Chapter 10

Karan lounged on his master's throne casually.

"Karan," the guard named Kione said warningly, "master's not going to be happy when he comes home and sees you in his chair.

Karan snorted, "If he was going to come back he would have by now."
"And so you're suddenly our leader?"

"Sure why not?"

"You're one of the laziest people in the whole dream world, if your king we'll never get anything done." The guards laughed.

Karan frowned. He was never going to take over if he didn't get any respect from the others. He stood up.

"Where're you goin' kingie?"

Karan left in thoughtful silence. He could get respect if he had the same power as his ex-master. So he headed towards Edge Garden.

Reala rubbed his red eyes. He had cried himself out. Nights meant everything to him, and now, he was gone.

"Reala," Adia opened the door, "can I come in?"

"I thought you hated me," Reala said sadly.

"No," Adia went and sat next to Reala, "I'm concerned about your mental heath."

"What do you mean my mental heath?" Reala asked, slightly angry.

"You've been so uptight and edgy and angry and restless, I'm worried that you-"

Reala stood and walked over to the other side of the room, clasping his hands behind his back, staring at the wall intently, "can I ask you something, Adia?" his voice was cold.

"Anything," light flashed in Adia's eyes, "Reala? Are you wearing your battle claws?"

"Tell me Adia," Reala said, ignoring Adia's question, "how would you feel towards me if I killed someone?"

"What?" Adia looked at her husband with shook, horror, and concern, "why?"

"It's just a question," Reala examined his battle claws casually.

"Reala," Adia hugged herself, "this isn't funny, please stop, you're scaring me."

Reala clicked his golden talons, "why?"

"You sound like you're actually thinking about murder,"

Reala laughed, a dark, evil laugh, "murder? I was just asking."

"Reala," Adia said trying not to sound as terrified as she felt, "you need to stop this, you're scaring everyone."

Reala turned to look at his frightened wife, "you still haven't answered my question, Adia."

"I would be completely and utterly terrified of you!" Adia shouted.

Reala rubbed his eyes, "I thought so."

"You thought so?" Adia shot angrily, "what is wrong with you?"

Reala looked up at Adia anxiously, "I don't know."

Karan crouched and touched the soft grass of castle Eden, how was he going to do this?

He got down on his knees, and pressed his palms into the ground, "I need more power," he said through gritted teeth, "I need respect, I need to take this world over!"
"You wish to have my power?"

Karan heard a dark and ominous voice echo around him, "If it will allow me to rule, yes."

"I will give you my power," the voice boomed, "but in return you must do one thing for me."

"I'll do anything," Karan begged, "just give me your power."

Cho surveyed the horizon, watching for anything suspicious. His concentration paid off as he watched a large group of William's children parading towards the Castile, "B. sound the alarm, William's children are coming, and they don't look friendly."

B. sounded the alarm, sending every able bodied Maren and Starlit onto the Castile grounds.

William surveyed his children. Leading them was Karan. He looked darker, more sinister, like something malevolent had taken him over.

Nights came out onto the grounds, and stood with Elijah. He watched the advancing army for a moment, "I'm going to fight."

Elijah's jaw dropped, "what?"

Nights took off his cloak, "hold this for me would you?" he gave it to Elijah. He placed his persona over his eyes and walked up to the front lines.

Matsu smiled as he saw Nights walked out of the crowed, "good to see you, sir."

"Could I lead?"

Matsu nodded.

Nights turned to his troops, "we ready?"

"Yes sir!" the crowed cheered.

"For Nightopia!"

The Maren army sped towards the on coming enemy with enthusiasm, glad to have Nights, once again, leading the fight.

Nights jumped over the first few lines of the enemy, catching them all by surprise, giving his army the upper hand. He dashed through enemy lines effortlessly, disarming those in his way, having one target in mind, the leader. He found his target and moved in for the attack.

Karan knew he was coming. He turned and grabbed Nights by the forehead.

Pain shot through Nights' entire body, his mind felt like it was being twisted and pulled apart. He was thrown onto the ground.

Karan smiled, "fall back."

His troops, though confused, followed his orders.

The Maren watched, helplessly, as Nights writhed on the ground, screaming in agony.

Elijah pushed though the crowd, "Nights!" he fell to Nights' side, "give him room," Elijah waved franticly for the crowd to back up.

Nights went limp staring into the sky, face blank.

"Nights?" Elijah shook Nights lightly.

Teara slid in next to Elijah.

"What's wrong with him?"

Teara activated her persona and looked into Nights. There was a moment when all she saw was swirling darkness, then she was hurled back into the crowd.

"You okay?" Elijah asked her.

"Yeah," she stood up and striated her persona.

Nights moaned.

"What's wrong with him, Teara?" Elijah asked anxiously.

"I-I don't know," Teara shook her head, "I wasn't able to see."

Elijah picked Nights up, struggling a bit under his weight, and took him to the medical wing.