The day of creation had long since passed. Although academics and basic training chiefly occupied the new-born first-levels' time, they still found time aplenty to spend together, away from the rest, and indulge in their own devices; however, no matter where they were, one fact remained certain: They were inseparable.
Together, they explored the dark and dreary lands of Nightmare: the deserts of scarlet sand; the shadowy, shifting jungles; the murky waters of the various bodies. Together, they soared through their home's stormy skies, dove around the myriad of floating landmasses that collectively constituted Nightmare, and glided above the mysterious, forbidden Dark Ocean. Together, they learned of their rank and all the power, prestige, and obedience that came with it. Today, however, was different: For the first time, they began to take notice of a new emotion welling up within them.
"...Hey? NiGHTS?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm bored," Reala complained, at last vocalizing the feeling that had been budding inside him during the past week. "Entertain me."
"So am I." NiGHTS sat up from the cold stone floor where they lay beside each other and looked at him, crossing her arms primly. "What if I don't want to entertain you? You can't order me around; no one but Master Wizeman can do that. Maybe you should entertain me."
"No way; I asked first." Riled, though playful, he added, "And I can order you around if I want to: Entertain me, I say. See, an order."
"No, say I~"
Reala grinned up at her. "Then I'm going to have to punish you for insubordination."
Giggling, NiGHTS was already out the door when her voice floated back, "I'd like to see you try!"
"Just watch and I will!" Reala called back, taking off after her. They chased each other through the various halls and rooms of Castle Nightmare, Reala catching NiGHTS, NiGHTS turning and catching Reala, both disturbing more than a few Nightmarens in the process. Eventually, though, the game lost its appeal, and they both slowed to a mere drift. "What now?" inquired Reala.
"Ah... I dunno..." complained NiGHTS, who sighed slightly and looked around. "Hmm..." They both immediately fell into a respectful silence as they passed the chamber doors of their Master, but once they had passed, NiGHTS's eyes glimmered. "I have an idea."
Less than five minutes later, a scream from Puffy's room shook the castle walls.
Inside, the two young first-levels bounced upon the balloon maren, hooting and howling in unison.
"Wake up, Puff!"
"Yeah, Puff, wake up!
"C'mon!"
"Take us to Nightopia!"
"Yeah, Nightopia!"
"You little brats!" screeched Puffy, her awful voice cracking further, and tossed the two from her person. "When I get my hands on you—" Her threat, cut off by the hand of a bored looking Reala over her mouth, died in the air.
"You can't do anything to us," he informed.
"Yeah," said NiGHTS, grinning wide. "We're first-levels! We outrank you~ Master would have your head!"
To the infinite amusement of the twins, Puffy's face contorted and grew scarlet with rage and frustration, and as their laughter subsided, Reala, still grinning, carefully peeled his hand away from her face. "So, are you going to take us to Nightopia or not?"
Shortly, the pair emerged into a paradise, accompanied by their rotund pink guardian. Only further pain would accompany her refusal; without a single shred of pleasure, she had caved into their demands. For now, she looked condescendingly down upon them, her fat lips pulled down in a frown and her arms crossed as best as they were able as the pair whined and complained in the light. Huddling in each other's shadow, they held a hand over their squinted eyes as they tried to look around. "The sky's so bright in this place..." murmured NiGHTS.
"Colors too," added Reala, wincing at the sight of a spectrum spout of water shooting into the air. Slowly, though, their eyes adjusted, and they stood proper to take in the sights.
Judging by the simplicity and relatively small size of the Nightopia, the Visitor must have been rather young: Giant leaves floated on an iridescent lake beneath a brilliant blue sky, and on occasion, a rainbow pillar of water shot up into the sky, glimmering, then falling. The three Nightmarens stood on the too-bright emerald grass that edged the dreamworld. Cautiously, NiGHTS and Reala took one step forward, then another. "What a weird..." Reala began to murmur, but stopped dead as he spotted a straggling, whimpering Nightopian struggling to flee from the Nightmares. "NiGHTS! Check this out!" he cried and bolted towards the poor pian; it didn't stand a chance. Once Reala's hands were upon it, it immediately began to wail loudly as the two young Nightmares inspected the squishy creature, poking and pulling at its limbs.
"...We should eat it," NiGHTS stated with all seriousness, then looked up. "Puffyyyyy? Can we eat these things?"
The rabbit, who had been settling down in a comfortable spot in the sun, looked up, blinked, and flashed her fangs in a wicked smile that condemned the pian in a moment. "The Nightopians? Oh, only sometimes, bring it here for me to inspect." Exchanging a skeptical look, the twins deferred to the older Nightmaren's wishes and brought the pian—only for the lower maren to devour it in a moment, followed by a chortling bout of laughter at the shock on the twins' faces. Quickly, the two became enraged, and their faces coloured.
"Puffy!" they cried, and jumped back into the air to take their revenge, when a small, shaking voice stopped everything.
"H... Hello...?" asked a small, freckled red-haired child, a girl, who peered out from behind a leaf in the water. She couldn't have been a day over six years old.
"Is that...?" NiGHTS asked in hushed wonder.
"A Visitor," answered Reala with absolute certainty. As they gazed at the girl, they began to perceive something else about her person: A small, glowing white light.
"And she has an Ideya," added Puffy, who hopped a few paces nearer. "Watch as I put your lessons into practice, children." Clearing her throat, she placed a hand on her chest, and began to sing.
To the Nightmares, her song was beautiful, a wonderful cascade of perfectly struck notes. Her voice rose and fell, and the twins were entranced. They scarcely noticed the reddening sky and shadows that stretched and grew and feasted upon the sweet Nightopia.
To the Visitor, her song was terror given a voice, guttural croons and screeches from every angle, mixed with the horrible crunches and howls of nearing beasts. Unlike the twins, she noticed with growing horror the transformation her Nightopia underwent, and once the transportation to Nightmare was complete, her fate was sealed. Puffy was upon her, and in a moment, the child's screams were silenced.
The twins gazed curiously at the glowing white orb Puffy now possessed. "That," she gloated, "is how you steal a Visitor's Ideya. Now, leave me be; I must turn this in." She began to hop away, and the twins exchanged a glance with full intent to follow her, when they felt a slight tugging at the back of their minds, a call that could not be ignored. Their Master desired their audience.
Obediently, the pair bowed before their Master. "Rise," commanded Wizeman, and the pair obeyed. Silently, they waited for their Master to speak, watching as his many eyes floated about them. At length, he did. "I have been watching your progress, NiGHTS, Reala... Today, you saw an Ideya stolen firsthand... Tomorrow, your training intensifies... Additionally, you will take on the workload of your lesser brethren, in preparation for your eventual leadership. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Master Wizeman," they chorused, then bowed and left, eager for the promise of leadership to come.
(Anyone expect that new emotion they discovered in the beginning to be romantic love? l3 Slight PoV shift~ Expect another for the next chapter~ Also, less playtime. Wizeman's ensuring that. Now, time for a public service announcement:
*Ahem* Your feedback helps me shape future chapters! What do you like? What don't you? What/Who do you want to see more of? Less of? Are there any grammatical errors or inconsistencies? I can take criticism, so bring it on! Tell me what you think! Review~! )