The Dream Empress Gaia

Age: Immortal (despite being in a deep sleep in the mountains for a thousand years) 

Birthplace: The Glade of Dreams 

Occupation: Wish Maker, Dream and Star Lum Creator  

Hobbies: Granting wishes, dream-visiting, playing with children 

  

Relatives: Polokus (lover, eventually husband), the Teensies (adoptive children), the Sprites, Rayians and the Rayixies (children)     

Nemesis: Mister Dark and Mistress Abyssa (her First Nightmare)  

Bio: Long after the Bubble Dreamer created the Glade of Dreams, he began creating the Nymphs and by accident, created one kind that didn't looked much like the beautiful Nymphs.  Despite having a slightly large and round nose, not only was she gifted in bringing seasons to the world, but was uniquely beautiful in the Bubble Dreamer's eyes.  Thus she was given the name Gaia.  However, despite Polokus already had a wife called the Muse of Poets, Gaia displayed her utmost respect (even though she slowly started to have feelings for him, but often times would push them aside).  When the Muse of Poets left (because she was disgusted at her children, the Teensies' appearance), Gaia took pity on the motherless Teensies and instead became a mother to them.  Now wishing to create her own dreams into reality, Gaia asked Polokus to teach her how to 'dream'.  Over time, Polokus taught her the basics from creating fauna such as little Illumaili Butterflies to the flora like the Lum Rain Trees.  Finally, Gaia was granted the power to fully dream her own.  The first creation she made were the sprites, each given different abilities and domains that best fit them (the Water, Earth, Fire, Air and Light Sprites), including the famous Aurora Sprites.  She also created the Rayians (Rayman's kind) and the Rayixies (inspiration of the Teensies).  Like Polokus, even Gaia's nightmares would come true.  One day, her first two Nightmares, Mr. Dark and Mistress Abyssa came into being and attacked the Sprite Domains (which would later be called Illumineon).  Not wanting her creations be on the brink of extinction, Gaia summoned those courageous enough to help her defeat the two First Nightmares.  Despite overpowering Abyssa (Mr. Dark soon fled to the Valley of Rayians to wreak havoc of his own), Gaia suffered grave injuries in the process.  Before Polokus sent her to the mountains for her to recover, Gaia had enough strength to gather the remaining Aurora Sprites as they were the first to be attacked.  She placed them on a large outcropping land in the Glade of Dreams and with the Bubble Dreamer's assistance, Gaia send it skyward above from harm.  Polokus then placed her remains in the mystic mountains to preserve her.  The last of her creations were the stars, in which during her long sleep formed the Star Lums.  To honor her memory, Polokus treasured the one Star Lum Gaia had given him shortly before her 'death' and the Aurora Sprites danced in the sky above the Glade of Dreams to reassure him that beauty and love still thrives.  The Sprites would dubbed her Estelluse, which means 'Guiding Star Maiden'.  His mourning for Gaia however was what created his First Nightmare, Jano.


Finally, a colored version of Gaia the Dream Empress.  Although in the draft, she was called a sprite (and a strange looking one at that).  Her being limbless herself was the result of the war with her two First Nightmares and yes, I have created a theory behind Mr. Dark's origins as it is never explained whether or not was he one of Polokus's First Nightmares.  I kinda wished it was explored in Rayman Origins as it couldn't be called Rayman Origins for nothing.    

Design-wise, Fi from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was the inspiration for Estelluse in her Dream Empress alias.  Kinda explains the similar outfit, except she has disembodied hands and a star marking on her chest.  Also Princess Luna from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as one of my friends in real life told me the hair does look/flow like Luna's, not to mention the simmers that accompany it.

Polokus (c) Michel Ancel/Ubisoft
Gaia (c) Me