A/N: I do not own the NIGHTS game series!

Elliot rested his head on his hand as he gazed out the window of the moving train, he still couldn't believe he of all people had been chosen to attend Midnight Plateau, a school where only the most talented of youths got to attend, he was so surprised that he had to take out his letter of admittance just to make sure he hadn't gotten it wrong, he smiled warmly as he read it over...nope, no mistake here.

He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of it being a mistake and seeing the look on his mothers face as she burst into tears, not from sadness but from joy that her precious baby boy was going to stay close to home! He would have more then likely missed the train if he hadn't pulled out of the death squeeze she had called a goodbye hug! Elliot loved his mother dearly but sometimes she could be way too overprotective.

He frowned sadly, he would miss his mother but he would also miss Claris, it had been a year since the two of them along with NIGHTS had defeated the evil Wizeman and restored peace to the Night Dimension and they had remained close friends ever since but in his excitement he had forgot to tell he was going out of town, he just hoped that when he had the time to call her she could forgive him...

The Blue haired basketball player looked around the train in an attempt to find something to distract him from his melancholy thought, there had been a few people when he had first gotten on but as his trip went on he found the car he was in was now incredibly vacant the only person who was in it now was another boy who looked no older then him, if not a little younger then him.

He was a dirty blonde wearing a yellow and blue jacket over a red short sleeved shirt and under that a long sleeved cream coloured shirt under that, he also wore beige cargo pants and on his feet were a pair of red socks and blue and yellow sneakers and lastly he was fast asleep. Elliot didn't know how he could given how much racket the train was making but he then just shrugged it off, he of all people could appreciate a good nights sleep given the nightmares that had plagued his dreams not that long ago.

"Lucky guy, he must never have to worry about stuff like that" Elliot muttered a loud and then let out an ironic chuckle. "Yep, no puffed up opera singers, cats who use mice as rockets or scary jesters in his dreams" Elliot was about to laugh when he felt a sudden jerk as the train came to an abrasive halt, causing Elliot to almost fall out of his seat, it was a shame that the same thing couldn't be said for his duffle bag that fell from it's place on the shelf and clocked him right on the head. "OW!" He groaned, holding his aching noggin and hissed out a few curses before turning to scowl at his duffle bag which he gave an agitated kick before picking it up, it was at this point that he had regretted packing so much!

His gaze returned to the boy who much to his surprise was still sleeping. "Is he dead?" Elliot asked bluntly only to have his theory go bang as the blonde let out a noisy snort in his sleep. Elliot rolled his eyes and walked passed the sleeping blonde to the doors that had just hissed open when suddenly something caught his eye...he looked down to the piece of paper that had fluttered just to his feet and picked it up, ignoring his mothers past advice about never looking at letter that weren't addressed to you Elliot indulged his curiosity and gave it the once over, it was a letter from Midnight Plateau! Informing William Taylor that he had earned a spot there!

"So your name is William?" Elliot mused as he reached out a hand to shake him awake. "Come on sleeping beauty this is our stop!" He said giving him a hard shake when the first didn't get a response and after his third attempt Elliot could feel a twitch of annoyance tugging at his right brow, what sleeping pill did this kid take! "Time for this boy scout to do his good deed for the day!" Elliot groaned as he pocketed the note, he then took the backpack that was William's from it's spot on the holder and after securing his duffle bag around his shoulder and the backpack on his front he took an arm and draped them over his shoulders, tilted William forward so that he was leaning against his back, wrapped an arm around a leg each and with a grunt of effort he lifted Will up and began piggy backing him off the train, earning some surprised looks and snickers from those who were waiting to get on.

"Elliot Edwards...You are too nice" He grumbled to himself as the passenger on his back was beginning to drool on his shoulder.

Someone else had also been on the train but in a different car, a young Violinist named Helen Cartwright another lucky youth who had been given the chance to attend Midnight Plateau, just thinking about it made her heart pound so loud that she could hear it boom in her ears. She had to do something to take her mind off of it. Her blue eyes darted up to her violin case and she quickly retrieved it, she took a moment to glide a hand over the smooth, silver, metallic case, her mother had bought her this new case upon receiving the news that she was to go to the most prestigious school around. "With this your violin will be safe" Were her exact words but Helen could tell that it was a going away present. The blonde haired girl remembered the look of pride on her mothers face when she saw her off at the station but she had also picked up a hint of sadness in her eyes as well. Helen knew that sadness all too well, she had seen it many times when she would abruptly stop their practice sessions the moment her phone went off...

Helen shook her head to get those guilty thoughts out of her head, she was a different person now, NIGHTS had helped her overcome her past mistakes. Flipping the lid open, Helen retrieved her violin and bow, she took in a deep breath, stood up and closed her eyes, she didn't need any sheet music, the notes were all in her head and heart. Drawing back her bow Helen began to play and was instantly lost in her music, that sweet tune that she had heard NIGHTS play so many times before, she could even hear words come into her head!

In my dreams I can see you are not far away

Anytime anyplace I can see your face

You're that special one that I have been waiting for

And I hope you're looking for someone like me

In my dreams I can hear you calling me

In the night everything is so sweet

In your eyes I feel there's so much inside

In the nights dream delight I want to see you standing there

In the nights dream delight I've found someone who really cares
In the nights dream delight I want to see you smile again

In the nights dream delight You're the one I waited for!

Helen could feel a tear trickle down the side of her face, she never understood what it was about that song that made her cry, was it just the passion that she put into it or was it because of the memory of where it came from? Helen opened her eyes and jumped in surprise, there standing only a few feet away from her was another girl, wearing an orange shirt over a pink one, a pair of red shorts and orange boots with pink trimmings, her hair was tied into a ponytail and was a lovely shade of rose pink that matched her eyes perfectly.

It suddenly hit Helen that this girl had been the one who was singing and what a voice! It was so angelic and pure.

"H-Hello..." Helen managed when she realized that she had been staring at her for almost a minute.

"Hello" The pink haired girl replied in soft voice. "That was a beautiful song you were playing, I thought I was the only one who knew it"

"Me too!" Helen said in surprise. "But I never knew that there were words to it, who taught it to you?"

"An old friend" She smiled sadly, Helen was about to ask if she was okay when the girl extended a hand in greeting. "I'm Claris Sinclair, it's nice to meet you"

"A pleasure to meet you Claris, I'm Helen Cartwright" Helen smiled, shaking the other girls hand.

"Well Helen, would it be alright if I talked to you for a little while?" Claris asked as she motioned to the seats that lines the side of the car. "This trip so far has been pretty lonely and it would be great to have someone to talk to"

"I don't mind at all" Helen smiled as she sat down and put her Violin away. "I've been pretty lonely too and in truth a little nervous about arriving at a new school all alone"

"Would this new school happen to be Midnight Plateau?" Claris asked as she took a seat next to her.

Helen gave her another shocked look "Yes it is...does that mean that you-"

"Have a letter of admittance as well?" Claris finished as she took said letter out of her pocket and showed it to her new friend. Once Helen had got a good look at it Claris put it back in her pocket. "I know how you feel, it's sort of like having stage fright and trust me, no one knows more about stage fright then me" Claris giggled as she pressed a thumb against her chest.

"Stage fright? With a voice like yours?" Helen said, trying not to sound too surprised, she blinked as she caught the hint of a blush on the other girls cheeks, surely this girl had received a compliment on her voice in the past?

"Well that's a thing of the past, some friends helped me get the courage I needed" Claris said shyly as she, curling a loose lock of her hair around her finger.

"They sounds like really supportive friends" Helen smiled, her own thoughts shooting back to the time where she, Will and NIGHTS had fought alongside each other to protect Nightopia.

"Oh they are!" Claris's head snapped back to look at Helen, her shyness gone in an instant. "I could never ask for such good friends"

The two girls talked for a little while longer before the train came to it's abrupt stop, the girls shrieked in surprise as they jolted in their seats and then let out a laugh.

"Look like we've arrived" Helen giggled as she picked up her violin case in one hand and her suitcase in the other.

"We best get going, as my dad always said, "I second lost is a word lost" I really don't understand what it means but I've always trusted his intuition" Claris shrugged as she grabbed the handle of her wheelie bag and rolled it through the doors with Helen just behind her.

The two had decided to head to the school together since they were going in the same direction anyway, however they didn't even make it out of the station before the strange sight caught their eyes.

"Elliot?" Claris asked, her voice sounded half surprised and half amused.

"Claris?" Elliot spun on his heels to look wide eyed at his old friend! "What are you doing here?!"

"That's what I should be asking you!" Claris exclaimed, putting her hands akimbo and narrowing her eyes in annoyance. "You didn't tell me you were going Midnight Plateau as well you jerk!" She snapped.

"W-Well I was going to tell you but...I...forgot..." Elliot said meekly with a sheepish smile, his neck sinking into his shirt under Claris's intensifying glare.

"Um...Claris?"

Claris stopped her fuming and looked at Helen with an inquisitive look.

"You two know each other?" The girl with the dishwater blonde hair asked.

"Oh!" Claris's eyes darted between Helen and Elliot for a brief second. "Helen this is one of the friends I was telling you about, Elliot Edwards, Elliot, this is Helen Cartwright"

"Hello!" Helen chimed, waving her hand.

"Hey, I would shake your hand but as you can see my hands are full" Elliot said snarkily, motioning with this head to the dirty blonde on his back.

"So I see" Claris smirked, folding her arms across her chest. "Do you always give piggyback rides to total strangers?" She teased.

"It was either this or I leave him back on the train to wind up in who knows where" Elliot groaned as he readjusted himself to stop William from sliding off of his back.

"I had no idea Will was such a heavy sleeper!" Helen giggled.

"You mean you know this kid?" Elliot asked, raising a brow.

"Yep, He's a friend of mine" Helen smiled sweetly.

"Then maybe you..." Elliot blinked as he looked over his shoulder as Will began to stir.

Will yawned, giving Elliot a face full of his morning breath and slowly opened his blue eyes which met the darker ones of the blue haired boy.

"Well" Elliot grinned. "Good morning sunshine!"

What followed next was a series of confused spluttering and squirming that wound up with Elliot flat on his front, groaning as he was squished between the backpack on his front and the weight of will who was now sitting on his back still looking dazed and confused while Helen and Claris held their sides in laughter!

Unbeknownst to the four they were actually being watched, not by anyone malevolent but by the Nightmaren that had rid them of their nightmares, NIGHTS.

"Who would have thought that those four would actually meet" He chuckled as he rested his head in his arm as he looked into the dream fountain, it was his only window from the Dream Gate to the "Waking World" As Owl had put it.

"I'm not surprised" Owl said as he fluttered next to NIGHTS head. "Given that they're the only Visitors to ever recall what happened, people like that are always bond by a similar fate"

"I just wish I could let them know I'm okay" NIGHTS sighed.

"Well, why don't you?" Owl asked.

NIGHTS gave Owl a look that was a mix of confusion and agitation, was he trying to mock him or something? "I thought you were smarter then that old bird, even I know that it's impossible to go to the waking world"

"Yes, But..." The elderly Owl smirked in a way that was very unfamiliar to NIGHTS. "...what if I told you that there was a way to visit the waking world, if only for a short while?" Owl asked.

"Really?!" NIGHTS exclaimed, jumping up from his pose next to the fountain and almost knocked poor Owl out of the air as he got in his personal space. "Well!? Come on! Out with it!"

"C-Calm down child!" Owl exclaimed, his voice frazzled by NIGHTS impatiens.

NIGHTS took in a deep breath and crossed his legs in to show Owl that he was willing to listen.

"You see this fountain" Owl motioned to the dream fountain. "As you know in the not so distant past this fountain had long since dried up but with the help of our Visitor friends we've managed to get it back to is resplendent self again and since then you have used it as a window of sorts to see how your friends are faring after their ordeals with denizens of Nightmare but like any other window which can be gazed through, this one can be opened, all you need to do is go through the waters and you shall be at the location of which you see"

"Then here I go!" NIGHTS smiled as he made a rush for the fountain only to be blocked by Owl.

"Wait! There is one more thing you need to know and it's important!" He exclaimed, earning a grown from NIGHTS as the purple Jester slumped over in the air. "While you are in the Waking World you're abilities will nullified at most all you'll be able to do is fly and only the Visitors will be able to see, hear and touch you"

"Why thank you old timer, you've just told me everything I want to know" NIGHTS and Owl's eyes widened in horror at the hollow voice that rang through the air and before NIGHTS even had a chance to respond he felt something strike him in the back, sending him crashing to the cobblestones bellow where he was pinned down by someone's boot! He turned to scowl at his assailant

"Reala!" He hissed.

"Hello NIGHTS, long time no see, surprised to see me?" Reala asked, letting out his bone chilling laugh, his arms folded across his chest. "You honestly don't think you were the only one to survive master Wizemans destruction did you?"

"Can't blame me for hoping!" NIGHTS snarled, his eyes burning with hatred. "So what are you going to do? Try and destroy me?"

"That was my initial plan but upon learning of the amazing powers of this fountain I believe a slight altercation is in order" Reala looked at the fountain with leering eyes. "I know, why don't I reunite you with those precious little visitors?"

"You stay away from them you demon!" NIGHTS screeched, pushing against the ground with his hands in an attempt to get up.

Reala smirked cruelly and with a snap of his fingers NIGHTS felt a surge of red and black electricity surge through his body, forcing his cheek to meet the ground once more.

"Now now now my dear sibling, lets not be uncivilized" Reala took a moment to laugh again. "I won't harm them, I'll just lock them away with you in the darkest part of Nightmare where you shall face eternal torment, you may thank me for my generosity later but first there's something I want to show you" Reala stretched out one of his arms and opened his hand wide after a few seconds of silence a crimson red orb materialized and sparked with bolts of dark energy, NIGHTS eyes widened in horror.

"Th-Thats..."

"Ah so you DO recognize it" Reala smirked. "This is pure fear, the very substance that makes up Nightmare and all who dwell there and I am sad to say that it is all that is left of Master Wizeman after YOU destroyed him!" Reala said this last part with the utmost disdain but quickly regained his composure. "And whilst I can't use it to bring Master Wizeman back I can do this!" Reala raised the orb into the air and NIGHTS watched as three smaller orbs spawned from it and raised into the air, each one radiated a bright red light that forced NIGHTS to close his eyes and when he opened them again he gasped when he saw what had replaced them...

In the air were three large birds, one purple, one green and one blue, each one was being ridden by a strange man who's face was obscured by his uniform.

"You remember your old friends the Goodles don't you NIGHTS? They'll be the one's to bring the visitors to me, they always were good at catching you so capturing your little friends will be a breeze, I'll have all five of you in my clutches and I barely had to do a thing!" Reala threw back his head to let out a victories laugh that made NIGHTS seethe with anger and frustration.

Reala prepared to dispatch the Goodles when he heard a loud hooting and looked up to see Owl diving at him, he gave the old fool a dismissive look, he would simply bat him to one side once he was close enough but his eyes suddenly widened in shock as he saw what the bird was carrying in his talons but just as he realized what they were it was too late! Owl released the blue chips they rained down on both Reala and the Goodles! All four let out pained yelps as they were pelted by the blue chips which caused them to crackle with arcs of white electricity!

NIGHTS used this to his advantage to push Reala off of him and get back into the air but the electricity that Reala had sent through him earlier had left him feeling weak and disorientated.

"Hurry NIGHTS! We must flee!" Owl urged, doing his best to shove NIGHTS to the fountain. "We must warn the visitors!"

"Owl...you took the words right out of my mouth" NIGHTS panted as he wrapped an arm around Owl and flung himself into the crystal clear waters just as the effects of the blue chips wore off.

"Get after them you fools!" Reala roared, pointing to the fountain with a trembling arm. "Bring back NIGHTS, those brats and the old codger! I don't care how you do it just bring them back to me alive!" All three low ranking Nightmarens quickly obeyed and dived into the water one after the other! "You'll pay for this NIGHTS" Reala hissed as clenched his fists in rage "Oh how you will pay!"

While NIGHTS and owl fell through the spiralling vortex that led to Earth, relentlessly pursued by the Goodles the four children had gotten properly acquainted.

"Sorry about your back" Will said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ah don't worry about it, I use to wrestle with my friends all the time and they weighed way more then you" Elliot said casually as he rubbed his back.

"And thanks for making sure I got off of the train!" Will smiled gratefully.

"No problem Will, just make sure to carry around an alarm clock from now on okay?" The blue haired boy said with a hint of a teasing grin.

The four were now walking through Midnight Plateau which wasn't just the name of the school but the town itself and it was breath taking! Will and Helen said that the town had some of Bellbridge' rustic charm while Elliot and Claris had said that it had Twin Seeds glamour, the one thing that stuck out most in the town was the large white tower with the dazzling tower in it's center, it was apparently the only thing that was left of a castle that had once stood there before the town had been founded. it reminded the four of the beautiful clock tower in Bellbridge and the amazing skyscraper in Twin Seeds.

"This place is incredible, isn't it Claris?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah a real treasure" Claris said in a bored tone, she still hadn't forgiven Elliot for earlier.

Helen was politely ignoring the tension between the two but Will decided to repay his debt from earlier. He grabbed a flower from one of the nearby hanging pots and slid it into Elliot's hand.

The basketball superstar blinked and gave the soccer player a grateful smile before shyly offering the flower to Claris.

The pink haired singer giggled when she felt the flower tickle her ear.

"Forgive me?" Elliot asked, with a gentle and hopeful smile.

Claris took the flower from in her hand and held it against her nose to take in it's sweet fragrance and gave Elliot a sweet smile. "It's a start and I didn't tell you either so...you're off the hook" she said as Elliot rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Good idea Will, you're a real...star?" Helen blinked.

"Awww thanks Helen" Will smiled.

"No I mean a star, look!" Helen pointed.

"A star?" Claris tilted her head inquisitively.

"In the middle of the day?" Elliot raised a brow sceptically.

The other three looked up in the direction where Helen was pointing and much to their surprise there was a star...and...it was getting closer! With no time to run the four braced themselves and hoped that the incoming projectile would miss them! They heard the roaring of the incoming star as it got closer and closer and then...It stopped.

the three lowered their arms and opened their eyes to look at the foreign object but instead of seeing a giant star they instead saw-

"NIGHTS!" All four exclaimed and then looked at each other in shock.

"Hi everyone" NIGHTS smiled weakly as Owl popped out from under the Nightmarens arm.

"I'm afraid the greetings will have to wait dear visitors, we have unwanted guest's!" He frowned as the three Goodles descended from the sky. "Hurry visitors! One of you must dualize with NIGHTS! Make haste!" Owl exclaimed as a surge of purple energy erupted from his body, creating a dome around the area!

The four looked at each other before Reala suddenly stepped forward and pressed his hand against NIGHTS and in a flash of light Will was still standing their and NIGHTS was right beside him in a see through form.

"What!?" NIGHTS exclaimed. "This doesn't make sense!"

"I will explain later but for now you must defeat those filthy vermin!" Owl insisted.

"O-Okay, I'll do my best" Will nodded as his hands began to glow with a familiar red light and he lunged into the air, grabbing the purple Goodle by it's large legs and began swing around it as if it were a monkey bar then using the momentum he built up flung it at high speeds.

"Will look out!" Helen exclaimed!

Will looked to either side and saw with glowing blue eyes that both the blue and green Goodles were charging at him, he simply smirked as he jumped out of the way releasing a green burst of energy from his feet that dazed the two birds and in their confusion crashed into each other and released a squawk of surprise!

"Nice moves Will!" NIGHTS smirked, giving Will a thumbs up!

"I'm surprised that I'm actually doing this well!" Will chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Don't get distracted you two! Elliot called. "Those feather balls are up to something!"

Will looked up to the three Goodles as they took up a triangular position, their bodies rippling like water, they drew closer together and much to the shock of the spectators their bodies began to merge together like raindrops clinging to each other until all three were now one giant bird and it's rider looking as if they had been splattered by multiple cans of purple, blue and green paint.

"Okay...what just happened?" Will asked in confusion.

NIGHTS opened his mouth to say something but before he could say one word the bird Goodle flapped it's large wings, creating a turbulent gale that knocked him out of the sky and into the ground with a loud crash, leaving behind an obvious crater! Will groaned, his body for a brief moment glowed with a pure white hue before it shimmered away.

"Will are you alright?!" NIGHTS asked worriedly.

"I'm fine NIGHTS, just a little winded" Will assured as he slowly got to his feet, surprisingly he had not felt any pain only the impact of the fall.

"Alright Will, lets finish this oversized turkey off!" NIGHTS grinned as a yellow light emitted from Wills chest and out of his chest popped a football that was coloured red and with streaks of yellow flames around the center. Will gave the sphere a sceptical look.

"Oh well, I guess it will have to do" He shrugged, now was no time to be picky.

Will took a few steps back to get a running start and dashed! His eyes alternating between the ball and his target, he drew his foot back and with a powerful kick sent the ball flying into the air where it ignited like a rocket! The Goodle tried to stop it by creating another powerful gust of wind but it did nothing to slow the fireballs ascension and before it even had the chance to move out of the way, the projectile flaming orb made impact and the Goodle burst into a haze of feathers that melted away before they even fluttered to the ground.

"It is done" Owl let out a content sigh of relief and the purple field rippled away and Will and NIGHTS were now separated and panting from the adrenaline of the events that had just taken place.

"Okay...what just happened?" Elliot asked the question that was more then likely on everyone's mind right now.

"Well-" Before NIGHTS could explain what was happening a loud ding-dong could be heard.

"Would all first year students please report to the school gymnasium for initiation and room assignments!" A gentle feminine voice echoed through the air.

"Anyway as NIGHTS was about to expla-mmfff!" Owl's voice became muffled as NIGHTS pressed a gloved hand to his beak.

"Don't worry about that for now, just go to this, initiation thing and you can meet us back here later, don't worry no one can see or hear us except for you" NIGHTS assured with a bright smile.

"Are you sure?" Claris asked.

NIGHTS gave a thumbs up "I know being here means a lot to you and I won't mess it up by making you late on your first day"

The four smiled gratefully, trust NIGHTS to put others before himself.

"Thank you NIGHTS" They all said in unison, turning to run to the said location, they didn't know what was going on but they could tell that they were in for a whole knew adventure.

Next time: NIGHTS and Owl explain to the children what has happened in the Night Dimension and the four must now stand with NIGHTS to protect their world as Reala sends an old enemy from the past to capture them!

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter ^_^ I'll try to update weekly if not monthly, please R&R