I wish that I owned NiGHTS into Dreams, but alas that's only . . . well, a dream!
Thank you to everyone who asked me to continue, I had started this purely for myself, but I will happily continue for as long as people ask me to.
You know what that means, people? Review!
Incidentally, this chapter goes out to Mary and DB, who are my two greatest inspirations when it comes to writing for Nightmaren. I love you guys!
Wizeman was concentrating on a new design. His Nightmaren were enjoyable, but they lacked discipline. Especially that nighttime t. . . especially NiGHTS. Wizeman shook his head at the odd inflection that NiGHTS used for his name. Wouldn't just 'Nights' have been easier? But whatever kept the tempermental creature happy. When he was happy he was quiet. And when he was quiet, it was a little easier to think.
Wizeman was working on something a bit more frightening. A little easier to control . . . and more importantly, something to babysit and free Wizeman from having to constantly separate the quarrelling youngsters!
This creation was being inspired by the nursemaids and mothers who Wizeman was vaguely aware existed in another adjoining realm. They were primitive animals who used instinct and brute force more than their brains, but that didn't concern the Lord of Nightmare.
A pleasantly curved build, large eyes, and a waist that was just wide enough for holding little bodies in a comforting manner. Let someone else handle the mushy stuff, Wizeman had decided.
He was just adjusting the curve of the waist when a piercing scream surprised him. His hands veered erratically, smearing the design as Wizeman turned and hurried to the nursery.
NiGHTS was sobbing his heart out, one hand was resting on an enormous lump on his forehead while the other was extended toward Reala, making pitiful little grabbing motions to suggest that he wanted something from his brother.
Wizeman was tired of this tears nonsense. He looked at Reala, looked at the chip in Reala's hand, and let out a tremendous sigh. "Share."
Reala's eyes bulged in surprise. NiGHTS was the one who was supposed to get in trouble! He, Reala wasn't supposed to have to associate with the crybaby! "But I don't wanna!" Reala yelped as a giant, stony hand flew at him with alarming speed, only to halt a few inches from his chalk white face.
Wizeman's eyes narrowed. "Share or I'll start thinking of mean things to do to you." Reala stared in fear and disbelief, then hurled the blue sphere at his brother's head, smirking as NiGHTS shrieked and fell over. Wizeman blinked at Reala's definition of sharing, but didn't worry too much. Whether NiGHTS was satisfied/knocked silly/whatever, at least he was quiet now.
Wizeman started to leave, then reconsidered. It wasn't like he cared that much, it was just a terrible waste of resources to risk losing one of his creations.
He turned and lifted NiGHTS' unconscious form into one of his hands, studying the little body carefully. The toddler now had two lumps on his head. That probably explained why he wasn't moving or crying anymore, but Wizeman was no expert in these matters.
Reala watched with some annoyance as once again, NiGHTS got picked up instead of him. And the crybaby wasn't even awake! It was incredibly frustrating. With an angry growl, Reala slammed himself onto his bottom and watched Wizeman tend to NiGHTS. His gaze fell on the blue chip, which had been forgotten for the moment. NiGHTS certainly couldn't share if he was sleeping!
With a happy laugh, Reala crawled over and picked the toy up.
Wizeman ignored Reala as he laid NiGHTS
in his crib
and tucked him in as tightly as he could.
If the child woke up, at least he wouldn't be able to move for a
while. And the other terror seemed content to stare at the bauble
he'd found. "Reala." Reala looked up at his name, blinking
as Wizeman leaned over. Wizeman's voice was firm. "Reala, I
am very busy right now. I do not wish to be disturbed."
Reala blinked. "What if we need you?" Wizeman sighed.
"Unless one of you has lost a limb or suffered a life threatening
injury, I do NOT want to see or hear from you until I call for
you."
Reala blinked, his blue eyes wide with curiosity. He didn't have
the faintest idea of what a life threatening injury would be, but if
Wizeman thought that he should, then surely he would know one if he saw
it. "Yah, okay." Reala turned back to his toy.
Wizeman blinked two of his six eyes. His own
creation had ended the conversation. He had not had to
dismiss him at all. He wasn't sure that he liked that, but
he had another creation waiting to be completed. "Yes. Oh,
and try not to cause any more damage to NiGHTS." Wizeman turned
away, leaving. Reala looked up, then sighed in disappointment and
resumed rolling the blue sphere across the floor. "'kay. . ."
Wizeman returned to his own chamber, sealing the way
behind him. He turned to the new Nightmaren and his eyes widened
in dismay. It had been ruined! The waist was nonexistant,
the chest was overly endowed, and the horns were tapered and jutted
upright!
Wizeman quickly got back to work, adding a belt in an attempt to
correct the girth. It did nothing aside from make the Nightmaren
a little easier to look at. Disappointed, Wizeman added a few
stripes and jewels. The overall effect wasn't bad, considering
the fact that this was nothing like what Wizeman had planned.
He looked at the head. The face had been stretched and
exaggerated. Fat lipped with large eyes. The ears resembled
those of a rabbit. Disgusted, Wizeman slapped a tail onto the
creature's bottom to complete the anthropomorphic horror. What a
mistake, what else could go wrong? Wizeman only hoped that she
didn't turn out to be a valley girl or a singer of some sort.
Wizeman studied the Nightmaren for a moment before
noticing that she was doing the same to him. She didn't have a
neck, just like NiGHTS and Reala. Why couldn't Wizeman get that
one simple detail right? Well, at least his newest creation had
wrists.
Wizeman nodded in satisfaction. This would have to do.
"Come with me." He drifted out, only to halt when he heard a
cartoonish "BOING!" behind him. Wizeman turned to find the bunny
woman bouncing like a pink beachball after him. Oh.
Yay. Stifling a groan, Wizeman continued on to the nursery.
To Be Continued. . .