If only... we could be something more than bringers of despair...
The child shrieks and huddles up into a ball.
Silently, emotionlessly, Reala reaches out to them, scoops up their ideya, and disappears.
''Reala... are you sure we should be doing this?'' asks his comrade.
''Why so hesitant, NiGHTS? This is how it's always been.'' Reala said quietly. ''I have no great love for what I do, and nor do I harbor great loathing for it.''
''Still...''
Reala sighs and moves along. ''The visitor is of no importance. This world shall fall apart soon, anyway. We should go.''
NiGHTS nods, but looks back wistfully. Reala knows that she dislikes stealing ideya, but she has no choice but to do so. In a rare moment of compassion, he casts a beam over the child. ''May you have sweet dreams forever.'' They quickly exit before they can be trapped in the crumbling world.
''Don't tell Master Wizeman I did that.''
''Of course not.'' NiGHTS agrees. ''Hey, Reala? Can we sit here for a moment? We've still got some time.''
''I don't want to be late.''
''Please, Reala. Just a few minutes.''
Against his better judgement, Reala says yes. They sit down in front of the dream fountain and look out to the nothingness of the sky.
''Do you suppose this is the only path for us? To be Nightmaren, I mean?''
''I don't know NiGHTS.'' Reala sighs again, but still joins hands with her.
''I hope we can change.'' she says longingly.
''Is it really better to change?'' he remarks. ''Things aren't so bad. We work hard, yes, but we get decent rewards for what we do and stay alive.''
NiGHTS ponders this. ''Wouldn't you rather live by your own rules, not have your life controlled by someone else?''
''What's gotten into you?''
NiGHTS shrugs and plays a few notes on her invisible flute.
''We've stayed here too long already. Let's be on our way.'' Reala takes her hand and helps her up. ''Sometimes it's better to leave things the way they are.''
She nods, but doesn't meet his eyes. ''Yes...''
Wow, I wrote an angsty drabble :O
But seriously, if you get the title, I will be proud of you. XD
So, erm, please review. Sorry it's so short.
And by the way, I know Reala and NiGHTS are genderless. It's easier to assign them genders than to refer to them as 'they' all the time.