A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Rayman reached the Tomb of the Ancients and rescued Clark, whom the pirates had kidnapped for information on the fourth mask and brainwashed him. Now he has to find the last mask. But where is it? Let's find out!

Chapter 17: The Air Mask

Clark came out of the spiral door with the Teensie, carrying a seriously injured and semi-conscious Rayman. The Grand Minimus and the other Teensies were horrified.

''Oh my goodness, what happened?!'' exclaimed the Grand Minimus.

''It's like you said. Clark was tortured and brainwashed.'' said Murfy.

''The pirates put a remote control device on my back, and I no longer had control of my body. In the ensuing confrontation, Rayman got injured. It's all my fault. I can't believe I nearly killed one of my friends.'' explained Clark sadly.

''It's not your fault, Clark. Nobody could have known it could have happened. What matters is that you are OK.'' said a Teensie.

''Really?'' asked the giant.

''We're serious, Clark. Since Rayman is injured and you have been tortured, you guys should get some rest. It is already night time.'' said the Grand Minimus.

''Yeah. I think i'll to sleep too.'' said Murfy, ready to fall asleep. Clark, with a yawn, placed Rayman on his chest and they both fell asleep.

The next morning, Rayman woke up. Initially, he felt completely dizzy, but that feeling disappeared.

''Rayman! You woke up! Clark told us everything. You were great!'' cried the Grand Minimus.

''Thanks. All of a sudden I feel better.'' said the hero.

''We got Red Lums for you while you were asleep.'' Murfy explained.

''Good. Now I have to find the last mask. Do you know where he is?'' asked the hero without limbs.

''Clark knows where it is. Let's go to the Rainbow Creek, he will explain everything here.'' said a Teensie.

So, everyone took a spiral door to the Rainbow Creek.

''Rayman, the fourth mask is located in the Iron Mountains. The Iron Mountains are full of pirate fortresses, but the mask is located on a nearby island that you can reach, Gloomy Island. From there, you will need to reach the Reformatory for Disturbing Children(1), where four baby Globoxes are held captive. There is no sanctuary on the island, the mask is found in the sky. The passage to the Iron Mountains is blocked by a wall.'' Clark explained to Rayman, then knocked down the wall.

''Thanks, Clark. Now I'm going to look for the mask.'' said the hero, as he left.

''Good luck, Rayman!'' Clark exclaimed, before Rayman left.

(''Mount Horn- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of the Sky OST'')

Rayman found himself in front of a pirate fortress near dirty water and defeated a red pirate.

''This must be the place where we will find the last mask. Besides, you must also find fifty Yellow Lums and save three Familiar spirits.'' said Murfy.

Using a Purple Lum, Rayman took six Yellow Lums and entered a purple pipe, taking three more, reaching the inside of the base, where he took six more Lums and shot two switches, disabling a laser barrier in a hole on the platform. Later, he defeated a red pirate and used the helicopter to glide over a swampy lake, taking two Yellow Lums and a Power Shot. Arriving at a large grassy area full of crates, he took seven Yellow Lums, saved a Familiar spirit and opened a gate by shooting a switch that led him over a pirate ship wreck near a waterfall, where he also saved the second Familiar spirit, then used the helicopter to glide from one rock to another and reached a hot air balloon.

''I wonder where the mask can be.'' thought the limbless hero.

''Rayman! Gloomy Island is near!'' cried Murfy three minutes later.

''Let's go then!'' replied Rayman.

(''Mount Horn- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of the Sky OST-s'')

Yellow Lums found: 24/50, total 884/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 2/3, total 78/80

Rayman arrived at Gloomy Island and saw a giant dinosaur-robot. Murfy told him that the Pirates had built it to send him around to look for the mask and get rid of any intruders. He climbed onto a crate, which suddenly jumped when the robot stepped on the ground, reaching the interior of the Reformatory for Disturbing children. After defeating a purple pirate that suddenly appeared, he found a Yellow Lum and saved a Familiar spirit, then climbed onto a crate that jumped into the air because of the robot and got on a missile.

''You haven't been riding a missile for a long time, Rayman.'' said Murfy.

The limbless hero took a long and tortuous path, in which he took twenty-one Yellow Lums and reached the place where four baby Globoxes were imprisoned and told them to get on the missile, then opened the door by passing on two switches. It was not over yet, however: the robotic dinosaur chased them, and the children screamed in terror, so Rayman increased the speed of the missile and lured the robot towards four menhirs to take a Lum hidden under each of them, then he saw a suspended bridge in the void.

''Get ready to jump!'' he warned the children, who though frightened, followed his instructions and everyone jumped off the missile, reaching the other side, then the limbless hero saved a Teensie.

''Thanks, Rayman! The fourth mask is just ahead. Go on that ice platform to reach the sky. Now I'm going to the Circle and taking these four little ones to their mom.'' he said, after Rayman freed him, and created a spiral door to leave with the baby Globoxes.

The hero then climbed onto an ice platform which went up into the sky and saw something trapped in the ice. It was a yellow mask, with a smile and three tips. ''Look, Murfy! It's the Air Mask!'' he exclaimed.

''That's the fourth and final of the masks to awaken Polokus! Come on, let's get it!'' said Murfy.

But after a few steps, they were blocked by a Guardian with an appearance similar to Axel and Foutch, especially the first, who was however light blue and had a grimace.

(''Gem Guardian- Pokémon Ranger Shadows of Almia OST'')

''Grolem 13?'' asked Rayman, and the Guardian created a tornado, which threw him into the air, and the limbless hero activated his Super Helicopter. Grolem 13 began making various attacks, such as firing stalactites, emitting black clouds that caused thunders, emitting tornadoes, and firing ice spheres. Rayman noticed white clouds and started hitting them with his Magic Fist. After a while, the clouds came together to create a cloud that electrocuted the Guardian, hitting him in the head.

''Rayman! I get it! Hit those clouds until they get big enough! When it's enough, the voltage will be so high that they will attack Grolem 13!'' said Murfy.

The fight lasted for several minutes, which seemed like hours, until the Guardian was defeated.

(''Gem Guardian- Pokémon Ranger Shadows of Almia OST-s'')

Grolem 13 could not speak, but he pointed to the fourth mask and got rid of the ice crystals that covered it, then made a gesture to Rayman, before disappearing. The hero didn't understand what he was trying to say.

''He said you are worthy of the fourth mask, and that you can go get it. He also told you to wake Polokus and get rid of the pirates quickly.'' Murfy had the answer.

''The Air Mask is mine!''

''You are awesome! You found all four masks!''

As soon as Rayman took the mask, he was teleported to Polokus.

Yellow lums found: 50/50, total 910/1000

Saved Familiar spirits: 3/3, total 79/80

''Here I am. I've finally found the fourth mask.'' said Rayman.

''You did it! Having found all the masks, you managed to awaken me!'' said Polokus, who placed the Mask of Air between the mask of Fire and the Mask of Earth. ''Now that I'm awake, I can help you against the pirates. I will use the powers to destroy the fortress and get rid of the pirates on the mainland.''

''Nice. Can't you help us on the Prison-Ship?'' asked the hero.

''No, I'm sorry. My power has certain limits. On land, I am invincible thanks to the Lums, but in the air, I am vulnerable like a newborn baby, so you will have to defeat Razorbeard and enter the Prison-Ship.'' replied the creator spirit. Anyway, you look hurt. I will restore all your life energy, then you go and save the prisoners.''

The pillar with the masks disappeared and a small portal appeared. Rayman hesitantly began to enter.

''Good luck, Rayman.'' said Polokus.

Rayman found himself at the Rainbow Creek, where all the Teensies awaited him.

''Very good, Rayman! You managed to wake Polokus!'' they exclaimed.

''Thanks. It wasn't easy though.'' replied the hero.

''With the energy of the masks, I will be able to take you to the Prison-Ship. Show no mercy and free our friends!

''Okay.'' Rayman took a deep breath and entered.

A/N: We're almost there. Three more chapters and the story is over. Rayman found all the masks and Polokus is back. Now he has to go to the Prison-Ship and save all the prisoners. Will he make it? Let's find out! See you in the next chapters!

(1): In the PS1 version, the entire Iron Mountains level is called Gloomy Island. This is the island where the Reformatory for Disturbing Children is located, which in that version was relevant to the plot because Rayman had to save the baby Globoxes, and one of them had the fourth mask.