Page breaks haaateee meeeee. Yeah I got bored, actualy started this ages ago, finally, a NiGHTS story that actualy has something to do with dreams! Not going to ramble/vent about my life right now, I'll just let you enjoy th story.

It fails, trust me XD

Like any day in Nightopia, it was peaceful.

Slender fingers of sunlight slid through the lazy fluffy balls floating along the sky, the pale glow reflecting off the calm, warm water, its surface rippling with the light breezes that passed over it. Nightopians slept under the thick canopies of tall green trees, littered with brightly coloured birds that sang peaceful melodies. It was truly surreal. A dream in its existing form.

Yet the realm of nightmares was the exact opposite, the residents of the castle were cackling like mad, cheering and howling at the sick spectacle ahead of them. A nightmaren had broken a rule, and while the other 'marens rather enjoyed watching, for the victim it was the definition of torture.

The youngest flight 'maren, a slender female, was forced to turn away at the sight before her. She'd known the 'maren, she'd promised him he'd be okay. And yet, in front of the entire population of Nightmare, the 'maren was being punished by their creator.

No 'maren ever survived this.

"How can you enjoy this?" A sweet British voice, unnatural for a creature of horror, interrupted the red and black jesters laughing and distracted him from the spectacle.

"How can't you?"

"It's sick!"
"It's entertaining."

With one last glance at the 'maren suffering at her masters hands, NiGHTS flew as far away as she could, leaving a spectacular trail of sparkling dust.

Nightopia, such a glorious place, it was forbidden for a Nightmaren to be here unless they were aiming to torture or kill in their masters name. But NiGHTS loved this place.

She was a different kind of 'maren, and she'd known that for some time. The others delighted in causing suffering and pain- whether it be that of a humans or another Nightmarens- and she hated it, she pitied the victims, and when the 'marens found a creature to toy with, NiGHTS was nowhere to be found, instead she played with the oddly shaped critters known as Nightopians in the peaceful valleys of Nightopia, flying aimlessly, dancing beautifully in the sky, or simply sitting below a lush tree playing her flute.

Every day was beautiful in Nightopia, and every day NiGHTS was amazed by it. Today she hovered over the sparkling water of Aqua garden, an only recent edition to the dream world. A slender form glided past her, small frills swaying gently as the fish swam through the air, bubbles appearing as it moved. The 'maren giggled quietly and descended to the sparkling surface of the water, startling the fish as she did so. Her slender gloved fingers broke the surface of the water as she traced along it, causing little ripples, then slowly she dipped her hand in, letting the water dampen her clothes as she began to vanish beneath the surface.

The creature of scales and frills returned again, inspecting the air where the Nightmaren had been, despite the crystal clarity of the water, she couldn't be seen. Then the fish forgot what it had been doing and started to swim about in a circle.

Water sprayed everywhere, droplets mixed with multicoloured glitter as the 'maren reappeared, launching from the water then disappearing again. Like a dolphin, she played, flicking the fish tail she now had, thinking of how great it'd be to be a dolphin.

Not having to worry about the people around you. What you're supposed to do. What you're required to do.

Sighing, she lifted herself from the water again, her scaly tail morphing back into her slender legs as she lazily hovered above the water.

By now the disobedient 'maren would be dead, the others would've already forgotten and the castles inhabitants would've returned to their normal routines.

It was midday, 'marens sleep during the day- or they're supposed to- so no one would be doing anything of interest. More importantly, no one would've noticed that NiGHTS wasn't there.

She had no duties to miss during the day, no hunts to attend. Of course she spent that time playing about, she enjoyed the carefree feeling so much, but, of course, that left her exhausted when it was time to actually do her 'maren jobs, and she'd been getting into a bit of trouble with Wizeman for that.

Wizeman, her creator, if it wasn't for him she would've never come to be, she didn't love him though, but she didn't hate him either. She loathed her life as a 'maren, purely because of the other Nightmaren, the same as she knew she was different they knew too, and they held that against her, alienated her, mocked her, she had no one close, apart from that crazed coot Jackle, Wizeman was who she went to when she had an issue, though she knew he normally didn't care.

Just as she was thinking of the faceless god, an odd feeling spread through her body, like something was pulling at her soul, then an unheard voice rang out in her mind and she was forced to fly towards the castle again. Wizeman had summoned her.

The dark void that was Wizemans lair no longer frightened the young 'maren, she'd grown accustomed to the broken pillars, endless darkness, sparking lightning and pulsing crystals, it was almost a comfort to her. Though, she still disliked the place, it had nothing against Nightopia- that place truly amazed NiGHTS.

"NiGHTS."

"Master." She dipped in a little bow, looking at the void that'd replaced the ground below her.

"From my observations, you have been placing less effort into the night time hunts; we had addressed this issue, yet to no resolve. And I want to know why."
"I'm not feeling the best."

"Then you should sleep, I can see all NiGHTS, you spend your days dancing about with the idiotic Nightopians, this is not allowed. Sociality with creatures like that may lead you to meet a dreamer, and given the chance, they will kill you."

She doubted that, the dreamers she'd met were always naive little children, she'd heard of the 'protectors'; a band of humans that'd sent themselves to the dream world purely to get rid of 'maren, but she'd never seen one.

"You are a fragile creation, NiGHTS, your strength is in speed and agility, not physical power, to treat yourself the way you have been is idiotic. You are hard-headed, I know, so give you the choice of either continuing your pointless playing, or return to your work as one of my greatest creations."

"Creation..." She said with a sigh, staring at a floating lantern covered with glowing purple crystals.

"A wise choice, the first option would have been a breach of our rules, and you know from yesterdays experience what that results in..."

His malevolent laughter echoed through the void and NiGHTS winced, recalling her friendship with the now deceased 'maren.

"It would've been a waste. And no matter how much Ideya is gathered I wouldn't have been able to recreate something like yo-"

The stone hands circling the robed form stopped suddenly, a signal that something had slipped out without his intent.

"Something like me? I'm just a flight 'maren."

"You are dismissed, NiGHTS."

"But, I want to know what you mean by-"
"Go!"

She didn't need to be told twice.

"Ugh, I don't feel like this tonight."

"You never do." The other 'maren hissed. She looked at him, Reala, her hunting partner and fellow first-level, the two were created together, NiGHTS was the speed and Reala was the strength, yet of all the 'marens in Nightmare, Reala was whom she hated the most, and he was happy to return her bitter feelings.

"Can't you go by yourself?"
"No." Crystal blue serpent eyes cut into her as he glared over his shoulder, he was looking down at her, like she was stupid and he knew everything to know. "You're a gatherer, you need to be here."

With a quick sigh she nodded and the two took to the air, a trail of sparkles marking their path. A gatherer and a fighter, NiGHTS and Reala, the fighter was just that- Reala was made to kill, he was strong and fast, and once he cornered a victim he could perform the most brutal kill. NiGHTS was a gatherer, she was supposed to rely on him for kills and torture of a dreamer, to withdraw Ideya from them, that was simply her purpose- Stand back and let Reala do all the work, or as some 'maren say 'have all the fun', then when the time is right she'd extract the Ideya from the either dead or mentally scarred victim and store it in the gem on her chest. Peculiarly, a red Ideya had gotten caught in the little glass casket, and no matter how hard NiGHTS tried to force it out with her mind, or how long she spent tapping at the gem, the Ideya remained there, giving off a warm red glow.

"There." The hooked yellow claws pointed to a moving speck on the ground of Spring Valley, the valley happened to be a very difficult place to manoeuvre about as a 'maren at night since the bushy trees and thick boulders were hard to tell apart from the cliff faces, even with a 'marens advanced sight.

"Quickly." Reala demanded, increasing his flight speed in the direction of the red-haired little girl. With one of her well-practiced sighs, NiGHTS followed.

Obviously the girl had never seen a 'maren before since she simply stood and stared at the two jesters flying towards her. Reala clearly had no intent of doing what he should be, the routine attack on a dreamer, which was to cause a nightmare and use their greatest fears to weaken them, instead he was just going for the kill. And when he was close the little girl began to suspect something, and she narrowly avoided being slashed to pieces from the fiendish yellow claws.

Instead, the little pink creature was left with a large wound on her shoulder; it was deep and bleeding all down her cutesy cream dress. With a horrid scream of fear she started to run as fast as she could, but her speed was easily bested by a flying 'maren. NiGHTS was following her the moment Reala had attacked, with another scream the red-head fell through a small canopy and into the shrub below the cliff, as NiGHTS dived through the tiny hole she could hear Reala laughing and cheering, seeing a new and admirable change in his hunting partner.

"Don't kill me! Please! Please don't kill me!" The little girl sobbed, her pale face streaked with tears that reflected the soft moonlight seeping in from the hole she fell through. This was the part NiGHTS hated the most about hunting, and as she watched the innocent girl crying and begging for her life, the 'maren couldn't move her claws any closer to a vital point, instead her hands dropped to her side and she kneeled in the damp grass.

"I'm not going to. But you have to do something for me."

"W-what?"

"Run. Run as fast as your tiny legs can go. I won't kill you, but he will. Go!"

The crimson hair swished about as the girl nodded quickly, then without a second thought she was gone, running through the trees and plants. She wouldn't be seen from above because of the canopy, and no 'maren could fly through trees this closely entwined, the girl was safe.

"Idiot!" With a loud snapping sound more of the canopy was ripped apart and NiGHTS was soon sprawled on the ground, face down in the dirt and aching. Reala stood over her, panting and growling. She'd been drill-dived by him plenty of times, but it still hurt an awful lot.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"What do you mean?" She spoke sarcastically, standing slowly until the two 'marens were at the same level. With a cry of anger Reala swung at her, hitting her off balance and leaving three straight claw marks on her cheek. For a moment she didn't think his claws had connected, but when her gloves were stained red from touching the painful spot she gave a little whimper, then glared at Reala.

"Dreamers are hard to find, NiGHTS! The protectors have been monitoring them all, our hunts are bringing in less, which will get Wizeman pissed, and you've seen what that's like!"

"Yeah I've seen it... What'd you say? 'Entertaining'?"

"Only to watch. The 'marens scream with pain and fear, you've seen what we're capable of doing to dreamers, if the consequences can cause a 'maren so much pain you know it must be bad."

"So?"

"So?! Imbecile! Do you not care?!"

"No, let's just go find someone else... Just that little girl was..."

The 'maren sighed, tilting her head and staring at the moon through the torn canopy. Then with another drill-dive from her partner she was sent into a large boulder, Reala hissed something under his breath and grabbed her by one horn then took to the air.

NiGHTS didn't particularly like being dragged through the air by a single horn, so after sometime of complaining and bickering with Reala he'd let go, and then again pointed at a form moving along the ground.

"An older male this time, it shouldn't be too hard for you NiGHTS."

With a low growl the red jester crossed his legs and floated in place, watching his companion.

"Go on then."

"What?"

"Kill him."
"That's your job!"

"Just do it, to prove to me that you're still a capable 'maren and that I don't need to tell the master about that incident with the girl."

After a quick sigh NiGHTS was within range of an attack on the teenager, her body morphed into the 'marens 'shade' form, going from her slender curves to nothing but a cloud of darkness with glowing purple eyes, and within seconds she'd engulfed the teen in the shadows.

He was already panicking, glancing about as everything around him faded away to nothing. Black tendrils coiled up his legs, moving around his arms and his torso. He screamed, trying to brush them off as the wrapped around him.

NiGHTS shut her eyes, listening to the information she was taking, his fears... He feared... Wolves?

Easily done.

The tendrils receded and the darkness around the teen warped and swirled until it'd changed to skeletal silver trees, their bony branches trying to reach for the human or for each other's grasp.

The air became heavy, reeking horribly and making the human cover his face with his sleeve. Like the bird that'd fallen in a hidden place in Nightmare, NiGHTS tainted the air so that it stank of death and decay.

Then in a frightening snarl her own body took the form of a giant, grotesque wolf. She charged forwards, her heavy clawed paws taking chunks from the ground as she ran. With lips drawn back and ears pointed she gave a loud bark, the teen just about wet himself and attempted to run away but was quickly caught by the large wolf.

Her jagged teeth sunk easily into the soft, warm flesh of the boys shoulder. Blood, she hated the taste. Using her deformed body she weighed the human down, pinning him beneath her thick pelted stomach and the massive claws pulling chunks from his form, like a rabid animal the wolf bit over and over, stealing away pieces of flesh with each bite until finally the screaming stopped and the human became still and stiff.

As she lifted her head off of him she didn't dare to look for the sake of her stomach. The bony trees and cold stones around here faded away until the scenery was that of Spring Valleys. Reala smirked fiendishly, stepping closer as he stared at the glowing Ideya in the wolf's mouth. The furry chest of the wolf rising in quick breathes as the thrill of the hunt wore off and NiGHTS stole a quick look at her victim. Or, what was left of him.

"Good, the master will be pleased."

The master was pleased, laughing quietly to himself as Reala retold the event. NiGHTS was disgusted with herself, she'd saved someone's life yet killed someone else with little thought, and the worst part is she had actually enjoyed taking his life.

"Thank you, Reala, you may leave."

Wizeman chuckled evilly, his six eyes watching the 'maren as he disappeared into the darkness. Once he was gone, a single stone hand came to NiGHTS and the index finger rested on top of her head, gently stroking along her horns.

He favoured her, she knew it.

"Ahh, so you have finally chosen to return to the Nightmaren ways."

"Y-yes..."

"It is good to know; though killing is not my ideal method for Ideya collection you certainly are skilled at it, most 'maren are hopeless... Your tactics are pleasing, you use the very environment to install the fear of a humans coming doom. Excellent."

NiGHTS bowed her head.

"I was expecting a lot from my first-level Nightmaren. You are a terrific example."

"Master?"

"Yes, NiGHTS?"

She bit her pale lip, recalling how quick he'd been to dismiss her when this topic last came up. "What did you mean last time you'd summoned me? When you said you wouldn't be able to recreate a 'maren like me easily?"

Wizeman was silent, his hands hovering in place and the freakish eyes occasionally blinking. The jester listened quietly for a reply, but all that could be heard was the pulsing of glowing crystals and the flickering of the lanterns flames.

"I am afraid, Nightmaren, that I do not believe you to be ready for that knowledge, when I choose that you are, I will tell you."

With a little nod, NiGHTS accepted the reply but wasn't the slightest bit happy with it.

"Dismissed."

Reala was in a good mood, or as good as his moods could get. His black lips were pulled back in a dark smile, which grew slightly as he saw NiGHTS approaching.

"Gatherer."

"Don't call me that."

"NiGHTS then."
"Thank you."
His smile didn't falter.

"Good show before, Wizeman was very pleased- So much so that we don't have to take classes for the next week."

"We don't? That's a relief."

"Sure is, I hate those low level 'marens. Imbeciles."

NiGHTS did too, but she'd found some to be kind. The low-levels were like the 'marens version of a teenager, they were weaker recreations of high levels, so some resembled Clawz, other Gillwing, a few even looked like first-levels such as NiGHTS and Reala, but the problem that most higher levels had with these guys was... To put it plainly, they were idiots. Since the higher levels had the same skills as the new creations, they were commanded to teach them in classes. Which they all loathe.

"So I was thinking." Reala smirked and turned to face NiGHTS. "We should make the master extra happy... How would you feel about spending our now free time hunting?"

"Oh..." She frowned, imagining the snowy landscape of Frozen bell at night, seeing the pale snowflakes lit by the moonlight so they glowed with multiple colours. "Sure... But I need some time to sleep, I'm so tired."

Reala shrugged.

"And don't be a jerk."

"Idiot." The 'maren laughed slyly then flew off, leaving NiGHTS alone.

She looked around, she was hovering in the castles main hall, which resembled the inside of a very gothic church, the floor was a dark stone but completely bare, there were tall candles dotting the room, and giant silky curtains with patterns embroidered onto them. Each curtain represented a high level 'maren. A pink and gold one belonged to puffy, a red and black to Reala, and NiGHTS was a rich purple with gold along it, they all had symbols which were stitched onto them, and then opposite was Wizemans symbol. She was high ranking, a leader, looked up to, but she hated it.

Suddenly the drape with her marking on it flicked about, flying up and landing over the 'marens head. She heard an insane cackle as she lifted the edge of the curtain above her eyes, glaring at the bodiless form hovering ahead of her, pointing a single finger and laughing.

"Jackle!"

"No!" He giggled, pointing at himself. "I'm Jackle"

She rolled her eyes, moving the last of the drape off of her and letting it fall back into its place against the wall. "I know who you are, Jackle."
"Who's Jackle?"

"You're Jackle."

"Wrong!"

"Oh really? Then who are you?"

The crazed 'maren tilted his head, his smile fading. "What's wrong NiGHTS? Don't you recognise me? Did Reala bonk you on the head! Wait no! I know! Wizeman remade you! Hahah sucks to be you!"

"Jackle..."

"Yes?"

"You're insane." She smiled, sighing slowly as she leant closer and leant against the back of Jackles mantle, seeing as he had no body.

"Eww! Go away!" He shrieked, almost falling from the air as he flailed about.

"Hey Jackle."

"Yeeesss?"

NiGHTS hovered back a little, straightening up again. "You were one of the first 'marens made weren't you? That's why you're an elder?"

"Not why I'm an elder." He frowned, as NiGHTS knew Jackle was very touchy on the subject of elders, he wasn't one to take anything to heart, so his attitude about elders always surprised the younger 'maren. "Why?"

"Well." She bowed her head. "Wizeman said something before that kind of implied I was... Different, do you know what he meant?"

"Eh?"

"He said he couldn't recreate me, like I was... Unique?" She smirked; if her feelings were right then this was something to rub in Realas face.

"Unique?" The 'maren blinked, his eyes widening slowly then he smiled quickly at NiGHTS, backing away. "I, uh, have to go, get... Something, for... Gillwing! Yeah!"

With that he darted away, leaving a very confused young 'maren.

NiGHTS sighed to herself, turning to look out a nearby shattered stain-glass window. The sun was setting, meaning classes and hunts were about to begin, she was contemplating whether or not to join Reala for a hunt, or simply sleep. However her curious nature was making her want to know as much about Wizemans little slip-up as she could. Wizeman knew something he wasn't saying, she couldn't help that. Jackle, however, was different, despite being awfully strong and a lot larger than NiGHTS herself, it was easy to get information out of him.

So with a trail of sparkles descending behind her, the 'maren flew in search of Jackle.

"Gillllwiiing!"

There was no reply as Jackles voice bounced off the cliff faces and the spiked walls.

"GILLWING!"

With a little growl Gillwing lifted himself from behind a large boulder, glancing at the 'maren with an annoyed look. Jackle loved to regularly annoy the crap out of the lizard.

"There you are!" The 'maren smiled his big toothy grin, charging over to the lizard and pulling one of his wings over him, hiding away. "Hide me Gillwing! NiGHTS is asking questions! I hate questions!"

Gillwing growled half-heartedly and batted the 'maren away with his wing.

"Gillwing you're not helping!"
"Not helping you at least."

'Meep' was all Jackle said as he noticed NiGHTS hovering behind him, arms crossed as she starred down at him.

"Uuuh, hi NiGHTS! Have you come to help me give something to Gillwing?"

Gillwing made an odd happy noise, looking at NiGHTS expectantly.

"No." She sighed, looking from Gillwing to Jackle. "I want to know the answer to my question before."

"I answered! I told you it was in the fridge!"
"I'm serious Jackle!"
"No you're not." He smirked. "You're a Nightmaren! We're all crazy!" He cackled, taking to the air and flying away quickly.

"Gilllwing! Don't let him get out of here!"

The lizard roared loudly and swung his tail towards the caped 'maren, with one smack from the spiked end Jackle was hit to the ground, pieces of rock crumbling beneath him from Gillwings massive tail crushing down on the stone.

"Jackle."

He slowly pried himself off the ground and glanced at her.

"Tell me what you know, I don't like secrets."

"I can't." He frowned. "Wizeman will kill me if I do. I wasn't supposed to find out but, I did."

"Find out what?"

"Can't say."

"But-"
"Noooo!" He whined, flying off. "Secret! Secret! Secret!"

NiGHTS sighed, watching the 'maren disappear from Gillwings lair. There was a loud 'splap' noise as Gillwing dropped a heavy, ooze covered something-or-other beside NiGHTS, she glanced at it quickly then smiled at the lizard.

"Alright, we'll play fetch for a little while."

*Bites*

End chapter oooonnneeee. Wont ever get a chapter teeewwww.