Chapter 2: iNTRODUCTiONS

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Nightmare castle

Hallways

NiGHTS soared down the hallway of Nightmare Castle. Torches on the walls flickered with blue flames. Stony brick walls loomed over NiGHTS as she kept flying. She came to a halt at an arched doorway. A beautiful fountain spilled red water. Crimson flowers illuminated the area.

NiGHTS drifted into the area. She couldn't help but marvel at the garden. A cobblestone pathway wound around the fountain, and grass filled up the remaining areas. NiGHTS twisted around, taking in the scenery. A tower loomed in the distance, a golden bell hanging from it. Red shingles covered the roofs of the building. The swirling purple sky remained, hanging up there.

"Hey." A voice said. NiGHTS whirled around, and she saw… herself? No, it looked like her, but it wasn't. It had a red and black hat instead of purple, and wore a red vest. It had yellow claws instead of hands like she had.

NiGHTS pointed to herself. "M-me?"

"Yes, you! Do you see anyone else here?" The creature said. Definitely male. "Who're you anyways? I haven't seen you around here before." He asked, crossing his arms.

"I'm NiGHTS! I was just created by Wizeman!" NiGHTS replied enthusiastically. "And you are…"

"Reala." Reala answered. "So, you're new here? Well, I, uh… hope you enjoy your stay here, I guess…"

"Thanks! I will! Nice to meetcha, Ree!" NiGHTS exclaimed, flying back into the halls she was just in.

Reala raised an eyebrow. "Ree? I don't think so." "Ree" said angrily.

NiGHTS continued flying down the hall. "Well, that was fun! I already met one of my siblings! Aweso…" She cut off her sentence upon stopping at a wooden door with a golden plaque saying NiGHTS on it.

"Well! This sure looks interesting!" She turned a golden knob, and opened the door. A large bed colored purple lay on the far side of the room. Purple dressers and closets sat on the purple carpet. The only thing not colored purple was an orange cloak and hat, along with a pair of gloves and orange shoes hanging on a wooden coat hanger.

NiGHTS floated towards the bed, and felt the fluffy covers. However, NiGHTS didn't notice the orange clothing shift around, take the form of being worn by someone, although no one was inside of the cloak. It crept over to NiGHTS, leaned over her shoulder, and whispered, "Boo."

"AAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!" NiGHTS screamed, twirling around, to face the dismantled clothes. Where a face would be, were two slanted eyes, and a grinning mouth filled with sharp, gleaming teeth.

"Hiya!" The floating clothes screeched. NiGHTS was forced to cover her ears it was so loud. "Are you the newbie? Cause I haven't seen you before! I'm Jackle, the Mantle! Got it memorized?" He said, placing a gloved finger where his temple would be. He loomed over NiGHTS as he did so.

NiGHTS pushed Jackle back. "Uh, sure."

"Great! So, what's your name?" Jackle asked, still grinning.

"I'm NiGHTS! And… you are… a disembodied, floating pile of laundry?" NiGHTS asked, staring at Jackle's invisible body.

Jackle glared at NiGHTS, his smile turning into a frown. "No!" Jackle crossed his "arms", and turned away. "Jeez, why does everyone say that…"

"Jackle? What was that?" Sang a high-pitched voice.

Jackle slapped his face. "Aw man, my day just keeps getting worse…"

A balloon-like creature with rabbit ears bounced into the doorway. "Jackle! Why do you keep terrorizing the new Nightmaren?" She sang.

Oh, come on, Puffy! It was just a prank." Jackle complained.

"Oh, Jackle… you are such a handful…" the creature called Puffy sighed. "Come, young one. Let's go and…"

Puffy was cut short by a card whistle through the air and hit her square in the forehead. She bounced backwards, hit the wall, and fell asleep.

Jackle walked forward, and removed the card from Puffy's forehead. He turned to NiGHTS, holding up the card. "8 of Clubs. Afflicts sleep." He stashed the card away in his cloak, somewhere.

Instantly, a large feline creature with long arms and spike-like wings dashed down the hall and stopped in front of Jackle. "Jackle! Dude! Gillwing and Gulpo are fighting again!" He said, gasping for breath.

"Clawz, can't you see that I'm speaking with someone here?" He said, gesturing to NiGHTS with his gloved hand. Clawz looked over his shoulder.

"Oh, hey! You must be new here! I'm Clawz." Clawz said.

"I'm NiGHTS!" NiGHTS replied.

"Nice to meetcha, NiGHTS! Now, come on guys, lets go!" He said, motioning with his arm to follow him. The 3 raced down the hallway, completely forgetting about Puffy lying on the ground, snoring.

*

Back in the fountain area, a huge fish with sharp fangs and blue scales floated alongside a huge green dragon. They threw fireballs and water-balls at each other, both fighting over who-knows-what.

Reala was floating in the air, observing the battle of the titans, when NiGHTS, Jackle, and Clawz flew up to NiGHTS' counterpart.

"Hey, Ree! What's up?" NiGHTS said happily.

"Don't call me that!" Reala said, blushing.

"Ree?" Jackle said snickering.

"Shut up." Reala said. "Say, where's Puffy?"

Jackle suddenly became very interested in examining his gloved fingernails.

Reala raised an eyebrow. "So, Gillwing and Gulpo are fighting… again. Any suggestions on what to do? Cause I'm not about to face getting eaten by that oversized hunk of blubber called Gulpo again."

"Leave this to me." Jackle said, floating forward. He flung 2 cards into the air, each one seeking out a target. They hit Gillwing and Gulpo. Instantly they stopped fighting, blinked, and floated away in two different directions.

"4 of hearts. Calms arguments." Jackle stated bluntly.

"JAAACKLE!!!" A high voice shrieked. NiGHTS, Reala, Jackle, and Clawz turned around to face an extremely angry Puffy. "How DARE you! I'll grind your cape into dust, you [BEEP!] jerk!

"Er, uh… s-sorry guys, I, uh, I gotta go… get my haircut! Bye!" Jackle said, flying away quickly.

"Jackle! Come back! You don't have hair!" Puffy screamed as she chased after him.

Suddenly, Wizeman's hand materialized out of thin air. "NiGHTS, Reala, in my room this instant. I need to speak to you." Wizeman boomed. The hand disappeared.

NiGHTS and Reala stared at each other. Why did Wizeman need them? Had they done something wrong?

Yay! Second chapter! More randomness, and even a reference! I might be using references along my fanfiction. R&R!

References:

When Jackle said, "Got it memorized?" it was a reference to Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, when Axel first meets Sora.