The others look at them in confusion. "Twinseed?"
Will and Helen are the most confused, not including Ryan or her mother. Claris looks to them "That where me and Elliot lived before we moved here"
"Really?"
Reala nods "We thought it would be one of the last place you'd look if you even knew about it"
"It would have been." "It would be prefect"
Will looks at the group, "We better get going then!" "I"m ready to go NiGHTS says "I'm rested enough"
"Then go, you shall," says Mr. Edwards with a chuckle.
"But I'm watching you" Molly said.
"Jackle, Reala, can you dualize?" asks Helen.
"I would figure so"
"Alright then, here's the plan. If Jackle wishes to help us, the four jesters should dualize with four of us humans, and fly off to Twinseed to take out the tower. Sound good?"
Daianala nods, "I like that idea. We won't know where to fly otherwise."
"Will you be ok?" Ryan asked Reala.
"If you would be the one to dualize with me, yes."
"There's just one problem," says NiGHTs, "We have never dualized in the Real World before."
"Well it's worth it to find out"
Reala sets his hand out to Ryan.
"Don't worry mom I'll be alright" She told her mother and took Reala's hand.
There is a flash of light, and Ryan disappears. Ryan's mother glares at Reala, "What have you done!"
Reala holds up his hands, "Calm down, Ryan and I are dualized. She is in here." He looks a little to the side, "Ryan, how are you doing?"
His eyes then move the other way and his mouth moves with Ryan's voice "Mister Reala what happened?"
"Look at your hands..." "Hey! It's your hands"
"Our hands..."
Ryan's mother stares at Reala, "R-Ryan?"
"I'm right here mom" Reala looked up at her.
Daianala and Nights look at the remaining humans, "Who wishes to join us?" "At least Claris or Elliot needs to go"
Daianala holds his hand out to Mrs. Sinclair, "Shall we?"
"We shall" She takes his hand.
Ryan sees the two dualize.
"Ok someone with Jackle and NiGHTs now"
Will looks at Jackle, "You ready?"
Molly steps up to NiGHTs.
"Yes" Jackle smiles.
Will and Molly hold out their hands to the jesters.
When Will dualizes, he looks at Jackle/his hands, "Whoa, this is so cool."
Jackle moves one and smiles "Well I guess it is. Why you hitting yourself Jackle hehehe"
"What does that mean, out of curiosity?" "Wouldn't you like to know heheh"
Reala shakes his head, "Daianala, Claris...lead the way." "We're going to fly?" Ryan asked.
Reala nods, "Don't worry..."
Daianala flies out first, followed by NiGHTs, then a giggling Jackle. Reala levitates slowly, and flies out behind the others.
Off on thier mission.
Mr. Edwards sets a hand on the mother's shoulder, "She will be alright." Helen nods.
She smiles back "Ok"
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Linda"
"Good to meet you."
"Same here"
"So, Linda," Owl glides over onto ' head, "How are you taking all of this?...It is a lot to accept in a short amount of time, I'm sure."
"Well I haven't passed out or had to sit down yet" "That is good."
"Though I till hardly belive this" Owl chuckles, "Quite understandable.
"How long has been going on?" "That depends on what you are referring to."
"Everything, those jesters, these Ideya things..."
"A long time, my dear...You see, NiGHTs, Reala, Jacke, and I are all from the night dimension...You may know it better as the world of dreams. There are two sides of this world, Nightopia and Nightmare."
"Ok ok I see where your going, go on"
"Humans like you can sometimes come to this realm, if you still have your ideya. When you are there, you are called a Visitor."
"What's Ideya?"
"Ideya are round, colored crystal orbs representing dream energy. The Nightmarens steal this energy from Visitors to further their goal of destroying Nightopia. Ideya represents the Visitor's consciousness in the Night Dimension. Every dreamer possesses five of them, at least, in the beginning."
"Ok so normally all these Nightmarens are bad?" "Three of those jesters were evil once, yes...And Nightmarens are usually evil."
Linda rubs her head "I think get it" "I am one of the Nightopians," continues Owl, "Of course I am very old to human standards."
"You make me think of my grandfather" "Your grandfather?"
"Yes, he wore a coat that had a pocket watch. You would of gotten along very well" "Hmmm.."
"Ryan's going to alright, right?" "As long as they do not run into the deep nightmares."
"I hope she will be ok"
...
"WHOOHOOO!" Ryan does a few back flips and twirls, "This is amazing!"
"I think your making Reala dizzy" NiGHTS smiles.
"On the contrary..." Reala flashes a toothy grin, "I am having more fun than I thought possible. I can see why you like humans, NiGHTs."
NiGHTS beams.
His sibling was finally experiencing the joy of friendship. He though this day would never come.
All he could do was think about it before.
Daianala watches the two jesters, as he and Mrs. Sinclair fly a little above them "Glad to see them together?" She asked.
He nods, "This is better than some of the dark ideas I had."
"I bet"
"Believe me, helping the guy that took my life away...wasn't easy."
"Well I'm proud of you" "Huh?"
"You did a good thing for him" "I guess you're right."
She smiles.
"So...how far from our destination are we?" " A mile"
Daianala smirks, "Who wants a race?" "I do" Jackle says.
"I guess we could race," answers Reala.
All three look at NiGHTs, waiting for his answer.
He smiles "Go!" And shoots off in a flash.
"He-hey! No fair!" Daianala shoots after him, blue jetwalls streaming from his shoulder blade boosters.
Reala grins, and flies off after them. Will watches this, "C'mon, Jackle! Let's put those guys to shame!"
"See nothing yet kid" Jackle cackles and races after.
Daianala, NiGHTs, and Reala are flying around each other, trying to gain the lead against one another.
"Heheheheheh"
Suddenly, the three of them see a huge playing card spin into appearance, with the image of a grinning Jackle on the front. The image becomes the real Jackle, and the outline of the card spins back into nothingness.
Jackle grins at them as he flies backwards, "A children's card game." Then he waves "Bye bye"
He flies ahead of them.
All three dualized beings just stare.
Daianala's eyes flash red, his competitive streak emerging, "Oh no you don't!" He zooms off after him.
Jackle just smiled and kept going.
Molly, dualized with NiGHTs, sees their destination in the distance. "That's it right?"
Ryan sees it, "I-I think so."
"Let's be careful"
Reala chuckles, "Tell that to Mr. Giggles and Speed Racer..."
That makes Jackle luagh more.
Daianala huffs.
"I have a plan in case of Nightmarens" NiGHTS said.
Nights, "What is your plan?"
"Reala carrys me to the tower, since they don't know about him. He can pretend he beat me, lost his mask and they would let him in"
Reala thinks, then closes his eyes and nods, "Sounds like a plan."
Will, dualized with Jackle, nods his head, "Meanwhile, Jackle and Daianala can watch the perimeter, and fight off any outside threats."
Daianala looks at NiGHTs, "We will have to remove those bandages, and get you two a bit dirty to make it look convincing." He looks at Reala, "And you need to take off that cape."
Reala takes it off "Of course"
Ryan is a bit disappointed.
Daianala helps NiGHTs get the 'beat-up' look. Then they do a bit to Reala as well.
"Okay, Jackle, what do you think?" asks Daianala.
"It will do, but you both need to act the part as well"
Reala grabs Nights arm, and slowly tightens his grip. His face turns dark and his eyes become cold, revealing the Nightmaren General once more. "Ryan, no matter what happens, you must be very quiet..."
"Ok, I promise"
Reala glares at NiGHTs, "Start struggling..." Which he does.
Reala flies up to the tower's secret entrance, a satisfied grin on his face
"L-lord Reala your ok" The lower nightmarens stuttered.
Reala's grin fades into a dark scowl as he sees that the Nightmarens are the same ones from the last tower. They had left him for dead, fleeing for their own lives.
"OF COURSE I"M OKAY, YOU PATHETIC IMBECILES! NO THANKS TO YOU!" He backhands one of them, and pins another to the wall, "I should report you for SLAKING OFF and letting the worthless Visitors save NiGHTs!" He begins to choke the Nightmaren, "I had to go hunt him down while you played hookie!"
He releases the gasping Nightmaren. "But since you were smart enough to come guard this tower from the Visitors, I will let all of you live...Though if you fail me again, I will not hold back in my punishments."
"W-we promise to do better Lord Reala"
"See that you do..." Reala's voice drips with a poisonous tone.
He then floats off, with NiGHTs still struggling weakly in his grip, to the power room. He releases him and flies over to the power grid without a word.
He starts messing with it. He flips a switch, and the tower deactivates. He then drive a pipe into the offline machine to make it look like NiGHTs destroyed it.
"We need to go before it blows"
Reala is very quiet, "Run NiGHTs...as if your life depended on it."
"Then come on"
Reala whirls around, looking very angry, and charges at him, "DIE!"
NiGTHS leaps backwards in the air "Reala quite fooling around"
He then hears voices behind him. Reala grabs the distracted NiGHTs, and twists his hands behind his back, forcing him to face towards the door. A couple small Nightmarens along with the dream boss, Charmelan, are watching them. Somehow, Reala knew they were there.
Now NiGHTS understood why Reala wanted him to leave.
Reala growls at NiGHTs, "I'll deal with you later."
He looks at the chameleon wizard, "Evacuate the Nightmarens from this world before the portals close. That is an order." Charmelan giggles, then flies off with the other Nightmarens.
Reala relaxes, releasing NiGHTs when they are gone.
"Now we should get out of here"
Reala nods, "You fly out first. I will 'chase' you." "Ok" So NiGHTS flies out
The tower explodes just as Reala gets out. He winces, feeling the burning heat on his back, "Hold on, Ryan!" He crashes through some trees, and into a lake.
Will, dualized with Jackle, sees what happened, "C'mon Jackle, let's give them a hand."
So both fly down to assist...The dualized mad jester helps pull the red jester to the lake edge.
In a swift movement, Reala undualizes from Ryan, sparing her the pain he is in. "Are you alright?" He asks her, ignoring his injuries.
"I-I'm fine"
"Where's NiGHTs?"
"Stuck in that tree over there" Jackle ponits, the purple jester was wedged between two branches.
"I got it," says Daianala, floating over to the stuck jester.
He and Mrs. Sinclair both are trying not to laugh at how ridiculous NiGHTs looks, "A-Are...*snicker* Are you two...*giggle* Are you two okay? *stifled laugh*"
"Yea ha ha we look funny" NiGHTS pouts a bit "Sooorry I have more hip then anyone else here"
Daianala puts a hand to his face, trying to stop his laughter from escaping, "And, *wheeze, snicker* A-And what is that...Oh gosh *giggle* supposed to mean? *chuckle*"
"Nothing help me out"
"Alright, alright." Daianala, using his artificial strength, bends the thick branches so NiGHTs could wriggle free.
"Thanks"
After NiGHTs gets free, Daianala falls to the ground laughing. He laughs so hard, that he and Mrs. Sinclair split apart.
"Hey no more need to luagh"
Daianala tries to get a hold of himself, "So-Soharry, NiGHTs!...*laugh* I-It was just too...*snicker* funny!"
"Then let's stick you in teh tree"
Daianala sees the dualized jester come closer, "Wait! Wait!" he gets up and levitates behind Mrs. Sinclair.
NiGHTs smiles.
Mrs. Sinclair rolls her eyes, "Boys..."
Meanwhile, Reala is resting in the shallows of the lake, trying to sooth the burn on his back.
He whinces alittle.
He feels a damp cloth being gently set on his back. He opens his eyes, and looks over his shoulder, "R-Ryan..."
She smiles "It looks like it hurts"
He looks back down at the water, "I'm sorry you had to see my old self once more..." He winces as she moves the soothing cloth.
"It's ok"
He just lays there, "I guess...in a way...I am the Phantom..." "How?"
"I am very troubled..." "Oh"
"...What will I do when Wiseman gets wise to what I've done?..." "I guess you'll find out when you get there"
He winces again. After a little while, he falls asleep for the first time.
"Everyone else ok?"
NiGHTs/Molly is chasing Daianala around, and Jackle is polishing his cards, with Will helping. Mrs. Sinclair looks at them and nods, "I think everyone is fine."
Ryan smiles.
They hear something that sounds like thunder above in the sky. "Is that a storm?"
"No, look!" They see a portal beginning to close.
"What is it?"
Daianala grins, "With the towers gone, there is nothing to keep the portals opened."
"Whoa"
Soon, all of the portals close...or so they think.
There is one portal hidden over the pacific ocean...leading to the front doorstep of Nightmare Castle...And Wisemen
"We should probably head back to the others." "Let's, Reala needs help with his back"
"Right," says Mrs. Sinclair. She and Daianala dualize once more, and the robotic jester picks up Reala from the shallow waters. "Nights, could you carry Ryan?"
"I can." He picks her up. The group soon is on it's way back to the hospital.
Meanwhile...Charmelan, the chameleon magician, floats through the dark halls of Nightmare Castle to the throne room. "Master...Master Wiseman."
"What is it Charmelan?"
"I wish no offence to you, Master, but how long has it been since Reala gave you a report?"
"He has not since just after he came back from the dream world tower collapse"
"I saw him at the Waking world tower, just before it exploded. He had NiGHTs in custody after the purple traitor sabotaged the power grid...Master, Reala didn't have his mask of loyalty..."
"Are you sure it means anything"
"Yes, as a Nightmaren of mind tricks and illusions, I sensed something odd about the general...And, may I point out, Master, that he never goes this long without giving you a report, especially if he lost his mask."
"Then I want you and Clawz to look into this further"
"Consider it done, Master..." He lets out one of his giggles, and disappears in a swing of his cape.
Meanwhile with the heroes...
NiGHTs treats Reala's burns, so the poor doctors don't have to.
"Thank you NiGHTS" Ryan, as a good friend, stays by his side the entire time.
With her mom as well. Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Sinclair, Will, and Helen have gone home. Jackle, Molly, and Owl decided to stick around.
Daianala scans the bandaged wound, "It should heal within a few days."
"That's good"
Not liking to see her friend in pain, Ryan goes to her medical bed and grabs a big, fluffy object from under the covers.
She then walks back over to Reala's bed, "Here, you can hold my raccoon, Booboo."
She sets it next to him, "He helps me feel better when I am hurt or sick, but I think you need him more right now."
Reala looks the raccoon and gently picks it up in one hand.
The stuffed animal is soft to the touch, and helps the red jester forget his pain as he rubs his fingers through its fake fur.
"See?" Ryan beams.
Reala smiles, "Thank you..."
"Your very welcome"
Meanwhile, over the Pacific Ocean, Claws is clinging to Charmelan's tail for dear life. Charmelan is struggling to keep his altitude, "You big coward! Could you stand to stop eating those large rats and lose a little weight?!"
"Sozzy I don't like water at all, why did the portal have to be here?"
"I think it is a perfect spot. No one will notice it out here. Now, quit fidgitting! We should be over dry land by nightfall if we keep heading west."
"Then let me sit on your hat or something"
Charmelan looks down at Claws like he's crazy, "You oaf! You are not a kitten! You are too big to sit on my hat! And I am not going to let you claw up my attire."
"Then go faster" "Sorry, chubby, this is as fast as I can go."
"I'm not chubby" "Then suck in your gut for ideyas sake!" "Fine!"
Soon after nightfall, they find themselves over Asian soil. Charmelan lets Claws down, panting, "Now, I get to rid your flea-bitten hide...splendid..."
"I do not have fleas" "Just let me get on your back."
"Fine"
Meanwhile, Daianala is sitting on the roof of the hospital, watching the first stars come out as the sun went down. He looks at his metal hand. Just thinking...
He closes his eyes as a flashback fills his mind. "..."
~~~~~
"Goodnight, Mom."
"Good night sweety"
Xavier falls asleep, and appears at the Dream Gate fountain, "Good evening, Owl." Owl nods to him in greeting "Good evening Xavier "
"Any Nightmaren raids? Or any word from our friend?"
"Nothing"
"Must be a quiet night tonight, then," Admits Xavier. "So, have anything you need me to do?"
"Well...nothing comes to mind" "Then I guess we can hang out tonight," Says Xavier smiling.
"How have you been lately?" "Well, I am very excited," Xavier beams, "My baby sister is having her first birthday in two days."
Owl smiles back "That's very good news"
"I know...and someday, I'll bring her here to meet you and...our friend." "I'm sure that would make his day"
"Heh heh, yeah, it would..." He falls quiet, "Hey, Owl?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever felt...like something terrible was going to happen to you?" "So you mean like a sense of foreboding?"
"Yeah, a chill down your spine..." "Then I would have to agree with you, I have felt something brewing lately"
"Maybe I should talk to our friend?". Owl nods "That's what I would suggest"
"Alright," Xavier walks to the Castle Grounds dream door, "See ya later, Mister Great Horned Owl."
"My name is not-"
Xavier shuts the door shaking his head, "What a character..."
Anyway he starts walking...Listening for the sound of a dream flute. It takes about five minutes before he heard it faintly... "Time to pay the pied piper a visit."
Xavier soon spots the jester, and pounces on him from behind, "I gotcha!"
"Hello!"
"How are you, NiGHTs?"
The purple jesters smiles "I'm fine, you?" "I actually came to ask you if Wiseman is planning anything."
NiGHTs looks to the side "There's been some talk about some experiment but I haven't heard very much"
"What kind of experiment ? Tell me everything." "Well I don't know everything but Wisemen found something, a funny stone of some sorts"
"Could it be a weird type of ideya?" "I have no idea" NiGHTs shrugged.
"Heh, It's probably just some dumb old rock." "Probably " The jester laughs.
"Man," Xavier lays on the ground with his hands behind his head, "I really wish you could meet my little sister." "She's going to be one right?"
"Yep," Says a proud Xavier, "I wouldn't miss that day for the world."
...The memory gets fuzzy and full of static...
It soon clears up, Xavier finds himself walking home from school, "Not only is it my sister's birthday tomorrow, it is also a Saturday, so I get to play with her all day." He smiles, "I wounder what Mom and Dad have planned."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NiGHTS looks up "Aw, I'm being beckoned" He gets up "I'll see you later right?"
Reala watches him, "Right...just don't lose that mask, alright?"
NiGHTs grumbles, he's been on his case since he got back "Yea yea I know"
Reala watches him fly off, "Somehow, I doubt that..." He floats inside, "Master, you wished to see me?"
"Yes I do Reala, are we near the end of preparation?"
"For this experiment of yours, yes. The next move is all yours."
"Then procede"
Reala flies over to where the blue stone is being kept, and brings it to Wiseman, "Soon, we will be rid of that meddlesome Visitor."
"Very soon..."
Meanwhile, Xavier is just crossing a calm river, "Nothing could ruin my day," he beams.
Things were as prefect as could be.
What he doesn't notice is a weird reflection on the river's surface. A jester and a hand begin to emerge from it. Till it snacthes his leg.
"Wha-What the-?!" he falls over, trying to get free, "R-Reala?!"
"Aw did I scare you? Good"
"I-Impossible! I-I can't be asleep!" He notices that Reala is dragging him into the portal, "No! I can't! M-Molly!"
"You can't fight me dreamer, your meddling is at a end." Xavier struggles in vain, "AHHHH!" His last cry echoes across the landscape as the portal closes.
The Visitor is more frightened than he ever was before, and his heart stops when he sees the monster behind all of the Night Dimension's woes, "W-Wiseman!"
"So...your the little one that dares to try and unite dreamers aginst me?"
"Y-Yes, I am. I am Xavier Daniels."
Wisemen luaghs softly "Not for much longer, Reala the honor is yours"
"Yes, Master."
"E-Even if you destroy me, NiGHTs and the others will stop you-!" He puts a hand over his mouth.
"NiGHTS?"
Xavier's eyes widen, No, what have I done?!
Reala chuckles, "Looks like he is eager to be on our side. Thanks for the information, 'comrade'."
The red jester then straps him onto a weird looking table. Xavier struggles with all of his might.
Wisemen orders Jackle a orange jester and large cat Clawz to go and bring NiGHTS here. "Leave NiGHTs alone!" Xavier continues to struggle.
"Go Jackle and Clawz"
Xavier begins to cry, "NiGHTs...forgive me..."
"Such pathetic emotions, you won't need them when I'm through with you."
Reala activates the machine. It is small at first, but quickly, the pain becomes unbearable, as Xavier's ideya is taken from him.
"Now for part two"
Wiseman sets one of his hands over the the two, and Reala closes his eyes, concentrating. With Wiseman's magic and Reala to guide it, Xavier begins to feel himself transform.
His blood turns cold, and dies in his veins, and his body begins to feel stiff. W-What are they doing to me?! Am-AM I dying?! No! NO!
Xavier screams.
~~~~~
"Xavier!"
"Wha-!" Daianala feels himself being shaken back into reality. He finds a pair of very familiar eyes staring at his, "M-Molly?..."
"You were thrashing around, I was really worried"
Daianala is shaking like a leaf. Without a second's thought, he hugs her close, "M-Molly..."
"Are you ok?"
"...N-No..."
"Can you tell me?" "I...I...the day...I vanished..."
"It's ok your here now"
Daianala is shivering terribly, "I-I missed...your birthday..." Molly hugs back "Sush it's ok"
"I'm a horrible big brother..."
"No your not" Daianala buries his face into her shoulder.
And his sister hugs him as tight as she could.
Reala sees this from his window, and he turns his head to look away. His fault...
It was his fault. Never before had he felt such guilt, but as he thought about all that he had done, he felt as if he was being crushed. Not by Wiseman, but something much more powerful.
He almost wished he could forget...but then he might make the same mistakes again.
"What do I do?" He asks to the ceiling. Knowing he won't get an answer, he puts a pillow over his head, and hugs Booboo close to him.
As if it would know.
