smileyfox148: Remember, poetry is meant to be read aloud! It helps the listener to appreciate the theatrical stops and inclinations of the voice, so to help you understand the angle of said poetry. This chapter is much less poetic, though. Mostly a summarizer to what little plot I added. I hate how I slipped back into my old style of writing, but alas some things cannot be avoided. Enjoy.
)(The Final Poem)(
Daddy, I'm afraid.
Afraid of who I was.
Afraid of who I am.
Afraid of what I accomplished.
Afraid of who she will see.
Afraid of the life I could live.
Afraid of the cage that awaits me.
)()(
Reala stared down at his hands. There was no feeling, no emotion, only the beating of a tired heart. He sensed only faintly the fear of the dozen NCU guards on the other side of his cell's glass door. The harsh white walls he sat within hurt his eyes, this hard cube of empty nothing. He drew his knees closer, placing his weary head atop them. An image was pulled from the recesses of his mind - a boy, thin in form, wearing black wire frames and a matching trench coat. A blue shirt with a stylized frown-y face peeked out underneath. Reala smirked. Purity, Wisdom, Hope, and Courage… he had stolen all but Intelligence. Being a first-rank Nightmaren, he knew that possessing Intelligence with no Wisdom to sustain it was torture in itself. Especially if the Dreamer were one of the 'insane' types, which trench-coat boy was. What a strange nightmare Reala had envisioned for the boy, filled with burned out buildings and high-tech space craft all marked with the same imperial insignia. A fear of aliens was not uncommon, but trench-coat boy became a mess at simply the sight. Reala had allowed him to escape to his heart's Dreamworld after the heartless performance that was Ideya removal had finished. What a foolish mistake.
R-- r-- r--! A small noise passed right over his head.
But wait, I desire my demise. So there was no mistake in allowing the Dreamer life…
Rap rap rap!
Do I truly wish to give these insects the victory? Do I truly believe this is the end? Is this how I shall allow the reign of glorious Nightmare to end?
RAP RAP RAP!
Reala finally noticed the irritating call for attention. His eyes locked with the eyes of the NCU that had demanded his awareness. Around her finger spun a pair of silver manacles. The 'maren's pupils contracted angrily.
NO!
He leaned into a crouch. His eyes sparked with the cruel Hellfire they were famous for, his charcoal lips parting to allow a feral growl; he launched through the pane, claws first towards bloodshed and freedom.
)()(
Daddy, I'm lonely.
Lonely because he's gone.
Lonely because they're gone.
Lonely because you're gone.
Lonely because you made us together.
Lonely because you tore us apart.
Lonely because I am alone.
)()(
NiGHTS had no trouble keeping with the general's pace. If anything, she wished the military Nightopian would go a bit faster. Though the general was doing the best he could to make NiGHTS comfortable as she could tell from his light way of conversation, she couldn't help but notice the signs of the hallways. The numbers on the walls decreased with every door they passed. NiGHTS was not unfamiliar with the structure of the HQ, high ranking soldiers and members in the 1000s to 101s, captured 'marens in the 100s to 14s, and death row in the 13s to 00s.
"-and that's why I'm not allowed to give the misses flowers!" the general concluded with a chuckle. "Crazy, huh?"
NiGHTS turned back to the 'pian, staring blackly. "Hmm? You say something?"
He sighed. "Never mind. I was only saying that-"
"GENERAL!"
A small female 'pian came barreling through the hall, crying incoherently. She clung onto the general, falling slack in his arms.
"What is it!? Speak, child!" shouted the general.
The 'pian wailed, "He's out! He killed them… all of them!"
"No!"
NiGHTS balled her fists to try and suppress the lurch in her heart. "He? He! Was 'he' my surprise, General? Of all the stupid, suicidal things you could have done, I-"
She took a breath. Temper, temper.
"General, you know very well what the rules are regarding my… sibling." She exhaled. "Did he escape the premises?"
The sobbing 'pian on the floor nodded her head with a whimper. NiGHTS huffed, returning her gaze to the general. "Well, at least he didn't burn the place down. I will be taking a leave-"
"Not necessary, Protector NiGHTS." The general interrupted. "I have reason to believe he will return."
"And why is that?" she snapped.
The general gestured down the hallway. "He wasn't the only part of your surprise."
)()(
Daddy, I can see.
I see that you still won.
I see that we still lost.
I see how easy it was for you.
I see how you manipulated our futures.
I see that the cards have always been right.
I see that you loathed us. Loathed us all.
)()(
Jackle giggled. "Jack on ten, Queen on Jack, King on Queen. I win!"
He took a card edge and dragged a long scar through the floor, adding to the tally. He glanced around his cell, pleased at the sight - the entire cube, including the glass door, was marked with similar streaks.
"Score is… 666 to zero!"
He covered his mouth to hide a laugh. "You really are terrible at solitaire!"
He was, of course, speaking to the NCU guard outside his cell, but received nothing in reply.
The Nightmaren shrugged. "Fine. We'll play a different game, then."
He twirled his fingers, a stack of ornate cards appearing. They folded, bridged, and cut all by themselves, each individual card floating up above Jackle's head. They began to dance in orderly circles, which the 'maren watched with child-like fascination.
The Nightopian outside his door frowned, banging on the glass. Jackle glanced at the 'pian out of the corner of his eyes, a wicked smirk returning. "The cards don't look good for you…" With a flick or the wrist, a card flung itself from the deck, passing through one of the scratches in the glass and completing its rendezvous with the 'pian's neck. It embedded into the hall's wall, a trickle of dust pouring onto the floor.
Jackle winked. "Game over, you lose."
The remaining cards jumped into formation, cutting with ear-splitting whistles through the door. The 'maren smiled, tip-toeing over to the door. He inhaled, and blew. The door shivered violently, crashing down in jagged chunks that slammed onto the floor and shattered on impact.
He floated out, seemingly forlorn, his head lowered. The 'maren turned when he heard a slow, deliberate series of claps. Immediately, he cheered up.
Jackle winked. "Hello, dear brother!"
)()(
Reala smiled, allowing for but a small second his heart to shine through truthfully. "Jackle! It's been too long."
Jackle in turn giggled, taking on the age-old persona of the wise fool. "There is no time like the present, as they say."
"STOP!"
The dark Nightmaren jumped into the air, narrowly avoiding two shots of silver web. Reala clenched his fists, snarling with rage. "NiGHTS!"
The said Nightmaren was standing behind the general who toted a small cannon on his shoulder at the opposite end of the hallway, ready. She stepped forward. "Reala! What is the meaning of this? I don't want to have to fight you!"
Reala smirked. "Well, I do!"
He rolled his tongue over his teeth.
The 'maren struck.
)()(
We fight for you, your schemes and lies.
My broken heart fluttering like a bird
To the beat of a war drum.
And only when the River Lithe calls
Shall we cease and slumber.
)()(
Together, we are alone.
In a room of mirrors the cut me bloody-white,
To protect and destroy
Everything you held sacred.
Everything.
)()(
Does death matter?
I ponder this, smiling.
Death is only a technicality.
To cease existence seems so
Peaceful.
)()(
Again and again and again they met, locking fists midair. The blurry green and silver of their outdoor arena swirled into vertigo.
A thin trail of tears traveled down her face. "Please… stop! Ree, stop…"
He slashed. "Why should I? Why, should I take the advice of a traitor?"
She punched back and sloppily blocked his round house. "Because I…"
"You don't deserve to explain! You killed my… my father!"
He drove her into the ground.
A dull crack lingered on the air.
)()(
"Because I love you, Reala."
)()(
Daddy…
Why?
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home.
I love you and you are mine.
Actually came out rather well, I believe. Not how I wanted, it, but not terrible. Keep in touch, I may revise and fix this chapter, if I have the time. Oh, and one final not, I have changed my pen name to smileyfox5150. This is the last chaoter I will be signing with smileyfox148... :[
I keep picturing a painting with the three 'marens all caught together holding hands under a blanket of silver web, the guard and Wizeman's image faded together in the backdrop. I wish I was a skilled artist, or his would be on Deviant Art in a minute! If you have any questions about this story, feel free to message me or ask in a review.
I really hope you've enjoyed this… melodramatic tale.
Until next time,
smileyfox148