Chapter 3: A song of Heroes
:::Makes her mark of "input normal character disclaimer here":::
Talin and the others do belong to me and Maren and Furries Inc. A cover for this story will be available shortly.
An author's note: Sorry this took so long to get done but I managed to obtain a new computer and the original of this chapter was on the old one. Since then this story has been lost 4 times. Each time when it was almost near completion. SO! At long last, thank god, here is chapter 3!
Special note: Thanks and kudos go out to the following people. Most highly to K.A. Rose, aka Catilina for believing in me, even when I began to lose faith in myself. To Jazza for getting off his lazy arse and working on something in the form of research for me. To Tara, who, with Cat, she taught me writing is all in the mind of the person with the pen (or keyboard), to Daze, Tony and Sammi for reading this and giving opinions and to Jaime and Shane for helping push me along this far. NOW! Without further ado!
The streets were cold and damp. Not that he cared. He had lived here as long as he could remember. Always hearing the stories told by the elder maren down by the train tracks. You see, on the streets myths take on a life of their own. For the hopeless, hope comes in the form of a mythical hero who could vanquish an evil lord. Not in the handouts of second grade food done by the shelters. And that's the way Keane first began his delve into the world of History.
Throughout his life he had researched when he could, asked any who might know. Anything to find out about that strong and amazing character, NiGHTS. Now the blond haired boy had stronger proof then ever. That girl he had met the night before was a chosen. He could tell. Of course, he mused; the chosen wouldn't come from the streets. Noble people like that didn't make their livings plucking the pockets of the rich in large crowds. But one had to make a living, and living was just what Keane had in mind.
His over-large tennis shoes made a squelching sound as he walked, his socks and shoes were wet clear though, as it had rained last night and puddles impeded his progress. Not that he really had anywhere to rush off too. He just felt like scrounging a meal at the near by restaurants. He was certainly starting to get too old for the "big eye" routine but he could still turn some young couple's head with a cock-and-bull story about his childhood on the streets. Not that all of it was a lie; hell, he wouldn't know if it were. He didn't remember anything before his tenth birthday. But he could spin out a sob story faster then you could blink, and that always got him a meal from some hapless newly-weds.
Keane stopped before a restaurant and stood in the doorway a moment before sitting on the curb, his bright blond hair in his face, aside form his eyes it was the only thing on him that shone with seeming newness and life. The rest of his clothes had definitely seen better days in the far distant past. His jeans were darned in several places. They had lasted him two years now. And were still a bit too big. He had a big break when he had found that brand new pair in a dumpster up on the higher parts of town. Now he didn't dare go back. With the earthquakes and minion attacks and maren turning crazy the whole of Nightopia was in an uproar, and any that could afford had gained security guards. Doing business up on the high part of town just wasn't safe anymore.
"That was nice, what you did for that girl last night." A young fellow maren sat down on the curb beside him, her thick curled turquoise hair fell around her face, her clothes almost as bad as his.
"Oh buzz off, you're scaring the fish away." Keane glanced at her. She was five years his senior. And had been the one who had found him, alone and scared in a burned out house that day eight years ago.
"Oh you know what they say, two heads are better than one, Keane m'boy!" She put an arm around his shoulders and he glared at her, but it lacked venom. He could never hurt her; not after all she had done for him over the years.
"Yeah but two heads aren't going to get us a meal. We work alone on food, remember?" He paused and then sighed. "It's not like I am going soft, all right? It's just..."
"She was a chosen." the woman finished. Keane gaped at her, "Hey, I haven't listened to you mutter in your sleep for eight years for nothing. I think you know more than you think. It's just locked away somewhere up there." She poked the side of his head gently before continuing. "And it must be in good company. Lots of empty space!"
Keane made a decidedly disgusted face at her. "Oh, don't you start getting mushy on me."
"What's the matter? I figured you would want girls melting in the gaze of those baby-blues."
"They're not baby blue... their dark blue and besides, what girl would fall for a guy who has to scam people to get a meal?..." He made a motion with his hand as if talking to an invisible girl. "Hey, yeah, wanna come back to my cardboard box?" He smirked. "Ha, I think not, Brenna."
Brenna shrugged and stood. "Well don't look now... but that girl is back, and she has company."
Before Keane could ask what she meant he heard a soft cry from down the street. "See, there he is!"
Keane turned to run a little too late. The bright haired girl from the night before came along the path made by the down town locals. The neon lights from lewd signs glinted on her wide circular glasses. Behind her strode two other human type maren and a maren cat. One was a tall, strong looking boy with dark hair.
Great, I suppose she is gonna have me arrested for giving her that goddess damned card! Keane thought to himself.
But the two following the taller boy was a short small made maren with red-purple hair in loose curls, and piercing gold eyes. And behind her, the maren cat, large and muscular with a dark blue coat the pixie like wings folded along his back.
Jalia smiled at the boy and offered a hand. "I had to come and say thank you. For talking some sense into me last night."
Keane took her hand looking at the others nervously. "Er, no problem..."
Jalia giggled nervously, the noise was high and a little crazy sounding. "Oh, forgive me... we were never properly introduced. My name is Jalia. These are my friends, Talin, Arowen and Kelsen. You are?" she prompted.
"You can call me Gold Star, or GS. Everyone does." There was no point in giving out a real name. His real name meant little but what his parents had left as their only legacy for him, a legacy he didn't want.
"Er, all right GS. For helping my out I wanted to know if we could take you to dinner."
The boy's finely arched brows drew up slightly, ah, sweeten the deal with food and he was there. He remained outwardly cool, though. "Sure, not like I got anywhere to be."
An hour later found the whole group crammed into a small booth at a pizza place down the street from Talin's house. They had just ordered and an odd, strained silence seemed to fill the small booth, everyone seemed a little nervous. Especially the newest member of their number, the tattered boy sat as far away from the others as he could. An impressive feat considering the space available to group.
"So..." Jalia began awkwardly.
"Er, yes," GS replied, focusing on the red and white checkered table cloth as though it hid some secret.
"So, care to tell how you knew about this?" GS jumped. It was the first time the dark haired boy had spoken; he had a deep, calm voice as he held up the opposing metal joker.
"Well..." GG shifted uncomfortably, he had a feeling this had been coming. "I just had a feeling, all right? Besides, I saw the others in her pack and figured they were hers."
"But where did you get this one in the first place?" Talin persisted. His cold blue eyes noting the squirm in the other's posture. The rest of the table was silent.
"Listen, I don't remember, all right? I've had it for as long as I remember. And I knew that someday the chosen would come looking for it. She came, I gave it back. End of story."
"What do you mean chosen?" Arowen piped up, the small maren was usually very quiet, she has a flowing, but stern voice her predatory gold eyes landed on GS and he shifted again. This wasn't going at all how he had hoped.
"The chosen ones. The ones who descended from the Heroes of the Dream Realm. Everyone knows the stories."
"No, everyone does not. Enlighten us." GS decided he didn't like this girl. Arowen had a way of looking at you that made you feel she was staring into your soul.
GS scowled back at the girl but was momentarily saved as the pizza arrived and they all took a slice, he ate restrainedly though his insides were gnawed with hunger, he thought better than to just dig in.
"Well?" Arowen prompted after a few bites had been taken by all.
GS swallowed hard, and it had nothing to do with the cheese on the pizza. Then abandoning all pretenses he just launched into the prophecy in a hushed voice.
"The story dates back to pre-dreamer records. It says that when Nightopia and Nightmare met at a crossroads, and the 'maren races were to be the most lost. Five young ones would rise from the ashes of society, Push back those who would tear them down and defeat an ancient evil that rises for a second time to threaten the lands of waking and dreams." GS paused long enough to take another bite then continued.
"One would raise in the name of a vanquished cold, the hatred of races concentrated hidden within his soul, he would be the dark. Another would live under a blanket of stars, child of nature and child of technology met in one being. He will be the opening to both worlds. Yet another would have the gaze of a hawk in flight, a raised consciousness, and sensitivity to those forces facing, she would be the balance. The fourth would be the joker. the bringer of brightness and chaos, a child of disorder and insanity. The beginnings of magic in a dead realm, she would protect the lost beings. And the final would be the child of prospers and pains the burden of the realms, and the bearer of the red light. He would rise from an unknown place, the one who sees above all. He will be the light."
The table was silent for a couple of moments after this, the Talin looked at GS again he leaned forward slightly even as the other boy drew back away. "How did you know Jalia was a chosen?"
"It-it was obvious. She's the fourth, the child of chaos. Her bright hair, the way she laughs, the cards and spell books. She had to be that or some nut excaped from the asylum down the street. But she wasn't muttering about Nightopians and counting backwards from a million so I figured she's more hinged then most."
"What do you mean, the darkness and light on the first and last child, are the others useless?" Jalia asked ignoring the fact she had just been named a chosen, in her pursuit of knowledge.
"The rest aren't useless, they serve as a balance for the first and last. They have to. There is a balance to the realms, it can never be all darkness, or all light, the pendulum must swing both ways, you see. So the evil entering the realm couldn't be countered by just good..."
"Because just good couldn't win, it would need a wider range." Jalia interrupted.
"Great, we're striving for mediocrity," Kelsen spoke from his standing point on the floor, his wings ruffled irritatedly.
"What about the rest of us...do you see us as chosen?" Arowen asked. GS had had enough.
"What's with the 20 questions? I don't know, all right?! I don't remember, I don't even want to remember. Just leave me the hell alone!" With that GS stood up and ran out before he could be stopped.
They sat for a moment, blinking at the volatile response the question had caused.
"Well that was a smashing success." Jalia mumbled sarcastically. When she turned to Talin, he was still looking in the direction GS had left. "What is it Tal?"
Talin let a cold smirk play on his lips as he turned back to the others. "'Child of light'... why didn't we see it before?
Jalia gave her friend a confused look, but Kelsen appeared to have understood as well. He growled deeply in his throat. "Good luck on that route, Talin."
GS ran. He just kept running, he didn't want to stop and let the shadows of his past loom up and swallow him. Around his neck his one possession he treasured above all others jangled. The fine gold chain was always hidden lest someone try to steal the small red jewel. No one understood, they never would. He wasn't what they wanted; he was just some poor street born brat who had lost abusive parents at an early age.
Wasn't he?
Lies ran around and around his head, as did the prophecy. It seemed four of the children had now come together, though none could any longer be truly called children, given their ages. The words seemed to echo in his brain. Darkness, closing, all ending darkness, Must strive towards the light, always run towards the light, chaos, light, balance, mage, darkness. Nightmare, Nightmare! He suddenly skidded to a halt, putting hands to his aching head. It took him a moment to realize just where he had stopped. The blue art-deco outer walls of the Tower stood before him. He looked straight up the very tall; building as it was bathed in the moonlight of the dream realm. What had brought him here of all places?
The answer came in a calm, but curious sounding voice behind him. "So you've finally come along, have you?" GS whirled around to come face to face with the strangest maren he had ever seen. The human like maren stood a bit taller then GS himself. But was dressed in a suit of varied purple, gold, magenta and white. The billowing sleeves and neck ruff did nothing to hide the invisible wrists and neck, the wide honest, amused purple eyes turned to GS.
"W-who are you?" GS backed up against the blue wall as the specter came closer, footsteps impossibly loud on the pavement of the alleyway.
"I think you just asked a question you already know the answer to," the other maren replied, halting and crossing his arms.
"But that's impossible, NiGHTS has been dead for millennia!"
"Yes, and I am here to tell you that death is an incredibly boring option. Don't rush towards it, you'll be disappointed." The figure was not whole, it was wispy light very dense, colorful fog.
"Well I wasn't planning on dying anytime soon anyway." GS muttered his back flat against the wall.
The maren gave an ironic smile, The same smile GS had always seen on himself. "The other reason I came is to guide you... you have a monumental task ahead of you, you know."
"What, to find the last chosen?" GS asked timidly, though he could feel his fear fleeting, something about those wide, dark eyes put him at a gentle ease.
"Well, yes and no. You must learn to trust yourself. For you are the last chosen. You are the light."
"You've go to be pulling my line here. Me? A chosen? I don't think so." GS stood a bit away from the wall now.
"It's true, you are my many times great grandson, a direct descendant down the lines." NiGHTS smiled softly at the look of astonishment on Keane/GS' face. But frowned when the look became one of mocking disbelief. "You do not believe..."
"Of course I don't. Do you think I am fuckin' stupid?! I am probably passed out somewhere and this is all a dream."
NiGHTS made a pained look at his descendant. How come Jackle and Reala got the easy cases? That stubbornness always wins out, he thought. "How can I prove this to you?"
"You can't. This is all some dream. It's definitely wins out on that one about the blue dog and humans on weirdness though. I am now going to sit here, and ignore you, until you go away."
With that said, GS closed his eyes and NiGHTS took on a frustrated look. This was getting harder by the moment. Keane had completely closed his mind off from NiGHTS, and the ghost-maren had no way to force Keane to believe. But time was running out, NiGHTS knew from the feeling of the land, the crossroads was coming. He suddenly closed the distance between himself and Keane and grabbed the small red jewel on the chain. Yanking the teen forward. Keane let out a short cry and stumbled the two steps to his ancestor.
"Now you listen here, you little whelp. I did not just transverse the constraints of time and reality just to come here and get ignored by some little slum boy who won't stand up for his destiny. I honestly thought my descendant would have more heart, more bravery than this. Too afraid to face your past... aren't you? AREN'T YOU?!" NiGHTS held the boy close even as he tried to get away.
Keane struggled in the bigger 'maren's grasp, but he abruptly stopped struggling. The ghost was right. He was afraid. "Yes," he muttered, looking down. "Yes, I am afraid."
NiGHTS abruptly released him and smiled slightly. "Don't be. Trust in yourself. In your friends. Trust-" he paused a moment to take the small red jewel in his hands "-in this. You will have all you ever need if you only look within, You just need to learn to see it." NiGHTS began to fade before his eyes.
"No! Wait! There is so much I want to know!" Keane cried out reaching out and through the fading figure.
"Another time, perhaps," NiGHTS replied. His form almost completely gone save those ever calming dark eyes. "Trust in yourself. Fly, young one. Prepare to fly!" And with that, NiGHTS was gone again and Keane was alone in the dark alleyway.
It took him a moment to understand what NiGHTS had meant about flying. Suddenly his feet were no longer touching the ground, and then he began to float a bit higher as he thought about it. An incredible weightlessness filled his very being, he felt free. He felt alive. Suddenly he lifted his arms and soared. It was the most wonderful feeling he had ever experienced. He felt as though the rest of his life had been a lie, and to fly, to move like this was the only real truth there was. His rational mind for once shut up. It didn't occur to him that maren could no longer fly, that they had been grounded for centuries. No, none of this came to him as he suddenly perched right on the tip of the spire, looking out over all of Nightopia which centered around this one simple building. Perched there, silhouetted by the moon, only one other saw him.
And Talin smiled.
Keane soon learned that it was not a good idea to do a whole lot of flying on ones first night out. When he landed at last with a hard thump in the old warehouse that served as his home, his whole body hurt. Some muscles he didn't even know he had suddenly ached with such a force walking was hard. Making his way stiffly across the room he flopped down on the ancient mattress and blankets that was his bed with a soft sigh.
"You were out late tonight." Brenna had walked in from a near by doorway.
"Mmph." Was the only reply she got, as Keane's dark eyes were hidden in a pillow, As was the rest of his face.
"Have fun with that girl?" Brenna smirked.
Keane raised his head quietly, a look of annoyance on his face. "It wasn't what I thought it would be... I ended the night with a ghost appearing before me." His voice was humorless. Now that he was stationary, what had happened seem more and more like a dream. It couldn't possibly be true; He wasn't the descendent of NiGHTS. He was just a street brat, he was Keane, GS, and a kid that stole, cheated and lied. There was no possible way he was related to the proud and virtuous NiGHTS.
"A ghost huh?" Brenna flopped in an ancient armchair, choking on the dust that rose as she sat. "We really need to clean."
"What good would it do?... It'd only get dusty again."
***
The next few days went by quickly. Keane did what he had to, to survive, the world went around the sun, and it was all the same as it had ever been. Save for the knawing feeling at his heart and the memories of that night, which stood so brightly in his mind. He kept telling himself it was wrong. There was no possible way it could be true. Mythical heroes didn't just appear and start talking to people. It just wasn't done.
As Keane walked along, his friend Remi played with an old battered yo-yo. Remi was his junior by 3 years, and as Brenna had helped Keane; Keane helped Remi. The two were like brothers. And now Remi could see the uncharacteristic thoughtful look on his brother.
"Somethin' on yer mind, bro?" Remi asked
"Yeah, I suppose so... nothing for you to worry about."
"Wha-chu mean nuthin' for me to worry 'bout?"
"Just what I said... Nothing for you to worry about."
Remi turned his odd eyes on Keane. The boy was badly malnourished, and so had not grown, as he should. Though he was only three years behind the blond boy, he was barely tall enough to be eight years behind Keane. Remi had come from the area of New Nightopia in the republic. An area of the dream world that deemed itself beyond the laws of the rest, they had succeeded from the other gathered communities, to be their own country. It was there that Keane had found the boy, in a dumpster, a frightened and alone five-year-old. Keane often made the joke it was the best thing he had ever dragged out of a dumpster.
"Ahaha! Easy pickin's..." Remi rubbed his hands together peering at a boy Keane knew on sight. The dark hair and oddly pale face gave him away. Keane spun on his heal and tried to disappear into the crowd when a voice rang out.
"Ah, so the mighty GS does walk on the street during the day." Talin's voice was harsh and mocking.
"I walk where I wish, rich boy." Keane turned an ugly look on his usually handsome round face. "Unlike some people I have to work for a living!"
"Oh, if you call picking pockets and stealing work," replied Talin airily, flicking his fingers in disdain.
"You know dis guy?" Remi asked, tugging at Keane's arm.
Keane ignored his friend. "I do what I have to, to survive, Talin."
Talin inspected his hand smirking infuriatingly. His light blue eyes glittered with malice. "Survive, huh? What kind of poor-kid's home you run away from? Probably thought you would be better on the streets... your kind is always the same."
Keane balled his fists at his side, trying to count backwards from ten to calm anger threatening to explode. "I didn't run away from a house... I never had one." His mouth hurt from how hard he was clenching his teeth.
"Oh, so you're street trash. Just a strain on the rest of us, A freeloader, a bum!" It was too much; on one smooth movement Keane had pounced on Talin, and began pummeling the dark haired boy with balled fists. Talin was not defenseless however; soon the crowds parted and form a circle surrounding the two grappling youths. Remi stood on the outside of the circle yelling.
"Hey, yous guys, cut it out! Chu want the cops in on dis?! I said stop!"
But neither Talin nor Keane seemed ready to stop anytime soon. That is, until sirens sounded in the distance. That was it, Keane couldn't stay there and risk getting arrested. As soon as an opening appeared he slipped from his opponent's grasp and shot into the air. The crowd around them gasped in surprise. Keane was flying as fast as he could. What surprised the crowd more was when Talin leapt up and he himself launched into the air. It was something the people of Spring Valley had never seen, or not seen in years. Two Nightmaren, duking it out in the sky. Flight capable, and ready to seriously harm one another.
Keane paused, hovering a bit away from Talin. "Why are you doing this? Because I wouldn't answer your fucking questions?!"
Talin shook his head, odd smile on his face reflected back into his eyes. "No, just to test you."
"Test me to what?!" Keane peered more closely at Talin and frowned. "Dude, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just had to test my brother's descendent. NiGHTS doesn't always to have time to talk to you, boy."
Keane back peddled mid air, forgetting his feet were not needed in flight "Who the hell are you?!"
"I am not who I appear to be... Talin agreed to this."
"That doesn't answer my question," Keane pointed out, still trying to step back.
"I am Reala, encased in my descendant's body. I had to test you. You are the most important, you know."
"I AM NOT!" Keane screamed into the clear blue sky that suddenly began to cloud up, much faster then was natural, even from Nightopia. "Goddess damn it, I am not a puppet! I am not related to NiGHTS, I am just some street kid! Why won't you people believe me?!"
"Because deep down you know it's not true either." Talin's large blue eyes flicked from the sky onto Keane again, the cat like pupils becoming slits in an expanse of light blue.
"You're all fuckin' crazy, and I am going to the police! I jus-Hey! Let me go!"
Talin had suddenly lanced forward and grabbed both sides of Keane's head; the boy struggled in the strong grasp but suddenly felt tired. A black mist was obscuring his senses; he began to drift down, down, till he thought no more. He never felt his or Talin's bodies hit the ground. Neither did Talin for as they touched the ground both fell unconscious.
***
Talin recognized the dark hallways and smooth floor on sight, he had been here several times now. Reala always brought him here when they talked, but now beside him stood Keane, his bright hair and costume of NiGHTS seemed completely out of place; too bright in the Dark hallways. But there he stood, looking bewildered and scared. Talin couldn't blame him, the place still gave him the creeps, but deep down he knew it was home.
"Where…Where am I?" Keane rubbed the side of his head
"Nightmare… wherever that has disappeared to." Talin raised a brow at Keane, the blonde boy scowled deeply.
"But how... the last thing I remember is falling from the why with you trying to crush my head!" Keane snarled at Talin looking ready to continue the fight, but the dark haired boy held up his hands.
"It wasn't me, it was Reala, all right? He had control, I was crammed in the back of my mind!"
"I guess no harm, no foul." Keane said, still rubbing his temples lightly. "Any particular reason I was dragged to a long gone fortress in the middle of the goddess damned desert?"
"Honestly, NiGHTS, I thought my descendent would be the one with the horrible temper but it seems the tables turn." Reala's smooth, hissing voice came from somewhere in the darkness as he and Nights approached. Keane whirled and froze. Talin wanted to laugh at the look on the other boy's face. Reala was rather imposing and threatening figure. Though often enough he didn't live up to his horrible reputation.
NiGHTS sighed and put his hands up in a gesture of helplessness. "Well it was bound to happen eventually. Though his language could use some cleaning up."
Keane caught sight of NiGHTS and snarled. "You again? Why can't you just stay dead and leave me alone?! I have enough to worry about without being named chosen of you!"
Reala laughed heartily, the noise echoed around them in the dark hallways "Oh! Such a fighting spirit, NiGHTS my brother, you have your work cut out for you now I am afraid."
Keane backed away from them all. "What's wrong with me? Am I going crazy?! You're not real!"
NiGHTS stepped forward as the boy stepped back. "Oh, we're real, all right… How long are you going to run away, Keane? Every time you deny what is going on, you're letting the darkness get a stronger foothold."
"I don't care! It has nothing to do with me!" Keane cried out he had the sudden irrational want to just fly away. Leave all of this behind.
NiGHTS frowned at Keane, his voice was authoritive. And seemed to not fit his playful face very well at all. "It has everything to do with you! Without you they cannot win! Evil will overtake all, and you will be the first one killed because you hold the key to defeating the evil. Don't you see, Keane?! You are the key, YOU ARE THE LIGHT!" As NiGHTS yelled the red crystal on the chain around Keane's neck suddenly flashed forward with light, seeming to radiate energy and heat.
"I…I am the light," Keane repeated, his blue eyes locked on his ancestor. But NiGHTS didn't smile, he simply got a slightly satisfied look.
"Now that you're on the same page as the rest of us. I think I can let you return to the real world… Things will begin happening soon, so keep an eye out."
Keane nodded still looking astonished. As the scene began to fade the two older maren walked away seemingly immersed in an argument. It was true, then, that they were brothers, for only siblings bickered so avidly.
***
Keane slowly came to, to feel his head pounding horribly. Opening his eyes he saw a group of maren he had never seen before clustered over him.
"Just blacked out?"
"Yes doctor."
"Both of them?"
"Yes."
"Well this boy needs to see some good food and such... I can't find anything wrong with him aside from being under weight for his height. The other boy has absolutely nothing wrong with him as far as I can see."
"Sir, the other boy's parent is here…" A new voice entered the conversation.
"All right then… Just a moment." The blurry faces disappeared and Keane continued to stare up through thinly opened eyes.
"What a trip huh?" The weak voice he recognized as Talin's from the bed beside him. He slowly turned his head to look at the blurry face of the black haired boy.
Without another word they both reached out their hands and caught each other's in a quick hand shake, like that between close friends, or brothers. "Yeah man." Keane replied. "And we got one hell of one to come too!"
End of Chapter 3.
Coming Soon: Chapter 4
"Dreams of Black Sands"