I was clearing out old files on my computer, when I came across this story. When I wrote this fic, I had only just heard of NiGHTS from the trailer- which entranced me immediately- and (because I didn't have the game yet) got all my information from Wikipedia to write it. When I read this now, I realize I must've done a good job at rescearching info on NiGHTS because it seems like everything is pretty much accurate (minus the fact that Nintendo characters inhabit Nightopia). If you've ever read Watership Down, you've heard stories about the legendary rabbit El-ahrair-rah. But what if the Sega and Nintendo characters replaced the characters in those stories? Well let's explore that, shall we? (By the way, this is my first fic with NiGHTS being a boy.)

Note: I don't own the SEGA and Nintendo characters or basic plots for the Watership Down stories.

Note #2: Stories are not in chronological order. PS: You don't have to read Watership Down to understand everything.

Tales From Nightopia

The Story of The Trial of NiGHTS

The inhabitants of Nightopia were living peacefully, since Wizeman the Wicked hadn't tried to take control of the world in a while. Still, Wizeman kept a good eye on NiGHTS. Although the purple jester posed no threat, Wizeman despised him for foiling his plans. Wizeman could have destroyed NiGHTS once and for all, but he decided to keep him to entertain and sport and jest. One day, though, Wizeman had a plan. He summoned Reala, his most trusted Nightmaren, and told him his idea.

Meanwhile, NiGHTS was soaring over Nightopia without a clue about Wizeman's plan. He was minding his own business, when he heard a voice calling him from behind.

"NiGHTS! Wait up!"

NiGHTS halted and turned around. He saw Reala fly up to him. "What do you want, Reala?" Then he noticed there was another creature behind the Nightmaren.

Reala introduced, "This is Tails. He comes from a faraway world. Mobius, I think it's called. I was wondering if you could take care of him for a while."

Tails, a young fox with two tails, smiled shyly and waved at NiGHTS.

Not wanting to protest, NiGHTS agreed into looking after Tails.

After a while, though, NiGHTS had a strange feeling that Tails was not who he said he was. Tails seemed to be everywhere NiGHTS went. But one time at night, NiGHTS woke up and Tails was gone. He saw him coming back and asked him where he went. Tails replied that he couldn't sleep and decided to go out for a walk. Since then, NiGHTS had his suspicions.

Wizeman, however, saw that his plan was working well. He told Reala the next part of his plan and Reala set off to work.

One day, Reala returned to NiGHTS and told him, "NiGHTS, you have been taking care of Tails well. To show my appreciation, I've placed many Ideya in a garden not too far from where you usually roam."

NiGHTS thought that was a fairly generous gift, and was about to thank Reala.

"But," Reala added before NiGHTS could say anything, "you are not allowed to take them. No, you must keep them there. If you even steal one, I will know about it and Wizeman will surely punish you." And with that, he flew off.

NiGHTS crossed his arms defiantly. Why was he given a gift that he can't actually have? And if he did steal the Ideya, how would Reala know it was him? One night, NiGHTS decided to consult with Owl when Tails was asleep.

"I tell you, Tails is a spy. How else would Reala and Wizeman know if I took the Ideya?" NiGHTS told his companion.

Owl considered, "If Tails is a spy and Reala didn't tell you, you are obviously in some kind of trap. What do you plan to do?"

NiGHTS, being the tricky jester he was, thought of a plan to get back at Reala. He told Owl his plan.

The next morning, NiGHTS told Tails that he wanted to be alone for a while. Tails seemed reluctant, but let NiGHTS go his own way.

NiGHTS and Owl set off to begin constructing their trick. First, they came upon Big the Cat, who was looking in the river for fish.

NiGHTS spoke up to Big, "Excuse me, but what are you doing?"

Big replied, "I'm trying to catch fish, but I don't see any today."

"This may be an odd question, but can you sing?"

Big looked at NiGHTS with a puzzled expression. "Sing? Of course I can't sing!"

NiGHTS grinned. "Well, did you know that if you sing during the night of a full moon, fish will come leaping out of the river, practically landing in your paws?"

Big looked bewildered. "Really? Is that true?"

"Most definitely, my friend. In fact, tonight is a full moon, so if you want fish, you should sing tonight."

Big nodded his head rapidly. "Yes, I will sing! Anything for getting fish!"

NiGHTS turned to Owl. "Let's keep going."

They flew next to Sonic the Hedgehog, who wasn't doing anything in particular at the moment.

"Pardon me, sir," began NiGHTS, "I was wondering if I could ask you a question."

"Go ahead." Said Sonic in his usual tone of voice.

"Can you swim?"

"Like a rock," came the flat reply.

"Pity. If you don't swim under a full moon, how else are you going to keep your super speed and your blue fur?"

Sonic looked at NiGHTS with wide eyes. "What? Are you saying that if I don't swim during a full moon, I'd lose my speed and my blue fur?"

"That is correct." NiGHTS lied.

Now Sonic was panicking. "Oh no! What am I gonna do?"

"Not to worry," NiGHTS began, "you can swim tonight, since it is a full moon."

Sonic sighed in relief. "Thank you for telling me. If you hadn't come, I might've lost my speed and blue fur!"

"Happy to help." NiGHTS smiled in spite of himself. Then, he and Owl flew off to where the Ideya were being kept. Owl kept watch for anyone, especially Tails and Reala, as NiGHTS dug a hole in the ground nearby the garden. When he was finished, NiGHTS disguised Owl by painting his wings green, his head and tail red, his talons orange, and the rest of his body black. Then NiGHTS returned to Tails that night.

"Where have you been, NiGHTS?" Tails asked.

NiGHTS replied casually, "Oh, around." Then he spoke more quietly. "I was wondering if you would want to come steal the Ideya with me."

Tails looked at him in shock. "But, didn't Reala tell you not to?"

NiGHTS shrugged. "There's no way Reala could find out about it. Come, it should be fun!"

Tails hesitated, and NiGHTS thought with disappointment that he would say no. But at length, Tails agreed.

In the light of the full moon, they glided quietly through the air, when a sudden, awful noise broke the silence of the night.

"Ugh! What's that racket?" cried Tails, holding his ears.

"I do not know," replied NiGHTS. "I think it came from down there." NiGHTS and Tails flew down to the ground beside the river where Big the Cat was singing. Or, trying to, at least.

"Big!" Tails hollered over the screeching. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Big responded, "I'm singing so that the fish will come leaping out of the river for me to eat! Surely you know that?" And he continued to sing.

NiGHTS said to Tails, "Poor fellow. He must have gone crazy. Let's keep going."

Shortly after they resumed flight, Tails caught sight of Sonic the Hedgehog splashing in the river.

"Sonic's in trouble!" Tails gasped. He flew down towards Sonic with NiGHTS. "Sonic! Are you ok? Here, I'll get you out!"

At once, Sonic protested, "No way! I have to swim or else I won't be super fast anymore, and my fur will lose it's blue! Why didn't you ever tell me that before?" And he continued swimming.

Now Tails was confused.

NiGHTS whispered to Tails, "Truth is, he just doesn't want anyone to know about him liking water. Come, we're almost there."

They were approaching the garden of Ideya gems, when Owl, in his disguise, flew out in front of them, howling ferociously.

Tails cowered at once. "NiGHTS! What is that? What are we going to do?" He obviously didn't recognize Owl.

"I don't know!" answered NiGHTS, pretending to be afraid.

Owl spoke in a deep voice, "I am the ancient spirit of the strongest Nightmaren that haunts Nightopia! Be gone, I tell you! Be gone, or perish soon!" And with that, he plunged down into the forest below and was lost in the shadows.

Tails was still shuddering, but NiGHTS was able to calm him down. "There, there, don't be afraid. Look, the Ideya are right over there! Hurry, let's steal them all and hide them in that large hole nearby!"

They collected all the Ideya and hid them in the hole. They were back by morning.

Tails said to NiGHTS, "Why don't we rest? I'm very tired after all that."

"What a good idea." NiGHTS agreed. He pretended to fall asleep and soon, Reala came to him along with Tails. "Why, Reala! What brings you here? And Tails, where have you been?"

"NiGHTS, you're under arrest." Reala stated.

"Arrest? What for?"

"Oh, come on, you know what I am talking about!" Reala stomped the ground with impatience.

NiGHTS still looked blank. "Honestly, I don't know what you are talking about. If I am to be arrested, I want to know what the charges are."

Reala sighed. "Very well. You stole the Ideya I told you not to take."

NiGHTS pretended to look bewildered. "What? Why would I do that? I would never!"

"You might as well confess," spoke Tails. "I told him you did it."

Reala smirked at NiGHTS. "I told you I would know, and thanks to my spy, I can finally get rid of you."

"I don't see why I should be punished at all without a proper trial." Said NiGHTS.

Reala scoffed. "Why bother? I know you're guilty. Face it, if you have a trial, you'll only be putting off your death for a while longer."

Still, NiGHTS insisted on having a trial. Reala arrested NiGHTS anyway and took him to Wizeman. Wizeman agreed on the trial, just so he could entertain himself, since he figured NiGHTS would lose anyway. He announced the trial to everyone in Nightopia and Nightmare, and everyone came to see the trial of the century. When all were seated, Wizeman appointed Reala to be the judge.

NiGHTS noticed there wasn't a jury. "Should I not have a jury?" he asked Reala.

"Of course you shall have a jury." Reala answered. He added, "But not a jury of Nightmarens. I shall appoint you a jury of villains."

NiGHTS tried not to show his relief. "Fair enough."

The jury consisted of Dr. Eggman Robotnik, King Bowser Koopa, Scourge the Hedgehog, Kammy Koopa, Gannondarf, and Koopa Kid. They all sat down in their places and the trial began.

"First," started Reala, "let us hear what happened the night the Ideya were stolen."

NiGHTS turned to Tails. "Oh, Tails, my memory of last night is so vague. Do you suppose you could tell what happened?"

Tails seemed unsure at first, then he began, "Well, NiGHTS asked if I could go with him to steal the Ideya. I went along with it. Along the way, we came across Big the Cat."

"And what was he doing?" asked Reala.

"Singing, of course!"

At once, the entire audience, including the jury, howled with laughter.

"It's true!"

When the laughter died down, Eggman exclaimed, "Impossible! Everyone knows cats don't sing!"

"Yes they do!" Tails explained, "They sing in the light of the full moon to make the fish come out!"

Everyone hooted with laughter again.

"Where'd this kid come from?" chortled Scourge in a mixture of scorn and humour.

NiGHTS spoke to Tails, "Go on. Tell me, for I can't remember, what happened after we supposedly met Big singing?"

"Well," Tails went on, "then we saw Sonic the Hedgehog not long after we set off again."

"What was he doing?" asked Reala.

"Why, he was swimming!"

The laughter came booming back.

Tails insisted, "Honest! He has to swim or else he'll lose his speed and blue fur!"

Bowser roared, "That's ridiculous! Do you expect us to believe that?"

In reply, NiGHTS said, "This is what I had to live with for a while. Trust me, he gets worse each day." Turning back to Tails, he said, "What happened next?"

Tails now looked frustrated. "Oh, NiGHTS, surely you must remember! After we continued flying, we saw the ancient spirit of the strongest Nightmaren who ever lived!"

Instead of laughter, there was a silent pause. The jury whispered amongst themselves.

NiGHTS asked Tails, "What did the spirit look like, exactly? I really wish I could remember."

Tails replied, "He was some kind of huge, black bird with green wings, a red tail and head, and orange talons!"

Now the audience started up in laughter again.

"Lies! All lies!" Kammy bellowed.

"It's all true!" Tails wailed in desperation. "Please! You have to believe me!"

NiGHTS waved away his comment. "What next? What happened after we met the so-called 'ancient spirit'?"

Tails sighed of exasperation. "You stole the Ideya and hid them in a hole!"

"Show us the hole." Reala ordered.

Tails led everyone to the hole beside the garden, but when he looked in it, it was empty. "What?! But, I saw them! They were there!"

"Then why are they in the garden the way Reala put them?" NiGHTS questioned, seeing that Owl had done his job in taking the glowing orbs and putting them back in the garden.

Everyone looked at the garden and saw every Ideya. They started shouting angrily in protest.

"I knew the fox was mad!" Gannondwarf barked out.

"Get him outta here!" Koopa Kid sneered.

NiGHTS grinned slyly. This is why he wanted a jury of villains. If the jury consisted of Nightmarens, like himself, they would've tried to extend their investigation and find a reasonable solution for what Tails was saying, which would have led to a discussion with Big and Sonic.

Once Reala got everyone back to order, he asked, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

Bowser replied, "Yes! NiGHTS didn't steal a thing! Obviously, Tails is insane!"

Everyone else was shouting in agreement. Even Reala seemed to think that maybe NiGHTS was innocent, and that Tails had just gone crazy. After all, he didn't check the garden when Tails told him the Ideya were gone. He decided to adjourn the trial and everyone left.

Tails then came up to Reala and begged, "Can I go back to where I belong? I don't want to stay here another night! I'll get killed by the ancient spirit!"

Reala let Tails go, not wanting to have anything else to do with the crazy fox. Reala returned to Wizeman. "I am sorry your plan failed, my master." He apologized with his head bowed.

Wizeman's fury was only short-lived, for he knew he would never be able to defeat NiGHTS. He knew no matter how many tricks he came up with, NiGHTS would come up with better ones. Maybe it was out of respect that Wizeman didn't want to kill NiGHTS. He saw the familiar jester flying not too far away.

NiGHTS turned around, stuck out his tongue and wiggled his hands beside his head in mockery at Wizeman, then resumed his flight.

"You can be sure that you are never too short of enemies!" Wizeman called after him in arrogance. "One day they will kill you!" But a smile crept across his mouth as he watched NiGHTS soar away. "But first they will have to catch you!"

So? How was that? It may have seemed a bit confusing and maybe even strange to those of you who haven't read Watership Down, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll have the next story up soon.