Disclaimer -
Just repeating myself - These characters are NOT mine! Only Keane is.
Yeah, that's right - he has a name! Hurray!!!
This chapter goes out to Avis and DJKid from Deviantart.com
Two of the finest Jackle fans a girl could ever hope to know. :)
By the way, how often should I update? A few times a week?
Should I aim to finish before or on Christmas?
Please review and let me know!
Unfortunately, this will be it for a while since I'm kind of hoping for more reviews and need to type more anyway, but that's easily resolved. Read! Review! Inspire me! I just want to know that people are reading.
And now, our story. . .
Gillwing spiralled easily toward Soft Museum before gliding to a halt, the shock of landing absorbed by the spongy ground. The dragon lowered a wing to allow one happy dreamer to slide off.
He looked up and absently patted GillWing's hide, earning a soft rumble before the creature took flight again, circling lazily overhead.
Entering the slightly lopsided building that he assumed was the museum this was named for, the Dreamer looked around. Colorful walls decorated the interior, and the floor was more like rows of cushions than anything else.
A distant cackle caused him to shiver despite himself. "Jackle, they call this guy . . . sounds more like a hyena to me. . ."
Cupping his hands, he shouted. "Hey, Jackle! Wizeman says to get your invisible butt over here!" Silence greeted him. Frowning, he tried again. "Did you hear me, Nightmaren? Your Master, Wizeman gave you an order, through me! Now come out where I can see you!" Again, no response.
Now, he was becoming annoyed. He took a deep breath to call again, then squeaked in sudden fear as a large hand closed over his head, then lifted him.
"And why should I?" Jackle grinned, eyes wide and unfocused.
The boy swallowed, struggling to control the fear that Jackle inspired. He struggled to regain his former arrogance. "Your Master and creator commands it. Now put me down before something happens to you!"
Jackle blinked, obviously not accustomed to being addressed in such a way. It was obvious that the Nightmaren was highly unstable. Jackle's insanity seemed to keep it from fully comprehending what was said.
"The little boy seeks to give ME orders. . .?"
"No, genius. WIZEMAN ORDERS! WIZEMAN THE WICKED, RULER OF NIGHTMARE! HE ORDERS!!!"
The boy finally lost his temper, or maybe he was just panicking.
He yelped as he was unceremoniously dumped, landing safely on the soft floor.
"Oh." Jackle seemed to regain some sense. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"Hi ho deedly dee, someone's come to speak with me. . ."
The Dreamer stared in dismay some time later as Jackle pranced about in childish delight. They were in a large room that looked like a playroom gone horribly wrong. The floor was made up of playing cards, there were giant blocks all around, and a monstrous Jack in the Box grinned menacingly down at them. Worst of all, a guillotine gleamed dimly against one of the walls.
Given the Nightmaren's obvious insanity, the boy had no doubt that Jackle would not hesitate to thrown him into that terrible device. Mixed up with these monstrous toys, he seriously doubted that Jackle saw it as anything other than another plaything.
Jackle floated by, facing backwards and laughing softly at some joke that only it could hear. The Nightmaren froze when it caught sight of the human, watching.
"HA!!!" The Nightmaren abruptly regained that terrifying, wide eyed look of insanity as it charged.
The boy cried out despite himself. "WIZEMAN!"
Blinking, Jackle came to a halt inches away. "Oh . . . I remember him." It drifted away and began to study its claws.
The Dreamer sighed. "Oh, this is so hopeless! I couldn't fix you up if I were in a coma for a month! It's probably almost time for me to wake up, and you're a complete fruitcake! We're NEVER going to stop that NiGHTS creep!"
He gasped as Jackle suddenly loomed in front of him, catching his chin between two fingers.
"Now . . . tell me again. . . about. . . NiGHTS. . ." Jackle made the name into a sinister hiss, eyes gleaming with something other than madness. The dreamer had said the magic word.
"Is this really necessary, kid?"
Jackle watched with some concern as a red and silver tinsel garland was draped over its shoulders, held in place by the mantle.
The boy currently torturing the Nightmaren laughed and stepped down from his stool. "Hey, you've gotta be festive! It's Christmas! And my name's not 'kid'." Jackle made a face. "Well, you never told me your name . . . I think. . ."
The Nightmaren blinked as the dreamer leaned forward to stare into its face. "My name's Keane, okay? Now be quiet and hold still!"
Jackle noted the name, sighing at the instructions to hold still. It yelped as a bucket of green, glittery paint came out. "Oh no, NO! No painting, no!"
The boy smiled. "Aw, this isn't for your lair. . ." He grinned as the Nightmaren relaxed. "It's for your cloak!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Jackle's scream pierced the skies of Soft Museum.
NiGHTS pulled up short at the distant shriek. "Ow, that's some scream!"
Claris winced. "You think you have it bad, YOU don't have ears!" NiGHTS laughed. "That's true. I'm perfectly streamlined!"
Claris glared. "What's that supposed to mean?!" NiGHTS smiled. "Well, Claris, streamlining refers to being. . ." "I KNOW what it means, idiot!" Claris retorted. "You think that ears and noses are clumsy, don't you?!"
NiGHTS blinked. "Um . . . no?" The Nightmaren winced at Claris' glare. "I mean yes?" NiGHTS whimpered. "I don't know!"
"You really are a big kid, NiGHTS. . ." Claris turned away. "Let's just find Elliot so we can wake up." She started to walk off with NiGHTS following reluctantly, hopping and gliding more than actually walking.
"Green light. . ." Jackle whispered hoarsely to itself, watching the two walk along from behind a tree. "Green light. . ." Claris marched closer. "Green light. . ."
Jackle grinned as they came closer. "Green light . . . RED LIGHT!" He leapt out in front of the pair.
NiGHTS' response was instantaneous. "Jackle!" Jackle waved. "Hi hi, time to die!"
Claris had ducked behind NiGHTS. "But he was beaten!" NiGHTS ignored her, assuming a fighting stance. "Bring it on, Jack!"
Jackle cackled. "Silly NiGHTS, not me! You're fighting THAT!" He drifted back as a dragon gave a loud roar. NiGHTS looked up. "GillWing!"
Claris stared. "GillWing's as good as new!" She hurried over as NiGHTS extended a hand. "Yes, but look at its tail." Claris looked and gasped. "The star!"
Sure enough, GillWing's newly striped form sported a large, sparkling star at the tip of the tail.
NiGHTS blinked. "You want that star?" Claris nodded. "It's what's missing from the tower. Christmas needs it."
NiGHTS winked. "Then I'll get it for you!"
Claris blinked at NiGHTS' sudden offer, then smiled. "Okay!" NiGHTS held a hand out, which she gladly took. A surge of power rose around the two figures, spinning them wildly like a pair of leaves before crushing Claris against NiGHTS' chest. Claris had learned to accept this, and closed her eyes as her world spun dizzily. There was a residual power surge, and then nothing. In mere seconds, two people had merged into one.
NiGHTS/Claris smiled challengingly at GillWing before taking flight.
Jackle waved happily with a floating hand, retreating a safe distance. "You kids play nice, now!" GillWing roared again as the Merged friends attacked and charged, flapping for them. Claris felt a pang of fear, she had forgotten how fierce GillWing was!" A wave of calm confidence swept over her almost instantly as NiGHTS sensed and responded to her mood. Reassured, Claris willed NiGHTS to attack.
NiGHTS willingly flew to meet GillWing, flying high before spinning in a DrillDash and striking the monster's head. Together, NiGHTS and Claris strained to grip, then jerk hard, ripping GillWing's head free. Almost immediately, it reformed.
*I forgot it could do that!* Claris' alarmed thought struck NiGHTS. *Claris, you've got to calm down, you're letting it get to you.* Claris took a calming breath through NiGHTS, and relaxed.
GillWing came again, teeth gnashing frighteningly as the beast sought to gobble them up. NiGHTS flew high to evade, then swooped, going into another DrillDash. GillWing shrieked as its head was destroyed again, regenerating. It roared angrily.
"This takes forever!" NiGHTS complained, bored. Claris stifled a laugh, concentrating on cheering her friend. *It'll be over soon, like last time!* NiGHTS nodded and struck again, then again until GillWing was only and oversized tadpole. The dragon gave a small squeak as NiGHTS Attacked. With a terrible shriek, Gillwing dissipated, leaving only that shining star behind.
Claris instantly oriented on that gleaming object., but NiGHTS was still too much of a Nightmaren to finish that quickly.
From nearby, Jackle gulped as it became the focus of that purple gaze. The caped Nightmaren shifted nervously.
"Um . . . good work? I think?" Jackle turned to fly off, but found that NiGHTS had moved to intercept.
"NiGHTS, I don't think it's right to beat Jackle up just like that. . ." Claris spoke up, sensing an impending slaughter otherwise.
NiGHTS blinked. "But Jackle's. . ." Claris frowned. "Not here to fight you. You heard! Are you trying to be like Reala?!" There was silence as her words sank in. NiGHTS blinked again and looked at Jackle, who was now impatiently tapping a foot. "I'm waiting. . ."
NiGHTS winced at the obnoxious comment and considered pummelling Jackle anyway, leaning in. Instead though, NiGHTS stepped aside. "Get out of here before I change my mind."
Jackle laughed, causing Claris to shudder from within NiGHTS. "Then I'll be seeing youuuu!!!" The caped Nightmaren tugged protectively at the mantle before floating away. NiGHTS watched, smirking in an attempt to frown. "You should have let me. . ." She trailed off.
Claris blinked as NiGHTS terminated the Merge. "NiGHTS?" NiGHTS was staring after Jackle, not answering. Claris laid a hand on its arm. "What is it? What's wrong? You don't usually give in so easily. . . "
"Christmas spirit?" NiGHTS tried, then gave up. "You mentioned Reala. Am I. . . ?"
Claris winced, feeling guilty now. Of course the gentle and sensitive NiGHTS would be upset by being compared to its more violent and twisted counterpart! "Of course you're not like Reala, NiGHTS . . . I just didn't want you to fight Jackle right after facing GillWing. I'm sorry. . ." She bowed her head apologetically.
NiGHTS looked up as a light snow began to fall. A faint chiming could be heard as the music of Nightopia flowed around them softly, like a constant but unheard Christmas carol. "GillWing and Jackle came back. Could Reala. . .?"
Claris followed NiGHTS' gaze skyward. Was NiGHTS right? Who would they face next?
Keane was lounging on a chunk of fallen stone in Wizeman's chamber when a hysterical Jackle came flying in.
"Wizeman Wizeman! I did what you said and took GillWing out to play with NiGHTS, but NiGHTS took poor GillWing's head off until nothing was left, then came and picked on me and I was only being good and doing what you said and now NiGHTS and its dreamer are trying to take the star and I don't wanna go out there again, NiGHTS is scary!!!"
Keane got up, confident now that Wizeman was with him. "Will you listen to yourself? You sound like a spoiled kid! No one told you to fight anyway, so calm down." The dreamer turned to look at the form behind him.
Wizeman was still unmoving except for his hands, but the breath that came was stronger and easier to understand.
Kean looked surprised. "Just how many Nightmares. . ." "Nightmaren." Jackle corrected automatically. ". . . do you have?" Keane finished as if he hadn't been interupted.
Jackle happily held out two hands before correcting itself and holding only one out, five fingers extended. "Me, Reala, GillWing, Puffy, Clawz, and Gulpo." Keane blinked. "That's six."
Jackle counted its fingers. "No, that's one two eight, no. . . one two . . . three . . . six . . . nono, it's one. . . two. . ."
Keane ignored the insane Nightmaren and walked over to the portal that Wizeman was currently indicating. "Some kind of ugly cat? That thing has Chesshire Cat look down. Clawz, eh?" He studied the imposing daggers tipping each finger and toe. "Yeah, real original name. . . " Keane yelped as a hand came up behind him in annoyance and flicked him through the portal.
Jackle blinked and laughed. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Boss! Hey, what comes after three?"
To Be Continued. . .
Just repeating myself - These characters are NOT mine! Only Keane is.
Yeah, that's right - he has a name! Hurray!!!
This chapter goes out to Avis and DJKid from Deviantart.com
Two of the finest Jackle fans a girl could ever hope to know. :)
By the way, how often should I update? A few times a week?
Should I aim to finish before or on Christmas?
Please review and let me know!
Unfortunately, this will be it for a while since I'm kind of hoping for more reviews and need to type more anyway, but that's easily resolved. Read! Review! Inspire me! I just want to know that people are reading.
And now, our story. . .
Gillwing spiralled easily toward Soft Museum before gliding to a halt, the shock of landing absorbed by the spongy ground. The dragon lowered a wing to allow one happy dreamer to slide off.
He looked up and absently patted GillWing's hide, earning a soft rumble before the creature took flight again, circling lazily overhead.
Entering the slightly lopsided building that he assumed was the museum this was named for, the Dreamer looked around. Colorful walls decorated the interior, and the floor was more like rows of cushions than anything else.
A distant cackle caused him to shiver despite himself. "Jackle, they call this guy . . . sounds more like a hyena to me. . ."
Cupping his hands, he shouted. "Hey, Jackle! Wizeman says to get your invisible butt over here!" Silence greeted him. Frowning, he tried again. "Did you hear me, Nightmaren? Your Master, Wizeman gave you an order, through me! Now come out where I can see you!" Again, no response.
Now, he was becoming annoyed. He took a deep breath to call again, then squeaked in sudden fear as a large hand closed over his head, then lifted him.
"And why should I?" Jackle grinned, eyes wide and unfocused.
The boy swallowed, struggling to control the fear that Jackle inspired. He struggled to regain his former arrogance. "Your Master and creator commands it. Now put me down before something happens to you!"
Jackle blinked, obviously not accustomed to being addressed in such a way. It was obvious that the Nightmaren was highly unstable. Jackle's insanity seemed to keep it from fully comprehending what was said.
"The little boy seeks to give ME orders. . .?"
"No, genius. WIZEMAN ORDERS! WIZEMAN THE WICKED, RULER OF NIGHTMARE! HE ORDERS!!!"
The boy finally lost his temper, or maybe he was just panicking.
He yelped as he was unceremoniously dumped, landing safely on the soft floor.
"Oh." Jackle seemed to regain some sense. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"Hi ho deedly dee, someone's come to speak with me. . ."
The Dreamer stared in dismay some time later as Jackle pranced about in childish delight. They were in a large room that looked like a playroom gone horribly wrong. The floor was made up of playing cards, there were giant blocks all around, and a monstrous Jack in the Box grinned menacingly down at them. Worst of all, a guillotine gleamed dimly against one of the walls.
Given the Nightmaren's obvious insanity, the boy had no doubt that Jackle would not hesitate to thrown him into that terrible device. Mixed up with these monstrous toys, he seriously doubted that Jackle saw it as anything other than another plaything.
Jackle floated by, facing backwards and laughing softly at some joke that only it could hear. The Nightmaren froze when it caught sight of the human, watching.
"HA!!!" The Nightmaren abruptly regained that terrifying, wide eyed look of insanity as it charged.
The boy cried out despite himself. "WIZEMAN!"
Blinking, Jackle came to a halt inches away. "Oh . . . I remember him." It drifted away and began to study its claws.
The Dreamer sighed. "Oh, this is so hopeless! I couldn't fix you up if I were in a coma for a month! It's probably almost time for me to wake up, and you're a complete fruitcake! We're NEVER going to stop that NiGHTS creep!"
He gasped as Jackle suddenly loomed in front of him, catching his chin between two fingers.
"Now . . . tell me again. . . about. . . NiGHTS. . ." Jackle made the name into a sinister hiss, eyes gleaming with something other than madness. The dreamer had said the magic word.
"Is this really necessary, kid?"
Jackle watched with some concern as a red and silver tinsel garland was draped over its shoulders, held in place by the mantle.
The boy currently torturing the Nightmaren laughed and stepped down from his stool. "Hey, you've gotta be festive! It's Christmas! And my name's not 'kid'." Jackle made a face. "Well, you never told me your name . . . I think. . ."
The Nightmaren blinked as the dreamer leaned forward to stare into its face. "My name's Keane, okay? Now be quiet and hold still!"
Jackle noted the name, sighing at the instructions to hold still. It yelped as a bucket of green, glittery paint came out. "Oh no, NO! No painting, no!"
The boy smiled. "Aw, this isn't for your lair. . ." He grinned as the Nightmaren relaxed. "It's for your cloak!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Jackle's scream pierced the skies of Soft Museum.
NiGHTS pulled up short at the distant shriek. "Ow, that's some scream!"
Claris winced. "You think you have it bad, YOU don't have ears!" NiGHTS laughed. "That's true. I'm perfectly streamlined!"
Claris glared. "What's that supposed to mean?!" NiGHTS smiled. "Well, Claris, streamlining refers to being. . ." "I KNOW what it means, idiot!" Claris retorted. "You think that ears and noses are clumsy, don't you?!"
NiGHTS blinked. "Um . . . no?" The Nightmaren winced at Claris' glare. "I mean yes?" NiGHTS whimpered. "I don't know!"
"You really are a big kid, NiGHTS. . ." Claris turned away. "Let's just find Elliot so we can wake up." She started to walk off with NiGHTS following reluctantly, hopping and gliding more than actually walking.
"Green light. . ." Jackle whispered hoarsely to itself, watching the two walk along from behind a tree. "Green light. . ." Claris marched closer. "Green light. . ."
Jackle grinned as they came closer. "Green light . . . RED LIGHT!" He leapt out in front of the pair.
NiGHTS' response was instantaneous. "Jackle!" Jackle waved. "Hi hi, time to die!"
Claris had ducked behind NiGHTS. "But he was beaten!" NiGHTS ignored her, assuming a fighting stance. "Bring it on, Jack!"
Jackle cackled. "Silly NiGHTS, not me! You're fighting THAT!" He drifted back as a dragon gave a loud roar. NiGHTS looked up. "GillWing!"
Claris stared. "GillWing's as good as new!" She hurried over as NiGHTS extended a hand. "Yes, but look at its tail." Claris looked and gasped. "The star!"
Sure enough, GillWing's newly striped form sported a large, sparkling star at the tip of the tail.
NiGHTS blinked. "You want that star?" Claris nodded. "It's what's missing from the tower. Christmas needs it."
NiGHTS winked. "Then I'll get it for you!"
Claris blinked at NiGHTS' sudden offer, then smiled. "Okay!" NiGHTS held a hand out, which she gladly took. A surge of power rose around the two figures, spinning them wildly like a pair of leaves before crushing Claris against NiGHTS' chest. Claris had learned to accept this, and closed her eyes as her world spun dizzily. There was a residual power surge, and then nothing. In mere seconds, two people had merged into one.
NiGHTS/Claris smiled challengingly at GillWing before taking flight.
Jackle waved happily with a floating hand, retreating a safe distance. "You kids play nice, now!" GillWing roared again as the Merged friends attacked and charged, flapping for them. Claris felt a pang of fear, she had forgotten how fierce GillWing was!" A wave of calm confidence swept over her almost instantly as NiGHTS sensed and responded to her mood. Reassured, Claris willed NiGHTS to attack.
NiGHTS willingly flew to meet GillWing, flying high before spinning in a DrillDash and striking the monster's head. Together, NiGHTS and Claris strained to grip, then jerk hard, ripping GillWing's head free. Almost immediately, it reformed.
*I forgot it could do that!* Claris' alarmed thought struck NiGHTS. *Claris, you've got to calm down, you're letting it get to you.* Claris took a calming breath through NiGHTS, and relaxed.
GillWing came again, teeth gnashing frighteningly as the beast sought to gobble them up. NiGHTS flew high to evade, then swooped, going into another DrillDash. GillWing shrieked as its head was destroyed again, regenerating. It roared angrily.
"This takes forever!" NiGHTS complained, bored. Claris stifled a laugh, concentrating on cheering her friend. *It'll be over soon, like last time!* NiGHTS nodded and struck again, then again until GillWing was only and oversized tadpole. The dragon gave a small squeak as NiGHTS Attacked. With a terrible shriek, Gillwing dissipated, leaving only that shining star behind.
Claris instantly oriented on that gleaming object., but NiGHTS was still too much of a Nightmaren to finish that quickly.
From nearby, Jackle gulped as it became the focus of that purple gaze. The caped Nightmaren shifted nervously.
"Um . . . good work? I think?" Jackle turned to fly off, but found that NiGHTS had moved to intercept.
"NiGHTS, I don't think it's right to beat Jackle up just like that. . ." Claris spoke up, sensing an impending slaughter otherwise.
NiGHTS blinked. "But Jackle's. . ." Claris frowned. "Not here to fight you. You heard! Are you trying to be like Reala?!" There was silence as her words sank in. NiGHTS blinked again and looked at Jackle, who was now impatiently tapping a foot. "I'm waiting. . ."
NiGHTS winced at the obnoxious comment and considered pummelling Jackle anyway, leaning in. Instead though, NiGHTS stepped aside. "Get out of here before I change my mind."
Jackle laughed, causing Claris to shudder from within NiGHTS. "Then I'll be seeing youuuu!!!" The caped Nightmaren tugged protectively at the mantle before floating away. NiGHTS watched, smirking in an attempt to frown. "You should have let me. . ." She trailed off.
Claris blinked as NiGHTS terminated the Merge. "NiGHTS?" NiGHTS was staring after Jackle, not answering. Claris laid a hand on its arm. "What is it? What's wrong? You don't usually give in so easily. . . "
"Christmas spirit?" NiGHTS tried, then gave up. "You mentioned Reala. Am I. . . ?"
Claris winced, feeling guilty now. Of course the gentle and sensitive NiGHTS would be upset by being compared to its more violent and twisted counterpart! "Of course you're not like Reala, NiGHTS . . . I just didn't want you to fight Jackle right after facing GillWing. I'm sorry. . ." She bowed her head apologetically.
NiGHTS looked up as a light snow began to fall. A faint chiming could be heard as the music of Nightopia flowed around them softly, like a constant but unheard Christmas carol. "GillWing and Jackle came back. Could Reala. . .?"
Claris followed NiGHTS' gaze skyward. Was NiGHTS right? Who would they face next?
Keane was lounging on a chunk of fallen stone in Wizeman's chamber when a hysterical Jackle came flying in.
"Wizeman Wizeman! I did what you said and took GillWing out to play with NiGHTS, but NiGHTS took poor GillWing's head off until nothing was left, then came and picked on me and I was only being good and doing what you said and now NiGHTS and its dreamer are trying to take the star and I don't wanna go out there again, NiGHTS is scary!!!"
Keane got up, confident now that Wizeman was with him. "Will you listen to yourself? You sound like a spoiled kid! No one told you to fight anyway, so calm down." The dreamer turned to look at the form behind him.
Wizeman was still unmoving except for his hands, but the breath that came was stronger and easier to understand.
Kean looked surprised. "Just how many Nightmares. . ." "Nightmaren." Jackle corrected automatically. ". . . do you have?" Keane finished as if he hadn't been interupted.
Jackle happily held out two hands before correcting itself and holding only one out, five fingers extended. "Me, Reala, GillWing, Puffy, Clawz, and Gulpo." Keane blinked. "That's six."
Jackle counted its fingers. "No, that's one two eight, no. . . one two . . . three . . . six . . . nono, it's one. . . two. . ."
Keane ignored the insane Nightmaren and walked over to the portal that Wizeman was currently indicating. "Some kind of ugly cat? That thing has Chesshire Cat look down. Clawz, eh?" He studied the imposing daggers tipping each finger and toe. "Yeah, real original name. . . " Keane yelped as a hand came up behind him in annoyance and flicked him through the portal.
Jackle blinked and laughed. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Boss! Hey, what comes after three?"
To Be Continued. . .