Note:

Blah blah blah, NiGHTS is not ours.

Tier, Picusha, Molly, and Nightingale are Molly's, though, so ask before
using 'em.

Aaron belongs to Aaron.

So does Knight.

Even though Knight's not real.

But let's not be picky.

Okay? Okay.

Again, sorry about the formatting.

It won't behave itself.

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NiGHTS into Daydreams II

E-mail NightDrgn@aol.com

Part One: Heart of Darkness

.

"Give me your Ideya!"

Aaron gasped in shock as a strange figure in a black and purple jester's costume caught him from behind, ripping three glowing spheres out of his body.

White, Blue, and Yellow.

In front of him was the one who had spoken, a female in a pale purple costume trimmed with silver.

She laughed cruelly.

"Purity, Wisdom, and Hope. It's a shame that Dusk failed to take your Red Ideya."

Aaron backed away, looking around for an escape route.

"You . . . you can't have it!"

He had no idea what this strange girl was talking about, but he knew that she was up to no good.

The female gazed sadly after her companion, looking almost longingly at the Ideya that It carried.

She turned back to Aaron and waved a hand over a red jewel in her chest.

"I don't want it. I have my own, you see . . . but my master requests that I bring your Ideya to him."

In response, Aaron seemed to sag.

She appeared to be surprised by his attitude.

"You're finished fighting already?"

Aaron sighed, defeated.

"I . . . I can't beat you. . ."

The red jewel in her chest pulsed faintly, and the female sighed, turning her back on him.

"Fine, then I will give you a fair chance. Strike."

Aaron looked up, surprised.

"Strike? But I can't. It's not fair!"

She turned back, silvery grey eyes flashing as she lifted sharp nails and rose into the air.

"If you fight fair . . . you will lose!"

Frightened, Aaron blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Look, I'll give you what you want if you let me go!"

The girl froze and landed in surprise.

"What manner of trickery is this?! Why would you give your Red Ideya up, and doom yourself to eternal nightmares?"

A strange look crept over her, as if she were remembering something.

She turned her back to Aaron.

Aaron stared in horror.

Eternal nightmares?

That was what would happen to him if he lost this red jewel?

He looked up at the girl's soft command.

"Go."

Aaron didn't wait for an explanation, but took off running.

He soon found a shadow looming over him, and looked up to find the girl in the purple jester's costume flying overhead, purple and silver sparkles trailing from her hands.

She regarded him darkly.

"This is my first . . . and last favor to you."

Abruptly, she dove, attacking.

Aaron flung his arms up to defend himself, but quickly realized that she seemed to have gone right through him.

He didn't have time to worry about it however, as the ground beneath him crumbled away, dropping him into a pit of lava far below!

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~~~~~~

Just before he hit the lava, Aaron snapped back into consciousness, trembling.

He could feel his pulse racing, and took a breath to calm himself.

"Wow, that was some nightmare!"

The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became.

It wasn't the nightmare itself that bothered him, but the people who had been in it.

The creature that had attacked him was only vaguely human.

It had had a round face, lacking a nose and possessing only lines for its mouth and eyebrows.

It was also unnaturally slim.

In contrast, the female in purple looked like any girl.

Granted she looked ready to go out to the nearest Halloween party, but nevertheless, there was nothing frightening or unusual about the girl herself.

Aaron shook his head and glanced at his clock.

10:30 AM.

He must have been asleep for longer than he'd realized.

Rising, he hurried to shower and change.

He could worry about bad dreams anytime, but today, he was busy with something else.

~~~~~~~~~

Poor guy, Nightingale's already on the hunt!

End of Part One

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

Part Two: Nightmare

Molly found herself peering down a hole at dark railroad tracks far below.

In the hole, a man in a yellow firefighter's coat and hat murmured urgently.

As other people stepped forward to watch fearfully, Molly caught onto the trouble.

A toddler was down on the tracks!

She scrambled down and joined in the search to find the little girl before the train came.

Suddenly, the tracks rumbled and everyone ran back to the ladder to climb to safety.

Molly felt horror overwhelm her.

There was no way for anyone to dive out of the train's way.

The toddler could never escape, and they had failed to find her!

She climbed out, feeling a sense of horror so vivid that it hurt.

Molly's eyes flew open and she sat up, blinking as she calmed herself.

It had been another nightmare.

Why did she never seem to have enjoyable dreams anymore?

She sighed and checked the clock.

11:00 AM.

Her eyes widened in alarm, she had overslept!

Leaping out of bed, she showered and changed.

She had more important things to do than worry about nightmares!

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Aaron quickly made his way toward the Arts Council; he surely didn't need to be late for the first rehearsal!

He was already later than he'd intended to be, but he was sure that he could make it on time.

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At the same time, Molly was frantically throwing articles of clothing over her bed.

"Too tacky, too warm, too cold . . . where is my lucky purple sweatshirt when I need it?!"

She finally found it and threw on a pair of black jeans and a pink and silver necklace to match before charging out the door.

She grabbed a breakfast bar on the way out.

"I'm late!"

~~~~~~~

~~~~

Aaron could see the Arts Council ahead of him and he started to walk a little faster.

He was safely inside and greeting the other actors present when one of the girls jogged in, panting.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I hope I haven't missed anything!"

She grinned as the director waved her into a seat and sat down, still panting.

Aaron noticed the girl coming in.

She seemed strangely familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on where he'd seen her before.

He attributed the recognition to seeing her at the auditions before.

The director waved to get everyone's attention.

"Okay, people. These are the auditions for 'Enchanted Kingdom', but I'm sure that you all know that. I'm going to call out roles, and those who want to audition may rise and join me on the stage."

He held up a clipboard.

"Bear in mind that you may try for more than one role. If you don't get the first, you might win the second. Okay . . . goblins. Who are our goblins?"

A few people rose and went onto the stage, putting on their best goblin faces.

The result was muffled laughter from those still seated.

Aaron grinned in response, but held back his laughter.

Molly frowned.

Those faces reminded her of Reala.

A scowling clown.

She shook her head a little, forcing him out of her mind.

After a few moments of goblinish cackling and shuffling, the director pointed his pen at six actors.

"You, you, you, you, you . . . and you. You'll be our goblins. You may be seated."

They returned to their seats, the goblins grinning darkly at their neighbors.

The director consulted his clipboard.

"We already have our King and Queen . . . let's have our White Knights up on stage, please."

Aaron smiled.

He was very interested in the part of White Knight.

He stood and walked to the stage.

Only two others walked up with Aaron.

White Knight was not a very big role, and few were interested in it.

The director nodded.

"Okay, and now the White Knight's rival. Let's see some action and swordplay. Captain of the Nightmare army?"

Molly was surprised to find herself stepping onto the stage.

She hadn't even wanted this role until just now.

She was even more surprised when she was paired up with a familiar face.

The Red Ideya dreamer!

She regarded Aaron darkly, slipping easily into character.

"So we meet again . . . White Knight."

~~~~~~~~~~

What are the odds?

End of Part Two

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Part Three: White Knight

Aaron looked up into Molly's eyes confidently.

Her face reminded him of the strange purple-clad character from the dream he'd had the night before.

Though he knew that no one would get it, he couldn't resist slipping in a little personal inside joke with his response.

"This meeting is to be our last, fiendish joker."

Molly stiffened in surprise at the comment and lifted her nails, still acting.

"Indeed . . . this battle will be *your* last!"

She jumped forward as if to attack, forcing him to bring his arm up instinctively.

Aaron held up his hands in a defensive position.

"Claim what you will, but in the end, good is always victorious."

They were interrupted by a round of applause, and realized belatedly that they were the last ones left on the stage.

The director smiled.

"Good work, you two. You are our White Knight and Nightmare Captain. Please be seated."

Aaron smiled good naturedly to his new "rival."

"Congratulations."

He left the stage to retake his seat.

Molly nodded, smiling as she left the stage.

She took a seat beside Aaron.

"Thanks, you were good!"

He grinned.

"You too! This is going to be fun."

She nodded, only partially aware of auditions for the magical animals being called out.

She had wanted to be the Pegasus up until a few moments ago.

Now, she was settling into her new role.

"I wonder if we'll start rehearsing today."

Aaron couldn't stop grinning.

"I hope so. This is really exciting."

When the evil nightmare horse, dragon, and minotaur, along with the good Pegasus, gryphon, and Rok had been chosen, the director set his clipboard down.

"Okay, it's lunchtime, so you're all free to head out and eat. Be back in a half an hour."

He grabbed a few scripts from a table.

"Those who have already won their roles may take the rest of the day off to rehearse in private. Congratulations."

He handed the scripts out.

Aaron took his script and began looking through it.

Molly did likewise, grimacing as she read the first scene.

"Delighted cackling? What does delighted cackling sound like?"

"Like this."

Aaron began cackling delightedly in a very high voice that resembled the Wicked Witch of the West.

Molly winced.

"I'll shatter the windows if I do that!"

Aaron grinned sheepishly.

"You know, I should stop, or else I might do the same."

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Moments later, the two were outside, walking toward the local hangout.

Molly was testing a few lines out.

"Sheesh, this sounds stupid."

She made her voice more guttural, the way that she sounded in her Nightmaren form.

"The forces of darkness cannot be defeated, White Fool!"

Aaron blinked at her for a second, trying to figure out just where he'd heard that voice.

He flipped to that part in the script and delivered the next line for the White Knight.

"No Darkness can stand the Light of truth!"

He declared proudly.

Molly grinned and read her line quickly.

"Then by your will, my General, I. . ."

She stopped, looking around.

She spotted a stone lion in front of a house and put an arm around it.

"By your will, my General! I shall douse his light once and for all! And grind his bones to make my bread, and other wicked things!"

She added, grinning.

Aaron laughed.

"Hey, that's not in the script. . ."

Molly chuckled.

"Yeah, but I'm hungry."

She pretended to read the script.

"The White Knight and Nightmare Captain called a truce and went to Novadeers for lunch."

What a pleasant turn of events."

Aaron grinned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't go in there, she's the villain!

End of Part Two

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Part Three: Dream a Little Dream of Me

That night, Molly sighed as she changed into her sleep clothes.

She kept the sweatshirt, and pulled on her dragon print pants.

She turned and eyed her bed, wondering what type of dreams awaited her once she fell asleep.

She was asleep almost before her head touched her pillow, drifting into the realm of dreams, and the Nightmaren waiting for her there.

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~~~~~~~~

Aaron wasn't thinking much about dreams.

He found himself thinking mostly of the girl he'd met that day.

He changed into a T-shirt and boxers and climbed into bed

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"Hey. Hey you, boy."

A pudgy figure with sugar pink wings fluttered around Aaron as he knelt on a grassy hill, busy rehearsing.

"Hey, boy!"

Aaron swatted at the thing, trying to keep his concentration.

Topper frowned cutely and flew back.

"Don't do that!"

He pouted as he found himself being ignored.

"Will you listen to me, boy? You're dreaming. Now stop that!"

Aaron looked up to see the floating Nightopian.

He looked annoyed.

"My name is not 'boy.'"

He went back to his little rehearsal.

Topper sighed, letting out a little puff of breath.

"Fine then, what's your name?"

Aaron looked up again.

"Look here, little Marshmallow, I have to learn these lines before the goblins get here."

Topper frowned harder.

"I am not a marshmallow, I . . . uh oh, goblins? You shouldn't say things like that!"

He yelped as a crowd of dark shapes appeared.

"Too late!"

Aaron's eyes scanned over the last few lines and he stood up, feeling ready.

The Nightopian spun around.

"Now see what you've done? You're on your own, kid!"

He flew away, his halo bobbing frantically behind him.

"Don't worry, Marshmallow, I'll save you!"

Aaron shouted, watching the shapes advanced.

Instead of goblins, the shapes turned out to be strange creatures.

Birds in jester outfits, winged felines, and vaguely huminoid figures.

They crowded close, grabbing at Aaron.

Aaron swung a heavy punch at one of the felines' noses, causing the Nightmaren cat to leap away.

The Gao jumped away, one paw over his nose.

"Hey, he's only got the Red! Get it!"

It snarled the words, sounding exactly like you'd expect a talking lion to sound.

The others threw themselves at Aaron, overpowering him in their attempts to steal his last Ideya.

Aaron struggled valiantly, but seemingly futilely, seeing his precarious situation.

A green and pink shape swooped low suddenly, paralooping.

As the Nightmaren were caught up in the trail, they disappeared with a shriek, and the rest retreated.

Aaron stood up and valiantly proclaimed one of the lines from the play.

"No Darkness can stand the Light of truth!"

He struck a pose.

The figure behind him shook Its head.

"That's very poetic, but you almost lost your ability to dream there. Are you alright?"

"Dream . . . oh. That would explain a few things. I remember now. . ."

The memory of Aaron's previous dream came back to him, bit by bit.

He suddenly recognized the figure as one of the same things that had stolen the three jewels out of him the first time.

"Hey! Get away!"

He held up his hands in the same defensive stance he held on the stage at auditions.

The Nightmaren blinked, green and pink checkered arms folded over Its chest. It held a hand out.

"Relax, I'm not with them anymore. I'm Tier, and I'm here to help you."

Aaron looked at Tier with a scrutinizing gaze.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

The Nightmaren tilted Its head.

Aaron couldn't be sure if Tier was a male or a female.

Finally, Tier spoke.

"Have you heard of NiGHTS?"

"NiGHTS?"

Aaron was clueless.

Tier nodded.

"He's the leader of the Nightopian forces. We're the good guys!"

The Nightmaren straightened, obviously proud of that fact.

Aaron frowned distrustfully.

"Look . . . I'm going to come with you. But if you're lying to me . . . before I lose whatever it is they want to steal from me, you'd better make sure you're nowhere near."

Tier seemed surprised, and sighed, disappointed.

"Gee, you interrupted my noble speech. . ."

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Later, Tier soared overhead, forcing Aaron to walk below.

"I can see someone's house from here!"

The Nightmaren announced happily.

Aaron followed, eyes watching the surroundings closely.

He grunted in response.

Tier hovered, frowning down at Aaron.

"You know, you're not as cheerful as I was told you'd be."

Minty green sparkles drifted from the Nightmaren's hands.

Aaron stopped.

"I'm sorry. . ."

He sounded genuine.

He hated to disappoint people.

Tier instantly swooped low, placing a hand on Aaron's shoulder.

"No problem. Now let's get you to NiGHTS. I think you'll like him!"

Seriousness aside, the carefree Nightmaren took off once again.

It wasn't long before they came across a park like atmosphere.

In a grove of trees, a tent had been set up, and Tier headed for it.

"That's it, the temporary campsite of the rebellion!"

"It's very nice."

Aaron answered.

Tier sighed and grabbed Aaron's hand, tugging him toward the tent.

"C'mon, you're gonna love these guys!"

Aaron followed willingly.

It felt nice to have someone seem to care so much.

Tier lifted Aaron by his arms.

"Okay, see the group under the tent? The girly looking guy in the middle is NiGHTS."

Aaron chuckled a little.

A Nightopian looked up and gave a cute little bounce.

"Mr. NiGHTS, there's a dreamer!"

NiGHTS looked up as the green and pink checkered Nightmaren lowered Aaron to the ground.

NiGHTS smiled.

"Tier! Good work."

Tier grinned happily.

"Yup! I'll introduce you. NiGHTS, this is . . . uh. . .um. . . "

It leaned closer to Aaron.

"What'd you say your name was?"

Aaron blinked. "I'm Aaron."

". . .Aaron. Aaron, this is the famous NiGHTS. You've probably heard of him!"

Tier had forgotten of course, that Aaron had never heard of NiGHTS before.

Aaron smiled uneasily.

"Not really."

"Oh."

Tier shook his head and drifted back.

NiGHTS chuckled and stepped closer.

The purple Nightmaren smiled.

"Welcome to Nightopia, Aaron. We've been waiting for you."

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Let's see if he's any better than the last one.

End of Part Three

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Part Four: Familiar Faces

"You've been waiting . . . for me?"

Aaron knew for sure that he was dreaming now.

NiGHTS nodded to Aaron.

"That's right. You have a Red Ideya, don't you?"

Aaron considered.

"It seems that I do."

NiGHTS smiled.

"And Topper tells me that you've lost your other Ideya."

He became suddenly serious.

"We're going to help you get them back."

Topper fluttered over.

"Yeah, we all saw how well that worked last time. . ."

"You would help me get them back? Why?"

Aaron asked.

NiGHTS was frowning warningly at Topper, and turned back to Aaron.

"Because Those Ideya are your ability to dream. Without them, you're incomplete."

Topper grinned.

"Not to mention the fact that you'll be waking up every five minutes from terrible nightmares for the rest of your natural life."

Aaron frowned a little.

"And what's in it for you? If I keep the one I have, it's no skin off your back, right?"

The Nightopians and rebel Nightmaren looked at each other.

Was this rude boy really a Red Ideya Dreamer?

NiGHTS took a breath.

"It's vital that we help you. Without those Ideya, you can't fend off the Nightmaren. And if their leader, Wizeman gets your Red Ideya, he will destroy Nightopia and invade the waking world."

Aaron nodded as he absorbed this fact.

"I'm sorry to be putting you through this."

NiGHTS grinned.

"That's okay. Unfortunately, I'm going to be asking a lot of you, Aaron. We also have someone needing to be rescued. Are you up to this?"

Aaron answered instantly.

"Yes. Anything that I can do, I'll do it."

NiGHTS nodded, grinning in relief.

He had obviously been afraid that Aaron would refuse.

"I'm glad to hear it."

Aaron smiled back.

The rebels backed away as NiGHTS extended a hand.

"Okay then. Take my hand and brace yourself."

Aaron reached out slowly, looking NiGHTS in the eye.

"Where are we going. . .?"

NiGHTS chuckled as Aaron reached for him.

"Oh, I just have one of those thousand volt shockers in my hand ready to shock you."

Aaron jerked his hand back.

"Ack!"

He frowned as NiGHTS laughed, obviously highly entertained.

NiGHTS grinned and held his hand out again.

"Relax, I was only joking. Come on."

Topper made a face.

"Wow, nothing takes away this guy's sense of humor!"

Tier leaned on the Nightopian's head.

"Well, NiGHTS was the greatest practical joker that Nightmare's ever seen."

Aaron hesitated, NiGHTS really was a jester?

He was supposed to join forces with a practical joker in order to fight a horde of evil creatures and reclaim his dream energy, all in the hopes of saving both this world and his own?

It was sounding more and more like a children's cartoon or video game.

"Aaron. . ."

Aaron jumped at his name and looked up.

NiGHTS smiled, a mildly reproving expression on his features.

"Don't make me beg."

Aaron smiled.

"Right. . ."

The purple Nightmaren extended his hand once more, and Aaron took a breath before clasping it.

Instantly, his entire perception changed.

He was facing the opposite direction, he was taller, and he could see farther around than he could before.

"Wh . . .what in the world?"

Aaron couldn't believe what he was seeing.

His eyes seemed to be telling him that he was in a completely different space than the one he'd been in just an instant before.

And he hadn't moved.

NiGHTS chuckled, a sound that seemed to echo all around Aaron, as if he were the one making the noise.

Aaron was even more confused now.

He looked around for the source of the laughter.

"NiGHTS? This is no time for more of your jokes. I thought we were going to save the world . . ."

His voice emerged in a higher pitch than he was accustomed to, sounding nothing like his own voice.

It sounded just like . . .

"NiGHTS! What did you do to me!?"

Aaron demanded, surprised and dismayed by his situation.

NiGHTS responded by laughing, a happy, bubbling sound that rose all around Aaron, as if he were the one laughing.

The Nightmaren blinked his large eyes, debating the best way to explain.

"I haven't done anything to you. We've just merged is all."

Merged . . . that would explain a few things, Aaron thought to himself.

To NiGHTS he asked,

"Why?"

NiGHTS had sensed Aaron calming down, and smiled kindly at the question.

"Because I am not the hero that everyone accuses me of being. I need the help of a special dreamer in order to act against Wizeman and his minions. You are that dreamer."

"I see. . ."

Aaron felt suddenly important.

NiGHTS laughed again unexpectantly.

"Would you mind relaxing, Aaron? I'm starting to look and feel like a balloon."

As he looked down at himself, Aaron realized that he'd been puffing his chest out in pride.

Now, Aaron felt embarrassed instead.

He quickly deflated.

The other Nightmaren and Nightopians chuckled and began to mimic the pose.

One Nightopian grabbed another and blew into his ear, causing his friend to become a living balloon.

The unfortunate Nightopian blew away with a startled yelp, leaving his friend to chase after him in alarm.

NiGHTS sighed in relief as he returned to his normal size, and paused to blink at the Nightopians' antics before grinning.

"Thank you."

Tier drifted closer.

"NiGHTS, here are the plans."

The pink and green Nightmaren laid out a sheet of paper with crude sketches on it.

NiGHTS leaned closer for Aaron to see.

It was nothing more than childish stick figures with sloppily written names beside them, and simple instructions.

The main idea was that NiGHTS flew into Nightmare and fought guards

(or 'gords' as Tier had written), and freed the Ideyas.

Aaron chuckled a little.

"Very nice plan, Tier. It's sure to succeed."

Tier straightened proudly.

"Thanks, NiGHTS!"

NiGHTS chuckled very softly, so that only Aaron heard.

"But Tier, I didn't say anything."

Tier blinked, confused.

"But you just said it was a nice plan."

NiGHTS shook his head, hands behind his back and an innocent expression on his face.

"No, I didn't."

Tier looked confused, and turned to Topper, who was stifling a giggle and trying to squeeze through the crowd to excuse himself.

"Yes I did."

Aaron put in.

Poor Tier blinked before shaking Its head, making a little jingling noise.

"You . . .did?"

NiGHTS grinned.

"No."

Tier sighed, obviously very confused.

"I did."

Aaron was trying his best not to laugh.

NiGHTS seemed to take pity on Tier, and drifted closer.

"Relax, Tier. I didn't say anything . . .but Aaron did. Didn't you, Aaron?"

Aaron could feel NiGHTS relinquishing control to him.

"Yes, I did."

Aaron smiled at Tier.

"Sorry for confusing you, Tier. . ."

Tier fell backwards, causing the others to step away.

It looked up at NiGHTS.

"Right. . . "

It sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm glad that I don't have to merge with anyone . . .that's confusing!"

NiGHTS burst out laughing again.

"That was great!"

Aaron smiled and nodded.

"It was fun."

NiGHTS suddenly became serious, although Aaron could feel that he was still laughing inside.

"Well, all joking aside, we'd better get going. Time's running out."

Did Aaron imagine it, or had a hint of guilt and sadness crept into the Nightmaren's mood?

Aaron wondered, if he could feel NiGHTS' feelings . . . And if he could . . . Aaron thought to himself, 'What's wrong, NiGHTS?' and waited for a response.

NiGHTS sighed softly and rose from the ground, giving Aaron his first idea of what it felt like to fly.

As they left the tent, NiGHTS stared straight ahead.

"It's a long story . . . and one that I'm not proud of."

Aaron didn't even seem to notice that they were flying"

We've got time. Care to lay it on me?"

And so NiGHTS told Aaron all about Wizeman.

How he had captured the essence of nightmares and housed them in living bodies, thus creating Nightmaren like himself.

How he had rebelled against the practice of stealing dream energy, and how he had been imprisoned for it until two dreamers had freed him.

NiGHTS ended by explaining what had happened to another Red Ideya Dreamer named Molly, and how Nightingale had come to be.

"That's . . . that's not going to happen to me, is it, NiGHTS?"

Aaron asked, suddenly uncertain.

NiGHTS frowned, and Aaron could feel his determination.

"No. Nightingale came to be because Molly lost faith in me. I had to run and I didn't return in time to save her. I will die before I allow that to happen to you. You are my last hope, Aaron."

Such seriousness and honesty from the fun loving Nightmaren was completely out of character.

Aaron could feel the seriousness in NiGHTS and a spark of emotion rose up in him.

"I trust you, NiGHTS."

"Thank you. . ."

NiGHTS replied as he flattened his arms against his side, diving low.

He held his arms out, leveling out again.

". . . I only hope that I'm worthy of your trust. I've failed one dreamer once already. I've got to get her back."

Aaron considered.

"I know you'll get her back. It's a good thing it isn't all up to me. . ."

"They're coming."

NiGHTS warned him, pulling up as the air around them seemed to darken.

A spotlight fell on them as a stage appeared below.

NiGHTS frowned.

"This must be out of your mind, Aaron. Remember that none of it is real."

Aaron nodded.

"I will. I'm . . . not afraid. . ."

Faceless figures left the stage to sit down, but it was a single figure stepping onto the stage that caught Aaron's attention.

Grey eyes, golden brown/blond hair, and a purple sweatshirt.

He recognized Molly at once.

"Nightmare captain and White Knight, let's rehearse the battle scene."

A voice seemed to come from nowhere.

Aaron stared, wide eyed.

NiGHTS was equally surprised.

". . . Molly!"

Molly frowned, obviously looking for someone from the stage.

She looked up and spotted NiGHTS.

"Aaron, we need to rehearse! Get on stage!"

NiGHTS blinked. "You know her?!"

Aaron nodded slowly.

"Yes . . . she's the Nightmare Captain, and I'm the White Knight. . ."

"How fitting. . ."

NiGHTS admitted reluctantly.

"Aaron, I can't help you here. You'll have to beat her on your own. Just remember that nothing is real. And she is not what she thinks she is."

He descended.

"I'm going to release you to face her. Otherwise, they'll never give up. You must defeat her."

Molly grinned, saying her line as Aaron appeared in front of her.

"So we meet again . . . White Knight."

Aaron walked onto the stage, approaching Molly with a sad but determined expression.

"This meeting is to be our last . . . fiendish joker. . ."

He felt almost pained as he spoke the line.

Molly grinned exactly as she had in the waking world.

"Indeed. . .this battle will be *your* last!"

She surprised Aaron by leaping into the air and hovering there.

In a flash, she had been covered by the purple costume that she'd been wearing in Aaron's nightmare.

She raised sharp nails and dove to attack, narrowly missing as she turned to face him again.

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Oh no, dreamer against dreamer!

End of Part Four

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Part Five: A Battle Between Dreamers

Aaron whirled around, barely dodging her attack.

"Claim what you will, but in the end, good is always victorious. You used to know that, didn't you? You used to count on that."

Nightingale came running, bringing her nails down on his shoulder as she passed again.

"What do you know? You've lost all but your Red Ideya. You have no Wisdom, no Purity . . . no Hope!"

"Don't listen to her! There is always hope!"

NiGHTS shouted, drawing her attention.

Nightingale hesitated.

". . .NiGHTS. . ."

Aaron grunted and pain flashed plainly across his face.

"I have NiGHTS . . . he is my only hope . . . and yours too."

Nightingale seemed to sag as if surrendering.

"He came . . . NiGHTS came. . ."

She whispered to herself as if in disbelief.

She suddenly straightened, with a fierce gleam in her eyes.

"Like a coward, afraid to admit what he did to me! And he thought to replace me with you!"

She ran at Aaron again, attacking.

NiGHTS gasped.

"Aaron, look out!"

Aaron tried hard to dodge the attack.

"He came to save you!"

Nightingale took flight, glaring.

"I don't need saving anymore! I'm through with weaklings and cowards like you! I'm a real Nightmare Captain now!"

She rose higher, out of reach.

NiGHTS reached out.

"Molly!"

Nightingale frowned.

"Never call me that again!"

NiGHTS winced.

"All that she has left is courage, but courage is useless without guidance. Aaron, let me guide you. Join with me again and take her out of the air!"

Aaron looked up at her and then at NiGHTS, nodding.

NiGHTS flew over, reaching for Aaron.

He cried out as a sword pinned his hand to the stage.

The wielder of the sword grinned like an evil clown, his red, black, and white jester's costume gleaming in the light.

"NiGHTS!"

Aaron ran toward him, determined to free him.

Aaron couldn't make it without NiGHTS.

There was no hope without NiGHTS.

Reala sneered at NiGHTS.

"Pitiful."

NiGHTS tore his hand free, clenching it with his good hand and wincing at the pain.

"Aaron, stay away from Reala!"

Nightingale laughed from above them.

"That's right. Run away, Aaron! Just like NiGHTS!"

"No. I can't run away . . . There's nowhere to run to. I'm not leaving until you're saved or until NiGHTS takes me away!"

Aaron shouted back.

Reala grinned amiably at his brother.

"Must you let all of your friends down, brother? Not that I'm complaining . . . injured spirits are so much easier to corrupt. She has become beautiful, has she not?"

He gestured proudly up at the pale purple Nightmaren above them.

Nightingale preened at the praise.

NiGHTS' anger was obvious.

"We're taking her back, Reala!"

Reala glared.

"Never! She's mine now!"

Aaron looked so confused.

He didn't know where to go, what to do, what to say.

He felt alone.

A hand rested on his shoulder from behind.

"Poor Aaron . . . this world makes no sense, and its inhabitants make even less sense."

Molly seemed to mean it as she gazed into his eyes.

Her own seemed to have taken on a silver light.

"Nothing here is real. This world has nothing to give to you. . ."

Aaron turned to look sadly into Nightingale's eyes.

Nightingale smiled.

"But that's what I like about it. The real world forces us to go along with its rules and limitations. Here, I can do anything, and I am appreciated here. You would be welcomed for the hero that you are if you stayed. You could be anything!"

She smiled, trying to entice Aaron.

"NO!"

NiGHTS roared the word, then cried out as Reala's sword struck his shoulder.

"What kind of hero am I?"

Aaron smiled sadly, looking over at NiGHTS.

"I can't save him. I can't save myself. All is lost if NiGHTS can't win this fight."

Reala yanked the sword free.

"Silence, traitor!"

He turned to Aaron.

"He can't win, boy. But you can become greater than him."

"Maybe I can. But not with your help."

Aaron glared angrily at Reala.

Nightingale frowned.

"You're being a fool. I thought that you were smart enough to know where you belonged. With the ones who will not betray you!"

NiGHTS pulled himself to his feet, frowning.

"I never betrayed you!"

"But you did!"

Reala grinned, gliding over to Nightingale, who smiled as she was taken under his arm.

"You ran away and left her in the darkness with the enemy."

Aaron looked confused.

It was almost like he was starting to wonder who he should believe.

Nightingale reached up to place a hand on Reala's chest.

"Lord Reala . . . let us depart for now. Aaron needs time to decide what he believes. He will surely make the right decision when we return. He . . . wouldn't let me down. . ."

She turned to look almost pleadingly at Aaron.

Aaron looked up at her.

"No . . . I won't."

Reala smirked.

"Very wise, my pet. We will come for you when you are ready, Aaron."

He turned to regard NiGHTS smugly.

"Farewell . . . brother. . ."

That said, he and Nightingale rose into the sky and flew away together.

Aaron walked back toward NiGHTS.

"We won't let her down . . . will we?"

NiGHTS was watching the Nightmaren depart, his injured hand plastered over his shoulder.

"Never again."

He turned to Aaron.

"But you must never trust Reala. If you do, it will mean the doom of both our worlds."

Aaron grinned at NiGHTS.

"You think that I would trust him?"

NiGHTS turned to regard him seriously.

"You had me worried for a moment there."

Aaron put his hand on NiGHTS' uninjured shoulder.

"I've learned never to hold hands with the Devil. Right now, I'm not trusting anyone but you. Don't betray my trust, NiGHTS. You're all I have."

NiGHTS placed his hand over Aaron's.

The injury appeared to have healed already.

"I will swear by my namesake, the night, that I will never betray you, Aaron."

Aaron nodded.

"I trust you."

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Meanwhile, a different scene was taking place in Nightmare.

Nightingale cried out as she hit the wall and yelped, dodging a blood red vase that shattered against the wall where her head had been.

Reala appeared in front of her and lifted her over his head.

"You made a fool of me back there, girl. You will never tell me what to do again!"

Nightingale winced, but had the advantage of not being in her true body, so she wasn't concerned about the tight hold that Reala had on her throat.

"I . . . didn't mean to, lord Reala!"

She yelped again as he dropped her, and shook her head, gazing imploringly up at him.

"You know that I'm not from this world, so I'm bound to make mistakes! Please just let me learn from those mistakes so that I can serve you better!"

Reala considered.

"This is true. I had forgotten that you were not always one of us. And at the moment, you are far too valuable to be risked."

He darted forward and held his hand over Nightingale's chest, smiling as her jewel began to glow wildly, struggling to stay in place.

He relished the look of shock on her face.

"But without this, you are just another minion. No, without this, you are just another dreamer trapped in endless nightmares."

Nightingale slumped as Reala released her, leaving her Ideya in place.

Her costume faded to be replaced by her sweatshirt and sleep pants.

Reala smiled.

"I've thought of a way to get what we want, and to get you out of my way."

He waved a hand, calling forth the cage in which the Red Ideya Dreamer had been confined in the beginning.

He grinned as he lifted Molly, allowing his own energy to replenish hers, restoring her to her Nightmaren form.

"Rest here, and NiGHTS will do the rest."

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This doesn't look good for anyone!

End of Part Five

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Part Six: Knight and Tier

"He's been in that tent for the past . . . well, I don't even know how many hours!"

Tier complained, arms folded.

Topper fluttered over.

"Five minutes, Tier."

Upon arriving back at the campsite, NiGHTS had entered his tent and refused to speak to anyone.

It was so unlike the free spirited Nightmaren hero that his friends had become very worried about him.

Topper shook his head at Tier's foolishness before turning to see Aaron nearby.

"What exactly happened out there, kid?"

He tipped his halo to one side, thinking that it made him look more intimidating.

Aaron blinked at Topper for a second before registering what it was that he had said.

"We saw someone that I know . . . NiGHTS knows her too."

"The other Red Ideya Dreamer?"

Topper frowned.

"And you left her behind? I know that she's a troublemaker, but. . ."

Tier frowned, cutting him off.

"Let him finish what he's saying, Nightopian."

Topper opened his mouth, but Tier used a little influence to darken the area around them.

Swallowing nervously, Topper turned to Aaron.

"You were saying?"

"Another Nightmaren was with her. He tried to persuade me to join them. . ."

Aaron put his face in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees.

Tier rested a hand on Aaron's shoulder.

"It's a good thing that you didn't listen to them. Even for Nightmaren, Nightmare is a terrible place to have to stay!"

Topper snorted.

"Which is why you turned yellow and ran off to join the rebellion, right?"

Tier made a face.

"I would have worded it differently, but yes."

Topper turned away, losing interest.

He spotted two other Nightopians making mud pies, and grinned.

"Ooh, that's for me!"

In a flash, he was beside them, happily making a mess.

Tier groaned.

"Nightopians. . ."

Aaron couldn't help but smile.

Tier noticed the smile and grinned back.

"Topper tries to be a thinker, but all Nightopians are basically little kids. Even that's giving them too much credit. But it's a lot better than what the Nightmaren think of them as. . ."

The Nightmaren made a face, disgusted at the memory.

Aaron wasn't listening.

"I wish there was something I could do . . . I wish I were strong like NiGHTS. All I can do now is walk up to Reala and let him take my last Ideya . . . I'm so useless. . ."

Tier blinked.

"Hey, don't be like that. You wouldn't be here if you weren't important. You're the only one who can stop Wizeman and Reala!"

The Nightmaren abruptly grabbed Aaron under his arms and rose off the ground.

"Time for a little flight!"

Aaron looked surprised as he was lifted up off the ground.

"Why . . . what? Why?"

Tier laughed as they rose higher above the tents and trees.

"Because you need to get your mind out of Nightmare before your dream turns into one!

It's easier than you think for a good dream to turn bad."

"Where are we going?"

Aaron looked down at the surrounding landscape.

Tier grinned, noting where Aaron was looking.

"Do you want a closer look at those trees?"

Abruptly, It let go, and Aaron found himself plummeting out of the sky!

Tier swooped low, so that Aaron landed safely on the Nightmaren's green and pink harlequin patterned back.

Aaron was completely tense.

"Please don't do that."

Tier laughed as they rose higher again.

"Relax, you can't be hurt here!"

Aaron took a deep breath, trying to be sure to remember that.

Tier was silent for a moment before speaking again.

"You were saying before that you weren't important. Does that mean that you don't want to rescue the other dreamer?"

Aaron blinked.

"No . . . I do. But how can I?"

Tier frowned.

"I'm no good at strategies or plans, that's up to you . . . but you need to know what's at stake. Like what's going to happen to the other dreamer if she isn't rescued soon."

"I don't know what good strategy and plans can do . . . I'm weak, and the Nightmaren are strong. I don't want anything bad to happen to her, but I don't know how to stop it. . ."

Aaron frowned, feeling helpless.

It wasn't a good feeling.

Tier laughed loudly.

"Does that mean that you think I'm so strong?"

"You're stronger than I."

Aaron responded dully.

Tier grinned.

"Then remind me never to arm wrestle you. You'd be disappointed."

Aaron blinked.

"Then you think I can beat the Nightmaren?"

"With NiGHTS' help, yes."

Tier nodded before becoming serious again.

"You have to."

Aaron nodded back.

"I'll try. . ."

Aaron thought for a minute.

"Tier. . .?"

Tier blinked, startled out of darker thoughts.

"Yes?"

Aaron frowned, slightly concerned.

"What will happen if we don't. . .?"

Tier was silent for a long time, staring ahead even though there was nothing in their way.

Aaron's tone was frightened when he finally spoke.

"T . . . Tier. . .?"

Tier sighed, squeezing brilliant mint green eyes shut.

"I don't know if I should tell you this. NiGHTS is afraid that you'll quit if you hear it. . ."

Aaron took a deep breath.

"If it's that bad . . . then I can't quit. Not if I'm the only one who can stop it. . ."

Tier nodded, giving in.

"It's hard to explain . . . I could show you, but I don't think that that's a good idea."

Aaron frowned.

"Show me. I'm not afraid."

The Nightmaren shook Its head, sending pink and green tassels jingling.

"Alright, but remember that this is only a vision. Not real. I don't want you waking up on me, no matter how scary it is!"

"I won't."

Aaron sounded more confident in this than anything he'd said in what seemed like ages.

Aaron's consciousness suddenly became clouded, as if he were drifting off to sleep, even though he knew that he was asleep already.

The scenery darkened, leaving him drifting through a void of nothingness, pierced only by the moans and cries of many haunted voices.

Somehow, he knew that he was hearing the many dreamers whose Ideya had been stolen by the Nightmaren.

The scenery changed to a park, where Molly stood.

Aaron found himself landing in front of her as if they'd done this countless times before.

She smiled at him before fading out of sight, leaving him alone.

He reached out after her.

"Molly. . .?"

The scene shifted to one of Molly sound asleep, even though sunlight filtered through the window of her bedroom.

Aaron understood somehow that she was not going to wake up.

Finally, he found himself hovering in the air, lightning crackling around him as Nightmare Castle materialized below.

Without warning, he plunged into the depths of that frightening castle, flying down dark corridors.

He took a deep breath, but didn't scream, repeating to himself over and over in his head, "This isn't real, isn't real, isn't real."

A pale purple Nightmaren materialized in front of him and turned as if seeing him.

Nightingale smiled and extended a hand before opening her mouth in surprise.

Her silvery grey eyes drifted closed.

She fell backwards in slow motion, fading away before she touched the stone floor.

Aaron had the terrible feeling that she was gone forever, but he didn't have time to grieve before he was yanked roughly out of the castle and back into the sky overhead.

As the scene faded, he became light headed and blacked out.

". . .n. . . ron. . . Aaron! Aaron, snap out of it!"

A floating hand smacked Aaron's cheek lightly, trying to rouse him.

Aaron jumped and rubbed his cheek.

"We have to rescue her. Right now."

Tier sighed in relief as Aaron returned to his regular dreaming state.

"Oh good, I was afraid that you were about to wake up!"

"No. I'm still here."

Aaron was looking around, thinking to himself.

The Nightmaren nodded, responding to the dreamer's first comment.

"Dreamers can't stay asleep, and they can't go long without dreaming. Reala doesn't understand more time asleep, and eventually, she won't be able to wake up at all."

Aaron felt desperation rising.

"What do I do? I know I have to save her as soon as I can. But how?"

Tier turned to look into the distance, where a purple figure was dancing in flight, heading their way.

At first, it might have been Nightingale, but as the figure drew nearer, they recognized the deep purple, pink, and yellow of NiGHTS' costume.

The Nightmaren hero frowned.

"Tier, what are you doing way out here with Aaron?"

Tier closed those mint green eyes, unwilling to meet NiGHTS' purple gaze.

"Answering questions. He knows what you've been keeping from him, NiGHTS."

Aaron looked at NiGHTS with a bit of confusion in his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

NiGHTS blinked and regarded Aaron in dismay.

"You didn't need to know, I was trying to spare you that anxiety."

He regarded Tier disapprovingly, causing the younger Nightmaren to drift backwards, shrinking slightly.

Aaron folded his arms.

"We have to save her right now."

NiGHTS nodded.

"I know that. That's why I needed to be alone, to think."

He turned away from Tier, who quickly darted away, leaving a trail of green sparklies behind.

Aaron turned to watch Tier go, but then returned his gaze to NiGHTS.

"Well, what did you come up with?"

NiGHTS was completely serious now.

"We're going to have to sneak into Nightmare Castle."

Aaron nodded.

"Okay, how?"

NiGHTS actually smiled a little.

"As Nightmaren. I worried about the challenge that would present for you, but I think that you'll be fine now."

Aaron's voice was firm.

"Whatever it is I need to do . . . I'll have to do it. Don't worry about me."

NiGHTS nodded. "Now, your appearance will have to change. Since your current form is based on how you see yourself, can you imagine yourself as a Nightmaren?"

Aaron thought to himself what he would look like as a Nightmaren. . .

Well, first, his head would have to be a little bean. With real big eyes.

He shook his head for a minute, getting serious.

The image changed to him in a Nightmaren costume, a dark blue one with silver.

NiGHTS nodded approvingly.

"That suits you well. Now, just remember that Nightmaren are almost always in flight."

Aaron blinked.

"Wait . . . fly? How am I supposed to fly?"

In answer, NiGHTS arched his back and did a backflip, gliding under Aaron's feet, which he now realized, were about twenty feet over the ground.

"Oh."

Aaron wondered how he had failed to notice that he was hovering.

NiGHTS flew back up to hover just above Aaron.

His familiar deep purple costume and conspicuous red jewel instantly caught Aaron's attention.

Aaron frowned as he had a thought.

He could change his appearance, but how could NiGHTS alter his?

Maybe he could change the color of his costume, but that jewel would be hard to disguise.

Aaron blinked at NiGHTS, suddenly noticing something.

"Uh . . . hey, NiGHTS? Look down at your chest for a minute, will you?"

NiGHTS looked down, blinking.

"Is something wrong?"

He studied himself carefully, finding nothing amiss.

Aaron put his hand on his chin, taking a thinker's pose.

"Uh . . . well, my friend, you've got a very large jewel of some sort on your chest and . . . I don't think any of the others do."

NiGHTS blinked again. A moment later, his jaw dropped as he realized that Aaron was right.

"My shard!"

He slapped a hand over it, suddenly self-conscious.

"You're right . . . in fact, that's why I have this jewel. It was supposed to mark me as one of the highest ranking Nightmaren."

He caught himself and shook his head.

"Wizeman's no judge of character, that's for sure."

He glanced almost shyly at Aaron, wondering if he'd just ruined his relationship with the dreamer.

"You still are the leader of the Nightmaren. The ones who have come to their senses."

Aaron assured his friend.

NiGHTS just shrugged, recovering his usual mischievous smile.

"Well, the point is that I'm not a ranking nobleman in Nightmare anymore. This jewel's going to give me away the first time anyone sees me."

Aaron nodded and sighed.

"What can we do to hide it?"

"Um. . ."

NiGHTS frowned thoughtfully, opened his mouth and closed it again.

He brought his knees up to his chest in a sitting position as he floated.

Finally, after forcing Aaron to hover in silence for several minutes, he slapped his hands together.

"AHA!!!"

Aaron thought he had wet himself, but then he remembered he was asleep.

"You'd better hope I wake up dry, NiGHTS! What was that?"

NiGHTS grinned and drifted closer to whisper to Aaron as if he were imparting a secret.

"I'm out of ideas."

Aaron stared at him for a second or two.

"Out of ideas!? You had to scream at me to tell me that!?"

Aaron turned away and folded his arms, breathing a visible sigh.

NiGHTS just shrugged.

"I didn't yell . . . I just thought that we were a little too quiet. It's not in my nature to sit still for so long. It makes me itchy."

To prove it, he squirmed, trying to reach the center of his back.

He finally bent over backwards until his spine seemed to have snapped in half, his eyes rolled back in pleasure as he scratched the spot.

Aaron looked a little disturbed.

"That was . . . kinda weird."

He shook his head, getting serious again.

"Allright . . . so if you can't hide the jewel, then you can't go to Nightmare."

NiGHTS straightened, regarding Aaron cluelessly as he wondered what was weird.

He frowned.

"You're right . . . but I can't let you go alone. There's got to be a way to hide it. . ."

"Maybe you could send one of the other Nightmaren with me?"

Aaron pondered aloud.

NiGHTS shook his head.

"Not a chance. If the Nightmaren find traitors in their midst . . . well, I don't want to think of what will happen to them. I'll go myself. Under cover of darkness, I can. . ."

He paused.

"Cover! Aaron, I can wear something that will cover my jewel!"

Aaron thought for a second, trying to figure out just what he could wear over the jewel that wouldn't be as conspicuous as the jewel itself.

"What would cover it without being very obvious?"

NiGHTS smiled.

"A new costume There'd be a slight bulge on my chest, but nothing very noticeable. I can have Tier and Topper help me to make one."

Aaron scratched his head.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe I should help them?"

NiGHTS laughed.

"Don't worry. They only pretend to hate each other. Those two are really kindred spirits."

He wondered as he had countless times before, why Nightmaren were such fun loving jokers.

It didn't fit the image of evil energy stealing monsters at all.

He shook his head.

Only Wizeman could answer that question, and NiGHTS was hoping to avoid his former master if it was at all possible.

Back at the camp, Aaron was left waiting as three voices came from NiGHTS' tent.

It sounded like they were arguing.

"Right, nobody's gonna notice a giant, diamond shaped bulge."

"It won't be diamond shaped, Topper."

"NiGHTS is right . . . but there will be a bulge."

Aaron knew that he should have helped.

He hoped they could agree on something long enough to get the job done.

NiGHTS chuckled.

"Well, I. . ."

He was interrupted by Topper's voice.

"I'm telling you dummies that a bulge the size of your head on your chest is going to give you away! Nightmaren. . ."

There was a sound of a chair scraping the ground.

"Why don't you keep that enormous mouth of yours shut if you can't use it for anything useful, Nightopian?!"

Aaron chuckled.

"Heh. Dummies."

NiGHTS tried to restore order.

"Tier, now isn't the time for. . ."

Topper cut him off.

"Ha! At least I have a mouth! What do you call that little line that you talk through?!"

Aaron thought to himself, 'You know, that's a good question.'

There was a loud squeak, and then NiGHTS tried to speak again.

"Tier, please put Topper down so that we can get back to business!"

There was another smaller squeak and then a stream of furious babbling from Topper.

"Why you stupid, horn headed, walking chessboard excuse for a mindless Nightmaren! I'll. . .!" Tier was obviously ignoring him now.

"Okay, what were we talking about, NiGHTS?"

Aaron could hear NiGHTS' groan of frustration.

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The voices stopped at Aaron's laughter.

There was a strange silence for a moment before the tent flap opened.

Topper and Tier both flew out and landed on their rumps, looking completely surprised.

NiGHTS poked his head out to glare after them.

"And stay out until you can come up with a solution!"

Aaron pretended to be afraid.

"You mean you haven't figured something out!? W . . . what are we going to do?"

Topper stood up and shoved his halo forward, trying to look tough.

"Spare us, kid."

He fluttered his sugar pink wings and bobbed through the air and out of sight.

Aaron nearly fell over.

"Did that just happen? I mean . . . did Topper just call me . . . kid?"

He blushed a little.

"Now I feel really mature. . ."

Tier shook Its head.

"Nightopians. . ."

The Nightmaren rose and rubbed its rear end.

Tier blinked at Aaron's comment.

"Yeah, I guess he did. But anyone's mature compared to that little toad. . ."

NiGHTS turned to wave to Aaron.

"Aaron, will you come in here? You're the only one here with any sense!"

He disappeared back into his tent.

Aaron grinned, waving to Tier and standing to walk into the tent.

Tier sagged. "I make plenty of sense . . ."

The green and pink Nightmaren sounded so depressed that it was obviously joking.

Inside the tent, Aaron was confronted with piles of Tier's stick figure plans and random items.

There was even a muddy plate sitting on the table in the center, the remains of one of Topper's mud pies.

Aaron looked even more confused now than ever.

"What . . . in the world. . .?"

NiGHTS shrugged, aware of Aaron's criticism.

"Like I said before, welcome to Nightopia."

He casually knocked the plate off of the table before gesturing for Aaron to come and look at the plans with him.

Aaron rubbed his eyes and then walked over beside NiGHTS.

"Alright, let's see them."

NiGHTS suddenly frowned.

"And what do you want, you clown?!"

Aaron followed his gaze to the flap, where Tier was peering in.

The green and pink checkered Nightmaren grinned sheepishly before backing away.

"Well, I was just . . . ah wondering . . . er. . ."

Tier sighed.

"I'm supposed to be the one helping you make plans! I wanna!"

Aaron laughed.

"Aww, how cute. Come on NiGHTS," He said smiling, "Let Tier help."

Tier rubbed its eyes until they were even larger than usual and glossy.

A perfect puppy face.

NiGHTS blinked, turning his back on the other Nightmaren.

"Are you sure that that's a good idea, Aaron?"

Tier noticed NiGHTS avoiding eye contact, and added a slight whimper to Its act.

NiGHTS winced visibly.

"What could it hurt?"

Aaron couldn't resist that cute puppy dog face.

"Look at 'im! He's so cute! Er . . . Tier, you are a guy, right?"

Tier blinked, lowering long lashes over minty green eyes thoughtfully before lifting one eyebrow higher than the other.

"Me? Uh, not exactly, no. . ."

NiGHTS turned back, interested by this turn of events.

"No? You're a girl?"

Aaron looked incredibly confused.

Tier shook Its tasseled head, equally confused.

"Nuh uh."

"Wait . . . you're not male or female? Nightmaren are neuter? NiGHTS, are you genderless too?"

Aaron looked strangely upset about this.

There shouldn't have been any reason to be upset, really.

NiGHTS blinked, startled.

"Did you really have to pull me into this conversation?"

Tier grinned.

"Naw, NiGHTS is special."

NiGHTS made a show of looking away.

Aaron grinned.

"I see. Special."

Aaron couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Well, I can see this is a touchy subject for you, NiGHTS. . ."

Aaron was struggling not to laugh.

NiGHTS' expression was priceless as confusion warred with embarrassment and annoyance.

"The issue is moot. All Nightmaren are genderless except for Reala and myself, okay?"

"And Nightingale."

Tier couldn't resist adding. It shrank away at NiGHTS' glare.

"Molly isn't a Nightmaren. Just a confused human. We're going to bring her back."

Aaron smiled reassuringly at NiGHTS.

"Aww. . ."

Tier sighed.

"I'm going to miss having a female Nightmaren around. . ."

The Nightmaren yelped as a book flew past its head and quickly turned to leave.

NiGHTS flew after Tier until It was out.

"And stay out!"

Aaron wondered to himself why Tier would care whether or not there were females if he . . . It, Aaron corrected himself, was not male.

NiGHTS' expression was as fierce as Aaron had seen it so far as he yanked the flaps closed again.

"That child minded idio t. . . It just can't be made to understand!"

Aaron noticed for the first time, that NiGHTS alone never referred to any of the other Nightmaren as "him" or "her."

Except for when he spoke of Reala, and there was always sadness whenever that name came up.

Reala had called NiGHTS brother, but that didn't necessarily mean a blood bond.

Aaron wondered about Nightmaren society, and just what Reala and NiGHTS were to one another.

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Looks like someone's confused. The question is, who? End of Part Six.

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Part Seven: Trouble in the Dreamland

.

Aaron . . . or Knight, as he had dubbed his Nightmaren disguise, flew high over the tents and trees.

He glanced down and tumbled several feet in surprise as he realized just how high he was.

He scolded himself silently, remembering Tier's reassurance that he couldn't be hurt in the dream world.

He only hoped that he wouldn't have to put that theory to the test.

NiGHTS flew ahead of him, his lithe body slipping easily over the air currents as if he himself were a part of the breeze that fanned Knight's face.

Occasionally, the mischievous Nightmaren would stop abruptly or dart back to enjoy his young friend's yelp of surprise or angry shout.

He had just completed such a maneuver, narrowly missing Knight's head as he skimmed just above him, when a Nightopian flew excitedly over.

NiGHTS had to grab hold of the excited little cherub in order to make any sense of what it was saying.

"Hold on, begin at the beginning. What has you so excited?"

Knight listened in interest as the Nightopian answered, still speaking too quickly, but spacing its words better.

"Frozen Bell's covered with Nightmaren! They're looking for something!"

NiGHTS frowned before turning to meet Knight's gaze.

Knight held his hand out, silently requesting more information.

NiGHTS considered.

"There's nothing in Frozen Bell that should attract Nightmaren . . . they're up to something. Aaron, I want you to stay here while we go check it out."

The former Class One Nightmaren turned back to the Nightopian, violet eyes sparkling with excitement as he anticipated action and maybe even a little fun.

"Go fetch Tier and Topper, and tell them to select three others to come with us. Tell them to meet me on the border of Frozen Bell."

The Nightopian bobbed in compliance and darted away.

NiGHTS arced through the air like a leaping dolphin before flying toward the horizon, leaving Knight by himself.

The disguised dreamer frowned.

If NiGHTS thought that he was going to take Nightopia's most irresponsible duo and leave him behind, then he was in for a surprise!"

He waited until NiGHTS was a speck on the horizon before frowning thoughtfully.

"Now what did NiGHTS say I should do to fly faster. . .? Oh yeah!"

His arms were outstretched as he hovered.

As Knight straightened out and began to drift forward, he gave a kick of his feet, at the same time snapping both arms backwards like the wings of a jet.

An invisible force propelled him forward at considerable speed.

He alternated between fanning his arms out and snapping them back again until he was happy with his current pace.

This was one Red Ideya dreamer who wasn't going to be left out of the action!

NiGHTS was crouched behind a snow covered hill, resting on his belly as he watched the Nightmaren sniff around.

Topper was happily "helping" by heaping mounds of snow over his friend.

When NiGHTS turned to regard him questioningly, he beamed proudly.

"Your purple sticks out, so I'm camouflaging you!"

NiGHTS just shook his head, not bothered by the cold snow packed around his body.

He only hoped that he wouldn't have to take off in a hurry.

A brightly colored figure came flying toward them, only to drop in a hurry at NiGHTS' hasty gesture to get out of sight.

Topper frowned as the snow fell away from NiGHTS' arm, and set about burying it again.

Tier crawled forward and laid down beside NiGHTS, following his gaze.

It jumped and NiGHTS had to slap a hand over his friend's mouth to keep It from yelping in surprise as Topper worked to bury the second Nightmaren and then bury NiGHTS' arm again.

Knight flew toward the two Nightmaren, landing behind a dune further back from where they were.

He settled down to watch, hoping that he wouldn't be detected.

A small army of Nightmaren minions was clearly visible against the snow, digging, sniffing, listening, and generally searching for something.

A cloaked figure watched over them, his hat down low enough to obscure his face.

His disembodied hands and jagged edged cape identified him at once to the watching rebels.

NiGHTS frowned. "Jackle. . ."

Knight mouthed to himself, 'Jackle?'

He tried to get a better look, creeping ever so slowly forward.

The Nightmaren who NiGHTS called Jackle grinned as he looked around.

"Keep looking! Whoever finds the star won't be eaten tonight!"

The minions scurried about faster than before.

"The star? What kind of star?"

Knight whispered to himself.

A Party inched a little too close to the concealed Nightmaren and Nightopian, and blinked in alarm.

NiGHTS tried to grab it, but found his arms pinned beneath the snow, courtesy of Topper.

It was Tier who snatched and gagged the minion.

The Party squirmed desperately in Tier's grip, forcing the Nightmaren to tumble with it.

The two rolled downhill, past Knight's hiding place, and continued to wrestle quietly.

The movement attracted attention.

A Hollow suddenly hollered the alarm, alerting the other minions and Jackle.

NiGHTS stiffened and squirmed against the snow, trying to free himself.

Topper had somehow slipped out of sight without anyone noticing.

Knight was beginning to think he shouldn't have come.

NiGHTS strained against the heavily packed snow, unable to free his arms or legs.

He stopped when a shadow fell over him, and looked up into the faceless visage of Jackle.

The caped Nightmaren laughed.

"I always wanted to see you laying at my feet, NiGHTS. To think that it's finally happened!"

NiGHTS glared back.

"Don't flatter yourself. You'd be running home to Wizeman in pieces if I could move!"

Knight was torn.

He didn't know what to do or how he could save NiGHTS.

He looked around for any sign of Topper.

Jackle's floating grin widened cruelly.

"I don't care how I get what I want, just so long as I get it. You're just what I need to convince Wizeman that I deserve a promotion!"

"I'd say that you deserve a drilldash right in the kisser!"

Tier shouted as It delivered exactly what was promised.

Jackle cried out as he fell backwards, surprised.

The rounded cape sent Jackle rolling wildly backwards, knocking several minions off their feet.

Topper looked up from where he was interrogating an injured Hollow.

"Hey, guys, I . . . ACK!!!"

He threw himself out of the way as Jackle rolled past.

"Phew, that was too close!"

Tier shook its head in disgust as It worked to free NiGHTS.

"I'll say. That combo would have made one *ugly* Mepian!"

Knight breathed a sigh of relief after seeing them all safe.

He didn't know how long they would stay that way, but. . .

Topper had recovered enough to be angry.

"When are you gonna learn to shut up, Tier?!"

Tier frowned back and flew over to tower over the diminutive Nightopian.

"When you learn to say something intelligent!"

Knight covered his mouth with his hand to avoid laughing aloud.

The two went straight into their usual routine.

"Me?! You're the one who never says anything intelligent! There's nothing under that dumb cap of yours but hot air!"

Tier blinked at the insult.

"Yeah? You sure act pretty dumb for someone with such a big head!"

Neither noticed when NiGHTS calmly rose and brushed himself off, then glided over to where Jackle had come to a halt and was laying on his back, dazed.

Knight walked slowly up beside NiGHTS, being sure to remain quiet so that NiGHTS would actually have to look at him to notice him.

Jackle opened his eyes and gasped as he recognized the angry looking Nightmaren looming over him.

"N . . . NiGHTS!!!"

NiGHTS grabbed hold of the lesser Nightmaren's cape, lifting him to his feet.

"What trouble are you causing this time, Jackle?"

The largely invisible Nightmaren squirmed.

"Nothing, I swear! Reala just told us to find a golden star, that's all! Honest!"

NiGHTS' eyes narrowed slightly.

If he'd had white skin and mime diamonds, he would have looked exactly like Reala just then.

Jackle saw the resemblance and gulped, terrified.

"I'm telling you the truth, NiGHTS! Please don't hurt me! Reala only said that he's having trouble with Nightingale and needs a golden star to use on her! Please believe me!!!"

NiGHTS blinked at the mention of Nightingale, and dropped Jackle.

He simply watched as the lesser Nightmaren gathered his minions and flew in a panic, back toward Nightmare.

Tier drifted closer, frowning.

"Shouldn't we finish Jackle off?"

NiGHTS shook his head.

"I'm not about to attack anything so pitiful. Besides, now we have a better idea of what's happening in Nightmare. Nightingale must be resisting Wizeman's control!"

"I don't think it's Wizeman. . ."

Knight made himself known.

Tier crashed to the ground, startled as NiGHTS spun in surprise to face Knight.

"Aaron! How long have you been here?!"

Knight shrugged, grinning.

"Oh, not long. . ."

NiGHTS frowned, obviously unhappy with the dreamer disobeying him and placing himself in danger.

But there was no sense in crying over spilled warm milk.

"You heard, then?"

Aaron nodded.

"Yes. I heard. What's the deal with the stars, though?"

He wondered aloud.

He didn't know why they would be looking around on the ground for them.

NiGHTS folded his arms as Topper quietly kicked Tier until It was standing again.

"Not just any stars. They're more like star shaped Chips. Let's just say that they're magic."

Knight folded his arms.

"Magic chips, huh? And what do they do, eh?"

NiGHTS shook his head.

"The theory has always been that they help dreamers. Either by making them feel safe and secure, or by somehow strengthening their spirit. It's never been proven, though. No Nightmaren's ever bothered to test the theory."

Topper winced at the word "Test," but didn't comment.

"Strange."

Knight looked around the area to see if he could see any such stars.

He figured that if the Nightmaren hadn't found any that he wouldn't either, but it couldn't hurt to try.

"Stupid is what you mean. Those minions were looking underground!"

NiGHTS smirked.

"And where should they have been looking?"

Knight folded his arms.

The purple clad Nightmaren turned to look skyward, noticing the yellow loops floating over them.

He launched himself and flew gracefully through those loops, spinning and dancing as he looked around.

He spotted a star spinning slowly just above one of the loops, and twirled before flying higher and backflipping.

He caught the star with the ease of long practice as he allowed himself to fall backwards.

He flipped at the last minute and landed with a bow and a flourish in front of Knight, brandishing the star.

"Beautiful."

Knight reached out and took the star from NiGHTS.

"You're going to have to teach me to fly like that."

NiGHTS smiled at the praise.

"I could definitely try . . . but you'd have to have been flying all your life. I was learning acrobatics when I was. . . "

He stopped, placing a finger over his mouth.

". . .when I was. . ."

"Just how old are you?"

Knight wondered aloud.

NiGHTS blinked at the question and grinned, waggling a long, slender finger.

"Now don't you know how rude it is to ask someone their age?"

He was obviously teasing.

Tier laughed.

"He means that he can't remember!"

It yelped as NiGHTS drilldashed briefly, sending Tier ricocheting wildly across the landscape.

Knight winced.

"Aw . . . poor Tier. . ."

He watched as Tier bounced about.

NiGHTS' eyes bounced around as he followed Tier's bouncing.

He turned back to Knight.

"Aw, Tier'll be fine."

NiGHTS folded his arms.

"To be perfectly honest, my earliest memories are of flying."

He seemed to be genuinely puzzled by this.

Aaron considered.

"You would think they would have been of . . . er. . ."

He blushed and cut himself short.

NiGHTS regarded him questioningly, completely open and innocent.

"Of what?"

Knight hesitated.

"Well, you would think you would remember Wizeman. I mean . . . he is kind of your mother . . . Heh. . ."

Knight blushed.

NiGHTS floated silently, resting his head in one hand.

"Well, it's hazy, but. . ."

He realized what Knight had said.

"Wizeman? My mother?"

He shook his head.

"No parent would use their children as test subjects . . . lucky for me, Wizeman got it right on his first try. . ."

Knight put his hand on NiGHTS' shoulder.

"I'm sorry. . ."

NiGHTS shrugged. "That was a long, long time ago."

He took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh as he realized just how long ago it had been. "You'd think that I'd feel old . . . I kind of do, but not physically."

He was being surprisingly open about all of this.

Knight blinked.

"How many dreamers have you known, NiGHTS?"

"Known?"

NiGHTS blinked and held up four fingers.

"You make number four. Six, if you count the first I ever saw up close."

"What made you rebel?"

Knight looked genuinely curious.

NiGHTS shrugged.

"I really don't know."

He wondered about all these questions, feeling like he was in a psychology session.

He flipped onto his back and hovered in a laying position.

"Well, I guess it all started when I was just a kid and Reala stole my toy ball. . ."

"So this big moral crusade is all about your stolen ball? Getting back at big brother?"

Knight didn't look very amused.

"I thought maybe you grew a conscience or something. . ."

He turned the other way.

NiGHTS blinked, and crossed one leg over the other, still floating on his back.

"I was joking. . ."

He pointed out in a more serious tone. ". . .and Reala's not my *big* brother."

Knight turned back.

"Sorry . . . I didn't mean to get crabby. . ."

He sounded a little ashamed of himself for jumping so quickly to conclusions, especially after he'd heard NiGHTS joke so much.

Even if he had been sounded serious before. . .

NiGHTS flipped so that he was resting on his side.

"Sallright."

He quickly sobered again as he considered.

"What happened to change me. . .?"

He seemed to be thinking out loud.

His hand drifted sub-consciously to the shard embedded in his chest.

"Now's not the time, you guys."

Tier flew over, covered with snow.

Knight blinked, a little puzzled.

"Tier? Why are you all covered in snow? Did Topper get ahold of you again?"

Topper fluttered over Tier's shoulder and quickly landed, panting a little.

"Don't insult me. If I'd done it, Tier'd be a Snowmaren right now!"

Tier nodded.

"Since NiGHTS was kind enough to send me rolling downhill . . . well, ever heard of the snowball effect?"

Knight nodded matter-of-factly.

"Point taken."

NiGHTS chuckled and patted Topper on the top of his pointed head.

"Oh no, Topper! Make him give it back!"

Topper rolled his eyes.

Knight looked a little confused.

"Give what back?"

Tier grinned.

"Topper's head is pointed!"

Topper waddled past them, grumpy.

"Oh shut up! Let's go, kids!"

NiGHTS blinked.

"Kids?"

Tier just grinned.

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I think they've forgotten what they were talking about. . .

End of Part Seven

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Part Eight: Sleeping Beauty, She Ain't!

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.

Topper was strangely quiet as Tier spoke back in the tent.

"So Reala just wants one of these, right?"

It waved the star chip that NiGHTS had claimed.

NiGHTS nodded.

"So it seems."

NiGHTS was thoughtful.

"Reala wants the star for Nightingale . . . he's having trouble with her. . ."

Tier considered.

"Weird . . . if we can put up with Topper, I don't see why Reala can't handle Nightingale!"

It turned to grin at Topper, then blinked as the Nightopian failed to rise to the bait.

Aaron smiled.

"Well, you guys said there aren't any female Nightmaren, right? I'll wager Reala doesn't have a clue how to act around women. Maybe he's trying the bribery tactic to get her to like him. . ."

Tier snorted. "That walking checkerboard couldn't charm anyone or anything!"

NiGHTS nodded absently, his thoughts elsewhere.

Knight looked like he felt a little sorry for Reala.

Topper listened, but failed to volunteer any of his usual comments or observations.

NiGHTS didn't seem to notice as he thought this over.

"Could he be losing control over her? This might be our chance to get her back!"

Knight nodded. "Our best chance so far. But if she actually feels something for him, it may still be hard."

NiGHTS rose, arms folded.

"I refuse to believe that she feels anything for Reala. She's confused and hurt, and he's taking advantage of her. That's all."

Knight shook his head.

"That's not really what I meant. I mean . . . what if she feels pity or compassion for Reala?"

He was pondering the idea to decide whether he actually believed that she could feel such things.

Tier was watching Topper, a little bothered by the Nightopian's lack of sarcasm and insults.

It nodded absently.

NiGHTS considered.

"Compassion . . . for Reala? Even I find that hard to imagine, Aaron."

"I don't know him. I can't say. I'm just trying to think of all the possibilities."

Knight replied.

NiGHTS opened his mouth, but was cut off by Topper's dull, uninterested tone.

"You're not going to find a solution until you see her again."

As suddenly as he had spoken up, the Nightopian fell silent again, much to Tier's disappointment.

Knight shot a quizzical look toward Topper.

He wasn't being himself.

NiGHTS didn't seem to notice his friend's odd behavior.

"I think you're right, Topper. Aaron, Now's the time to sneak into Nightmare."

"Are you sure I'm ready for it?"

Aaron looked like he was a little afraid.

NiGHTS smiled reassuringly.

"You'll do fine, and I'll be with you."

.

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.

Later, Knight followed NiGHTS and Tier through the darkening skies, toward Nightmare.

It was a fitting title, considering that it looked exactly like something out of a horror movie.

Also, Knight realized, this was where nightmares were born.

He couldn't help but think that this was also where NiGHTS had been created.

NiGHTS had covered himself with a silk costume of red and purple diamonds, effectively covering his usual purple along with the shard in his chest.

When they came to a darkened boulder, Tier stopped.

"This is as far as I go. Any closer, and Wizeman will sense me."

NiGHTS nodded, smiling.

"Right. Wish us luck, Tier."

He turned to Knight.

"Are you ready?"

Knight nodded, taking a deep breath.

"I think so."

NiGHTS drifted into the air.

"Come on, then. We'll be returning home from a scouting mission. If anyone asks you anything, just pretend to be too scared to speak."

NiGHTS wished now that he could have disguised Aaron's human appearance.

Only First Level Nightmaren looked human, and none of them would cower as he was requiring Aaron to do.

Knight grinned.

"I can do that."

Tier waved as they flew off, a strange, worried expression on Its usually cheerful face.

.

Dusk sighed as It leaned over to scratch a dull rose colored shin.

It hated guard duty.

It wasn't like anyone was insane enough to try to waltz into the castle!

The black and rose colored Nightmaren was among the younger generation, and had not yet learned to stand quietly.

Unlike Its twin.

But Dush was gone.

Reala had claimed that the turquoise and green checkered Nightmaren's death had been accidental.

Dusk didn't believe it for an instant.

Dusk was lost in such thoughts when two figures flew into sight.

Startled, the black and rose colored Nightmaren snarled menacingly.

"Who are you?! State your names and business!"

NiGHTS hesitated for an instant before calling upon long forgotten habits.

"Hide that snarl before I decide to drilldash it into the back of your head! We spend the afternoon scouting, and this is our welcome back?!!"

Dusk hesitated as well, sensing something regal about this red and purple Nightmaren.

It stiffened.

"You sound pretty cocky, but it looks like you're coming home empty handed. Why don't you get out of my sight? I'm supposed to be on guard duty!"

Knight kept his mouth closed, but tried to look a little menacing just in case.

Smiling smugly, NiGHTS began to drift forward.

He froze as Dusk cleared his throat.

"First your names and business. It's protocol."

NiGHTS thought quickly.

"My name? It's uh. . ."

He grabbed the first word that popped into his mind.

"Days."

He instantly regretting choosing such a fake sounding title.

NiGHTS added, "Like I said, we've been scouting. We're here to report and retire for the night."

Dusk didn't seem to find anything odd about the name, and turned to Aaron.

"What about you?"

The blue and silver clad dreamer straightened.

"Knight."

He kept his reply short and simple.

Dusk lifted a nonexistent eyebrow.

"Business?"

It prompted as if speaking to an idiot.

Knight gave him an annoyed look.

"Haven't we made it clear yet? I was scouting with Days."

NiGHTS frowned.

Hadn't he told Aaron not to answer so directly?

Dusk frowned back.

"Shut that big yap of yours! Get out of my sight."

NiGHTS was only too happy to grab Knight's arm and pull him into the castle.

Knight hoped he wasn't blushing.

He hadn't meant to snap at the Nightmaren, but it just came out.

Once inside, "Days" eyed Knight carefully.

"You're going to have to be more careful. The other Nightmaren won't think twice about attacking you, no matter what the reason."

Aaron looked ashamed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak up like that, but I couldn't help it."

NiGHTS shook his head.

"Come on, we need to find out where Molly is."

He moved ahead a little, being careful to stay as close as possible to Aaron.

The disguised dreamer followed just behind NiGHTS, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

As they drifted through the hallway toward a cross section, a familiar pink and green checkered Nightmaren flew past, busily wiping the walls free of dust.

NiGHTS disregarded the Nightmaren and continued as if he hadn't seen It.

Aaron couldn't help but take a glance at it as it passed, but returned his gaze forward as soon as he realized that he probably shouldn't stare.

"Did you see something?"

NiGHTS had noticed his companion's distraction.

Aaron answered.

"A Nightmaren just went by . . . It was cleaning. And It looked kind of like Tier, only backward. I mean. Does that make sense?"

NiGHTS smiled. "It wasn't Tier. Don't worry about it."

NiGHTS abruptly stiffened.

"Get out of sight! Quickly!"

He pressed Knight against the wall and stood in front of him as a familiar shadow moved down the hall toward them.

Reala drifted closer and halted, smiling as he spotted the two Nightmaren.

One of which had an unusual bulge in its chest, while the other had a human face.

He wanted to laugh.

Did NiGHTS really think that he was fooling anyone?

NiGHTS stood at attention as Reala drew closer.

'Swallow your pride, NiGHTS.'

He commanded himself, and nodded respectfully to Wizeman's right hand Nightmaren.

"Lord Reala, sir."

He gave Knight a little kick, implying that he should do the same.

Knight mimicked NiGHTS as best as he could. "Lord Reala, sir."

Reala grinned.

If only NiGHTS knew that he was kissing up for nothing!

Wouldn't that just burn him!

He played along, nodding back.

"As you were, 'maren."

It was all that he could do to keep from looking back and laughing as he left.

Knight was severely creeped out.

NiGHTS grabbed Knight by the sleeve.

"Come on!"

He hurried down the corridor until they came to a large, arched doorway.

"If Reala's wandering through the castle, there's nothing keeping us out of his chamber!"

"R-right. His chamber."

Knight scratched at his ear.

He had a bad feeling, but it was probably just from being in the home of all nightmares.

NiGHTS saw the gesture and grabbed Knight's hand, pulling it away from his head.

"Stop that. Nightmaren don't have ears!"

"Oh. How do you hear?"

Knight mumbled to himself.

"Magic."

NiGHTS gave the first explanation that came to mind, not in the mood to answer questions.

NiGHTS pushed the enormous doors open and peered around before drifting inside.

As Knight followed, they both paused to take in the large room with its red and black checkers, and green torches.

In the center of the chamber, Reala's throne dominated, high atop the pillar that served as its pedestal.

Against the far wall, something else was visible.

It looked like the Ideya palace from NiGHTS' memories . . . and there was a purple figure laying inside.

Knight, for some reason, was wondering now to himself if they would get his Ideya back while they were here.

NiGHTS froze at the sight of the Ideya Palace.

"It's her. . ."

He whispered, unable to believe their good luck.

Knight returned his attention to the present to look where NiGHTS was looking.

"She's being held captive?"

Nightingale rested on her back at the bottom of the prison, hands clasped in front of her as if asleep.

But she was already asleep.

NiGHTS flew over.

"She was practically clinging to Reala earlier! Why would he trap her in here?"

Knight followed him carefully, clinging to the wall the whole way.

NiGHTS hesitated, uneasy about the thought of reaching into an Ideya Palace.

He was finally free, what if he was trapped inside again?

With nothing to do but dance and rest in a confined space . . . the Nightmaren hero didn't know if he could stand going through that again.

He froze, one hand poised just inches from one of the pillars.

Knight watched NiGHTS' expression.

"Should I do it?"

NiGHTS blinked, startled out of his thoughts.

He started to answer, but stopped as a soft breath alerted them to the fact that the figure i nthe palace seemed to be rousing.

Thick lashes rose just enough to show the silvery grey eyes.

She blinked, not moving yet.

NiGHTS hesitated, wondering how Molly would react to seeing him.

As far as he knew, she still hadn't forgiven him for leaving her in Nightmare.

Not that he blamed her at all.

"What do I do. . .?"

Aaron whispered to himself.

Molly blinked at the voice and shifted her weight, looking up at him.

"Aaron. . .?"

"Molly?"

Aaron smiled at her.

NiGHTS hesitantly spoke up.

"I'm here too."

Molly ignored him, pushing herself into a sitting position and placing a hand over her chest.

"You shouldn't be here. He's going to find you here."

Aaron frowned.

"I don't care, I have to get you out."

NiGHTS sighed softly, aware that he was being ignored.

Molly stood up, but dropped her gaze.

". . . It's too late for that, Aaron."

NiGHTS frowned.

"You'll change your mind once we free your Yellow Ideya. You both will."

Aaron hesitated.

"Molly? What are you talking about?"

She fell into a sitting position.

"It's not important, you just have to get out of here. Right now! Don't let them catch you!"

She looked up into Aaron's eyes, her own were filled with a strange, haunted sorrow. As if she hadn't really slept for a long time.

"Molly, I don't want to leave without you."

Aaron hadn't felt this much need to save someone in a very long time.

She dropped her gaze.

"I'm only Nightingale now . . . please just leave me and go!"

A soft chuckle filled the room, and NiGHTS turned, frowning.

"Reala. . ."

Aaron's expression became somewhat angry.

"You're Molly and I'll never leave you!"

He turned his angry gaze upon Reala.

The red and black Nightmaren entered and flew to his throne, watching them intently through icy blue eyes.

"What a touching scene! Don't you agree . . . brother?"

Abruptly, he dove, slicing with yellow claws.

NiGHTS flinched as his disguise fell away to reveal his familiar purple costume.

Reala abruptly turned on Aaron, grabbing him by his collar.

He grinned as he held his free hand to the second dreamer's chest.

"How kind of you to bring the second Ideya to me. . ."

"No!"

Aaron growled at Reala.

"You have no right. . ."

Reala grinned.

"In my throneroom, I have every right!"

He cried out suddenly as a glowing band of energy struck him, and dropped Aaron, turning to glare as NiGHTS turned in midair for another pass.

"Leave them alone, Reala!"

Molly leapt to her feet again.

"NO!"

She reached out for Aaron, wincing as energy crackled through the invisible barrier that held her in place.

Aaron quickly rushed over to Molly, holding out his hand.

She pulled back suddenly, clutching her hand.

"I . . . I can't. . .!"

She turned to watch helplessly as NiGHTS and Reala faced off, and frowned suddenly before thrusting both hands out.

The crackling energy flew over her forearms as she strained.

Aaron winced at the crackling, put reached out both of his hands toward hers.

"You can!"

Reala snarled as he flew higher.

"This is my domain, NiGHTS! Both of these dreamers are mine!"

NiGHTS dodged a paraloop.

"No!"

Molly cried out as she saw the two flying at each other at tremendous speed.

The crackling intensified until it was blinding.

Molly shrieked.

"NO!!!"

NiGHTS felt his drilldash connect, but the shriek wasn't Reala's.

He pulled back in alarm in time to see Nightingale falling away from him.

"She took the hit for Reala?!!"

"Molly?! What is this. . .?"

Aaron looked stunned.

Nightingale hit the ground and groaned as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

NiGHTS hovered, in shock.

He screamed as Reala took advantage of the moment to drive sharp claws into his back, and he fell.

Reala laughed.

"Do you see, NiGHTS? She's mine!"

He landed beside Nightingale and lifted her to her feet, grinning mockingly at NiGHTS and Aaron.

Nightingale leaned heavily on him before gathering the strength to stand on her own.

"Molly, has he ever taken the hit for you? Would he?"

Aaron looked her straight in the eyes with hope in his own that she would realize that she was her own and not Reala's.

Nightingale shook her head.

"That doesn't matter. I. . ."

Reala placed a clawed hand on her shoulder, glaring at Aaron.

"Yes, I would."

NiGHTS pushed himself up, dumbfounded.

Even Nightingale seemed surprised until Reala continued.

"Nightingale is my most valuable underling. Wizeman values her, and that is more than enough reason for me to give everything in order to keep her safely within my grasp."

"Underling?"

Aaron folded his arms.

"Within your grasp? You don't care about her. You only care about what will happen to you if you let her get away."

Reala grimaced and might have attacked if Nightingale hadn't grabbed his hand.

"Don't!"

He sighed and relaxed, not bothering to free himself from her grip.

"Careful, boy. Or I may forget that you hold a similar value."

Aaron glared.

"I would rather you forget. I would rather you kill me now. Go ahead."

He looked extremely stubborn and took a defensive position.

"Aaron!"

Molly frowned worriedly at him, protesting his attitude.

Aaron shook his head.

"That's how it's got to be, Molly. Death now or eternal nightmares later. I'd pick death."

He wasn't very happy at the moment.

"You . . . you selfish idiot, Aaron!"

Molly shouted angrily, yanking free of Reala's grasp and taking a menacing step toward him.

"You just want to play the part of the hero! You don't care what happens to everyone else as long as you give the ultimate sacrifice and don't have to deal with what happens afterwards!"

Reala watched, amused.

"And what of yourself? You freely help the enemy who would do this to us all. I may play the part of the selfish hero, but you, Molly, you're playing the foolish sellout."

Molly raised her voice further.

"I told you to go! I. . ."

She turned away abruptly. Reala smirked as he stepped forward to pull her to him.

"Sellout? This coming from a boy who teams up with a treacherous Nightmaren to overthrow the rightful ruler of this world!"

"I'm not here to overthrow, Reala. I'm here to save you."

Aaron wasn't even thinking about NiGHTS, and it hadn't occurred to him that he should.

Reala wasn't listening.

He had noticed a tear in Nightingale's costume, below the arm.

He gently lifted the arm to look.

"You've been hurt."

Molly pulled away, but he had too firm a grip on her.

Something moved nearby. NiGHTS managed to stand up despite the stabbing pain in his back.

He was still in shock.

Why had Molly defended Reala?

It didn't make sense.

Reala frowned and lifted Nightingale, ignoring her protests.

"Enough of this. You got into the castle, but you will not get out. Guards!"

A swarm of beast-like lesser Nightmaren and minions flew into the room, forcing Aaron and NiGHTS into the Ideya Palace.

Aaron's Red Ideya instantly materialized over them, safely guarded by the magic of the pillars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is this the end? End of Part Eight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

Part Nine: Trapped in the Palace

.

Reala laughed at the look of horror that passed over NiGHTS' face.

"Suffering from Deja vu, NiGHTS?"

NiGHTS slammed into the barrier, wide eyed.

"REALA!"

Reala simply laughed as he flew out.

Molly reached out, over his back.

"Aaron! NiGHTS!"

She squirmed, but couldn't escape as she was carried out of sight.

Aaron sighed, sinking to the ground.

NiGHTS banged a fist against the invisible barrier, ignoring the painful energy that crackled at his touch.

"NO! Not this. . ."

He sank to his knees, shock and disbelief overcoming his usual cheery attitude and logic.

Aaron put his hand on NiGHTS' shoulder.

"I'm sorry. . ."

NiGHTS turned to look at him.

"It's not your fault. . ."

He seemed to think of something.

"I wonder if merging would let us out? That was how I escaped the first time."

Aaron smiled a little.

"I'm willing to try most anything right now."

NiGHTS held his hand out.

"Well, hope for a real one. . ."

he used a little Nightmaren slang.

Aaron didn't quite know what he was talking about, but took his hand anyway.

NiGHTS could sense Aaron's confusion as the merge occurred.

"Sorry. It's like your saying, 'cross your fingers'."

Aaron grinned.

"They're crossed."

NiGHTS looked down at his hands, noticing that Aaron had indeed crossed his fingers. "So I see. . ."

The Nightmaren lifted himself from the floor and took a breath before drifting forward.

A blinding flash erupted, sending energy through both of them.

NiGHTS cried out as he fell backwards back into the Ideya Palace.

"Looks like this one was a bust."

Aaron sighed.

He wondered if they would ever get out.

"A what?"

NiGHTS asked despite his frustration.

"Nevermind, try walking out."

Aaron noticed then that the blast had undone their merge.

"I mean it didn't work."

Aaron grinned ruefully.

"You think I can get out? I don't want to leave you here."

"The Ideya Palace only wants to keep Nightmares from damaging the dreams. It shouldn't care whether or not a dreamer is inside. Try it."

NiGHTS studied Aaron.

"You might want to get rid of the costume first."

Aaron nodded, retaking his normal getup.

He paused, thinking for a moment and then changed his attire to resemble his White Knight costume for the play.

NiGHTS frowned slightly.

He had meant for Aaron to retake his own outfit.

But it didn't make a difference.

"If this works, then I want you to try to get out of here and tell Tier what's happened. It should still be waiting."

"What? I thought I was going after Molly. . ."

Aaron's costume faded back to his normal clothes unconsciously.

NiGHTS shook his head.

"I don't want you to face Reala by yourself. You can help best by getting Tier. Tier may be able to free me, and then we can try to find Molly as a group."

"Alright, fine. . ."

Aaron walked toward the edge of the Palace, semi-confidently.

Or maybe he just wasn't thinking any more about what happened to NiGHTS when he tried to leave.

"At the very least, you can keep your Ideya out of Wizeman's reach."

NiGHTS muttered as he watched his friend pass through the barrier.

Aaron nodded.

"I'll save you. And Molly too. Don't worry."

NiGHTS frowned darkly, looking more like Reala.

"Aaron, get going! You're wasting time!"

As the dreamer hesitated, NiGHTS yanked his lips back savagely, revealing sharp jagged teeth. His eyes flashed dangerously and even the air around him seemed to crackle with menacing energy.

"Go!"

Aaron didn't look very scared.

Just a little saddened.

He left to find his way out.

NiGHTS sagged to the bottom of the Palace, sighing as he reverted to his normal appearance.

He closed his eyes.

"Just stay safe. . ."

He brought his knees up to the dull shard in his chest, feeling that he'd failed again.

Molly squirmed as she was carried.

"I said let me go! Aaron's right, you have no right to just do whatever you like! Put me down!"

Reala rolled his eyes at the endless stream of complaints.

"Be quiet."

He sounded bored.

As the squirming continued, Reala stopped in his tracks and fixed her with his coldest of stares.

"Stop this, Nightingale. You've been confused, that's all. You don't really mean what you're saying! Now be silent and allow me to tend to you."

Molly stiffened, then glared back.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like a mime with a migraine?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aaron sneaked through the halls of Nightmare, trying to make his way back to the entrance and back to Nightopia.

A soft whooshing sound came closer as a Hollow flew down the corridor.

The purple, owl-like minion with jester tassels for eyebrows was muttering to itself.

It had just had a rough encounter with Jackle, and had barely escaped intact.

Apparently, the Second Level Nightmaren had been humiliated and was taking it out on every Minion within his reach.

Aaron heard the sound and quickly tried to find someplace where he wouldn't be found.

Unfortunately, there was nothing but stone walls, and the Hollow was coming closer, although it hadn't spotted him yet.

Aaron quickly donned his Nightmaren costume just in case.

As the Hollow came close, it seemed to pale beneath its feathers.

It sped up, flapping past before Aaron could say or do anything.

Aaron felt sorry for the thing, giving it a pitying glance before continuing down the corridor toward the exit.

Dusk frowned as he recognized the Nightmaren from before.

"You again? I thought you were in for the night."

It grinned.

"What, did Wizeman tell you to get lost and not come home until you get some Ideya?"

Aaron growled at Dusk.

"As a matter of fact, I have been commanded away until I find Ideya, and I don't need smart remarks from you to find it!"

Dusk bristled viciously, and Aaron was abruptly reminded of NiGHTS' warning about the Nightmaren' vicious nature.

Aaron bristled in return.

"I don't have time for this!"

He floated upward and away from Dusk.

Dusk considered pursuing the other Nightmaren and pummeling him, but decided that It would only end up being punished for deserting Its post.

With a snarl, Dusk resumed guard duty.

Knight breathed a deep sigh of relief, going away from that place as fast as he could back toward Nightopia.

Tier was behind the boulder where NiGHTS and Aaron had left It, playing Jacks with some rocks. It wasn't having much luck since the round rock It had found didn't bounce properly.

The green and pink Nightmaren did a doubletake as Aaron flew over.

"Huh? But you . . . and NiGHTS was . . . you were . . . how did. . . Where's NiGHTS?!"

Its eyes widened in alarm.

Aaron took his normal clothing again.

"He's trapped. In an Ideya Palace. He sent me to find you."

Tier seemed to collapse in on Itself, a perfect picture of depression.

"Oh no. . .!"

The Nightmaren pulls both arms over Its head.

"I may as well just surrender now. . ."

"Don't say that. We have to go free him."

Aaron reasoned.

Tier shook Its head fearfully, wide eyed.

"They'll get us!"

Aaron frowned.

"How do you know?"

He folded his arms.

"They'll get us for sure if we don't do something!"

The Nightmaren was stubborn.

"I won't fight them. Maybe Wizeman will take me back. . ."

Tier seemed to be seriously considering the possibility, obviously not thinking clearly.

Aaron was astonished.

"Tier!! How could you say that!?"

"BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, I'M A COWARD!!!"

Tier shouted, as if that made everything alright.

"I mean. . ."

It huddled into a ball.

". . . I don't want to be reduced to my component elements or anything. . .!"

Aaron laid his hand on Tier.

"Tier, don't be afraid. I need your help. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Tier only whimpered, trembling violently. Aaron could only imagine what sort of punishment awaited traitors, for his friend to be so badly shaken.

"Tier, if you don't help me, I'm going back alone."

Aaron threatened.

Tier looked away, miserable.

". . .fine. . ."

Aaron tried another tactic.

"I can't do it without you."

He pleaded.

Tier refused to look at him.

"I'm sorry, Aaron. . .all that I can do is wake you up so that you'll be safe."

It considered.

"Maybe I should. . ."

"No! Tier, I will never forgive you if you wake me up."

Aaron glared at the Nightmaren.

"But. . ."

Tier took a breath.

". . .You're not going to forgive me if I stay here and refuse to help either. . ."

Aaron was close to becoming angry.

"Maybe not. . ."

He sighed.

"Does any of that matter to you?"

Tier squeezed Its eyes closed, pained.

"I can't help it . . . all that you have to worry about is a lifetime of nightmares and a world darkened by Wizeman. I'm going to be shredded into unrecognizable shards of nightmare energy!"

Aaron continued to frown.

"I'd prefer your fate."

Tier turned to regard Aaron fiercely.

"I'm not NiGHTS! I don't have any shards of Ideya or experience saving the world . . . I'm . . . I'm just a Nightmaren who was tired of being Reala's footstool!"

"Tier, you don't need any of those things!"

Aaron tried to look reassuring.

"All you need is the will to make a difference."

"But I don't have it!"

Tier wailed.

"I didn't join NiGHTS to fight Wizeman. I only wanted to get away! I'm as much a traitor to NiGHTS and you as I am to Wizeman and Reala!"

The Nightmaren was obviously at war with Itself.

"Fine!"

Aaron was tired of arguing with Tier and floated off toward Nightmare alone, taking on his costume once again.

"Run away. See how long it will save your tail!"

Tier turned away miserably, unable to watch as Aaron returned alone.

.

Inside the castle, Molly sighed as her Nightingale costume was repaired.

Reala was standing in a corner, observing with a sour look on his face.

"Mime with a migraine. . .?"

Molly stuck her tongue out.

"Well, you do."

The Nightmaren working on her froze in shock and glanced quickly at Reala.

When it became apparent that he wasn't going to respond, It resumed Its work.

In the Ideya Palace, NiGHTS was lazily sitting by a pillar and poking the barrier, blinking at each painful sizzle of energy. "

Tap . . . Ow . . . tap . . . ow . . . tap . . . ow. . ."

Aaron made his way back toward Nightmare in his disguise.

Dusk raised a nonexistent eyebrow and opened his mouth to comment on Knight's lack of Ideya.

Aaron flew past the rose and black colored Nightmaren, not wanting to mess with It.

Dusk's mouth snapped shut and It frowned.

That Knight guy wasn't very nice.

Aaron wasn't in the mood to be nice. He floated down the halls back toward Reala's throneroom.

Behind the boulder, Tier eased Itself up and peered over Its shoulder, sighing.

"Great . . . I'm starting to understand what this "guilt" stuff feels like. . ."

Aaron crept through the door to Reala's throne room quietly, peering around. Before he had gotten very far, voices came from inside.

"Ooh, you don't like the card, do you! Should I throw the card at you? You don't like the card!"

"Blast you, Jackle! If I could reach you, I'd. . .!"

NiGHTS clenched his fists as Jackle laughed.

"But you can't reach me, can you! Now I'm the one tormenting you! How do you like it?"

NiGHTS bared his teeth.

"About as much as I like Wizeman. Not at all!"

Aaron was not very happy. His expression quickly became very angry and he found himself wishing for a large sword.

Jackle laughed at NiGHTS' fierce expression.

He wielded one of his enormous playing cards and brought it down, almost taking off the tip of NiGHTS' tassel.

"What's the matter? You don't like cards?!"

Aaron began to sneak into the room, trying to stay in the shadows.

"Jackle! You had better not be tormenting our guests!"

Reala's voice echoed eerily down the corridor as he approached.

Jackle froze.

"Eep! N . . . No, Lord Reala! Of course not!"

He quickly retreated, almost dropping his card.

NiGHTS breathed a sigh of relief.

"Who'd have thought that I'd be saved by Reala?!"

Aaron froze in place.

Two figures approached.

Reala had one arm around Molly's shoulders, much to her displeasure.

In fact, she looked like she wanted to bite that arm off.

Molly had no idea what to do now.

He could not fight Reala even if he *had* a huge sword.

Reala smiled as he held Molly close for NiGHTS' benefit.

"Well, NiGHTS, how do you. . ."

He froze when he found only one prisoner.

"Where is the dreamer?!"

Molly grinned. "He's escaped!"

She yelped as Reala thrust her roughly to one side and advanced on NiGHTS, furious.

Molly grunted as she hit the floor and slid into the wall.

Aaron almost shouted out at Reala, but stopped himself just in time.

He started to make his way toward Molly, still trying not to be noticed.

Molly rubbed her shoulder, then blinked as she caught sight of something moving nearby.

She opened her mouth, only to have a hand slapped over it, effectively silencing her.

Aaron almost had a heart attack.

He nearly let out a huge breath, but caught himself just in time.

He put a finger up to his mouth to say 'Be quiet.'

Nightingale's eyes were wide in shock.

She nodded.

He helped her to her feet, trying to move back away from where Reala might see them.

She turned to face him, tilting her head and raising one hand in silent question as she wondered where he had come from.

He mouthed silently to her, 'Later,' and motioned for the door.

She turned away to watch Reala before turning back and indicating that Aaron should leave the room.

He shook his head, motioning that she had to come too, then he pointed to NiGHTS.

Molly made a face at all the gestures.

"Will you quit it with the gestures already?!"

She instantly slapped a hand over her mouth, blushing as both Nightmaren turned to look at her.

Aaron's face fell and he closed his eyes. "Nice. . ."

Reala frowned as he turned at the shout.

"Nightingale, who are you speaking to?!"

Molly dropped her hand, flushed.

"Er . . .just talking to myself. . ."

Aaron held his breath, hoping that Reala would believe her.

NiGHTS watched worriedly as Reala advanced, staring suspiciously behind Nightingale.

"I don't believe you. . ."

Aaron tried hard to be invisible.

Molly stood at attention as the real General of the Nightmare army stood in front of her.

When Reala began to lean over to look past her, Molly took a deep breath, then abruptly slammed into his middle.

"RUN!"

She screamed the word as she and Reala tumbled to the ground.

"I won't get another chance at this!"

Aaron flew over toward the Ideya palace, looking for some way to get NiGHTS out.

NiGHTS gasped as he spotted Aaron.

"Aaron, no! Get out!"

"NiGHTS, tell me how to disable this thing!"

Aaron started to tug at the Palace.

Reala reached for Molly.

There was a soft crunch, then he yelped and pulled his hand back.

His black glove sported tooth marks.

Molly looked a little green.

"Ugh . . . that was disgusting! Nightmaren taste awful!"

"Molly, do you know how to open this!?"

Aaron turned back to look at her.

"Not a clue!"

She shouted back, trying to avoid Reala's claws.

Aaron winced as he saw Reala get terribly close to hitting her.

He dove off of the top of the Ideya palace, hurtling toward Reala, fists first.

NiGHTS watched helplessly.

"Aaron!"

Reala grunted as he was struck, and rolled, knocking Molly off as he went after Aaron.

Molly hesitated, then ran for the Palace.

She spotted Aaron's Ideya at the top and jumped, reaching for it.

NiGHTS gasped.

"What are you doing? Aaron needs that Ideya!"

Molly ignored him and struggled up the pillar until she had almost reached the Red Ideya.

Aaron paused for a second to look toward Molly.

"M-Molly? What are you doing?"

She grunted.

"This!"

She snatched the Ideya.

Her own Ideya began to glow wildly, and she grinned at the power surge.

She twirled before diving for Reala.

"Yeah! That's what I needed!"

Reala could only stare in shock as she flew right for him.

The two smashed into the wall, sending stone chips flying!

Something fell free and rolled across the floor, gleaming brightly.

Aaron's gaze followed the gleam.

The golden star lay quietly in front of the throne.

He walked over to pick it up.

In the background, Reala and Molly were laying in a tangled heap.

Neither seemed to be conscious after that last impact.

NiGHTS tore his gaze away from Aaron, fearing that Molly had injured herself.

Knight held the chip in the air, studying it.

NiGHTS blinked.

"Aaron, that's exactly what Reala had those minions searching for. It may have something to do with this Ideya Palace!"

Aaron brought the star toward the palace.

"Are you sure?"

The star seemed to glow brighter, and NiGHTS smiled.

"Not really, but do you have any better ideas?"

"No. . ."

Knight admitted.

He walked up to the Palace and touched the star to one of the pillars.

The energy crackled around the star, which suddenly melted, becoming part of the pillar.

The barrier glowed for an instant, becoming visible.

NiGHTS grinned as he felt the energy drain away.

"That's it!"

He flew out and grabbed Aaron, twirling him happily.

Aaron couldn't help but laugh for a second or two before remembering Molly.

"I-is she okay...?"

NiGHTS abruptly sobered and flew over, moving stiffly due to the wound in his back, It had reopened during his spin.

As he leaned over the two figures, Reala's eyes snapped open.

The red and black Nightmaren tried to lunge, but Nightingale's slender form hampered his movement.

NiGHTS darted out of reach.

"Whoopsie!"

Aaron rushed over, trying to get to Molly while Reala was distracted.

Reala seemed glad when the unconscious female was pulled away from him, and straightened to face NiGHTS fully.

NiGHTS quickly took to the air.

"Escape!"

He commanded before paralooping.

Reala dodged and slashed with his claws, missing.

Aaron carried Molly out of the throneroom and toward the gate.

Unfortunately the sounds of the battle had attracted more Nightmaren.

As the Minions surrounded Aaron, the forest green First Class Nightmaren with them grinned.

"Looks like we've got a traitor. . . "

Aaron froze.

"No traitor am I."

He grinned.

The Nightmaren frowned, taking a fighting stance.

"If you're not a traitor, then I'm a giant green Nightopian!"

It reeled suddenly as It was struck from behind.

"Funny . . . I didn't know that they came in green." Tier commented, rubbing Its fist casually.

"Tier!"

Aaron let his disguise melt away, revealing his dreamer's clothes once more.

Tier winked.

"How's it going, Aaron? I see that you got Molly! Great! Now where's NiGHTS?"

Aaron grinned.

"He's fighting Reala. Back there."

He pointed.

Tier's heroic moment quickly passed.

"Fighting . . . R . . . Reala. . .?!!"

Meanwhile, Reala snarled.

"Nightingale!"

He dove for the door, only to be intercepted by NiGHTS.

The purple Nightmaren grinned.

"I don't think so, you walking checkerboard!"

Reala glared.

"We'll see how long you can keep up that cheerful attitude, NiGHTS!"

The two flew around each other, sending two trails of sparkles drifting under them.

NiGHTS dove, then came up in front of a wall, glancing around.

"Oops! Not smart, NiGHTS! How do I dodge Reala?!"

Reala grinned and flew at top speed, claws flexed.

"You don't!"

He blinked as NiGHTS dropped out of sight, leaving nothing but the wall for Reala to crash into.

NiGHTS stuck his tongue out playfully as he flew for the door.

"Just kidding, checkerboard!"

He became serious as he left.

"Now to find Aaron and Molly!"

Aaron looked around for a way to escape the horrible Minions.

He couldn't fight them all.

Tier blinked, forgetting Its unease as It followed Aaron's glance.

"Hm? What's wrong, Aaron?"

The Minions bunched up, preparing at attack.

"How do we get out. . .?"

Aaron looked a little helpless.

Tier blinked. "Duh . . . the exit?"

It pointed, blissfully unaware of the Minions around them.

Aaron blinked.

"Tier, look."

He pointed to the Minions most helpfully.

"Yeah, Minions. So?"

As a Hollow flew at them, Tier casually rapped on its head with Its knuckles, causing it to drop like a rock.

The others backed up a step.

Aaron's jaw dropped.

"They're that weak?"

"Only if you're a Nightmaren. Come on, let's go."

Tier turned and drifted toward the exit, leaving Aaron holding Molly and surrounded by angry Minions.

Aaron's eyes widened in dismay as the minions closed in.

"Tier!"

He shouted after It.

"I'm *not* a Nightmaren!"

Tier paused and glanced back.

"Oh yeah . . . you're not, are you?"

It turned and floated back over, puffing Its chest and holding both hands out.

"Alright, get behind me."

Aaron quickly obeyed, grateful that Tier had finally gotten a hold on things.

As Aaron complied, Tier took a bow as if performing, then cleared Its throat, crossing Its eyes as it tried out a few notes.

"Mi mi mi mi mi!"

The green and pink Nightmaren abruptly seemed to fill the hall, jagged teeth dripping and minty green eyes filled with green fire.

"RRAAARRRR!!!"

The minions froze as one and fled in the opposite direction.

Tier shrank back to Its usual size and appearance before turning and bowing low for Aaron's benefit.

"Thank you, thank you! I also do grand openings and birthday parties!"

Aaron smiled.

"You're comin' to *my* birthday party!"

Tier grinned.

"Come on, let's go."

Aaron nodded, following Tier.

As they headed for the exit, they heard a familiar mumbling outside.

"No good, stuck up, prissy Nightmaren prancing in and out as they please. They think they're so great, but. . ."

Tier blinked.

"Dusk always was temperamental. But It's harmless."

It shrugged and flew right out.

Aaron frowned.

"NiGHTS told me It would attack me. . ."

Tier nodded.

"It would. . . oh."

It stopped as Dusk glared dangerously at the dreamers.

Tier drifted back.

"Lay off, Dusk. These two are with me."

Dusk snarled.

"Tier?! Didn't you betray Wizeman?!!"

Tier shrugged.

"Well, I didn't think that'd work . . . RUN!"

That said, It took off flying.

"H-hey!"

Aaron flew after Tier.

It was several minutes before Aaron was able to catch up to the green and pink Nightmaren.

Tier was on the border between Nightmare and Nightopia, panting.

"That was scary!"

Aaron was breathing hard as well, trying to catch his breath.

"You have no idea. . ."

A shadow passed over them before NiGHTS touched down.

Almost immediately, he fell to his knees, grimacing.

The purple Nightmaren forced his usual smile onto his face.

"Hi, guys. Is everyone okay?"

Aaron nearly dropped Molly, but caught her just in time.

He sat her down gently.

"NiGHTS! Are you alright?"

NiGHTS grinned to disguise his pain.

"Don't worry about me, Nightmaren heal quickly. How's she?"

He indicated Molly.

Aaron returned to her to try to determine just that.

"I'm not sure. . ."

Molly groaned, reviving.

She opened her eyes and instantly shut them again.

"Ow . . . did anyone get the license number on that truck. . .?"

NiGHTS and Tier exchanged a puzzled glance at the strange comment.

Aaron chuckled a little, understanding the joke.

"We missed it. . ."

Molly pushed herself up, rubbing her head dazedly.

"Remind me never to do that again . . . Reala's head must be made of concrete!"

Aaron was smiling, happy that they had finally won. "Hopefully, you'll never need to be reminded."

Tier leaned closer, grinning.

"What's concrete?"

Molly blinked in surprise at the strange Nightmaren speaking to her.

Aaron laughed.

"It's okay, Molly. This is Tier. It's the one who helped us escape."

Tier blushed, rubbing the back of Its head like a bashful schoolboy.

"Um, it's good to meet you."

Molly nodded.

"Hello, Tier."

She smiled weakly, then gasped as she noticed herself becoming transparent.

"Hey! What's going on?!"

NiGHTS smiled.

"You're finally waking up. This will all have been just a bad dream soon."

Aaron looked down at himself, wondering if the same would happen to him.

"What about all my Ideya? Will I ever get it back?"

As her Nightingale costume faded, Molly blushed.

"Oh! That's right!"

She quickly cupped her hands over her chest, and a familiar red orb materialized.

"Sorry, Aaron . . . this is yours."

He reached out to touch it.

"Thanks . . . it's alright."

Molly smiled, then blinked as she was almost invisible.

"Looks like I'm only half asleep . . . bye, everyone. . .!"

She waved before she faded completely.

Aaron looked over at NiGHTS, realizing that he was fading as well.

"I'll be back, NiGHTS. I'm coming for my other Ideya. . ."

He faded out before he could finish the rest of what he was going to say.

NiGHTS and Tier waved, smiling.

NiGHTS turned to where Aaron had been a moment ago.

"We'll see you tomorrow night."

He and Tier smiled before they flew back to the camp together, NiGHTS being partially supported on the way.

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EPILOGUE
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Molly awoke with a start, her mind still replaying scenes from the most vivid dream she'd ever had.

She turned automatically toward her alarm clock and realized with horror, that it was already noon!

She had already missed the beginning of rehearsal, and so settled down again.

Had it all been only a dream?

The jester like Nightmaren?

The carefree little angels, the Nightopians?

Had she really been one of them?

She shook her head, smiling.

"Don't be stupid, it was just a dream. I'll never see any of them again."

. .

Elsewhere, Aaron was also opening his eyes.

Like Molly, he decided to forego rehearsal in favor of quiet contemplation.

Maybe it had all been a dream, but he wasn't at all convinced that it hadn't been at least partially real.

How else could he account for Molly's part in the dream?

He smiled as he thought of his friends.

The cute but troublesome Nightopian, Topper.

The immature but golden hearted Tier.

The fun loving, level headed NiGHTS.

Aaron knew in his heart that if he never saw any of them again, he would be sorely disappointed.

He decided that he would ask Molly about the dream when he saw her.

If she knew what he was talking about, then he would know that it had been real.

. .

NiGHTS grimaced as Picusha, the rebel camp's resident powder blue Nightmaren healer tended to his back, and allowed his thoughts to drift as the pain was erased.

The dreamers would both be back, he knew.

What he didn't know, was when they would return, and where they would land.

Whether in dream or nightmare, light or darkness.

It all remained to be seen.

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The End

(To Be Continued. . .)