NiGHTS of Dreams: The First
Pain.
Pain.
That was all there was.
Pain.
Gripping him.
Entering him.
Destroying him.
Devouring him.
He forgot what little he knew.
He now knew nothing.
Except that face. That horrible, smiling face.
And a notion.
Keep moving.
Move.
Run.
Run.
That's what he had to do now. Keep running. Run from the pain. Run from the darkness.
Light.
Warmth.
That was ahead. That was his goal.
Run.
Run.
Run…
-break-
Metal ran. From what he wasn't sure. He just ran. He couldn't think. He didn't look in front of him. He didn't look behind him. He just couldn't see. He ran.
As such, it was no surprise to him that in his blind running he tripped over a stone wall and fell into a pool of water. Metal gasped and found that he couldn't breathe. He swam up, trying to get a hold of the precious air his lungs craved.
Metal shot out of the water, grabbing at the wall he had previously tripped on. He gasped and pulled himself over, flopping onto the ground, letting his body get the air it was craving and the water drip from his fur.
Metal was suddenly confused. Fur? Breathing? Air?
What happened?
Metal looked at his black gloved hands. They were hands made of flesh. He raised his head and looked at the rest of his body. Yes. The body he had only seen in his dreams. Considering his memory, that's what he concluded this to be.
A dream.
Nothing more than an illusion. Crud. This one sure was vivid, though. He could actually feel his fur this time, which was nice.
Metal stood up and squeezed the water out of his head quills. He looked at the water and at his reflection. He smiled. If only he could show his friends. Then he noticed something in the water. He reached out and took it, hardly believing what it was. It appeared to be the top half of his metallic face. He turned it over in his hands, taking notice of its shortened details. It was like half a mask. It would only cover the top half of his dream face. It was his… personae. That was the best word for it.
Metal put the mask away and looked around for the first time. He was in a forest. It was bright out. A sun shone brightly above the tall trees. There was a cobblestone road which led in two directions, one to an iron gate that was wide open and one to nowhere, with the fountain in the middle. There were six doorways simply sitting around without doors in them.
"What a strange place," Metals said to himself. "I wonder why I would dream of a place like this."
"Hoo, hoo!" Metal suddenly heard someone call. Metal turned around and saw an owl. It was funny though. Despite having a vest and glasses, this owl looked more like a regular owl than one with actual opposable thumbs.
"My, we haven't had a Visitor for quite some time!" the owl said, somehow sounding old and young at the same time. "You must be truly confused about where you are right now."
Metal absentmindedly looked around. "Not really. This is a dream and you're a character in it. There isn't much to it."
The owl raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But aren't you amazed by how vivid this dream is?"
"Nope," said Metal as he took in a great big breath, enjoying what he believed to be the smell of pine needles.
"Not in the slightest?"
"Not at all. All my dreams are vivid. Though I hardly ever have dreams in the first place." Metal began to walk, and the owl followed.
"But, dear Visitor, this is so much more than a simple dream. You're in the Dream Gate, the place directly between the waking world, the dreaming world, and one's deepest self. Surely you can't have ever been here before!"
Metal examined a door-less doorway, running his fingers over it. This was a strange dream. "No, can't say that I have, actually. But when next I dream, I will be far away and you'll simply be a sadly forgotten memory. It's too bad, though. You seem like such an intellectual fellow."
The owl's beak somehow smiled. "Why, thank you, visitor. Well, if I cannot convince you otherwise, then why not-" the rest of his words were muffled.
Metal turned around, and raised a brow in curiosity. Now holding the old owl in an almost ninja style grip was what Metal could only describe as an evil jester. The jester wore red boots and fingerless gloves, and a red and black striped jester ha that only had two tendrils instead of the usual three. He wore a black belt and a red, jester type vest. His skin was a pale white, and from what Metal could tell, the jester had no other clothes on, though it appeared his powerful legs were like pants. If that were the case, it was hard to tell where skin began and clothes ended. Its face was very eerie to Metal. It had big, cat-like eyes that were a dark turquoise, and thick black lips. Or was that lipstick? It had no nose, no ears, and the caller it wore made it appear that if it took it off, it would have no neck. Upon its face it wore a golden half-mask with a purple jewel between the eyeholes. It also had a sparkling purple medallion on a golden chain around its neck. And it was floating, but that was hardly a surprise to Metal.
Metal could not tell if it was male or female. But the lips and pink fingernails led in a female direction.
"Not this time, you old fool," the jester said.
Holy shit, it was a guy. Why would Metal's warped mind make this thing?
"This one is coming directly to Master Wizeman," the jester said as he tossed the owl away like trash, and in a split second he appeared behind Metal, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back so as to keep him from moving. Metal yelled out in pain. He had only experienced pain in his dreams, and it seemed so horrible an experience that he sometimes wondered if his quest was worth it.
"So where are you taking me, clown?" asked Metal with a forced grin. He struggled, but his arm simply hurt more.
"Do not mock me!" the jester yelled. "I am Reala, your second worst nightmare."
"My second worst, eh? What could my worst be then?" Though Metal said this with a joking air, he was wondering what exactly he meant.
"Don't play with me, Sonic the Hedgehog," said the apparent Reala into Metal's ear. "Wizeman speaks of you from time to time and of how much hate he has for you."
Metal gagged a little as Reala wrapped an arm around his neck. Metal was certainly curious now. His mind had created quite the scenario. Reala flew out and over the Dream Gate, and now, Metal realized, the Gate was a large rock floating over an abyss of darkness. And Reala held him right over it.
"Wizeman will be most pleased to see you again," Reala hissed, and let go. And Metal realized something. At this point, he would have accidentally 'woken up'. But this was in real time, he noticed. He could count the seconds as he fell. Perhaps this was a little bit more than a dream. Perhaps his mind had been transported to a magical world that is a manifestation of the phrase 'dreams are seldom all they seem' and reflects a world that resembles his world, but in metaphors.
Or maybe he was just being over thinking it.
Whatever the case, he did not care. He was falling at high speeds towards what looked like either a bottomless pit or a ground shrouded in darkness. And soon the darkness swallowed him whole.
The next thing he knew he was floating within an alter/thrown room sort of place. It was even worse than falling. All of Metal's fears, it felt, were all forced into this vile place and were consuming him. He was too afraid to take notice specifically of what and where anything was. All he knew was that there was a thrown in the center.
"Scared?" Reala asked as he suddenly appeared behind Metal. Metal gave a yelp and tried to turn around, but whatever force was holding up was also holding him still.
"Master Wizeman," said Reala as he bowed next to Metal and holding his arms out as if to present him. "I have brought you… Sonic the Hedgehog."
If Metal was terrified before, now he was practically a corpse, as in, scared stiff. From the darkness a false light shone, and from this light came the source of all the fear. A robe arose from nothing, and slowly features, if they could be called that, appeared. A helmet made of metallic silver that was in a near perfect shape of a human head was on top of the robe, right between where the robe curved as if there were shoulders. The helmet had a frowning 'mouth' of sorts, but that was the only life like feature it had. Its head was covered in pin-like spikes that curved in a thunder bolt like fashion. There were no eyes holes, and no arms. But it still had eyes and hands.
The eyes and hands were one in the same. But there was triple these things. Six silver metal hands floated in a sacred like ring, a large purple eye in each hand staring at Metal.
"Reala!" a mighty voice boomed. "How do you know of this Sonic I have craven for?"
Reala, it seemed, had lost his cool edge of confidence against this nearly indescribable being. "I… heard you speak of him in your mutterings…"
One of the giant hands shot forward, and Metal felt a surge of heat that seemed like it could melt the sun hit him. The eye, not changing in emotion, if any was there at all, stared straight at Reala.
"How dare you listen to my mutterings, Reala!" The apparent voice of this 'Wizeman' yelled.
Reala bowed his head, his eyes closing. "Forgive me, Master" Reala begged. "But your mutterings were… rather loud."
"Then cover your ears!"
"I don't have ears…"
There was a pause. "Then how do you hear?"
"With all due respect, sire, you made me. Shouldn't you know?"
There was another pause. "…Be silent Reala!" The hand that was close to Metal began to examine him, and Metal felt as if something was digging and clawing through his soul. This was definitely more than a dream.
"This is not Sonic…" Wizeman said, sounding almost disappointed.
Reala looked shocked. "But he must be! He fits your description perfectly. A confident remark in the face of danger, a look of absolute courage until in the face of death, he's even got all his Ideya! Surely it must be him!"
"For once, Reala, I do not blame you for this mistake. This Visitor is similar to Sonic to a fault. But it is not him. Sonic is far more tormented than this being. This one's consciousness is far stronger. But you have done well, Reala. This being shall please me as I crush him and take his Ideya. It will be nearly the same as destroying that pathetic hedgehog."
Reala grinned and moved aside as the metallic hand came closer to Metal, and Metal struggled to move, to fly.
"I need to wake up" Metal whispered to himself. "I am a robot. I can just turn myself back on right…?"
Right.
-break-
Metal's eyes flared on in a flash and he fell on top of the soft mass that was Sarsar, his newest faithful companion. Metal looked around him frantically. He was in the same room as before, with Tails and Jet having fallen asleep in the middle of their game. Mephiles was still playing, with Iblis sitting near him and watching the screen intently, though they had stopped to look at Metal.
"Are you alright?" asked Mephiles after he had paused.
"Yeah, yeah" said Metal as he pushed himself off of the thick coat of Sarsar. Metal was surprised the mighty beast has not woken up from the hit. "No more Final Fantasy before shutting down for the night…" Metal turned around to head to his garage spot.
Mephiles went back to playing the game. "This Cloud guy is awesome. But I'm confused: is he a science project gone wrong, or is Sephiroth?"
Iblis shrugged.
-break-
Again, Metal was walking through the Dream Gate. What was he doing back here? Perhaps there was more to this place than he had originally imagined.
"Hey, owl guy!" Metal called.
Metal heard the flapping of wings, and a frazzled looking owl came from the forest grove.
"Visitor, you're alive! You're here! How did you get out of that horrible Nightmare pit unscathed?"
Metal blinked. "I just woke up."
"Woke up? But how? A Visitor has never been able to simply walk between the two worlds on command. The awakers must do that for them."
"I'm not a normal Visitor, I believe," Metal said as he placed a hand on his chin. "I don't think this is just a dream anymore. Can you tell me where I am and what's going on?"
The owl nodded and sat on a wooden perch that seemed just for him. Metal sat on the ground and listened.
"This place, as I've said, is a gateway between several different planes of existence. The being you saw was Reala, a nightmare, or a Nightmaren as they are called here. He was made, like so many other horrible creatures, by the nightmare master Wizeman the Wicked."
"Wizeman." Metal repeated. "He's a great big robe with metal hands, right?"
The owl's eyes widened. "You saw him?"
"He nearly got me. He said he wanted all my 'Ideya', and Reala said something about having all of them with me."
The owl blinked. "You are a Visitor of many surprises. Usually Visitors are lucky to just have one Ideya. I could see why Reala would want you… Sonic, was it?"
Metal frowned. But as he felt that, he smiled two seconds afterward, enjoying letting someone know how he felt without words. "No. A case of mistaken identity on his part. I am Metal," Metal introduced.
The owl nodded. "And I am Owl. How nice it is to meet you."
"Owl?"
"What? It's a very common name."
Metal scratched his head. That was true, in a sense.
Before Metal could make a statement about this fact, he heard a sweet melody. It was being played on a flute. And for some reason, Metal knew the words. He sung them as he closed his eyes.
"In the night… tender light… I want to see you standing there…
In the night… hold me tight… I want someone who really cares." Metal opened his eyes. "Where is that delightful sound coming from?"
Owl smiled. "That would be NiGHTS."
Metal looked up, and saw someone floating a few feet away and above them. The person stopped playing the music, and floated down, leaving sparkles as he/she came. Unfortunately for Metal, that made up word configuration was the best pronoun he had for this person.
Everything Reala was, this person wasn't, though there were a few similarities. It was a jester to be sure, but a lot more like a jester than a nightmare clown as Reala was. It wore a vest of bright red/pink, and a white shirt with sleeve cuffs the colors of yellow and purple and a caller to match. If Metal looked hard enough, he could see that there were no arms in the sleeves, and his/her gloved hands floated of seemingly their own will just outside the sleeves. He/She wore some purple tights that covered all his/her legs, included his/her feet. His/Her heels and ankles were covered in a pink piece of latex per set, over the tights. Like Reala, he/she had catlike eyes, though they were pure blue, no ears, no nose, and wore a jester hat with two tendrils, but this hat was purple, tripped with purple and a slightly darker purple. The most noticeable difference between this jester and Reala was a sparkling red jewel embedded in his/her chest. It almost seemed to radiate… courage.
"About time" he/she said in a joyous way.
Metal still couldn't tell if he/she was a he or a she. But something struck him as odd. This jester didn't have a flute. How was he/she playing?
"We haven't had a Visitor in ages. I was getting bored with only Owl to talk to."
"Well, I never."
"My name is NiGHTS," the jester introduced as he/she stuck out his/her hand. "What's yours?"
Metal smiled. "I'm Metal," and he reached out and shook NiGHTS hand.
And thus began an unusual friendship of pain and joy. The first being pain.
Metal felt all his quills stand up as he was electrocuted. He quickly let go of NiGHTS hand and jumped back.
NiGHTS laughed. And it was such an amazing laugh. Not of malice, nor of entertainment at Metal's discomfort, but of simple joy. Metal did not realize it at the time, but he wanted to hear that laugh more.
NiGHTS held up his/her hand, revealing the appropriately named joy buzzer.
Metal grinned. "I suppose I should expect nothing less from a jester."
"Perhaps you should, Metal." NiGHTS frowned. "Metal… that's a strange name, even by my standards. Have you got another I can use?"
Metal raised a brow. "Not really. Well… there is a word in another language that means Metal. I believe it's… Metaru."
"Metaru… I like that name a whole lot more. Nice to meet you, Metaru." NiGHTS gave a theatrical bow.
Metal chuckled and gave a bow himself.
"NiGHTS," said Owl. "This Visitor has quite a tale to tell. You should listen to him. He could very well need our help more than other Visitors have needed it."
"Say, Metaru," said NiGHTS as he/she leaned back as if in a hammock. "Have you ever thought about flying before?"
Owl huffed. NiGHTS completely ignored him.
"Flying?" Metal asked.
"Sure. You know swerving in and out and about through trees, cliffs, people's homes, whatever catches your fancy, really." NiGHTS floated in a position that made him/her look like she was standing and held out the palm of his/her hand to Metal. "If you dualize with me, you can try it out for yourself."
"Duelize?"
"Don't worry, it's not a prank this time. Jester's never joke when they say they aren't."
Owl sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to get anywhere until NiGHTS had his/her fun. "NiGHTS has the ability to become one with Visitors, allowing for you to borrow NiGHTS powers. It's really an experience that has to be met yourself to completely understand it."
Metal looked at the palm of NiGHTS hand. Metal shook his head. "Sorry, but no thank you. I don't enjoy the idea-" he paused for a moment. "Idea? Ideya… hmmm… Well, as I was saying, I don't want to be someone else in order to fly."
NiGHTS looked both disappointed and surprised. It was the first time a Visitor turned down the option of flying before. NiGHTS then gave a wry grin and went back to his/her hammock position. "All right then, if you don't want to fly, then that's your problem."
Metal grinned. "You remind me of someone I know. He also likes having fun very much and he has the slightly irritating trait of acting better than others sometimes. But I don't need your help to fly." Metal then paused and felt his back. He realized he might not be able to back that up.
NiGHTS, who had his/her eyes closed, opened one, still smiling in a cocky fashion. "Really? And how can you do that?"
"Uhhh…" Metal's eyes lit up, and he pulled out that mask from before, the one that looked like half of his metallic face. Metal smiled. "You will be surprised to know that, in my world, flying is one of my ingrained abilities." Metal brought the mask to his face, and his body glowed.
NiGHTS and Owl gasped slightly. Metal was now a very appropriate name for him.
Metal was back to his metallic form, and for some reason, he didn't mind. Metal rose a few inches off the ground, and he gave a bow as to mock NiGHTS. "Still think I need your help to fly?"
NiGHTS grinned. "No. But I do think you need my help to get you pride handed to you."
"Is that a challenge I hear approaching?"
"Once around the dream gate. And to make sure we stay on the track, I'll make some rings to fly through. They'll turn blue for you if you've passed through them in the right order."
"You're on, NiGHTS. May the best flyer win."
"Don't worry. I will." NiGHTS laughed, and Metal couldn't but laugh with him/her. And they flew off, leaving Owl to ponder to himself.
"NiGHTS should be pleased. Never had a companion in flight before. At least, not one that wasn't as old as the Dream Gate." Owl watched them fly, and was slightly astounded by Metal. He was actually keeping up with NiGHTS. But NiGHTS was far better when it came to sharp turns and the like. Metal took them a little wide, but he had NiGHTS beaten when there was a straight path. Nights could not hope to keep up, even with his/her mighty Drill Dash.
Owl turned around, remembering the last Visitors that had been here. He then began to wonder how Nightopia would look in this one's eyes. This Visitor had already broken a few of the normal rules of the Dream Gate already. He had his Ideya, and saw Wiseman and survived the ordeal. Now it was revealed that he had his own personae, his own mask that showed who he was. Owl could not help but wonder which face was truly Metal's.
Owl turned his head to follow them but stopped when he saw the doorways. They were no longer empty. Three of them had become regal doors, but they were all made out of freshly made, well crafted metal, and each door was a different color. One was a bright orange, and the glass picture above it was of a circus tent. The second was a shining black, and above it was a mosaic of a mansion. The third was blue, like Metal himself with his armor, and there was in glass a castle tower.
But there was a fourth door. There usually was a fourth door for 'My Dream' for a Visitor, but this one was different. Like the other doors it was metal, but different. This door was thick and enforced to keep something locked away. But it was rusty as if it had existed for a long time without proper care. There were seven locks, three on each side, and one in the middle, but there were no keyholes to be found. Despite this, five of the locks had been broken. Owl flew closer to this door to further examine it. When he came close enough he could hear something… burning. There was fire on the other side. Owl could feel the heat on this side of the door. Owl flew back a ways.
NiGHTS landed in front of the fountain gracefully with Metal landing a few seconds afterward.
"No fair," said Metal, his head hung low. "You can turn on a dime at top speed."
"It's not my fault the rock was in the way. You had the advantage of taking the little swimming hole anyway."
"I'll get you next time, NiGHTS," Metal declared, shaking his fist at him/her. "I'll practice and upgrade myself until I can beat you."
"In your dreams," said NiGHTS as he/she crossed his/her arms.
Metal looked around. "Uhhh…"
"Oh, that's right. Then maybe someday."
"NiGHTS, Visitor," called Owl as he flew over to them. "The doors to Nightopia! They have all opened!"
"What?" asked NiGHTS. "All at once? That's never happened before."
"May I ask what Nightopia is?" asked Metal as he pulled off his personae, taking his living shape again.
"Nightopia," began Owl, "is a paradise for visitors that takes on the shape of their inner feelings and traits. Usually there is an Ideya that was lost on the trip to The Dream Gate in the center of each version to represent traits that all possess: growth, purity, intelligence, hope, and courage, with courage being the strongest, and being the only Ideya that Nightmaren cannot steal from you. However, if what we heard from Reala is true, and you already have all your Ideya, I can hardly imagine what it is you need to find in there other than entertainment."
"You met Reala?" asked NiGHTS, obviously shocked, his/her eyes widened… more than before.
"And Wizeman" said Metal. "They wanted all of my 'Ideya'. Why do they want those?"
NiGHTS flew in front of Metal, and for the first time since Metal had known him/her, NiGHTS looked serious. "Wizeman wants Ideya so that he can destroy Nightopia, and replace it with his nightmares. He created that sea of Darkness down below, but he isn't satisfied with his own kingdom. He wants both the dark and the light of Illumina, the Queen of Dreams. He's collected Ideya over time from other Visitors, and if he gets enough, not only will he be able to destroy Nightopia and Illumina, but he'll eventually be able to enter the waking world and take that over too."
"But what is Wizeman?" asked Metal. "Is he a god?"
"All his Nightmaren worship him like one," huffed NiGHTS as he/she looked up at the shining sunlit sky. "I don't think he's that powerful. I've beaten him before with some help. But, then again, Illumina, for all her power, can still lose sight of her dreams and crumble. I often wonder what it really means to be a god."
"Wizseman has lived here longer than us, so we don't truly know. But he is powerful to create such things as Reala."
"Speaking of creation," started Metal, "Is it coincidence that you and Reala look a lot alike, or are you opposites: one from Nightmare of Wiseman and one from Sweet Dreams of Illumina?"
"Err..." began NiGHTS.
Metal chuckled. "Even in dreams, I can find logic. You are a Nightmaren, aren't you, NiGHTS?"
NiGHTS froze. "Wha-what?"
"Well that was certainly fast," stated Owl.
Metal grinned. "It stands to reason. You and Reala resemble each other, Nightmaren can't steal Courage, and you seem to radiate it. Believe me, I know: when you're meant to steal or hurt something, you tend to take on their traits."
NiGHTS lowered his/her head in shame, gripping at the jewel he/she wore on his/her chest. "Yes, I'm a Nightmaren."
"Then Wiseman can't be all bad," stated Metal, "if he made something like you."
NiGHTS looked up, looking somewhat confused. But then there was a smile. Such a sweet, innocent smile. "Thank you, Metaru. You are quite wise. You know, they say that if a person's hand is bigger than their face, that person is truly wise."
"Really?" asked Metal. He brought a black glove close to his face. Before he could even begin to measure his hand, NiGHTS pushed it into his face, toppling him over.
NiGHTS laughed. "Hope you'll still trust me!" NiGHTS said as he/she loomed over Metal.
Metal frowned an obviously fake frown. "I'll get you back for that later, you fruity-cupped jester."
"Fruity? A genderless being falls out of the jurisdiction of 'fruity'."
"So, you are neither a boy nor a girl," said Metal as he stood back up. "I didn't want to sound insensitive by asking. Well, how can I help against Wizeman?"
"What!" asked Owl. "You want to stop Wizeman! It's unheard of! No one has ever offered to help us against Wizeman!"
"It's one of my traits. I'm annoying like that. Someone need saving? I'm glad to assist."
NiGHTS sighed in a bored fashion. "Now why would you want to go off and fight Wizeman when we could be in Nightopia having some fun? Come on, before we start making plans to defeat Wiseman, let's explore. Nightopia awaits." NiGHTS gestured to the first metal door.
Metal smiled and nodded. "I guess one night won't hurt anything." Metal walked up to the orange door. As he approached, it automatically opened and bright light and gentle warmth came forth. Metal squinted and stepped in, the sensation of falling surrounding him.
-break-
Metal, NiGHTS, and Owl walked (or in two cases, flew) across the circus/carnival grounds, noticing how bright and colorful it was. Metal grinned and sniffed the air. He believed it to be the smell of food, an object that had tormented him for quite some time. Metal looked over at a hot dog vendor and, without waiting up for NiGHTS and Owl, ran over.
"NiGHTS…" said Owl, "Do you see something wrong here?"
"Yes" said NiGHTS, bringing a hand to his/her chin. "This has never happened in Nightopia before. At least, not when I've seen it. What do you think, Owl?"
"This is either a most troubling development, or perhaps his dreams and mind are as powerful as Illumina herself."
"As powerful as Illumina? But… it just doesn't seem possible."
"Look around, NiGHTS. What other explanation is there?"
NiGHTS did look around. There were, not the Nightopians he/she had come to adore. There were people. Humans that NiGHTS had usually met here, and animal people like Metal. This had never happened. There were never people that existed for the sake of existing before. But this was Nightopia. There were things like rides and the main circus tent that were way out of actual proportion that could only be dreamed.
"I must speak to Illumina about this," said Owl. "Perhaps he can stop Wizeman once and for all. Make sure nothing happens to him, NiGHTS." Owl flew off in a random direction. NiGHTS had forgotten that Illumina lived in Nightopia because of how often it changed shape
Metal slumped back to NiGHTS, looking quite disappointed. "I don't have any money. This is hardly fair. I feel like a sad god. I made this place, and yet I have no control over it."
NiGHTS secretly frowned. This phrase held surprisingly true, he/she realized.
Metal stood back up straight and looked around. "Where's Owl?" he asked, forgetting his hunger.
"Owl had to go talk with someone," said NiGHTS, forgetting his/her older thoughts and again becoming joyful. "Come on, then. Let's see how much fun we can have before you have to wake up."
Metal nodded, but then frowned. "But everything here costs money, and I don't have any."
NiGHTS looked around, hoping an idea would met him/her.
"Hey, you guys are looking for money?" came a gruff voice that Metal recognized.
"Vector?" asked Metal as he turned around.
Vector, in a pair of overalls and holding a wrench in one hand, waved Metal and NiGHTS over. "Gee, how'd you know my name?"
"Vector, it's me, Metal!" Metal cried out as he presented his new self to his friend.
Vector closed an eye in thought as he tapped his wrench to his snout. "Metal… Metal… sorry, can't say that I remember you. Care to refresh my memory?"
Metal looked astonished for a moment, but then he remembered. Dreams were hardly what they appeared. Metal smiled and waved it off. "I'm sorry. I failed to recognize you as someone else. Anyway, you said something about getting some cash?"
"Right," Vector nodded. "The tent happens to be low a show today. Seems the Wind Rider had to cancel. Your friend there seems like a good candidate, and I know the ring master is desperate. If you go see him and show him some tricks, I'm sure he'll give you a job and a quick paycheck."
"Performance?" asked NiGHTS with a bright gleam in his/her eyes. "Come on, Metaru! I've never had a huge audience before. Please?"
Metal nodded. "Sure, thanks, Vector. You always seem to have just what I need when I need it."
"No problem pal. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to fix that roller coaster. It's been rattlin' up a storm." As Vector turned to walk away, Metal smiled a knowing smile.
"He took on the form of the way I inwardly see him. Always the person who can get me moving in the right direction."
"That was someone you knew?" asked NiGHTS, remembering this information for Owl.
"Yeah. I wonder how many others I'll meet." Metal looked up at the giant tent and pulled out his personae. "Well then, my new companion, it seems we have a show to put on."
NiGHTS smiled and flew around Metal gleefully. "Come one then!" he/she cried. "Let's get going!"
Metal moved to place his personae on, but someone suddenly grabbed him in a bear hug.
"Brother!" the someone cried, and Metal looked down to see that he was tackled by Tails.
Or, at first glance, it appeared to be Tails. But this Tails was younger, by about three years compared to the Tails Metal knew. He was wearing a pair of overalls with his tails sticking out and an orange shirt.
"Uhh…" Metal looked at the young Tails, unable to create a coherent thought. What was this supposed to mean?
The young Tails looked up at Metal's face and gasped while leaping back. "Ahh! I'm sorry mister!" the young Tails cried. "I-I mistook you for my brother…"
His brother?
"H-have you seen a hedgehog like you around anywhere?"
Metal froze. It felt like his system had just tried to download every different version of Macintosh all at once and he couldn't handle it.
"We're sorry," said NiGHTS as he/she kneeled down to young Tails. "We only just got here. Would he be looking for you?"
Young Tails paused, and his eyes became full with tears. "I don't really know…"
Metal shook himself and was finally able to speak. "Why wouldn't you know?"
"He… does this a lot to me. He runs off, and I have no idea where he goes." Young Tails wiped his eyes. "I'm lost without him. I need my big brother."
NiGHTS looked at Metal. "Socializing and on the fly helping people aren't my strong points. Suggestions, since this is your dream?"
Metal looked around again, and smiled. He knew how to kill two birds with one… pie.
"Wait here for a moment. NiGHTS, watch Tails. Be right back." Metal walked off, and NiGHTS was left with young Tails, who was still sniffling. NiGHTS had an idea him/herself. It was time to prank Metal again. But before NiGHTS could think of a good one, he suddenly heard Metal cry out in fear. NiGHTS turned to look, and realized that Metal had already beaten him/her to the punch as he/she was met with a pie in the face.
Metal laughed. Tails laughed. It was muffled, but NiGHTS laughed, too.
"Revenge is sweet," said Metal as he tossed another pie up and down. "But lemon custard is far sweeter."
NiGHTS wiped the pie off his/her face, and a grin was ever present. "Not bad, not bad at all, Metaru. But you do know, this means war."
"Hey! Those cost ten-fifty!" cried the sweet vendor that Metal had stolen the pies from.
"That's highway robbery, good sir," said Metal as tossed the other pie at the man with a satisfying 'splat'.
"Ha, ha! You're almost like my brother!" cried Tails. "Can you help me find my brother, mister?"
"Call me Metal. We have an engagement, I believe, but you can come with us to the show and we'll help you afterwards."
"You guys are in the show?" asked Tails with awe in his eyes.
"Not yet," said NiGHTS. "But when he sees us in action, he'll have no choice."
"Let's get going before the pie guy gets up," Metal said in a jolly way as he held out his hand to Tails.
Tails smiled and took it. And they started to run. The pie guy was right behind them.
-break-
"Ladies and gentlemen!" cried Henry with great enthusiasm, his ringmaster hat just barely staying on his head. "Tonight we've got perhaps our greatest show to date!" There was a great round of applause. "However, the Legendary Wind Rider could not make it to tonight's show." Suddenly there was a great deal of boos and 'I want my money back!'s. "But, we've got something even better! Far of in the forgotten lands there lives those who practice the magic of nature as if it were writing. And we happen to have one of them here tonight! Say hello to the Celtic Warrior, Metaru, the Knight of the Moon!" A light shone up to a high platform where Metal, in his armor, took a bow. He looked down and waved, particularly at Tails, who sat in a special box all his own thanks to Metal and NiGHTS.
"But wait! What could he possibly doing up there, you ask? Well, to answer that, it must be known that this warrior brought with him a magical fairy, who is in fact a spirit of freedom. Say hello to NiGHTS, the Dream Guardian!" Another shone on another platform where NiGHTS was waiting with his/her hand on his/her hips, and also waved to the crowd.
"Now behold, as right before your eyes, no strings attached, they… fly!" Metal and NiGHTS jumped, and pretty much the whole of the crowd screamed. With a flourish, each of them swerved up, and the entire circus cried out in amazement as they ducked and weaved through the air, NiGHTS leaving sparkles and Metal leaving a trail of light.
"Yay Metal! Yay NiGHTS!" cried Tails as he clapped.
"Gee wiz," said Henry as he stepped up to Tails. "You pa right there is something amazing."
Tails eyes widened a little. "Pa? He isn't my dad."
"Well of course you all ain't related, but he treated you like a pa would a son. Made sure everything was fine for you and all that. He obviously cares about you."
"You really think so?" said Tails with a questioning look.
"Most definitely," said a whisper right behind Tails. Tails gasped and turned around to see Reala staring at him from two inches away. "And now, little fox, I'm going to show you a magic trick and a secret about magic tricks. In most of them, in order to make something disappear, you simply take it," Reala grabbed Tails by the throat, "while everyone is distracted by another trick."
NiGHTS performed a dazzling spin right above the crowd as he/she flew over them, and Metal's body spun much like Sonic's would in a spin dash, leaving a curly trail of light behind. Metal and NiGHTS came in close contact, grabbed each other's hand and began to spin. The crowd cheered at the lights bursting before them.
NiGHTS and Metal stopped and flew in opposite directions. Suddenly Metal heard NiGHTS cry out in surprise. Metal turned, half expecting a trick, But was stunned to see that NiGHTS was trapped in a cage made of some strange glowing glass.
"But, ladies and gentlemen," a voice that Metal quickly recognized said, "what would a good show be without a story? As the warrior and fairy frolicked through their improvised paradise, the fairy was quickly caught by its dark sibling who was intent on taking it back to its aggravated creator. The warrior, who would try to save the fairy, was distracted by the poor little child he had come to care for, who was currently riding a kart to his doom. The warrior could use his courage to break the fairy out halfway, but that would only work if the warrior then went for the keys that locked the cage. He could let the fairy out and save the child, couldn't he? But that would be too easy. So let's make it harder." Reala snapped his fingers, and from nowhere came a giant smiling clown head, with a big red nose covered in spikes, star painted eyes, and a silly hat. But the clown's eyes, while happy, were filled with vile intent, and the sharp teeth in its smile implied that as well.
Metal could hear Tails scream from the coaster he was stuck in, most likely tied up.
NiGHTS banged on the cage that restrained him/her.
The clown's nose shot out like a rocket and struck Metal hard, knocking him to the floor.
The crowd screamed as the head laughed and advanced on them all.
"So now the warrior must make a choice: save the kid, save the people, or save the fairy of his dreams. What will he decide?"
Metal frantically looked around, lost. The clown head danced further. Stopping it would let Reala get NiGHTS, but if he acted now, he might be able to save Tails. He could save NiGHTS, and definitely stop the clown head, but Tails would be…
He could save Tails, but NiGHTS would be lost, and the people would defiantly take a hit.
What was Metal to do?
Tails yelled out for help.
NiGHTS shut his/her eyes, not able to stand watching the clown head.
The crowd ran, but their mad running would not let them get away.
What was Metal to do? He could not be in two places at once.
Could he?
Was he not Metal… and Mettaru?
Reala threw back his head and laughed. This looked like it for NiGHTS. And to add a bonus, he would get the all powerful visitor. Wiseman would praise him for a long while for this.
Reala was suddenly gripped with pain as he was Paralooped. Reala growled and turned to see NiGHTS gleefully waving at him. Reala could see, in a haze right behind NiGHTS, Metal was doing the same thing.
Mocking him.
But Reala grinned. "So, you decided to save NiGHTS? Are you so heartless that you would let even a dream character die a horrible death?"
"I do believe that's your job," NiGHTS and Metal said at the same time while mimicking movements as well, pointing a finger(s) at Reala. "Don't worry: I'm a great multi tasker."
Tails was coming close to the end of the line, where a crocodile was bust repairing the broken steel bars. He was bobbing his head as if listening to music, and did not appear to hear Tails scream.
The kart Tails was in was riding down the slope at an intense speed towards the end. Suddenly Tails's kart slowed down, and Tails turned around to see Metal, in his armor, pulling the kart back with all his force.
Vector turned his head just in time to see a kart stop about a foot away from him. His jaw went slack as he watched Metal pull Tails out and toss the kart aside.
"Hey, you're about as funny as a brick wall!" NiGHTS/Metal called to the head as they kicked the clown head' ear hard. The clown head turned and laughed manically at NiGHTS/Metal, and shot its nose out again. NiGHTS/Metal Drill Dashed straight at the spike ball, bouncing it straight back at the clown head and hitting it in the eye. The clown head's smile turned upside down and it almost seemed to cry.
Metal, with Tails in his arms flew back into the tent and looked up at NiGHTS/Metal fighting the clown head.
"Oh no you don't!" cried Reala as he flew towards Metal and Tails.
"Leave my brother alone!" someone else yelled out, and they kicked Reala square in the jaw.
"Brother!" Tails cried as he leapt out of Metal's arms and towards Sonic's. Metal reached after him, almost desperately.
"Oh man, I thought something bad had happened to you!" cried Sonic as he wrapped his arms around Tails. "Come on, we need to get out of here!"
"But Sonic, what about my new friends?"
Sonic looked up at Metal with a displeased look.
NiGHTS/Metal hit the nose again, sending it at the clown head one last time. The clown gave a shrill scream, and it exploded in a burst of balloons that flew in every direction. NiGHTS/Metal laughed. "Well that was fun" they said. They looked down.
Because NiGHTS saw what Metal saw, he/she also felt what Metal felt.
That was rage.
That was sadness.
That was guilt.
They were all emotions that NiGHTS had felt with other Visitors, but not on this level. NiGHTS was astounded by this.
As Sonic and Tails ran from the tent, both Metals felt it. The pain. But… this was what was best for him.
Metal fell out of NiGHTS and landed on the ground next to Metal.
"Metal…" started NiGHTS, using his real name at last, "are you okay?"
Both Metal's shook their heads. "No," the flesh Metal said. "I want to go after them and say I am better for Tails…
"But," said the metal Metal, "this is what's best for him. That's what he needs… in both worlds…"
NiGHTS closed his/her eyes. "I've never met a Visitor with such torment before. I mean, they've always been kids with problems that seem big, like a missing dad, or guilt at not being with their mom… but your sorrow was different." NiGHTS raised a hand to the jewel on his/her chest. "It's something you can hardly control. And yet, you control it perfectly. You can be sad and make it yours. Does that make sense at all?"
"Yeah," both Metal's said. "I'll move on."
"And thus you have passed the first test!" came a chipper voice. Metal(s) and NiGHTS turned to look at the source of this new person.
Owl had returned, and with him was what Metal would have described as a real fairy. Her wings floated a few inched away from her back, and she wore a pink and white jump suit type get-up with pink boots and gloves with white as the main clothing. She had a pink (hairstyle?) with bunny like froofs at the top. She was, however, only half the size of Metal, making her look more like a fairy tale fairy. Like NiGHTS, she had no nose and ears, and had big eyes that could easily be read. Right now, she was happy.
"Hi," she said cheerfully. "My name is Lumina. You must be Metal." Lumina blinked and looked at both Metals. "At least, I think you both are…"
The Metal's looked at each other, and in a flash, they were one in the same again, though he was currently flesh Metal holding his personae. "Yes, I am."
"What was that about tests?" asked NiGHTS.
Lumina seemed to glow brighter. "Illumina has chosen Metal as a candidate for defeating Wizeman once and for all!"
NiGHTS and Metal gasped slightly.
Owl spoke up. "But first Metal must be tested in certain ways, and already he has passed the tests of wisdom, wit, power, courage, and righteousness. Illumina is most pleased with your demonstration of letting the child go for his best interests."
Lumina nodded feverishly and took Metal's hand. "It was just so beautiful! I could hardly stand to just sit and watch and cry!"
NiGHTS crossed his/her arms. "What about me?"
"I can't do this without NiGHTS," Metal declared.
"You won't have to" said Lumina. "At least, not against Wizeman. Illumina knows that you, NiGHTS, have your own reasons for fighting Wizeman, but Metal may have to take some tests alone. Like this one: what does this Nightopia represent to you, Metal?"
Metal looked at the ground and answered quickly. He already knew what this place was. "This is my innocence, or purity. This is what I am at heart: a child who wants to have fun and forget all my troubles. But this place taught me, even in innocence, there is pain. I learned that I must also be an adult and make the right decisions. There is darkness in the brightest light in my heart, be that darkness rage or sadness."
Lumina smiled and nodded. "Alright, Metal, I knew you could do it!"
Metal frowned. He liked happiness, but Lumina was a little too chipper. Right now, he wanted some darkness.
"Metal, I do believe it is time for you to leave," said Owl. "The daylight is returning where you are in the waking world. I can tell from how tired your eyes are. You have been awake in Nightopia long enough now. When next you come, there will be more tests for you to take."
"If anything," said Metal as he looked off to the side, "I must return so that I can see myself better. Perhaps know myself like I should. I… never thought about… never mind. I must go back."
"Goodbye, Metaru" said NiGHTS as he/she gave Metal a bow. "I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Goodbye, my friends."
-break-
Metal turned on to greet the morning sunlight.
-Author's Note-
Yes. NiGHTS. I like those games. What are you going to do about it?
The funny thing is, I actually have come to dislike this chapter. Well, not really. I like how it came out and what happening and what it eventually builds up to. But I don't like how I wrote it, or at least how it starts out. I can't help but feel that I relied a little too much on my readers to know about NiGHTS already, instead of writing as if this was all new information. I don't think I do it too badly, but still.
And, yes, Illumina and Lumina are from Sonic Shuffle, the Mario Party rip-off that didn't do so well. I added NiGHTS part because of some info I could get across later, part because I had just gotten the game and was on a kick, and part because I wanted to reference Madhog some more. NiGHTS playing pranks is one of his ideas (he used NiGHTS too), and he's pretty much the only author I've ever seen that used Sonic Shuffle. He practically made Void his avatar in his stories, but in a good way. As such, it's really his fault I added this chapter. I fused the two(three?) continuities and blended it together to make this rather long subplot. Of course, I'll have more Madhog notes the next time NiGHTS comes around, so stay tunes for that.
Sincerely,
The Conflicted Writer