Yes! After many days of thinking up stupid ideas and simply being too lazy to write, there is another chapter!

I've been severely distracted with world of warcraft, just got an shammy to 80 and gearing up my resto/ele set, wewt.

Back on the topic, with Jackle in the first scene... My theory is, he is basically the normal definition of an elder, very wise and such, but most of it is lost through his insanity yet sometimes he'll 'calm down' and share his wisdom, but not often. Poor Ree thinks he's a threat lmao.

Worse writing than usual, but meh it's 3.30am.

Lol at Reala in the last part... He'd make a great husband...

Raver raver raver!

I knew a little raver, I fell in love with her gave her all I could but then she danced off in a blur...


"Jackle?"

"Yes Reeeee?"

The red jester scowled. "If you value your life, you won't call me that again..."

He glared at the other then turned back the way he was originally facing. "Jackle, you know NiGHTS well, has she been acting odd of late?"

The big eyed 'maren froze and suddenly turned to the other 'maren. "No... Why do you ask."

"If her mind's wandering, which it seems to be, she'll most likely be killed in our attack on the protectors."

Jackle cracked a toothy smile. "Sounds like you don't want her hurt!"

"No." Reala hissed. "If she's killed that'll be an aspect of our tactic that dies with her, I'm not having my carefully thought plans ruined by some dream loving idiot."

Jackle frowned, pulling the edges of his mantle together as he stared at Reala. "Well. Has it crossed your mind what she's dreaming of?"

"No." The other 'maren stated blankly. "Why would I care?"

Jackle sighed. "Tactically it would be a setback to lose NiGHTS, but we're 'maren, we can recover. Lord Reala... You should be more concerned with what's distracting your hunting partener."

Reala frowned, whenever Jackles mind made a logical conclusion he became a different 'maren, one that Reala felt challenged his own authority and intelligence.

"Well then, what do you think it is that's distracting NiGHTS?"

Jackles serious expression snapped into a wide-eyed cocky grin. "Cats! Big furballs! Mreeoooww!"

Then with an insane cackle he flew off. Jackle was the oldest, and as most 'maren claim, the wisest 'maren ever to live.

The problem with his wisdom is that it never lasts long.


NiGHTS had to stop and put down her book as she heard an odd, yet familiar noise echoing down the halls. Then in a loud crash Jackle came charging through the library door, sending himself into a dusty bookshelf and knocking all the books off of the opposing side.

"NiGHTS! Bad news!"

"Really? It looked like normal news to me." She rolled her eyes, helping Jackle up.
"NiiiiGHTS! Reala's asking questions!" He blinked quickly, then grabbed his horns and howled. "I hate questions! Hate hate hate!"

"Questions?" The 'maren set a dusty book back on the now slightly -broken shelf. "What questions?"
"About you."
"What about me?"

"About what you been thinking... About."

NiGHTS flinched, losing her grip on the book in her hands. "You don't mean..."
"I do!" He smirked. "Yay NiGHTS! We're married! I do! I do! I do!"

"Jackle! Serious please!"
"What's that?"

The 'maren sighed and bowed her head, hovering towards a window.
"Oh, what am I going to do?"

"Dunno but you better think of something soon! Wizeman wants us to attack tomorrow at dusk!"

"What?!"

Jackle shrieked and darted out the same doorway he'd come tearing through, bouncing off a stone statue of a skeletal dog, reared up on its hind legs, before turning down one of the other halls.

"Tomorrow...?" She sighed, staring at the book she'd dropped previously.

With a quick glance at the setting sun, she flew out of one of the shattered glass windows in the direction of the protector capital, Bellbridge.

"Trish!" Came the shrill shriek from inside the house, the young human male pointing at the cat in the window. "Trish! The cat, nightmare, thing!"

"Alright alright!"

The young brunette charged out of the house, slamming the door behind her and staring at the little cat on the windowsill.

"Hey NiGHTS."
"Hey."
"What's up?"

NiGHTS thought for a moment, trying to decide whether to say a cheesy comment or simply say 'nothing'.

"Well. I'm having a bit of a problem."

"You are?"

"Yeah... I think I'm crushing on another 'maren."
"Aww." Trish cupped her hands together, smiling widely. "Cute."
"No! Not cute! Bad!"

"Why?"

"Nightmaren can't fall in love, Master says it's a weakness, we get killed for even thinking about it."

"Oh..." Trish frowned, sitting on the sill just beside NiGHTS.

They were silent for a moment, then the dreamer spoke.

"Hey NiGHTS, why did you come talk to me?"

The 'maren sighed. "Because you're one of the few people I can talk to... Master likes me more than any other 'maren and the other 'marens hate me for that, even Reala, and we pretty much grew up together..."
"Reala?"

"The 'maren I like." She smiled. "I hate him though."
The human tilted her head. "Okay..."

"On a different note." The cat frowned, looking over the glossy water surrounding Bellbridge. "We're planning an attack on a protector base tomorrow, and there's a good chance one of us will get killed."
"And a lot of us."
"Yeah well, there's a lot less 'maren then protectors, I think we deserve to be more durable."

Trish smirked.
"I don't like the idea of losing anyway though. Jackle can't go so I'm not losing a friend but... I don't know, they all hate me yet I still want them to be here."

"Since you want them as friends?"

"Maybe."
With another sigh NiGHTS stood up, striding along the brick walls on the edges of the paths separating Bellbridge and the lake, quietly she muttered a goodbye before disappearing into the dark sky.


Reala had been looking forward to this moment.
He'd allocated each 'maren a place and a roll in the attack, if they failed it would show Wizeman that they were, simply, failures. More importantly, it showed Wizeman Realas leadership and expertise.

The signal went for the first attack, low levels came from nowhere and distracted the protectors-and their weapons- from the higher levels creeping up on them and quickly disabling any threats within the base.

"First levels!" One young protector shrieked, pointing out the 'marens gathering behind the rest of his group. NiGHTS smirked evilly, watching the protectors scurry and panic, then quickly she shook her head and tried to remind herself that she hated this.

Her hunting partner darted past, closing in on a protector and killing them quickly, this was the most brutal part of Realas plan- thinning the numbers, the bloodshed.

"Kill the flight 'maren!" Another protector howled, aiming for NiGHTS, she dodged a shot from the humans gun in one quick movement, then, like a practised move she swooped down and drill-dived the man. Cracked bones sunk through vital organs and the protector was left mangled on the ground, gasping for air and spitting blood. NiGHTS scowled and turned away, violence was not something she liked.

She turned back quickly as something narrowly missed her, seeing Reala standing behind her with blood on his claws and a mutilated protector at his feet.

"This isn't a very 'maren-tactic."

"It still gets rid of them." He smirked.
"You're just bloodthirsty, 'maren are supposed to scare people, not kill them."
"Oh well." He smiled slyly at her. "Would you rather die to the humans?"

"Well... No... But..."
"But nothing, now come, join me." He smirked again, holding out his hand.

NiGHTS froze quickly, this lusting phase kicking in again as she started thinking about Reala, she swallowed quickly, her nerves tripping out, and she took his hand.

She was worried he was going to do something sly, but instead he took to the air, keeping at a speed that she could fly with him-not that he needed to- then he pointed at a group of protectors and the two nodded at each other.

In near-perfect unison, the two dived towards the humans, breaking their grip on each other so they could circle their prey, then Reala quickly took back NiGHTS hand and, if the situation had been different, the two gave the most elegant dance.

The air turned black and winds ripped and grabbed at everything it could, dragging the humans into a swirling, sparkly vortex known as a paraloop, they screamed in fear, clawing at the ground, at the buildings, even at each other for help, but instead they were sent to a place that a Nightmaren is even to scared to think about.

The two 'maren smirked at each other triumphantly, they may be bitter enemies, but they were both terrific dancers.

"Kill them!"

NiGHTS quickly grabbed the other 'marens wrist and pulled him aside, sheltering in a little alley between buildings, as a series of metal shapes flew past them, the younger 'maren gasped, having thrown both the other 'maren and herself against one of the walls to a building and, more importantly, against each other.

Reala took no notice, he was more interested in what-the-hell it was that they shot at the two, NiGHTS however was distracted by the fact she was so close to him, her side against his, one of his hands resting on her arm the other against her back from the sudden jump, and their faces so close...

Just to ruin the moment, Reala grabbed the younger 'marens wrist and dragged her into the air, avoiding a series of shots quickly.

"What the hell are they shooting?" He hissed, letting go of NiGHTS, who simply shrugged.

Another collection of weapons shot past the two, narrowly avoiding NiGHTS herself, and then the two took a quick look at what it was they were being threatened by- shards of metal, simple, shiny, sharp shards.

The pair were forced to separate as more metal was shot towards them, to NiGHTS the remainder of the battle was a rushed blur, she was ducking and diving in and out of buildings, avoiding the metal and swooping down on protectors, then after a while the battle was won and the 'maren regrouped.

NiGHTS agility had left her almost unharmed, aside from a few deep cuts, the rest of the 'maren were in a worse shape, she glanced around them sadly, wondering if this attack had been worth all the loses- the 'maren, the humans, all the cuts and bruises, all the pain.

Then she saw Reala.

He wasn't as fast as her, that was for sure, he was an easier target. He was trying to keep his composure as well as he could, and doing a good job of it, but she couldn't ignore the deep gouges along his chest and side, blood seeping all down his body. He was in a bad condition, though better than most of the other 'maren, and despite how much she hated him it hurt NiGHTS to see him so badly injured.


It was a slow fly back to Nightmare, most 'maren having to go at a much slower pace than usual, or having to stop for a rest as their wounds wouldn't allow them to move too far. But eventually the 'marens made it back and all the lower-levels went straight to the crystal constructs known as healers, the first levels reported to Wizeman instead.

He was pleased to hear of their victory, and that the only losses had been the lives of lower-levels, he dismissed the 'maren, in one of his better moods, at least until one of his prized first-levels collapsed before him.

Out of all the high level 'maren, NiGHTS was the only one that showed any concern for Reala, who was out cold on the stone floor of Wizemans lair. The god himself stared down at the 'maren, the rest of the high-levels losing interest and leaving.

"Master, he needs a healer."
"A nightmaren that cannot withstand a battle is of no interest to me." He paused, a single hand hovering towards Reala to inspect him. "Even if it is a high-level."

"So what?" She hissed. "You want to let him die?"

"Healers have very limited power before they expire, they are used to treat minor wounds, not save those near death, it would be a waste."

"What if we don't use a healer? Get someone else to help him?"

Wizeman chuckled. "No other Nightmaren would bother to help; you only feel the urge to because you are experiencing human feelings... The others would know it is a lost cause."

"I'll take care of him then."
"What?"

"You heard me! I want to make sure he'll be okay!"

"NiGHTS, you are wasting your time; ignore this event in your life for you cannot act this way when the rest occur."

"Wizeman! I can't let him die! I don't care what you think I can't just-"
"Silence!" Wizeman ordered, one hand quickly grabbing the first-level and holding her tightly.

NiGHTS winced, either Wizeman didn't know his own strength or he was intending to hurt her, but he was holding her far too tight- her muscles were already beginning to ache as his stone fingers squeezed her.

"This is a futile argument, NiGHTS; I have ordered that you ignore Realas injuries."

"But." She panted, her breath being squeezed out of her. "I... Want him to live..."

"It matters not, I can easily recreate a hunting partner, Reala had been agitating me anyway... He had strived to be the greatest when I simply wanted him as a hunter..."

NiGHTS groaned, trying to pull herself free as Wizemans grip tightened slightly, obviously without him noticing.

"You are dismissed."

He let go of her, first thing she did was take a deep breath to get air back in her lungs then she quickly took a protective stance in front of Reala.

Wizeman was reaching for the red jester when NiGHTS stood between the hand and the 'maren, with a little growl he tried to pass her.

But without thinking, NiGHTS took to the air and launched herself at the hand, drill diving the hand directly.

Wizeman howled in pain, the hand retreating quickly, he seemed to take a moment to consider what had just happened, then he swung a single hand and knocked NiGHTS away as hard as he could, sending her into one of the stone pillars.

The 'maren fell to the ground, shards of stone falling around her. Wizeman was still for a moment, blinded in one eye and in deep thought. He valued NiGHTS, so he was already regretting hurting her, she'd gotten so upset over something that seemed so simple to Wizeman, a 'marens life, and she hadn't hesitated in attacking him. He needed to keep NiGHTS loyalty- She was more powerful than any other 'maren Wizeman had created, perhaps even as powerful as himself, and Realas life was something that she wasn't going to let him ignore, to keep her loyalty, he had to keep Reala alive.


NiGHTS groaned, rolling onto her back as she felt sunlight brush her skin, but there wasn't any sunlight in Wizemans lair, there was barely any light.

She sat up quickly, regretting it as her body began to ache badly all over, and she looked around. She was in her private chambers, but was trying to remember exactly how she'd gotten there, Wizeman had knocked her unconscious, she knew that from how much her head hurt, so she concluded that he'd gotten her back here, somehow.

"Crap! Reala!" She whimpered, almost tripping as she launched herself off the silky sheets of her bed.

Then she blinked, turning around to see Reala himself, still out cold, on the sheets of her bed beside where she had been laying.

She cracked a little smile; Wizeman had let the other 'maren live, even if he denied him a healer's attention. Which was good, those crystal creatures with their eerie eyes and spiked wings scared the hell out of NiGHTS.

"Reala?" She nudged him gently, sighing as she realised she had no idea how to care for him.

"Reala?"

He groaned quickly, frowning and protesting slightly as he began to wake.

"Ugh... NiGHTS..? What's happening?"

"You were pretty beat up from the attack." She smiled lightly. "Wizeman doesn't want to, as he said, 'waste' a healers energy on you, he was going to let you die."
"He was?" Reala seemed a bit hurt, trying to sit up and quickly getting aid from NiGHTS.

"Yeah, I had to fight with him to try to keep you alive, and even then he only agreed to one thing."
"What was that?"

"You're going to hate me for this." She gave him a sheepish look, blushing a little bit. "You're in my care."

"Great." He hissed, slumping back on the bed. "Do you even have any idea how to tend to someone?"

"No... But... I figure there'll be a book about it? And you might know stuff?"

"I can't believe this." He sighed, reaching for one of the wounds on his chest.

"I'm sorry but, it was the only option."

"Wait." Reala blinked. "If I'm so loyal to Wizeman, and yet he was going to let me die, why did he give in to you?"

NiGHTS bit her lip, edging away from Reala. "I don't know."

He shot a glare at her, she was expecting to be at least scratched, instead he just sighed and rested his head on a pillow.

"Here..." NiGHTS frowned, lifting the sheets on one side of the bed and holding her hand out for Reala to take. At first he refused aid but after sometime of painful attempts at moving, and reopening his wounds, he allowed NiGHTS to help him.

She gently straightened out the sheets, getting another dark glare from Reala.

"You could at least get me some food." He barked.

"Uh uh, you're at my mercy now Ree-ree, say please."

"Do not call me that!"

"What? Ree-ree?"

"Yes!"

She shrugged and hovered towards the door.

"You better come back with food." He hissed.

"Please?"

"Hurry up."


Her first concern wasn't actually Reala.

Her first concern was Wizeman.

He was expecting her to burst into his lair, which she did, and instantly started barking that she wanted her questions answered.

"Wizeman!"

"NiGHTS, I am your master and you will address me as such."

"No, I'm not talking to you as your little pet; I'm speaking as a 'maren who wants to know what the hell is going on!"

Wizeman was silent for a moment.

"Very well."

"Okay." NiGHTS crossed her arms, thinking. "To be truthful there's only one thing I want to know."
"And what's that?"

"Why do you treat me like I'm special? Like I'm better than all the other 'maren?"

"Because you are."

"How!"

Wizeman sighed.

"When I had created you NiGHTS, I was simply aiming for a more powerful hunter, instead..."

"Instead?"

"My creation, you, had different aspects, different powers to the others, when you were a child the elder would report to me saying he had seen you do odd things..."
"The elder...? Oh, Jackle. What things exactly?"

There was silence for a moment. "You were able to conjure most things upon thought, though most of the time your skills were not practised enough for you to be able to make something that would last, but occasionally you would make... Life."

"Life?" She blinked. "I made life? Like you do?"

"Precisely, you had somehow gained a power similar to mine, perhaps it is even a part of my power lost in your creation, but you would often create odd creatures... Insects with bird faces, furry creatures lined with spikes and claws... And the creatures survived when I had expected them to cease life, you, NiGHTS, were quickly learning to use a powerful skill."

"But why don't I remember it?"

"I had ordered your guardian, the elder, to teach you not to make these creations, andI myself had slowly chipped away at your memory in the hopes you would not rediscover this skill, obviously this plan had failed."

"So what, you were so nice to me because I could do the same as you?"

"Because you were a rare, powerful creation, my most prized, unique. NiGHTS, I wanted to ensure you would survive and remain loyal to me, but over time you have became ruthless and disobedient... I had been planning to inform you of your powers but you were proving to me you were not ready, however your stubborn ways have made you seek answers..."

NiGHTS sighed, bowing her head as she thought.

"So now what..."
One of the stone hands tilted to look at the 'maren.

"I mean, I'm not a Nightmaren, and I know that now so it's even worse, I'm going to go back there and know I'm different from all of them, god and I thought I had identity problems before... Now I don't even know what type of creature I am!"

She whined, putting both her hands on her horns as she bit her lip, deep in thought as to how the other 'marens were going to react.

"NiGHTS, ignore the Nightmaren in this castle, they are unimportant, from now on your time teaching will became time learning, I want you to control and develop your power as quickly as possible, I want you learn to be what you are."

"And what's that!"
"A god. A creator of life."