Disclaimer: Nights and crew do not belong to me, Eve does so no takie!
------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a couple days since they left the castle. Other than the dreamer incident nothing had happened. Reala was looking much better he seemed like he would wake any time now. Eve awoke to the sound of birds singing within the canopy of the Mystic Forest. She found Jackle was up already, for he was not in the shelter anymore. She got up and stretched while glancing down at Reala. He was sleeping soundly. Eve smiled as she grabbed her sword and jester hat then went over to Jackles' side and grabbed a roll from the little bag. By now they were running low on food. She flew out of the tee pee and looked around to make sure she wasn't being watched. Nothing to be seen or heard anywhere. She munched on her roll and glided forward for a little ways to get the river for a drink. She finished the roll up and sat beside the river. She dipped her hands in the cold water cupping her hands and trapping some water in them. She brought it to her lips to drink when she saw the reflection of someone behind her. And it was not Jackle that she saw or Reala for that matter. She sipped the water as if she hadn't seen a thing. If there was one thing Eve hated the most it was to be spied on. She went on to splash her face with the cool water and then wipe it dry with her sleeve. She glided along the river trying to loose the spy.
The spy was a male Nightmaren mage. You could tell by his long cape that made his body disappear. It was a trend that most mages wore. His hair was silver and uncommonly short in the front and just a low ponytail that went to the middle of his back. His face was pale with a red line that went from his forehead down to his upper lip and from his lower lip to the bottom of his chin. And black all around his light metallic green eyes with three black strips that traveled diagonally down both sides of this face. His cape was black on the outside but the inner fabric was gray. Held together by a silver clasp with two red jewels. He had lost sight of the Nightmaren female that he identified as the Black Rose… He descended down from the tree he had been perched in and looked around carefully. Just a few seconds later she revealed herself when she jumped at him throwing her arm around his neck and putting him into a strangle hold. "Who are you and why are you following me?" He threw his head back and smacked her in the face. She released him and he turned to face her. She looked at him with a look of pure hatred. "Who are you and where do you come from!?" he grinned at her for a moment before answering.
"My name is Meth and I come from the Rebel army… General Eve…" He vanished from her grip and reappeared a few feet away from her. Eve watched him carefully so he didn't make any sudden moves. "So what brings the Black Rose all the way out here?"
"That's none of your business..." she knew she couldn't trust him.
"Oh but I think it is, you could be out looking for our base for all I know... So I think you should leave... or do I have to make you?" Eve had to keep him away from the shelter, all mages could detect spells and if they found Reala in the state he's in they would kill him for sure.
"Look I don't want to fight you..."
"Well then girly you chose the wrong place not to fight…" He chanted a spell and a couple glowing orbs of light appeared in his hands.
"Look I'm not your enemy." Eve watched ready to dodge: though she had never fought a mage before.
"Well I can hardly call you a friend when you're a general of the Nightmare Army." He had a point but she was no longer a general, but Meth didn't know that. Meth threw the orbs at her and she flew out of the way of them but they didn't hit the ground like she thought they would, instead they stopped right above the ground and flew up at her again. Eve didn't know they could do that and flew past them. Meth watched her as she tried to loose them with an amused look on his face. No matter how she maneuvered they still followed her. She slashed one with her sword, and it glowed brightly until it exploded throwing her against a tree. She grabbed her head and noticed the other flying right at her. She leapt forward into a roll as it smacked into the tree and exploded. Eve regained her stature quickly and leapt at him with her sword ready to slice him. He dodged it and came up behind her.
"You're a feisty one aren't you..." he succeeded in pissing her off.
"Great… a Rebel version of Jackle." she swung at him again but it didn't hit. She was becoming quite frustrated with him.
Jackle heard an explosion close by and sensed magic at work. "Awe Shit..." he flew quickly to where the explosion came from and found Eve fighting with another mage. He could see that she wasn't fairing to well against him. "Hey! You know that's not fair to fight one with a disadvantage!" Jackle flew over beside Eve.
"What do you mean a disadvantage!? I'm perfectly capable of kicking this guys ass if I wanted to fight him."
"And don't you know two against one isn't fair either... Gee I must be pretty lucky to of found a General and the Master Mage of Nightmare. Is General Reala going to join us as well?"
"Leave him out of this…" Jackle snorted. The two mages stared each other down.
"Can't we just talk about this peacefully." They ignored her and began to go at it after what seemed like hours. Eve knew that this fight was too risky. She knew the fighting would attack unwanted attention and perhaps start a battle.
"Jackle! Stop, this fighting is going to give us away."
"It's too late for that, go back and see if he's awake yet. I'll hold him until then." Eve was about to protest but she knew Jackle could take care of himself. And she flew off back to the shelter.
She reached the shelter rather quickly. "Reala?" She went in the flipped the blanket over and found that Reala was gone. "Reala!?" she went outside the shelter and looked around. "Reala!!?" She turned around with her sword drew and found Reala at the end of it.
"Hey it's just me!" Eve's expression softened.
"Reala your awake." She holstered her sword and practically pounced on him.
"Easy Eve." She loosened up her grip. "Why are we in the Mystic Forest?"
"I had Jackle bring us here. Oh Reala I'm so glad your awake I was worried about you." Reala wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him.
"I thought… you were gone for good…"
"I'm sorry I worried you so much, I guess we're even on the worrying part then." Eve joked cheerfully trying to hold back tears.
"I don't want you to fight anymore…" Eve looked up at him. "I nearly lost you because of it… I never felt pain over a loss before… and I… I never want to feel that way again." She had never heard him speak this way before. In his depressed state she couldn't help but let the tears she tried so hard to keep from falling pour out onto her cheeks.
"Reala I'm here now, and I'll never leave you again I swear." Reala pulled away and saw the tears still streaming down her cheeks. He gently wiped the tears away with his finger. He then pulled her close and kissed her deeply; she returned his affections, and placed her arms around him. They were interrupted by Jackle's voice.
"That was a cheap shot."
"You know if you didn't take so much time chanting a spell you might just hit me."
"Shut up I don't need a lecture from you."
"Let's face it I'm way better than you are."
"The hell you are, I'm not called the Master Mage for nothing."
"Could have fooled me…"
"What did you say!!?"
"Nothing… Let us carry on the battle now?"
"This is hardly a battle…"
"Oh… Let us carry on this fight then?"
"I will when I'm good an ready."
"Do you have a strategy? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do, I'm the Master Mage!!"
"You keep saying that… but I'm not seeing it." Jackle growled in frustration.
"You know if you'd just Shut Up I'd be able to concentrate."
"You shouldn't talk at all… it makes you sound stupid."
"Have you ever stopped and listened to yourself."
"I'm sorry if I sound more intelligent than you." Eve had heard enough of this.
"Yup defiantly a rebel version of Jackle… Reala I'll be right back…" she glided off toward the source of the arguing. She came up behind Jackle and grabbed the collar of his cloak. She yanked him over until his face was right next to hers. "Jackle! Chill the fuck out…"
"But he said I…"
"I don't give a damn what he said you both are acting like children… And if you both don't cool it I'll kick both your ass's… Understand me!?" Jackle gulped.
"Yes ma'am…" Meth laughed.
"Talked down by a female."
"Do you find something funny about me Meth?"
"Oh no no no, I think he's funny for being afraid of a weakling like you." He laughed again. Eve rushed at him and punched him in the stomach, making him fall over holding his gut. Then she balled her hands together and punched him on the back making him fall to the ground. She landed next to him watching him struggle to get some air in his lungs. After he caught his breath he looked up at her. "How come you didn't do that before?"
"Before, I wasn't interested in kicking your little arrogant ass, but then you had to go and piss me off…"
"All the more reason to use my full abilities" he coughed a few times and stood up.
"That won't be necessary Meth." Meth turned around to see Nights approach.
"Nights sir, I found these intruders on my patrol."
"That was good of you Meth thanks." He turned back to the other two. "Eve you look much better now, feeling alright I presume?"
"Much better now thank you." Jackle and Meth looked back and forth from Eve to Nights.
"You two know each other?" They both looked at Jackle.
"We haven't known each other long, Nights helped me when I was hurt after the battle." Eve and Nights returned gazes. "And he gave me some helpful advice."
"I see you brought an extra Maren." Nights said cheerfully. "And I sense you broke Wizeman's spell over you Eve." She nodded.
"Small problem…" Everyone looked at Jackle again. "We haven't… I can't move…"
"What's happening to them?" Eve asked.
"Wizeman is calling them back to Nightmare." Nights stated.
"No…" Eve flew back to where Reala was. But he vanished before she could get to him. "Reala!" Nights and Meth flew over to her.
"Jackles' gone too." Meth said.
"Eve let me send some of my Maren with you."
"There's no time. Wizeman will kill them if he finds out why they left."
"Be careful, I'll try to help you as much as I can."
"Thank you Nights." She flew off toward Nightmare castle.
"Why are you helping them Nights? They are the enemy…"
"Not anymore, Meth…" They both glided off in the opposite direction.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Once Eve got to the castle, she was able to find an open window and sneak in unnoticed. The room was empty and she got into the hallway. She made her way back to Wizman's chamber. It was deep in the castle and she had to quicken her pace to the giant oak doors. She hid in the shadows and ill lit hallways all the way to the main hall.
Reala and Jackle found themselves inside of Wizeman's chamber. "You too have been gone two days without permission. Explain yourselves now!" Wizeman stared down at the two of them intently for an explanation of their absence. Reala and Jackle didn't say anything.
Eve soon arrived at the large chamber doors. She could hear that Wizeman was growing impatient with them so she decided to step up and speak for them. She pushed open the giant doors and entered the chamber unannounced.
"They left to find me my lord."
"Eve? Your still alive?" Wizeman knew something had to be wrong with her. He couldn't sense the loyalty spell he had placed on her. He had sensed it the day that Reala and Jackle had disappeared but then it vanished so he could not pinpoint where she was. He figured it was because she died when the spell did.
"Quite my lord…" she bowed feeling quite disgusted with herself, but she had to, to save Reala and Jackle from being charged with Defection. "And ready to serve you once more."
"I am glad to hear it. You may go now…" Eve straightened up and turned to leave with Reala and Jackle. "Except for you Eve. I would like to talk to you in private…" Reala stopped and turned back. Eve shot him a look that told him to keep going. Hesitantly he turned back toward the door and kept going. Eve turned around as the giant doors closed tight.
"What is it you wanted to see me about my lord?"
"Your loyal to me Eve are you not?"
"I have pledged my eternal loyalty to you my lord why do you question it now?"
"I have my reasons, and the only way you can prove your loyalty to me is to do something for me."
"And what will this test of loyalty be?"
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What!!" Reala yelled at Jackle as the mage listened through the door. "What do you mean bear his child!?"
"Why are you getting all mad at me for that's how it sounded."
"That's it I'm going back in!" Jackle stepped in his way.
"Wait a second if you do that you'll be exposing what you two are!"
"Do I look like I give a fuck!?" Jackle put his hands up.
"Okay okay, think of it this way, what would she want you to do?"
"I…" Reala grumbled lowly and crossed his arms.
"I knew you'd see it my… err… her way. Besides she hates the very sight of him let alone the thought to bearing his child."
"Fine, is there a way you can get us in there unnoticed so we can listen in?" Jackle grinned.
"Yeah there is." He dug through one of his little sacks until he found it. "Ah there it is." Jackle pulled it out of the sack and it resided into a knuckle claw.
"That's going to get us in unnoticed?"
"Yup that it will. This is no ordinary knuckle claw. It has mystical powers." Jackle slipped it on his right hand. "It's called the Panthers Claw. All you have to do is…" he slashed at the air and an opening appeared that resembled a portal. "Then all you have to do is step through it and voila it'll take you where ever you want to go." Jackle glided through it and Reala followed. They appeared behind the throne inside the chamber.
"Prove your loyalty to me had give me the Ideya you possess." Wizeman repeated.
"Huh?" Reala narrowed his eyes down at Jackle. "Where did you get "Bearing a child" from "Give me the Ideya you possess"?" Jackle grinned and shrugged.
"Hey I'm about as good at listening through a magically sound proofed door than I am at fighting without magic on the battlefield."
"An Ideya? But I have no Ideya my lord."
"Yes you have one, you just don't realize it yet."
"Begging your pardon my lord but Nightmaren don't have Ideya unless they steal them from humans… and I have never stolen one, you know that…"
"That's what's so special about you Eve, you're the only Maren that has one."
"What?" was her shocked reaction along with the two behind the throne. They acted the same but without the outburst. "That would mean I'd have to be some kind of Human/Nightmaren hybrid."
"Something like that, now hand it over or be punished for your defiance."
"I don't know how to get to it."
"Don't worry I'll take care of that part." Wizeman began to chant a spell and a strong red light erupted from Eve. When Wizeman was finished chanting there flouting in front of Eve was the Ideya. Reala and Jackle couldn't believe their eyes.
"A red Ideya." They both murmured.
"It's… so beautiful…" Eve gazed at the glowing shard hovering in front of her.
"Isn't it though, and it will be all the more beautiful once added to my collection. Now give it to me." Eve looked up at him with a blank expression.
"No…"
"What did you say!!" Wizeman threw this hand at her and Eve reacted instantly.
"I said!" Eve grabbed the Ideya with her left hand and drew her sword with her right. "NO!!" and slashed the blade across the eye on the palm of his hand. Purple ooze began to seep from the wound.
"Why you little wretch. I thought maybe you would be fine without that spell on you but I guess you need something a bit stronger."
"If you can catch me that is…" Eve jettisoned past Wizeman and out the window.
"Guards after her don't let her escape!!" he glided through the open doors and left the chamber. Reala and Jackle walked out from behind the throne.
"We have to get to her before Wizeman sends the elite team after her." The elite team included Clawz, Gulpo, Gilwing, and Puffy. Jackle and Reala were also a part of this particular team. They were the most advanced and deadly fighters of Nightmare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eve zipped through Nightmare swift as an arrow. She finally made it to the border of Nightmare and Nightopia to get away from the Nightmaren Wizeman had sent after her. She knew they wouldn't stop at the border, they would hunt her down where ever she went. She knew that the red Ideya that had been within her was what Wizeman had been after all along. And the only way he could get it is if she gave it to him willingly. And with his power he might be able to do that no matter how much she didn't want to.
"You know you could hide that in the waking world and they wouldn't be able to get it." Eve looked up and saw a little Nightopian. "Hi my names Snuze."
"Eve…"
"It's to bad that the sphere won't open again for another 100 years. That's the only way to the waking world."
"I can't wait that long. I wish I could get there now." Right then and there Eve vanished in a burst of red light.
"Hey that looked like what Nights Ideya does when he travels back and forth to the waking world. I better go tell him." It just so happened that he wasn't to far away. Before he could tell him Reala grabbed him. Snuze yelled out in fright.
"Tell me where Eve is…"
"Who?" The little Nightopian asked.
"A female Nightmaren with a purple suit and a red Ideya."
"Why should I tell you." Snuze crossed his little arms across his chest.
"Cause if you don't I'll rip out your little throat." Reala began to shake the little Nightopian out of pure frustration. "Now tell me where she is!"
"We just want to help her." Jackle interjected.
"Yeah just like you tried to help Nights when he had red Ideya." Reala growled fiercely.
"YOU'LL TELL ME NOW!!"
"He'll tell you what Reala?" Reala's eyes darted off toward the owner of the voice. It belonged to the one person he loathed more than Wizeman.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The red glow slowly faded and Eve could see a large city beneath her. When the glow vanished so did the red Ideya back into her body. Then gravity took hold of her and she began to fall. For some reason she couldn't fly and that was a problem since Eve was at least 20 stories up. Then she spotted a rope that held up a washer post. She grabbed onto it and she began to slow but the rope burned her hands. Her pain endurance had been reduced significantly. But she had to hold on if she didn't want to die. She slowed but then she smashed into the window washing perch. She broke it in two and they swung from side to side. Eve held onto the rope and wood, her hands felt like she had put them over an open flame. Her body hurt from smashing into the perch and smashing into the side of the building as well. Eve was still 12 stories up off the ground. She could hear the horrified ramblings of people below on the street.
Inside the building a teenaged boy with blue hair and blue eyes looked out the window of his fathers' office to see what the problem was that got so many people worked up. Looking down he saw her and his eyes widened. "A Nightmaren?" he whispered to himself. "Why doesn't he fly?" he climbed up into the windowsill and reached out and grabbed the rope.
"Elliot Edwards what are you doing?" his father asked frantically as he entered the office.
"Saving whoever it is hanging on the end of this rope." Elliot began to pull and heave. His father grabbed some slack and helped him pull.
Eve looked down at the street and thought this was the end. Then she felt herself being lifted. She looked up and witnessed someone pulling the rope up. Her hands hurt but she held on in spite of the pain she was feeling. And soon she had been pulled up to the 14th story window. Elliot grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside and they could hear people cheer outside. "I better go call the MP's " Elliots' father said as he went to use his phone. Elliot unplugged the phone wire without his father knowing. "Hmm it's not working better go use another phone."
"We have to get you out of here before someone finds out what you are…" Elliot grabbed his dad's trench coat and put if over her. "Come on." Eve obeyed and they walked out together toward the elevator. And then they got out of the building without any trouble. He got her back to his house in a little over twenty minutes. He sat her down on his couch and went to fetch the medical kit. Then he picked up the phone and dialed out.
The receiver on other side of the line the phone rang a few times before someone answered. "Hello Sinclair residence, Clare speaking."
"Clare this is Elliot. I need you to come over now."
"Hi Elliot what's happening,"
"We have a guest from the dream world." Eve winced as Elliot used some tweezers to pull out some rope slivers from her injured palms. He then put antibiotic cream on her wounds.
"Oh, I'll be right there." Clare hung up and ran out the door. Elliot hung up the phone and finished wrapping her hands with bandages. He then went into the kitchen and put some water on the stove to boil.
"So what's your name?" Elliot opened one of the cupboards and got down a packet of tea.
"Eve…" She said shakily. The water began to boil and he poured some into a mug. "So what brings you to the waking world?"
"I was escaping from Wizeman… He wanted to take my red Ideya…"
"Where did you get a red Ideya from?" Elliot stuck the packet into the hot water and stirred it around with a spoon.
"It came from within me…"
"Nightmaren don't have Ideya…"
"That's what I said… but he..." Elliot came over with the steaming cup of tea.
"Wait a sec, you're not Nightmaren at all."
"What are you talking about?" she shot up but clutched her side. The same side she had been stabbed. She must have re-fractured her ribs.
"Hey calm down your going to hurt yourself. Here sit down and drink this, it'll calm your nerves." Soon after Elliot heard a knock at the door. "Stay put I'll be right back." He went and opened the door up to find Clare on the other side.
"That was quick." She pushed past him.
"Where's Nights is he hurt or something?"
"It's not Nights…"
"Don't tell me its Reala…"
"It's not him either…"
"A Nightopian then?"
"Come and see for yourself." She obeyed and followed Elliot into his living room. There they found Eve transfixed on her reflection in the steaming liquid. She recognized the girl in her reflection.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS NIGHTS, IT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU…" Both Nights and Jackle were surprised by what he had said. Reala didn't talk when he saw Nights he just attacked. He only cared about killing Nights. He must have been very worried about Eve to not attack Nights right when he heard him speak.
"It does when your threatening the helpless to get answers brother…"
"Don't you ever call me that again!"
"We don't have time for this we have to find Eve before Nightmare does." Jackle said stepping between the two of them.
"What happened?" Nights asked.
"She had a red Ideya, Wizeman wanted it and she wouldn't give it to him." Snuze bit down on Reala's hand.
"OW!! You damn little pixie!" Snuze stuck his tongue out at him.
"Snuze do you know where Eve went?" Snuze flew over to Nights. And he whispered in the good Marens ear. "She did what?"
"That's right I think she went there using the Ideya…"
"Snuze thanks. Reala I know where she is." Reala flew up to him and grabbed his collar.
"Where is she!? Tell me now!"
"I will but you have to promise me that you'll behave yourself…" Reala growled.
"Tell me!!"
"I'll take that as a yes… She's in the waking world." Reala released him.
"How in the hell did she get there. You took her there didn't you?"
"No it wasn't me. Snuze tells me that it was the Ideya she carried that took her there. Now everyone gather round we're going to get Eve and bring her back here. No fighting or stealing Ideya. You two must behave."
"I'm not promising anything now just get us there damn it!!"
"Fine…" He places his hands in a circular formation around the Ideya on his chest. It began to glow and soon the light engulfed the three of them. After a flash of red light nearly blinded Snuze they vanished. Snuze could have sworn he saw something enter the red light but he thought his eyes were just playing tricks on him.
"Things sure have gotten weird lately…" Snuze flew off to find Nap.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Eve looked at her reflection while Clare looked at Elliot. "What is this Elliot? Some kind of joke." She placed her hand on her hips and looked at him sternly.
"What? You think I'm lying?" Elliot was shocked that she didn't believe him. "Clare she fell from the sky for crying out loud."
"Are you sure she didn't just jump off the building."
"Positive I think…" He scratched his head.
"You think?"
"Well how do you explain her clothes. Nobody can make a Nightmaren outfit like that."
"Very easily…" Elliot took Clare by the hand and led her back into the kitchen. While they talked Eve set the tea down on the table beside the couch. She found a strange little black device with a bunch of buttons on it. She pressed one of them that were red and the strange box in front of her flashed and a face appeared on it. She tilted her head and looked at it. Some how it was familiar to her. The human on the tube was rambling on about something about buying a premium set of pots and pans. Then a bunch of unrecognizable words scrolled up the screen. Afterward they announced something about the afternoon news. Another woman appeared on the screen and began rambling about different things. She was trying to find the button to turn it off when she heard something about a search for a missing person. A picture popped up into the corner of the screen.
"The search for Tara Valenstine goes one." Eve stopped breathing for a moment. She was that dreamer or she was this Tara Valenstine. Was this her life before Wizeman took her memories away? "Authorities have found new witnesses that have identified a suspected kidnapper. Police have not identified him but a artist sketch has been released." Another photo appeared on the screen. "He stands about 6" with long black hair and pale skin." The photo looked suspiciously like… Reala… What was going on? She removed her jester hat. She didn't know what to think right then. Elliot and Clare walked back in to see her staring at the television. They looked over at the television and noticed the missing person's report. Clare's brain clicked as realized that this girl resembled the one on the TV.
"You're… Tara Valenstine…?" Eve looked over at her.
"I know I wasn't created by Wizeman but I couldn't be human… could I?" before anyone could answer her. There was a bright flash coming from the kitchen. Elliot went to see what it was. He peeked into the kitchen and saw that it was Nights.
"Nights!? What are you doing here?" He then saw the other two Maren that were with him. "Reala? Jackle?" He backed away a bit. Nights put his hands up in the air.
"Elliot it's alright they're not going to hurt anybody."
"Are you sure about that Nights? It could be a trick."
"They are just here to help me find someone."
"Them? Help you?"
"Well more like I am helping them." Nights smiled trying to reassure him a bit.
"This is only a temporary alliance." Reala glared over at Nights.
"Why are you helping them?" Elliot looked over at Reala then back over to Nights.
"We're looking for a Nightmaren female by the name of Eve. Have you heard anything about her?"
"Eve? Yes I have in fact she dropped in on my dad's work." Reala pushed past Nights, nearly knocking him over. He grabbed Elliot by the collar of his shirt.
"WHERE IS SHE!?" He shook him violently.
"Nights get him off of me!!!" Elliot yelped, helpless against the Nightmarens strength. Eve looked up from the TV and toward the kitchen. She heard a voice that she recognized. She jumped up and ran to the kitchen throwing open the swinging door. She found Jackle and Nights trying to pyre Reala off of Elliot.
"Reala!!" she shouted. Reala let go of Elliot sending the two Maren and human to the floor.
"Eve!" She ran into his arms and they embraced one another. Jackle felt like he was gonna hurl. The three of them got up and dusted themselves off. Elliot was confused about all that was going on. Reala sensed that something wasn't right about her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away from him and stared her in the face. His reaction to her face was shock. He didn't know what to say or think. Eve was a human? But how could that be? A human that he had seen before somewhere.
"What is it Reala? Is it my face?" Reala didn't say anything but nodded slowly. "I don't know what happened. I wished that I was in the waking world to escape my pursuers and the next thing I knew I was falling. And then I look at myself and I'm human."
"What is going on in here." Clare stopped when she spotted Reala and Jackle and let out a horrified shrieked. Everyone in the room covered their ears. "What are they doing here!?"
"Clare calm down they're not here to hurt you. We just came for Eve."
"Nights her name is not Eve, it's Tara Valenstine, and she's been missing for over 6 months."
"Tara!?" It all came flowing back to Reala in just a matter of seconds. "He used Tara?"
"Reala do you know something?" Nights asked.
"I remember you now."
"Reala what do you mean?" Eve asked.
"You were a girl I met in an alley when Wizeman sent me to collect Ideya. You were in trouble and I chased these guys away that were chasing you."
"Hard to believe that Reala would help anyone without him wanting something in return." Reala punched him in the arm. "Ow!"
"Shut up!"
"Okay okay..."
"One of them had a weapon that sounded like thunder and it put these metal things in my body."
"A gun?" Elliot asked. Reala shrugged.
"I donno what you humans call it… I remember that Tara held me in her arms and told me not to die."
"That's a first..." Jackle put in. Reala raised his fist to punch him but Jackle cowered behind Nights who looked down at him sternly. "Continue Reala..."
"Anyway... that's when Wizeman brought me back but by that time I was unconscious. I didn't know that he could take humans to the Dream World too."
"This sounds like it needs some investigating." Nights said. "Eve can't go back to Nightmare."
"Well that's a given…" Reala retorted.
"Where am I going to go then?"
"Well you can stay at the Rebel base with us."
"No she's not!?" Reala yelled. "She'll go where ever I go! And we're not going to your Rebel base…"
"What other choice do we have?" Jackle interjected. "We have no other place to go."
"When I want your opinion I'll ask for it!"
"You can't boss me around anymore Reala!!"
"I could still beat the shit out of you!"
"Stop it!! Both of you!!" Eve yelled. She was frustrated at the fact that Wizeman had indeed kidnapped her from her former life. Erasing her memories and replacing them with a false story that he had created her. But if he had turned her into a Nightmaren then why did she change back when she entered to human world. There must have been something that stopped her from becoming a full Nightmaren. Something that made her human side always try to contact her while she was asleep in the Dream World. After a few minutes of thinking about it she answered her own questions. "It's my Ideya that keeps me from being a full Nightmaren. Had I given it to Wizeman I would have never known that I was human…"
"So that was the reason, it makes sense…" Nights thought aloud. "We should get going back, but before we do I have to remove those spells from the both of you so that Wizeman doesn't take you before we reach the base." Jackle volunteered first.
"Do me first, I hate this "being under a spell thing". Whoever heard of a mage being under a spell…"
"Hold still…" Jackle closed his eyes tightly as if expecting it to hurt. Nights' red Ideya glowed for a moment. The black crescent mark on Jackles' forehead appeared then vanished the same as Eve's had a few days before. Jackle opened his eyes. Elliot and Clare watched them with a hint of confusion on their faces.
"Are you done?" Nights nodded. Eve looked over at Nights.
"If you could break the spell with the red Ideya how come I couldn't do it with mine?"
"I've mastered the power of this Ideya. It can only work on someone if they are willing to go through with it."
"I guess I wasn't really willing when we first met. Plus the fact that I didn't know that I had one…" She glanced over at Reala. He was glaring at Nights. Was it just her or did Reala look… jealous.
"Okay Reala now you…" Nights looked over at him. Reala just grumbled and crossed his arms glancing at Eve for a moment. As if wanting to ask if he really had to. She looked back at him with a yes look. Reala walked over to Nights. He looked down at his twin brother/nemesis.
"Okay make this quick runt…" Nights hadn't heard Reala call him runt in a very long time. It actually made him feel more confident that his real brother was still there. What they didn't know was that Wizeman had sent one of his eyed palms with them. He had been watching everything that had been going on. He could not afford Reala's spell to be broken by the power of Nights' red Ideya. So he decided to take control of the situation. When Nights was about to begin Reala all of a sudden snapped. He backhanded Nights across to face making him fall to the floor.
"Reala!?" Eve yelled out in shock. Reala turned and grabbed her by the arm. He pulled her close to him. Eve yelled out trying to break free. But she found it impossible without her Nightmaren strength.
"Nights did you really think I would allow you to use your silly powers on me…" Eve struggled more than ever now.
"Reala stop this, you're not yourself!"
"…. I'm… sorry Eve… but… I can't… control… myself… You stupid girl. Wizeman has a gift for you when we return to Nightmare…" Jackle and Elliot helped Nights up. Nights looked hurt and angry. He knew that it was Wizeman not Reala. "See you around nemesis…" the hand hovered over them and they vanished.
"Damn it!!" Nights cursed.
"How are we going to get them back now?" Jackle pulled off his hat and combed his clawed fingers through his hair. Elliot looked over at him funny. The mage looked over at him. "What?"
"Nothing, just never seen you without your hat on before…" Jackle rolled his eyes.
"Elliot we have to go back…" Nights said.
"We understand…" Elliot replied.
"Come see us again sometime." Clare put in before they disappeared in red light.
------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a couple days since they left the castle. Other than the dreamer incident nothing had happened. Reala was looking much better he seemed like he would wake any time now. Eve awoke to the sound of birds singing within the canopy of the Mystic Forest. She found Jackle was up already, for he was not in the shelter anymore. She got up and stretched while glancing down at Reala. He was sleeping soundly. Eve smiled as she grabbed her sword and jester hat then went over to Jackles' side and grabbed a roll from the little bag. By now they were running low on food. She flew out of the tee pee and looked around to make sure she wasn't being watched. Nothing to be seen or heard anywhere. She munched on her roll and glided forward for a little ways to get the river for a drink. She finished the roll up and sat beside the river. She dipped her hands in the cold water cupping her hands and trapping some water in them. She brought it to her lips to drink when she saw the reflection of someone behind her. And it was not Jackle that she saw or Reala for that matter. She sipped the water as if she hadn't seen a thing. If there was one thing Eve hated the most it was to be spied on. She went on to splash her face with the cool water and then wipe it dry with her sleeve. She glided along the river trying to loose the spy.
The spy was a male Nightmaren mage. You could tell by his long cape that made his body disappear. It was a trend that most mages wore. His hair was silver and uncommonly short in the front and just a low ponytail that went to the middle of his back. His face was pale with a red line that went from his forehead down to his upper lip and from his lower lip to the bottom of his chin. And black all around his light metallic green eyes with three black strips that traveled diagonally down both sides of this face. His cape was black on the outside but the inner fabric was gray. Held together by a silver clasp with two red jewels. He had lost sight of the Nightmaren female that he identified as the Black Rose… He descended down from the tree he had been perched in and looked around carefully. Just a few seconds later she revealed herself when she jumped at him throwing her arm around his neck and putting him into a strangle hold. "Who are you and why are you following me?" He threw his head back and smacked her in the face. She released him and he turned to face her. She looked at him with a look of pure hatred. "Who are you and where do you come from!?" he grinned at her for a moment before answering.
"My name is Meth and I come from the Rebel army… General Eve…" He vanished from her grip and reappeared a few feet away from her. Eve watched him carefully so he didn't make any sudden moves. "So what brings the Black Rose all the way out here?"
"That's none of your business..." she knew she couldn't trust him.
"Oh but I think it is, you could be out looking for our base for all I know... So I think you should leave... or do I have to make you?" Eve had to keep him away from the shelter, all mages could detect spells and if they found Reala in the state he's in they would kill him for sure.
"Look I don't want to fight you..."
"Well then girly you chose the wrong place not to fight…" He chanted a spell and a couple glowing orbs of light appeared in his hands.
"Look I'm not your enemy." Eve watched ready to dodge: though she had never fought a mage before.
"Well I can hardly call you a friend when you're a general of the Nightmare Army." He had a point but she was no longer a general, but Meth didn't know that. Meth threw the orbs at her and she flew out of the way of them but they didn't hit the ground like she thought they would, instead they stopped right above the ground and flew up at her again. Eve didn't know they could do that and flew past them. Meth watched her as she tried to loose them with an amused look on his face. No matter how she maneuvered they still followed her. She slashed one with her sword, and it glowed brightly until it exploded throwing her against a tree. She grabbed her head and noticed the other flying right at her. She leapt forward into a roll as it smacked into the tree and exploded. Eve regained her stature quickly and leapt at him with her sword ready to slice him. He dodged it and came up behind her.
"You're a feisty one aren't you..." he succeeded in pissing her off.
"Great… a Rebel version of Jackle." she swung at him again but it didn't hit. She was becoming quite frustrated with him.
Jackle heard an explosion close by and sensed magic at work. "Awe Shit..." he flew quickly to where the explosion came from and found Eve fighting with another mage. He could see that she wasn't fairing to well against him. "Hey! You know that's not fair to fight one with a disadvantage!" Jackle flew over beside Eve.
"What do you mean a disadvantage!? I'm perfectly capable of kicking this guys ass if I wanted to fight him."
"And don't you know two against one isn't fair either... Gee I must be pretty lucky to of found a General and the Master Mage of Nightmare. Is General Reala going to join us as well?"
"Leave him out of this…" Jackle snorted. The two mages stared each other down.
"Can't we just talk about this peacefully." They ignored her and began to go at it after what seemed like hours. Eve knew that this fight was too risky. She knew the fighting would attack unwanted attention and perhaps start a battle.
"Jackle! Stop, this fighting is going to give us away."
"It's too late for that, go back and see if he's awake yet. I'll hold him until then." Eve was about to protest but she knew Jackle could take care of himself. And she flew off back to the shelter.
She reached the shelter rather quickly. "Reala?" She went in the flipped the blanket over and found that Reala was gone. "Reala!?" she went outside the shelter and looked around. "Reala!!?" She turned around with her sword drew and found Reala at the end of it.
"Hey it's just me!" Eve's expression softened.
"Reala your awake." She holstered her sword and practically pounced on him.
"Easy Eve." She loosened up her grip. "Why are we in the Mystic Forest?"
"I had Jackle bring us here. Oh Reala I'm so glad your awake I was worried about you." Reala wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him.
"I thought… you were gone for good…"
"I'm sorry I worried you so much, I guess we're even on the worrying part then." Eve joked cheerfully trying to hold back tears.
"I don't want you to fight anymore…" Eve looked up at him. "I nearly lost you because of it… I never felt pain over a loss before… and I… I never want to feel that way again." She had never heard him speak this way before. In his depressed state she couldn't help but let the tears she tried so hard to keep from falling pour out onto her cheeks.
"Reala I'm here now, and I'll never leave you again I swear." Reala pulled away and saw the tears still streaming down her cheeks. He gently wiped the tears away with his finger. He then pulled her close and kissed her deeply; she returned his affections, and placed her arms around him. They were interrupted by Jackle's voice.
"That was a cheap shot."
"You know if you didn't take so much time chanting a spell you might just hit me."
"Shut up I don't need a lecture from you."
"Let's face it I'm way better than you are."
"The hell you are, I'm not called the Master Mage for nothing."
"Could have fooled me…"
"What did you say!!?"
"Nothing… Let us carry on the battle now?"
"This is hardly a battle…"
"Oh… Let us carry on this fight then?"
"I will when I'm good an ready."
"Do you have a strategy? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do, I'm the Master Mage!!"
"You keep saying that… but I'm not seeing it." Jackle growled in frustration.
"You know if you'd just Shut Up I'd be able to concentrate."
"You shouldn't talk at all… it makes you sound stupid."
"Have you ever stopped and listened to yourself."
"I'm sorry if I sound more intelligent than you." Eve had heard enough of this.
"Yup defiantly a rebel version of Jackle… Reala I'll be right back…" she glided off toward the source of the arguing. She came up behind Jackle and grabbed the collar of his cloak. She yanked him over until his face was right next to hers. "Jackle! Chill the fuck out…"
"But he said I…"
"I don't give a damn what he said you both are acting like children… And if you both don't cool it I'll kick both your ass's… Understand me!?" Jackle gulped.
"Yes ma'am…" Meth laughed.
"Talked down by a female."
"Do you find something funny about me Meth?"
"Oh no no no, I think he's funny for being afraid of a weakling like you." He laughed again. Eve rushed at him and punched him in the stomach, making him fall over holding his gut. Then she balled her hands together and punched him on the back making him fall to the ground. She landed next to him watching him struggle to get some air in his lungs. After he caught his breath he looked up at her. "How come you didn't do that before?"
"Before, I wasn't interested in kicking your little arrogant ass, but then you had to go and piss me off…"
"All the more reason to use my full abilities" he coughed a few times and stood up.
"That won't be necessary Meth." Meth turned around to see Nights approach.
"Nights sir, I found these intruders on my patrol."
"That was good of you Meth thanks." He turned back to the other two. "Eve you look much better now, feeling alright I presume?"
"Much better now thank you." Jackle and Meth looked back and forth from Eve to Nights.
"You two know each other?" They both looked at Jackle.
"We haven't known each other long, Nights helped me when I was hurt after the battle." Eve and Nights returned gazes. "And he gave me some helpful advice."
"I see you brought an extra Maren." Nights said cheerfully. "And I sense you broke Wizeman's spell over you Eve." She nodded.
"Small problem…" Everyone looked at Jackle again. "We haven't… I can't move…"
"What's happening to them?" Eve asked.
"Wizeman is calling them back to Nightmare." Nights stated.
"No…" Eve flew back to where Reala was. But he vanished before she could get to him. "Reala!" Nights and Meth flew over to her.
"Jackles' gone too." Meth said.
"Eve let me send some of my Maren with you."
"There's no time. Wizeman will kill them if he finds out why they left."
"Be careful, I'll try to help you as much as I can."
"Thank you Nights." She flew off toward Nightmare castle.
"Why are you helping them Nights? They are the enemy…"
"Not anymore, Meth…" They both glided off in the opposite direction.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Once Eve got to the castle, she was able to find an open window and sneak in unnoticed. The room was empty and she got into the hallway. She made her way back to Wizman's chamber. It was deep in the castle and she had to quicken her pace to the giant oak doors. She hid in the shadows and ill lit hallways all the way to the main hall.
Reala and Jackle found themselves inside of Wizeman's chamber. "You too have been gone two days without permission. Explain yourselves now!" Wizeman stared down at the two of them intently for an explanation of their absence. Reala and Jackle didn't say anything.
Eve soon arrived at the large chamber doors. She could hear that Wizeman was growing impatient with them so she decided to step up and speak for them. She pushed open the giant doors and entered the chamber unannounced.
"They left to find me my lord."
"Eve? Your still alive?" Wizeman knew something had to be wrong with her. He couldn't sense the loyalty spell he had placed on her. He had sensed it the day that Reala and Jackle had disappeared but then it vanished so he could not pinpoint where she was. He figured it was because she died when the spell did.
"Quite my lord…" she bowed feeling quite disgusted with herself, but she had to, to save Reala and Jackle from being charged with Defection. "And ready to serve you once more."
"I am glad to hear it. You may go now…" Eve straightened up and turned to leave with Reala and Jackle. "Except for you Eve. I would like to talk to you in private…" Reala stopped and turned back. Eve shot him a look that told him to keep going. Hesitantly he turned back toward the door and kept going. Eve turned around as the giant doors closed tight.
"What is it you wanted to see me about my lord?"
"Your loyal to me Eve are you not?"
"I have pledged my eternal loyalty to you my lord why do you question it now?"
"I have my reasons, and the only way you can prove your loyalty to me is to do something for me."
"And what will this test of loyalty be?"
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What!!" Reala yelled at Jackle as the mage listened through the door. "What do you mean bear his child!?"
"Why are you getting all mad at me for that's how it sounded."
"That's it I'm going back in!" Jackle stepped in his way.
"Wait a second if you do that you'll be exposing what you two are!"
"Do I look like I give a fuck!?" Jackle put his hands up.
"Okay okay, think of it this way, what would she want you to do?"
"I…" Reala grumbled lowly and crossed his arms.
"I knew you'd see it my… err… her way. Besides she hates the very sight of him let alone the thought to bearing his child."
"Fine, is there a way you can get us in there unnoticed so we can listen in?" Jackle grinned.
"Yeah there is." He dug through one of his little sacks until he found it. "Ah there it is." Jackle pulled it out of the sack and it resided into a knuckle claw.
"That's going to get us in unnoticed?"
"Yup that it will. This is no ordinary knuckle claw. It has mystical powers." Jackle slipped it on his right hand. "It's called the Panthers Claw. All you have to do is…" he slashed at the air and an opening appeared that resembled a portal. "Then all you have to do is step through it and voila it'll take you where ever you want to go." Jackle glided through it and Reala followed. They appeared behind the throne inside the chamber.
"Prove your loyalty to me had give me the Ideya you possess." Wizeman repeated.
"Huh?" Reala narrowed his eyes down at Jackle. "Where did you get "Bearing a child" from "Give me the Ideya you possess"?" Jackle grinned and shrugged.
"Hey I'm about as good at listening through a magically sound proofed door than I am at fighting without magic on the battlefield."
"An Ideya? But I have no Ideya my lord."
"Yes you have one, you just don't realize it yet."
"Begging your pardon my lord but Nightmaren don't have Ideya unless they steal them from humans… and I have never stolen one, you know that…"
"That's what's so special about you Eve, you're the only Maren that has one."
"What?" was her shocked reaction along with the two behind the throne. They acted the same but without the outburst. "That would mean I'd have to be some kind of Human/Nightmaren hybrid."
"Something like that, now hand it over or be punished for your defiance."
"I don't know how to get to it."
"Don't worry I'll take care of that part." Wizeman began to chant a spell and a strong red light erupted from Eve. When Wizeman was finished chanting there flouting in front of Eve was the Ideya. Reala and Jackle couldn't believe their eyes.
"A red Ideya." They both murmured.
"It's… so beautiful…" Eve gazed at the glowing shard hovering in front of her.
"Isn't it though, and it will be all the more beautiful once added to my collection. Now give it to me." Eve looked up at him with a blank expression.
"No…"
"What did you say!!" Wizeman threw this hand at her and Eve reacted instantly.
"I said!" Eve grabbed the Ideya with her left hand and drew her sword with her right. "NO!!" and slashed the blade across the eye on the palm of his hand. Purple ooze began to seep from the wound.
"Why you little wretch. I thought maybe you would be fine without that spell on you but I guess you need something a bit stronger."
"If you can catch me that is…" Eve jettisoned past Wizeman and out the window.
"Guards after her don't let her escape!!" he glided through the open doors and left the chamber. Reala and Jackle walked out from behind the throne.
"We have to get to her before Wizeman sends the elite team after her." The elite team included Clawz, Gulpo, Gilwing, and Puffy. Jackle and Reala were also a part of this particular team. They were the most advanced and deadly fighters of Nightmare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eve zipped through Nightmare swift as an arrow. She finally made it to the border of Nightmare and Nightopia to get away from the Nightmaren Wizeman had sent after her. She knew they wouldn't stop at the border, they would hunt her down where ever she went. She knew that the red Ideya that had been within her was what Wizeman had been after all along. And the only way he could get it is if she gave it to him willingly. And with his power he might be able to do that no matter how much she didn't want to.
"You know you could hide that in the waking world and they wouldn't be able to get it." Eve looked up and saw a little Nightopian. "Hi my names Snuze."
"Eve…"
"It's to bad that the sphere won't open again for another 100 years. That's the only way to the waking world."
"I can't wait that long. I wish I could get there now." Right then and there Eve vanished in a burst of red light.
"Hey that looked like what Nights Ideya does when he travels back and forth to the waking world. I better go tell him." It just so happened that he wasn't to far away. Before he could tell him Reala grabbed him. Snuze yelled out in fright.
"Tell me where Eve is…"
"Who?" The little Nightopian asked.
"A female Nightmaren with a purple suit and a red Ideya."
"Why should I tell you." Snuze crossed his little arms across his chest.
"Cause if you don't I'll rip out your little throat." Reala began to shake the little Nightopian out of pure frustration. "Now tell me where she is!"
"We just want to help her." Jackle interjected.
"Yeah just like you tried to help Nights when he had red Ideya." Reala growled fiercely.
"YOU'LL TELL ME NOW!!"
"He'll tell you what Reala?" Reala's eyes darted off toward the owner of the voice. It belonged to the one person he loathed more than Wizeman.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The red glow slowly faded and Eve could see a large city beneath her. When the glow vanished so did the red Ideya back into her body. Then gravity took hold of her and she began to fall. For some reason she couldn't fly and that was a problem since Eve was at least 20 stories up. Then she spotted a rope that held up a washer post. She grabbed onto it and she began to slow but the rope burned her hands. Her pain endurance had been reduced significantly. But she had to hold on if she didn't want to die. She slowed but then she smashed into the window washing perch. She broke it in two and they swung from side to side. Eve held onto the rope and wood, her hands felt like she had put them over an open flame. Her body hurt from smashing into the perch and smashing into the side of the building as well. Eve was still 12 stories up off the ground. She could hear the horrified ramblings of people below on the street.
Inside the building a teenaged boy with blue hair and blue eyes looked out the window of his fathers' office to see what the problem was that got so many people worked up. Looking down he saw her and his eyes widened. "A Nightmaren?" he whispered to himself. "Why doesn't he fly?" he climbed up into the windowsill and reached out and grabbed the rope.
"Elliot Edwards what are you doing?" his father asked frantically as he entered the office.
"Saving whoever it is hanging on the end of this rope." Elliot began to pull and heave. His father grabbed some slack and helped him pull.
Eve looked down at the street and thought this was the end. Then she felt herself being lifted. She looked up and witnessed someone pulling the rope up. Her hands hurt but she held on in spite of the pain she was feeling. And soon she had been pulled up to the 14th story window. Elliot grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside and they could hear people cheer outside. "I better go call the MP's " Elliots' father said as he went to use his phone. Elliot unplugged the phone wire without his father knowing. "Hmm it's not working better go use another phone."
"We have to get you out of here before someone finds out what you are…" Elliot grabbed his dad's trench coat and put if over her. "Come on." Eve obeyed and they walked out together toward the elevator. And then they got out of the building without any trouble. He got her back to his house in a little over twenty minutes. He sat her down on his couch and went to fetch the medical kit. Then he picked up the phone and dialed out.
The receiver on other side of the line the phone rang a few times before someone answered. "Hello Sinclair residence, Clare speaking."
"Clare this is Elliot. I need you to come over now."
"Hi Elliot what's happening,"
"We have a guest from the dream world." Eve winced as Elliot used some tweezers to pull out some rope slivers from her injured palms. He then put antibiotic cream on her wounds.
"Oh, I'll be right there." Clare hung up and ran out the door. Elliot hung up the phone and finished wrapping her hands with bandages. He then went into the kitchen and put some water on the stove to boil.
"So what's your name?" Elliot opened one of the cupboards and got down a packet of tea.
"Eve…" She said shakily. The water began to boil and he poured some into a mug. "So what brings you to the waking world?"
"I was escaping from Wizeman… He wanted to take my red Ideya…"
"Where did you get a red Ideya from?" Elliot stuck the packet into the hot water and stirred it around with a spoon.
"It came from within me…"
"Nightmaren don't have Ideya…"
"That's what I said… but he..." Elliot came over with the steaming cup of tea.
"Wait a sec, you're not Nightmaren at all."
"What are you talking about?" she shot up but clutched her side. The same side she had been stabbed. She must have re-fractured her ribs.
"Hey calm down your going to hurt yourself. Here sit down and drink this, it'll calm your nerves." Soon after Elliot heard a knock at the door. "Stay put I'll be right back." He went and opened the door up to find Clare on the other side.
"That was quick." She pushed past him.
"Where's Nights is he hurt or something?"
"It's not Nights…"
"Don't tell me its Reala…"
"It's not him either…"
"A Nightopian then?"
"Come and see for yourself." She obeyed and followed Elliot into his living room. There they found Eve transfixed on her reflection in the steaming liquid. She recognized the girl in her reflection.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS NIGHTS, IT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU…" Both Nights and Jackle were surprised by what he had said. Reala didn't talk when he saw Nights he just attacked. He only cared about killing Nights. He must have been very worried about Eve to not attack Nights right when he heard him speak.
"It does when your threatening the helpless to get answers brother…"
"Don't you ever call me that again!"
"We don't have time for this we have to find Eve before Nightmare does." Jackle said stepping between the two of them.
"What happened?" Nights asked.
"She had a red Ideya, Wizeman wanted it and she wouldn't give it to him." Snuze bit down on Reala's hand.
"OW!! You damn little pixie!" Snuze stuck his tongue out at him.
"Snuze do you know where Eve went?" Snuze flew over to Nights. And he whispered in the good Marens ear. "She did what?"
"That's right I think she went there using the Ideya…"
"Snuze thanks. Reala I know where she is." Reala flew up to him and grabbed his collar.
"Where is she!? Tell me now!"
"I will but you have to promise me that you'll behave yourself…" Reala growled.
"Tell me!!"
"I'll take that as a yes… She's in the waking world." Reala released him.
"How in the hell did she get there. You took her there didn't you?"
"No it wasn't me. Snuze tells me that it was the Ideya she carried that took her there. Now everyone gather round we're going to get Eve and bring her back here. No fighting or stealing Ideya. You two must behave."
"I'm not promising anything now just get us there damn it!!"
"Fine…" He places his hands in a circular formation around the Ideya on his chest. It began to glow and soon the light engulfed the three of them. After a flash of red light nearly blinded Snuze they vanished. Snuze could have sworn he saw something enter the red light but he thought his eyes were just playing tricks on him.
"Things sure have gotten weird lately…" Snuze flew off to find Nap.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Eve looked at her reflection while Clare looked at Elliot. "What is this Elliot? Some kind of joke." She placed her hand on her hips and looked at him sternly.
"What? You think I'm lying?" Elliot was shocked that she didn't believe him. "Clare she fell from the sky for crying out loud."
"Are you sure she didn't just jump off the building."
"Positive I think…" He scratched his head.
"You think?"
"Well how do you explain her clothes. Nobody can make a Nightmaren outfit like that."
"Very easily…" Elliot took Clare by the hand and led her back into the kitchen. While they talked Eve set the tea down on the table beside the couch. She found a strange little black device with a bunch of buttons on it. She pressed one of them that were red and the strange box in front of her flashed and a face appeared on it. She tilted her head and looked at it. Some how it was familiar to her. The human on the tube was rambling on about something about buying a premium set of pots and pans. Then a bunch of unrecognizable words scrolled up the screen. Afterward they announced something about the afternoon news. Another woman appeared on the screen and began rambling about different things. She was trying to find the button to turn it off when she heard something about a search for a missing person. A picture popped up into the corner of the screen.
"The search for Tara Valenstine goes one." Eve stopped breathing for a moment. She was that dreamer or she was this Tara Valenstine. Was this her life before Wizeman took her memories away? "Authorities have found new witnesses that have identified a suspected kidnapper. Police have not identified him but a artist sketch has been released." Another photo appeared on the screen. "He stands about 6" with long black hair and pale skin." The photo looked suspiciously like… Reala… What was going on? She removed her jester hat. She didn't know what to think right then. Elliot and Clare walked back in to see her staring at the television. They looked over at the television and noticed the missing person's report. Clare's brain clicked as realized that this girl resembled the one on the TV.
"You're… Tara Valenstine…?" Eve looked over at her.
"I know I wasn't created by Wizeman but I couldn't be human… could I?" before anyone could answer her. There was a bright flash coming from the kitchen. Elliot went to see what it was. He peeked into the kitchen and saw that it was Nights.
"Nights!? What are you doing here?" He then saw the other two Maren that were with him. "Reala? Jackle?" He backed away a bit. Nights put his hands up in the air.
"Elliot it's alright they're not going to hurt anybody."
"Are you sure about that Nights? It could be a trick."
"They are just here to help me find someone."
"Them? Help you?"
"Well more like I am helping them." Nights smiled trying to reassure him a bit.
"This is only a temporary alliance." Reala glared over at Nights.
"Why are you helping them?" Elliot looked over at Reala then back over to Nights.
"We're looking for a Nightmaren female by the name of Eve. Have you heard anything about her?"
"Eve? Yes I have in fact she dropped in on my dad's work." Reala pushed past Nights, nearly knocking him over. He grabbed Elliot by the collar of his shirt.
"WHERE IS SHE!?" He shook him violently.
"Nights get him off of me!!!" Elliot yelped, helpless against the Nightmarens strength. Eve looked up from the TV and toward the kitchen. She heard a voice that she recognized. She jumped up and ran to the kitchen throwing open the swinging door. She found Jackle and Nights trying to pyre Reala off of Elliot.
"Reala!!" she shouted. Reala let go of Elliot sending the two Maren and human to the floor.
"Eve!" She ran into his arms and they embraced one another. Jackle felt like he was gonna hurl. The three of them got up and dusted themselves off. Elliot was confused about all that was going on. Reala sensed that something wasn't right about her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away from him and stared her in the face. His reaction to her face was shock. He didn't know what to say or think. Eve was a human? But how could that be? A human that he had seen before somewhere.
"What is it Reala? Is it my face?" Reala didn't say anything but nodded slowly. "I don't know what happened. I wished that I was in the waking world to escape my pursuers and the next thing I knew I was falling. And then I look at myself and I'm human."
"What is going on in here." Clare stopped when she spotted Reala and Jackle and let out a horrified shrieked. Everyone in the room covered their ears. "What are they doing here!?"
"Clare calm down they're not here to hurt you. We just came for Eve."
"Nights her name is not Eve, it's Tara Valenstine, and she's been missing for over 6 months."
"Tara!?" It all came flowing back to Reala in just a matter of seconds. "He used Tara?"
"Reala do you know something?" Nights asked.
"I remember you now."
"Reala what do you mean?" Eve asked.
"You were a girl I met in an alley when Wizeman sent me to collect Ideya. You were in trouble and I chased these guys away that were chasing you."
"Hard to believe that Reala would help anyone without him wanting something in return." Reala punched him in the arm. "Ow!"
"Shut up!"
"Okay okay..."
"One of them had a weapon that sounded like thunder and it put these metal things in my body."
"A gun?" Elliot asked. Reala shrugged.
"I donno what you humans call it… I remember that Tara held me in her arms and told me not to die."
"That's a first..." Jackle put in. Reala raised his fist to punch him but Jackle cowered behind Nights who looked down at him sternly. "Continue Reala..."
"Anyway... that's when Wizeman brought me back but by that time I was unconscious. I didn't know that he could take humans to the Dream World too."
"This sounds like it needs some investigating." Nights said. "Eve can't go back to Nightmare."
"Well that's a given…" Reala retorted.
"Where am I going to go then?"
"Well you can stay at the Rebel base with us."
"No she's not!?" Reala yelled. "She'll go where ever I go! And we're not going to your Rebel base…"
"What other choice do we have?" Jackle interjected. "We have no other place to go."
"When I want your opinion I'll ask for it!"
"You can't boss me around anymore Reala!!"
"I could still beat the shit out of you!"
"Stop it!! Both of you!!" Eve yelled. She was frustrated at the fact that Wizeman had indeed kidnapped her from her former life. Erasing her memories and replacing them with a false story that he had created her. But if he had turned her into a Nightmaren then why did she change back when she entered to human world. There must have been something that stopped her from becoming a full Nightmaren. Something that made her human side always try to contact her while she was asleep in the Dream World. After a few minutes of thinking about it she answered her own questions. "It's my Ideya that keeps me from being a full Nightmaren. Had I given it to Wizeman I would have never known that I was human…"
"So that was the reason, it makes sense…" Nights thought aloud. "We should get going back, but before we do I have to remove those spells from the both of you so that Wizeman doesn't take you before we reach the base." Jackle volunteered first.
"Do me first, I hate this "being under a spell thing". Whoever heard of a mage being under a spell…"
"Hold still…" Jackle closed his eyes tightly as if expecting it to hurt. Nights' red Ideya glowed for a moment. The black crescent mark on Jackles' forehead appeared then vanished the same as Eve's had a few days before. Jackle opened his eyes. Elliot and Clare watched them with a hint of confusion on their faces.
"Are you done?" Nights nodded. Eve looked over at Nights.
"If you could break the spell with the red Ideya how come I couldn't do it with mine?"
"I've mastered the power of this Ideya. It can only work on someone if they are willing to go through with it."
"I guess I wasn't really willing when we first met. Plus the fact that I didn't know that I had one…" She glanced over at Reala. He was glaring at Nights. Was it just her or did Reala look… jealous.
"Okay Reala now you…" Nights looked over at him. Reala just grumbled and crossed his arms glancing at Eve for a moment. As if wanting to ask if he really had to. She looked back at him with a yes look. Reala walked over to Nights. He looked down at his twin brother/nemesis.
"Okay make this quick runt…" Nights hadn't heard Reala call him runt in a very long time. It actually made him feel more confident that his real brother was still there. What they didn't know was that Wizeman had sent one of his eyed palms with them. He had been watching everything that had been going on. He could not afford Reala's spell to be broken by the power of Nights' red Ideya. So he decided to take control of the situation. When Nights was about to begin Reala all of a sudden snapped. He backhanded Nights across to face making him fall to the floor.
"Reala!?" Eve yelled out in shock. Reala turned and grabbed her by the arm. He pulled her close to him. Eve yelled out trying to break free. But she found it impossible without her Nightmaren strength.
"Nights did you really think I would allow you to use your silly powers on me…" Eve struggled more than ever now.
"Reala stop this, you're not yourself!"
"…. I'm… sorry Eve… but… I can't… control… myself… You stupid girl. Wizeman has a gift for you when we return to Nightmare…" Jackle and Elliot helped Nights up. Nights looked hurt and angry. He knew that it was Wizeman not Reala. "See you around nemesis…" the hand hovered over them and they vanished.
"Damn it!!" Nights cursed.
"How are we going to get them back now?" Jackle pulled off his hat and combed his clawed fingers through his hair. Elliot looked over at him funny. The mage looked over at him. "What?"
"Nothing, just never seen you without your hat on before…" Jackle rolled his eyes.
"Elliot we have to go back…" Nights said.
"We understand…" Elliot replied.
"Come see us again sometime." Clare put in before they disappeared in red light.