NiGHTS into DayDreams New Beginnings

by The NightDragon

And you thought that you were safe! well, the madness continues! Tier gets in trouble, friends are kidnapped, Wizeman is plotting! Can our heroes save the night? Sorry about the spacing, ff.net keeps eating my formatting. :P

1. The Mischief

(A Note from the Author:

Okay, I hear the collective groan at the sight of another of these stories.

Well there's good news and bad news.

The good news that I got most of the silliness out of my system during the trilogy.

The bad news is that there's a lot left, and you can blame a certain green and pink checkered Nightmaren for that.

::Tier takes a bow::

Right. . .and now the boring junk.

I don't own NiGHTS into Dreams or the characters . . . except for Tier, Terrace, Molly, Torc, Picusha, Vespa, Dusk . . . well, you know who the fan made characters are, right?

They're all mine.

Except for Aaron.

He belongs to my friend and co-writer.

Oh, and if you read all the way through to the end, there will be a special treat waiting for you.

It's audience participation, starring everyone's favorite Nightmaren!

No, not NiGHTS.

Okay, so It's just my favorite Nightmaren, Tier!

Write down any questions that come to mind as you read and send them to , but be sure to make it clear that it's a friendly e-mail.

Try: 'NiGHTS into DayDreams - Ask Tier' or something along those lines.

Oh yeah, one important note - In this series, All Nightmaren are genderless.

According to Sega, that's how it's supposed to be.
It's in the back of issue number six of the comics.

Check it out sometime if you don't believe me!

I'll quote it for you:

Taken from Issue 6 of the comics -

"Since they are creatures of dreams, neither NiGHTS or Reala have a specific gender - that is until they "merge" with someone, taking on their gender characteristics.
So when Elliot and NiGHTS were merged, NiGHTS was a boy. However, when Claris merged with NiGHTS, NiGHTS was a girl."

I did however allow NiGHTS and Reala to be male, simply because that's how I'm accustomed to seeing them, and it's easier than writing "It" like I have to do for everyone else. And just because I'm lazy, some Nightopians have genders.

I'm not saying that my way's right, it's just how I chose to write this series based on my research into the subject.

Okay? Okay.

What, you're still reading the boring stuff?

Okay, I'll reward you by starting the story now.

"Avast, ye scurvy Nightopians! It be the plank for you!"
A green and pink checkered arm was raised, grasping a stick and brandishing it like a sword.
NiGHTS blinked as he came across the scene in Splash Garden.
His rebel Nightmaren friend, Tier had found a short cliff overlooking one of the lakes, and had herded a small group of Nightopians onto it.
As NiGHTS watched, Tier proceeded to brandish Its "sword," grinning at the squeaks and ramblings of the Nightopians.
"No excuses, walk the plank!"
NiGHTS sighed, this wasn't going to end well.

He took flight, landing behind the younger Nightmaren and Its victims, just as a frightened Nightopian was startled over the edge.
He frowned. "Tier . . . you know that scared Nightopians tend to forget that they can fly, right?"
A shrill "Wahoo!" and a splash confirmed his statement.
Tier peered over the edge. "Oh . . . I guess it didn't help that I tied Its wings together either, huh?"
NiGHTS groaned. It was going to be one of those nights. . .

NiGHTS into DayDreams

New Beginnings

By Molly M. Plunkett )

Part One: The Trouble with Tier

"Our job here is to keep Nightopia and its inhabitants safe . . . sheesh, NiGHTS, how many times are you going to make me repeat this stuff?"
Tier complained as It sat across from NiGHTS in his tent.
NiGHTS grinned at his friend's impatience.
Tier had only recently been allowed to leave the healer's tent, and the return to freedom had gone to the young Nightmaren's head.
Although Tier wasn't as young as It seemed. It was actually a Sixth Generation Nightmaren.
All of the Nightmaren in that group were unusually active and vocal, preferring to play and entertain themselves rather than follow orders.
Although once their loyalty had been secured, they would give everything for their cause - provided that nothing happened to distract them.
NiGHTS suspected that Wizeman had used a Nightopian or two when making Tier and Its kin.

Tier was still waiting for an answer, focusing Its minty green eyes on NiGHTS'.
NiGHTS chuckled. "You're going to repeat this stuff until you understand every rule and why it is important to obey those rules."
Tier sighed, letting Its head sag onto the table in a dramatic gesture. "There's a rule for everything. . ."
NiGHTS smiled, changing the subject. "By the way. What exactly were you saying before? Avast? Scurvy?"
Tier shrugged. "I dunno, I heard a dreamer using them. It's pirate talk!"
NiGHTS laughed at his friend's childishness. "Yeah, well maybe you shouldn't play pirates anymore. That Nightopian is still trying to dry off."
Tier jumped to Its feet. "Okay!" It had darted out before NiGHTS could say another word.

It looked like noon when NiGHTS flew lazily over Spring Valley.
He flew everywhere now, but this dream had always been his favorite.
It was strange, he mused, since this was where he'd been imprisoned so long ago.
He must have become accustomed to the sights and sounds.
He blinked as a flock of Nightopians flew by in a panic, and closed his eyes.
"I will open my eyes, and I will not see Tier. . ."
He opened his eyes slowly, and slapped a hand over his eyes as a familiar green and pink figure flew by, arm held high with Its startrail whipping around like a lasso.
"Yeeha! Get along little Nightopians!"
NiGHTS gasped. If that startrail touched those Nightopians, there'd be trouble!
"TIER!"
He darted forward to put an end to the game.

"Nightopians are thinking, feeling creatures. . . "
Tier recited, bored as It once again found Itself in NiGHTS' tent.
NiGHTS nodded. "And?"
Tier sighed. "And I can't play with my startrail . . . it's a tool, not a toy."
NiGHTS smiled. "Good. Now maybe I was too vague last time. Don't. . ."
"I wasn't playing Pirates." Tier interrupted, defensive.

NiGHTS grinned. "I know, Tier, but you still could have hurt someone."
Tier was silent, so NiGHTS went on.
"I don't want to see your startrail unless you're flying, and you must be extra careful to keep it from becoming a paraloop. You have the capacity to hurt and even kill the Nightopians, and there is no excuse for letting that happen!"
Tier nodded glumly, thinking of Its last Nightopian playmate and best friend, now gone forever.
NiGHTS saw that he wasn't going to have any more luck, and so gave up. "Just be careful, okay?"
"Right, NiGHTS!"
Tier flew out again, sending a flurry of minty green sparkles flying into NiGHTS' face.

NiGHTS stumbled backwards, crashing into a bookcase and yelping as the contents buried him.
He looked up and grunted as a hardened mudpie bounced off his head.
"That Nightmaren is hopeless. . ."

"Wheee!" Tier laughed happily as It flew, ignoring the ache in Its chest.
It was all that was left of an attack by Reala, that had nearly sliced the young Nightmaren's heart in half.
Tier paused to watch Its green startrail drift below and fade away.
NiGHTS had said not to play with the startrail, but NiGHTS wasn't there to see.
With a giggle, Tier dove low, backflipping and turning to watch the trail as it drifted from Its hands.
A blue form darted past, causing Tier to pause in the middle of a loop. It yelped as a few sparkles settled onto Its shoulders, burning and tingling briefly.
Seeing nothing, It turned to resume flying, only to find a stern, powder blue form in the way.
Tier yelped, backflipping to avoid crashing. "Picusha!"

The blue healer hadn't flown for days, after suffering severe, psychological trauma during the battle to save NiGHTS after he had been captured and imprisoned in Nightmare.
Picusha's twin, Vespa had attempted to kill It, and Picusha had not spoken or flown since then.
Apparently, Tier's misbehavior was exactly the incentive that It needed to become airborne.
A slender finger pointed firmly toward the ground, and Tier sighed, sinking to the ground.
Picusha still wasn't speaking, but words weren't necessary.
Tier had been effectively reprimanded.

Once on the ground, Tier yelped as Picusha grabbed Its tassel and dragged It back to the healer's tent.
Tier sighed as they entered, then froze as Picusha went for a small table and withdrew a needle.
"ACK!"
Picusha winced as the green and pink harlequin-like Nightmaren panicked, trying to fly out.
It darted forward, tackling Tier long enough to give It the injection. It then backed away and returned to Its own business.
Tier stood up, Its lip trembling. "That hurt. . ."
Tier rubbed the back of Its arm, muttering as It walked out.
A Nightopian flew by overhead, causing the Nightmaren to forget what It was upset about.
"Yeah, Nightopian chasing time!"
Tier took a running start, then leapt into the air, beaming as Its startrail began to drift downward.
Suddenly, the trail fizzled, and Tier whirled, raising Its hands in confusion.
"Huh?"
A moment later, Tier screamed as It crashed to the ground, dazed.

"Up!"
Tier jumped again, yelping as It fell for the fifth time. It wiped dirt off of Its face, glaring in determination.
It spotted a high hill and ran toward it, not at all happy with the slow, stiff movement.
Having flown all Its life, Tier's legs were protesting every long stride, but soon It had reached the hill and climbed to the top.
NiGHTS was half asleep as he drifted aimlessly on his back.
His purple eyes had just closed when a loud chorus of chattering and even some excited singing interrupted his thoughts. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter.
"Nightopians . . . if you don't leave me alone, I might forget which side I'm on, and eat someone."
He sighed as the threat was completely ignored. It was an empty threat anyway, and everyone knew it.
NiGHTS had never been one to intentionally harm anyone, even when he'd been one of Wizeman's servants. Violence simply wasn't a part of NiGHTS' personality.

NiGHTS opened his eyes, scowling at the Nightopians before realizing that they were pointing excitedly to a figure on one of the taller hills.
"Yeah, someone's on the hill. Go away." He closed his eyes again and drifted away.
A loud hollar finally convinced NiGHTS to react as Tier threw Itself off the hill, flinging Its arms wide. It hovered for about two seconds before falling.
"YIKES!"
NiGHTS yelped and flew at top speed.
He grunted as Tier crashed into him, sending them both plummeting to the ground.
The green and pink Nightmaren blinked, peering down at NiGHTS, whose back It was sitting on.
"Wow . . . thanks for breaking my fall, NiGHTS!"
NiGHTS groaned, deciding that yet another talk with Tier was in order.

How the Mighty have fallen. . .
End of Part One

Part Two: I'm having a TIERrible Time

". . .and so now I can't fly." Tier finished Its explanation as NiGHTS listened patiently.
The purple Nightmaren considered for a moment before his ever present smile widened into a grin.
"It sounds like you've been grounded, Tier." He laughed at his joke for a couple of minutes, but he couldn't help but notice that Tier wasn't amused.
Tier was in fact, being more serious than ever before.
"My freedom's been stolen away, and you're making puns?!! I thought you were cool, NiGHTS!"
NiGHTS blinked. "I'm not?"
Tier shook Its head. "No way. If you were half as cool as I thought you were, you'd make Picusha undo whatever It did! I'll go insane if I have to stay on the ground!"
NiGHTS nodded sympathetically, fully understanding Tier's problem. For a Nightmaren, flight was as natural and necessary as breathing.
He blinked when the younger Nightmaren straightened, looking off toward an empty expanse of greenery.
"Tier?"
Tier grinned as a familiar figure began to materialize nearby.
"Hey, Molly's back! But why can I see through her?" It blinked, watching the figure move around.
NiGHTS shrugged. "She's only half here. The other half is still wide awake."
He noted the glassy eyes and dazed expression, and sighed. "She's probably exhausted in the Waking World. I wonder how Aaron's faring. . ."
They both blinked as a blue form drifted past them toward the dreamer, having been spying nearby.
Tier watched Picusha for a moment before turning to NiGHTS. "Isn't Picusha going to get in trouble?"
NiGHTS shrugged again. "Picusha's the healer. It's probably concerned about Molly."
"Oh, so if I had a job, I suppose I'd never get in trouble!" Tier pouted.
NiGHTS beamed at his friend. "You don't need a job, Tier. Everyone likes you the way that you are. Now how did Molly put it? A lovable, irreplaceable idiot?"

Tier had a blank expression on Its face, although NiGHTS had obviously annoyed It.
It finally turned away. "Great, so now even my friends are making fun of me."
NiGHTS blinked, surprised by the amount of negativity coming out of his friend.
Granted, Tier had been created from negative nightmare energy, but so had NiGHTS and every other Nightmaren.
NiGHTS decided that it was only Tier trying to adjust to Its new lifestyle.
It had been mortally wounded in a battle against the loyal Nightmaren.
Reala had slashed Tier across the chest, but their dreamer friends, Molly and Aaron had sacrificed their Red Ideya to save the green and pink Nightmaren.
Tier hadn't been the same since.
NiGHTS sighed, smiling fondly at Tier. It would adjust, and maybe the new energy would help It to mature as well.
One could only hope.

"I don't know what I'm doing. . ."
"Well, you have one hand around my waist, and the other's. . ."
"I know that! Why am I holding you? And why are you Nightingale?"
"I dunno."
Aaron regarded the purple clad female Nightmaren in his arms with an expression that could only be classified as confused. Suddenly, a little lightbulb clicked into life over his head.
He dropped her.
"Oof!"
Nightingale frowned accusingly up at him. "That hurt, you know!"
Aaron smiled. "It doesn't matter. You're not real."
She blinked.
"Oh yeah, you figured it out, huh? Well, good night."
That said, she disappeared.
Aaron blinked as he was suddenly alone. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that. . ."

Tier watched idly as Aaron looked around.
He had almost achieved lucid dreaming, a rare state of mind that would allow him to recognize and control his dreams. Without his strongest Ideya, it was harder for him to reach that state.
Aaron looked around for the pump handle so he could bring in the toast to make a computer chip.
A very strange, bewildered look crossed Aaron's face as be began to wonder just why he was doing this.
Tier leaned closer. "Almost there . . . come on, Aaron. . ."
Aaron shook his head and blinked as he heard a voice say his name.
"Oh. Hi, Tier."
Tier blinked. "Oh. Hi, Tier?"
It repeated, having expected a more enthusiastic greeting.
Aaron was about to ask Tier where the pump handle was when it finally dawned on him that he was asleep and dreaming.
"Tier!"
Aaron leapt at the Nightmaren, throwing his arms around It in a giant hug. "I didn't realize!"
Tier had just stood up when It was knocked roughly backwards.
"Oof! The chest! The chest!!!" It flailed wildly, grinning despite the discomfort.
"Sorry!" Aaron let go of Tier so he didn't crush It. "I'd forgotten. . ."
Tier laughed. "I know. What happened? You were gone for like six months!"
"Six months? It's only been a few weeks, Tier." Aaron scratched his head.
"I've been counting the days, actually . . . twenty three."
Tier blinked, still laying on Its back. "Really? Wow, NiGHTS must be right about time passing differently in the Waking World. . ."
"Is Molly. . .?" Aaron looked around as something seemed to have occured to him.
"I saw her a little while ago . . . but I think that she woke up. She wasn't completely here."
Tier answered.
Aaron looked disappointed.
He had been seeing her in the Waking World, but he was looking forward to seeing her again here.
Tier shrugged cheerfully. "She'll find her way back, and she'll probably make it all the way next time."
"I hope so." Aaron wished that Tier knew what it was like to dream, just so he could tell It about the pump handle. It would probably think him crazy.

"We're here for the channel to tell you about the upcoming movie, 'Skiing!'
We've come to the snow mountains, where champion snowman maker, Kief Armor is showing us how it's done.
With him is the star of 'Skiing', Molly, to try her hand at some real snowman making!"
Aaron and Tier watched discreetly as Molly's dream took form.
She had manifested in Frozen Bell where coincidentally, Tier had taken Aaron for some private conversation.
Aaron blinked at the dream figure who Molly's sub-conscious had dreamed up.
Kief Armor was a handsome young man with dark brown hair and a boyish complexion.
Aaron guessed that this was her type.
What puzzled him was Kief's choice of tools. "Tier, why does that guy have an axe?"
Tier shrugged. "Never try to understand dreams, Aaron. You'll only confuse yourself."
Aaron nodded at Tier's wisdom and continued to watch.

Molly grinned at the 'camera' like she was on a TV special before turning to watch Kief . . . stand in a ditch and reach up to mutilate lumps of snow around the edges.
She blinked as the axe was handed to her. "Okay . . . see, this won't work. You can't cut snow!"
Tier and Aaron leaned closer as Molly seemed to be on the verge of figuring it out.
However, being just a little too easy going, even in dreams, she had apparently decided to humor the loonies she was working with, and was hacking away at snow chunks.
After a moment, she stopped and the figures faded away, leaving her alone.
Aaron waved to get her attention, but Tier grabbed his hand.
"Hold on, Aaron. She's half figured out that she's dreaming. Her logical mind knows it, but the message hasn't reached her sub-conscious yet. If we startle her before she's ready, she might just wake up from a really weird nightmare."
Tier of course was an expert on nightmares, having been made from that negative energy.
It had also been creating and manipulating bad dreams for most of Its existance.
Molly flickered and disappeared, much to their dismay, only to reappear a few minutes later.
Tier grinned. "That's common. A pet walked across her legs, or something surprised her enough to wake her for a minute. Luckily, she was tired enough to go right back to sleep."

Molly wandered aimlessly before sighing, apparently bored.
Aaron looked up at Tier. "Now?"
Tier nodded. "Slowly and quietly, let her see you."
Both stood up, and had the satisfaction of Molly freezing in place when she caught sight of them.
"Heya, Aaron." She smiled, then noticed who he was with. "Tier? But wait, if you're here. . ."
She laughed suddenly and ran over.
"Well that sure explains a lot! How long were you watching those dumb dreams of mine?"
Tier couldn't respond, as It was being squeezed tightly around the waist.
"Ack, easy! Easyeasyeasy!!!"
Molly finally got the idea and let go, noting the paler patches on Tier's costume, as if the costume itself were healing.
"Oops . . . I'm sorry, Tier. But I missed you!"
Tier grinned and casually lifted Molly and flipped her to face Aaron. Molly blushed.
"Oopsies . . . of course I'm happy to see you too, Aaron . . . but you know, we just had bear claws at Novadeers the day before yesterday."

Tier blinked, puzzled and aching now thanks to two glomps from Its over-enthusiastic friends. "Bear claws? That sounds unpleasant!"
Molly and Aaron couldn't help but laugh.
"It's a kind of treat, Tier." Aaron explained.
"Aha." Tier nodded, not quite getting it.
Molly grinned. "Hey, let's find NiGHTS. I bet he'll be happy to see us!"
Aaron nodded and jumped into the air. "Aptiva!"
He abruptly crashed. Molly and Tier winced sympathetically.
Molly smiled. "No more powers, Aaron. I guess that means no more flying. But that's where Tier comes in!"
Tier sweatdropped and backed away.
"Er, it's such a nice day, maybe we should just take our time and walk. . ."
"Tier, you hate walking . . . don't you?" Aaron looked a little confused.
Tier looked away.
"Um, well you see so much more when you're on the ground. . ."
Aaron could tell that Tier was upset for some reason, but he didn't know whether to press the issue or just give in and walk.
"Yeah, you're right. That sounds like a good idea."
Tier would tell him what was wrong when It felt It needed to. Or NiGHTS would tell him before that.

Molly frowned worriedly. "Tier, is something wrong?"
Tier shook Its head a little too quickly, trying to walk off. "Nothing!"
Molly glared after It before turning to Aaron. "Something's wrong."
Aaron nodded.
"I know. But you can see it doesn't want to talk about it. I think we should let it lie for now."
She sighed. "I don't like that. Tier should trust us enough to tell us what's bothering It!"
Aaron looked slightly distressed as well, but he wasn't about to give in.
"It'll tell us. But we have to let It tell us on Its own."
Molly looked unhappy, but she nodded. "Right. . ."
Tier had paused a short distance away to wait for them, and waved both arms for attention.
"Hey, lovebirds! Over here!"
Molly made a face. "That's if I let It live long enough to tell us, of course. . ."
Aaron chuckled, following after Tier.

Tier has a secret!

End of Part Two

Part Three: Grounded!

"Did walking always take this long?" Molly asked after a half hour or so of following Tier.
Aaron shrugged. "I don't remember." He trudged along behind them, bored with walking.
Tier tried to be encouraging, struggling to hide the fact that It was just as bored. "Hey, look at those Nightopians! Sweeping the ground!"
Aaron looked. "Yeah . . . those are some Nightopians. Kinda like those Nightopians." He pointed at another group doing the same thing.
"They're all pretty much alike. . ." Molly added, tired.
Tier sweatdropped. "Uh. . .yeah. . ."

A while later, Tier sat down, rubbing Its legs. "Owie, my legs hurt! I hate walking!"
It froze, wondering if Molly and Aaron had heard It.
Aaron sat beside it. "I know the feeling, but I guess I'm used to it."
Tier swallowed hard. "Well of course! I walk all the time, it's fun! Lalala!"
It jumped back onto Its feet and marched a little too enthusiastically.
Molly came up beside Aaron, shooting a knowing glance in his direction.
"You walk all the time?"
Aaron grinned. "Things have really changed in the six months that have passed here."
Molly blinked. "Tier, are you still hurt? Can't you fly?"
Tier didn't answer and pretended not to have heard, confirming her suspicion.
Aaron kept quiet.
He would let Molly handle this one; it seemed that Tier just didn't want to talk about it, and he wasn't about to get It upset with him.
Molly on the other hand, had no such worries. It seemed that she rarely took anything seriously, especially when dreaming.
She grabbed a tassle, causing Tier to crash backwards, landing on Its back so that she could glare down into Its mint green eyes. "Tier . . . talk to us!"
"Ouch. . ."
Tier replied helpfully.
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle.
He shrugged to Tier as if to say, 'What can I do?'

Tier yanked free of Molly's grip and stood up, turning away with Its arms folded.
Molly walked around front to frown at It.
Tier turned away again, only to have Molly walk in front again.
She shook her head. "Tier. . ."
Tier winced at the warning tone and looked away.
Molly took a breath and let her lip tremble. "Fine! Be a big baby if you want!"
She marched back to Aaron, hanging her head. "I just thought that you trusted us, that's all. . ."
Tier looked unhappy and glanced at Aaron for support.
Molly quickly stepped on Aaron's foot in silent warning.
Aaron had a pained look, wondering what to say. It was quickly decided by Molly's stamping foot. "Ayy!! Ow. . . "

Seeing that she had gotten to Tier, Molly decided to swallow what was left of her pride.
She leaned lightly against Aaron, tears welling up.
"We gave up so much for you, and you don't even care! I. . . "
She sat down, hands over her eyes. She was being melodramatic, but Tier didn't seem to notice that the tears were fake.
Aaron hugged Molly, trying to look genuine and comforting.
He was still speechless, though, and didn't dare ruin Molly's plan to force Tier's confession.
Tier's lip trembled, and It sat down miserably. "Fine . . . I can't . . ." It admitted softly.
Aaron's face fell. He had still had hope that Tier wouldn't say it.
The Nightmaren glared suddenly. "That's what you want to hear, right? Nightmares, Molly! What happened to you? You used to be cool!"
Molly looked up. "Hey, I'm cool!"
Tier responded by whirling away and beginning to stomp toward camp by Itself.
"C'mon, Tier, don't be like that!!!"
Molly abruptly flung herself at Tier, glomping It from behind. With a startled squeak, the Nightmaren went down, taking Molly with It.
Tier trembled painfully and opened Its mouth to squeeze one heartfelt word out.
"Ow. . ."

Aaron looked around, half embarrassed and half befuddled as to what to do next.
He hoped no Nightmaren were watching.
He walked over to Tier, kneeling down beside It. "Are you two alright?"
"It only hurts when I exist. . ." Tier retorted, not bothering to even try to get up.
"Oh, not too bad then. . ." Aaron put his hand on Tier's shoulder.

"Should we try to find Picusha? How much longer is it from here to camp?"
"Look, I'm seeing star chips!" Molly giggled dreamily, playfully batting one of the stars out of the air.
That was the funny thing about dreams, if you thought it, it could happen.
Aaron felt a huge sweatdrop form beside his head. "I wish I could fly. . ."
"Me too. . ." Molly and Tier chorused.

"Hey, someone's coming!"
A Nightopian announced, perched atop a small wooden board placed high in a tree.
A second Nightopian knocked the first off of the lookout point.
"That's not someone, that's Tier!" It announced happily.
For reasons that no one could understand, all of the Nightopians loved Tier.
At the announcement, five more Nightopians began battling for the chance to sit on the lookout tower and watch their friends approach.

"This is all Picusha's fault. . ." Tier grumbled as It walked between Molly and Aaron.
Molly shrugged. "From what you've told us, it sounds like Picusha only did what It did to protect you. It's really very cute." She grinned at Aaron.
"Cute?" Tier stared at Molly as if she'd lost her mind.
Aaron nodded in agreement. "Cute."
Tier shook Its head in disbelief. "This just isn't my night . . . I-oof!!!"
It flew backwards as several blue, white, and pink forms attached themselves to It.
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle a bit as the Nightopians crowded Tier.
Molly stopped and glanced back at the smothered Nightmaren on the ground. "Do you think we should help It?"
Aaron considered. "Probably. In a minute."

"Get off of me, you ugly little mutants!" Tier growled, to no avail.
The Nightopians never took Its threats seriously.
Aaron walked over and started to try to pry them off of Tier.
Molly stifled a laugh and moved to help. "You know, it's possible to be too friendly. . ."

"It is not cute." Tier grumbled as It headed for the healer's tent.
Molly laughed. "Yes it is, it's adorable! Picusha must really like you!"
She blinked and leaned over to whisper to Aaron. "Can two 'Its' like each other?"
Aaron shrugged. "I don't see why not."
Tier blushed and jogged ahead. "Picusha'll be inside!"
It promptly fell flat on Its face, unused to jogging.
Molly winced sympathetically. "Now I know why Nightmaren prefer to fly. . ."
"What's not cute?"
A Nightopian asked as it landed on Tier's head.
Tier frowned as It stood up, trying Its best to ignore the distraction.
Molly and Aaron looked at each other before grinning at their friend's predicament.
Molly laughed and plucked the Nightopian off of Tier, hugging it close.
"Not you, Nightopians are adorable!"
Tier glanced at Aaron, who shrugged.
There were times when Molly didn't make any sense, even to the residents of Nightopia.

Aaron smiled. "Tier's looking for Picusha. Have you seen It?"
The Nightopian giggled at the attention, then turned to beam at Aaron.
It warbled happily before speaking.
"Oh, the Nightmaren all left. Something about a . . . a bush?"It reached up to tilt its halo slightly, thinking.
"A bush?" Tier frowned, trying to figure out what the Nightopian meant.
The Nightopian nodded. "Yeah . . . I guess they don't like bushes. When the pink and white Nightmaren came flying in, NiGHTS made everyone leave!"
Molly gasped. "Ambush!"
Aaron frowned, worried about his friends.
Tier grabbed the Nightopian from Molly. "Where did they go?"
The little cherub squeaked in surprise at the rough treatment, provoking a shake from Tier.
"Where?!"
Aaron hurried to put a hand on Tier's arm. "Hey, don't hurt it."
At the same time, Molly reclaimed the Nightopian and cuddled it close like a baby.
"You're okay . . . but it's important that you tell us what you know. Where did NiGHTS and the others go?"
The Nightopian blinked and pointed. "Toward the border between Soft Museum and Stick Canyon, I think. . ."
"Nightmare!" Tier shouted in alarm and launched Itself.
It cried out as It crashed almost immediately.
Molly sighed. "We've got a long walk ahead of us. . ."

Oh no, not a bush! I mean, ambush!

End of Part Three

Part Four: Lots of Birds Don't Fly, Chicken

"Blind confusion, overcoming common sense! The spirit's fusion, causing peace to recommence!"
Molly sang loudly as she marched out of Mystic Forest and onto the spongy terrain of Soft Museum.
Tier leaned over to whisper to Aaron. "By the Ideya, make her stop!"
Aaron blinked and whispered back. "Why?"
Tier frowned. "Because otherwise, she's going to serenade us all the way to the castle, and my ears just can't take it. . ."
Aaron looked baffled. "Why not?"
Molly sang on, oblivious to her friends' conversation.
"Skies of pale blue, skies darkening with night! I know I'll miss you, the moment feels so right!"
Tier sighed. "All that I hear all day and all night . . . is singing."
"Isn't it beautiful?" Aaron sighed.

Tier regarded Aaron as if he'd just said something crazy.
"Listen to the same song 24/7 and you might change your mind."
"This is the song that doesn't end. . ." Aaron sang the song quietly for a few minutes before it finally started to annoy even him.

"Dreams never end, and I'll be with you! When next I close my eyes. . ."
Molly twirled happily as she got to the chorus.
Tier tried to block the singing out as It walked.
"I've found a friend, purple green and blue! And we will meet once more . . . when next I close my eyes. . ."
Tier blinked at the lyrics and turned to look at Molly. "Purple green and blue?"
Aaron looked Tier over, wondering if It was supposed to be it that she was describing.
Tier was definitely only green and pink, unless you counted Its peach colored skin.
Aaron thought about it for a little while, baffled.
Molly was caught up in her own music. In fact, the air seemed to swell with harmony, adding to the song. She danced around Aaron and Tier as she hummed the music, preparing for the next verse.
Aaron looked as happy as a bug in a rug listening to her.
"Purple sunset, overcoming pale blue skies. . ."
Molly sang on, closing her eyes and somehow managing to stay upright as she danced.
Aaron watched her, absolutely amazed. He couldn't believe how awesome she looked and sounded, dancing and singing as she was.
"There's no sorrow, when next I close my eyes. . ."
Tier blinked, noticing Aaron's dreamy expression. It waved a finely boned hand in front of him.
"Hey . . . Nightopia to Aaron. Hello, Aaron!" Aaron blinked and swatted at Its hand.
"I'm right here, Tier." Tier rolled Its eyes.
"Just barely . . . you're starting to shape a new dream with these goofy thoughts of yours."
It indicated the red diamonds gleaming high in the sky, looking ready to rain down.

"Though clouds gather, on the horizon of my mind. . ."
Molly was still singing.
"No storms will gather, as we drift through time!"
Aaron sighed, wishing he could sing as well as she did. Tier groaned as It saw Aaron slipping back into his dream.
A red diamond sank slowly into the ground from overhead.
Aaron's attention floated away from Molly onto the raining red.
Tier held a hand out and a green and pink harlequin patterned umbrella appeared in Its hand, fending off the unusual weather.
Aaron in turn scooted closer to Tier in order to be under the umbrella. Tier pulled away, frowning.
"It's your dream. If you don't like it, just think of something else."
Aaron looked almost hurt. "Oh . . . sorry. . ." He scooted away from Tier and sulked.

Molly was singing the chorus again, weaving through the falling diamonds as if they were part of the performance.
"Dreams never end, and I'll be with you! When next I close my eyes . . . I've found a friend, purple green and blue! And we will meet once more. . ."
The music swelled to new levels as she simply sang without words.
Tier watched as the diamonds slowed and began to fade away as Aaron's mood changed.
Aaron returned his thoughts to Molly's song. It was a lot happier than Tier.
Tier noticed Aaron's attention on Molly, and looked away, pretending not to see.

"The stars that shimmer, are they the same as those you see?" Molly was still singing.
"The barest glimmer, that can bind you to me!"
"You know, Molly, you really have a beautiful voice." Aaron stated casually.
"Each night I wonder, will I see your shining gaze? Torn asunder. . .this is only. . ."
Molly stopped as Aaron spoke, and seemed to remember where she was. "What?"

Aaron repeated himself. "I said you sing very well."
She blushed. "Not really . . . I guess everyone sounds better in their dreams. . ."
"Whose shining gaze?" Tier interrupted, curious.
Molly blinked at the interruption, and smiled as she turned her back on Tier.
"Oh, no one important. . ."
She grinned, glancing back at the Nightmaren.
"I bet it's Aaron's." Tier commented, glancing at the other dreamer.
Molly laughed. "But Tier, I see Aaron when I'm awake! Why would I sing about waiting to see him in my dreams?"
Aaron was nearly about to feel special.
Tier frowned thoughtfully. "Well then who?"
Molly twirled and hugged the Nightmaren as tightly as she dared, conscious of Its tender chest.
Tier smiled despite Itself, eyes glittering warmly in response to her smile.
Aaron smiled, chuckling softly. "Who do you think?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Molly laughed, admiring those shining eyes before dancing ahead.
Aaron scooted closer to Tier. "I know I would. . ."
He grinned and then headed off after Molly.

Tier blinked, watching the dreamers move ahead. "Wait, did I just miss something?"
It noticed them pulling ahead, and ran clumsily after them.
"Hey, wait for me!"

Molly smiled as the leggy Tier scrambled after them.
"You know, Tier kind of reminds me of one of those daddy long legs spiders . . . even though they're not really spiders. . ." She paused to consider that fact.
"Did you ever pick one up by the leg, Aaron? They look kind of like how Tier does right now."
Aaron winced and shuddered. "I stay away from creepy things like that."
Molly smiled. "They're hardly creepy. . ."
Aaron made a face. "I hate spiders. Even not real spiders."
Molly blinked. "If you hate creepy things, what are you doing hanging around a Nightmaren?"
Aaron shrugged. "Tier isn't crunchy when you step on It."
Tier finally caught up and froze in Its tracks, alarmed. "Who'd want to step on me?!"
Aaron pointed to Molly innocently. Molly laughed.
"Nothing, Tier. Aaron's just afraid of spiders. . . "
Tier blinked, then shrugged it off. "Oh, is that all?"
Aaron felt that he had been somehow slighted. "Is that all? That's enough!"
Tier shrugged again. "But I knew that."
It saw Molly and Aaron looking at It expectantly, and looked away.
"It's sort of part of being a Nightmaren . . . knowing the fears of the people around you. . ."
Molly sighed softly and looked at Aaron.
Both of the dreamers knew that Tier wasn't entirely comfortable with being a mean, lean, dream stealing machine.
They both felt a little guilty for pressing the point.

And Tier is taller than both of them, too! Pick on someone your own size!

End of Part Four

Part Five: Worries and Too Many Movies

"Palis, you're sure this is where you were ambushed?" NiGHTS asked worriedly.
The pink and white Nightmaren known as Palis nodded, equally worried.
"Yes, NiGHTS. Taiel, Doren, and I were flying low right here when Jackle and GillWing caught us offguard. I managed to fly out of reach, but Taiel and Doren. . ."
NiGHTS nodded. "I understand. We'll get them back."
Palis continued to look worried, so NiGHTS blinked. "You don't believe me?"
Palis dropped Its gaze. "Taiel should be fine, but Doren is so. . . " It hesitated.
NiGHTS grinned "I think that I know what you mean. . ."
Palis frowned "Then why are you smiling?"
NiGHTS shrugged. "You and Doren are twins. And you're afraid that Doren will be tempted by the dark side,"
He cupped his hands, imitating Wizeman, but adding a metallic rasp.
"Doren . . . . I am your father. . ."

Palis nodded, a little annoyed by NiGHTS' goofing. "I fail to see the humor."
NiGHTS smiled. "Sorry . . . it's just that you and Doren remind me of Reala and myself."
Palis blinked and considered, then smiled. "We were designed to be very much like you and Reala."
NiGHTS nodded. "Then you know that nothing short of Wizeman's word will put Taiel and Doren in serious danger. Ree's pretty evil, but it's an honorable evil. You know, like um . . . oh! Like the Disney villains who rant all their plans and grant last requests and such. Not the evil, insane, ripping throats out kind of evil."
Palis stared at NiGHTS as if he'd sprouted two new heads.
The pink and white First Generation Nightmaren frowned at Its superior. "Come on!"
NiGHTS blinked as Palis flew ahead.
"Wait, this isn't Follow the Leader! Anyway, I'm the leader!"
With a childish pout, the purple Nightmaren hero followed Palis.

Tier blinked back at the humans as It walked. "Why do you keep giving me those sad puppy looks?"
Molly glanced at Aaron, still feeling guilty about putting Tier on the spot earlier
"Um. . . are you okay, Tier?"
Tier blinked again. "Well, yeah. . ."
Aaron poked Tier softly. "Then smile a little. I hate to see you sad."
Tier halted and sighed, then turned around, lips back too far and a freakishly large grin on Its face.
Molly yelped and dove behind Aaron. Aaron jumped, startled as Molly moved behind him so quickly. "It's only Tier, Molly. . ."
He was actually a little shaky himself.
"Tier just. . . made Jackle's floating grin look CUTE!!!" Molly protested, staring in horror at her friend.
Tier's forced grin faded. "Well, you said to smile. . ."
Aaron smiled at Tier. "Thank you, Tier."
Tier shrugged and started off again.
"Lemme know if you need help prying the human leech there off your leg. . ."
Molly blinked. "Hey. . . !"
Aaron grinned and chuckled a little.
"I don't mind it."

Molly blushed a little, but let Aaron go. "Well, that WAS freaky. . ."
She tried to defend herself.
"I know." Aaron held back another chuckle. "I'll protect you from the fearsome Tier."
Molly blushed further. "Um. . . thanks. . ."
Tier glanced back. "Hey, lovebirds! You coming?"
Aaron ran after Tier. "Coming!"
"Lovebirds. . . ?" Molly rolled her eyes and hurried after Aaron and Tier
Aaron, however, made no comment about the 'Lovebirds' remark.

Tier stopped.
"Uh. . . where were we going again?"
Aaron nearly tripped. "I have no idea."
"Nightmare, of course!" Molly informed them.
Aaron's face fell. "Oh . . . oh yeah."
Tier fell silent.
Molly smiled despite herself. "To make sure that NiGHTS and the others are safe."
"Right." Aaron turned to keep walking toward Nightmare.
He stopped for a second, blinking, but then kept walking. He was sure Molly knew what she was doing. Or at least he hoped so.

An urgent warbling caused the trio to halt as a Nightopian swooped in. The creature bypassed Molly and Tier, flying straight into Aaron's arms with a happy trill.
Aaron blinked for a second before he realized who it was. A huge smile crept onto his face. He held the little Nightopian up and hugged it.
"Drem!"
A little while before, Aaron had found Drem lying half dead under a bush. He had saved the poor little thing, but it had been badly wounded, and only after nothing short of begging Picusha to heal it was the Nightopian saved. After Aaron had done this for her, Drem was hardly ever interested in being anywhere else but in his arms.

Tier blinked. "Oh goodie . . . another one."
Molly ignored the Nightmaren, knowing that It didn't mean it.
"Looks like you've got a lifelong friend there, Aaron."
Drem hugged Aaron happily. "Play with Drem!"
Aaron grinned with more than a little sadness in the smile. "I wish I could, Drem. We have to go to Nightmare."
Drem's reaction was immediate. She gave a little shriek of alarm and buried her face in Aaron's chest, trembling violently. "No!"

Tier blinked. "She's smarter than she looks. . . "
It was familiar with Aaron's "pet" Nightopian, due to her frequent trips to visit the camp. She had been Topper's constant companion, but had stopped coming after she had stopped seeing him.
Aaron's face took on a slightly pained look. "We have to go, Drem. NiGHTS may need our help. We can't leave him. Do you understand?"
Drem looked up at Aaron, teary eyed. "It's bad!" She protested, having never forgotten her near death experience on the border of Nightmare.
Tier walked over. "Aaron, you're going to have to leave Drem behind. She'll just work herself into a panic otherwise. She could hurt herself."
Aaron nodded, knowing that Tier was right. "Drem, you have to stay here, okay? I'll come back for you soon."

"No!"
Drem clung harder to Aaron, as if afraid of being forcibly removed.
Molly's expression was one of pity.
"Drem would put the most loyal dog to shame . . . she's not going to abandon you for anything, Aaron."
Tier frowned. "Stupid thing! That's not being loyal, it's being suicidal! Aaron, she can't come."
Drem winced at the now arguing Nightmaren and dreamer, whimpering.
Molly frowned fiercely. "What else can we do, Tier? Leave Aaron?! Drem won't stay here and you know it!"
Tier glared back. "How's Aaron going to feel if he does take Drem, and she ends up getting hurt or stressing herself out until she dies from it?!"
"Like he'd allow that!" Molly shouted. "You don't give either of them enough credit!"

Aaron felt like he should have a huge sweatdrop rolling down the side of his head. He didn't want to leave Drem, but he didn't want to take her into such danger either.
"Drem, I don't want you to be hurt. . ."
Drem frowned a little. "Drem is supposed to let Aaron get hurt?"
She demanded in a rare moment of seriousness.
Tier now took offense.
"He's with me, you oversized bug! I won't let anyone get hurt!"
Molly smirked. "Then you should be willing to protect Drem, too!"
Tier shook Its head. "I can't believe we're even discussing this!"
Aaron looked at the ground. It never occured to him that he might get hurt, not with Tier.

Molly was clearly trying her best to win this argument.
"We've already seen that Nightopians can be valuable allies! And one little Nightopian can't possibly be hard to defend!"
"Uhm . . . right. I won't let her get hurt." Aaron nodded.
Tier managed to loom over both dreamers while remaining firmly on the ground.
"Aaron . . . if we get into trouble, I'm protecting you and Molly. Not a Nightopian. You're important, and she's not."
Molly made a face in the background.
Aaron shrugged, hoping Tier would accept this: "That's fine. You protect us; I'll protect her." Tier grimaced. "You're just trying to make this as difficult as possible for me, aren't you?"
"On the contrary; it's no harder for you, just harder for me." Aaron retorted.
Tier growled. "Look, genius. I need you to help yourself at least a little! If I can't DrillDash or Paraloop, we're defenseless! And you want to give me one more thing to worry about. You'll just wake up if you get scared or hurt, but that Nightopian can die! And did you even think of me?!"
"Tier. . ." Molly protested softly, not liking their friend's tone or attitude.
Tier sighed. "Look . . . just tell me you'll be safe."
Aaron forced a smile onto his face. "Of course we'll be fine. We're with you. Molly can merge with you."
"I can?" Molly looked a little surprised. Tier looked away. "Merging is NiGHTS' thing . . . and I just don't think I can."
"You mean you all can't do it?" Aaron sounded a little surprised.
Tier rubbed the back of Its head self consciously. "To be perfectly honest, I don't know . . . but that takes energy, and since I have an energy defficiency right now. . ." It shook Its head. "It wouldn't do any good anyway. I can't do anything that you two can't, so even a Merge wouldn't help us."
"Alright, alright. We'll be fine, we've done this before." Aaron grinned, and started walking again. "Come on, we'll never get there standing here all night."
Drem clung to Aaron as Molly all but skipped after him. "Well let's go somewhere! Standing around is boooooring!"
Tier stared as the humans and Nightopian moved on.
"But . . . the Nightopian. . ." It started to protest, then sagged in dejection and defeat before hurrying to catch up. "I'm coming!"

Meanwhile, a far different scene was taking place in Nightmare. . .
"Let go of me, you invisible freak!" Doren snarled as It was dragged down the hallway by a grimacing Jackle. Jackle looked over at Clawz, who was pulling a cowering Taiel along.
"How come you get to bring the quiet one?"
"Mrow." Clawz retorted, not in the mood for conversation.
A small fourteenth generation Nightmaren peeked out around a corner as it saw Clawz and Jackle carrying what It assumed to be two rebels down the hallway. It was a midnight blue color, very well suited to blending into shadows, over most of its body. Parts of its chest, its hands, feet, and the ends of its tassles were slightly lighter in color and the lower part of its face, below what had the appearance of a mask over its eyes, was gray. It floated quietly out behind the two, wondering where they were going to take the rebels.
"Please, Clawz . . . please let us go!" Taiel whimpered, wincing as Clawz merely growled in response. Doren sighed. "It's no use, Taiel. These two are like robots."
The little Nightmaren blinked and floated up closer behind them to listen to their conversation.
Jackle glared. "Robots, hm? If Wizeman didn't want to see you himself, I'd take care of you right now!" The caped Nightmaren grinned evilly as Taiel cringed, afraid.
Opening its eyes wider, the little one nearly stopped following them. It had no desire to approach Wizeman unwanted. But something made it continue.
As they reached the doors to Wizeman's chamber, Clawz thrust Taiel into Jackle's free hand before placing a paw on the latch. The door opened itself in response.
Grinning, Jackle forced the now struggling rebels closer, shoving them roughly inside. "Get in!"
He followed, the doors slamming behind them.
The fourteenth generation blinked and then suddenly scrambled to hide, not really caring to meet Jackle and Clawz's attention.

Soon, a small crowd of lesser Nightmaren had joined the first, all curious as to what was to become of the rebels. Rebel Nightmaren had been caught before, but never brought before Wizeman. They had simply been punished and destroyed. This was the one of the principle reasons the first Nightmaren never gave much thought to rebellion. Not since the day the human girl was rescued, anyway.
"Jesse?" One of the others, a royal blue Nightmaren with a handsome, muscular build queried. It was well known that the 14th Generation Nightmaren were the ones to ask for gossip. They could slip into almost any situation, unnoticed.
The fourteenth generation jumped at hearing its name and turned and looked up to see Vespa standing over it. "Y-yes Vespa?" Its voice was small and gravelly, similar to that of a young child, but different.
The older Nightmaren frowned authoritatively even though technically, It and Jesse were of the same rank. It jerked Its head toward the sealed doors. "What have you heard?"
Jesse looked back over toward the door and shivered a little. "T-two rebels are in there . . . Clawz and Jackle b-brought them. Master Wizeman wanted to see them..."
Vespa frowned thoughtfully. "Odd . . . why would Master Wizeman take an interest in. . ." It paused as if a frightening thought had just occured to It. "Wait, did you recognize the rebels?
Jesse shook its head. "One of them was called Taiel by the other."
Vespa relaxed. "What Generation were they?"
"S-second, I think," was Jesse's reply. "At least one of them. The other, I was pretty sure was a sixth generation."
Vespa considered. "Sixth, hm?"
A soft gasp came from the group huddled by the door, trying to listen. "Its colors! Tell me!" A harlequin of sorts turned to see Jesse, rose colored eyes widened in concern beneath Its pink and green cap.
Jesse felt very uncomfortable with all the attention on it. "I-it was kind of bluish... Not like me, more of a lighter greenish blue..."
"Patterned?!" This obviously did not comfort the other Nightmaren.
Jesse blinked, a little confused for a second before it understood what it was being asked. "Oh, no... it was solid colored."
The Sixth Generation relaxed, then jumped as Vespa scolded. "Terrace, you fool! What does it matter? Anyone who rebels has signed their own death warrant anyway!"
Terrace bowed Its head.
"But, Vespa, you asked the same que-" Jesse cut itself off, slapping a hand over its mouth.
"Shut up!" Vespa snarled, then subsided. "Wizeman will be displeased if he finds us here . . . disperse." Jesse was not about to argue. It flew quickly to the nearest shadow, keeping within the darkness as it made its way away from Wizeman's chamber.
The others were quick to do likewise, until the corridor was as vacant as ever.

Doren grunted as It hit the floor, and quickly stood up, not about to give anyone the satisfaction of staying down.
It glanced at Taiel, frowning as the younger Nightmaren did exactly what It shouldn't have. It was curled in a fetal position, trembling and whimpering.
Doren had always known that Palis had been too easy on Taiel. The Sixth Generation was useless right now.
Wizeman extended a hand to study Taiel, taking an interest in such terror.
Poor Taiel gave a small gasp at the unwanted attention, causing Doren to feel a reluctant twinge of pity for It. Wizeman was likely to destroy Taiel for such a defect. That was the way things worked.

"Perfect."
Both Nightmaren jumped at the unexpected voice. The satisfaction in Wizeman's tone put Doren on edge and inspired a sense of dread in both It and Taiel. What was he planning?

"Skip. . . skip. . .skip. . . hop!" Molly playfully bounced ahead before whirling and smiling at her friends. "C'mon, guys!"
Aaron blinked. In any anime, he would have been drawn at this moment with a large sweatdrop to one side of his head. He wondered if Molly was just trying to lighten the mood, or if she was really having fun on their march to Nightmare. "Shall we sing a ditty?" Aaron grinned.
"In a dream I can. . . er, no." Tier tried, but found that It just didn't want to sing.
Molly twirled, then wobbled, dizzy. "Whoo. . ."
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle. He moved to Molly's side and layed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Alright?"
"Why are there two of you?" Molly answered, still playful.
She laughed as Tier scooped her up, then grabbed ahold of Aaron and Drem.
"You two. . ." It feigned disgust.
Aaron blushed and then grinned foolishly at Tier. "Aw, you know you love us!"
Tier grinned reluctantly. "Yeah, well don't tell anyone else." Drem giggled nervously.
"Well, only since you insist. . ." He grinned over at Molly, hoping to get a smile in return.
Molly shrugged, smiling. "So where was I? Hop. . . hop. .. no. . . skip. . .skip. . . hop!" She resumed her skipping.
Aaron sighed. He wished the happy atmosphere, no matter how artificial, could continue indefinitely, but he knew darker times were ahead again. . .

Make the cuteness stop!

End of Part Five

Part six: Sing, Sing a Song

". . . Keep the dream of the one you're waiting for, love can come through an open door. . ." Palis winced as NiGHTS proceeded to sing that song for the twelfth time in a row. "NiGHTS, please stop that. . ."
NiGHTS stopped, then turned his head, singing quickly.
"Justbestrongandyou'resuretofindtheoneinthenightsdreamdelightIwanttoseeyoustandingthereinthenightsdreamdelightIfoundsomeonewhoreallycaresinthenightsdreamdelightIwanttoseeyousmileagaininthenightsdreamdelightyouaretheoneI'vewaitedfor. . ." He smiled as he got that out of his system.
Palis stared. "Sometimes I wonder if you didn't single handedly save our race simply by leaving. . ."

A shadowy figure drifted down the corridors of Nightmare castle, as if someone were walking - but no one was. The shadow clung to the wall except for when it had to evade the occasional torchlight.
It halted as a wooden shaft was jammed against Its tail-like base.
"What news?" The red figure demanded. The shadow turned two red eyes on the older Nightmaren, clearly unhappy with the interruption.
"I have better things to do than run errands for you, Torc. . ." It winced as the shaft was ground into Its tail. Torc grinned. "Indeed. So kind of you to take the time for me."
Shara narrowed Its eyes further. It was very small, but intimidating nonetheless.
"The prisoners have been interrogated, then removed to the special cell. . . "
Torc winced despite Itself. The "special" cell was a stone room no larger than a closet, four feet by four feet in diameter. There was no light, no sound, and no hope of flying or escaping. It was a cruel torture for any flight loving Nightmaren.
As Torc failed to remove Its staff from Shara's tail, the shadow 'Maren lashed out with a clawed hand, drawing blood from Torc's arm. With a cry of surprise, the crimson Nightmaren guard leapt back. It scowled as Shara gladly took the chance to fly along the wall, escaping.
A small Nightmaren watched this exchange from above as it silently clung to the ceiling of the corridor. Oblivious to the observer, Torc hissed after Shara and drifted back to Its post, now in a foul mood.
The little one drifted down from above into the light. Its markings and colors were those of Jesse inverted; it was its twin, Janus. It made its way quickly along the wall to find Jesse.

Jesse pressed its head up against the wall of the cell, trying to hear what was inside. It had been fascinated with these two rebels every since they had been brought into Nightmare. Jesse could only assume that they shared its innermost desire, to escape.
No sound came from inside the cell. The rebels could be screaming, and Jesse would never know it.
It wished there were some way to get inside and then to get out again. If only it could get these two to freedom, surely they would not leave It to Its fate with the Loyals.
The little fourteenth generation wanted to badly for Wizeman to be the father figure it wished for, but it knew that Wizeman's heart was perhaps too far gone. Jesse would have to find a way to make Wizeman know love and peace.
It knew it couldn't do that from within Nightmare. Deep down, it knew it couldn't achieve that even with the Rebels. But it had to try.
In the cell, Taiel was curled even tighter than before, sobbing quietly to Itself.
Normally, Doren would have become angry at the display of weakness, but It found Itself feeling grateful for the familiar sound. Maybe it had been mercy or simply an oversight, but the two rebels had been confined together. That lightened the load on both of them.
"Hey. . . NiGHTS'll be here soon I bet. . ." Doren jumped at the dull sound of Its own voice. There wasn't even an echo. Taiel's crying continued as if It hadn't heard.
Doren sighed and glanced up, even though It could see nothing but dim stone.
"Where are you, NiGHTS? Palis. . .?"

Janus flew quickly to Jesse's side. "Jesse, you shouldn't be here..."
It looked into its twin's eyes, afraid. "If someone finds us here, we'll be..."
Jesse put a finger to its lips to hush Janus. "If we don't help them, something worse will happen to them..."
Janus looked shocked. "H-help them...? Jesse, you can't be serious. Y-you're not rebelling, are you?"
Jesse looked down. "I don't know. I just know I have to help them. Will you help me?"
Janus shook its head, frightened and turned the other way, looking back only for a second before fleeing Jesse's side.
Not surprisingly, no sound came from the cell - or from any other cell, for that matter. Prisoners did not stay for very long in Nightmare.
Jesse pounded its fists on the cell wall. There had to be a way. It just hadn't found it yet. There was always a way.
A shadow drifted underneath the Fourteenth Generation before rising onto the wall of the cell, taking form. "You do not belong here. . ."
Jesse nearly fell backward before it regained its composure as quickly as possible. "I.. I.. am... uhm... g-guarding the... the rebels, of course. . ."
Shara considered, then narrowed Its eyes.
"I would have an easier time believing you. . . if you did not stutter."
Jesse scratched its head, smiling a little. "But. . . I always s-stutter. . ."
Shara tilted Its head, eyes softening slightly. "Do you now?" Jesse nodded in response. "Y-yeah. A-all the time."
Shara seemed to become bored, and left the cell to cross the floor onto the opposite wall.
"So. . . what are you really trying to do?"
Jesse tried to maintain its innocence. It was already scared out of its wits that Janus was going to report it. "Wh-what do you mean?" Shara made a sound of disgust.
"I mean that I know what you want. Now tell me what you want to do."

Jesse was obviously confused. Had Shara overheard? "I-I want to free them..."
Shara's gasp told Jesse that It had not been listening. The Fifteenth Generation drew back. "Are you mad?!"
Jesse bit its lip and closed its eyes. It had been counting on Shara having heard its conversation with Janus. "M-maybe... I don't know..." Shara left the wall, floating through the air like any other Nightmaren. "You are confused. . . you do not mean this."
Jesse nodded. "Y-you're probably right... I couldn't betray F.... M-master Wizeman like this..." Shara relaxed visible, and returned to the wall.
"Yes. . . that sounds better. Do nothing that you will regret." It swept into the shadows and out of sight, ending the discussion. Or maybe Jesse had freaked It out worse than It had thought.
Jesse's resolve to help the two rebels seemed weaker than ever now. How could it betray its own father? How could it betray its siblings? It shrank to the ground, not knowing what to do.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. . ." "NiGHTS, if you sing even one more word, I will personally use your head for a game of tetherball!"
NiGHTS wisely chose to fall silent at Palis' grumpy threat.
"Um. . ." NiGHTS lifted a finger, hoping to point something out. He winced as Palis turned to glare. "Be quiet, NiGHTS! Maybe you think this is fun and games, but I don't! My twin and my best friend could be dead by now, and I just want to find them if it's at all possible!"
NiGHTS shrank back, nodding sympathetically. "I know, Palis, and we will. But. . ."
"But what?!" Palis was upset now.
NiGHTS pointed to a treestump. "I think we've passed this stump before. . ."
Palis froze, realizing that NiGHTS was right. "ARGH!!!!"
Palis sank onto the ground, frustrated and upset. "Doren . . . Taiel . . . I'm a failure, I can't even help them!"
NiGHTS laid a hand on the pink Nightmaren's shoulder, concerned. "It's not so bad, I'm sure that we'll get them back safe and sound! Things can only get better, right? Every cloud has a silver lining, there's a light at the end of the tun. . ." "Quit the stupid cliches. NiGHTS." Palis glared. ". . . nel." NiGHTS finished lamely.

But the stupid cliches are the best kind!

End of Part Six

Part Seven: You're Cute When You're Angry

". . .You are the one I've waited for. . ." Molly finished her twelfth repeat of that song, much to Tier's relief. However, she quickly continued with a new verse.
"Time has passed and they have grown, but he's still there. Flying high so carelessly through the still night air! How I long to see the one with the purple gaze, and the smile that will always shine on me. . .!"
Aaron sighed. He did love to hear Molly sing, but he was beginning to get a little tired of this song. He had thought about starting a new song from time to time when Molly paused between verses, but he never did act on the impulse.
Tier was walking with both hands pressed against Its head where ears would have been, giving a clear indication of what It thought of the endless singing.
Aaron wasn't even really listening to the words themselves until he found that he didn't recognize the line that he was hearing. "Writing a new verse?"
Molly smiled. "Written, I just never bothered trying it out before. There's more, but . . . I think I'll leave it out." A shadow of sorrow flew across her face briefly.
Tier nodded. "Good, you do that."
Aaron smacked Tier's arm. "Tier. . ." He glared up at It. "Come on, let's hear," he said, turning back to Molly.
Molly hesitated. "I . . . don't know. . ." She glanced at Tier. The Nightmaren looked away, rubbing Its arm.
Aaron held Drem up in front of him and smiled. "Drem wants to hear, don't you, Drem?"
Drem tried to mimic Tier's earlier gesture, covering her own ears and giggling at her joke.
"Aw, Drem. . ." Aaron stuck his tongue out at her and then hugged her back to him. "I want to hear." Drem decided to be nicer, and nodded. "Fish!" She burst into a fit of giggles.
Molly blinked. "Aaron, your Nightopian is odd."
Aaron laughed with her. "Molly, she isn't mine any more than you ar..." He froze for a second before coughing a little. "Excuse me..."
Molly blushed a little, looking away. Tier looked at the two dreamers before laughing. "Aw, you're so cute when you pretend like that!" Aaron gaped. "Tier!" He smacked its arm again, glaring at it.
Molly frowned. "Pretend what?" She blinked as Aaron smacked Tier, wondering if Aaron meant what she thought he did.
Tier laughed, rubbing Its sore arm again. "Ow! Well you are!"
Aaron blushed as well, looking down to the ground. "Yeah . . . pretend what?"
Tier grinned mischievously.
"Duh! Pretend that you don't like li. . ." It froze as a hand was slapped over Its mouth, green eyes sparkling with suppressed laughter.
Aaron glared at Tier, mumbling quietly to It. "What makes you so sure she's pretending. . .?"
Tier caught on. "Oh. . ." It murmured back as soon as Its mouth was released. It grinned.
"Eh, you both try too hard to deny it for that not to be the case."
Aaron glared at it again and continued on silently, walking ahead of the others.
Tier skipped after Aaron, bending close to whisper. "Especially Molly. . ."
Molly blinked innocently and walked along behind her friends, sensing that this was a good time to give them some space.
"I wouldn't try so hard if she didn't. Look, I don't want to talk about this right now. We've got to find NiGHTS." He sped up.
Tier halted, looking hurt. "Oh. . . okay. . . " It fell back to join Molly, ignoring the questioning look that she directed up at It.
Aaron squinted his eyes shut for a second. It hadn't been his intention to hurt Tier, and he wished that he could take back the severity with which he'd pronounced his words, but it was too late. He would have to make it up to it later.

"No, we've definitely been this way." Palis glared accusingly at a sleeping Nightopian. "I'm flying up to get a better look."
It started to fly, only to be caught by the arm and yanked down. NiGHTS shook his head. "We're too close to Nightmare, Palis. They'll expect us to fly in! We're safest staying low to the ground. Palis nodded slowly, pulling free and resuming Its trudge.
". . . in my dreams, though some were dark and some were strange. . . " Palis frowned at the distant singing. "Quit it."
". . . he came through, and helped me to change. . ."
"Quiet!" Palis frowned and whirled, only to find NiGHTS shrugging innocently.

"And I know, yes I know . . . he will always be there for . . . ugh, this is stupid." Molly groaned, ending her song. Aaron turned back to look at Molly as she stopped. "Stupid? It's beautiful. Don't stop."
Molly shook her head. "That's it, anyway." Tier shrugged. "Oh well. . . " It gave a few hops in order to leave the ground for at least a few seconds.
Molly opened her mouth to say more, but was cut off.
". . .I'm telling you, it wasn't me! Although I'm flattered that you think I sound like that. . ."
Aaron blinked, turning back around to look ahead of them. "Was that. . .?"
Tier looked around. "NiGHTS?"

NiGHTS looked up. "Hey, was that. . .?"
Palis snorted. "Someone of no consequence?"
"Ah, I'm hurt!" Tier exclaimed as Molly spread some bushes apart to look through. "NiGHTS!"
Aaron started running toward the sound of NiGHTS's voice, a smile on his face.
NiGHTS hurried over. "Aaron! Molly! Tier!" He drew the dreamers into a hug before becoming serious. "You shouldn't be here, though. It's not safe."
Aaron laughed a little, hugging NiGHTS and all the others too. "We had to find you."
NiGHTS smiled. "Okay, but now that you have, you should go somewhere safer. There's big trouble brewing!"
Palis only nodded, not wanting to interrupt yet.
"But NiGHTS, where can we go? Where is the camp? What happened? Are you okay?" Aaron fired off question after question at NiGHTS.
NiGHTS dodged the rapid dire questions - such things tended to be far more literal in the dream world. "One question at a time!"
Molly hurried over. "What trouble is brewing, NiGHTS? The ambush?"
NiGHTS blinked. "You know more than I realized . . . how much do you know?"
Aaron considered. "We know that the camp was attacked by loyals and we didn't know where you were."

NiGHTS blinked. "It was?" Tier shook Its head. "You're exaggerating, I'm sure it was just evacuated as a precaution. . ."
Aaron didn't seem to be listening. "I was worried about you, NiGHTS!"
Palis spoke up. "My scouting troup was ambushed, returning to the camp. There was a danger that the loyals might have guessed the camp's location from our flight pattern, so NiGHTS told everyone to hide elsewhere while we go to Nightmare to save Doren and Taiel!"
Aaron nodded. "That's exactly what I just said! Wait, Doren and Taiel are in Nightmare?"
Palis nodded. "That's right. Now that you know, you'll understand why NiGHTS wants you to stay away. He wanted to go alone before I pointed out that I'm responsible for them!"
Palis stepped back as Tier jumped forward. "Then I should go, too!"
Palis blinked. "What?" "What?" NiGHTS echoed. "What?" Molly blinked at Tier. "Fish?" Drem added.
Aaron waved his hands, saying, "Hold it, hold it," and then waited for everyone's attention. "What?" He blinked, catching onto what had been said. "Wait a minute, Tier. How come you're so willing to fly into Nightmare with NiGHTS, but no force in all of Nightopia could have forced you to come with me when I went?"

Tier shuffled Its feet, looking uncomfortable. "Well, I . . . er. . ." NiGHTS came to the rescue, leaning close to speak softly to Aaron. "That was before certain things happened . . . Tier has . . . matured . . . since then."
"Oh. . ." Aaron smiled up at Tier, putting his hand on Its arm and trying to be reassuring and a little apologetic. He felt a little guilty for forcing Tier to think about something he knew made It a little uncomfortable.
Palis had been patient thus far, but enough was enough. "DO YOU PEOPLE MIND?! WE HAVE TO MARCH INTO ENEMY TERRITORY AND RESCUE TWO BLITHERING IDIOTS, SO CAN WE JUST GO NOW?!!!"
Tier and Molly slapped their hands over their ears, or where ears should have been. NiGHTS winced. Drem blinked and murmured a very quiet, "Fish?" Aaron had his arms full and so couldn't defend himself as well.
NiGHTS sweatdropped. "Er, yeah . . . let's go."
He shook his head, muttering to himself something about being grateful for not having ears.
Aaron blinked a few times, shaking his head. It was almost as though tiny bells were still ringing in his ears. Drem giggled before letting the bluebells she had picked drop to the ground.
Tier casually pulled a box out of nowhere and took out two plastic ears. These It placed on Its head, then proceeded to jam Its fingers in them.
Palis evidently got the point, and fell silent.
Molly blinked, fascinated by the items appearing out of thin air. She glanced questioningly at Aaron, who knew Tier better than she did. Aaron stared for a second before stifling a laugh. He knew this wasn't the time. He shrugged, grinning at Molly.

"Onward!" NiGHTS announced, beginning to rise into the air before Palis caught him by a purple toe and yanked him back down. "What happened to staying down?"
NiGHTS blushed. "Oopsies. . ." Tier looked vaguely relieved.
"Oopsies? How will we get into Nightmare this time?" Aaron asked. "The disguise bit wasn't so effective last time." Molly blinked at Aaron. "Disguise bit?" She frowned as a vague memory tickled the back of her mind.
NiGHTS looked unsettled. "I wasn't planning on disguising myself this time."
Aaron blinked at NiGHTS, wondering what he was planning. He turned to Molly and explained, "When we came to free you, I was disguised as a Nightmaren and NiGHTS . . . well, NiGHTS attempted to look like a different Nightmaren." He went on, "It got us past Torc . . . but it wasn't so effective with Reala."
Molly nodded, thinking. "The . . . Ideya Palace. . ." She grimaced, having a hard time recalling, and not really wanting to, anyway. A vague memory of biting Reala came to her, and she turned a little green. "It's not going to be like last time, I hope. . . I don't know what it was like for you, but it wasn't exactly a vacation for me. . ." She looked away, muttering. "Not what I remember, anyway. . ."
Aaron shook his head and agreed, "Last time wasn't so great, even for me."
NiGHTS frowned. "You kids had it pretty good. You just don't realize it."
Tier was already skipping ahead with Palis close behind. Molly blinked and lunged for NiGHTS' arm before towing him along. "Yeah, okay. We believe you, NiGHTS, let's go!"
Aaron quickly ran after them, trying not to be left behind.
Drem whimpered, remembering where they were heading. The Nightopian buried her face in Aaron's arm, her halo bobbing at an angle. He sighed, looking down at her sadly, and stroked her gently and reassuringly.

The castle was as dark and gloomy as ever as the rebels and friends approached, as was the guard on duty. Molly peered out from behind NiGHTS, who was crouching low. "A blood red Nightmaren . . . that's ominous. . ." NiGHTS smiled. "That's Torc." He corrected. Molly blinked. "Isn't torc a car term?"
Aaron shrugged. "Well, plenty of other Nightmaren have names like that, don't they?"
"Like who?" Tier blinked, curious. Molly blinked back, then giggled, slapping a hand over her mouth. She ended up using both hands and struggling to silence herself. Aaron pondered, trying to think of Nightmaren other than Tier to use as an example. "Well . . . like NiGHTS for example."
NiGHTS pointed questioningly to himself. "Um, I'm not really named after an item. . . " Aaron glared. "You're named after a time, a thing, an idea. Same difference." NiGHTS sighed. "Fair enough. . ." He turned to go toward the castle, then blinked and turned back to Aaron. "Does capitalization count?" "No!" The others chorused.
Molly soon found herself sitting at a desk, staring grimly at a narrow package. "Only two left. I'll have to make these count. No pressure, only two and after that, no more. . . ." She swallowed uneasily, opening the package and reaching in for the carefully wrapped items. "Okay, so here goes nothing. If I fail now, who knows how long it will be before I have another chance?!"
She held up a small leaf shaped treat. "I just can't work without maple candy!"
That said, Molly gnawed carefully at the end, grinning as the sugar rush hit her. "YAHOOOOO!!!"
Molly blinked. "Waitaminute, wasn't I just in Nightopia?" She looked at the unfinished candy, then at her crumpled bed, and groaned. "Aww, don't tell me that I eat maple candy in my sleep, leaving NiGHTS and the others behind . . ." She sighed. "What a waste of perfectly good candy!"

That girl needs a hobby. . .

End of Part Seven

Part Eight: Potty Break

Back in Nightopia, Tier jumped in surprise as Molly popped out of sight, not flickering as she normally did when waking. "What?!" It hissed worriedly, looking at Aaron as if afraid that the same would happen to him.
Aaron looked just as solid as he should, but he did look rather perplexed as well. "Where did she go? She can't have woken up already, can she?" He began to take on a more distressed expression. "Potty break?" NiGHTS suggested, looking a little unsure of the term.
Aaron blinked. "Potty break...?" He couldn't help but snicker a little, but soon regained his somber expression. "I hope you're right."
Tier stared. "What?" Palis looked ill and turned away, finding the idea of human functions to be repulsing.
"Should we... keep going? Or wait for her to come back?" Aaron wondered. He gave Palis a pat that was supposed to be reassuring.
NiGHTS saw his comrades' confusion and smirked a little before looking confused. "Um, it means. . . . well. . . ." he shook his head, looking a little disturbed himself. "It's just what humans do sometimes, we'll leave it at that." NiGHTS nodded to Aaron. "She'll find Tier the same way that you always do, we can't risk waiting."
Tier scowled almost defensively. "That sounds like you're abandoning her!" Palis didn't speak, blinking at Aaron's hand as It was patted.
NiGHTS looked to Aaron for support. Aaron shook his head. "We can't really be abandoning her. She'll find us wherever we are, here as well as in Nightmare. It's best if we keep moving." Tier whimpered softly, not liking the idea but giving in to Aaron's and NiGHTS' decision. Aaron smiled reassuringly to Tier. "Don't worry, Tier... she'll be back."
NiGHTS smiled. "Right. Now, we need to get past Torc. . . ." Palis snorted. "We outnumber Torc! Let's just fly over and silence It before It can react!" Palis couldn't imagine why NiGHTS looked so displeased with the idea. NiGHTS frowned. "What are we, barbarians?" "Sort of." Tier responded in an aside meant only for Aaron's ears.
Aaron didn't look so happy about it either. "Someone will eventually notice if Torc is... silenced. We have to make it past it without anyone noticing. That way, no one will know we're here." NiGHTS nodded. "Aaron's right. Now we just. . . " He was interrupted by a hazy figure, bouncing excitedly. "Hey guys!" Molly's voice laughed before fading. It repeated a moment later in a softer tone. "Hey, guys!" NiGHTS' expression was comical as he watched the not quite asleep, sugar powered Molly fade out again.
Aaron looked to be rather baffled. "What's going on? She sounds like she's been into her leftover Halloween candy. . ." He was only half joking.
"Cake?" Drem suggested, reminding everyone of her presence. She quickly added a muted, "Fish. . ." for good measure. Aaron's look of confusion melted into a smile as he looked down at Drem. "They don't go very well together."
"Fishcake!" Drem giggled into Aaron's arm as the need for silence reached even her sugar coated, Nightopian brain.
"Salmon croquette." Aaron nodded and then grinned up at NiGHTS. "Hey... that gives me an idea. Maybe we could use some kind of bait to lure Torc away from the entrance?"
Drem puffed up, looking very pleased with herself. "An Ideya?" Tier blinked, staring at Aaron as if trying to decide if he had somehow formed another one.
"Idea." NiGHTS corrected, recalling that Molly had made that same mistake when first appearing in Nightopia. How long ago that seemed now! "Bait, hm? We string Torc along?"
Tier grinned. "I just 'caught' on!" Even Palis smiled. "We're going out on a line!"
"Fish!" Drem added happily Aaron covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
Drem pulled a rod with a cakeslice out of nowhere, beaming up at Aaron.
Aaron blinked, smile fading. He knew Drem probably didn't mean to suggest such a thing, but it seemed to him that she was offering herself as live bait. He hoped no one would think it a good idea.
NiGHTS laughed softly before looking at Torc. "We'll need to think up a backup plan in case this one doesn't hold water. . . " He glanced at the Nightopian, seemingly having the same thought as Aaron, but didn't voice it.
"Any ideas?" Aaron asked the group. NiGHTS studied Drem's rod, looking thoughtful. "I just might. . ."
A little later, Torc blinked as something pink and white flew across Its line of vision. The Nightmaren scowled. Had that been a cakeslice? Cake meant Nightopians, and Nightopians meant entertainment and maybe a snack. Still, Torc's training held firm and It didn't move.
Tier looked humiliated as It hovered behind one of the taller shrubs, working the rod. NiGHTS and the others waited patiently, watching Torc's reaction.
Aaron made it a point not to look at Tier; he knew he couldn't stop himself from laughing if he did. He kept his concentration on Torc.
Torc looked again as the cake gave a little hop. Tier was pulling what It knew from watching fishing dreams, and trying to imitate the way a lure hopped across the lakebed on dry land. The result was a strange hop that did infact make the cake seem alive.
Palis growled. "Torc is never going to fall for this. . ." NiGHTS never lost his smile. "Just wait." Aaron looked up at NiGHTS, trusting that he knew how Torc would react, and then looked back to see just how that would be.
The bouncing did indeed attract the crimson Nightmaren's attention. Torc scowled, suspecting a trick. Pulling a lance from a slot in the wall, It focused on the area around the cake, prodding the bushes warily. Palis inhaled sharply as the enermy Nightmaren came dangerously close to Tier's hiding place.
Aaron held his breath, hoping for a miss. If Tier was discovered, their whole plan went to pot.
Tier winced as the lance narrowly missed impaling Its foot, forgetting to move the cake in Its anxiety. Torc noticed, unfortunately and prodded around before moving as if to peer around the bush.
Everyone present held their breath, fearing what would happen next.
Aaron closed his eyes; he couldn't watch. He didn't want to think about what would happen to Tier if it was caught.
NiGHTS noted Aaron's unease and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Tier can fly away if It's discovered." He reminded the dreamer. Aaron blinked, looking up at NiGHTS. "But... didn't Picusha...?"
NiGHTS blinked back, eyes widening in dismay as he recalled. "Oh no. . ." he breathed. "We have to do something." Aaron added.
NiGHTS shook his head. "No, Torc will turn on us!"
Palis scowled. "Turning cowardly, NiGHTS? That's not like you!" Aaron glared at Palis. "It won't do us any good to be captured as well. And what good would that do for Doren and Taiel?"
NiGHTS frowned. "I'm fine with Torc coming for me. But I'm responsible for the three of you. I can't risk letting you be hurt." Palis blinked and fell silent, the point had been made.
"Let me distract it. I can't really be hurt," Aaron offered. "No, Aaron." NiGHTS was quick to refuse. "I'm responsible, it's my job to help Tier."
"No! I'm just as responsible as you! Tier's like... a part of me! I won't let it be captured." Aaron looked very determined. "It is Tier's responsibility to defend YOU, Aaron. Not the other way around." NiGHTS was firm.
Aaron did not look very happy with NiGHTS, but he was too flustered to think of anything else to argue.
"Oh, for the love of Ideya!" Palis snarled and took flight. "Palis!" NiGHTS leapt to his feet in alarm as the pink Nightmaren flew at Torc.
NiGHTS turned to growl at Aaron. "YOU stay here!" He flew after Palis as Torc turned to face the oncoming threat, lance raised almost lazily.
Aaron was not at all happy with NiGHTS speaking to him that way. He turned and folded his arms. He wasn't useless. His sole purpose here was not to be protected. He was going. And he did. He ran out, still trying to go unnoticed, toward Tier's bush. He was going to save it.
Tier meanwhile, had fallen onto Its backside, wide eyed and afraid, the rod laying forgotten nearby. The Nightmaren struggled to stand up, trying desperately to get up the nerve to help Its friends. Aaron crept quietly toward it, sneaking behind the bush and kneeling down beside Tier, poking it. "Tier."
Tier shrieked and jumped, showering Aaron with a few stray sparkles before crashing back down. It stared in surprise at the dreamer. "Aaron?!! But you. . . they were. . . how. . . ." It shook Its head. "Wait, I've said that before. . ." Aaron grinned and nodded. "Torc's not buying it. NiGHTS and Palis are out there, distracting it."
"Well, that wasn't in the plan!" Tier whined. "No," Aaron replied, "but if we don't get out of here, it's going to find us, plan or no plan." Tier's response was to whimper quietly to Itself, turning in small circles as some immense battle of logic and cowardice occurred deep within Its form. After all this time, Tier was still Tier inside.
Aaron walked over and stood in front of Tier. "Tier...?" Tier continued turning and whimpering, not seeming to notice. Aaron moved with it and tried putting his hand on its chest. "Tier!" Tier froze as a faint glow erupted around Aaron's hand, fading quickly. The Nightmaren looked astonished, staring into space for a moment before blinking down at Aaron. Aaron blinked back. "You okay?"
Tier backed up a step to remove Aaron's hand. Its chest had become uncomfortably warm.
"What . . . did you just do. . .?" It blinked again, stunned. Aaron looked confused. "Do? I just touched you. Did I hurt you or something?"
Tier sank into a sitting position, not answering. Its expression was less like a frightened child's now. It shook its head slowly.
Aaron rushed to Tier's side. "Tier! What's wrong? I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear!"
Tier blinked at Aaron. "Maybe . . . you should try that again. . ." It sounded slightly afraid, as if anticipating pain.
Nearby, Palis shrieked as It was scratched by the lance, NiGHTS retaliating angrily as Torc backed away before the Paraloop could be completed.
Aaron glanced quickly over his shoulder, then turned back to Tier and stood in front of it. He wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, but he trusted Tier. "Okay . . . ready?"
Tier took a breath. "No . . . but do it anyway." Aaron nodded and then reached out and placed his hand on Tier's chest just the way he had before.
There was a distinctive red spark that flew into Aaron's hand, not hurting but tingling faintly. Tier on the other hand, lurched back as if It had been shocked. Aaron couldn't help but stare at the glow. He was concerned for Tier, but he was captivated by the spark and its accompanying tingle.
Tier was leaning hard on Its hands, eyes squeezed tightly shut and generally looking like It had just eaten a bowlful of lemons. The green and pink Nightmaren opened one eye to look at Aaron. "Yeah . . . that's what I thought. . . ." It got up, straightening and turning Its head in a pose that might have looked majestic on some other creature. "I'm ready now."
Aaron looked up at Tier, in some amount of awe. "What was it...?"
Tier looked at Aaron. "It's you." Not bothering to clarify, Tier leapt over the bush, not flying, but mimicking it. It extended a leg, striking Torc on the underside of Its head. The rest of the crimson Nightmaren followed as if connected. Tier landed in a crouch, panting. "Okay, I'm done. . . " It sagged.
Aaron stared for a minute or two, wondering if he had just seen what he had just seen. He stood silent for a second, and then said, as though nothing were amiss, "Okay then. Let's be on our way."
NiGHTS stared dumbly at the stunned Torc before looking at Tier, then Aaron. ". . .Right. . ." Palis rubbed irritatedly at Its slices, but It seemed to be suffering more from bruised pride than anything else.
Tier moved to get up and fell back into a sitting position.
Aaron walked over to Tier and then held out a hand for it. "You going to be alright, Tier?"
Tier avoided Aaron's hand, smiling. "Yep! I'm just a little off balanced. . ." It tried again and managed to get Its feet back under It.
Tier straightened, looking up at the castle. "We have to go inside. . .?" NiGHTS nodded. "Yes. We do." Palis was strangely silent as the reality of the situation hit It.
Aaron's smiled faded a little as he retracted his hand. He felt a little slighted, but he knew that Tier was probably afraid of touching him after what had just happened. He wouldn't hold it against it. "Well... in we go then, right?"
Tier seemed to be battling Itself again, but whatever had happened between It and Aaron was still in effect. Nodding defeatedly, the harlequin Nightmaren stepped inside. NiGHTS and the others followed.
A soft sigh alerted them to an extra presence just before someone bumped into Aaron's back. Aaron jumped, but managed to hold in a squeak, spinning around to see what had hit him.
Molly looked surprised as Aaron's movement sent her tumbling. She landed with a small yelp, hair over her face. "Hi, guys. . ." She didn't sound very thrilled with this greeting.
"Molly, you're back!" Aaron looked quite happy to see her. Molly blinked. "Hm? Oh, right . . . yeah." She smiled, especially when NiGHTS lifted her as if she were nothing and set her on her feet. "We're glad to have you back, but we don't have time for socializing. We need to find Doren and Taiel." The purple Nightmaren explained. Molly blushed a little and nodded.
"Where would they be held?" Aaron wondered aloud. "In the dungeon." Molly responded, not looking too thrilled about going that way. NiGHTS flinched as well, though he did a good job of hiding it.
Palis sagged. "If they're being held. . ." It added glumly.
Aaron nodded. "Of course... I suppose it won't be easy to get there." "Getting there? That's cake, as Doze would say." NiGHTS chuckled. "It's getting out that. . ." He froze, a look of horror coming over his features. "Dreams . . . Aaron, where's Drem?!"
As the party looked around, their Nightopian friend was indeed missing. Aaron's face took on a similar expression. "Oh no... I lost her! It's all my fault! What if she's in trouble? I shouldn't have let her come..."
Molly swallowed. "Okay, don't panic! Where was she the last time that you saw her?" Tier looked around nervously. "She gave me her fishing rod, then waddled back toward Aaron. I figured she was hiding with him." "But then," Aaron continued, "I went to save Tier! I must have left her behind the rock! I'm so awful..."
NiGHTS looked like he was tempted to say 'I told you so,' but had the decency not to. Instead, he frowned grimly. "If we go out to look for her, we risk discovery. . ."
"Would she... be smart enough to head home?" Aaron hoped she would, but he knew Nightopians weren't exactly the most intelligent of creatures. Tier winced. "Drem is terrified of Nightmare. I don't think that she'd have the sense to do more than hide in one place . . . although Nightopians do tend to bolt when they're scared. . . " It felt a pang of guilt as It recalled how It had tormented the local Nightopians before being grounded.
"If anything happens to her..." Aaron looked sick with worry.
"We can't worry about that now!" Palis complained. "I'm sorry, Aaron, but Nightopians come and go before you can blink. We just can't put your Nightopian before my twin and best friend!" It looked genuinely pained.
Aaron looked almost as though he was going to be angry with Palis. "She means something to me. We're going to help your twin and your best friend. But not because she doesn't matter." He didn't say anything else he might regret. Palis scowled dangerously, forcing the dreamers to notice just how similar to Reala It looked at times. However, the pink Nightmaren simply nodded and glided ahead, choosing not to waste energy on arguing.
Molly stepped closer and laid a hand on Aaron's arm, a sad expression on her face. "I hope she's okay. . ."
Aaron looked sick with worry. "She has to be okay. . ." He tried to put it out of his mind, knowing that they had a more dire situation to focus on.
"NiGHTS, we have to find Doren and Taiel quickly. Drem . . . Drem will be okay. She'll be okay. . ." He closed his eyes and hoped that he was right.
NiGHTS clapped a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I think that you're right, Aaron. We'll pick Drem up as soon as we get Doren and Taiel out."
Molly nodded, keeping her hand on Aaron's arm. "One thing that Drem's good at is hiding. I bet that's exactly what she's doing!" She turned to Tier, who looked unhappy.
Tier hated seeing seeing "Its" humans upset. "I'll go after her. . ." It started to move, but halted at NiGHTS' stern command. "Tier, don't."
Tier sighed, walking back. "I don't like it. . . but. . ." It looked miserably at Aaron, seeking reassurance.
Molly considered briefly the fact that Aaron seemed to be much closer to the inhabitants of Nightopia than she was. He had Drem, and Tier was closest to him, having met Aaron first back when they were working to rescue Molly from this very castle. She shuddered at the memory. There was only one creature aside from NiGHTS who she had felt close to; the Nightopian, Topper. But Topper was gone and had been for some time, especially by Nightopian standards.
Molly sighed softly to herself and forced herself to smile before anyone caught onto her mood. "It'll be okay, I can feel it." Her smile became genuine as a yellow glow formed briefly around her.
NiGHTS nodded and moved ahead. "Conjure up some disguises if you can, dreamers. This is enemy territory, after all." Palis nodded, worried as It followed NiGHTS.
Aaron concentrated, attempting to don his old Knight disguise, the one he had used to sneak into Nightmare the first time. When he came to rescue Molly. Looking down at himself, he looked up and wondered aloud, "Do you think they would remember this? Should I try for something else?"
He sounded a little unsure of himself, and a little unsure of the disguise. When he had been without his White Ideya, he had done and said some things he was now more than a little ashamed of. He concentrated again, not waiting for a response from the others, to
change the disguise. He wanted to be white as snow. It may stick out a little, he thought, but there were sure to be other white Nightmaren. "There. How's this?" He looked up at NiGHTS with a smile.
NiGHTS blinked. "White? What was wrong with your Knight disguise?"
Molly chuckled and stood by Aaron. "He's White Knight, of course!" She half closed her eyes at the unpleasant memories of the play that had brought her and Aaron together, and led to so much trouble here in Nightopia. Tier frowned. "He's just Aaron. Nobody but Wizeman keeps track of the different Nightmaren, so for all anyone knows, there could be a white Nightmaren."
Tier blinked as everyone stared at Its rare moment of logic. "What? You guys look like I'm sprouting a nose or something!" It brushed a hand across Its face as if afraid of such a thing happening.
Molly smiled. "It's okay, Tier. You're worried, aren't you? But you don't have to be. We have NiGHTS and Palis to keep us safe! And you'll take care of us, right?" The Dreamer beamed as Tier nodded reluctantly, glancing at the two humans who had becomes Its charges. The green and pink Nightmaren seemed to be fighting with Itself for a moment before It straightened again and nodded.
Palis stamped a foot impatiently. "If you're finished with the melodrama, can we please save my twin now?!"

"I want to go home. . ." Taiel moaned, crying. Doren scowled at the younger 'Maren. "Shut up. You are home, you idiot. This is where we came from, or did you forget?"
Taiel cried harder. "No it isn't! We may have been created here, but this isn't home! Home is back with NiGHTS and the others!"
Doren sighed, it was beginning to feel an urge to maim something - and that something was probably going to be Taiel if a distraction didn't offer itself soon.
Jesse looked up for just a second. It thought it had heard something, but it couldn't be sure. Was it just words passing through its mind? "This isn't home." "We may have been created here, but home is with NiGHTS." The words seemed to resound again and again. "But... Father will be disappointed in me..."
"This isn't home!"
"But I've never lived anywhere else!"
"Home is with NiGHTS and the others!"
"But how can that be? NiGHTS abandoned us! I . . . I never knew NiGHTS."
"This isn't home."
"Nowhere is home . . . home is . . . family . . . Where is my family? Does Father really take notice of me? He would notice me if I helped them. . ."
"THIS ISN'T HOME!"
"SHUT UP!!" Jesse jumped up and started banging on the wall. "I said shut up!!" It flitted around trying to find some way into the room. It knew there had to be some way to get them out. Perhaps if it wished hard enough, it thought, maybe it would open a door.

"I want NiGHTS! I want to go! I. . ." Taiel gasped, falling silent so suddenly that Doren became concerned. "Taiel?" Taiel looked around, trying to see through a blackness so thick that even sensitive Nightmaren eyes could not see through it. "Can't you hear it?"
Doren was truly concerned now. They said that a Nightmaren could go insane when trapped in this cell. Taiel's grasp on sanity had always seemed to be a slippery one to Doren. Had the little teal and blue Sixth Generation finally lost its senses? Taiel stood up. "Someone's here! I heard a voice! Oh Doren, we're not alone! We. . ."
The sound of Doren's hand striking Taiel's cheek resounded through the tiny cell. "SHUT UP!" Doren snarled, eyes glowing dimly without piercing the darkness. "Just shut up! Stop hearing things!"
Taiel clasped a hand to its injured cheek in shock, unsure of how to react to being struck. Silence followed.
Jesse was beginning to feel discouraged. All of its banging and all of its wishing wasn't seeming to open a door to cell. It needed something with power, some dreamer with a vivid imagination to dream it a hole in the wall. But what dreamer had ever trusted it? It always came to dreamers in a horde with others of its Generation, or at least a small group. It never had a chance to be alone with a dreamer before.
The silence continued, Taiel had given up its last bit of hope for the moment. The pain of Doren's strike and the hopelessness of the situation had conspired to send the young 'Maren into a slump. Taiel leaned into a wall, eyes closed against the blackness. Beside it, Doren sighed and did likewise.
Outside the cell, it seemed that Jesse was giving up again as well. It began to slump back to the floor, but just before it let its head fall, it jumped back up. "No. I know. I'll go for help! I know someone must know how to open this cell . . . I just . . . have to think of a reason why I should be allowed in. . ." Jesse floated up to the ceiling and then flitted quickly off down the hallway, searching for some Nightmaren who must know how to get into the cell.

"I see a ball of gold. I see a sphere of amber hue. I know of tales untold. Waiting to be shared with you." Molly was singing very softly, following the Nightmaren with Aaron as they walked through nightmare. NiGHTS gave her a doubtful look, concerned that the sound would attract attention. But then again, it seemed to keep everyone looking ahead and ready for whatever threats loomed ahead. "I know of darkness, and I know of pain. But all of it flees when I hear your name!" Molly smiled, beginning to glow a very faint shade of lemon yellow.
Aaron felt much safer in his Knight disguise. And he felt much better knowing that he was not portraying the same Nightmaren that he had been when he had lost his Ideya. That almost made him feel more vulnerable. Like he could lose them again at any time. He didn't want to think about the fact that that was entirely true. "NiGHTS . . . how long do you think it will take us to reach them?" He was eager to be gone from Nightmare as quickly as possible. Being there brought back too many unhappy memories as well as new unhappy thoughts altogether. Aaron's unhappiness fled for just a little at the sound of Molly's voice. He turned back to her and smiled when he saw the smile she wore, a small white glow appearing about him.
Molly sang on, oblivious as she was caught up in her own song. "I see a light up ahead. I feel a warmth that's waiting for me. I know there's nothing to dread. What we're walking toward is . . . destiny!"
Aaron hoped deeply that she was right. He knew that destiny was not always the light at the end of the tunnel that leads to happily ever after. The white glow faded at this thought.
"What we're walking toward is . . . destiny. . ." Molly finished, smiling. She glanced at Aaron, her smile fading as she noticed his mood. She moved closer and reached for his hand, concerned. He took her hand as she reached for his, giving it a little squeeze. "Everything's going to be okay." He was obviously trying to convince himself. Molly seemed convinced enough for the both of them already.
Molly nodded back. "Are you still afraid for Drem?" She thought of the little Nightopian, alone somewhere outside.
Aaron nodded. "What if she's. . ." He cut himself off in midsentence, not wanting to think about the possibility of something happening, like the day he met her. "What if something happens . . . and we're too late to save her?"
Molly wasn't as confident as Aaron thought, her songs covered up her own fears and doubts. But she would never admit that. Taking a breath, she forced herself to smile. "Drem's pretty good at taking care of herself."
He nodded. "You're right." He looked up to NiGHTS. "I hate to say it, but someone has to. Are we there yet?"
"Quiet or I'll turn this rescue right around." NiGHTS smiled at Aaron. He sobered. "We're closer than I like . . . everyone needs to be as quiet as possible. And no matter how things look, don't let yourselves feel fear."
Aaron looked down. "That isn't as easy as it used to be. But there are feelings stronger than fear. We'll manage." Molly squeezed Aaron's hand, supporting him. "I'm getting that gut feeling again. I think that we'll make it through this." Aaron couldn't help but smile. "I trust you." Palis looked at the path ahead of them. "Doren. . ." It whispered the name softly, hoping that its twin was still safe.
Tier halted suddenly, looking around "Wait, did you hear something?" The green and pink Nightmaren looked worried. "It . . . it sounded like. . ." NiGHTS frowned defiantly as a soft chuckle rumbled through the walls. Wizeman was very pleased about something.
Aaron looked around, worriedly. "Does... does he know we're here?" NiGHTS considered. "I don't know. He might." Molly stiffened. "I'm not stopping, I don't care what Wizeman knows."
"I do!" Tier's last bit of courage had worn off and it turned to flee. "We have to get out of here!" Aaron reached out to grab Tier's freefloating hand. "Hold it, you. If we're staying, you're staying." Tier cried out and took flight, hauling Aaron along, back toward the drawbridge. Molly gasped. "Tier, stop!" Palis and NiGHTS watched in horror as the young Nightmaren panicked. NiGHTS muttered something best not repeated and grabbed Molly under one arm before chasing after Tier and Aaron. After muttering something even more vile, Palis reluctantly followed them.
Aaron tried his best to drag Tier to the ground as he was pulled along with it. "Tier! Stop this instant!" He wasn't sure if Tier was going to listen to him, but he at least had to try. "Tier! Stop it right now! You can run away if you're that scared, but I have to go on! And maybe we won't be able to do it without you, but we have to try, even if you're too scared! We have to be brave!"
Tier fought to stay up as Aaron tried to bring it down. The drawbridge was coming into view. "I. . . AUGH!" Tier cried out pitifully, bursting outside and tumbling into the bushes. A moment later, NiGHTS and Palis flew over. Neither 'Maren looked happy. In fact, Palis looked practically murderous.
Aaron cried out as well as he flew into a bush himself, growling in pain as he felt the branches scratch him. Dreams never felt quite as real as they did in Nightmare and Nightopia. NiGHTS dropped Molly and advanced. "Tier, you've certainly done it this time! You've compromised our position, you've endangered the dreamers who it is YOUR responsibility to protect, and you may have just sentenced Taiel and Doren to death through your cowardice and stupidity! There is NOTHING that you can say or do to undo the damage that you've just caused!"
Something moved in the bushes beside Aaron, uttering a soft squeaky sound.
Tier curled into a fetal position. An angry NiGHTS was something that nobody wanted to deal with.
Aaron rubbed his head for a second before noticing the squeaky sound that could only be one thing. He reached through the bushes, grabbing for whatever made the squeak. He had almost completely forgotten about NiGHTS and Tier.
NiGHTS continued, oblivious to the dreamers and Palis now. "What do you have to say for yourself? Nothing will undo the damage you've caused, but I want hear what nonsense was flitting through that balloon you call a head!" Tier winced, covering its head and looking as if it expected to be smacked soon. Molly stood in place, torn between wanting to help Tier, and not wanting to go near NiGHTS when he was this upset. She had never seen NiGHTS so angry before.
Something in the bushes beside Aaron squeaked and tried to scramble away, thinking that it was under attack. Aaron whispered after it, trying to keep quiet, "Drem! Drem, it's me!" He tried to get a good grip on what he believed must be his Nightopian friend.
Tier was whimpering pathetically by now, not about to speak. NiGHTS growled, still angry but not about to strike such a pitiful figure. "Oh, get up!" NiGHTS glared as Tier failed to move, and grabbed the younger Nightmaren, lifting Tier onto its oversized green and pink feet. Tier was stiff, staring at the ground.
An answering breath came from the bushes as Aaron called to Drem. Soon, Aaron had an armful of Nightopian, happily clinging and murmuring frightened little comments about thorns and scaries and no cake.
Aaron have Drem a squeeze, happy to have her back. "Don't worry, Drem. We'll all have cake as soon as this is over. . ." He looked up at Tier, standing up beside it. He then looked over at NiGHTS. "NiGHTS. Yelling at Tier isn't helping its whole fear problem. You're pretty scary yourself when you're angry, you know."
NiGHTS turned on Aaron, eyes flashing dangerously. He blinked when Molly hurried to back Aaron up, staring at him through eyes that showed that she was not completely unafraid, but determined enough to stand her ground and defend her friends.
NiGHTS growled to see if the dreamers would stand down. When neither did, he sighed and nodded. "Well, Tier is YOUR problem then. If it wasn't too dangerous, I'd send the three of you away. As it is though, you'll have to stay close. But you had better control that blasted Sixth Generation, or I will find a way to control it!"
Drem wailed and buried her face in Aaron's chest, frightened. Aaron patted Drem, hoping to be consoling. "NiGHTS, it's not like you to be... so much like Reala..." He turned to Tier, looking up at it. "Tier, what's wrong? Why did you run away?"
NiGHTS looked surprised by Aaron's comment and seemed to shrink a little. Molly blinked and walked over to Aaron, patting Drem soothingly before leaning close to speak to him. "They are twins, Aaron . . . of course NiGHTS and Reala are going to be alike in some ways, he can't help it." Drem had stopped crying, but hadn't released her deathgrip on Aaron yet. Tier didn't answer, but continued to stare down at the ground, looking defeated.
Aaron already felt bad for saying what he'd said. And even now, he was a little afraid of the spark of hate he felt inside when he said Reala's name. His experiences with Reala had been unpleasant at best so far, and no one would be surprised to hear that he and the Nightmaren did not get along, just as Wizeman intended it to be between Nightmaren and dreamers. "Tier. You can talk to us. We're your friends."
Molly nodded, turning to Tier. "Hey, Tier. We're not upset with you, okay? Everything will be okay now, so don't worry." Tier looked at the dreamers, then resumed staring at its feet. "b. . . but. . ."
Palis growled softly, furious at the delay and commotion. It feared for Doren and Taiel, what if they arrived too late? Aaron winced, the growl reminding him of their whole purpose in coming to Nightmare. "We... we really need to be going, Tier. And we can't do it without you. Tier, we need you." "But he yelled at me. . ." Tier complained childishly, looking at NiGHTS. NiGHTS looked away. "We . . . should go after our friends now. . ." Tier whimpered. "But you yelled!"
"Aww, ish da widdle weject gonna cwy?" A shrill, taunting voice cackled as a large, caped figure drifted into sight. Nearby, a now familiar red, black, and white figure struck a pose, regarding NiGHTS smugly.
"Jackle!" Molly gasped, backing away as the shape materialized in front of the castle. "Reala!" Aaron and NiGHTS spoke in unison. NiGHTS blinked at Molly, thinking it odd that she was more alarmed by Jackle than Reala, who had kidnapped her and caused her so much trouble.
"Stand aside, Reala. We're going in." NiGHTS spoke out, knowing in his gut that his brother would never cooperate. Reala laughed. "Oh, by all means. In fact, Jackle and I are here to escort someone inside." The pale Nightmaren sneered, then pointed a golden claw at Aaron. "Him!"
Aaron cried out as he was abruptly grabbed by Reala and lifted off of his feet. "Aaron!" Molly cried out and started to run to him, only to have Jackle's large hand slapped over her nose and mouth. With a muffled shriek, she vanished.
NiGHTS was held imobile by his concern for both Dreamers. "Molly! Aaron!"
NiGHTS turned on Reala. "What are you doing, Reala?! Let Aaron go!! And bring Molly back!"
Jackle cackled. "She's not coming back tonight! Not with the case of nerves I just gave her!" Aaron struggled to escape Reala's powerful grip. "No!" He struggled harder as Reala turned to go back into the castle.
NiGHTS snarled. "Reala!" As Reala turned, he was surprised to find NiGHTS looking truly angry. "Ah, so these dreamers mean so much to you? What a waste of an existance, fighting for short lived little dreamers!"
Aaron realized that his Nightmaren guise had really been no help at all in the long run. Reala knew him and Molly too well for the costumes to help unless they happened upon someone who had never met them. "Reala, put me down, now!" He tried to bite him. Reala snarled and gave Aaron a vicious shake. "Be quiet!" NiGHTS started to react, but was distracted by a roar.
Palis had thrown itself at Jackle, who easily batted it aside where it smashed into Tier. With two shrieks, the lesser Nightmaren hit the ground and stayed there.
NiGHTS threw himself at Reala fast enough that the pale Nightmaren's eyes widened. Reala quickly tightened his grip on Aaron and turned, hurrying into the castle. "Jackle, delay him!"
NiGHTS tried to follow, but found his path blocked by Jackle. He looked up at the enormous figure. "Jackle, I am so not in the mood for this. . ."
Reala winced at the faint shrieking and crashing now coming from the entrance and sending tremors through the castle walls, then grinned at Aaron. "You're lucky. I have orders to imprison you until Wizeman himself calls for you!"
Aaron kicked and struggled, then blinked at a figure limping after them. "A. . .Aaron!"
Aaron looked back. "Tier!" Tier took flight, obviously hurting from being struck by Palis.
Reala rolled his eyes and aimed a fist, sending the other Nightmaren sprawling. He lifted Tier by the collar. "Hm, I suppose we can use it as incentive to be sure that you cooperate. Or recycle it into something more useful. Either works."
Aaron growled fiercely at Reala. "You'll do nothing to hurt it! If any harm at all comes to Tier, you'll get no cooperation from me!" Aaron blinked, suddenly wondering why he was being treated like a hostage instead of having ideya ripped from his soul. "Why does Wizeman want me anyway?"
Reala chuckled. "As that purple idiot would say, that's for me to know and you to find out." He started off again, dragging Tier thoughtlessly along as he carried Aaron into the castle. Aaron was growing weary of resisting, and eventually decided to go for the passive resistance tactic and went as limp as possible, hoping to make himself as awkward to carry as lopsided leaden lump.
Soon Reala halted and dropped Tier, ignoring the dull thud as the young 'Maren his the floor. Reala waved to a guard who came and bowed. "My lord?" Reala smirked at his captive, remembering a time when Aaron and NiGHTS had tried to impersonate one of these guards. He turned back to the guard. "Take this rebel to a cell. See to it that it lives for now." As the guard obeyed and carried Tier away, Reala gave Aaron a twisted grin. "That little mistake won't live very long at all. And its life will be even shorter if you resist us."
"If you're going to kill it anyway, why should I cooperate at all?" He hoped that quip wouldn't actually result in Tier's death. "I won't do a thing you say until you let Tier go.
Reala smirked. "How cold you are! You would have made an acceptable Nightmaren." He walked up to a large, arched doorway and halted, standing at attention. "Do not disappoint the Master, boy. That rebel's blood will be on your hands if you do."
Aaron couldn't say anything in response to being told he would have made a good Nightmaren. He didn't know what to say. He hadn't meant anything he had said, wanting only to secure Tier's release. "I... What..." The doors opened of their own accord and Reala smiled, a warped imitation of a true smile. "Be silent." He walked inside, paying no heed as the doors closed, engulfing them in as blackness so deep that a moonless night was bright in comparison. In that darkness, Aaron was dropped unceremoniously to the floor.
Aaron grunted as he hit the floor, collapsing as his knees buckled beneath him. He pulled himself to his feet as quickly as he could, trying to keep as much of his dignity as possible. Though he didn't know just how much of his dignity Wizeman could be impressed with. He wasn't exactly the most intimidating of creatures. He did however, do his best to change his White Knight Nightmaren costume to resemble the actual White Knight costume he had worn before in the play. Perhaps that would do more for him.

This won't end well. . .

End of Part Eight

Part Nine: Friends in Bad Places


NiGHTS flew through the corridors, trying to locate Aaron, Doren, and Taiel . . . and Tier, he added belatedly. NiGHTS felt a little guilty now that he had been so hostile toward Tier. The Sixth Generation was practically a child, and trapped in Nightmare . . . NiGHTS hoped that he would find his friends before any harm came to them. NiGHTS pulled up abruptly, remembering that he had left Palis and Drem alone outside. The little Nightopian had been tossed aside when Reala had grabbed Aaron. And Palis had been injured when it and Tier had collided. The deeper into the castle NiGHTS went, the guiltier he felt.
"No, Aaron . . . and Doren and Taiel, and Tier. . . they outweight Palis and Drem. . ." NiGHTS tried to convince himself of that, but couldn't shake the feeling that he was doing something wrong.
NiGHTS landed, torn. Palis needed him . . . but so did the others. But which need was more pressing?"
The purple Nightmaren clenched his fists. He couldn't just leave his friends here! But those in the castle could already be beyond his help, while those outside were in danger now.
NiGHTS straightened, coming to a reluctant decision. It was better to help the ones who he knew for sure that he could help. He would have to come back with help for the others.

Thus far, Jesse had found no Nightmaren that it thought would tell it how to get into the cell. Most Nightmaren that might know wouldn't even talk to a 14th generation Nightmaren like itself. It was beginning to lose hope of finding a way in at all when suddenly it found itself zooming around a corner and flying straight into NiGHTS, bouncing off and falling back a few feet. "O-oh-oh no! You're . . . you're N-NiGHTS, aren't you!? Please don't k-k-k . . . don't kill me. . ." It looked like it would be crying if it had the capability to do so.
NiGHTS grunted in surprise, stepping back before turning to see who had hit him. He quickly tried to reassure the blue Nightmaren. "Whoa, it's okay! Please calm down." He hoped that no guards had been alerted by Jesse's alarmed words. NiGHTS looked around to be sure that they were safe, then smiled at Jesse. "You're safe, so don't worry. I wouldn't hurt you."
Jesse didn't look entirely convinced. It had stood up, but it was still cowering, readying itself for the blow that it thought must still be coming. "W-what are you doing here. . .? You'll be captured!" Jesse was alone, excepting NiGHTS, and it was being much more quiet now, more worried itself about attracting attention and being seen talking with NiGHTS.
NiGHTS looked unhappy. "I have to take that risk, my friends are being held here. . ." He had been about to go back out, but wasn't sure if that was smart with this strange loyal there.
Jesse suddenly puffed up with pride. "I know where they are! I . . . I wanted to help. This isn't home! Home is . . . family. . ." It looked down, saddened by Wizeman's seeming lack of love for his children, the love that Jesse wanted.
NiGHTS blinked and lightly laid a hand on Jesse's shoulder, remembering his own confusion years ago. "We have a family waiting for us. If you mean it, you can come back with us." He smiled encouragingly. "The more the merrier, as the humans say."
Jesse looked shocked that it would be so easily offered something that it had wanted all of its existence.
"R-really? I can really come with you? But . . . how can it be so easy?" It thought that defecting must have been a terrible ordeal, not something that it could just be given one day. It hoped some day it could come back to a Wizeman who would be the father it wanted him to be. "I want to come with you."
NiGHTS nodded to Jesse. "If you mean what you say, then yes. I'll take you back with me if that's what you want. It's not at all easy, though. If you leave, there may be times when you'll regret it. It's not an easy decision to make. . ." NiGHTS stiffened at voices coming their way. "I have to meet my friends outside, sorry but you'll have to decide fast!" He turned to fly for the exit.
Jesse hesitated for a second, but then flew after NiGHTS. It had no problem catching up. Nightmaren of its generation were notably swift and stealthy. NiGHTS glanced at Jesse as he flew. "You can still go back, are you sure this is what you want?" Jessse nodded. "We have to go back! We have to get them out of there! Wizeman will k . . . he'll destroy them if we don't."
NiGHTS looked pained. "Wizeman might . . . but if he hasn't done so already, I'm betting that there's still time. Meanwhile my friends outside need me now. I'll get them back to our friends for help, and come back with back up." He landed outside, glancing quickly around before picking Drem up where she was waddling dazedly in circles. Nearby, Palis was pushing itself up. "NiGHTS. . ." Palis blinked in alarm as it saw Jesse, rising into a defensive stance. Jesse quickly shrank away from Palis, jumping behind NiGHTS. It became all but invisible from where Palis was standing.
NiGHTS blinked. "It's okay, Palis. This is. . . " he blinked, realizing that his new companion hadn't inbtroduced itself. "Er . . . sorry, I haven't asked your name. . ." Jesse floated up, its head appearing beside NiGHTS's, almost as though NiGHTS had two heads. "I'm Jesse." It sank back down to its hiding place behind NiGHTS.
Palis blinked. "And yet another oddball joins the team. . ."

Reala watched as Aaron tried to look tough in the darkness. It amused him that a human could be so blind in the darkness, and still try to look like he was in control of the situation.
Aaron wondered if such a display would be impressive or merely a joke to Wizeman. He wanted himself to represent everything noble about humanity to something who he saw as everything rotten and evil about the same. He knew that his appearance would really have no effect on the outcome of the situation, which would most likely be the loss of all of his ideya, but since he no longer possessed the Red Ideya, he did not fear such a loss for the world of Nightopia as he feared it for himself. "Are you afraid, human?" Reala smirked through the darkness, waiting for Wizeman to reveal himself. Aaron turned to look at Reala and smiled just a little bit. "Yes." He turned back and faced the darkness again. Reala chuckled under his breath. "Really? I am surprise that you are able to admit it so calmly. Or has NiGHTS led you to believe that all Nightmaren are as weak as he is?"
Aaron sighed and shook his head. "Reala, I don't doubt that you could tear me apart if you were so inclined. I know you're a vicious Nightmare, and I know you have no reason to keep from doing just that except that Wizeman said no. Maybe he won't be so gracious after he's finished with me. But whatever you do to me, there will always be the rebellion. Wizeman, you make Nightmaren too much like yourself to expect them all to be obedient."
Reala snarled and lashed out, striking Aaron on the back of the head. "You insolent little child! No one speaks to the Master that way!" He grinned maliciously. "You don't know how wrong you are, boy. The rebellion will die with NiGHTS, but Master Wizeman is forever."
A new voice echoed ominously around them. "Reala, that is enough." Reala quieted and stepped back as an eerie glow illuminated a monstrous figure hovering in the distance. Before Aaron could blink, Wizeman was directly in front of them, extending a hand toward him to allow the eye in the center to focus on him.
Aaron fell back just a little, his hand, instinctively for some reason, reaching for the sword he wore along with the costume. He had no time to glare at Reala for the strike he'd given him.
Reala watched with silent menace as Wizeman inspected Aaron. Finally a giant, stony hand wrapped around the boy, lifting him. "Speak, boy. Aaron, is it? Tell me your thoughts." The voice was surprisingly gentle, disguising whatever sinister scheme the demigod was orchestrating. Aaron was bewildered. Wizeman brought him here to hear his thoughts? His thoughts on what? "I don't understand. . ." Wizeman brought Aaron closer to what served as his face; A grim set mouth beneath a spiked helm. "I wish to hear it. I cannot read you as I can my own creations, but regardless I am curious as to what thoughts you are entertaining." The deep, soothing voice took on an amused tone. "No doubt you must see me as a great evil."
Aaron blinked, actually taking a moment to consider. "I can't deny that is how I have seen you so far. But all I know of you is what I have observed through what you have created. Who is the real Wizeman anyway? What are you?"
Reala snarled indignantly, but a gesture from one of Wizeman's six hands silenced him. Wizeman sounded genuinely amused now. "I am what you see. I am the first and rightful ruler of what you call Nightmare." Aaron looked around him. "A fine kingdom . . . and what gives you the right to Nightopia?" he wondered aloud.
Wizeman turned a little colder. "You are forgetting your place. However, you amuse me and so I will humor you. I have many servants. Many more than you have seen. And yet as you may know, Nightmare is a rather small territory. I merely seek to expand my territory to better suit my lifestyle and that of my creations."
Aaron glared at Wizeman, no longer really worried about what happened to him. If he was going to lose his ideya, he was going to speak his mind before he did. "Everyone has Nightmares. Your territory exists in the minds of every human in the world. This is a small territory?" Wizeman returned Aaron to the floor. "This is a realm created from human thoughts and emotions. The darker side of human nature. How much of the human population do you suppose will intentionally attempt to spawn a dark and menacing dreamscape such as Nightmare?"
Aaron glared. "You'd be surprised . . . in any case, if you turn the world's dreams and fantasies into the same, how much more will they be loathe to think of your domain then?"
Wizeman chuckled. "You human dreamers occupy only a small portion of Nightopia at a time. The rest is an empty expanse, perfect for a move such as the one that I have planned."
"But you haven't the right to it. This . . . what must be your own dream, in a sense, belongs to you. I won't try to take it away. But you don't have the right to steal the hopes and dreams of others." He stood, staring up at Wizeman with resolve, the costume actually serving to make him seem more like a champion of dreams.
Wizeman waved a hand dismissingly. "Enough. I tire of this foolishness. You dreamers have no say in the matter, nor should you." He had been idly watching Reala with another hand throughout this exchange, and now gave the Nightmaren a gentle prod in the back. "Reala, make the boy comfortable. I will send for him once I am ready."
Reala advanced and took hold of Aaron's arm, smirking as he gestured toward the doors with his other hand. "Shall we?"
"Aaron grinned a little. He had been angry with NiGHTS for being like Reala, but Molly had pointed it out to him that since they were twins, they were bound to be alike in some ways. "They are twins, Aaron . . . of course NiGHTS and Reala are going to be alike in some ways, he can't help it."
Aaron noticed here an example of Reala behaving like NiGHTS, a much more welcome change of scenery.
"Whenever you're ready. . ." He wasn't going to make this easy for Reala. He looked up. "You know, you're more like NiGHTS than you give yourself credit for. More than I gave you credit for."
Reala's surprised expression more than made up for the indignity of being held captive in Nightmare. It took the entire trip to the dungeon for the Nightmaren to compose himself.

Once there, Reala paraded Aaron past several cells, halting him outside of one. "Look here." He ordered.
Aaron lunged forward, grabbing onto the bars of the cell Reala had motioned to, calling out to a dejected looking green and pink Nightmaren figure sitting within. "Tier! Have they hurt you!?"
The figure raised its head, blinking before it lunged for the bars. "Aaron! Are you okay? Where's NiGHTS?!" Tier yelped as Reala banged a clawed fist against the bars. Reala grinned. "That's enough of the pleasantries. Just know that if either of you cause trouble for us, the other will have a considerably shorter life span." He turned and marched Aaron on.
Aaron called back to Tier, "Don't worry, Tier, NiGHTS has already accomplished the mission!" He winked at Tier, hoping he would get it to play along without actually revealing the mission to Reala.
Unfortunately, Tier was just a little slow. It blinked, trying to see Aaron as he was led away. "Huh?" A moment later, Tier gasped, finally getting it. "OH! Okay, right."
Tier walked over to a wall and flopped against it, sighing to itself. "I don't get it at all. . ."
Aaron tried to keep from showing physical signs of exasperation with the young Nightmaren as he was dragged away by Reala. Reala smirked, taking Aaron three cells down before he opened the door and gestured for Aaron to enter. Aaron just stood there, grinning up at Reala like an idiot. Annoyed, Reala shoved Aaron roughly inside. "Get in there!" Aaron laughed in response, waving at Reala from inside the cell and sitting down against the wall.
Reala clenched his fists, muttering through clenched teeth. "Wait until the Master finishes . . . I can wait. . ." He turned his back on Aaron and rose into the air before flying gracefully out.

Looks Like He Hit a Nerve. . .

End of Part Nine

Part Ten: In the Dungeons

A few moments of silence passed before Aaron heard movement from Tier's cell. The young Nightmaren tried to peer out through the bars. "Aaron?" It sounded frightened. Aaron stood and rushed to his own cell bars, trying to peer out into the hall as much as possible. "Tier? I'm here," he called out to it.
"How come we're not together? Are they trying to be mean?" Tier sounded even more young and timid than usual. Aaron smiled a little. "Tier . . . they want to keep us seperate so we can't formulate a plan to escape, I suppose. That's why we keep prisoners of war seperate from their command in the real world."
Tier was silent for a long time, thinking about that. Finally, it spoke in a very soft tone, proving to Aaron just how innocent it could be. "What . . . what's that mean? What exactly is war?"
Aaron sighed, looking down at the floor. He wished that he could be that naïve sometimes. He knew he didn't want to have to explain it to Tier. "Tier, what we're going through right now is a war. What Wizeman has done is declared war on Nightopia and on the rebels and the dreamers. We're fighting a battle against him to defend dreams from Nightmare. That's a war."
"War is defending dreams?" Tier didn't fully understand yet. Aaron shook his head. "The defense of dreams is a war. But war can be other things. Two forces fighting each other to achieve a particular goal is a war.
Silence answered Aaron. Several long minutes went by with no sound from Tier. Aaron waited for a minute or two before he began to worry about his Nightmaren friend. "Tier? Tier, are you okay?"
Tier spoke very softly so that Aaron had to strain to hear the words. " . . . I don't think that I like war. . ."
Aaron smiled just a little. "I don't think I do either. But I will fight this war to keep the Nightopians and other dreamers safe from Wizeman's designs."
Tier gasped quickly and scuffled into the back of its cell. "Someone's coming. . ." All of Tier's previous fear had returned, full force. Aaron backed away from the bars of his cell as well, waiting for whatever it was coming into their cellblock.
What came into sight was not a fearsome guard or intimidating Minion, but a slender figure clad in silky violet with silvery folds for the collar and cuffs, as well as the lining on the miniskirt and boots. The Nightmaren regarded Aaron with silver eyes lined with thick lashes. It was a face that he recognized right away.
Aaron quickly moved forward back to his cell's bars. "Molly! You made it back! Can you get us out of here?" He looked quite excited. The Nightmaren looked surprised, then came closer and Aaron was able to see for the first time that this was a true Nightmaren. Her head and hands were floating in place. And her features, while smaller than average, were still larger than a human's. Tier whimpered from its cell. "That's not Molls. . ."
Aaron shook his head. He didn't quite understand how this was possible. It seemed that the Nightmaren form Molly had worn during her time in Nightmare was now not just a costume but a true, living Nightmaren. "No, you're right . . . it's . . . Nightingale. A real Nightingale . . . but how?"

Nightingale stepped closer to the cell and peered in at Aaron before she straightened again. After a moment, she spoke in a voice that while similar to Molly's, was definitely unique. "I remember you. We fought here in the castle."
Aaron nodded, letting his knight's armor fade and took again his Nightmaren costume, only he took his original deep blue Knight guise again. "Only, I looked like this." He didn't understand how she could exist like this away from Molly, but he hoped he could find out.
Nightingale nodded. "Yes. Yes, that's right. I can remember, but I don't understand how." She seemed to remember where they were and her eyes hardened, losing their innocence. "You've gotten yourself into quite a predicament." Aaron nodded. "Do you know why Wizeman wants me?"
Nightingale shook her head. "No, I don't. I only know that it is vitally important to Master Wizeman that you do as you are told and do not fight us." She glanced at Tier, who whimpered and tried to move out of her line of vision.
Aaron blinked. Us? "You're with them?" He seemed to have an epiphany. "Of course . . . you're . . . somehow . . . the part of Molly that was loyal to Reala. How? How do you . . . How can you exist?"
Nightingale drew herself up proudly. "That girl doesn't matter. I am Nightingale. I exist because Master Wizeman and Lord Reala wish me to. You should be more concerned about how much longer you and your pet 'Maren will exist." Aaron could hear Tier's squeak of fear.
Aaron winced. "Look, you can do what you want with me. But you have to let Tier go. Or else I won't cooperate."
Nightingale gestured, and a pale yellow Nightmaren entered, leading a large Gao on a chain. Nightingale frowned at Aaron. "I am not tainted by petty human emotions. You will find that Im perfectly capable of killing you or Tier. I will not regret it." She nodded and the Gao was led up to Aaron's cell, only to be turned and walked closer to Tier, who leapt to its feet in alarm.
Nightingale watched, then smiled at Aaron in a sinister fashion. "The rebel will not be released. However, you can still decide whether it lives or dies."
Aaron clenched his teeth and his fists. He couldn't save Tier or himself, and he knew it. He had to secure Tier's release or he knew that they would kill it no matter what he did. "If I cooperate, it lives until you're finished with me, and then it dies. If I don't cooperate, you take what you wanted from me and it dies. There is no win situation for me here. I want you to let it go, and then I will give you my full cooperation and surrender to whatever fate you have in store for me."
Nightingale sighed. "I promise you that I will not bend. Shall I prove how serious I am to you?" She gestured to the other Nightmaren, who opened Tier's cell and allowed the Gao to get a good whiff of the young 'Maren's scent. Tier gasped as the Gao growled, tensing as it anticipated some sport.
Aaron lunged through the bars with his hand, trying to grab Nightingale. "You get that filthy minion away from Tier, or I swear, I'll . . . I'll. . ." He didn't have an adequate threat short of finding some way to destroy his own Ideya. Nightingale smirked. "You'll do nothing. Now does Tier die now? Or do we delay the inevitable?"
Tier backed away from the Gao, knowing that it was too inexperienced to successfully fight the Minion. The green and pink harlequin closed its eyes, taking a breath. "I . . . I trust you, Aaron." Tier sounded like it was trying very hard to sound brave. "Tier. . ." Aaron looked as though he were about to cry. "What should I do. . .?"
"You give yourself to Wizeman." Nightingale smiled. "Here, I'll make this easier. Sacrifice Tier and fight us. Your friends will come too late to rescue you, and find nothing until they themselves are disposed of." The violet Nightmaren smiled flirtatiously. "Or you can save Tier and go along with us. You'll most likely all still die, but you will have a slightly bigger chance of survival. . ." She smiled as the Gao tried to swipe at Tier, who was flat against the wall, squeezing its eyes tightly shut. Tier whimpered. "I. . . bet they're. . . b. . . bluffing. . ." It offered nervously, clearly terrified.
Aaron's eyes were squeezed shut as well. "If you hurt Tier, you'll get nothing! Let it go, now!"

Nightingale looked disappointed. "Oh, so be it. . . if that's the way that you want it." She turned to the Gao handler. "Release it!"
However, it was the Gao whose collar was unbuckled, releasing it to charge into the cell. A shrill scream rang out as Tier panicked and tried to fly out of reach as the cell door was closed. Aaron's eyes flew open and he lunged through the cell bars again. "Stop! Stop it, now!! How could you do this!?"
Nightingale turned calmly to smile at Aaron as if nothing were happening. As she had promised, she seemed completely unaffected by Tier's screams. "How can you? And here I thought that you cared about Tier."
Nightingale turned to watch the Gao work. "Unfortunately Tier will just have to die . . . again." She gave Aaron a cruel smile, reminding him of the time when he had very nearly lost Tier. Reala had struck the young Nightmaren down and very nearly taken its life. It was too much for Aaron to bear.
"You are the one doing this to Tier," he shouted, followed by a few choice words. "If it dies, you'll have a beautiful time explaining to Wizeman why I won't cooperate!"
Nightingale placed her hands on her cheeks, mocking him with a melodramatic display of dismay. "Oh, my!" She laughed. "What makes you think that I care? My orders come from Lord Reala, whose will is Master Wizeman's!" Tier grunted as it was batted into a wall. It groaned, then screamed as the Gao leaped at it. There was a tearing sound.
"What if it were Reala in that cell and you in this one and any decision you would make would cause Reala's death!? How would you like being blamed by your own captors for the terrible pain that they put Reala through?" "I will do what my Master wishes me to do. There is no choice." Nightingale stated coldly.

Aaron winced, as though he himself were feeling Tier's pain. "You are heartless. . ." Aaron stared at her with piercing anger in his eyes. "Just stop. . ."
Nightingale regarded Aaron calmly. "It isn't my fault. Your companion inherited our heart. You however, should know how you can stop this." She looked up at a weaker scream. "Quickly now, the poor little rebel doesn't have much longer. . ." Aaron shouted, "You never had a heart, just stop! I'll do what you want, just stop!!"
Nightingale smiled beautifully, then straightened and barked orders in a musical tone of voice. "Cease this at once! Call the Gao off!" The Gao gave a yelp of surprise as its handler rushed forward, quickly tying the collar back on and pulling it away. Nightingale watched impassively.
Aaron walked back into the corner of his cell, slumping down and looking away from Nightingale. Nightingale blinked, looking surprised and a little disappointed. "Hm? Now what's the matter?" The handler glided closer, holding tightly to the Gao. The animal was casually licking a few patches of sparkle from its paws. Nightingale turned as the handler spoke. "It's alive." It sounded a bit surprised about that. Nightingale smiled at Aaron. "There, you see?" Of course Aaron wasn't in the mood, but it seemed almost as if Nightingale was attempting to be nice.
Aaron didn't even look at her, refusing to respond to her "niceties". Nightingale looked hurt before she shook her head. "I . . . I'll report to my Master. . ." She turned and hurried away, footsteps telling Aaron that she prefered walking over flying. The handler and Gao flew out after her.

Aaron couldn't even begin to think about the . . . thing that had put his Nightmaren through that pain. He couldn't get the sound of Tier's scream out of his head. "Tier? Are you okay. . .?"
There was no answer. In its cell, Tier was laying in a tangled mass of long limbs and shredded fabric, halfway into shock. Aaron stood and walked to the door, hoping it could hear him better from there. "Tier. . .? Tier?! Are you okay?" He was begining to become a little panicked.
Tier's pupils dilated slightly, shimmering with a faint light before returning to normal. It started to move before its body informed it that moving would be a very, very bad idea. Tier's pained groan echoed through the cell.
Aaron felt the worst. He had caused Tier to be harmed and almost killed. He couldn't help but feeling that Nightingale was right when she accused him of causing the attack on Tier. "Tier, I'm so sorry. . ." He felt that he had betrayed the trust that it had given him.
Tier tried to lift its head. "Aaron. . ." Unfortunately, that movement caused Tier to see the mass of sparkles that it was laying in. With a soft whimper, the Nightmaren fainted.
Aaron was beginning to think that he was too late in calling the Gao off. "Tier!? TIER!?" He slumped to the floor, unable to hold himself up any more and cried.
"Save your tears." Nightingale suggested, not unkindly as she stepped back into view. She seemed to dislike flying for some reason. Behind her, two smaller Nightmaren entered with a stretcher and opened Tier's cell.
Aaron quickly stopped crying, wiping away his tears with one arm, trying to make himself look as though he hadn't been crying at all. He looked away though, refusing to look into her eyes.
Nightingale leaned against the bars of Aaron's cell. "Do you think that I'm one of the bad guys?" She seemed torn between amusement and hurt, watching as the healers moved Tier onto the stretcher. Tier roused at the movement and attempted to roar in indignation, trying to fight its way to Aaron. It got about as far as a strangled groan and a weak batting gesture with one hand.

Aaron stood up, trying not to show weakness. "Oh my!" He mocked her. "What makes you think that I care? My orders come from Lord Reala, whose will is Master Wizeman's!" He stared her right in the eye now.
Nightingale turned to regard Aaron sternly, scowling. "Don't be stupid, Aaron. Do you blame a soldier for following orders? Am I different?" Aaron glared in return. "I don't want to talk to you. I'll follow your orders, but don't talk to me like you know me."
Nightingale sighed. "Well unfortunately, I do know you. Sorry, I can't undo my memories." her tone was bitter. "You think that I take pleasure in this! You're a bigger fool than I imagined!" There was real emotion behind the words as Nightingale's eyes trembled with each syllable.
Aaron shook his head. "No. I don't think you enjoy this. I know you don't. But I expected more from you. I expected that you wouldn't be so complacent as to accept it." Nightingale turned and reached through the bars, aiming a smack at Aaron's cheek. "How dare you?!!" A strange sparkle dripped from the corner of her eye and hung briefly in the air as she whirled away, seemingly hurt and offended.
Nightingale joined the healers in leaving, storming out in such a rage that the poor Nightmaren nearly dropped Tier in their alarm.
Aaron rubbed his smarting cheek. He didn't feel that he deserved it, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He wondered just how much of Molly was in her. It was strange to see her here again like this. And now, he began to wonder if Molly would make it back this night.
Tier's startled gasp, then resulting groan of pain distracted Aaron from his thoughts. The healers had laid it down and were bending over, partially obscuring the young Nightmaren from sight. Tier wasn't taking it well. "Guh . . . get off. . .!!! Aaron!" It tried to resist as the healers stubbornly insisted on bandaging the worst of its injuries, stopping Tier's energy from leaking any further.
Aaron poked his head out into the corridor and called out to Tier, "Tier, it's okay! Let them help! They won't hurt you any more, I promise!" He hoped so much that his promise wouldn't be broken.
Tier looked at Aaron, mint green eyes wide with fear and pain. One of the healers glanced at Aaron. "Keep talking." It suggested curtly before resuming the battle to tend to Tier.
Aaron nodded to it. "Tier, everything is going to be okay. NiGHTS will come for us. Don't worry." Tier whimpered, sagging exhaustedly. "Aaron. . ." It seemed to find comfort in saying his name, then yelped in surprise as the healers finished and lifted the stretcher again, moving out. "Aaron?! AARON!"
Aaron called after it, holding back more tears, "Don't be afraid, Tier!"
Tier began to panic as it was carried out of sight, trying to reach for the boy. "AARON!!!" The cries faded quickly as distance muffled the sound.
Aaron gripped the bars to his cell tightly and gritted his teeth. He prayed hard that nothing would happen to his friend to whom he'd promised safety. "Tier . . . it'll be okay. . ." He was trying to convince himself that fact was true.

To be Continued. . .