NiGHTS was silent for a long time, his mouth working as his brain tried desperately to process what he had just been told. "W. . . what kind of 'Maren I am?" The purple Nightmaren turned worriedly to his brother, eyes pleading with Reala to say that he had made this up.
Reala saw the look in his brother's eyes, and knew what NiGHTS wanted so desperately to hear. He sighed, frustrated with his inability to reassure NiGHTS. Reala shook his head and turned to study the underside of the castle base.
NiGHTS' face fell and he gave his own head a gentle shake, not believing what he was hearing. "B. . . but I haven't done anything . . . have I?" NiGHTS frowned, trying to think of what he could have said or done to make anyone, especially the two entities who knew him better than anyone, think that he was a traitor. Reala might leap to conclusions, but Wizeman had created NiGHTS. The omnipotent being surely knew NiGHTS inside and out. Could he see something about NiGHTS that even NiGHTS himself was unaware of? It was a frightening thought.
"Tell me what Wizeman said. . ." NiGHTS requested in a soft, scared tone.

Despite himself, Reala found himself feeling sorry for NiGHTS. After all, this wasn't his fault. Reala would have done anything at that moment to take back everything that he had said. He had known that this accusation would crush NiGHTS, and he had still gone and said. Some brother he was! "NiGHTS. . ." Reala reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder, then hesitated and jerked his hand back. Reala sighed in frustration, suddenly furious with NiGHTS for being the cause of his own unhappiness. It didn't matter that NiGHTS was trying his best and hadn't actually done anything wrong, this was still happening!
Reala snarled and stamped a foot, turning to snarl his frustration at NiGHTS. He stopped at the pitiful figure in front of him. All of the fight had gone out of NiGHTS, and even his eyes seemed to have taken on a dull, lifeless shade. Reala felt the anger draining out of him despite his desperate attempts to hold onto it. He needed that anger in order to confront NiGHTS. Without it, Reala feared that he wouldn't be strong enough to say what had to be said.

NiGHTS watched a series of emotions flash through Reala's eyes. Pity, sorrow. fear, pain, anger, and finally guilt. It hurt NiGHTS to know that he was the cause of those unpleasant emotions:
Reala let his breath out in a long sigh, deciding to just spit his words out before he lost the nerve completely. What was it about NiGHTS that disarmed him so easily? "Master Wizeman said that you were different." Reala admitted. "Different in a way that might lead to . . . to you. . . " He winced as his voice cracked, trying desperately to become angry again.
NiGHTS bowed his head. He knew what Reala was going to say, and it hurt him to think it. Reala's words were still sinking in, causing pain and anger the more NiGHTS thought about it. "No way. . ." NiGHTS spoke in a soft tone. He looked at Reala, and the red, pale blue, and black Nightmaren backed away at the sudden fury in NiGHTS' eyes. NiGHTS was suddenly the heartless drill instructor that he had been just a short while ago. "Well, it's not true! I love Master Wizeman as much as you, Reala. As much as any of us! Nothing will ever change that!"

NiGHTS bared his fangs in a sinister grin. "Wait, I get it now . . . you're out for rank! You're trying to eliminate me so that you can be Master Wizeman's favorite!"
Reala winced at the crazed, desperate laughter issuing from NiGHTS. "NiGHTS, stop that!"
NiGHTS stopped, and smiled more like his usual self, patting Reala on the shoulder. "You had me going there, too. Nice try, Ree." NiGHTS beamed and took flight. "I have to get back to those trainees. Why don't you try that on Jackle? He's usually pretty gullible."
Reala watched as NiGHTS flew off, clenching his yellow claws into fists. "You idiot, NiGHTS . . . if you keep this up, you'll only cause more trouble for all of us."
Reluctantly, Reala left as well. He had to get out and fly in order to sort his thoughts out.

A pair of deceptively innocent blue eyes watched as the brothers went their separate ways. A small grin materialized and grew until it threatened to engulf what there was of the Nightmaren's face.
Jackle chuckled. "So that's it . . . Wait'll the others hear about this! A defective Nightmaren! Oh, that's priceless!" The cloaked Nightmaren dislodged himself from the craggy castle bottom where he'd been spying and flew to find Puffy. This news was too big to keep to himself! besides, Jack and Jill were being huffy and not talking to him.

NiGHTS decided not to retrieve his students, but flew instead toward an expanse of green that had appeared on the horizon some time ago. It hadn't seemed important enough to warrant investigation, and over time the Nightmaren had simply accepted it as a tacky eyesore on the horizon.
Now seemed as good a time as any to check it out, and NiGHTS could use the distraction. Besides, he had always been naturally curious beneath his sinister exterior.
The grassy plain burst into bloom beneath NiGHTS as he entered the dream. He recognized it now as a creation of the strange beings known only as Dreamers.
NiGHTS landed and looked around, failing to notice the small sapling that was crushed under his heel. He did however notice the other young trees sprouting and being carefully nurtured by the fairy-like natives of Nightopia. Nightopians, NiGHTS mused. He walked over to a pair that were happily raking and watering around a young tree.
The Nightopians looked up with a startled squeak, then seemed to forget that NiGHTS had not been there a moment ago, and resumed their work.
NiGHTS frowned at the stupid creatures. "That's pointless, you worthless litte things. This dream will only fall to ruin like all the others. Why bother taking care of something that won't last?" NiGHTS smiled, drawing himself up. "Now Nightmaren, we are forever. We don't age, we don't sicken, we don't die. Wizeman made us that way."

NiGHTS blinked, suddenly realizing that he was talking to two animals that weren't paying any attention to him anyway. Disgusted, the purple Nightmaren turned away. "It'll all fall apart eventually. And you little idiots will never even remember that it wasn't always that way."
NiGHTS closed his eyes, imagining the empty wasteland that this dream might become. He thought of another as yet nameless dream, a desert of sand and metal spires. A canyon of sorts. It had once been a roaring river flowing past green banks lined with ferns and tall, stately fir trees.
Time had changed all of that, of course. Dreamers faded and their dreams did likewise. Nothing ever lasted. Like NiGHTS. Even his existance was beginning to change and fall apart. If he lost Wizeman's praise, would he also fade? When all was said and done, what was the real difference between a Nightmaren and the Dreamers? or even NiGHTS and the Nightopians?
NiGHTS was shocked to feel a pain deep inside at the thought of this new dream falling to ruin. He looked around in alarm, seeing only trees and Nightopians. Pain quickly turned to anger.
Glaring at himself for being so sentimental, NiGHTS turned to go. "Enjoy your stupid little twigs while they last, you ridiculous animals." He took flight, heading home.

NiGHTS headed straight for his lair and sealed himself inside; he needed to think.
Flopping bonelessly into his seat, the purple Nightmaren lifted a finely formed hand for inspection. His hands were clean, with fine, shapely fingers and not a blemish in sight. The hands of someone who had had an easy life, sending others to work for him and enjoying all the luxuries that his lifestyle had to offer. NiGHTS and Reala were Wizeman's prize creations, even if it was only their physical bodies that had actually been created. Fancy shells made to house sparks of nightmarish energy. NiGHTS owed Wizeman so much. If not his existance, then at least his comfort and power. "I could never betray Wizeman . . . could I?"
The concept troubled NiGHTS. He sat in silence for the rest of the night and much of the morning before finally drifting into a troubled sleep.
In his own lair, Reala was also awake. He lifted a flame from its torchstand, observing as it glowed an eerie green. "NiGHTS . . . don't disappoint me." His claws tightened, smothering the flame as Reala closed his eyes, trying to trust that NiGHTS would do the right thing.

". . . And then NiGHTS just flipped out, I mean the guy completely went insane!" Jackle laughed. Puffy sighed, wondering if this was what humans called 'the pot calling the kettle black.' She was sitting restlessly amidst several satin cushions while Jackle sat at a banquet table, happily reciting all that he'd heard. "Oh, it was great! You should have seen it!"
Puffy folded her arms. "That does not sound like NiGHTS. . ." Jackle held his floating hands out in a shrugging gesture. "Like I said, he went nutty! But I always figured NiGHTS had something wrong with him, I mean think about it!"
Puffy thought about it. She decided to keep her thoughts on who was crazy and who wasn't to herself.
Jackle clapped. "I bet NiGHTS is going to get in trouble, I sure hope I see it!" Puffy sighed. "Jackle, surely you must have better things to DO with your time . . . what about talking to those toys in your lair, Jaque and Bill?" Jackle twitched. "It's Jack and Jill and don't you forget it!" Puffy's eyes widened in surprise as Jackle tensed, practically frothing at the mouth. She decided to change the subject before he could work himself into a state and mess up her lair. "So what of Reala then?"
Jackle quickly resumed his calm, happy chatter. "Oh, him? I dunno, I guess he went somewhere to sulk. Reala's okay though aside from spending too much time with NiGHTS. . ."
Puffy leaned back on her cushions, this was becoming tiresome. "And did NiGHTS fly off?" Jackle shrugged. "Dunno, maybe." He jumped into the air, suddenly excited. "OOH! Maybe he ran away from home! Won't THAT get him busted!" Puffy sighed, trying to think of a good way to get Jackle out of her lair without beating the glitter out of him. Jackle chattered on about betrayals and lunacy, happily oblivious.

It was at that moment that Reala entered. "Puffy. I need. . ." He stopped at the sight of Jackle's grinning face. "Jackle. . ." Jackle waved cheerfully at his name.
Eager to stop any brawling before it happened in her lair, Puffy bounced forward. "Reala! Jackle and I were just er . . . discussing poliTIcs!" That was kind of true, even though Nightmaren didn't really believe in the concept. Wizeman ruled and everyone else just kind of was.
Reala frowned at Jackle. "I see . . . in any case, I need to speak to you." Reala sighed as he found Jackle looming anxiously over him. "To Puffy only." Jackle wilted, disappointed.
Reala turned to Puffy, then paused. "Jackle. . ." Jackle grumbled, floating for the door. He casually reached to tug at his left glove as he went. Reala glared. "If you even consider spying on me, I will personally confiscate your mantle and give it to Clawz for a scratching post cover!"
Jackle's eyes opened and he quickly hugged the garment close, hurrying out.

The night eventually gave way to a rosy dawn. A figure perched on the castle roof recoiled. NiGHTS hissed dramatically, pretending to raise a cape over his face. "Foul bringer of wakeness!"
The purple Nightmaren rose to his feet, growling as if he could argue against the coming of a new day. "That was So not a full night, not fair! It's no-augh!" A beam of sunlight temporarily blinded NiGHTS, forcing him to cover his face. He tumbled off of his spire onto a lower section of roof. "Augh, that was a cheap trick!"
NiGHTS shielded his eyes as he rose again. "Okay sun, you caught me in a bad mood!" The sunlight played gently across the castle, heedless of the Nightmaren's words. Annoyed, NiGHTS hissed again. "I defy you, sun!" He sighed as he recieved no response. "Look at me, arguing with a ball of fire. . ."
NiGHTS took flight as the area begin to brighten. "Ha! I won't be chased indoors that easily, I am the great NiGHTS!" He turned to Drilldash toward the sun, wincing and falling a few feet before shooting into the shade of a spire. "Darn bright sun and hurting eyes. . ."
NiGHTS stood again, grumbling. "I WILL beat the sun!" He clenched his fists. "I haven't melted or turned to stone or dust, that's good. I guess sunlight just hurts. . ."
NiGHTS blinked, squinting at the hazy shapes around him. Nightmaren eyes were designed for the blackness of night and rarely were Nightmaren exposed to bright lights. NiGHTS squinted harder as his pupils strained to contract, becoming tight slits. He blinked as things became slightly easier to make out, aside from the pain part.
NiGHTS blinked again. "Huh?" He looked around, noting the roof's grey and silver slate and metal. It wasn't black at all then. How had he never noticed? NiGHTS lifted his head to scan his surroundings, closing his eyes almost instantly at the brilliance and searing pain in his eyes. He fell to his knees with a shout.
NiGHTS covered his eyes with a hand, crawling to the edge of the roof by touch. He dangled his legs over the edge then dropped, squeezing his eyes shut and spreading his arms to slow his descent. Even so, it was a hard landing.
Dazed and blinded, NiGHTS staggered along the castle wall until he'd found the entrance, then hurried inside. He flattened himself against the inside of the door. "You may have won this battle, cursed sun . . . but not the war!" That said, NiGHTS fell over, rubbing at his aching eyes.

Day passed and night returned. NiGHTS hid in his lair, waiting patiently. No ball of fire was going to defeat him.
Reala stopped by at one point. "NiGHTS, don't hide in your lair. What will Master Wizeman think? Come out." NiGHTS whirled and snarled. "No! I have to wait to beat the sun!"
Reala blinked several times in surprise before moving on, apparently eager to get away from this insanity.
NiGHTS waited, curled in his seat. He had actually been able to see the morning before. In daylight, something that no Nightmaren had ever claimed to be able to do. The thought that he could move about during the day as well as during the night was irresistable to NiGHTS.
Besides, that cocky sun had to be taught a lesson and NiGHTS was the only 'Maren capable of doing it.
Reala sighed as he returned to his lair, just as the horizon began to change from black to deep blue. Now was the time for all good Nightmaren to go to sleep. . .
"COCK A DOODLE DOOOOOOOOO!"
Reala stumbled at the shrill cry. "NiGHTS!" He covered his face. "Not again. . ."

NiGHTS stood tall, his blue violet eyes flashing with dedication as he watched the horizon change. "So, my worthy adversary. We meet again. . ." He grinned, revealing a gleaming fang.
The first amethyst glow of morning began to show itself, and NiGHTS blinked. "Trying to butter me up with a tribute, eh? That's my color, but I will not go easy on you!"
A pink light rose, spilling golden orange sunrays across the land. NiGHTS hissed, puffing his chest out. "Do your worst, vile sunlight!"
NiGHTS watched the colors change. The purple, pink, and orange soon gave way to brilliant white and yellow. NiGHTS' pupils contracted painfully, forcing him to blink.
He resisted the urge to rub at his offended orbs. "T . . . that won't . . .. work. . ..!" He winced.
As the area brightened, NiGHTS squinted, finding it hard to see. His violet eyes darkened somewhat against the glare, relieving some of the pain. NiGHTS shielded his eyes with a hand, choosing to look across the landscape rather than straight at the sun. "I won't go down so easily this time. . ."
Dead, twisted shapes seemed to rise into view. They might once have been trees but looked burnt and tortured now. NiGHTS blinked, was this what Nightmare really looked like? Wizeman must have designed it to be intimidating for Dreamers. But NiGHTS was no Dreamer. He cocked his head, taking an interest in this latest discovery. Could a Nightmaren fly in the light? He felt an urge to go explore those trees.

NiGHTS smirked. "What an adventure this could be, and no one'll ever believe me!" Forgetting the battle against the sun completely, NiGHTS threw himself off the roof and swooped toward those blackened trunks. "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Something out of the corner of his eye made NiGHTS pull up in shock. Something was following him, something sparkly and blue! No, wait. NiGHTS lifted a hand, admiring the tiny blue sparkles that fell from his fingertips. It was only his startrail, the shimmering energy that he left in his wake when he flew. It was pale blue then. NiGHTS hadn't expected to discover anything about himself.
NiGHTS grinned. "Oooh!" He flew a few tight circles in order to admire his startrail, playing. Heedless of the purple lunatic chasing his own tail, the sun rose higher, illuminating the full area. NiGHTS halted as his eyes began to ache again, landing quickly. "Ow! I wonder if I can build up an immunity to this . . . it's a pain when I want to investigate stuff!"
NiGHTS squinted, watching the landscape change subtly. "How many surprises are out here? What kind of stuff can only be seen during daylight? I bet if I could fly by day, Wizeman'd see that I'm as good as the others . . . no, BETTER than the others!" NiGHTS laughed at the thought. "I'll show them!"

NiGHTS was so involved in his own ego and plotting that he failed to notice when his purple costume paled to a pale fuschia. It wasn't until a little later that an unpleasant sensation came over him. NiGHTS' eyes widened in dismay as he began to ache and itch all over, every movement became irritating. "Gah!" NiGHTS froze, trying to hold perfectly still. Were Nightmaren allergic to the sun! He felt like his body was shrinking around him, what was happening?
NiGHTS groaned, feeling sick. He scrambled toward the nearest tree, seeking any form of darkness. The tree offered only a faint shadow, but it was all he had. Every movement, every breath brought more discomfort and pain. NiGHTS collapsed, which made it all worse for several moments. So this was it, this was why Nightmaren only flew by night. The sun was some kind of horrible poison to Nightmaren, and NiGHTS was its victim.
NiGHTS had never experienced extreme pain or itching before, he was convinced that it was a sign that he was dying. "But . . . Nightmaren don't die. . ." He winced. Was that true? Maybe only the sun could kill a 'Maren. NiGHTS closed his eyes, waiting to find out what would happen next.
The darkness finally came to rescue NiGHTS, in the form of unconsciousness.

To Be Continued. . .