Chapter 6

Today was Saturday. She was sure, gazing at the circled date. She even had a good night's sleep. Okay… That was rigged. A certain somebody had agreed to stand watch of her dreams. And that certain somebody was in the kitchen, putting fingers in the toaster. With VV's help, NiGHTS had garnered enough energy to make a safe trip to the apartment from Nightopia, where he lived.

"NiGHTS-kun… Remember what I said about the toaster?" VV asked the maren with narrowed eyes. She shook her head.

"To set the toaster to the 'two' setting, so I don't burn my bagels?"

"The other thing."

"Not to…" NiGHTS's voice trailed off as he ripped his burned fingers out of the toaster. He whined as he shook it.

"NiGHTS-sama! The next time you burn your hands, I'm not giving you this…" NiGHTS winced as he pulled the spray bottle out of VV's hands. He sprayed it on slowly, and the burns healed. VV snatched the bottle back before NiGHTS did something with it like last time. Miles, VV's lucario, almost beat the poor thing silly after he sprayed it on his tacos. The fighting type really enjoyed them, and NiGHTS decided to never ever do that again. Let's just say he's lucky the jewel on his chest didn't crumble.

Why is NiGHTS being referred to as a 'he' all of a sudden? Let's just say there were people much more…womanly than him. VV insisted upon this change as she did not like referring to anyone as an "it" or "partner" or whatever else she happened to make up, and NiGHTS, not caring, agreed. It made things much simpler in many, many ways.

Anyway…VV now had her regular bag zipped up into a larger duffle bag, and was headed off the ice rink. She hummed a happy melody as she reached a house, knocking on the door. It was answered by a groggy, blond boy.

"What?" Words slowly slurred out of Sonny's mouth. "I'm trying to sleep; it's Saturday…." His eyes were shut.

"Sonny-tan!" VV whined in her slightly high-pitched voice "I knew you'd forget! What are you doing today?"

Sonny's eyes widened. "Ah no…" He shut the door, and rushed up the stairs. VV knew him well, knowing he'd be back down in a minute or two. She looked at her watch.

We're still gonna be late…. Hurry up, Sonny-kun! Everyone's waiting, you silly-l!

There was a thump as Sonny stumbled down the stairs. He yanked the door open, and dashed out.

"Sonny-san! Sonny-san!" VV was trailing behind him. "You have underpants on your head! Come back! Come back before you humiliate yourself!"

Sadly, Sonny failed to hear her, and sprinted onwards. He screeched to a stop about fifteen minutes later. VV panted and groaned has she halted behind him. She took the underpants off Sonny's head.

"Good going, Captain Underpants! We're late!" Knoland chuckled as he said this.

Sonny's face instantly flushed red, and he put his underwear in his duffel bag, while VV, Dana, and Knoland continued to laugh their heads off. The trio finally stopped as they arrived in the building.

Everyone was quickly tying up their skates, except a reluctant Shay. He hesitated again and again. VV was just about ready to slap him across the back to get him to move it. Thankfully he arose from his seat with everyone else, and they walked into the ice rink.

VV slid across the surface; she klutzily hurried across the ice. She seemed to have no control over her stopping, turning as she stopped at a wall. She wasn't all too great, but she seemed to be confident her skating abilities. She even stated that she enjoyed skating like an inept fool. If one looked carefully, one would notice she didn't fall, unlike others.

While every else skated circles around him (except VV, who of course glided past him into a wall), Shay struggled to stay afoot. He was constantly slipping, falling every other time he took a step.

Aside from Shay, every seemed to be having fun. Dana swayed past everyone, showing off her superior balance. Ruby seemed a bit irked, so she inconspicuously tripped Dana, who cried when her face hit the ice. Ruby did feel guilty, but did nothing about it for some reason. She felt a little worse, but ignored it. Miles helped Dana off the ice. She thanked him, and gave him an endearing smile. VV could have sworn she saw the little boy blush.

Thought it was fun, nothing eventful happened after that. Okay. Not until almost everyone was off the ice. Something really eventful happened then.

VV was out skating on the ice alone. She hummed another happy tune as she took in the cold air. She was just about ready to turn in when she was abruptly stopped. She was grabbed by the collar, and held above the ice. Her first instinct kicked in, and she screamed for help at the top of her lungs. Adrenaline began filling her blood as she struggled to break free of the stranger's harsh grip. She was silenced as quickly as she had begun to skirl as the figure's claws clamped over her mouth.

Sonny had responded to the shriek, and headed back put on the ice. A thought immediately struck him. He could never handle someone without help. Sonny frantically searched for someone who hadn't taken off their skates. He found someone, grabbing his/her wrist at the second, and dragging that person back out on the ice.

The figure's cold eyes were as threatening as those of a bloodthirsty tiger. The black markings running down them made the eyes all the more threatening. His pale, bluish skin made VV squirm in between his golden claws. His voice was as tough as leather and as heinous as the hiss of a king cobra. "Where is that traitor?" he snarled.

"I-I don't know what you're t-talking about!" VV choked out. Her eyes were tearing in fear. She begged that her cries were heard. "What traitor?"

"You know fully well who I'm talking about, dreamer! Talk! Where is NiGHTS?"

"I-I don't know who this NiGHTS person is!" VV lied, trying not to laugh as she usually did when she lied. "Please leave me alone! I-I'm not the one you want!"

The masked figure ignored her pleas. "Talk, you filth. I know you're connected to that backstabber!"

"I don't know!" VV winced at his voice. "Who are you to ask me these questions?" VV's fists shook. "Why me? I don't know!" She repeated.

"My sources are not wrong, foolish girl. They wouldn't dare lie to second in command of Master Wizeman's army, General Reala." Reala smirked at the mention of his own name. He'd basically tacked it on to fuel his own ego. VV would have made fun of him…if she wasn't fearing for her life. She didn't understand. How did he get here? "Now I suggest you tell me where NiGHTS is before I rip your ideya out!"

"I-I-I d-don't k-k-know!" VV words became more slurred and anxious.

"You're a filthy little liar! Tell me where he is!" Reala hissed.

Sonny pushed Shay forward, as the latter complained about how he hated being out on the ice. Sonny begged him to help, informing him that VV was in danger. Shay responded that he could care less, and that it wasn't that bad.

"My Arecus! Someone freaking save me!" VV hollered out. "He's trying to kill me! Please!" She said, referring to Reala before he clamped her mouth shut again.

Sonny gave Shay an 'I told you so' glare as the two boys headed back on the ice. Surprisingly, Shay didn't slip at all. In fact, if someone was watching, they would have said Shay was skating better than Sonny. He didn't even realize he was going so well, all he was concerned about now was saving someone's life. Shay wasn't nearly as bad as he thought. It seemed like he had skated forever.

The duo was approaching rather quickly. Reala heard the stritch-scratch of their skates, and glared at them. "This isn't your business." He stated in a smug voice.

"Let VV go!" Sonny howled, his patience instantly depleting. His brain screamed at him to be afraid of the jester on the ice, but his body did not yield.

"Or what?" Reala smirked, eyes gleaming with an inhumane luster.

"Or this!" Sonny gathered his bravery, and struck Reala down. VV toppled out of his grip, and scurried off. Sonny quickly pinned the nightmaren down. Shay swiftly kicked him in the side. Ironically enough, VV finished Reala off by stepping on him with her skate.

"I'm outta here!" VV quickly panicked, and fled.

Sonny and Shay nodded as they departed with her.

Reala vanished in a puff of darkness. "You three will rue the day you defeated me. I will get you…." His maniacal laughter filled the air as he completely disappeared. "And I will reap my master's revenge!"