Chapter 13
"So how'd it go, NiGHTS?" Reala asked as his little sister emerged from Wizeman's chambers.
NiGHTS blinked, still stunned by the fact that she had come out of her encounter with her Master in one piece. "Huh?" she asked.
"Did Master Wizeman like it?" Reala said, his eyes searching NiGHTS' for any hints. The younger just nodded. "So what happened to the light?"
NiGHTS blinked in confusion, still dazed.
"Hello, Nightmare to NiGHTS," Reala said, quickly waving one of his clawed hands in front of NiGHTS' face, "Anyone there?"
NiGHTS blinked a few more times, then looked Reala in the eye. "Sorry," she said, "I guess I got a little spacey there. Yeah, I think Wize- er, Master Wizeman liked it. He told me to go get the rest of the level ones then head back to him."
"You want me to help you with that, then?" Reala asked. NiGHTS thought for a second, then shook her head.
"No, Ree. I would like to do this on my own."
"Okay, then. I'll wait here since I already know what's going on."
"Thanks, Ree," NiGHTS said.
"For what?" Reala asked, puzzled.
"Everything," NiGHTS replied as she took off.
NiGHTS flew slowly, thinking over how to address each of her siblings- especially Edmond. Part of her decision was made for her when Moth and Bud flew up to meet her.
"Master Wizeman wishes to see us?" the older Nightmaren asked, looking NiGHTS straight in the eyes. NiGHTS nodded.
"C'mon then, NiGHTS," Bud said, reaching for NiGHTS' hand to drag her back in the direction of Wizeman's chambers.
"Bud," Moth said before NiGHTS could object, "NiGHTS has to go collect our siblings. Let her to her task." Bud's face fell.
"Okay," he said, hanging his head and floating slowly towards his Master's chambers.
"He'll be fine," Moth commented, flying slowly after Bud. NiGHTS flew to the door with the yellow crystal first, both because it was closer, and because she would prefer having Medea with her when she went to go collect Edmond.
NiGHTS rapped her knuckles on the door as hard as she could, and within half a minute Medea's golden form appeared in the doorway, her head cocked to one side.
"What is it, NiGHTS?" she asked.
"Master Wizeman wants to tell us something."
"Like what?"
"I'm not sure-" NiGHTS pulled the Ideya from within- "But it's got to do with this light."
Medea's eyes shone greedily as the golden light emerged.
"Don't even think about it," NiGHTS snapped, temper ignited as she returned the Ideya.
"But-"
"Reala got the same flicker in his eyes- don't think I didn't notice."
"So what should I do?" Medea asked. NiGHTS thought for a second. She wanted some form of support when facing Edmond, but then again, she wouldn't mind the chance to show him her superiority alone.
Go by yourself, Instinct said, You'll be better off alone.
Take Medea along, Conscious cried, You'll have her to cover your back.
What if she turns on you? Instinct asked, She has the same glimmer in her eyes.
If you don't trust her, how can you trust Edmond? Or that thing masquerading as Reala?
"Just head to Master Wizeman's chambers with the others. I've gotta go get Edmond," NiGHTS said, taking off for the door with the orange crystal. A loud, challenging tap on his door, and Edmond appeared.
"What do you want, NiGHTS?" the Nightmaren asked with a bored tone. NiGHTS hovered out of his reach, and took the golden Ideya from within herself. The former prince acted uninterested, but NiGHTS saw in his eyes the hungry sparkle that her other siblings had had.
"Master Wizeman wishes to speak with all of us," NiGHTS said, still holding the Ideya a tantalizing distance from Edmond.
"Fine," he said, turning as if to return to his room. NiGHTS made like she was going to return the light, when Edmond ripped around and lunged for her. The thief-Nightmaren was ready for him, lifting up one of her pink-and-purple boots and landing a strong kick straight into her sibling's chest. He flew backwards into his room with a loud crashing noise accompanying him, and NiGHTS quickly replaced the Ideya before he tried to take it again.
The former prince stumbled out of his room, one arm bent in a funny direction. NiGHTS grinned as she hovered above her temporarily-grounded sibling.
"Y'know, Ed," she said, "if you don't know jack squat about fighting, you shouldn't try taking on someone who had to fight to survive all her life."
Edmond scowled up at her, clutching his bad arm with his good hand. "I'll keep that in mind," he growled, walking in the direction of the monstrous double doors that led to Wizeman's chambers.
NiGHTS didn't see too much reason in adding loads more insult to the injury, so she flew to where her other siblings were assembled, making as fancy as a patter as she could, hoping that Edmond watched her graceful and complicated flight.
When NiGHTS finally landed, the first thing she noticed was Bud laughing hard as he hovered in mid-air.
"That was great, NiGHTS," Bud said, bursting out into a sinister-yet-juvenile cackle.
NiGHTS grinned, looking over to see the faint smile on Reala's face. Medea's face was slightly worried as she looked at the approaching, orange-clad figure, but only slightly. The former princess sighed.
"He asked for it, didn't he, NiGHTS?" Medea asked.
"He shouldn't've tried it," NiGHTS said, shrugging, then adding, "Aw, hell, he shouldn't even've thought about it." Medea smiled a little at this.
"I don't think Master Wizeman will approve of this, NiGHTS," Moth commented calmly, her face neutral and blank.
"Well, the Master just told me to show you guys," NiGHTS said, "He never said anything about giving it to anyone."
"Show us what, NiGHTS?" Bud asked, straightening up.
"Yes, NiGHTS," Moth added, "You have yet to show either Bud or myself your prize. May we see it?"
No! both Conscious and Instinct roared.
It's not theirs! Instinct insisted.
She's just trying to provoke you. Get you in trouble. Don't take her bait, Conscious added sagely.
NiGHTS removed the Ideya partially, then quickly returned it.
"That wasn't a very good look," Bud whined, his eyes shining with the same brand of craving as the others.
"C'mon, NiGHTS," Moth cooed darkly, "Don't you trust us? We won't try anything."
The purple Nightmaren looked around at the creatures around her. Where's Wizeman when you need him? she groaned inwardly to herself, desperately hoping for an out. It came in the form of Edmond.
"Are you all going to stand around and stare at NiGHTS," the former prince growled, "or are we going to go in and have Master Wizeman explain what that thing is, and why it turns us into vicious animals?"
Edmond limped over to the doors, and shoved one of them open with his good shoulder, then stepped inside. NiGHTS followed quickly behind him, and dropped to her knee beside him. She felt Bud on her other side, and heard the other three on the far side of him.
NiGHTS sensed two of the great hands in front of her and her siblings, and imagined the gigantic eyes scrutinizing them.
"Edmond, what has happened to you? Your arm is broken, and your leg is deeply cut," Wizeman said, although NiGHTS was sure he was simply asking for confirmation rather than because he just didn't know at all.
"I tried to take the light that NiGHTS had when she knocked on my door, and she kicked me straight into a chair."
"Is this true, NiGHTS?"
"I didn't mean to kick him into a chair, Master Wizeman," NiGHTS replied defensively.
"It was my own folly, Master Wizeman," Edmond said, "I have little experience with battle, and NiGHTS was defending something of hers."
"It's Master Wizeman's," NiGHTS said quietly.
"I will take the Ideya now, NiGHTS," Wizeman said after a moment of contemplation, lowering one of his hands to NiGHTS' level. The purple Nightmaren once again removed the golden Ideya from within her being, and, raising her head slightly so she could see what she was doing, placed it on her Master's hand.
Wizeman rolled the spherical light onto the palm of his giant hand, and clenched it into his fist, then opened the hand to reveal nothing but his eye.
"All of you are attracted to the light that the Ideya give off," Wizeman said, "It is only natural that you would fight each other for it. However, you will work together to obtain them for me. NiGHTS, tell your siblings where you found it."
If NiGHTS had had a throat, she would have gulped. But, as it was, she merely said, "I found a girl out in Nightmare, she had the light, and I took it. Simple as that."
"Weren't there more lights, NiGHTS?" Wizeman prodded, keeping the unwilling Nightmaren in the spotlight.
"There was a red one, but I couldn't quite get it. I- I hesitated, and the girl disappeared."
Edmond snickered beside her.
"I'd like to see you do better, Ed," NiGHTS growled, glaring at him. He caught the look, but said nothing.
"NiGHTS," Wizeman said, "I'd you will go out on your own, since you seem to work better by yourself. Go to where you found this girl. I am sure she was near my borders. Medea, you will go with Reala up to the northern reaches. Bud, you and Edmond will go to the deserts. Follow NiGHTS until you reach them, then search the wastelands. Moth, you will stay here, keeping an eye out for and on your siblings. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Master Wizeman," the six level-one Nightmaren said in unison.
"To your tasks, then."
AN: Yay! My B-day's next week, and hopefully, I'll be able to have this finished/close to finished...