NiGHTS played a soft lullaby on her invisible flute as she played her baby to sleep. Zoren yawned loudly a curled up on his parents bed, finally falling asleep.
NiGHTS yawned as exhaustion hit her. It had been a rough week. After Malice was killed, Reala had charged at Chay. Chay had been in the castle dungeon for the past few days. NiGHTS was happy that Chay couldn't cause any more trouble.
All of Nightmare was adjusting to a life without their deity. Master Wiseman had died while NiGHTS, Reala, and Jackle were having a stare down with Malice. Wiseman's throne room had been swarmed with the third levels and second level's who had come seeking answers. Wiseman managed to tell the second level's the Reala was fighting Malice and would need backup. Bubbals and Archer left at theat. However, the other nightmaren had stayed.
When Reala and NiGHTS came back to the throne room with their son and friends, they were shocked that Wiseman had passed on, his body disappearing into the darkness of Nightmare.
Reala was even more shocked when the second level's told him that Wiseman had made him the new king of Nightmare. Everyone knew he was the obvious choice, but Reala was having trouble adjusting to running the kingdom and giving order's, not taking them.
"NiGHTS?"
NiGHTS was brought back from her thoughts to see Puffy at the door.
"Oh." NiGHTS whispered. "Puffy, not so loud."
Puffy glanced at the sleeping baby and nodded. She motioned for NiGHTS to come out of the room, to which NiGHTS obliged. As NiGHTS closed the door, Puffy began sobbing.
"I'm so sorry!" Puffy cried, trying to muffle her loud voice. (Impossible, but she tried.)
"For what?" NiGHTS asked trying to calm Puffy down so she wouldn't wake Zoren.
"I got caught!" Puffy sobbed. "It was my fault that Chay got Zoren. I said I'd guard him with my life, but all she had to was drill dash me away and pick him up! I failed you and Zoren nearly got killed because of it!"
"Puffy." NiGHTS said smiling and rolling her eyes. "I'm not mad."
"You should be." Puffy sniffled.
"But I'm not." NiGHTS smiled. "Tell you what, if you want to make it up to me..."
"I'll do anything to make amends." Puffy said boldly.
"Ok." NiGHTS smiled. She leaned in and whispered what to do in Puffy's ear.
"Really?" Puffy asked.
"Yup!" NiGHTS said doing a graceful back flip. "Now go."
Puffy nodded and bounced off. NiGHTS turned to go back in and check on the sleeping Zoren when she was grabbed around the waist and turned around. NiGHTS saw her mates face as she was pulled in for a kiss.
"What was that about?" Reala asked resting his head on top of NiGHTS's.
"Puffy felt guilty about getting Zoren in trouble." NiGHTS explained.
Reala sighed.
"I anyone should feel guilty, it's me." He said gloomily.
"Ree." NiGHTS frowned. "This wasn't your fault."
"I know, but I couldn't protect you." Reala said sadly. "Or Zoren."
"Zoren loves you!" NiGHTS said hugging Reala. "He was proud of you, he isn't even a week old and he already adores you!"
Reala still didn't look convinced.
"Besides." NiGHTS said trying to distract her mate. "Don't you want to know what I sent Puffy to do?"
"Yes... I would." Reala answered after a moment of thought.
"I told her to go on a date-" NiGHTS said, she was cut off by a large shout for joy.
Seconds later, Jackle came zooming around the corner.
"Guess what, guess what, guess what!" Jackle shouted happily bouncing of the walls.
"What?" Reala shouted covering his ears. NiGHTS giggled as she covered her ears to.
"Puffy asked to go on a date with me!" Jackle sang out happily.
Reala stared incredulously at NiGHTS.
"You sent her on a date with him?" He asked.
NiGHTS smiled and shrugged it off.
"Hey NiGHTS." Jackle said quietly. "I'm sorry-"
"What is this? 'Apologise to NiGHTS Day'." NiGHTS said rolling her eyes. "Drop it! I don't want to hear another word on it. Ok? Now go eat with Puffy."
Jackle nodded his head and flew off.
"Finally, peace and quiet." NiGHTS said.
Suddenly a wailing was heard coming from the door.
"Baby's up." Reala said.
"Let's go." NiGHTS said taking Reala's hand and dragging him through the door.
Zoren stopped crying at the sight of his parents. His baby face exploded into a smile as he cooed at his parents. NiGHTS happily flew over and scooped him up in her arms. Zoren made grabbing movements as he tried to reach his father's persona mask.
"He really likes this thing." Reala sighed as he took it off and gave it to his son to play with.
"Hey, Reala." NiGHTS said. "All of Nightmare has met Zoren... but what about Nightopia? Owl hasn't met him."
"We have to go visit that owl?" Reala complained.
"Yes we do!" NiGHTS said as she flew to the window. "Coming?"
Reala and NiGHTS flew to the dram gate.
"Owl!" NiGHTS sang out once they arrived. "Where are you?"
"Why NiGHTS!" Owl said flying down to the Nightmarens. "What a pleasant surprise- Who's this?"
Owl flew over to Zoren. Zoren's eyes went huge as he looked at the funny talking bird.
"This is Zoren." NiGHTS explained. "He's our son."
"What a strong looking boy." Owl cooed at the infant. "You both must be proud."
"We are." Reala said.
Owl looked and smiled for the first time at Reala.
"Come come. I'm sure the nightopians would love to play with him." Owl said as he flew to the door to Spring Valley, NiGHTS and Reala following him.
Owl was right. The nightopians adored Zoren. They danced and played around him as he tried to stand and chase them. One little nightopian got to close and Zoren managed to get his hands on it. NiGHTS giggled, Reala and Owl even cracked a smile, as Zoren began tickling the unfortunate nightopian who giggled madly. The other nightopians joined in as they all began tickling Zoren in return.
"Zoren!" NiGHTS called, trying to offer her child an escape route.
Zoren looked at his parents and laughed. With a leap that astounded both parents, Zoren took to the air and clumsily flew towards his mother. NiGHTS caught him and pulled him in for a hug.
Reala came and placed his arm around NiGHTS as she nuzzled Zoren.
"Screw what I thought last time! NiGHTS thought. "Now everything is perfect."
THAT'S THE END OF HERE WE GO AGAIN: THE CURSE. I REALLY HOPED THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
PS: I WANT TO THANK 'THE TWINKLE FAIRY' AND 'GIGA-XISBASS' FOR REVIEWING AND READING PRACTICALLY EVERY CHAPTER AND I WANT TO THANK 'ATHALA' WHO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS.
SINCERLY
XSACRED FIREX