(A/N) Next Chapter Time! I sent the other 2 on a mission for me so I can get straight to the reviews!

Yeah... Reviews...

Novanto - I've done 21 chapters in bold and It'd take hours to go back and change it now. I don't have that kind of time and starting it now would mess up the continuity that I've gotten in tune with. So sorry if that's a problem, but it's not going away -_-

Ayla Spruce - This is explained in the chapter. It's not a typo, just a plot point that seems like it is.

Nero Loveless Highwind - Or do you? :3

Guest - Thank you, but you sound familiar... :3

Catman543212345 - You're welcome :)

But really quickly... I want to apologize to my readers for the quality of the last 2 chapters. This chapter will be better than that.

Now... CHAPTAH STARTO!

Chapter 22

Wild West Ray Pt 2

Ray slept in a cold, rocky jail cell that night. He knew he could've left at any time, but he needed some information on the artifact so he stayed and chatted up the warden.

"Who's the Panda?" Ray inquired as he tapped on te stony floor of his cell. "You should know! But to kill some time I'll tell you. You're a monster who seems like a normal human, but transforms into a giant panda who steals crops from nearby towns. You took all of our crops a week ago and held up our town until we agreed to hand over our artifact, but Death went to fight your partner on the other side of the woods an hour ago." "Who's my partner?" Ray inquired as he stood up and walked towards the bars. "The green lady in black." "Huh? I don't know any... wait... Maleficent! How do I remember her?" "Ha! So you do know the lady!" the warden accused as he pointed at Ray. Ray suddenly had a memory of his entrance into this world burst into his head.

Flashback

Ray dropped into the game with little difficulty, but he sensed he was being watched. "Who's there?" Ray called out, but was met with an evil cackle. "I didn't think you'd sense me soo easily." the figure called as she presented herself. "Who are you?" "Maleficent, dearie. Although you won't remember the name for long!" she threatened as she shot a rock at Ray from behind. Suddenly, a barrage of slashes hit Ray's chest and as he began to black out from the pain, he saw Maleficent morph into Patty and pull out a weird staff of some sort. "Sweet Dreams... Codemaster Ray." she joked as she flashed him with the staff and stepped on his gauntlet causing the screen to crack as she made her way back into town. "Can't leave him there. He'll never pass for the Panda if he's injured." she thought to herself as she teleported him in front of Corona's store.

End Flashback

"Who told you I was The Panda?" Ray inquired suspiciously. "Patty did. Such a sweet and honest girl. She did go missing for a few hours a week ago, but came back unscathed. Although she has been a bit bitter ever since." the warden explained as he polished his gun. "Don't the artifacts have some kind of power?" "Ray queried as he pressed against the bars. "Well, according to folklore, the artifact is supposed to have a mysterious power." "That's explains my amnesia." Ray exclaimed as he hopped back from the bars.

"I've got to stop her!" Ray thought to himself as he checked his gauntlet, but it was too beat up to turn on. "Damn it!" he barked as he blasted a hole in the back of the stone jail. "Deuces!" he saluted as he ran into the woods leaving the warden in his dust.

Meanwhile, Death and Bowser were fighting a losing battle. Even with two powerhouses, they were no match for Maleficent's heartless army. Death dropped his scythe and fell to his knees in front of a group of shadows with Bowser standing right behind him. "Give it up! I will have that artifact!" Maleficent warned as she called off her heartless army.

"I've already deleted one Code Protector. Do you want to be number two?" "I'll never give up!" Death barked as he pulled out two concealed Blasters and aimed them at her. Maleficent levitated the blasters and aimed them at Bowser's head. "Tell me where the damn artifact is or the turtle's brains will splatter on the grass!" Maleficent threatened as she glared at him. "F-F-Fine." Death submitted as he stood to his feet.

"I thought you had more fight in you." Ray stated as he walked up to the confrontation. "How'd you find us?! I wiped your memory with the staff!" Maleficent inquired as he stood in between the Code Protector and her. "I had a little birdy tell me." Ray joked as he pulled out his Thunderblade. "But I broke your gauntlet!" "I know... but you didn't break my natural abilities!" he barked as he slashed at her, but she dodged just in time.

"Heartless! Dispose of him!" she bellowed as a group of soldier heartless surrounded him. "Hehe... THUNDER!" he shouted before the lot of them were evaporated into thin air by the thunderbolts. "Grr..." "You mad, Maleficent?" Ray joked as he charged power. "You think you can defeat me?" Maleficent challenged as she held up the staff and gave it a whirl as Heartless collected into a Darkside Heartless.

"You have no idea how strong I am..." Ray warned as his outfit began to change. His shirt and pants went pitch black and his shoes turned white. "You have no idea what true darkness looks like! Behold the power of the Shadow Prince!" Ray's eyes turned bright red and his hands pulsed black energy. "Death! The scythe!" Bowser barked as he pointed to the weapon. "Right. Ray! Catch!" Death exclaimed as he chucked the weapon at Ray. He grabbed the scythe and charged it full of electricity. "Darkness has no mercy for his enemies." Ray whispered to himself as he ran up to the Heartless and slashed it directly down the middle, destroying it. "You're next Maleficent." Ray threatened as he slashed at her seperating her from the staff. "Now get out of this game!" Ray spun the scythe and sent a shockwave at Maleficent destroying her on contact.

"I did it." Ray thought to himself as his clothes turned back to their normal colors and he picked up the staff. "You've reclaimed the Staff of Illusions." Death informed breathlessly as he limped over using Bowser for support. "Are you okay?" Ray inquired as he waved a hand in front of the Protector's face. "I'm okay. I should heal soon. You know the drill." Death reassured him as he stood on his own two feet.

"I should be getting back." "Wait! Take this." Death instructed as he held out 2 cards. "If you ever need my help, use the first card. If you ever need a scythe, use the second card." "Thanks... But where's the artifact for this game?" Ray inquired as he put away the cards. "Your holding it." Death informed as he pointed to the scythe. "Your weapon is the artifact?" "It's mondo powerful, so why not use it?" "True." Ray agreed as he walked with Death and Bowser back into town.

Ray said goodbye to Death, Bowser, and Corona as he lifted the staff into the air and summoned a portal to the outside world.

Ralph and the gang were waiting for Ray to get back patiently. They disposed of the excess robot parts hours ago and were now just waiting. Suddenly, a blast of blue light hit Ray's body and it went back to his normal color scheme. "Ray!" Ralph squealed as he glomped Ray tight. "Need... air..." "Sorry baby." Ralph apologized as he loosened his grip. "I got the items." Ray gloated as he pulled the items from his sleeping bag. "Nice work. Only 4 more to go." Justin and Sarah said in unison as they each took an artifact. "I need my gauntlet repaired. Can you fix it Justin?" Ray queried as he held out the hardware. "No problem." "Now then... Where are my cheetos?" Ray inquired as he walked towards the kitchen.

Whew... That was hard.

Vanellope - We picked up that thing you ordered.

Nero - Yeah... It was heavy.

Me - *Gasp* My Ramen!

Vanellope - -_-'

Nero - Review... Just Review...

Preview: Ray is attacked by another Elite member, but he can't even faze him. His confidence is smashed and his skills are affected by it. The only remedy is for them to boost his confidence in The Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Will Ray be back to his old self, or is his spirit broken beyond repair? STAY TUNED!