Nights flew through the sky. She wished she could feel like her usual cheerful self, however, tonight she saw something she didn't want to see. She knew destroying Wizeman, and thus exterminating all of his Nightmarens, was the right thing to do yet she did not want any of them to suffer. Reala was suffering. Not only by his battered body but also from the loss of a misguided admiration of his wicked creator. Didn't Reala realized he was free from the fear of Wizeman's ominous shadow? Free from Wizeman's cruel wrath? Or maybe he realized he could have freedom and rejected it out right in favor of an absurd loyalty to an inanimated mask? Or maybe Reala truly believed Wizeman would returned?

Of course, no matter what Reala's reasoning, Nights knew he wanted her to pay for his misery. However, Reala's condition would prevent him from becoming a threat. Nights thought that the third rank Nightmarens posed more of a danger than Reala did. Also, how come Reala remained horribly injured when all the other lower ranked Nightmarens were in good health? Then again, Nights didn't knew why the Nightmarens had survived in the first place.

Nights looked down at the Dream Gate and saw Owl chattering away. At least the old bird had the invisible creature to lecture to. Nights enjoyed Owl's company, but he would go on and on with explanations about everything. Nights rolled her eyes as she flew overhead past Owl. She knew he meant well, but her dear friend could be an annoyance at times.

"By the way," Owl asked the invisible creature. "how did you know Reala was a Nightmaren? I never told you about him."

"He kept saying 'Master Wizeman'. I figured only Wizeman's Nightmarens would call him that."

"Ah, of course." Owl nodded his head. "It may interest you to know, Reala is a first-level Nightmaren rivaled only in power to Nights."

"As strong as Nights?"

"Well," Owls chuckled. "Nights always prevailed in their battles."

"Mm. Nights can always defeat Nightmarens."

"Defeat," Owl repeated. "Yes..." Owl recalled when Nights first told him about the egg she had a long time ago. About how the egg came to be because a defeated Nightmaren recoiled off of her, very much like how the mepians were created.

"What is it, Owl?"

"Ah, nothing to worry yourself with."

"Mm."

"Oh look. Hoo." He looked up. "There's Nights. I think I need to speak with her." With that, he teleported in front of her.

"Ahh! Don't teleport right in front of me, Owl!" Nights screamed at him.

"Hoo! Sorry, Nights. I was wondering, may we talk?"

Nights sat back in midair and got comfortable. "Of course, what did you want to talk about?"

"It's rather private..."

"I changed my mind." Nights started to fly away.

"Oh! Nights!"

Nights chuckled and turned back to face Owl. "Yes?"

"First of all, please forgive me for bringing up this subject. I know it is a sensitive subject and..."

Nights interrupted him. "Owl, just tell me."

"It is about your egg."

"Oh." Nights sighed. "What about it? I thought I told you everything."

"You did omit something. Who is the other parent?" Nights winced at that question.

"Some Nightmaren," she quickly answered. "Does it really matter, Owl? I mean..."

"I am sorry, Nights. I know your egg didn't survive. I'm just worried. You said that was your only chance at having a child..."

"Owl, how could I even think about having a child when the Nightmarens were after me? It was an accident I had one. It was an accident I lost it too." Night closed her eyes and shook her head. "I couldn't bare to risk another precious life."

"So, you have thought about having another?"

Nights held her arms and looked away. "Many times."

"The other parent wasn't a lower level Nightmaren was it?" Nights didn't answer Owl's question. "I've seen other low level Nightmarens bounce off you after you've defeated them and an egg has not resulted from those encounters."

"Heh. I'm grateful for that. Can you imagine a Nightmaren with my body and a Seapo's head?"

An image flashed in Owl's mind and he stifled a laugh. Not very well, however.

"Ha, even you think it's funny don't you, Owl?"

Owl smiled and shook his head. "I'm just worried about you, Nights. I have an inkling who the other parent is."

"Drat, I was hoping to get you to drop that subject. To be truthful, I'm a bit embarrassed about it."

"Because it's Reala?"

Nights sighed and nodded her head.

Owl was grateful his suspicions were finally confirmed. "How will we deal with Reala now?"

Nights turned around and glared angrily at Owl.

"What? What's that look for, Nights?" Nights flew over to Owl and grabbed his cheeks and start to pull on them. "Ouch!" Owl cried.

"I swear you're a dirty old bird. Is that what you're worried about? That I'm going to use Reala just to make an egg? Are you insane? You know a cruel and manipulate brute he is." Nights let go of Owl's cheeks and he rubbed his now sore face. "I'm not going to have another child with him."

"Ouch... Alright, I won't bring the subject up again."

Nights nodded. "But, Owl, I have thought about putting Reala out of his misery."

"Do you intend to go through with it?"

"I don't know. I know I shouldn't be, but I do feel guilty about how he's in such pain." Nights sat back in the air again. "Though, I severely doubt I'll feel less guilt by killing him."

"With his condition, he is not a threat to us and the Visitors."

"No. He's not."

"I know you will make the right decision when the time comes, Nights. I must say, I am glad you survived Wizeman's defeat. The Dream Gate would not be as pleasant without your rascally ways." With that, Owl teleport away leaving Nights stared at the sky and wonder what Reala was doing.

Back at the Dream Gate, Reala slumped against the rough bark of a tree for support. In his condition, he could not leave the solid and stable ground of the Dream Gate. He slowly let his body slink down the trunk of the tree till he laid down. He felt himself straining for his breaths as his sore muscles went into another spasm. He had not meant to come to the Dream Gate for its support, rather he squirmed his way here because of senseless curiosity: He had to see if that traitorous Nights had survived. It was unsettling to see not only did Nights live but in full health. Here he was twitching on the ground while Nights soared freely through the air.

Times like this he would report to Master Wizeman, but Reala had no more Master to report to. He touched his persona. Master Wizeman was gone because of Nights. Reala desired to finish Nights off, but he could not do it alone in his present state. He had tried to gathered the surviving lower ranked Nightmarens and was met with indifference. Reala knew he would not serve one as weak as himself. How could he have fallen so below Nights? Here Nights had vanquished Master Wizeman and he couldn't even stand for more than a few minutes at a time. Reala reminded himself that wasn't true. Nights had borrowed power from Visitors to overthrow Master Wizeman. Night was not stronger than him. Reala told himself he was the better of the two. Nights was the pathetic one.

"Hey."

Reala whipped his head around. It was the Visitor girl from before. She had no Ideya and was even more worthless than other Visitors.

"I can't believe you got your ass handed to you by Nights."

Reala flexed his long sharp fingers with a twitch. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Come closer and say that."

"Please. Don't try to scare me. You're as terrifying as a kitten. Heh." The Visitor touched her arm where he had attacked her. "Actually, I take that back: A kitten's scratch hurts more."

"What do you want?"

"How about I help you out?" the Visitor more or less told Reala this than asked.

"Ha! What can a weak little Visitor like you do to help me?" Reala scoffed and then proceeded to mock her. "Are you going to offer to be my friend and help me change my evil ways around?" His voice resumed his serious tone. "Don't make me laugh."

The Visitor took his insult in stride. Pretending she didn't him hear, she continued. "How about I take Nights down from the inside out? Literally."

Did that Visitor just suggest what he thought he heard? She wanted to hurt Nights? It was evil and Reala was intrigued. He felt as if he could take Nights down himself when he recovered but this betrayal would wound Nights deeply. Reala imagined the look on Nights' face when this treachery would came to pass and he knew he would take the Visitor up on her offer. His retribution would come no matter what price the Visitor would have to pay for it. He sneered wickedly before extending his hand. "I believe we can work something out."

To be continued.