Standing in the snow of a drastically redecorated Spring Valley, two Nightmaren and three Dreamers conversed.
NiGHTS and Reala had given up their traditional flying contest in favor of attempting to stare one another into submission. Neither was budging.
The Dreamers were having better luck. Claris had decided to give Reala's new companion, a boy named Keane the benefit of the doubt. She and Keane were sitting off to one side, discussing Nightmaren as Elliot looked on.
Elliot sighed at the pang of annoyance that he felt every time that he looked at Keane, trying to tell himself that he was just anxious to do whatever had to be done in Nightopia and wake up. "I'm not jealous. I'm not. . ." Elliot hugged himself for warmth, imagining the snow slowly covering his sleeping form in the Waking World.
NiGHTS stared at Reala. "Ree. . .?" Reala continued to stare at NiGHTS, grunting in response. NiGHTS' eyes unfocused briefly before refocusing in a desperate attempt to keep from blinking. "My face kind of hurts. . ."
Reala sighed. "What do you think this is, a staring contest!" NiGHTS nodded. "MmHmm." Reala fought back the urge to blink in dismay. Now that a contest had been unofficially declared, there was no way that Reala would lose to NiGHTS.
Claris laughed. "A Christmas tree? That's so hard to imagine, it's the complete opposite of what Nightmare stands for!" Keane laughed with her. "Yeah, I kind of guessed that. Still, that hyena guy, Jackle likes it so maybe the other nightmares. . ." "Nightmaren." Elliot corrected absently. Keane continued as if he hadn't heard. ". . . will come around."
Claris favored Elliot with a small smile, enjoying the sight of him blushing in response. "Jackle again. I really don't know what to make of that guy. It's almost like. . ." Keane cut her off, grinning at his own humor. "Like he's nuttier than a fruitcake?" Claris laughed. "Yes, exactly!"
The kids looked up at a startled yelp. NiGHTS fell over at a shove from Reala. "Ow, watch it!" Reala smirked. "I'm through with games. I'm through with this little chat, I'm through with looking at NiGHTS, and I AM THROUGH WITH CHRISTMAS!"
NiGHTS, Claris, Elliot, and Keane stared at Reala in surprise before looking disappointed. Keane sighed. "I really thought that you'd have changed your mind by now, Reala. What kind of person doesn't like Christmas?"
Elliot came over. "A Nightmaren. That's who."
Keane shook his head. "No way. If Jackle can like Christmas, then other Nightmaren can." Claris beamed at NiGHTS. "NiGHTS likes Christmas." NiGHTS smiled back. "That's true, but I don't think that I count."
Reala snarled. "You don't count, NiGHTS! And Jackle is an imbecile. A bigger fool than I had previously believed, as is Clawz! We are Nightmaren! What do we care for petty human seasons?"
Elliot blinked. "Whoa . . . bah humbug, eh Reala?" Claris looked sad. "You can't possibly mean that. You don't even know about Christmas yet!"
Reala looked away. "I know enough. It's all eyesores along the walls and sickening snacks. The only enjoyable part is the humans pushing each other over in the streets. . ."

Claris winced, remembering how she had fallen into Elliot. "That's terrible!" Keane shrugged. "That's part of it, though. . ."
Elliot frowned. "But shopping crowds isn't what Christmas is about! It's. . ." He stopped, remembering Claris' lecture about doing things for your loved ones, and not only because it had to be done like a common chore. He glanced at Claris before turning to Keane again. "Christmas is about doing nice things, not competing."
NiGHTS looked surprised. "This was Elliot "Outta My Way I'm Gonna SlamDunk" Edwards?" Claris seemed just as surprised. Reala growled. "You've obviously forgotten to whom you're speaking. Nightmaren don't DO nice things!"
"I do." NiGHTS raised a hand. Reala whirled. "YOU don't count, NiGHTS!" NiGHTS sighed, looking away in disappointment. "Aww. . ."
Keane snapped and a spotlight appeared out of nowhere. "It wouldn't be Christmas without a sappy, heart warming speech. So here we go. You see, Christmas isn't a material thing. It's not something that can be bought or won. It. . ." The boy squeaked as Reala casually lifted him, covering his mouth. Reala groaned. "Spare me the cliches. . ."
Claris and Elliot exchanged a glance, shrugging to each other. Claris blinked. "Oh, right! Reala, where did you put that star from before? We need it!"
Reala looked surprised at the change in topic. The Nightmaren sneered. "I put it somewhere where you'll never get it!" "On top of a tree?" Keane asked hopefully. Reala covered the boy's mouth again. "No."

NiGHTS frowned. "Hey Ree, let the kid talk! He's cool!" Reala narrowed his eyes. "You shut up."
Claris and Elliot exchanged a nod before moving closer. Elliot scowled. "You heard NiGHTS, let him go!" Claris nodded. "Yeah, get your claws off of him!"
Keane lifted his head, freeing his mouth. "Aww, I feel the love!" Reala moved his hand to cover the boy's mouth again. "I feel ill. And we've done what we came to do, Dreamer!" Reala moved Keane higher, slinging the boy over his shoulder. "Now it's back to jolly old St Wizeman for you!"
Keane grunted at the impact, surprised by Reala's rough handling of him. "H-hey!"
Claris gasped. "NiGHTS!" Elliot dove for their purple friend before she could react, latching onto NiGHTS' hand. NiGHTS only had time to open his mouth in surprise before the Merging energies spun them into one entity.
Claris folded her arms, pouting. "No fair, you're faster!" NiGHTS/Elliot turned to scowl at Reala and the captured Keane. "Let him go, Reala! We beat you once, we can do it again!"

Reala laughed. "Using children to help you fight. That's low, NiGHTS!" Inside of NiGHTS, Elliot flushed. "I'm no child! I'm almost fourteen. . ."
NiGHTS smiled soothingly. "They just can't wait to grow up . . . and for the record, the kids are using ME!"
Claris had crept around Reala during the conversation, and took that as her cue to pounce. Reala roared in surprise, nearly dropping Keane.
The pale Nightmaren snarled and grabbed ahold of Claris. "I hate to stoop so low, but I'll be taking the girl. What a Christmas present her Ideya will be!"
Reala laughed and gave Claris a warning shake as NiGHTS/Elliot started for him. "Tut! Wizeman doesn't need HER! If you pursue us, I'll take her Ideya and gut her!"
Claris winced, dangling from Reala's grip. "Elliot . .. just get him!"
NiGHTS snarled angrily and would have charged, but Elliot held him back. Surprised, NiGHTS looked down at himself. "Elliot!"
Elliot sighed. "NiGHTS, I don't want him to hurt Claris. . ." NiGHTS blinked, turning to look at the laughing Reala. With two Dreamers in tow, he was backing away. "The boy has more sense than I had previously credited him for. Just remember what will happen if you interfere, NiGHTS!"

NiGHTS tried to give chase again as Reala turned and flew away, carrying Claris and Keane beyond his reach. "No! Claris! Elliot, stop it!" NiGHTS finally began to lose his temper and roared, jerking away. Elliot cried out as he fell onto the snow; NiGHTS whirled instantly, snarling down at him. "Why did you do that! You just let OUR FRIEND get kidnapped!"
Elliot was silent for a long time, head bowed. It took NiGHTS several moments to realize that he was crying. The purple Nightmaren sighed, losing all traces of anger. "Elliot . . . we have to help her."
Elliot nodded, wiping his face. NiGHTS absently held his cuff out, looking away and ignoring the tug and honk of a nose being blown. The Nightmaren sighed. "NiGHTS, you've gone soft. . ."

Reala landed in Nightmare and strode inside, dragging Claris and Keane with him. He stormed into Jackle's living room display and dropped them onto the floor.
Keane winced, running his sore bottom. "Ouch! What'd you do that for!" Claris coughed, rubbing her shoulder. "Because he's the BAD guy, genius. Like we were trying to tell you. . ."
Keane's eyes widened. "But . . . but your friend's the one who left! HE'S the traitor!" Claris stood up, not in the mood to cater to stupidity. "And Reala just kidnapped me and hauled us both back here by force! Just how long are you going to pretend to be on the right side!"
Reala observed, smirking. "You humans are so naive. It never ceases to astound me." He lifted his head. "JACKLE!"
Keane shrank back. "uh oh. . ." Claris' face fell. "For once we agree. . .!" The kids watched as a cloaked shadow flew across the wall, eyes glinting mischievously. A soft laugh started up, echoing ominously.
"Oh . . ." Reala said, watching. "Drama. . ."

To Be Continued. . .