"T-They're gone." Ryan shivers.

She suddenly remembers the mysterious figure that had rescued them, and turns just in time to see the figure trying to sneak away.

"Wait!" She called out to them.

She sees the figure freeze, then bolt through the trees.

"C'mon!" Will pursues the figure, with Helen following after grabbing Ryan's hand.

The figure sees them chasing, and starts getting frightened, the figure's path becoming erratic through the park.

The figure looks back at its pursuers.

"Lassen ... Lass mich in Ruhe!"

Because it wasn't paying attention to where it was going, the figure trips over a tree root and makes a hard fall to the ground, which knocks the wind out of it.

"Oh gosh! Are you okay?"

The figure cringes away from the three, for fear of being beaten.

"Are you hurt?" Ryan asked, worried about the being.

The figure whimpers. As she gets closer, she begins to see how the figure is filthy from most likely living out in the streets. Ragged scrapes of what was once decent clothing covers its form. Dirt, grass, and blood stains cover the once white shirt. Bandages are wrapped on the figures feet and hands.

But what strikes the dreamers as strange is the old burlap sack that covers the figure's head, with eye holes punched in and a slit for a breathing hole near the mouth.

The figure covers its head with its hands, "Tu mir nicht weh..."

Ryan wasn't sure what they said but went to comfort them. "Hey...it's okay."

The figure flinches when she sets her hand on its shoulder.

"Are you okay...?"

The figure looks warily up at Ryan through the black holes of its 'mask'.

Will and Helen comes over. "Thanks for helping us."

The figure doesn't respond, seemingly unable to understand them. As she studied the figure, Ryan notices that it looks hungry. She then remembers her leftovers from her lunch that she still has with her.

"Here it's an apple." She held out the fruit.

The figure hesitantly reaches for it. The instant its bandaged hand touches the fruit, it swiftly pulls the apple out of Ryan's hand and begins wolfing it down.

"Yeah, he was definitely hungry," Comments Will.

"I'm glad you like it."

The figure eats the whole thing, even the core, then licks its fingers through the mouth hole of the burlap potato sack covering its head. The figure then looks at Ryan, coming a little closer, "Danke, nettes Mädchen."

She smiles back, not quite sure what they said but understood the gratefulness.

"So what do we do with him now?" Asks Will, "We can't just leave the fellow here."

The figure suddenly hides behind Ryan when they hear fast footsteps approaching.

"Oh no," Utters Helen, "The gang must be back for revenge."

They are all greatly surprised when a winded Mr. Edwards runs up to them. He stops in front of them, leaning on his knees and panting, trying to rest and quickly catch his breath.

"Mister Edwards?"

"Purple Dragons..*pant, pant*..got NiGHTs...*pant*...beating him...*pant*...need rescue."

"WHAT?!"

"Come on!" Mr. Edwards starts running off again.

By now the ruckus was drawing the attention of local police as well.

Will, Helen, and Ryan soon hear the pained roars of their jester friend as they get closer. The person that rescued them from the gang follows Ryan without question.

Mr. Edwards looks ready to pass out when the group gets to a building across the street from the Purple Dragon hideout.

"You get yourself a police escort home, ," Says Will. He glances out at the building that holds the former nightmaren prisoner.

"We will rescue NiGHTs."

"Careful.."

The three dreamers nod, then sneak over to the building, their new friend swiftly following.

"Okay guys, we need a plan," Says Will.

"What about the cops? They could handle the thugs while we go to Nights."

"The police are already trying, but the thugs outnumber them 3 to 1 at least."

"We can free Night and he could help them."

"But what if NiGHTs is too injured to fight?"

"At least we have to take the chance with the gang distracted of getting him away from here."

"Guys, let's just get him out of here," Cuts in Helen, "Preferably today."

"Right, let's go," Says Will, though a bit hesitant at first in starting. The four slowly get to an open window on the far side of the building.

Passing the battle going on just nearby.

The four climb in one at a time, then make their way to the arena.

When they finally get there, what they see breaks their hearts.

Guarded by some gang members, a huge serpentine dragon in jester attire is laying down, chained to the ground in the middle of the room. A clear, sparkling ooze is seeping through its many wounds, and tears are slowly flowing from the dragon's closed eyes. Small gurgling whimpers are barely heard.

"KEEP QUIET!" Yells one of the guards as he whips the dragon's back. A roar escapes the dragon's mouth.

"Diese Monster..." Utters their new friend with a hint of anger in its voice.

Which the other understood well enough. "Let's free him."

The figure runs out, "Nehmen Sie diese!" And throws the trash can lid, which hits the first two thugs so hard, they black out.

Will runs out after the figure, and tackles into a third thug.

The other two girls go quickly to free the trapped dragon.

The figure clobbers another thug nearby before he can sound the alarm. All of them now down for the count.

Will goes over to NiGHTs with a crowbar in his hand, and prys off the muzzle from the jester dragon's mouth.

"NiGHTs, speak to me. Can you hear me?"

"~Whimper...~"

"NiGHTs, if you can hear my voice, I need you to transform back into a jester," Says Will as he tries to pull the dragon mask off NiGHTs' ace.

When he becomes aggressive and tries to snaps at Will, letting out a big snarl as he does to.

"WHOA!" Will jumps back, his face pale.

"NIGHTs! What are you doing?!" Yells Helen.

"GROWLL!"

Ryan's new found friend pull the two back out of the reach of the dragon's jaws. It then starts walking toward the dragon and stands just inches out of NiGHTs' reach.

The figure sets out its hands, showing that it is unarmed, "Es ist okay ..."

"Grrrrr..."

The figure approaches slowly.

Will, Helen, and Ryan watch in nervous anticipation.

"Es ist okay ..." The figure comes close enough for the dragon to bite him, but moves slowly and tries to look as non-threatening as possible.

The figure sets a gentle hand on the dragon's muzzle, and slowly strokes it. And he understood that the guy meant no harm and starts to relax.

Will soon hears voices in the far hallway, "Oh no. Helen! Help me barricade the door!" He starts running to the doors.

The figure doesn't stop trying to help NiGHTs calm down. His hands slowly move towards the edges of the persona mask.

Keeping the dragon focused on the stroking and nothing else.

Will and Helen bar the doors just in time, for just as they lock them, the door start warping and quaking from being beaten on by retreating thugs.

As soon as the figure's hands grasp the mask on NiGHTs face, it yanks the dragon persona off in one swift motion. This causes NiGHTs to abruptly transform back into jester form, too small for the chains that had imprisoned him. But his injuries still cover his form, and he is greatly weakened.

The jester looks up, momentarily confused, at the figure. "...re...lea...?"

The figure takes a step back, its body language conveying its confusion at NiGHTs.

"Die Nacht Jester..."

"Ugh..."

"We need to get him out of here." Will says.

"And we better do it quick!" yells Helen, "They're breaking down the doors!"

Will puts NiGHTs arm over his shoulder to support him, "Ryan, support him on the other side."

"Right." She helped him up.

"No...have to...stay, Megan..."

"No, you're coming with us, NiGHTs," Says Helen as she runs over, "You can't take much more of this."

"But I..have to..."

"Why? Do you WANT to die?"

"Megan will..."

Helen looks at NiGHTs, "Did they threaten Megan to make you do this?"

"Yes.."

"Where is she now?"

"Hospital still.."

"Helen, call Mrs. Sinclair. Tell her to get Megan to safety. Ryan, you and I are going to get NiGHTs out of here," says Will.

"What about our masked friend?" Asks Helen as she pulls out her phone.

"We will have to bring him along, too, until we can figure out what to do with him."

"Right, let's move everyone."

The five run back out the way they came, and carefully get NiGHTs out the window. Their masked buddy knocks out two more thugs as they make their escape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They don't stop until they get to August's house, where Xavier and Molly run out to them upon seeing NiGHTs' condition.

"Oh my gosh!"

"What happened?"

"The Purple Dragons blackmailed him," Answers Helen, "They threatened to hurt Megan if he didn't do what they wanted."

Xavier couldn't believe it. "Get him inside, quickly. Molly, get the First-Aid Kit."

"Right." Everyone hurries inside.