Chapter 2

Elise opened her eyes to find herself in a never ending grass field. There were no trees, no rocks, no mountains, no rivers. Just grass stretching on and on and a everlasting blue sky. Elise gasped in awe as she felt her heart fill with the greatest joy she had ever felt. She laid down in the grass and looked to the sky. She noticed there wasn't any clouds but surprisingly she didn't care. Elise ran her fingers through the long grass and sighed in relaxation. Finally she got up and walked over to NiGHTS which turns out was watching Elise the entire time. Elise began to giggle and she spun around in a circle, letting her aqua green dress sway as she did. With her arms swung out she let out one last laugh and finally returned her attention back to NiGHTS. But she couldn't stop giggling to herself for how overjoyed she was at the moment.

"This place is amazing!" she exclaimed. "But it feels empty."

"Ha! No kidding!" Illia smirked as she landed next to NiGHTS.

NiGHTS sighed and shook her head at Illia. When it comes to Illia she can be cruel at times. Illia stared at NiGHTS blankly, acting like she wasn't even aware of what she said. NiGHTS took another sigh and turned back to Elise.

"Nightopia reflects the heart of the visitor." she started. "So when you're in one of your dream worlds and get a certain feelings that mean it's inside of your heart."

Elise froze not in shock but in sadness. It's true there was emptiness in her heart. Sure she had her family. But the reason she has emptiness is because of how she's always afraid that once someone treats her nicely they would turn around and be cruel to her. That's why she always takes caution in meeting people to make sure she won't get her feelings hurt by them. But she hates she has to ignore the longing in her heart for a friend. NiGHTS become worried when she saw Elise was still frozen in sadness. Illia on the other hand only showed little concern but still not a lot. Elise finally blinked a few times and placed her hand on her heart.

"My heart is empty." she said very slowly. Finally she shook her head and turned toward NiGHTS. She smiled bu yet said nothing. But just then a sound let off. Illia instantly put herself in a fighting stance. Before she could react Reala appeared out of no where and caught Illia by the throat.

"I see you still are slow on reflexes." he smirked toward her. Elise was frozen in fear as she watched Illia try to escape Reala's death grip.

"Ha! For a level one nightmaren I see you still depend on sneak attacks." she chocked. Reala snarled at his cousin and turned his attention toward NiGHTS. Elise noticed Reala was staring at NiGHTS in that strange way again. Elise couldn't figure why Reala stares at NiGHTS after all she has only been there for five minutes.

"NiGHTS I need you to come with me." he started.

"Forget it Reala I'm not..."

"I'm not taking you to Wizeman. I just need to talk to you alone."

When Illia heard this a smirk formed on her face despite she was being chocked at the moment. Elise on the other hand became more confused than ever. NiGHTS remained silent not saying a word. Finally she took a deep sigh and walked up to Reala.

"I'll go with you if you swear you don't take me to Wizeman." she answered.

"I promise I won't."

Reala turned his attention back to Illia. He snapped his fingers making a cage appear. He flew up to it and threw Illia into it. This made Illia angry of course but she just shrugged and her smirk returned. Reala flew back down to NiGHTS and took a hold of her hand. Elise showed NiGHTS her worried face to try to tell her not to go with Reala. NiGHTS gave her a gentle smile trying to show her it'll be okay. Though NiGHTS still had doubts about Reala another part of her told her she could trust him. When Reala made the portal appear NiGHTS took one last look back to Elise and finally entered the portal with Reala. Who knows where it went to.

Meanwhile a young twelve year-old boy named Derek was running as fast as he could. Children with dark faces and blood red eyes were chasing him through the streets of the city. He had short, shaggy brown hair and he wore a red shirt, blue vest, black pants, and brown shoes. His blue eyes darted behind him to see he was still being chased. His heart began racing faster and faster as he continued running from his pursuiers. He slammed his eyes shuts as the kids kept constantly yelling and laughing at him. Derek ran and ran as he watched his background turn black and a cold wind entered. The kids morphed into dark shadow creatures with evil grins. Derek was becoming exhausted but his fear refused to let him stop. Finally a burst of light appeared out of no where. The shadow creatures fled from the light instantly. Loving the warmth and comfort it gave Derek began to run toward it in an effort to escape the darkness.

After falling the rainbow of stars Derek landed on solid ground. Derek took a few steps foward exmaining what was in front of him. He saw a beautiful fountain surrounded by empty door frames. Before he could explore this mysterious place he heard what sounded like a piano playing. Enchanted by the wonderful music he decided to go and discover it's source. He found himself wondering deep into the woods as he continued following the piano music. Finally Derek discovered what was making that music. He saw a silver and black colored jester like creature. It's skin was pale white and it wore a silver vest, black pants, silver and black boots, a silver belt, and black armlets. His jester hat had silver and black strips with two horns that extended outward from it's head and at the end point inward toward it's head. Derek was instantly confused when he saw the silver jester acted like it was playing a piano yet and music was playing but yet there was no piano there at all. The silver jester finally stopped playing and turned toward Derek. The twelve year froze in fear when this happened.

"Why hello there." it greeted him in a kind voice. Derek knew instantly because of the muscles and the voice that it was a boy.

"Who would you might be now?" he asked in the same kind voice.

"Um I'm Derek." he answered cautiously.

"Derek now. Hmm that's defaintly a good name." The jester extended his hand toward the tweleve year old. "The name's Eric."

Back with NiGHTS and Reala turns out that portal led to a hidden area in Memory Forest that no one knew about. Not even Helen. The only one that knew about it was Reala. NiGHTS began to get nervous. Reala hadn't said a single word ever since they left Illia and Elise. Reala flew over to a spot with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. NiGHTS was confused by this and slightly annoyed Reala was talking to her. Finally he took a deep sigh and opened his eyes. He flew over to NiGHTS still not saying a word. But what Reala did next almost made NiGHTS stop breathing. Her eyes widened as Reala gentely brushed her cheek with the back of his clawed hand. He glanced down at NiGHTS torn sleeve which she hadn't fixed. Reala took his free hand and grasped her arm. He closed his eyes again and took another deep sigh.

"NiGHTS I-I'm sorry for injuring you in that last battle." he finally said. NiGHTS' froze in shock instantly. She knew Reala had never appoligized to anyone before.

"Reala I..." but NiGHTS never got to finished because Reala shushed her.

He released NiGHTS' arm and placed his hand around her back. NiGHTS began to hold her breath as Reala pulled her closer to him. Reala and NiGHTS stared into each other's eyes until they did the most shocking thing. They leaned in close and kissed. They were shocked at first until they began to ease up and turn it from a light kiss into a deep passionate kiss. They stayed like that for a while until finally they both pulled back. NiGHTS smiled a loving smile at Reala. But then her hand edged up and began slowly peeling off Reala's persona. His first instinct was to stop her but a second thought told him to go ahead and let her take it off. When she took it off she let it drop to the ground and moved her hand up where she laid it on Reala's cheek.

"I missed your face." she said in a gentle voice. Reala smiled and gentlely kissed NiGHTS on the lips.

"I know you did." he replied.

NiGHTS sighed in pleasure as her and Reala laid on the grass. He had his arms wrapped around her and she lay on his chest. A smirk formed on Reala's face as he glanced up at NiGHTS. SHe knew instantly was running through his mind.

"Reala no." she said in a serious tone.

"Oh come on. You know you want to." he smirked.

NiGHTS as she saw Reala began tracing the red ideya on her chest using his index finger. NiGHTS wanted to pull away yet at the same time she didn't. Reala glanced up at NiGHTS again with the same smirk.

"Do you want me to stop?"

NiGHTS quivered and finally answered "No. Don't ever stop." Reala laughed at bit to himself and finally kissed NiGHTS passionately on the lips.

Back with Illia and Elise, the young twelve year old was still trying to figure how to free Illia even through she told her how to do it five times already.

"Look you just climb up the chain and dualize with me and grab the key. It's that simple!" Illia groaned.

Elise forwned and shook her head still not believing it was that simple and was afraid what daulizing was.. Illia slapped her face and groaned. Apparently it was going to be a long time before she gets out of that cage.