"Wow, this place is pretty…barren" Laura said as she looked around the wasteland that is the second Nightopian world.

Nothing but a desolate wasteland for miles, sand, rocks, debris, and the remains of Nightopians and Nightmarens who died here from either starvation, dehydration, or other causes. Even the bones of the deceased are rotting away. Laura looked around, carefully taking a few steps, her heart beating like there's no tomorrow, it was a scary feeling, yet at the same time she felt excited, being in a strange place so far from home, even if it was just a dream.

"I thought you said Nightopia is supposed to be a cheerful place, a place full of happiness and wonders" she said to NiGHTS.

But before NiGHTS could answer, another voice intervened.

"Ah, but this IS a place of happiness, if you prefer destruction and death"

NiGHTS immediately recognized the voice; he started looking around for the source.

"Come out, Luminix, I know you're around here somewhere!" he shouted out.

As he said that, Luminix merely floated down in front of them, his cloak blowing in the wind, a faint smirk on his face. (A/N: If you have the Sonic Rush Adventure soundtrack, I suggest listening to "Cutscene – Nervous" at this point. It fits the mood)

"Come now, NiGHTS. Is that any way to treat your younger brother?" Luminix asked, soon noticing the shocked expression on Laura's face. He chuckled, and then asked "what's the matter, Visitor? Didn't NiGHTS tell you that he's a Nightmaren like me?"

"Y-you're…a Nightmaren?" she asked, now a bit more nervous.

NiGHTS just looked down at the ground, then back at Laura and nodded slightly. She backed away from him, afraid of what the two might do to her. At this point, Luminix raised both hands in the air making the ground rumble. A digital outline appeared on the ground, up close it doesn't look like anything, but from a bird's eye view, it's clearly a maze. (A/N: You can stop the music now)

"What the?" NiGHTS said, as the outline soon became a large maze, walls rising up as high as 15 feet into the air.

Luminix then separated NiGHTS and Laura to opposite ends of the maze. He created a Psychokinetic barrier over the top to prevent NiGHTS from flying out.

"Now then, how about a little fun?" the gray Nightmaren said, "I've put you both at opposite ends of this maze. All you have to do to win is find each other, then escape. Oh and NiGHTS, don't try to fly out. You wouldn't want to know what happens if you do. If you escape, then the magic show will begin. Oh, and I almost forgot, I have summoned the Awakers, and I suspect they will be here in about 5 minutes. So, if you want to win, I suggest you hurry. I will be waiting, have fun" he finished his speech as he flew off to the end of the maze.

It now became a race against time for NiGHTS and Laura, Laura now realizing after all they've been through, she can trust NiGHTS despite the fact that he is a Nightmaren. The two ran and flew through the maze, NiGHTS, believing Luminix's claim was a bluff, tried flying out only to be repelled painfully back to the start by his barrier.

Soon enough, as Luminix said, Awakers start appearing in the maze, fairly close to Laura's location. Laura's smart enough to know, judging by their name, that Awakers will force the person to wake up. As much as she'd like to do so to end this nightmare, she does not want to leave NiGHTS alone to deal with Luminix. Though with the Awakers swarming the maze, finding NiGHTS may prove to be a challenge in itself.

"Darn it…where could she be?" NiGHTS thought to himself as he continues flying through the maze. He soon spots the Awakers. "No! They're already here!" he thought.

He quickly went to a group of Awakers and paralooped them before they could react, sending them away. NiGHTS knew how quickly Awakers work, and knew he had to find Laura fast. He flew through the maze as fast as he could, searching left and right for her. Finding the exit could wait, he needed to get her before the Awakers did. Laura, on the other hand, was fending for herself, seeing Awakers around every corner she turned. Thankfully she had a few of the blue chips, she had been using them to stun some of them so she could make her way through the maze.

"Stay away from me!" She shouted at them as she continued to run through.

A few awakers started to chase her, and she was low on chips, she looked and saw them coming. No second thought entered her mind but to run. And running is what she did, not caring WHERE she'd end up, just so long as the Awakers stopped chasing.

Closer and closer they get, each second passing spells trouble for Laura as she is unable to outrun the Awakers. Losing her breath, she starts to slow down, giving the Awakers the chance to catch her. Unable to run anymore, Laura finally gives in and collapses onto the ground, out of breath. She silently says goodbye to NiGHTS as she knows she'll never get to see him again. And then…

Silence.

Laura soon opened her eyes to see that the Awakers were nowhere to be found. She thought she was dreaming until she looked up and saw a familiar purple Nightmaren staring down at her. She immediately got back up and hugged NiGHTS.

"I thought I'd never find you! I'm so sorry for doubting you" Laura shouted

"Hey it's ok. We're friends, remember?" NiGHTS reminded her, "And friends always stick together, no matter what" to that, Laura simply nodded and smiled. "Now what do you say we take down that creep together?"

"I'm with you" she replied, then the two dualized and flew through to the end of the maze.

As they flew through the rest of the maze, NiGHTS explained how he found Laura and defeated all of the Awakers by paralooping them.

At the end, just as he said, Luminix was waiting. His psychokinetic shield giving him a bird's eye view of the maze, he was able to see the on goings within.

"So they found one another, hm? This will be more fun than I expected" he muttered to himself, "Excellent. Time to get my magic show going then"

The remainder of the maze was easy for NiGHTS and Laura as the two flew passed everything, making sure not to touch the barrier. When they reached the end, the two looked around and soon saw Luminix, sitting on a chair shaped rock resting his head on his hand.

"It took a lot longer than I expected from you, especially you NiGHTS," Luminix stated as he stood up and floated, "but, I congratulate you both for reaching the end"

"Enough of your games, Luminix, let's settle this right now!" NiGHTS responded, clearly in an agitated mood.

"So impatient. If that's what you want, then I guess I should oblige," Luminix responded, floating up higher and spreading his arms, "Sit back and relax, as I give you the magic show of a lifetime, for this is one you'll be dying to see!"

NiGHTS and Laura looked at him, ready and waiting for the upcoming battle.

"Hahahaha, I hope you're ready, NiGHTS" Luminix stated as he prepared.