Do not own. Enjoy.

It was the middle of the night for as Amy laid awake in her bunk. She had thoughts running through her mind as she couldn't sleep. She looked over to see her ebony twin sleeping peacefully in her bunk that she shared with Cream. Amy still thought of Sonic and his condition at prison isle, it should be Shadow there! Not Sonic! With a sigh, she sat up and climbed down from the top bunk to walk out of the room to it's balcony. Looking up at the stars hoping for answer to come for her. Nothing came from the sky, but something close enough.

"Amy?" Amy looked up to see Jecht sitting on the roof. A manner that Sonic did, before being taken…..

"Jecht! What are you doing here?" Amy asked the green hawk.

"Looking at the stars. Back home my dad and I would so this each night so we could watch the stars, then dawn" Jecht said as he laid back down and looked straight up. He'd never admit it, but he misses doing this with his dad.

"What you doing up?" Jecht asked Amy. Amy turned her attention back to the sky, answering him.

"I couldn't sleep…There's been a lot of things happening lately, all of them happening too fast" she told him. A shooting star passed by, and Jecht made a wish. Amy looked at him as he did so.

"What you wish for?" Amy asked him.

"To go back home" he said happily.

"What did you wish for?" Jecht asked Amy.

"I didn't wish for anything" she said. Jecht's body jumped down in front of her in a green blur as he gripped her shoulders.

"You didn't wish for anything!" he asked her. Amy shook her head no. Jecht let go of her and had his back to her.

"Why would?" Amy asked him.

"There's a legend of my people, saying when the garden disappeared into the ever lasting skies. When a star would fall, it's a fragment of that garden. Saying if we wish on that star, then someday the garden will return" Jecht said as he looked at Amy. Amy had her eyes closed and hand put together for bout a minute before looking at Jecht.

"I wished to have my questions answered" she said smiling at him. Jecht couldn't help but smile back to her realizing that the sun was about to break through. Without warning he walked into the guest room towards Amelia's bunk. Amy walked after him, to see him waking her up and then Cream and Cheese.

"What time is it, Mr. Jecht?" Cream asked as she rubbed her eyes. Amelia leaned on the bunk's frame for support as she yawned.

"Yea what gives?" Amelia asked.

"Dawn, come on I can tell this one will be worth it" Jecht said and lead them out to the balcony. The sleepy head's eyes widen as the sun rose. It was beautiful! Like strokes of red paint among a blank canvas as all the colors blended together in harmony. Amelia smiled and hugged Jecht, making him blush a bit.

"You were right! It is worth it! I wish everyone back home could see this!" Amelia said as she looked at the sun. Amy couldn't help but smile at the two. Everyone around could tell they loved each other, Except those two themselves, that is.

"Isn't it pretty Amy!" Cream said as she pulled Amy closer to the balcony for a closer look. The rising dawn's red, reminded her of Shadow's red streaks on his quills and his eyes…..she could stare at them for hours and drown herself in them. Her knees became weak and used the railing to support herself, why couldn't Sonic make her feel like this? Amy thought as she continued to look at the sun. With a small smile she answered her friend's question.

"Yes. It is" Amy said. Not referring to the sun, but to a certain ebony hedgehog's red streaks and eyes. Today was going to be the day that they planned to break Sonic out. Hopefully, Jecht and Amelia won't mind it all in lending a hand and Maybe Amy will see that ebony hedgehog again.

-(With Espian and Rogue)-

"Reala lives here?" Rogue asked as she saw a simple cottage in the middle of a forest clearing. From the city, it blended in so well.

"Yes. Reala more of a country type of NiGHTMaREN" Shadow said and kept walking towards the house. Espian looked at the place as the walked towards the door. It was sort of messy, weeds here and there, the flower beds were out of control, and the lawn needed raking. Shadow knocked on the door a few times, the door finally opened after 40 seconds.

"Shadow?" it wasn't Reala, but a light blue female Echidna with purple eyes that answered the door.

"Milagros. Hello there" Shadow greeted.

"Shadow, hey just the person I was about to go and look for" Milagros said. An eyebrow arched as Shadow looked at the Echidna with interest.

"Look for?" Shadow asked her. Milagros nodded her head.

"Yes, Reala wanted me to go and fetch you. He wishes to speak with you" she said. Shadow took notice and realized that she had been crying earlier, but said nothing.

"Alright then. By the way these are Espian and Rogue. They're with me" Shadow said as he showed and introduced the two.

"Hello/Hey" Espian and Rogue said and gave her a small bow in greeting. Milagros bowed back and let them all into the cottage. Inside was different then the outside. It was super clean! Everything had place and kept in place.

"Where is Reala?" Shadow asked her. Milagros looked at him.

"Dr. Quack is looking at him now. You can see him after he's done examining Reala" Milagros said in a robotic-like tone.

"Please have a seat" she said and lead them to the couch. Shadow decided to remain standing as Milagros went into the small kitchen to bring them some drinks. Espian sat next Rogue on the couch with his arms crossed and eyes closed. This is getting frustrating….he thought. Milagros came back with a teapot and some mugs, placing them on the coffee table.

"Tea?" she asked. Everyone got a mug and Dr. Quack came down looking solemn and tired. Milagros walked up to him nervously.

"How's he doing?" she asked worryingly. Dr. Quack took her off to the side and told her in nothing more above a whisper. Milagros hands covered her face and Dr. Quack bid her good bye. When he left, Shadow walked over to her.

"Mili?" he asked her. She looked up with tears pouring out her eyes.

"Shadow…You can see him now" she said as continued crying softly. Shadow beckoned the other two to follow him and let Milagros have some time alone. They went down the hallway, to an open door way.

'KNOCK. KNOCK' Shadow knocked on the door twice and waited. No response. He was about to knock again when someone answered him.

"*cough* come in…*cough!*" a raspy voice said. Shadow opened the door more to see a red, white, and black NiGHTMaREN laying in bed there. It was none other then Reala.

"Reala" Shadow said. The NiGHTMaREN turned his head towards the ebony hedgehog. Espian looked at the NiGHTMaREN, last time he recalled he wasn't this pale or sickly looking.

"Shadow….You're here…" he strained to say. Shadow's eyebrow arched a bit, but walked over to the bedside of Reala.

"What is wrong?" Shadow asked. Reala smirked the best he could to his only companion.

"I don't have much time….." he said sadly. Reala thought for about a minute, before continuing with his last words.

"Shadow, my friend…..Quack said the poisoning reached my neuron system. *sigh* There's something I want you to do for me when I go….." Reala said. Shadow beckon to continue.

"When I die, take care of Milagros for me…." he said.

"You really love her, don't ya?"

"Heh…..she's my everything, like Amy is for you" Reala responded. He peered past Shadow and saw Espian and Rogue, he knew them. Like NiGHTS he can travel through worlds, but he decided to stay in this one because of Milagros.

"Espian and Rogue what are you guys doing here?" Reala asked as he struggled to sit up. Shadow helped up and leaned him against the bed post.

"We came to ask you of your brother NiGHTS location" Rogue asked him. Reala looked down for a moment decided to tell them, either way they were going to find out.

"NiGHTS…..is no longer allowed"

"not allowed?"

"Yes….he is forbidden to come to the world of the living" Reala told them.

"how do you know this?" Shadow asked him.

"He visited for the final time a week ago, him and his parole officer, Maria" Reala said.

"Maria?"

"Sorry, she goes as SHiDow" Reala said as suddenly a pain burn through his chest.

"So in terms, he's like dead?"

"Yea, he's never coming back….*cough!*cough!* Ever." he stated sadly. Sure he hated his brother, but family is family. NiGHTS was all he got.

"Damn…" Reala said as he laid back down on the bed. He felt death slowly taking him. He decided to wrap this up quickly so he can spend the last of his time with Milagros.

"Shadow…..I don't have much left…Please wait for a bit and send Mili in" he asked. Shadow nodded and led the two out. Shadow told them to wait outside of the room as he went to get Milagros.

"Damn…..Reala's dying and NiGHTS gone for good" Rogue said.

"Yes…..but remember our return home is not important now." Espian said as Shadow was trotting behind Milagros. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were stained with tears. Milagros went in the room alone.

"Reala?" she said as she tried her best to hide her distress. Reala beckoned her to sit on the bed next to him. She did so and held his hand, it was cold as ice.

"Mili…..I'm sorry" he said.

"Don't be…." she said as her voice broke. Reala gave her a firm squeeze and looked at her with sad eyes. The color on his face was paling and his eyes began to go dimmer each passing second.

"I don't have much Mili, but I want to spend last few minutes with you….." he said. Milagros laid down next to him.

"Please don't leave me" Milagros said as tears flowed freely.

"I don't want to….I'm sorry" he said. His eyes closed and his breath became labored and uneasy. His vision began to go black, all he could see is Milagros's eyes.

"I'll always love you…." he said. Milagros smiled and hugged him tightly.

"I'll always love you Reala" she said. He able to barely to return the hug, but did it anyway.

"Good bye Milagros" He said his final word then his body went limp as his soul left him.

"Reala?" she sat up and her dread locks cover her face as she held his head in her arms. He's gone. The Neuron-Cerebral poisoning claimed another victim, this time a NiGHTMaREN.

"REALA…" she cried freely as she lost the only being that actually loved her for who she was.

Sorry if it's short! No flames! Reala's death has a point in the plot! Relax NiGHTS will come to the story as well, he'll be back. Anyway the next chapter will be more interesting. R&R.

-Kenny.