Hello you guys!!! This is the first time I write a fanfic, so PLEASE don't flame me, k? It's happening before the game started, and it has MY perspective of how thing were at that time. This first chapter is kinda explaining how life worked... It's kinda boring, I know, but it will get better with time, so just be patient, k? Hope you enjoy... And review too, since it's my first time writing I would like to hear how I can improve!
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Disclaimer: I dun own anything NiGHTS-related! I dun have money either, so don't sue me! However, I do own Haggaia and Postumus, so don't steal 'em!
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Act 1
"W-where am I...?"
wondered the dreamer. He was lost in that awful desert for some time now. He hated this place. Every time he came here, some strange creatures took him to a strange castle, and there he had already been almost drowned, eaten by a monster, killed by a giant teddy bear... Even if he was terrified, he didn't think that these were the worse situations. No. He was a brave young boy. But he feared, above all, one of the strange beings, a purple-clad one. Not that it had done anything to him... But he looked good. He looked understanding and caring. And that mixed everything up. There couldn't be any good in that castle, so why did that being look nice? He feared him because he didn't know what to expect...
"Dan?"
someone called.
"Dan, dear, wake up! You'll be late to school!"
He opened his eyes. He was just dreaming! No... Not dreaming. Dreams were good. He had had a nightmare.
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Nightmare. Some would think that it's the name that the humans give to the bad dreams, but they are wrong. The origins of the name come from where the nightmares are played, the castle. It is a strange reality to humans, for we are not adapted to such a place; we think that it's made by out imagination. Truth and wrong. It is made by our imagination, but not in the way we think. It exists. It's tangible. It's even inhabited. A world supported by our biggest fears... And in this place, live beings called nightmarens, the children of the dark. Not created, but given form by Wizeman, the Wicked. His first and most beloved son in the crown prince of Nightmare... And him, he named as the thing he loved the most: NiGHTS.
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NiGHTS was pacing up and down in his room. What a strange scene. It was unusual for him to be doing nothing, energetic as he was... But in fact, everything seemed unusual that day. The nightmaren was disheveled, wearing black pants and an opened silk shirt. His feet were bare, and his hair, without floppies, fell through his back untidy and dirty as ever. The dark circles under his eyes showed that he hadn't had any sleep in the past days, and his eyes, that usually shone with happiness and knowledge were very worried--worried about WHAT his master was planning. Wiseman had locked himself into his room and wouldn't open the door, not even to know how the Ideya collecting was going. And that was something rare for him. He would bug the generals for more and more Ideya every. Single. Day.
The young nightmaren sighed. He felt terrible... It was always like this, always. When Wiseman locked himself alone for a lot of time it was because he was up to something. And that scared NiGHTS more than anything else. He had always hated to hunt dreamers and take their Ideya, he knew what were the effects on them when they woke up. Could anyone come up with something worse? NiGHTS knew his master could. He had spent nearly three days trying to find a way of stopping him, but he hadn't thought of anything good. Lost in his own thoughts as he was he didn't heard the knock on the door. But then it came again. And again.
"Ah! Sorry!"
He ran to the door and opened it, easily recognizing the 'maren standing there as one of the many messengers that worked in the fortress, since the place was so big. The young messenger couldn't help but to stare at NiGHTS for some time, and the prince soon understood why. His looks. He had forgotten about doing something about them before opening the door... Well, the damage was already done. He looked at the messenger in an expectant way, so that she could say what she was ordered to, and realized that the she was blushing. He raised an eyebrow. That was NOT what he had been expecting
"Hhn, l-lord NiGHTS, the great Wiseman wishes to see you."
NiGHTS nodded.
"Yes. Thank you."
The messenger flew off and NiGHTS went to the mirror. He stared at his own image and wondered why the girl had blushed so much. He went to his closet and started to put his usual clothes on, washed his face, brushed his hair and placed his floppies on his head before going to his master's room. People got out of the way when they saw the sapphire startrail, and the young nightmaren got to his master's room very quickly. He felt utterly sick.
Ooooooh, great. Just great. He finally came up with an even more hideous plan and wants me to put it in practice... Sometimes I think I should just go away.
But that wasn't it, NiGHTS realized when he got near Wizeman's room. There was too much magic in the air, and the nightmaren knew what that meant: His master had created something, a new creature. But to take that amount of time? He has created Gillwing in such a short time... He shivered. But if he has created such a monster, than WHY does he want me here now...? Not to test it's attack power, I hope.
He pushed the heavy bronze doors and stepped inside the room. His master's room extended in front of him, dark except for the eerie green glow of the six hands. For some reason, the place made him shiver. Strange. This was his father's room, he was supposed to like it in here... Right? But he didn't. Getting rid of his thoughts he looked up. Wizeman was in his usual place, gazing at the entrance. NiGHTS bowed.
**Welcome, my ssson. I have ssssummoned you becausssse I have a very important tasssk for you...**
The young nightmaren raised his head to look into his master's six eyes. They were full of pride, he noticed.
"Really, Master? A task? And what is it?"
**I need you to take care of my new creatttion... Will you do that for me...?**
"Take care...?"
The prince asked, not making any effort to hide his confusion. Take care?! He wasn't a nanny neither someone who was used to that, he was the crown prince and had many obligations. What made Wiseman think that he would be good at taking care of a child? This day was getting more and more weird, NiGHTS thought.
**Yesssss, take care. Come sssee him, he'ssss here...**
NiGHTS stepped forward to see that there was indeed someone lying in the floor. To his surprise, it was not a monster, but a humaren, just like him.. Except, obviously, a lot younger. He was lying in white sheets, dressed in white too, and seemed to be sleeping. His long, straight black hair was splattered around him, and his ghostly skin was marked in some parts. He was very slim and tall, especially for a nightmare of his age. A ten-year-old, the prince guessed. Strange. Why didn't his master create this maren like all the others, why did he skip a faze? Upon taking another look, NiGHTS saw that the features of the boy were somehow more mature and serious than even his. He felt power too. But it was obfuscated by the young boy's beauty. The purple clad maren couldn't help but to stare, almost breathless, at him. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. There was no other word to describe him.
**He isss your younger brother. I want you to take care of him and teaccch him everything you know, for he isss a princcce jussst like you are.**
NiGHTS nodded, and managed to look away from the young nightmaren.
"Hmmmm, master? When is he going to wake up?"
**When he isss commanded to... By you. You and him have a very ssstrong bond, sssstronger than you can imagine.**
"Because we are brothers...?"
**Becausssse without eacchhh other, you can not exxxisssst. Now go, go and give him life, my sssson.**
NiGHTS didn't question his master's orders. He took the little boy in his arms and left the room.
**And one more thhhhing...**
"Yes, master?"
**Hisss name issss Reala.**
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23/09
What a wonderful time I had today! I was excused from my duties, to teach Reala to fly. He learned quite fast, I must say... In two hours he was already drill dashing around. So kawaii!
I understand now why it took Wiseman so much time to create Reala: He is perfect, in every single way, he was meant to be like that... Unlike me. I was the firstborn of all nightmarens, my little brother is the most perfect of us... Not that that bothers me. I have been raising the boy for two years now, and honestly, I don't know what it would be of me without him. I recall thinking of leaving Nightmare before he was born... Now that just seems a far away memory. He has been the only person who actually makes me happy amidst all this stress! I mean, Wizeman has been producing LOTS of marens, and some of the adult marens are having kids... I'm having more and more work to do! Argh! Reala-chan wants to help me with all of that, but I won't let him... He's too young! Not that that makes any difference, since he is more mature than me... But I want to spare him from all this, at least while I can.
I think it is already enough help that he exists and I can be with him... You know, in times like this, I keep thinking about what Wiseman said when he told me to take care of him: "without each other, you can not exist". Gods. I never thought he was so serious...
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"Oni-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnn?! Oni-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan?!!!"
The young prince flew through the twisted halls of Nightmare, those halls that he knew so well, trying to find his brother--which, by the way, was no easy task. NiGHTS had a lot of things to do as the crown prince, many problems to solve, many places to inspect... He would hardly stay on the same place more than fifteen minutes, and Reala had to catch up in that tiny amount of time. No problem. He liked challenges.
"Oni-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn?!"
He sighed. No way he would manage to find his brother like this...
"Do you need any help, my prince?"
Reala jumped. He hadn't seen the other maren coming. Facing the newcomer, who had a very kind smile on his face, he recognized the sword on his belt, the rich green tones of his clothes and his deep hazel eyes
"Hi Haggaia! You startled me..."
"I didn't mean to, milord, I didn't mean to. So, is there something I could do for you...?"
"Actually, I was looking for my brother. Have you seen him...?"
Haggaia gave him a very funny look.
"Oooooooh, yes, our highness, many times. Or at least his startrail"
He said. Reala sighed again.
"That doesn't help much, ne? Do you know where he is now?"
The warrior sighed too and rolled his eyes.
"Most likely having another fight with the head magi..."
"Again?! You must be joking! Why do they fight so much...?"
"Ah, you know how Postumus' head works. To him, Nighmare's his domain... He said he can't work with us, the warriors..." He shuddered. "The guy's nuts. Even a demi'-maren has more sense than him... Anyway, I think you can find your brother at the fruittynutty's office. But hurry, eh?"
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Haggaia-san!"
Said Reala as he headed to Postumus' office.
"You're welcome, my priiiiiiinnnce!"
Shouted the other maren as Reala had already disappeared from sight. It wasn't long before the young prince reached his goal and it was very clear that his brother and the head mage were having an argument. Hmm... Perhaps something more violent than an argument. The floor shacked, the torches were off, there were lots of shouts. Good. Nothing out of normal, not when it came to that mage.
Neeeeeeh, I just hope that oni-chan goes slow on him... I mean, Postumus is no match for my brother! He could kill that insane maren without even sweating... But he is very competent in what he does, it would be a big waste to finish him off...
He looked at the meal he had brought, hoping that those two were done soon. He had prepared it and didn't like the idea of wasting it... Specially because NiGHTS rarely ate during the day. His poor brother was always stressed out, and Reala wanted to make a nice surprise for him.
Soon the castle was back to normal and the young prince thought that it was safe to open the door. Big mistake. The first thing he saw was the huge fireball. Then there was a voice calling to him, and that was all he could remember before everything became dark and silent...