NiGHTS: Into Dreams
Chapter One:
The Reluctant Return
It had been a year since Wizeman's defeat. It all seemed so far away from the resting Nights. Under the small tree, he rested in the warm pastures of Spring Valley, the sounds of the waterfalls in the distance lulling him into a deep nap. It had been very quiet since the end of the fight. Nights had spent several months recovering and returning the ideya to their rightful dreamers. He was now enjoying doing nothing more than determining where he was going to fly for the day, or where he was going to get his next nap that night. As for the other two hero's of the fight against Wizeman, they were doing well. Claris had braved the stage, and sung her heart out to a huge audience, ensuring her newfound career in the theater. Her new boyfriend, Elliot, had gone on to a promising basketball career. He had made the varsity team of his high school, and was becoming more and more skilled everyday. While their red ideya was still strong, they visited less and less as the year had gone on, finding their dreams in each other. Yep, thought Nights, everything was perfect.
He had, of course, heard the rumors coming from Nightmare Tower. Rumors of new Nightmaren like Nights. New and powerful magic being worked, and the reawakening of Wizeman into the dream world. Nights, however, discounted these rumors. Had he not, after all, defeated and destroyed Wizeman altogether? Of course he had. He had not even bothered flying out to Nightmare Tower to investigate these rumors. There was no way that the evil wizard could come back. When a Nightmaren was dead, he was dead and that was a fact. The rumors had, however, become more and more persistent over time. What was also disturbing was that the rumors were coming to sound more and more alike. Nightopians spoke about new Nightmaren practicing and training inside the tower, training to retake the lands that Nights had fought so hard to free. Nights, however, still dismissed the rumors, telling terrified Nightopians that they were just that..rumors. He and Reala were one of a kind. Wizeman had lost one Level 1 Nightmaren, he wasn't about to risk a great deal of energy to create many Nightmaren, only to lose half of them. Yes, Nights finally told himself, there were no truths to those rumors.
It was a denial that would haunt Nights for the rest of his days. Far off across the landscape, Reala stood atop Nightmare Tower, overlooking the dark land below. His face painted in the haunting style that so many knew him for. The cold winds blew the long floppies of his headdress all around him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the wisps of frost it created drifted off and disappeared just as quickly. He was alive for the first time in a long while. After his defeat at the hands of his brother, he had not been himself. Reala believed himself to be superior to Nights in every way. He had trained harder than Nights, he had remained loyal when Nights ran off. He deserved to more than his brother did. The angry Nightmaren had known something that Nights had not. He knew that Wizeman could never truly be destroyed, only banished for a short time. So he had waited, and waited patiently for his master to return. And return Wizeman did. The furious wizard awoke in a rage, demanding Nights head on a silver platter and delivered to him. He quickly recovered, however, and turned to regaining his lost power. Reala continued to wait patiently. It took long months for his master to recover fully. It took a great amount of ideya and even some of the unusual plants in the Mystic Forest. Finally, however, Wizeman had recovered, and Nights had not even flown close in all that time. Fool, thought Reala, Nights didn't even know the storm that was coming for him. He was growing idle and weak out in Spring Valley, resting there and befriending the pathetic Nightopians. Wizeman knew better, however. He knew that what was needed were more Level 1 Nightmares to capture and take Nights alive. Reala had been against it from the very beginning. He wanted to be the one to haul in his brother and bring him in before his master. Wizeman had argued against this, however, and had gone about creating his new series of Nightmaren. And a motley bunch they were. Each had been created for a specific purpose, each of them to be given a specific task to be accomplished after Nights was captured. Reala sneered at these new Nightmaren. They all had their faults, and all of them were weak in some way. He had tried his hardest to ensure that they were warriors and fighters, but some of them just would not take to the training at all. They complained, or stared off into space in a daydream. Some had not even survived the harsh lessons that Reala delivered. He was assured that those that did survive were strong enough to complete their appointed tasks. Reala, however, was still the strongest, and sometimes a Nightmaren needed to be beaten down to remind them of this point. Wizeman did nothing to stop Reala's training tactics, or to help any Nightmaren in any way. He needed strength, and he knew Reala would give it to him. Reala continued waiting, biding his time until his new army was strong enough to strike and take Nights into custody.
That night had finally come. Wizeman was strong enough to once more take up his dream of conquering both the real world and the world of dreams. Now it was time for Reala to take his new Nightmaren team out. It was the moment that Reala had been waiting for all year. He had before him the cream of the crop. All of them had that fire in their eyes that Reala enjoyed. Yes Nights, you were a fool to not investigate while Wizeman was weak. Now he was stronger than ever, and now he would have his revenge on you.
"Remember," he told his new minions, "Nights is to be taken alive for the pleasure of the Master. Watch out for him, however, he is still very strong and very fast." Reala lifted off the ground, pointing towards Spring Valley, "Come, let us teach my brother a lesson about betraying Wizeman."
All of them lifted off the ground, seven in all. Yes, thought Reala, his brother would not stand a chance.
His brother, in the meantime, had fallen asleep underneath that same tree. Nights snored rather loudly. So loudly, as a matter of fact, that a nearby Nightopian had come over with his fishing line to wake him up and tell him to fall asleep somewhere else. Sure this purple garbed Nightmaren was a hero, but enough was enough. He was never going to catch anything if this silly thing would not move away. The Nightopian flew on his silvery wings, hovering above the much larger Nights when he heard the cackle. He believed it was one of the many Mepians that hovered around the area. He turned back to Nights, reaching down with his pole and poking the Nightmaren in his side. Then he heard the cackle again, and this time a cold shiver ran up his back. He turned again, looking up into the sky and spying a small formation of humanoid beings. In the lead was one dressed in a tight white body suit with a series of blue and red diamonds on his chest. He wore boots of black and red and they ran up most of his thigh. On his hands were bright yellow gloves, no, they weren't gloves, they were claws. His face was painted white with black around the mouth and eyes. His smile was almost feral, and the Nightopian shivered when his eyes beheld it. What was it? The Nightopian didn't know, all he knew was that it was heading his way, and it was not in a good mood.
"Nights! Wake up!", the smaller creature said.
"Not now Topi.", Nights said, using the nickname he gave to any Nightopian, "Can't you see I'm doing something important?"
"This isn't the time! There's something coming this way, and it doesn't look friendly."
Nightopians were not given over to fear, and this was the reason that Nights opened his eyes. "What are you talking about? What doesn't look friendly?"
The small creature pointed up into the sky. Nights followed the Nightopians finger and he saw what had frightened him so. Then his eyes went wide as he breathed that word that he thought he would never say again. "Reala..." His eyes were intent and focused on his brother that it was only after they got closer that Nights noticed others were flying alongside Reala. Who were they? What were they? They couldn't be Nightmaren, only one creature could create Nightmaren and he had destroyed him.
Reala saw his brother, saw that creature that had caused so much damage. It was time! He hovered in midair, that evil smile growing even wider. He pointed at Nights, and the Nightmaren sped by him to attack.
Nights eyes grew wide in fear. He launched himself up from the ground and tried to measure up the Nightmaren flying towards him. He couldn't, however, do that. They were coming in too fast. "Well," he thought to himself, "Let's test these guys out." He sped off towards one of the many islands hovering in the sky. He would need one with a windmill, yes, he had a plan. The other Nightmaren were following him, perfect. He could outrun all of them, he was faster and more agile. As he sped closer to one of the windmills, he spotted a window open and put his arms to his side, and brought his legs together to make himself as small and aerodynamic as possible, aiming right for that open window. Not many could do this, it was a difficult trick to fly into such a small opening. He turned once more and caught them following, speeding up such as he had. His smile grew once more as he aimed himself, and then slipped right into the window, coming to a quick halt inside. He turned around, waiting. As he looked outside, he saw one of the Nightmaren try to pull up only to slam into the outside of the windmill to the right. The other was more agile and was able to pull up in time. Another had stopped quite a distance back, and Nights figured that one had known what he was up to. The fourth flew into the window behind Nights, much to his amazement. He did not, however, pull up in time and slammed into the wall at the back of the room with a soft thud. Nights winced, imagining how much that had to hurt. The final one had also made it through the window, and had seen her friend hit the far wall. She skidded to a stop, her hands and feet on the floor. Nights was impressed, only a rare few could accomplish this. Nights looked her up and down, she was dressed in dark and light green, with white sleeves and white boots. What caught his attention, however, were the intense emerald green eyes that she had. Those eyes narrowed as she reached behind her back and brought out something that Nights had never seen before, a pair of daggers. "Weapons!", thought Nights, "He's given them weapons!" This was no longer a game, weapons brought a whole new aspect to the fight. The female Nightmaren charged forward, her speed causing her to come across the room in a flash. Nights was one step ahead of her, however, and immediately darted for the window. She turned, narrowing her eyes once more and throwing one of the daggers after him. It sped across the room, cutting the air. Nights launched himself a fraction of a second too late, the dagger slashed up and across his back, slashing him. He gasped as the searing pain ran across his back, and then he fell out of the window. He tried to gain control of his fall, spinning and twisting himself until he could once more look at the ground. He spread his arms and legs wide to slow his descent, but the ground was coming up to fast. He started flying forward, hoping that his forward motion would take some energy from the speed of his descent. With a whoosh and a swirl of dust, he started flying completely forward, his descent stopped. He saw, however, that he was flying too close to the ground, and a hill was racing towards him. He bent his back, trying his hardest to raise himself up. At the last moment, he did so, rising back up into the air. He once more twisted to look back up into the air, only to have two boots slam into his stomach and crash him into the ground. The air was knocked out of him as his body slammed hard into the lush green grass of Spring Valley. He groaned in pain as all around him the enemy Nightmaren landed. They watched him carefully, but Nights was in too much pain to even stand. He managed enough strength to bring himself to his hands and knees, but a boot from somewhere slammed itself once more into his stomach. "Stay down."
Reala landed close by, walking over as his Nightmaren watched the wounded Nights try and get up. He only smiled as another boot sent his brother back to the ground. "Well, well, well brother. It's such a pleasure to see you again." He walked up close and saw the long slash running along his back. This brought a raised eyebrow to his face, looking at the group. "Who did that?"
The female maren held her head up, "I did, he wasn't quick enough and it slashed him."
Reala nodded his head, kneeling down close to Nights, bringing his face up with one of his clawed hands. "You've grown weak, brother. I should kill you now and be done with it. Wizeman, however, has different plans for you."
Nights coughed up some blood, looking up at Reala. "He's supposed to be dead, I defeated him and sent him to the afterlife."
Reala cackled loudly, shaking his head. "A pathetic little 'maren like you, kill the Lord of Nightmares? I don't think so, brother. You can't kill Wizeman, you can only send him away for a short while. And his short while was up months ago. If you hadn't been so lazy, you would have come and checked. Instead you decided to lay here and pretend it was over."
Nights shook his head, taking a deep breath, "No..he's supposed to be dead."
Reala only laughed again, kicking Nights in the ribs as hard as he could. "Oh brother, I shudder to think what Wizeman has in store for you. Pick him up and bring him along. There's a comfy room waiting for him in Nightmare Tower." They all laughed this time as two of them roughly picked him up and started flying off. Reala stayed behind for a moment, taking a deep breath as he looked at Spring Valley. In the distance, a rumble of thunder could be heard, and the Nightmare General just smiled. "Oh yes," murmured Reala, "Oh, it's going to be beautiful." He leapt up into the air, following his cohorts for the long flight back home.
The flight to Nightmare Tower was a quiet one. Nights was too weak from the slash on his back and the numerous kicks to his chest and stomach. He concentrated on breathing and trying to block out the pain. He was almost dizzy with the pain, and the ground scrolling beneath him wasn't helping. He was being carried between two of the stronger Nightmares, their hands under each of his arms. They were intent on where they were going, paying little attention to their prisoners. It was this way for a long time, Nights watching the ground go by, the captors not speaking or noticing their prisoner. The rolling hills of Spring Valley turned into the pools of Splash Gardens. He could see the parks with their splashing fountains, and the large lakes with their beautiful blue water, flashing by. Then Nights saw the border, Mystic Forest. The huge wooded area loomed before him, the green canopy spanning off in every direction. The Nightmaren group turned, heading north and skirting the edge of the forest. Nobody flew over the entire length of the forest, those that had were never heard from again. Even Nights, when he had attacked Nightmaren all by himself, knew better. Nobody knew what was kept in the center of that ancient wood, nobody wanted to know. A sudden jolt sent a new wave of pain through Nights, and he passed out, his fuzzy vision catching the fleeting images of the group turning to fly over the northern edge of the forest. Then his vision went black.
An image appeared in Night's head, looking at him with a funny expression on it's face. Nights couldn't make out the details, but he knew the face before him was old, and very wise. "Who are you?" Nights thought. "Why are you in my dreams?"
"Nights, you were not the first to make such a mistake. Wizeman cannot be killed. He is immortal as Lord of Nightmares." The voice was gruff, but understanding. Nights had never heard a voice like it.
"I defeated him, and he came back. He's going to keep coming back again and again. What's the point in fighting him? I can never win."
"Nights, the answer will come to you, but you are leaving the boundaries of my power. Escape and come to me Nights, escape and come to my home. I will teach you. Never lose hope."
Nights searched for the voice, but it was gone. He found that he could open his eyes once more, and looked behind him. The forest was shrinking behind him, and Stick Canyon loomed off in the distance. Already Nights could make out the mining equipment that Wizeman used to gain his natural resources. He looked down in sadness as the beautiful desert was covered with machinery and scaffolding that destroyed the natural beauty. Still the Nightmaren flew, their strength unwavering. Then, beyond Stick Canyon, the air grew colder, and the sky grew dark. Nights looked before him, his eyes going wide in true fear. Even this far, Nightmare Tower could be seen rising like a skeletal finger from the ground. For the first time since his capture, Nights startled struggling to escape. He wanted to be nowhere near that evil mansion. The two Nightmaren holding him looked down and strengthened their grasp on his arms.
"He's starting to struggle!", cried out the one on the left.
Reala laughed, he could sense the fear that his brother had. The shock of being imprisoned in Nightmare Tower would strike fear in even the most hardy of souls. He flew forward, forming a fist and punching the back of Nights head. His brother fainted once more, the struggle ceasing. Reala's smile only grew wider, his eyes looking up and catching sight of home.
Nights awoke to find himself kneeling on a black marble floor. His hands were clasped behind him with some kind of cuffs and chain. He could feel the same cool metal clasped around his neck. He tried standing, but the sting of his ribs caused him to gasp in pain and fall back to his knees. He looked up, blinking a few times to clear his vision. Black stone walls rose on every side of him into the shadows above. No windows sat on the walls, no pictures or tapestries. Only the cold flickering of torches made any noise. He knew where he was, and his breathing grew quick and shallow. He twisted quickly, the chains clanking and echoing around the large throne room.
"Greetings, Nights." From the shadows behind the throne, the towering image of Wizeman appeared. "It's so nice to have you home again."
Chapter One:
The Reluctant Return
It had been a year since Wizeman's defeat. It all seemed so far away from the resting Nights. Under the small tree, he rested in the warm pastures of Spring Valley, the sounds of the waterfalls in the distance lulling him into a deep nap. It had been very quiet since the end of the fight. Nights had spent several months recovering and returning the ideya to their rightful dreamers. He was now enjoying doing nothing more than determining where he was going to fly for the day, or where he was going to get his next nap that night. As for the other two hero's of the fight against Wizeman, they were doing well. Claris had braved the stage, and sung her heart out to a huge audience, ensuring her newfound career in the theater. Her new boyfriend, Elliot, had gone on to a promising basketball career. He had made the varsity team of his high school, and was becoming more and more skilled everyday. While their red ideya was still strong, they visited less and less as the year had gone on, finding their dreams in each other. Yep, thought Nights, everything was perfect.
He had, of course, heard the rumors coming from Nightmare Tower. Rumors of new Nightmaren like Nights. New and powerful magic being worked, and the reawakening of Wizeman into the dream world. Nights, however, discounted these rumors. Had he not, after all, defeated and destroyed Wizeman altogether? Of course he had. He had not even bothered flying out to Nightmare Tower to investigate these rumors. There was no way that the evil wizard could come back. When a Nightmaren was dead, he was dead and that was a fact. The rumors had, however, become more and more persistent over time. What was also disturbing was that the rumors were coming to sound more and more alike. Nightopians spoke about new Nightmaren practicing and training inside the tower, training to retake the lands that Nights had fought so hard to free. Nights, however, still dismissed the rumors, telling terrified Nightopians that they were just that..rumors. He and Reala were one of a kind. Wizeman had lost one Level 1 Nightmaren, he wasn't about to risk a great deal of energy to create many Nightmaren, only to lose half of them. Yes, Nights finally told himself, there were no truths to those rumors.
It was a denial that would haunt Nights for the rest of his days. Far off across the landscape, Reala stood atop Nightmare Tower, overlooking the dark land below. His face painted in the haunting style that so many knew him for. The cold winds blew the long floppies of his headdress all around him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the wisps of frost it created drifted off and disappeared just as quickly. He was alive for the first time in a long while. After his defeat at the hands of his brother, he had not been himself. Reala believed himself to be superior to Nights in every way. He had trained harder than Nights, he had remained loyal when Nights ran off. He deserved to more than his brother did. The angry Nightmaren had known something that Nights had not. He knew that Wizeman could never truly be destroyed, only banished for a short time. So he had waited, and waited patiently for his master to return. And return Wizeman did. The furious wizard awoke in a rage, demanding Nights head on a silver platter and delivered to him. He quickly recovered, however, and turned to regaining his lost power. Reala continued to wait patiently. It took long months for his master to recover fully. It took a great amount of ideya and even some of the unusual plants in the Mystic Forest. Finally, however, Wizeman had recovered, and Nights had not even flown close in all that time. Fool, thought Reala, Nights didn't even know the storm that was coming for him. He was growing idle and weak out in Spring Valley, resting there and befriending the pathetic Nightopians. Wizeman knew better, however. He knew that what was needed were more Level 1 Nightmares to capture and take Nights alive. Reala had been against it from the very beginning. He wanted to be the one to haul in his brother and bring him in before his master. Wizeman had argued against this, however, and had gone about creating his new series of Nightmaren. And a motley bunch they were. Each had been created for a specific purpose, each of them to be given a specific task to be accomplished after Nights was captured. Reala sneered at these new Nightmaren. They all had their faults, and all of them were weak in some way. He had tried his hardest to ensure that they were warriors and fighters, but some of them just would not take to the training at all. They complained, or stared off into space in a daydream. Some had not even survived the harsh lessons that Reala delivered. He was assured that those that did survive were strong enough to complete their appointed tasks. Reala, however, was still the strongest, and sometimes a Nightmaren needed to be beaten down to remind them of this point. Wizeman did nothing to stop Reala's training tactics, or to help any Nightmaren in any way. He needed strength, and he knew Reala would give it to him. Reala continued waiting, biding his time until his new army was strong enough to strike and take Nights into custody.
That night had finally come. Wizeman was strong enough to once more take up his dream of conquering both the real world and the world of dreams. Now it was time for Reala to take his new Nightmaren team out. It was the moment that Reala had been waiting for all year. He had before him the cream of the crop. All of them had that fire in their eyes that Reala enjoyed. Yes Nights, you were a fool to not investigate while Wizeman was weak. Now he was stronger than ever, and now he would have his revenge on you.
"Remember," he told his new minions, "Nights is to be taken alive for the pleasure of the Master. Watch out for him, however, he is still very strong and very fast." Reala lifted off the ground, pointing towards Spring Valley, "Come, let us teach my brother a lesson about betraying Wizeman."
All of them lifted off the ground, seven in all. Yes, thought Reala, his brother would not stand a chance.
His brother, in the meantime, had fallen asleep underneath that same tree. Nights snored rather loudly. So loudly, as a matter of fact, that a nearby Nightopian had come over with his fishing line to wake him up and tell him to fall asleep somewhere else. Sure this purple garbed Nightmaren was a hero, but enough was enough. He was never going to catch anything if this silly thing would not move away. The Nightopian flew on his silvery wings, hovering above the much larger Nights when he heard the cackle. He believed it was one of the many Mepians that hovered around the area. He turned back to Nights, reaching down with his pole and poking the Nightmaren in his side. Then he heard the cackle again, and this time a cold shiver ran up his back. He turned again, looking up into the sky and spying a small formation of humanoid beings. In the lead was one dressed in a tight white body suit with a series of blue and red diamonds on his chest. He wore boots of black and red and they ran up most of his thigh. On his hands were bright yellow gloves, no, they weren't gloves, they were claws. His face was painted white with black around the mouth and eyes. His smile was almost feral, and the Nightopian shivered when his eyes beheld it. What was it? The Nightopian didn't know, all he knew was that it was heading his way, and it was not in a good mood.
"Nights! Wake up!", the smaller creature said.
"Not now Topi.", Nights said, using the nickname he gave to any Nightopian, "Can't you see I'm doing something important?"
"This isn't the time! There's something coming this way, and it doesn't look friendly."
Nightopians were not given over to fear, and this was the reason that Nights opened his eyes. "What are you talking about? What doesn't look friendly?"
The small creature pointed up into the sky. Nights followed the Nightopians finger and he saw what had frightened him so. Then his eyes went wide as he breathed that word that he thought he would never say again. "Reala..." His eyes were intent and focused on his brother that it was only after they got closer that Nights noticed others were flying alongside Reala. Who were they? What were they? They couldn't be Nightmaren, only one creature could create Nightmaren and he had destroyed him.
Reala saw his brother, saw that creature that had caused so much damage. It was time! He hovered in midair, that evil smile growing even wider. He pointed at Nights, and the Nightmaren sped by him to attack.
Nights eyes grew wide in fear. He launched himself up from the ground and tried to measure up the Nightmaren flying towards him. He couldn't, however, do that. They were coming in too fast. "Well," he thought to himself, "Let's test these guys out." He sped off towards one of the many islands hovering in the sky. He would need one with a windmill, yes, he had a plan. The other Nightmaren were following him, perfect. He could outrun all of them, he was faster and more agile. As he sped closer to one of the windmills, he spotted a window open and put his arms to his side, and brought his legs together to make himself as small and aerodynamic as possible, aiming right for that open window. Not many could do this, it was a difficult trick to fly into such a small opening. He turned once more and caught them following, speeding up such as he had. His smile grew once more as he aimed himself, and then slipped right into the window, coming to a quick halt inside. He turned around, waiting. As he looked outside, he saw one of the Nightmaren try to pull up only to slam into the outside of the windmill to the right. The other was more agile and was able to pull up in time. Another had stopped quite a distance back, and Nights figured that one had known what he was up to. The fourth flew into the window behind Nights, much to his amazement. He did not, however, pull up in time and slammed into the wall at the back of the room with a soft thud. Nights winced, imagining how much that had to hurt. The final one had also made it through the window, and had seen her friend hit the far wall. She skidded to a stop, her hands and feet on the floor. Nights was impressed, only a rare few could accomplish this. Nights looked her up and down, she was dressed in dark and light green, with white sleeves and white boots. What caught his attention, however, were the intense emerald green eyes that she had. Those eyes narrowed as she reached behind her back and brought out something that Nights had never seen before, a pair of daggers. "Weapons!", thought Nights, "He's given them weapons!" This was no longer a game, weapons brought a whole new aspect to the fight. The female Nightmaren charged forward, her speed causing her to come across the room in a flash. Nights was one step ahead of her, however, and immediately darted for the window. She turned, narrowing her eyes once more and throwing one of the daggers after him. It sped across the room, cutting the air. Nights launched himself a fraction of a second too late, the dagger slashed up and across his back, slashing him. He gasped as the searing pain ran across his back, and then he fell out of the window. He tried to gain control of his fall, spinning and twisting himself until he could once more look at the ground. He spread his arms and legs wide to slow his descent, but the ground was coming up to fast. He started flying forward, hoping that his forward motion would take some energy from the speed of his descent. With a whoosh and a swirl of dust, he started flying completely forward, his descent stopped. He saw, however, that he was flying too close to the ground, and a hill was racing towards him. He bent his back, trying his hardest to raise himself up. At the last moment, he did so, rising back up into the air. He once more twisted to look back up into the air, only to have two boots slam into his stomach and crash him into the ground. The air was knocked out of him as his body slammed hard into the lush green grass of Spring Valley. He groaned in pain as all around him the enemy Nightmaren landed. They watched him carefully, but Nights was in too much pain to even stand. He managed enough strength to bring himself to his hands and knees, but a boot from somewhere slammed itself once more into his stomach. "Stay down."
Reala landed close by, walking over as his Nightmaren watched the wounded Nights try and get up. He only smiled as another boot sent his brother back to the ground. "Well, well, well brother. It's such a pleasure to see you again." He walked up close and saw the long slash running along his back. This brought a raised eyebrow to his face, looking at the group. "Who did that?"
The female maren held her head up, "I did, he wasn't quick enough and it slashed him."
Reala nodded his head, kneeling down close to Nights, bringing his face up with one of his clawed hands. "You've grown weak, brother. I should kill you now and be done with it. Wizeman, however, has different plans for you."
Nights coughed up some blood, looking up at Reala. "He's supposed to be dead, I defeated him and sent him to the afterlife."
Reala cackled loudly, shaking his head. "A pathetic little 'maren like you, kill the Lord of Nightmares? I don't think so, brother. You can't kill Wizeman, you can only send him away for a short while. And his short while was up months ago. If you hadn't been so lazy, you would have come and checked. Instead you decided to lay here and pretend it was over."
Nights shook his head, taking a deep breath, "No..he's supposed to be dead."
Reala only laughed again, kicking Nights in the ribs as hard as he could. "Oh brother, I shudder to think what Wizeman has in store for you. Pick him up and bring him along. There's a comfy room waiting for him in Nightmare Tower." They all laughed this time as two of them roughly picked him up and started flying off. Reala stayed behind for a moment, taking a deep breath as he looked at Spring Valley. In the distance, a rumble of thunder could be heard, and the Nightmare General just smiled. "Oh yes," murmured Reala, "Oh, it's going to be beautiful." He leapt up into the air, following his cohorts for the long flight back home.
The flight to Nightmare Tower was a quiet one. Nights was too weak from the slash on his back and the numerous kicks to his chest and stomach. He concentrated on breathing and trying to block out the pain. He was almost dizzy with the pain, and the ground scrolling beneath him wasn't helping. He was being carried between two of the stronger Nightmares, their hands under each of his arms. They were intent on where they were going, paying little attention to their prisoners. It was this way for a long time, Nights watching the ground go by, the captors not speaking or noticing their prisoner. The rolling hills of Spring Valley turned into the pools of Splash Gardens. He could see the parks with their splashing fountains, and the large lakes with their beautiful blue water, flashing by. Then Nights saw the border, Mystic Forest. The huge wooded area loomed before him, the green canopy spanning off in every direction. The Nightmaren group turned, heading north and skirting the edge of the forest. Nobody flew over the entire length of the forest, those that had were never heard from again. Even Nights, when he had attacked Nightmaren all by himself, knew better. Nobody knew what was kept in the center of that ancient wood, nobody wanted to know. A sudden jolt sent a new wave of pain through Nights, and he passed out, his fuzzy vision catching the fleeting images of the group turning to fly over the northern edge of the forest. Then his vision went black.
An image appeared in Night's head, looking at him with a funny expression on it's face. Nights couldn't make out the details, but he knew the face before him was old, and very wise. "Who are you?" Nights thought. "Why are you in my dreams?"
"Nights, you were not the first to make such a mistake. Wizeman cannot be killed. He is immortal as Lord of Nightmares." The voice was gruff, but understanding. Nights had never heard a voice like it.
"I defeated him, and he came back. He's going to keep coming back again and again. What's the point in fighting him? I can never win."
"Nights, the answer will come to you, but you are leaving the boundaries of my power. Escape and come to me Nights, escape and come to my home. I will teach you. Never lose hope."
Nights searched for the voice, but it was gone. He found that he could open his eyes once more, and looked behind him. The forest was shrinking behind him, and Stick Canyon loomed off in the distance. Already Nights could make out the mining equipment that Wizeman used to gain his natural resources. He looked down in sadness as the beautiful desert was covered with machinery and scaffolding that destroyed the natural beauty. Still the Nightmaren flew, their strength unwavering. Then, beyond Stick Canyon, the air grew colder, and the sky grew dark. Nights looked before him, his eyes going wide in true fear. Even this far, Nightmare Tower could be seen rising like a skeletal finger from the ground. For the first time since his capture, Nights startled struggling to escape. He wanted to be nowhere near that evil mansion. The two Nightmaren holding him looked down and strengthened their grasp on his arms.
"He's starting to struggle!", cried out the one on the left.
Reala laughed, he could sense the fear that his brother had. The shock of being imprisoned in Nightmare Tower would strike fear in even the most hardy of souls. He flew forward, forming a fist and punching the back of Nights head. His brother fainted once more, the struggle ceasing. Reala's smile only grew wider, his eyes looking up and catching sight of home.
Nights awoke to find himself kneeling on a black marble floor. His hands were clasped behind him with some kind of cuffs and chain. He could feel the same cool metal clasped around his neck. He tried standing, but the sting of his ribs caused him to gasp in pain and fall back to his knees. He looked up, blinking a few times to clear his vision. Black stone walls rose on every side of him into the shadows above. No windows sat on the walls, no pictures or tapestries. Only the cold flickering of torches made any noise. He knew where he was, and his breathing grew quick and shallow. He twisted quickly, the chains clanking and echoing around the large throne room.
"Greetings, Nights." From the shadows behind the throne, the towering image of Wizeman appeared. "It's so nice to have you home again."