LIES: THE SECOND DAY

Ly knew what she was feeling. She knew exactly what was stirring inside of her; she just didn't want to accept it. Rayman was alive. Raymond was also alive, and apparently, changed. And furthermore, Rayman was innocent. These three thoughts swirled around in her head, showing images—no, memories—that Ly had hoped to bury. Some were recent, like her behavior towards Rayman after his resurrection. Others however…others were ones from not long ago that she'd only now gotten over. Ly gave a short laugh as she thought about Raymond's perfect timing; how he'd miraculously shown up just as the wounds healed.

"Find something amusing about all this, Ly?" Raymond asked from in front of her. Ly looked up, startled, realizing that she'd somehow completely forgotten he was there while thinking about him.

"No," she looked down, avoiding Raymond's backward glance, "no, I was just thinking about…the past."

"Our past?"

"His."

Silence followed Ly's unintentionally sharp response as the two walked through the lush forest that had surrounded the Fairy Council for as long as either of them could remember. Ly avoided looking at Raymond as much as she could, instead focusing on the beautiful flora. It occurred to her that this was one of the first (if not the first) times she'd seen this forest in the daylight. Unlike Clearleaf Forest, it lost some of its charm when the sun rose upon it.

"This forest…" Raymond mused. "…Is connected to the world. Did you know that?"

"Connected to the world?" Ly echoed. She could see Raymond nod out of the corner of her eye.

"It's proximity to the Heart has given the trees their own magical connection. If the Heart were a sentient being, one could in theory contact them via vegetation."

"…I didn't know that," Ly muttered.

"Guess Polokus didn't tell you everything, hmm?" Raymond chuckled.

"That's not funny," Ly said firmly. Walking over to a strong tree that stood next to a pair of giant, bright red mushrooms, Ly paused. Well aware of Raymond's gaze (and not the least bit comfortable with it), she placed her hand on the tree and took a deep breath.

Help me, she thought. Suddenly, she could swear she saw the Heart's previous form sitting on one of the giant mushrooms.

"You know this is a bad idea, Ly," he said, "so why are you doing it? We both know that that's unlike you."

Nice to see you too, Ly thought back sarcastically.

"I see that you're in a business mood right now," the Heart crossed his arms. "Even more unusual for you. Normally you'd at least answer my questions. What do you need?"

I need to know…where is Rayman?

"Right now?" the Heart asked. "In Clearleaf Forest—sleeping. I aided him a little last night, actually."

Where in Clearleaf Forest? Ly pressed.

"I'm not sure," the Heart sighed. "His 'friend' has been doing everything in her power do keep me from finding them since the fight. And, at my strength right now, in order for me to search you'd need to divide the Heart itself so that I could take on a physical form."

Alright, Ly nodded. Then I'll go to the Heart. I…we…were going to the Fairy Council anyway.

"You won't reach me," the Heart stood up. "See, if I were at full strength, I'd be able to do that myself, but there's a group of Fairies there who are tampering with the magical energies at the Council. I'm relatively sure that they're trying to destroy me inside-out, but with my current energy, I can barely do this."

So then when we go in we take them out, Ly responded quickly. The energies are restored, you show up, we find Rayman.

"Ly, you aren't thinking!" the Heart chastised. "Why would the Fairies be doing this now if I've been the Heart of the world for half a year, especially if I was weaker than I am now for the two-month span when I 'assumed command,' for lack of a better term?"

They know we're coming, Ly realized.

"Exactly," the Heart nodded, "but it gets better. They don't just know you two are coming, they know about everything. They know that Rayman's alive, that he's traveling by the cover of night, and that he's got help from mysterious girl who looks like you."

Wait, he's what? Ly asked, but the Heart's image blurred a little.

"They've rerouted more of the magic," he explained. "I can't sustain this any longer. Goodbye, Ly." The image continued to blur, until it was eventually one orange-ish and white blob. Soon, that began to fade, and then—nothing. Turning away from the tree, Ly almost couldn't bear the pain and sadness welling up inside her.

"You alright?" Raymond asked, concerned.

"Let's just go," Ly muttered.

Ly felt no better when they'd reached the Fairy Council. Looking up at it, questions arose in her mind: What was going on inside? Was it the start of something? A coup? An invasion? Or something worse?

"Ly?" Raymond asked. "Are we actually going into the Fairy Council?" Ly looked at him for the first time since they'd left her house, nodded, and looked away again.

The Fairy Council didn't seem to have changed since it'd been reformed after Mr. Dark's last attempt at world domination. It was certainly busy. Ly, having never been here in the daytime either, was surprised at how bustling this place was. Teensies were scurrying through the halls, carrying books, scrolls, and objects that defied all logic, while Fairies flew above, shouting and carrying tons of large books.

"Act natural," Raymond whispered to Ly, "we need to find the ones that I saw."

"I suggest we split up," Ly said, secretly eager to get away from Raymond, "I'll check the upper floors and the Heart chamber, and you check the lower floors and the basement library." Raymond nodded, but his assent was riddled with apprehension; Ly could tell he knew the real reason for her suggestion.

"I have changed, Ly," he muttered before turning and walking away.

I think we both know why that's so hard to believe, Ly thought bitterly.

Ly decided on one thing during her trek up to the Heart chamber: the Fairy Council was far easier to move in when almost no one was there. She wasn't sure how many times she'd been almost knocked over by an irritable Teensie rushing to something or other. Eventually, it dawned on her that one of the reasons the Teensies and Fairies could be so on edge was because of the death of Rayman (she had to keep reminding herself that she was one of the few who knew the world's former hero was at least somewhat alive), which would explain why so many of them were rushing around.

Eventually, she made it to the Chamber of the Heart, where she'd been planning to go ever since her conversation with said Heart. Ly needed his help, but, more importantly right now, she needed to see for herself just who was rerouting his energies. Upon reaching the room of the Heart itself, Ly could immediately hear a few small, shrill voices.

"Did you notice? The Heart's magic was routed to a tree in the forest around here."

"What? D-do you think it t-tried to contact s-s-someone? What if someone k-knows what we're d-d-doing here?"

"Shut up, you! I cut off the magic flow right after it was sent. If the Heart did attempt to contact someone, its message never got through."

"I don't know about that, Alys. You discovered it right after it was sent (and that was only because you were working on cutting off the Heart at the time). You didn't reroute it away from that tree until some time later."

"Quiet! If someone is coming, then we'll put an end to them when they get here, and none will be the wiser."

"A-Alys—"

"Stasy, for the last time, shut up! I'm busy trying to work, and I can't concentrate with your constant stuttering!"

"I-I was just going to say…s-someone's here."

"What?"

"R-Right by t-the d-d-door…"

"Very well…kill them."

Ly gasped and leapt back just as the door was blasted apart. On the other side stood (floated?) three Fairies; Ly assumed that the tallest Fairy with the foppish hat was Alys; the one wearing small, half-moon glasses was the one whom hadn't been named in the conversation, and the one floating the lowest to the ground with the drab hat was Stasy. There seemed only one thing that bound these three together: all of them were using magic akin to what Ly had seen Mr. Dark use.

"Ly, the Fairy," Alys feigned surprise, "what are you doing up here? I thought Rayman's lover would be mourning for him. Oh, wait"—her face transformed into an evil smirk—"you abandoned him, too, didn't you? When he needed you most, you left him to die." Ly knew what this Fairy was doing, but she didn't care; she'd walk into Alys's trap if it meant she could get her to shut up. For the first time, Ly let her emotions take over. Summoning up two fireballs, Ly charged with as much speed and fury as she could muster.

Not surprisingly, she saw too late that this had been the wrong choice. As she charged, the Fairies floated almost completely still, as if waiting. Then, when she was too close to dodge, they all tossed their orbs of darkness they'd been holding. Ly saw them coming, and then—darkness.

When light returned, she found herself laying spread-eagle on the floor. Dazed, she looked up to see Alys hovering over her, holding another orb of darkness. Looking behind this pompous Fairy, she saw the other two; the one with glasses was watching skeptically, while Stasy's eyes were nervously darting around, as if she were looking for something.

"You've fallen so far, Ly," Alys grinned. "Is this the great heroine who stood next to Rayman and struck down Mr. Dark when he had surpassed Polokus himself?" She paused, seemingly considering it.

"No," she said finally, raising the orb above her head. "All I see is a corpse." Suddenly, the Fairy with glasses looked up, her eyes wide.

"Alys wait!" she called, but Alys wasn't listening. Ly closed her eyes, and felt something warm splash on her face. Opening her eyes again, Ly saw Raymond standing over her, his sword drawn. A second later the body of Alys, nearly sliced in two fell at Raymond's feet. The Limbless turned to Ly and grinned.

"You didn't seriously think I was going to agree to splitting up?" he laughed. Ly forced a smile, although, in truth, she now wished Alys's orb had struck true. The last thing she'd needed was Raymond saving her.

Raymond turned back to the Fairies, who now looked even less confident than before.

"Are you two going to come quietly?" he asked.

"As far as we've gone…" the spectacled Fairy began.

"…we're d-dead either way," Stasy finished.

"That's true, I guess," Raymond acknowledged. "Just thought I'd offer it up." Stasy summoned up an orb of darkness of her own and fired it off. Raymond cartwheeled to the side, and Ly, now standing, summoned up a fireball and launched it at the orb, moving to the side as she did so. She hadn't wanted Raymond here, but his arrival had given her a chance to clear her head. Thanks to him, it was hardly a fair fight.

Stasy suddenly screamed and began volleying off massive orbs of darkness. Raymond and Ly moved around the Heart chamber, but the orbs were still smashing through the walls.

What is she doing? Ly wondered. This will certainly attract attention. Ly then realized the full meaning of the pair of Fairies' words: They'd been found out. One of their number was dead. Their crime was on such a level that they would be shown no mercy in a trial. They truly had nothing to lose—and as such, no reason to hold back.

Eventually, Stasy's attacks began growing farther and farther apart. That was when Ly noticed it: Stasy looked drained—literally. Wrinkles lined her previously young face; her hands were bony and pale. Her attacks had been sapping her of her life force, and soon, she had nothing left. After one last shot, Stacy collapsed into a pile of dust. This left only the unnamed Fairy against Raymond and Ly.

"I don't suppose you're going to be as easy as either of your friends there, hmm?" Raymond gestured to the sliced-open Alys and the pile of dust that was Stasy.

"Stasy shouldn't have finished my sentence for me," the Fairy laughed. "I've had no intention of fighting at all."

"You're…giving up?" Raymond lowered his guard. Ly's eyes narrowed. This Fairy…she was dangerous. Perhaps more dangerous than both the other Fairies combined. There was something about her that seemed…familiar.

"Don't misunderstand me, boy," the Fairy laughed. "I'm not giving up—I'm just leaving."

"You think anyone will let you just waltz out of here after what you've done?" Ly argued, readying a fireball.

"Such a simpleminded girl," the Fairy gave a familiar giggle. "Who says I'll be leaving by…conventional means?" Her formed seemed to darken and blur. It was growing, changing shape. Eventually, it formed a girl who looked a lot like Ly. However, she wore only black and gray, and her right eye was covered by a bandage. The only visible eye was an eerie red. A dark portal formed behind her.

"I'll leave with this piece of information," the girl said, her voice becoming suddenly monotone, "You defeated him…but he's still alive. And no matter what you do, he always will be." With that and a casual toss of her hair, the figure stepped into the portal, which closed immediately.

"We need to get out of here," Raymond said after a period of silence. "Any proof of a possible coup is dead. No it just looks like we decided to kill some Fairies." Ly nodded, feeling cold all over. Why had the Fairy taken her form? Was that…thing even a Fairy? These questions remained in her head long after the two left the Fairy Council, all the way until they reached a good campsite in the forest. As Ly watched the sun set, a third question arose in her mind:

The Heart said that Rayman was traveling with someone who looked like me…was it her?

Hey, look! I actually wrote something! This chapter, unlike some of the other stuff I've done was pretty easy to write after I decided what I was going to do with it. To tell you the truth, I thought up the whole second half as I was writing. I haven't mentioned the Heart's name yet, because I'm not sure if everyone's read through Apocalypse yet. I might bring it up in Chapter 5. Anyway, I know that this is my most-read Rayman story, so I want to see reviews! Thanks.

CHZL