Ch.1 Meeting My Nightmaren

'What is this place?' I asked myself. Looking around, there seemed to be some sort of stone pathway. I'd never seen a floor like that since I'd studied the old castles from the 1300's, but even those had more class than these. They were dull, and looked worn and ancient. I tested them by pushing my right foot on one gently, then with more confidence. Feeling cocky, and sure I wouldn't somehow fall through them into some crazy world of nonsense, I continued forward. I walked for a solid three minutes, and shortly found myself being led to a large open gate. The closer I neared, the more I realized just how worn down the gate looked. It was beginning to rust, and the white paint was flaking off. Yet none of those things seemed to take away from the fact that it was grand, and very largely built; for it opened up to a large plaza which had a huge four layered fountain in the center. Happy to see something of my interest, I rushed forward, stopping only when the tips of my black running shoes hit the edge of the fountain base.

"I've never seen a fountain so large. How was it even made?" I asked no one in particular.

I was surprised when an elderly male voice answered me. "It was made many years ago, by the Nightopians. It is a symbol of peace and hope."

I turned towards the voice slowly, to take in the form of an over sized brown owl with a fancy purple and black coat; which was adorned with gold buttons. I had raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"Nightopians eh? I think...I've heard of them before. Small Chao-like creatures are they not? Amazing they could build something like this nonetheless." I smiled at the owl. "And what's your name sir?"

"Sir?! Oh please, just call me Owl, visitor." He chuckled.

"I'm not called 'visitor' SIR." I narrowed my eyes. "My name is Shady. I'm not from here, so I should be on my way."

Owl stopped me from walking back to the gate by blocking my way, "HOO! You should stay inside the safe perimeters of this gate young Shady!"

I crossed my arms impatiently, "And why is that?"

"It's not safe for a Dreamer like yourself to be out in the dark alone." The Owl explained frantically.

"Dreamer? So...this...is all a dream?" I asked. Before he could reply, I continued. "I've survived just fine the way I am. I can handle myself thanks."

"Can you really?" Owl's eyes narrowed challengingly. "Is that why only one of your Ideya remains?"

"Ideya? One remaining? What are going on about?" I asked angrily.

"Ideya are of your very heart. They give you the ability to survive in the dream realms. I'm sure you are familiar with the quote 'If you die in your dreams, you die in real life.'?" He gave me an upset expression.

I blinked, I indeed had heard of that quote, but I had never believed a word of it. Was it really true? Before I had the chance to ask another question, a flash of purple and pink crossed my vision. The next thing I knew, some jestor-like woman was in my face with a large mischievous grin. I stepped back in disgust, and anger at my invaded privacy. The jester woman didn't seem to care.

"Hello friend! I'm Nights! I'll be your guide! Your friend!" She spoke in such a happy tone, it hurt my ears.

When she held out a hand towards me, I stared at her with a very serious expression. This seemed to upset her, for she frowned and pushed her hand closer to my face. I glared at her.

"What the hell are you doing? I don't even know you, and you want a high five?" I asked, my tone dangerously sharp.

Nights's frown became wider, "No. Dualize with me. You can fly, see the world with more clarity and increase your natural senses!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Is that really possible?" I looked to Owl for confirmation.

Owl nodded slowly, "Many other visitors quite enjoy flying with Nights here."

I watched as his eyes moved to a few trees that I had not noticed surrounded the entire plaza. Following his gaze completely, I saw something similar to Nights sitting on one of the branches of a nearby tree, almost as if it was sulking. I was about to ask, but Nights reminded me of her offer. Turning to her again, I pressed my palm and fingers against hers. Seeing her close her eyes, I did the same, only to see Owl's stare at the sulking jester in the tree turn to a glare, just before I closed them completely.

When I reopened my eyes, I frowned. Nothing had happened. Even Nights seemed shocked, for her mouth was agape and she pulled her hand back in fear. I gave her a questioning look, only to get pushed back by her roughly.

"Dreamer! You're no Dreamer! Dreamer's can dualize with ME! You are a fake!" She pushed me again, with much more force. This action had me on my rear, on the stones of the plaza in a few seconds.

I hissed in pain and anger, "What are you talking about?!"

Nights grabbed my shoulders roughly in her gloved hands, and her grip was placing pressure on my bones; a pressure they did NOT need. I winced, but held my glare on her.

Owl flapped his wings furiously, "Nights! NIGHTS! Stop this! Stop it now!"

Each second her grip tightened, I winced more. I could feel tears pulling at my eyes, but I held them in; giving her a look of hate till I heard a smack. Shortly after the noise, I was free from her death grip, and I had retreated back a few feet. When I turned to see what had caused the noise, I saw the same jester from the tree before. A confused look crossed my face, as I stared at the scene. Apparently, the red and black jester, had punched Nights in the face; for she was bleeding from the right side of it, and clutching it in her hands as to stop the blood from gushing.

I hadn't realized I was shaking, until Owl flew to me to assess the damage I had taken. He mused over the bruises I now had on my shoulders, and the irritated skin in the same area. It had taken me a few moments to convince him I was fine and would heal. When my eyes turned back to the two jesters, I had figured out the gender of the red and black one. Apparently, it was a male, and his name was Reala. To me, he was a hero. I didn't care much for names or appearance, what I cared for was that he had saved me from the wrath of that satanic womanly jester named Nights. I wanted to know why he did it, and why he had reacted so quickly. I wasn't special, and I knew it. I became even more aware of that when Nights and I had failed to Dualize.

It had taken a considerable amount of time to get Nights to calm down, and when she did, she had apologized for her rash actions, and explained to me that she'd never failed to dualize with anyone before, and it bothered her. After a few hours, I had came to know a bit more about everyone and my own remaining Ideya. I figured out that my Ideya was the Ideya of Hope, but it was tainted and that was why I could not dualize with Nights earlier. I was told of the species Nights and Reala were, and asked them questions about Nightmarens in general. Nights answered every question, and Reala just eyed me carefully, like I was a shiny rock he seemed interested in taking home.

Finally, when I was free to explore, I was off like a bolt of lighting. The forest seemed to be a magnet for me. The soft, and lush green grass swayed with the light breeze, to make a dance crew with the leaves from the large and over covering trees.

I had managed to explore quite the distance, and stopped when I came to a small spring. I had lowered myself to sit by the edge of the water, and looked into it for my reflection. What I had saw was not only MY reflection, but that of the Nightmaren male from earlier; Reala. I turned my head so I could look at him. He was standing on the grass behind me, with a shy expression on his face. How I could tell that he was shy, was past my explanations. He never seemed to show much emotion at all.

"Can I help you?" I asked him slowly.

He glared at me for a moment before I saw his lips begin to open. What I saw was teeth similar to my own, only he was equipped with large fangs on his top and bottom rows of teeth. Was he...smirking?

"I asked you a question boy." I said, irritated at his attitude.

"It was stupid, but brave and amusing." he spoke simply. His voice was relatable to a cross of a seductive and serious.

"What was?" I asked him angrily.

"That little show earlier." He answered. "You and Nights. How did you manage to hold your anger towards her when she was trying to break your bones?"

I blushed lightly, and he seemed to notice, for he gave me a curious expression. "I've always been the type to hold a grudge I guess. Kinda like one of those, If I go down, you suffer too things." I added a shrug to the end of my sentence.

He chuckled, "I like you. Amusing as hell."

"While that may be true, I'm apparently no use to Nights since I can't Dualize with her." I lowered my eyes sadly, staring at my lap.

I was surprised when he lowered himself to sit down beside me, "You're not the first one you know."

"I'm not?" I asked when I looked up at his face.

His face would've seemed intimidating, but he didn't seem to want to appear frightening. In fact, he seemed rather kind and quiet to me. He seemed like a boy who required some love in his sad and empty life.

"No." He replied simply. "Nights just has temper problems. I mean, I can understand how upset she was when she couldn't Dualize. I can't either."

I raised an eyebrow, "Really? What makes you think that?"

He sighed, and lowered his gaze to the water. He seemed upset with his own reflection. "I guess it's because of who I am, and what I've done in my past."

I nodded slowly, "I can understand that. My past wasn't all that great either. I was raped when I was younger."

"Raped? What does that Earth term mean?" He raised his head so he could face me.

"It is sort of like being forced to perform acts to a mate you don't want." I replied quietly.

He frowned, "That sounds terrible. I don't think I'd ever be that cold to a woman."

I shrugged, "Some people are just that stupid."

He sighed, "Yeah."

There was a long silence between us, and I couldn't help but smile. Here I was, talking with the very male Nightmaren that had been Nights's rival for years. The one male Nights and Owl totally did not like at all, and told me to stay away from. The very male who saved me from Nights's wrath. I couldn't help the smile at all, it tugged against my lips powerfully, and held itself there. I liked him, and I didn't care what others thought. He was being nice and open, and that was what counted.

"Have you...ever tried to Dualize before?" I asked him, trying to start up another conversation.

He looked up slightly, before returning his gaze to the water again. "No."

A thought had crossed my mind. Just because I couldn't Dualize with Nights, didn't mean I couldn't Dualize with Reala. Who cared anyways? I held my right hand out to him.

"Then try. With me." I said hopefully.

He raised his head quickly to eye me, then my hand. He didn't do much but stare for a few moments, before he lifted his right hand and placed it against mine. A sudden rush was felt through my entire body, as if someone had pumped me full of adrenaline and given me twenty coffee's to add to it. The feeling was gone as soon as it came, and I suddenly had an urge to cry, like something terrible had happened to me.

When I had opened my eyes again, I wasn't sure what had happened to my vision. Everything seemed more in depth than ever before, and when I had moved my hand to scratch my now strangely itchy eyes I had came to a sudden realization. That wasn't MY hand that was moving. Which must mean that it wasn't MY eyes I was seeing through, and it wasn't MY face that was itchy. It was Reala's.

I gasped suddenly, when it came out as his voice. Someone with a voice as seductive as his was not meant for such a sound, and he reacted to it.

"We...We did it...we actually Dualized." He told me.

Apparently, when you're Dualized, you not only share a body; but a voice and thoughts. He was communicating with me through them! I was in such a state of sheer excitement, that I took complete control of the body we shared. I leapt into the air and spun in a complete circle. I laughed happily, this was better than I had ever imagined! The rush! The sheer elation at being in the air...flying was more than I could explain. I had completely forgot that Reala was experiencing this all as well, and when I came to my sense again, I had touched his- our feet back on the grass. I lowered our eyes in embarrassment. Then was when I felt a smirk spread across our lips. Was he...amused?

"I-I-" I stumbled to find words to think to him.

He chuckled, "You're one hell of a Dreamer, yet you're impressed so easily."

"Well, SORRY if I've never flown before." I snapped.

"I did not mean it as an insult." He replied calmly. "I'm just wondering if I could train you to fly like I can."

"That sounds like an awesome offer, but of what benefit is it to you?"

"We Nightmaren need Ideya to survive as well. When I used to be in Wiseman's army, we had to eat them after we stole em from Dreamers like yourself. But I haven't had any in a long time. I was...starving to death to say the least." He explained. "With us joined like this, I get the energy I need from your Ideya, which we now share."

After listening to his words, and carefully asking my questions, he got tired of my annoying behaviors and we decided against conversation. He instead had me learning different techniques of flying that he knew, and forced me to try them myself. Some took me a few tries and harsh words from Reala, and others I was a master at right away. I was so tired of being in the air once he had let me leave the Dualization, that I didn't say thank you. When I noticed how rude I was being at not doing so, I had turned to face him again. Searching in my head for something, anything to say or do that would work as an appropriate thanks for his time in teaching me and dealing with my very presence.

He seemed to notice my awkward eyes and he raised an eyebrow at me curiously. "Is something wrong?"

When I heard him speak again, I felt a shiver run down my spine. His voice had such a seductive quality to it, that when one heard it for a long period of time they completely forgot about it, but when they heard it after a moment of silence, they would blush. And blushing was what I was doing just now. After fiddling with what I wanted to do in thanks for everything he had done, I had decided on something simple and quick.

I stepped towards him again, but warily as he was watching me intently. Once I was sure to have entered his close personal space, I leaned my head in a bit more so I could kiss his cheek softly in appreciation. When I moved my face back, I realized a deep blush had spread along his cheeks; and the look on his face was that of innocent shock. The mere expression on his face made me smirk, now it was my turn to have the control...The control of his emotions.

"W-Wha- What was-?" he stuttered.

I giggled, "I have to go now. When and if I ever do come back...what do I call you?"

His blush faded and he smirked, "Whatever you want."

I rolled my eyes, "High hopes there boy."

"It's not high hopes at all. You made the first move." He floated a bit closer. "Which was a rathered cheated move if I do say so myself."

"Cheated?!" I cried, "No where near a cheat! It was just a kiss!"

"You called that a kiss? Hehehehe!" he laughed. "You need practice with those as well!"

I crossed my arms, "WELL THEN, see if you ever get another one ever again!"

I had turned my back on him and had started on my way back to the plaza. He floated close behind me for a few moments before whispering something incoherent. I stopped just before the entrance to the plaza and turned to face him. I was still slightly upset from earlier.

"What did you say back there?!" I demanded.

He averted his eyes, and did not respond.

I wanted to take a swing at him, but instead I sighed, and turned yet again. I wasn't going to waste my time. The moment I was about to take a step forward, A clawed gloved hand was placed on my right shoulder gently. I huffed angrily.

"I can...teach you...that too." He whispered shyly.

I blinked in surprise. Did he just say he'd teach me how to kiss as well? What a night this had been. Attacked by a crazy woman, and taught how to fly by a Nightmaren male who had also promised to make me a better kisser. I wasn't sure if happy or embarrassed was the right way to feel, so I tried to block all my emotions at once.

"Thank you." I answered quietly.