"You'd better not shout, you'd better not cry, you'd better not . . . something I'm . . . something something something. . ." Jackle sang happily, tying garlands of pine and holly branches to the walls. "Santa and Clawz are coming to . . . wait, isn't Clawz already here?" Jackle turned to look at the drowsing feline. Clawz gave Jackle a look of pure disgust before rolling over.
Jackle shrugged and resumed hanging decorations. "Deck the halls with . . . whatever these things are, falalalala lalalaLA! Tis the season for whatever these things are! Falalalala La la LA LA!"
"Holly." Keane corrected as he walked over. "Boughs of holly." Jackle peered down at the dreamer, blinking for a moment before tossing the holly aside in favor of charging. "HA!" Keane yelped and darted to the side. "Wizeman says no murdering me! Remember?!?!" Jackle paused, considering. "He does? Awww. . . ."
Keane groaned. "Can't I show up just once without someone trying to kill me?" Jackle and Clawz shook their heads, grinning evilly. Keane sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Jackle resumed hanging the decorations. "So, bows from Holly . . . hey, who's Holly?" Keane blinked, having visions of girls hanging from their hair ribbons dancing through his head. "Not who, Jackle . . . Hollies are what those decorations are called. . ." Jackle blinked at the garlands on the wall. "Oh. . ." The Nightmaren sounded very disappointed.
Reala chose that moment to enter and froze, staring in growing horror at the decorations. "Jackle . . . I thought that I said no Christmas! Take these branches down at once!"
Jackle looked sad. "But . . . but it's tradition!" Reala flew over. "Who's tradition?" Jackle looked away. "Someone's. . ." The cloaked Nightmaren muttered.
Keane smirked and pretended to write a note on his palm. "And the Grinch Who Stole Christmas will be played by . . . Reala!" He smiled as Reala turned to scowl dangerously at him.

"In Nightopia we can see a snowman! being built by some Nightopians!" Claris and Elliot were singing the 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland' song now in their own style. "We'll be wondering how they know how to build a snowman!" Claris beamed and sang a higher solo. "Until we remember that they know everybody's dreams!" Elliot added, "And someone must be dreaming about snowmen!"
NiGHTS had given Elliot a Christmas costume similar to Claris' so that the three of them matched perfectly, and Elliot had taken it as an invitation to behave in an even crazier fashion than normal.
The kids yelped as their sleigh abruptly tipped them out and reformed into NiGHTS. NiGHTS groaned, bending backwards with some audible pops. "Sorry, kiddos. I can't hold a form for that long."
NiGHTS blinked at the two child shaped holes in the snow and leaned closer. "Wow, this snow's deeper than I thought . . . are you sure you two haven't gained weight?" A snowball flew from the hole on the left to smack NiGHTS in the face.

"You're a mean one, Mister Reala!" Keane giggled, falling against Jackle in hysterics. Reala's eye twitched, the Nightmaren was clearly not amused. "And you are going to be one very dead Dreamer the instant that Master Wizeman is finished with you. . ." Reala's tone could have frozen lava.
Keane got up, regarding Reala in surprise. "Huh? No way! Wizeman says that when this is all finished, he's going to make it all worth my trouble. No more homework or piano lessons or any of that stupid kiddy stuff!" Keane nodded proudly strutting across the room so that the Nightmaren had to turn their heads to follow him. "Life's gonne be good once Wizeman's back."
Keane didn't see Reala, Jackle, and Clawz all exchange a knowing look. They knew how this would end.
Reala looked up as a soft whisper floated through the air, bowing quickly before gliding over to Keane. Reala laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Say, Keane. How about you and I go out to have a word with NiGHTS and the goody goodies?" Keane blinked, startled. "You're going to fight NiGHTS, Reala?"
Reala smirked. "Not exactly, but in a way, yes. And I think it's time that our little traitor sees what they're really up against!"
Keane didn't have much choice as Reala tucked him under an arm and flew out. "Don't I ever get a scarf?!" Was the last protest that Jackle and Clawz heard. Jackle blinked, then giggled hysterically. "Reala the grinch!" Clawz purred in response.

"NiGHTS like red energy Ideya!" Claris started up the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer song once NiGHTS had plucked her and Elliot out of the snow. Elliot grinned. "He has a red diamond on his chest!" Claris beamed. "And if you ever saw her. . ." Elliot cut in. "You can tell he's always making a mess!"
"Am not!" NiGHTS pouted, not liking this particular carol.
Elliot beamed. "All of the other 'Maren," Claris smiled. "Think that NiGHTS is kind of weird!" Elliot laughed. "But they always change their opinions, when across the floor NiGHTS has them smeared!"
Claris and NiGHTS stared at Elliot in disgust.

"Then one frosty winter night, Wizeman was heard to say. . ." A new voice cut in. "NiGHTS you girly purple freak!" Keane stepped into view as Reala hovered behind him. The Nightmaren sneered. "I'm gonna hurl you into next week!"
Elliot blinked. "I know we were changing the words, but I don't think that's how the song goes. . ." Claris rolled her eyes at Elliot before glaring at Keane. "Hey, who are you? Don't you know that that's the bad guy you're helping?!" NiGHTS looked surprised, but held Reala's gaze.
Keane laughed. "That's what you want to believe. What's he done wrong? Has Reala killed anyone? Levelled any major cities? Naw, I think that I'm fine where I am."
Elliot blinked. "So now Reala's Godzilla?"
Claris turned to NiGHTS, reaching for her hand. "Don't hurt yourself thinking too hard, Elliot! Just let me take this one!" Keane glanced at Reala, took in the Nightmaren's furious disapproval, and acted. "Nuh uh, let's not gang on on people!"
Elliot saw Keane gather and throw a large snowball and ran to intercept it, crying out as he was struck in the head. Claris gasped. "Elliot!" She turned to glare at Keane. "Stop it!"
Keane held a second snowball thoughtfully. "Hmmmmm . . . . no." Grinning, he threw it at Claris who shrieked and dodged.
"Claris!" NiGHTS had flown to help Elliot up and now turned to aid Claris. NiGHTS grunted as Reala swept in, cutting off the path.
Reala grinned. "Now this could be interesting. Can your dreamer defeat mine? Let's find out." NiGHTS growled, unable to move without being cut off by Reala. NiGHTS called out. "Claris, GO!"
"Use your Sing Attack!" Elliot added, getting strange looks from the two Nightmaren. He blushed and concentrated on just watching instead.
NiGHTS growled. "That wasn't what I meant, Elliot. Claris, run! That kid looks like the kind who plays dirty!" Reala chuckled, leaning on NiGHTS' head. "Takes a dirty player to know one, eh NiGHTS?"
NiGHTS grunted, stooping under Reala's weight. "I resent that. . ." Elliot blinked at the Nightmaren and their bickering, they sounded so much like siblings. "Are you two sure that you hate each other?"
Reala and NiGHTS blinked and exchanged a glance before springing upright and glaring into each others' eyes, growling. Elliot blinked again, then grinned. "There they go denying it. . ."

Claris backed away as Keane formed another snowball. He sneered. "It's not exactly chivalrous, but you're kind of the bad guy here. And so. . ." He tucked a shard of ice into the snowball before hurling it at Claris. "I don't have a choice here, you're going down girly!"
Claris bristled. "Girly?!" She shrieked and dropped to avoid being struck by the snowball, then sat up, looking down at her frontside. The fabric was soaked through. "I liked this outfit. . ."
Keane blinked, suddenly uncomfortable. "Uh, that sort of thing kind of happens. . . " Claris snarled, eyes flaring with anger. "You shut up! You've gone too far! You and Reala!
Reala's head snapped up in alarm, NiGHTS had just been forgotten. "Keane, don't hesitate! Just get. . ." Reala grunted as NiGHTS brushed past. "Claris, pretend he was the one who used too much bleach on your favorite dress on the night before your last big performance!" Claris snarled and lunged, tackling Keane in a flurry of snow and flailing limbs.
Elliot stared. "Wow . . . remind me never to make her mad. . ."

Keane yelped, trying to evade hits. He panted as Claris halted, staring at NiGHTS. "Hold it, I never had a favorite dress ruined before a performance. . ." NiGHTS sweatdropped. "Drat, I was hoping you wouldn't realize that. . ."
Reala blinked, then slapped NiGHTS on the back. "You see? Playing dirty!" Reala yelped as several snowballs came flying out of nowhere. The pale Nightmaren went down, gagging. "Augh, what IS this?!"
Elliot beamed, tossing a snowball. "Watch out where the Gaos and Snips go, never eat the yellow snow." He threw the snowball at Reala, who suddenly looked paler than usual. "Oh gross. . ."
Claris walked over and grabbed Elliot by his collar. "You're not making us look good, Elliot!" She hissed fiercely. Elliot shrugged. "Well what else should I do?"
Keane rubbed his cheek, getting up. "I think we're all forgetting why we're here. . ." NiGHTS looked over. "I think that you're right. What was it again?" Keane considered. "Were we trying to show these two what the world would be like without them so they'll want to live?" He blinked. "No, no that was a movie. . ." Claris and Elliot exchanged a glance before looking at NiGHTS and Reala.
Reala sighed. "Okay I'll admit that I forgot the details, but since NiGHTS is here, it must be time for a fight. . ." NiGHTS frowned. "Is that all that you think about, Reala? Beating me up? What'd I ever do to you?" Reala froze, astonished. The Nightmaren snarled angrily. "That is the most ridiculous question that I've ever heard! What HAVEN'T you done?!"
NiGHTS blinked blankly. "What?"
Keane walked over to stand next to Claris and Elliot. "Hey, are these two always this weird?" Elliot nodded. "Yep." Claris glanced at Keane. "Pretty much."
NiGHTS and Reala were busy bickering back and forth. "Oh come on Reala, it's not healthy to hold grudges!" "Then why don't you quit fighting against the Nightmare and come back?" NiGHTS blinked at Reala's question and turned away, tapping two fingertips together shyly. "Well, don't you think that would be a little awkward now? I mean after everything that happened and.all. . ."
Reala sighed. "I meant, turn yourself in and just let Master Wizeman deal with you!" Keane patted Elliot on the back. "Yup, Reala's sure got that Christmas spirit - NOT!"
Elliot stepped aside, not sure that he liked being patted by some kid he'd just met. Especially one who was helping Reala. "Yeah, that's Reala for you . . . only are you sure you should be putting him down? You're on his side, aren't you? You know, the bad guys?" Keane shook his head. "Oh you silly boy. You're the bad guys here, helping a traitor. I'm just trying to restore the natural order of things."
Claris blinked. "Wait, do you even know the full story? NiGHTS is the one who you should be helping, Reala works for Wizeman, who. . ." Keane cut her off. "I know all about Wizeman. Big guy, raspy voice, looks like he wiped out a curtain store making his costume. . ."
"Speaking of costumes." Claris started. "Why are you looking so plain? All the Nightmaren we've seen so far have been dressed up!" Elliot nodded. "Except Puffy."
Claris nodded. "Er, right. Puf . . . what kind of a name IS that?!" Keane laughed. "Oh yeah, Puffy! Don't worry, that one got a nice makeover. It was fun actually, but to answer your question. . ." Keane blinked in surprise, then looked at Reala. "Wait, I'm not the only one who needs a. . ." Reala snarled, showing fangs. "You can forget that thought before you even think of it." Keane sighed, falling silent.
Claris blinked, then smiled thoughtfully. "Hmm. . ." Elliot blinked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
"Hmm." Claris confirmed. NiGHTS glanced over. "What are you two 'Hmm'ing about?" Claris smiled sweetly back. "Nothing NiGHTS, you can go back to pretending to dislike Reala."
NiGHTS flushed and glanced at Reala, who looked away. Claris leaned closer to Elliot. "Call me crazy, but I don't think that this new kid is so bad." Elliot shrugged. "Okay, you're crazy."
Claris shoved her friend away. "Elliot!" She complained, scowling. Elliot laughed. "What? You told me to say it!" Claris sighed. "I didn't mean it literally! Come on Elliot, tell me what you think about this, I don't think that NiGHTS will agree right away."
"Hmm?" NiGHTS pressed a horn close to Claris. Claris giggled and chorused with Elliot. "HMM!" The three friends laughed. Keane tilted his head. "I don't get it."
Reala smirked and patted Keane on the head. "Of course you don't."

To Be Continued. . .