Note: Is it just me, or is Schnitzel from the new Cartoon Network show Chowder a much more awesome character than he lets on? Hmm.
BUUUUUUT I digress. This fanfic is NiGHTS, not Chowder. Neither franchise which I own or ever will. Oh, the agony of defeat.
Chapter Eight: The Fearsome Foursome
NiGHTS cleared his throat loudly, attempting to get the attention of two intertwined, moaning blurs of orange and red to no avail. NiGHTS cleared his throat loudly once again.
"Oh, mon amour ... vos mains a l'impression d'être la caresse d'anges..." Jackle moaned softly. His claws tightened around Reala's neck and head.
"Oh, mon frère ... vos lèvres taquine le mien dans une danse éternelle..." Reala whispered. He gathered Jackle deeper into his arms. Their lips met once again, as Reala backed his young lover up against a pillar. Hips rolled against each other, hands roamed lithe bodies, eyes slid shut, and tongues danced in an epic waltz as NiGHTS rolled his eyes. Sure, at first it was cute, touching even, but now it was becoming more like live porn and NiGHTS was getting a little annoyed, especially when the removal of pants was involved.
"AHEM!" NiGHTS nearly shouted. Reala and Jackle's heads snapped towards their blonde brother.
"What?" Reala snapped.
"We're supposed to be thinking of a game plan, not making out!" NiGHTS whined.
"This is our game plan," Reala said cheekily, "Swallow each other's tongues so when the cops come to call, we can't say a word."
Jackle snickered.
"Ugh, don't take his side!" NiGHTS scolded Jackle. "Can we please get things going right?"
With an exaggerated sigh, Reala and Jackle broke apart.
"Thank you. Now, if we can just come up with something..."
Reala groaned. "You know, this kind of crap never happened when Selph was still alive."
NiGHTS let out a sound halfway between an apologetic sob and a choke. "Well, he's not, okay?! He's not, so stop it! He's dead and nothing is gonna bring him back, okay?!" NiGHTS cried, decking Reala as hard as he could in the chest, sending the other reeling to the sand.
"I didn't mean anything by it, NiGHTS, all I said was this never happened when he was still alive!"
"Just shut up, okay, shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" NiGHTS grabbed his head and fell to his knees, crying. "Shut up... shut up..."
"NiGHTS, I'm sorry, okay? Jesus H Christ, man, calm yourself. I don't blame you for his death. If anything, I blame him for being gullible enough to fall into what was obviously a trap."
NiGHTS fell to his side and curled into an agonized fetal shape.
"Nuits, for ze love of God... Zelph'z death waz not your fault. Good God, man, get off ze floor. You're embarrazzing yourzelv." Jackle said, pulling on NiGHTS' arm.
"It was my fault, though, it was! I killed him with my own hands! I did it! It was me! It was my fault!" NiGHTS squeaked.
"NiGHTS, come on, get up. We don't blame you. Come on, let's sit around the fire and reminisce on times when he was alive, yes?" Reala dragged NiGHTS off the ground and pushed him near the fire. The sun had set, casting a fiery glow over the pseudo-campers.
"I remember, I waz very young, non? He wazzere, wizzuz, and I remember 'ee uz'd to fix my toyz when zey became broken, oui? 'Ee 'eard me weep from my bedroom, and would come in to fix ze problem. Until I became older I uz'd to zink he waz an angel zent from Wizeman to cure any ill." Jackle said, smiling lightly and gazing into the fire.
"He and I, well, I can't say we were close, that's for sure, but we got on alright. We usually stayed out of each other's way and only really interacted when it was necessary. We weren't overly close but I do remember he was quite intelligent. I used to ask him all sorts of questions and he would always have an answer. I remember there were only a few times which he didn't have an answer for what I asked, and I do remember that he was blunt about it. He never lied to me, but instead always told me frank that he didn't know. He was honest." Reala said.
"H-he and I never got along well, actually... He must have sensed that I'd b-b-betray Wizeman sooner or later... He must have known right from the start. We never really talked... it was always awkward conversation... I know he didn't like me much. My only wish is that he'll come back and I can tell him how sorry I am for... you know... murdering him. I didn't mean it..." NiGHTS ended with a whisper.
Reala pointed to the sky. "NiGHTS, didn't you mention something about shooting stars?"
NiGHTS looked up. "It's only a plane, Reala."
"Well, use your imagination. Shooting stars don't occur every night in this lively city. Pretend. Make a wish, why don't you?"
NiGHTS smiled at Reala. "Okay.
"Star light
Star Bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Please grant the wish I wish tonight.
I wish that Selph were alive again, and I wish I could tell him how sorry I am."
The plane seemed to shimmer in midair as it ducked and twisted it's way through the clouds, finally disappearing into fog.
"Wow, what an anticlimactic ending." Reala commented dryly.
NiGHTS looked downcast. "Well, I hope he heard me in Heaven anyway..."
"Heard you what?"
Three heads flipped around in shock. Three pairs of eyes grew wide. Three jaws dropped open.
"What? What are you three staring at?"
Three voices joined in a cacophony of unintelligible babbling.
Selph raised an eyebrow and sat back.
"Guys, I know it's been a while, but for God's sake, calm down. I know-- OOF!" NiGHTS barreled into Selph's muscled chest. "Hey, calm down, okay? Look, I know you didn't mean to cause me any harm, I just-- are you crying?" NiGHTS nodded. "Again, look, I know. Chi-hill ah-hout..."
"How are you here?" Reala asked.
"When Nightmaren die, they don't leave for good, they're just trapped in limbo. An empty void, so to speak. When NiGHTS started wishing, I found a portal out. It dropped me here. As you can see, it changed my looks as well."
NiGHTS stepped back to look at his brother.
Hair the color of molten gold spiked up and back in a porcupine-like fashion cascaded down Selph's head and back to about his elbows. His eyes were ruby red. His skin was translucent ivory, so pale you could see veins underneath. He wore a faded black tight T shirt, with gold mesh sleeves. His legs seemed to change the way Reala's had, into exaggeratedly wide-bottomed black pants decorated with golden trim and chains. To top it off he wore a choker around his neck, gold links, with a dog tag hanging from it that read Know Thyself. He had a tattoo of a black stripe across his nose.
Selph patted his brother on the shoulder. "I've been watching you guys for a while. Yes, Reala and Jackle, I see you in the corner over there looking embarrassed. I saw you making out over there, don't think I didn't. Brother sees all, man, brother sees all. Glad I popped up before pants became shredded."
NiGHTS sniffled. "Selph, can you ever forgive me?"
"I already have, NiGHTS. I already have."