but in the PS2 version, it's partially restored, which was not the case in the other versions.