Maria and Will were picked up by their dad as he came back from work. Before they left, they all agreed to have pizza for dinner, so they picked up pizza from a local pizzeria, and then they drove home.
"So, how was sledding?" Mr. Taylor asked.
"It was good," Maria replied. "But Abby and Jake bickered again," she sighed.
"Well, that's a shame," her father sighed in return.
"Yeah," Will sighed as well.
They finally returned home, and enjoyed their cheese pizza before doing their own things. Mr. Taylor cleaned up dinner as Maria went up to her room to nap.
"Well, today felt really long," thought to herself before dozing off.
Slowly, the familiar setting of the plaza returned, still blindingly bright, and still full of energy. As her eyes got used the white marble buildings and white cobblestone with specks of other bright crystals, she noticed as figure gliding slowly through the plaza near the end where something seemed to have been broken off.
Maria cautiously began approaching the figure, noticing its similarities to Nyght and Twylight, but it was slightly smaller, its horns were striped with bright and light purples, and their shape was more hooked instead of curled. As she got closer, the figure perk up, seeming to notice her, so she froze. The creature then suddenly turned around paused in what looked like awe, and then sped straight at her, causing her to fall backwards as it stopped right in front of her feet.
"Oh, sorry! I get quite excited when I see new Visitors!" the nightmaren like creature playful cringed, holding a hand out to the dreamer. Maria took the creature's hand, and got up.
"My name's NiGHTS. What's yours?" the purple character said somewhat out of the blue.
"I'm Maria. It's nice to meet you too NiGHTS," Maria replied back. "I wonder if this is the last piece of Twylight and Nyght, but no. There wouldn't be a Nyght and a NiGHTS created at the same time, and their looks are quite different, so most likely not," the girl thought to herself.
"So, is this your first time adventuring in the World of Dreams?" NiGHTS grinned in anticipation.
"No, I have adventured here twice before, and I looked around that castle," the teen explained, pointed the castle down the plaza.
The dream creature's expression drooped into a more serious expression as it stared off in an intent gaze.
"NiGHTS?" Maria furrowed her brow, lightly tapping the top of his hand, which startled the Nightmaren.
"Oh, sorry again," NiGHTS cringed apologetically. "Just be careful in there. It can be quite dangerous, and who knows what lurks in there now."
"What do you mean by now?" Maria questioned the dream creature's vagueness.
"Oh, don't listen to me!" the jester shook the serious mood away, bringing back a peppy mood with a smirk.
"So Maria, would you like me to show you to Nightopia?" NiGHTS smirked playfully
"Nightopia?" the writer inquired.
"A paradise-like world which is unique to you. Just grab my hand, and I'll fly us over to the Dream Gate!" he cheered.
"Okay?..." Maria replied nervously. As she went to grab NiGHTS' hand, a bright flash of white light enveloped her, and the next thing she saw was her feet, wait, no, NiGHTS' feet hovering above the cobblestone. "What?!" the girl exclaimed confusedly, looking at NiGHTS hands in front of her.
"Don't worry Maria. This is called dualizing. Both of us can control my body right now, so I can fly us over to the Dream Gate where we can explore your Nightopia," the nightmaren reassured.
"Okay," the dreamer cringed in anxious agreement.
NiGHTS began dashing over the edge of the plaza, heading into what seemed like the middle of nowhere. But only a few moments passed before Maria was able to see another floating island that was plaza-like, decorated with rocks and tree. NiGHTS finally skidded to a stop in the air right over a colorful cobblestone cul de sac, and Maria plummet a few feet down onto the ground, landing on all fours.
"So, this is Nightopia?" the dreamer raised her eyebrow unimpressed.
"No, of course not!" NiGHTS laughed. "It's through this door." The nightmaren waved his arms at an empty door frame, and the writer was even more unimpressed.
"There's no door there," the teen stated, looking between the doorframe and NiGHTS.
"Not yet. Just walk over here," NiGHTS instructed.
Maria slowly walked over to the doorless frame, and with a burst of colorful light, and door appear with a stained glass picture of a cloudy hill with lots of sparkling stars above it. She stepped up onto the platform, and slowly opened the door. Beams of blinding light caused her to squint as she squeezed through the door with NiGHTS following behind. The flutist gasped at the sight of a sky teeming with excitement from all different colored stars and planets. Out in front of her were rolling hills of flower covered clouds with trees every so often.
"So, I see you like the view," the jester grinned, looking out over the hills.
"I love it!" the girl chuckled.
NiGHTS maneuvered his way around the human and skated over the flowers to some sort of baby-like, fairy creatures playing in the blossoms.
"Maria, come over here!" the nightmaren called over.
The dreamer jogged through the flowers and then carefully approached the little people. The creatures made some happy sounding noises when she knelt down to greet them.
"They're called Nightopians," NiGHTS explained. "They reside here in Nightopia."
One Nightopian flew slowly over Maria's leg and gave a hug, looking back up at Maria with a smile.
"Aw, it seem that one likes you!" NiGHTS smiled and the Nightopian's sweet gesture.
Unexpectedly though, the eyes of the Nightopians grew in fear, and they all, made a short yell before fleeing from something that was behind Maria.
"Ah, NiGHTS, it looks like you found another friend," a malevolent voice came from behind her.
The two turned around to see a similar looking nightmaren to NiGHTS, except for the black and red horns, and the masquerade mask with feathers on either side.
"You're back?!" NiGHTS growled.
"Of course I'm back. Even Wizeman is back. I'm just here to quickly retrieve this Visitor's ideya, and then I'm off, and I won't bother you for a while," Reala grinned smugly.
"Never!" NiGHTS yelled, but as the purple jester began to charge at the red jester, two birds swooped in from above, and dragged NiGHTS away.
"NiGHTS!" the teenager called desperately.
"Well Visitor, I guess I can now formally introduce myself. My name is Reala," the nightmaren bowed. "And if you come here, I'll just quickly-"
"No Maria! Don't let him touch you!" NiGHTS screamed from a distance.
The writer began slowly backing away from the malevolent creature, Reala floating slowly closer to her. She then turned around and began to sprint, jumping over Nightopians and low hedges for many meters. Reala kept a close distance behind her, not getting any closer or further.
"Please, someone help me!" Maria thought desperately. And with her thinking, a portal appeared in front of her. She ran right through the portal, and on the other side was the inside of the castle. She looked back, and the portal was gladly closed, so Reala couldn't get through.
She panted for a moment, and then look back up, noticing Twylight and Nyght speaking to each other.
"Good to see you are in one piece after that chase," Nyght smiled.
"I was so worried you were going to get hurt!" Twylight pouted sympathetically, hugging the girl.
"I'm fine," the human continued to pant. "I'm just worried about NiGHTS."
"NiGHTS?" the twins asked simultaneously.
"Yeah. A purple horned nightmaren with hooked horns, big blue eyes, a bright pink vest, and a big red gem right in the middle of his chest," Maria described.
"Well, I haven't met a nightmaren like that, but who knows. Maybe he was created after I was concealed," Nyght shrugged lightly.
"Well, I haven't met that nightmaren either, but was it nice?" Twylight asked timidly.
"Yeah, I guess, but very excitable. Though when Reala appeared…"
"Reala?" the two questioned in unison once again.
"He looks a lot like NiGHTS, other than being bulkier, having a red, black, and gray color scheme, and wearing a masquerade mask, but I didn't get good vibes from him, especially after he began chasing me," she explained.
"Then it's good we saved ya," Twylight smiled cheerfully.
"Yeah, thanks for that," the writer smiled back.
"You are welcome," Nyght replied. "But other details, did you hear any mentions of any other figures or nightmarens returning?" they questioned sternly.
"Uh, I don't know! I heard stuff about idiyos that Reala wanted, and some wise dude returning," the girl cringed nervously.
"It seems our creator has returned: Wizeman," Nyght sighed.
"Wizeman?" Maria and Twylight questioned anxiously.
"The bad creature KT and I fought decades ago. Maybe Wizeman used her ideya to create them after I proved to be a "dysfunctional" 1st level," the golden nightmaren sighed slightly, looking quite sad.
"You don't know that's true!" Twylight tried offering comfort to her sibling. "Maybe her spirit still wanders Nightopia."
"I doubt that," they sighed again.
"Well, I don't think moping will do anything right now, since another nightmaren is in danger, and who knows how I can save him," the human encouraged.
"I guess I agree," Nyght let out a last sigh.