Nights and related characters are copyright SEGA Enterprises LTD. Kaseth and related characters are copyright Delphine Kiminsu. The Baku copyright Alethea. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The picture is comin' back now baby And I want to take it all --Savage Garden, "Promises" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Myriads and Memories --Delphine Kiminsu Kaseth slowly glided through the forest and up to the top of the tree. She looked around herself. There seemed to be millions of trees, and surrounding those trees was a beautiful freshwater lake. The sound of a dash caught her attention and she looked to her right. Someone was flying through the air, doing acrobatics and having a good time of it. Nights she thought with a smile. Ever since they had come here, everyone -- especially Nights -- had been in a great mood. She couldn't think of anyone who wasn't happy. She flew down and then flew along the ground, enjoying the serenity of the place. She tilted upwards, and while rebalancing herself, her hands brushed against water. She looked down and saw that the dry ground had turned into very shallow water. She up-righted herself and looked around. Kaseth had unknowingly flown herself into a bit of a marsh. She slowly flew over it, looking around in wonder. She had done her fair share of exploring, but she hadn't seen this part yet. Something under the water moved. She curiously reached down to find out what it was. And then... something reached up and wrapped around her wrist! "Huh?!" It was long, brown, slimy, and resembled a vine. And it was VERY tight. "Get off!" She pushed and pulled at it, but it wouldn't budge. It started pulling her down. "Hey!" She was halfway under water when she twisted around and dashed. The thing tried to hold her back, and when very suddenly there was slack, she was flung into the air and slammed into the bank, stunned. She blinked and pushed herself up, looking around. Something was on her wrist. She looked at herself. The vine was still there. On the verge of panic, she withdrew her dagger and sliced the vine in two. The rooted half of it fell to the ground, writhing. The other half slowly slid off her wrist and lay on the ground, unmoving. She stared at the first half, wriggling and dying, and winced as her circulation was restored. "Kaseth! Hey, Kaseth, are you there?" She looked around. "Jay? Jayston?" "Boo," someone whispered behind her. She jumped and let out a little cry. She saw Jayston and sighed with relief. "Jay! Don't scare me like that!" "Sorry. What're you so jumpy for?" "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Yes I would." "Well..." "Kase-eth..." She sighed and explained the situation. Jayston cocked his head and offered a twisted grin. "You're right, I don't believe it." "Told you you wouldn't." Kaseth sighed and absently picked invisible lint off of her suit. "And to prove it to you that you've gone nutty..." Jayston knelt in front of the water and stuck his hand in. Kaseth looked on almost in horror. "See? There's nothing..." He stopped. He had turned his head to look at Kaseth while he was talking, and now he was slowly turning his head back to the water. "Kaseth?" "What?" "HELP!" The vine thing wrapped around his arm and yanked him down. "JAYSTON!" She leaped for him, wrapped her arms around his chest, and pulled him back. "What IS this thing?!" "I don't... know!" The vine yanked again and she fell back on her bottom. "There's only one way to deal with this..." She withdrew her sword. The vine thing started wrapping around Jayston's chest. "KASETH! DO SOMETHING!" She swiftly brought her sword down upon the vine. It chopped in half, and Jayston fell back against the bank. He pulled the dead end of the vine off of him and jumped away from the marsh. Kaseth sheathed her sword and walked over to Jayston. "Let's get out of here." "I was just going to suggest it." They dashed off. Aaron leisurely walked through the place. His encampment was a huge canyon, through which the only entrance other than the top was through catercombs hidden behind a waterfall. There was much work to be done. Aaron had a bitter feeling left after his last encounter with Kaseth... she had been his unknowing informant, friend, and what he dreamed about at night. Aaron was obsessed with Kaseth. And he knew whom she loved. He planned to take full advantage of it, too. He wanted her to be his slave, to do everything he told her to... "And I'll get her, too," he murmured to himself. A few 'maren that where close by glanced at him, then shrugged it off and kept to their work. Weapons were being made, clothing stitched, renewed, fixed, changed, what-have-you. They needed to be ready. Reala angrily looked over his troops. No matter how much they looked, they couldn't find any sign of the new Nightopian base. He looked directly into the face of a troop who wasn't standing at attention. He looked young. Reala glared at him, and the 'maren quickly straightened up and stared ahead, shaking a little. Who knows what Reala would do to him if he crossed the line? Reala looked up as a 'maren screamed. He scoured when he saw that Gillwing was taking his rage out on one of his troops. Couldn't that idiot learn? A dead 'maren is a useless 'maren. And they already had enough "useless 'maren". That last battle in which they had found the Nightopian base had been bloody. Nightmare had lost almost half of it's troops. "And Nights is still alive," Reala muttered. Why, why, why couldn't he just die?! No matter WHAT he did, Nights always lived. "I'll kill him. I won't bother fighting. I'll kill him." The 'maren troop he had looked at before glanced at him, then looked straight ahead, in case Reala noticed. "So what you're saying is, vine things attacked you and tried to drag you down." "Yes." "And when you chopped it in half, the half with the root was still moving." "Yes." "You guys are nuts!" "Cye!" Kaseth sighed. "We know what we saw." "And felt," Jayston murmured. He rubbed his arm. "I still say you're nuts. And I'll prove it. Where was it that these vine things were?" "It was over..." "No. You're going to go over there and get yourself killed by those things. Just leave things the way they are. And watch where you walk. And don't go telling everyone we're nuts. Okay?" Cye shrugged. "Whatever." Cye walked off. "Kaseth, if no one believes us, then how can we warn people?" "Well... I don't know. I guess we just better be careful." "I guess." Jayston frowned and looked around. Kaseth yawed. "Excuse me." She flew off to her quarters. Jayston headed for his own. Kaseth opened a drawer and took a small bag out of it. She sat on her bed and opened it. It was the bag that Aeana had given her the last she had seen her. The first thing she pulled out was a note. The second thing she pulled out was a large red jewel that looked very much like the Ideya shard fused to Nights chest. After a moment she realized that it looked exactly like the Ideya shard. She quickly opened the note. Dear Kaseth, You've probably figured out by now that this is an Ideya shard. It is part of the Ideya that Nights' shard came from. Yes, you're reading that right. I can't explain, I'm not quite sure myself. But there is one 'maren who can. Reala. Kaseth gasped. "Reala? But how..." She read the rest of the note. It told her where she could find Aeana if she needed her. Kaseth put the note in her pouch. Then, after a moment, she placed the shard into the bag, and then into her pouch. "I figured maybe Nights himself could explain it... But maybe I shouldn't let him know about it just yet." She looked around. Having nothing to do and being exhausted by what had happened earlier, she accepted the invitation the bed seemingly gave and took a nap. Reala looked over the deadened landscape from the top of the castle. He was in his element-- alone. He didn't like being in the presence of any of the 'maren in the castle. Or any of the 'maren anywhere else, either. except for Kaseth he thought involuntarily. He suddenly felt very alone. Kaseth had been his first friend since... "I REFUSE to think about that," he muttered. It would only make things harder. He had to... A strong breeze blew, interrupting his thoughts. He felt a small amount of pity for any 'maren that had been flying outside the castle at that moment. "Strong breeze. A storm must be coming," someone said behind him. Reala whirled. Jackle was sitting with his back to Reala. Reala wasn't sure if Jackle had been talking to himself or not. Jackle looked off into the distance. He could almost see the trees of Mystic Forest on the horizon. If Aeana was alive, that's where she'd be. He didn't dare leave the castle for that long. And he couldn't get anyone to go find out. It was a very dangerous time to do much spying. He was sure that Aeana knew where the new base was. Why hadn't she come to contact him?! He knew that she knew that he was worried about her, more than anyone else. He was engaged to her. Of course no one knew. There was no time for marriage. They were in the middle of a war here! "Some war," Jackle murmured to himself with a small laugh. Nightopia could attack whenever they wanted! And Nightmare was so low on troops, supplies, and everything else, Nightopia could take the castle if they had enough troops of their own. And Nightmare would never see it coming. Jackle paused his thoughts. Nights didn't know that he was in with Aeana. He had never asked where any of Aeana's information came from. Jackle had told her most of it. If Aeana was no longer alive, there would be no proof that he was against Wizeman the entire time... Nights had the right to kill him. Jackle shivered. He stood up and looked behind him. Reala was sill there, staring into space. Jackle knew what he was thinking. Maybe he could take advantage of it. Jackle entered his quarters and closed the door behind him. He needed to do something to take his mind off of Aeana. To read a book or something. He heard the sound of stone scraping against stone. He automatically looked around, but quickly realized it was probably just an echo and ignored it. He sat on his bed and put his head in his hands. If there was only some way to... Someone grabbed him from behind and clamped a hand over his mouth. "MMMPPPHHH!" "Shhh!" Jackle yanked the hand off of his mouth and whirled. "What the he--" He stopped. "Aeana?!" Aeana hugged him tightly. "Oh Jackle." He hugged her back, holding back tears. "Where have you been?! I was worried sick! I thought..." "I'm so sorry. I just haven't been able to get here!" Jackle pulled back and looked at her, studying her face. "Those scars... what happened?!" "Clawz." "I should've... I'll kill him! If Wizeman had sent me instead..." "You would have brought me in?" "And then I would have brought you out." Aeana smiled and rested her head against his chest. "I love you." Jackle smiled in absolute joy. "I know. I love you too." He kissed her forehead. "I need to talk to you about quite a few things. I know a place we can go without leaving the castle. But we don't have to go quite yet." Jackle grinned. Someone knocked on the door. "Sir?" Aeana gasped. "Under the bed," Jackle muttered under his breath. Aeana nodded and obliged. Jackle walked over to the door and opened it. "Yes?" "Message from General Reala." The messenger handed him a folded piece of paper. Jackle dismissed him and closed the door. Aeana crawled out and flew up to him. "What does it say?" Jackle opened it, and when he read it his jaw dropped in shock. "What?" He handed the note to her. "Stop following me," she murmured. "What does he mean?" "He means that I'm not as subtle as I thought." "You've been following him? Why?" "I can't tell you here." "All right. C'mon, you can tell me after I tell you a few things." She took his hand and went into the secret passageway, closing the hidden door behind her. She flew down the hall, going this way and that. All the directions made Jackle dizzy. Suddenly, Aeana stopped. She pushed a brick, and the floor the were standing on started turning. A small portion of the wall turned with them. When it stopped, Aeana stepped forward. Jackle looked around the small room. In the far right corner, there was a bed. Next to the bed, closer to the door, there was a fireplace. And next to that, even closer to the door, was a small table with a single drawer. On the other side of the room, next to the bed, there was a simple wooden chair. The rest of the small room was bare. Aeana opened the drawer and took out a book of matches. She lit one, then lit the fireplace with it. She motioned for Jackle to sit in the chair. He did so, and soon after, she sat on the bed. "The Nightopian Army is in a new area, located near the edge of Splash Garden and Mystic Forest. The 'maren who explored it called it 'Island Lake'. They lost almost as many troops as Nightmare did; since they were smaller, the percentage was bigger." She paused. "They have no battle plans. As far as I know, they're just going to sit there." "Which I doubt," Jackle murmured. "Your turn," Aeana said. "Why have you been following Reala?" "To protect him." "From what?" "The Myriad." "The... but they can't get into the castle!" "Sure they can. And they're after Reala." "Why don't you tell him then?" "Because they have spies all over the place. I can't get around them." "Well... ask him to meet you somewhere that they can't get to." "There is no such place. Except maybe here." "Well... tell Wizeman!" "Like he cares!" "There's got to be some way..." "There isn't. I tried following him myself, and even HE knows about it!" "Send him a message." "The messenger might be stopped. Or he might be one of them. Besides, he wouldn't listen to me anyway. There's only one 'maren he will listen to." "And that's only if she gets him away from the castle." "Right. And that won't happen." "Maybe..." Aeana murmured. "What are you thinking?" Aeana patted his shoulder. "Nothing, yet. But a plan is forming. C'mon." She took his hand. They went back to his quarters. "I have to go now. You have duties and I don't want to get caught. Once in the Nightmaren prison is enough for me." "I don't want you to go." Jackle brought her to him. "I want to forget about this stupid war. I want to leave it all behind us. I want us to go somewhere far away and get married. I don't want to do this anymore." Aeana put her arms around him and rested against him. "I want all that too." "Then why not?" "We have a duty. I decided to do this. And when you found out, you agreed with me. So we have to do what we're doing." Jackle sighed. "I know. We have to do what's right. I just wish that what was right and what I want were the same thing." Aeana smiled. "I know. So do I." She backed away. "But, it's not." She turned, went through the hidden door, and was gone. Jackle sighed. Reala whirled. He had warned Jackle, but he still had the distinct feeling that someone was watching him. And unless Jackle was wandering around without his cloak, someone else was following him. Reala turned and kept flying. He didn't like not knowing what was going on. Nightopian troops? Nightmaren troops looking to go up in rank? ...Someone else? Maybe Jackle wasn't following him. Maybe Jackle was following them. Kaseth landed. She looked around. The place was familiar, yet vague. She hadn't been part of the Nightopian Army when the base in Mystic Forest had been burnt down. "Aeana?" No one answered. Kaseth wandered into one of the buildings, looking for her friend. She couldn't find any sign of her. She wandered around the old base for almost an hour, just looking at everything. Even if Aeana was away, Kaseth would probably still be there when she got back because of everything there was to explore. A twig snapped. Kaseth whirled. "Kaseth? What are you doing here?" "I'm looking for you." Aeana stepped out from behind the tree. "What is it?" "How can I find out more about..." "The shard?" Aeana sighed. "I told you, I don't know much about it." "Well, what do you know?" "I know that there are four sections. Nights has one, obviously. You have another. Reala has the third." "Who has the fourth?" "I have no idea." "Well... how did you get this one?" "A friend gave it to me as she was dying." Aeana looked away. "I'm sorry." Aeana shrugged it off and waved it away. "It's all right. But... the fourth one belongs to a woman. If she's still alive." "So Nights has one, Reala has one, and two woman had one." "Exactly." "And how do you expect me to get Reala to talk to me?" "It may be easier than I thought." "Oh, that's good. And what were you planning on?" "The Myriad is after Reala. I say, we let him get caught, then go save him. He'll have to at least listen to you." "The Myriad is after Reala?!" Aeana grinned at her friend. "You're missing the big picture. We're going to rescue him." "Do you know where the Myriad are?" "Well... no..." "See? How are we going to rescue him if we don't know where they are?" "Well..." "You're just lucky I know where it is!" "I... Kaseth!" Aeana hugged her. "My friend, you're nuts." "Thank you." Kaseth bowed and Aeana laughed. "I should get back now. If Jay's not worried yet, he will be by the time I get back." "Unless he's flirting with Ophelia." "Mmm, yes. He's gotten much easier to deal with lately because of that." "I should hope so." Kaseth waved and left. "Hi, Aaron." "Hi, Jenna. What are you doing?" "Thinkin'." Aaron sat down next to the young girl. He had taken the responsibility of taking care of her. She was one of the few people he cared about. If anything happened to her, he'd kill the 'maren on the spot. No questions asked. Jenna sighed and leaned against Aaron. When she had first met him, she had decided to pretend she wasn't with anybody. Now she had made up her mind. She wanted to stay with the Myriad. She cared about Aaron as much as he cared about her, and she had a slight crush on him. She knew nothing would come of it, but it was nice to have it. Aaron hugged her and looked off into the distance. If anything ever happened to him, who would take care of Jenna? Certainly not Matt. He hated kids and would hurt Jenna. Xender? He wasn't very fond of Jenna, but if it meant that Matt would still have to deal with her, Xender would take care of her until she was old enough to take care of herself. Not that she wasn't now, but she was still small, and a larger 'maren could still take advantage of her. Even Aaron had been able to, and he wasn't a particularly large 'maren. He stood up and patted her head. "I need to take care of a few things, okay?" "Yeah, okay." Jenna smiled up at him. He smiled back and took off. "I really don't think anything's going to happen to you in the next eight years, Aaron," Xender said. "I know, but I just want to be sure." Xender cocked his head. "You really care about her, don't you?" "Someone has to." Xender sighed. "All right Aaron, you have my word. If something happens to you before she's an adult, I'll take care of her." "Thank you, my friend." Aaron flew off. Xender shook his head. "He's very strange..." *** "I'M SORRY!" "Can't you ever do anything you're told?!" She hit the young 'maren with a red hot poker. The young 'maren screamed in pain and covered her head. She was dressed in old tattered clothing, and lacked a hat. Her long black hair hung limply, as if it had been beaten. She looked about six years of age. "DON'T YOU DARE CRY!" The older 'maren hit her repeatedly. "I WON'T DO IT AGAIN MOMMY! I'M SORRY!!" The young 'maren sobbed and tried to defender herself against the blows from the poker. She felt a sharp pain in her arm and screamed. The older 'maren stopped and looked at her. The young 'maren screamed and sobbed, not knowing what had happened to her arm and too scared to move. The older 'maren knelt in front of her and slapped her. "Shut UP!" The younger 'maren instantly stopped screaming but couldn't stop from crying. The older 'maren looked at her arm, and cursed under her breath. "You stupid, stupid girl. You BROKE it." "I'm sorry," she whispered, as if it were her own fault. the older 'maren picked her up. "Stupid, stupid girl. Just like your father. Stupid. Now I'll have to take you to the hospital... STUPID!" *** Kaseth awoke with a start. She looked around wildly, expecting... "It was... a dream... No, a flashback..." She hugged her knees and tried not to cry. She looked out the window. It was still dark out, very dark. The moon had already set. She didn't want to be by herself... Across the land, in castle Nightmare, another 'maren, Zenny, was also having a flashback... *** "I... I... I didn't kill them!" "Stop trying to deny it, Zenny. The murder-weapon was found in your possession!" "But I didn't do it! Someone planted it there?" "Who, Andrew? Oh, sorry, he's dead too." The tall 'maren in camouflage colors looked down at her, shaking his head. Zenny was curled up in the corner now, sobbing. Her whole family... her boyfriend... DEAD. And she was the only suspect. "Marcus... please... how could I kill them? I loved them and you know I did! I COULDN'T HAVE!" "Then who did?" "I don't know! If I did I would tell you!" She broke down again. Marcus sighed and knelt in front of her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Zenny, I... I don't think you could have done it... but the evidence..." "I told you, someone framed me. I don't know how it got there! I don't carry any weapons!" "You mean you don't now." Zenny looked at him, studying his face. It was hard and determined. He wasn't going to change his mind. "I hate you." He took her chin in his hand. She tried to jerk away but he held on tightly, hurting her. "I couldn't care less. You're a coldblooded murderer. And I'm going to make sure everyone knows it." She kicked him, catching him off guard. He fell onto his back. Zenny jumped up and ran down the hallway, looking for the exit. She was in a prison and had been in a prison cell. "GET BACK HERE! GUARDS! PRISONER ESCAPING!" Several guards came out of nowhere and ran after Zenny. She found the exit and flew off into the shadows. The guards looked for her but didn't find her. Marcus came into Zenny's view. She was hiding in a bush, desperately hoping that no one would find her. "Zenny..." She stopped breathing. HE SEES ME! "Come out, come out, wherever you are. I know you're around here somewhere..." Zenny slowly stood up, and was about to fly off when he grabbed her arm. She screamed and tried to jerk away, but he had a tight grip. "Found you." "MARCUS!" "You can't run away now. You'll pay for your crime." "I DIDN'T KILL THEM!!" "Of course you didn't. And 'maren can't fly." He took a pair of hand-cuffs out of his vest pocket. Zenny's knees buckled and she fell to a kneeling position. Her hand brushed against something. She looked down. A very large rock. One that you could knock someone out with. "Stand up, Zenny." She slowly picked up the rock and held it. It was almost too big to hold. "Whatever you say," she said bitterly, then jumped up and slammed the rock into his head. With a cry of pain and anger he let go of her arm and fell. She quickly pulled his dagger from his sheath, then put it to his neck. After a moment he realized what was happening. "Zenny...!" "I could kill you right now. I have every reason to. Don't I?" "Y-y-yes..." "And you know what?" "Wh-what?" An evil grin spread across her face. "I want to." "Zenny... p-please..." "I begged. I cried. Did you give ME any slack?" "The evidence--" "You've known me for years. Do you really think I could have killed my parents?" She paused. "Or you?" He stared at her, his eyes bulging. "Zenny?" She stood up. He sat up, staring at her. "Goodbye, Marcus." She threw the dagger to the ground, then turned and flew off as fast as she could. *** Zenny sat up in bed with tears in her eyes. Somewhere in Mystic Forest, in between the new Nightopian base and castle Nightmare, a young female 'maren cried after telling Aeana her life story. Aeana shivered. "Kaseth? Kaseth!" Kaseth looked up. She had been staring at her hands and hadn't heard him the first few times. "Oh... Hi Silas. Sorry." He smiled. "Don't worry about it." He paused. "Cye... informed me of what happened to you and Jayston." Kaseth sighed and rolled her eyes. "Are you here to laugh at me, too? Sorry, but I have better things to do." She got up and was about to fly off. "No, wait! I want to see where it was." Kaseth sighed. "I don't want to--" "Endanger anyone," he cut in, "I know. But I want to find out what's going on -- and I don't want to bother Nights about it unless it's something serious. This is the first time in years he's had any rest." Kaseth smiled. "All right, I'll show you. But don't get to close to the water." She flew off, and he followed. "This is the marsh?" "Yes." Silas looked around. "There doesn't seem to be anything here." "I don't know if those... things... can reach this high." Silas shrugged and flew down just above the water. "Silas!" Kaseth hissed. He paid no attention to her and dipped his hand into the water. Something tickled his fingers... The vine-things quickly wrapped around Silas and pulled him under. "OH MY GOSH! SILAS!" Kaseth flew down, sword ready. She looked in the water, but couldn't see... Something splashed up behind her. She heard a gasp, and then her name. She whirled. Silas was struggling to keep his head above water, while the vines struggled to keep his head under the water. Kaseth hacked away at the vines and tried to free him, but more vines kept wrapping around him. He was about to go under again when Kaseth grabbed him and yanked him up. The vines resisted, but Kaseth momentarily had the upper-hand. She kept cutting at the vines. Silas somehow got his arm free and held onto her, unable to do anything else. She kept slicing, and soon the vines receded. She dragged Silas onto dry land and they both collapsed, exhausted. "I guess... you were right..." Silas gasped. Kaseth nodded. "Are you all right?" "I will be in a moment." Silas rolled over onto his back and tried to catch his breath. Kaseth sat next to him, waiting. Cye strolled up. "Hello, you two." He looked at them curiously. "What happened?" "She wasn't kidding," Silas wheezed. Cye stared at them. "You mean... there IS something in there?" "Very good," Kaseth said bitterly. Cye picked up a stick and held it over the water. Seconds later, the vine things reached up and grabbed ahold of it, and it snapped in half. Cye jumped back with a shout and dropped the rest of the stick. "Wha-WHAT IS THAT?!" "I wish I knew," Kaseth said. Silas slowly sat up. "It... drained me..." he murmured. They looked at him. "What?" "The vines only had me for a few minutes... but it felt like I was fighting for days. I had no strength left." He tried to stand, but his knees buckled. Kaseth grabbed his arm before he fell and helped him stand. "Man... you really don't look that great," Cye said. "I think you'd better go see Ophelia." "I agree," Kaseth said. Silas nodded to both of them, and started walking to the base. He had a limp. Cye looked at Kaseth. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you... this is bad." "Very bad... we'd better make sure he doesn't pass out on the way back!" Cye nodded and the two ran off to catch up with Silas. *** Young Zenny looked around the small village. She hoped she could stay here, start new... she would have a tough time, all by herself, but she knew she could make it. She HAD to. She couldn't keep running forever. "Hey, you!" Someone called out. She turned and looked. "How old are you?" "...I'm seventeen." "Well... close enough. You need a job?" YES! Zenny thought. "Yes, I do." "Well, from now on, pretend you're eighteen. Because if you are, you've got a job." "Okay. But... why?" "I run a tavern. You still want the job?" "Yes, please!" The 'maren laughed. He was tall and thin, and wore red and blue. Zenny soon found him as a nice guy. He didn't let the older waitresses tease her, and he made drunken 'maren leave her alone. he paid her well, and she was tipped well-- although not as well as the other waitresses. But she wasn't about to do what THEY did for big tips. She worked at the tavern for several months, making more money than she had ever seen before, and saving most of it. She rented a small apartment that ran off of someone's hut, and lived there when she wasn't at the tavern. One night, she met a traveler who tipped her well, and also talked to her. She soon became very well acquainted with him, and didn't notice how drunk he was until the owner of the tavern told her to stop selling him drinks. Zenny gasped when she realized and apologized; the owner forgave her. She walked over to the 'maren she had met and said, "The owner says you've had enough. Why don't you let me walk you home?" "I'm not DRUNK!" He said and stood up. "I ASKED for another, and I'm going to GET IT!" Zenny frowned and touched his arm. "Please, you're making a scene. You're drunk." "NO I'M NOT!" He grabbed her by the shirt. She gasped and stared at him. He pushed her forcefully into a chair and walked over to the bar. "I said GIVE me another DRINK!" "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." "I WANT ANOTHER DRINK!" His voice cracked when he went up high; he almost fell, using the bar to support himself. "I want another drink," he said again, calmly." "Leave before I call the authorities." He grabbed the bar-man, pulled him over to the bar, and slammed him to the floor. "HEY!" A big burly 'maren grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. "He told you to leave. LEAVE NOW." The smaller 'maren grabbed a beer bottle and smashed it against the larger 'maren's head. The larger 'maren grabbed the broken bottle and hit the smaller 'maren with it. The 'maren screamed and covered his eye. Drunk or not, he still felt the pain. "GET OUT!" The 'maren stumbled out of the tavern and fell to the ground outside, still holding a hand over his eye. Zenny walked over to the bar-man and helped him up. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault." "No it ain't, miss. Nobody can control a drunken 'maren." "No, but they can control how much that 'maren gets to drink," the owner said. Both looked at him. "Zenny, you're fired You'll receive your final pay tomorrow." "But--!" "Go." Zenny looked down. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Then she left. The 'maren was lying on the ground there. She hesitated. Was she going to help him, or leave him? She sighed and helped him stand. "C'mon, you need to get to a doctor." The two walked to the Medic's Hut, where the 'maren fell asleep as the doctor patched up his eye. "He'll never use this eye again," she said. "It's ruined." "Serves him right," Zenny said. The next morning, Zenny was still there. The 'maren woke up and looked at her. He found that his vision was awkward, and tried to open his other eye. He couldn't. It was impossible. He looked in a mirror and stared. There was a black patch over his eye -- had he really lost his eye permanently? Yes, he had, he found out later when Zenny woke up. "I- I'm sorry I got you fired," he said quietly. Zenny sighed. "It's all right. I forgive you." She paused. "What's your name?" "Trayton," he answered. He paused. "I guess you'll have to leave here?" "Yes. I need a job, and that's the only job I could get." "Well... I know a few places you could go." "Where?" He told her of an orphanage to the east; and of Nightmare castle, to the west. "Whatever you choose," he said, "Be careful. Okay? You're still a kid." "Okay. Thank you." After a moment, she hugged him. He hugged her back and whispered "I'm sorry" one more time. *** Zenny flew down the hall. She could not and did not want to sleep. "I just wish..." She heard something behind her and whirled. A tall male 'maren was on the floor, picking himself him. He saw her. "Hello." She watched him. "Did I startle you? I'm sorry. I wasn't watching were I was going and I tripped." "...Why weren't you flying?" He looked at her. "I don't like flying unless I have to." She gave him an odd look. "...Why?!" "When I was a kid my stomach got cut up-- my stomach muscles never really healed right. So it hurts to fly." Zenny stared at him. He stared back. "Hey... do you know someone named... Zenny?" "I..." "Zenny?! It's Marcu--" "NO!" She dashed off. "ZENNY WAIT!" But it was too late. He couldn't catch up with her. Nights sighed and looked over the paperwork. "I knew it couldn't last forever." Silas walked into the room. He still had a slight limp. "Everyone and everything has been notified. I-- ooooh..." Silas doubled over. Nights jumped up. "Silas?" Silas fell to his knees and started coughing. "Silas? Silas!" Nights ran out and ordered one of the guards to get Ophelia NOW. The guard nodded and flew off to the infirmary. Nights went back to Silas, who was trying not to collapse completely. "Hang on, Ophelia's on the way." Silas nodded and moaned. Minutes later, Ophelia walked in. Nights was kneeling next to Silas, trying to keep him from passing out. Nights got out of the way, and Ophelia looked Silas over. She looked up at Nights. "Help me get him to the infirmary." He nodded, and between the two of them got Silas into the infirmary and onto a bed. Silas was struggling to stay awake. "What's wrong with him?!" Nights demanded. "I have no idea." "What?!" "I think it has something to do with what happened earlier today, but..." "I'll go find Kaseth." Nights was about to dash off, but Ophelia held him back. "Tell her to get a sample of the vines. If it has anything to do with Silas' condition, I'll need to study it." Nights nodded and flew off. *** "YOU IDIOT! DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?!" "Calm down! We'll get through it!" "No we won't! You know what will happen! And it's your fault!" The young 'maren peaked around the door. She was dressed in nicer clothing, had a hat, and looked to be around five years old. Her parents were fighting; her father had made an investment error, and her mother was getting over-emotional about it. Too over-emotional. She was starting to scare her husband and her daughter. "So we'll have to cut back on a few things! It will work out." "You are such a..." She reached for the fire poker... "Mommy? Daddy? Why are you fighting?" Her mother turned around. "Go to bed, Kaseth." "But I don't want you to fight!" "Do what your mother says, sweety." "But..." "We're not fighting. We're just having a loud argument, okay?" She nodded and reluctantly left the room. She climbed up the stairs and sat down, listening. "A loud argument? That's even stupider than what you did today!" "She doesn't understand, she's only five." "That's besides the point. This is ALL besides the point! You're just a stupid incompetent slime ball!" "WHAT ARE YOU DOI--" There was a dull thud, and a crash. Then it was silent. Young Kaseth gasped and covered her head. Something BAD was happening, and she didn't want to see it. She ran up the stairs and slipped into her bed. The next morning when she went downstairs for breakfast, her father wasn't there. Only her mother, who looked to be in a much better mood. "Mommy? Where's Daddy?" "He left, honey." "Left where? For how long?" "Forever." "Forever?! Why?!" He mother bent over and looked her in the eye. "Because of YOU." "Me? What'd I do?" "You interrupted our argument last night. I was trying to make him stay. But he didn't want to have to deal with you anymore, or your crap." She paused for dramatic effect. "He left because he doesn't love you anymore." The five-year-old burst into tears and ran up to her room. Her mother sat back in a chair, a faint smile on her face. *** Kaseth snapped back to reality. She wiped the tears out of her eyes. She didn't want to cry, not until later... She found someone's hand on her shoulder. "Kaseth?" She looked over her shoulder. "Nights." "I nee-- are you okay?" "I'm fine. Some sand got in my eye. What is it?" "I need you to go back and get a sample of those vines -- Just attract it and slice a piece off." "All right." She was about to go, but turned again and looked at him. "Why?" "Silas isn't doing all that great," Nights muttered. Kaseth nodded and flew off to the marsh. Kaseth landed on the bank she and Jayston had been on. She held her hand over the surface of the water, dagger ready. A few minutes later, a vine reached up to wrap around her wrist. She quickly sliced it in half, and caught the dead piece before it fell back into the water. She put her dagger away and headed for the infirmiry. She landed in the infirmary and looked around. Ophelia saw her and walked up to her. "Here, give it to me." Kaseth did so, and Ophelia took it over to her microscope. She cut off a thin slice and looked at it under the microscope. Over the next half-hour, she took many tests. Nights sat in a chair next to Silas. Kaseth waited by the door. Ophelia rubbed her eyes. "I've found many interesting things about this... species... but--" "But what? What's wrong with Silas?" Nights asked. Ophelia shook her head. "I still don't know." Nights groaned and dropped his head into his lap. "Why me," he mumbled. Kaseth, sensing there was nothing she could do, left. *** The young female 'maren, who looked about thirteen this time and whose clothes were more ragged than ever, ran for her life. This time for good. "COME BACK HERE YOU WRETCHED CHILD!" The 'maren yelled back a word she shouldn't have known, and ran faster. When she got to the edge of the field, she flew over the fence and flew away as fast as she could. Her mother did not follow. It only took a few hours to get where she was going. By then, the sun was starting to rise; it brought a pinkish-redish glow over the world. The young Kaseth limped up to the door of the place, and knocked. While she waited for an answer, she looked up and studied the building. Tall, maybe four stories high, and black as death. windows were boarded up, taped over, anything to keep the wind from going through the building. She remembered something, and quickly tied her hair back with an elastic. She tried to look as neat as possible. An older 'maren answered the door. Her clothing was tattered as well, but she had a hat. She wore glasses, which were kept in place by a chain attached to them and her hat. She had on rather drab colors, gray and darker gray. Her eyes were a dull blue color, and her hands were all cracked and swollen. Kaseth stared at her. "Another runaway?" "Y... yes." "What's your story?" "My... my mother beat me." The older 'maren shook her head. "Ever since this Wizeman came along, more and more of this type of thing has happened... when's the last time you ate?" "About a week ago," she whispered. The older 'maren shook her head again. "I'll get you something to eat. It's not gourmet, but it's something." The older 'maren led the younger one inside, starting her several years of pain and torture. *** Kaseth sat straight up in bed. For the past week, she had been having flashbacks of her childhood. Not always in order, but... it didn't matter. She didn't WANT to remember. Everything had been horrible up until she joined Nightmare... and, well, she hadn't enjoyed that either, but it had been better than everything else. *** Zenny walked up to the tall, black building. The sun had risen hours ago, and she was hot, tired, and thirsty. It had been days since she had run from her home, and in her travels she had been tipped off about this place. So she knocked on the door. Instantly, an older 'maren, wearing glasses and a drab outfit answered. "What are you here for?" "I ran away." "And why is that?" "Someone murdered my family... and they think I did it, and..." Zenny burst into tears and covered her face. The older 'maren took a tissue out of her pocket and handed it to Zenny. Zenny took it and dried her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "How old are you?" "Seventeen." The older 'maren sighed. "A little older than the rest, but... you are innocent, right?" "YES! I DIDN'T DO IT! HOW COULD I KILL MY OWN FAMILY!" "Calm down, child. I was just making sure. You're not the only 'maren here, you know." And with that she led Zenny inside. *** Zenny jerked wake and almost fell out of her bed. Why was she remembering what happened all of a sudden? She was already plagued by her memories in the daytime... now where they going to haunt her dreams as well? "Jayston, please, let me do my work." Jayston pouted. "Fine." He turned away, and Ophelia continued what she was doing. He started opening drawers and emptying them out on the floor. She didn't notice for a few minutes. Then she heard something crash to the floor, and turned. "JAY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY INFIRMARY?!?!" Jayston grimaced. "Uh-oh..." "JAYSTON! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" "Um... I didn't do it?" "THEN WHO DID?!" "Um..." Ophelia put her hands on her hips. "...someone else?" "Uh-huh." She grabbed his collar. "Clean this up--" "But I didn't do it! Really!" "JAYSTON! CLEAN IT UP NOW!!" "Fine, make me clean it up when I didn't do it." He bent down and started picking things up. Ophelia shook her head and went back to work. Jayston finished up and went outside. He saw Kaseth and flew over. "Hi Kaseth." "Hi Jayston." She looked at him. "Did you just get in trouble?" "Yes. And I didn't do anything." Kaseth cocked her head. "Then why didn't you tell them that?" "She didn't believe me." "Maybe because you did do something?" Jayston smirked. Kaseth shook her head. "Jay..." She playfully pushed him. "Hey! Abuse!" She laughed. He smirked again, and walked with her. "Are you going anywhere in particular?" "No, I'm just wandering." "Good. Wandering is a good thing." They flew off into the surrounding trees. A small male 'maren, dressed in black and green, with a patch over his left eye, a long dagger sheathed on his right side, and a bow and quiver on his back, watched Kaseth and Jayston. He had been watching them, and the rest of the 'maren, for awhile. When he had run from the Nightmaren Army, he had found this place, thinking that no-one would ever find him. But now he was in danger of being caught. He had snuck up a few times, listened to a few conversations. He had learned that they were the Nightopian Army, the organization against the Nightmaren. But, since he hadn't joined them, would they capture him? He wasn't sure how they worked when it came to prisoners. What if they were worse than the Nightmaren Army? He shivered, and looked back at Kaseth and Jayston. The female had been there when the other maren had fallen in and almost been swallowed by the creature. By now he was probably unconscious. The 'maren, Trayton, knew how to help Silas. He had to talk to her; she seemed to be one of the less irritable ones. Jayston remembered he had to do something, so he went back. Kaseth kept wandering. She had nothing to do, so she went near the marsh and sat on a rock, thinking. She sighed. This... thing... whatever it was... didn't make any sense... what was wrong with Silas? She heard a twig snap, and froze. Someone was sneaking up behind her... Before she could react, a hand wrapped around her waist. Another hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled against the figure, and almost got away. The figure took his hand away from her mouth and wrapped it around her waist along with the other one. "I don't mean you any harm," a male voice said. Kaseth elbowed him, and he let go of her with an "Oof!" and fell back. She withdrew her dagger and turned to face him. He was dressed in black and green, and had a patch over his eye. He saw her dagger and started shaking. "No, please..." She looked at him. "I beg you!" She looked him in the eye... he was more scared of her than she was of him. She backed off and held her dagger in a non-threatening position. He tried to sit up, but was shaking so hard he couldn't. She reached over to help him up, but he shied away from her. "Are you all right?" He stared at her, trying to decide what to do. He slowly reached for his dagger. She saw this, and quickly took it from his sheath and threw it. "NO!" He crawled backwards, until he backed into a group of bushes and fell into them. Kaseth stood up and walked over to him. He let out a little cry and tried to hide himself in the bushes. Kaseth knelt beside him. "I'm not going to hurt you," she said gently, "if you aren't here to hurt me." He looked at her, still shaking. "Why are you here? What is it that you're after?" "I-I-I came to help," he stammered. She gave him an odd look. "To help who?" He sat up, still shaking a little. "Your friend. The one who was taken under by the creature." "... The creature?" "In the water." He took something out of his pocket. She backed up a little, until she saw it was only a small bottle and a syringe. He handed them to her. She looked at the bottle. It was filled half-way with a pale green liquid. She looked back up at the 'maren. "Who are you?" "I'm... my name is Trayton." She smiled. "Kaseth." He looked at her curiously, no longer afraid. "I thought you'd be different." "...Why?" Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know me?" "I meant you as a whole. All of you." "All of us -- you mean the Nightopian Army?" "Yes. I thought... you'd be like Nightmare." She shook her head. "You haven't been in the war recently." "No. I... I've been living in the forest for a long time." He looked down. "I ran from Nightmare a long time ago." She lifted his chin and looked him in the eye. "Why didn't you join the Nightopian Army?" "I... I was afraid of them." "...I guess I should have known that. You were shaking just because I had my dagger out..." She sheathed her dagger, went and got his, and gave it to him. Then she helped him up. "Are you all right?" "Yes." He paused. "I'm sorry I snuck up on you." "Under the circumstances, I think I can forgive you." She smiled. He smiled back. Then she left for the infirmary. She didn't want to have to explain what was going on, so she waited over an hour for Ophelia to leave. Then she snuck into the infirmary, and walked up to Silas. He was lying in a bed, asleep. She took out the syringe and the liquid. She stuck the syringe through the top of the bottle, and took some of the liquid. Then she stuck the syringe into Silas' arm and put the liquid in him. He mumbled something and shifted, but that was all. can't expect it to work right away Kaseth thought absently. She put the bottle and syringe back in her pouch. She whirled. Someone was coming in. She looked around quickly, then flew out the window. Ophelia walked into the infirmary. Jayston was right on her heels. "Jay, you've already made a mess. I don't trust you in here." "I'll make sure no one else makes a mess and blames it on me." Ophelia sighed. "Jayston, give it up. I know you did it, I saw you!" Jayston smirked. "No you didn't. You saw me looking at the mess, not making it." "But you did make it." "So?" Ophelia turned and looked at him. "I don't think you--" She stopped when she heard a moan. She turned and looked over at Silas. He was sitting up. "Silas!" She rushed over to him. He looked at her. "My head hurts." She laughed in relief, then looked over at Jayston. "Go get Nights!" He nodded, then turned and left to do just that. Kaseth watched and listened. Trayton hadn't lied. I need to find him again... She flew off. Reala stopped and looked down the hallway. He had a bad feeling... but he didn't know why. The next thing he knew, a wet cloth was over his mouth. He struggled, but the figure kept the cloth over his mouth. He blacked out. Jackle glanced down the hallway. "REALA!" The 'maren dragging Reala off glanced up at Jackle. He took out a crossbow and fired. Jackle ducked, then started throwing cards at the 'maren. The 'maren dodged, then used Reala as a shield. Jackle stopped. The 'maren started dragging Reala again. Jackle flew over, planning on attacking the 'maren. Very suddenly he felt something hard slam into his head, and he collapsed in a heap on the floor, unconscious. Jackle blinked. He looked around groggily. He was no longer in the hallway... Jackle sat up. He was in the infirmary. "Are you all right?" Jackle glanced over. The doctor smiled. "You've been out for a few hours. That's some bump." "How..." "Someone found you in the hallway." Jackle stood up and left the infirmary. He flew through the halls, thinking. The doctor hadn't said anything about Reala-- so either he was still here, somewhere, or the Myriad... Jackle stopped. He had to find Aeana! "AEANA!" Jackle looked around wildly. He had no idea what he was doing or where he was going, but he HAD to tell her... "Well well." Jackle whirled. A male 'maren hovered in front of him... a 'maren with a very large sword. "Didn't expect to see someone from Nightmare in Mystic Forest... alone. Especially not YOU." Jackle clenched his fists, then sighed. He turned and started to walk away. The 'maren cocked his head. "And where are you going?" "I need to find someone," Jackle murmured. He was starting to worry... He was faster than most 'maren, and his cards hardly ever missed their targets, but he was lost in a close-up sword fight. He carried two daggers; a small throwing dagger, and a larger stabbing dagger. But no sword. "Who?" "None of your business." Jackle felt something sharp dig into his back. "Who?" the other 'maren asked again. Jackle swallowed. "Whose side are you on?" The 'maren laughed. "I don't do sides. I haven't been in this war for years. I've been with some people that want to start a different one." Jackle panicked. "WELL THIS IS ONE 'MAREN WHOSE HEAD YOU WON'T HAVE!" He flew off as fast as he could.The 'maren dashed after him, then rammed into Jackle. Jackle slammed into the base of a tree. He rolled over and looked up at the other 'maren. The 'maren laughed. "Looks like I WILL have your head." The 'maren brought his sword down. Jackle flinched and waited for the pain... ...but it never came. He opened his eyes and looked. The sword had gone through his cape and into the ground. He looked at the 'maren. The 'maren was holding a long dagger and grinning wildly. "I don't like quick deaths." He slashed his dagger across Jackle's face. Jackle reached for the clasp to his cape, trying to remove it. The 'maren stabbed him three or four times before Jackle got away from him. He took a dagger out of his boot and threw it at the 'maren, puncturing his heart. The 'maren stared in shock, then slumped to the ground. Jackle walked over. He was about to pull the dagger out. "No..." "Myriad slime ball." The 'maren shook. "You'll... get yours... you'll die... too..." Jackle pulled the dagger out, took his cape, put it back on, and limped away. "Jackle?" Jackle whirled. "Aeana," he sighed with relief. "What happened? Are you okay?" "I was attacked by someone from the Myriad..." Aeana gasped. She looked at his wounds. "You.. you... he would have killed you!" "I know." Aeana hugged him. Jackle hugged back. "Let me bandage those." The two walked to a burned out building. Inside, they sat on a bed and Aeana took out some bandages. "This is the burned out base, isn't it?" "Yes," Aeana said. "It provides much better cover than anywhere else. And it's easier for my friends to find." "Why didn't you join Nightopia?" Aeana smiled. "You don't have to be worried about me all the time." "Yes I do." They smiled at each other. Then Jackle remembered why he was here. He told Aeana about Reala and the Myriad. "What?! Does anybody know yet? In the castle?" "I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough." Jackle sighed. "I'll... well... maybe Kaseth can..." "I don't know... I'm sure you'll think of something." Kaseth wandered through the woods, looking for Trayton. Something rustled the bushes behind her, and she turned around. "Trayton?" No answer came. Figuring it was just a 'pian, she turned and walked on. She kept walking for a few minutes, until someone came up from behind her and clamped a cloth over her mouth. She gasped and struggled against the person, but the world was becoming... blurry... Xender sighed and shook his head. "There has got to be a better way to do this..." He put Kaseth over his shoulder and walked off. *** Young Kaseth stared at the walls around her. She was scared. Very scared. She had no idea what was going on. For the first week, the place had seemed like an okay place; the food was okay, the beds were semi-soft, and the people were decent. But, after the first week.. It had been horrible. Half of them had been killed, and the rest were MADE to watch them. Then the rest were put to work. Hard, grueling work, that killed some 'maren and severely injured others. And... if you were bad... they put you in the box... Kaseth sat against the wall and sobbed. Out of the frying pan, and into the fire. "Get in there!" "NO! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! I DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE! PLEASE!" "GET IN THERE!" There was a thud. The door was pushed open, and a female 'maren was flung inside. She lay in a heap on the floor and shook. The door was closed and locked. Kaseth walked over to where the 'maren lay and kneeled. "Are you all right?" she whispered. The other 'maren slowly turned her head and looked at Kaseth. "I... I think I'm bleeding..." her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. Kaseth tried to help her up, but the other 'maren refused. "Just leave me alone." Kaseth backed away until she came to the wall, sat down, hugged herself, and shivered. It was freezing and wet, and it smelled. There where skeletons dumped in the corner; she wasn't sure if they were put there to scare people, or they were the bones of 'maren who hadn't survived. She heard a scream outside and broke into a sob. She hid her head in her knees. She was terrified. The other 'maren looked at her. "How old are you?" "Thirteen," came the muffled reply. The other 'maren sat up, walked over, and sat next to her. As painful as it was, she felt she had to. "Why are you here?" "I ran away from home," Kaseth whispered. "Why?" "My mother beat me." "...I ran away from home too." "Why?" "My family was murdered," the 'maren whispered. "...Who did it?" "I don't know; but they think it was me." Kaseth looked at her. "What's your name?" "Zenny. What's yours?" "Kaseth." "Hi." "Hi." *** Silas was searching the woods, looking for Kaseth. He heard sounds of struggling. He listened until it stopped. Then he ran in the direction it had come from. He saw Kaseth, being carried off by some 'maren. "HEY! The 'maren turned and looked around. Silas jumped out of the bushes and dashed towards the 'maren. The 'maren dodged. "Why does she have to have so many friends..." Xender took Kaseth off of his shoulder and carried her in front of him, then flew off. Silas dashed after him. "GET BACK HERE!" Xender stopped, and Silas shot past him. He turned into the trees and out of sight. Silas turned and followed. Xender flew through a waterfall, and landed on the other side. He walked through the caves until he was in an open space. The Myriad's base. He flew into the prison and put Kaseth down at Aaron's feet. "Here she is." "Good." Aaron turned to one of the guards. "Watch her. Inform me when she awakens." The guard nodded, and Aaron walked out of the room with Xender. "What do you plan on doing with her?" Xender asked. "We'll use her to get Nights." Xender looked at him. "How?" "She's in love with Reala." "Yes, so?" "We'll use him to get to her..." "To get to Nights," Xender finished. Aaron nodded. "How ironic." "Ironic, yes. But it will work." Silas sighed. He was lost. He had followed Xender into the caves, but now he had no idea where he was. Suddenly, he heard talking. He stopped and hid in the shadows. "Aaron has come up with a way to get Nights? That's impossible." "AND he's using Reala." "Moronic!" Silas furrowed his brow. Reala? To get Nights? It didn't make sense. But nothing made sense. Who were these people? He saw the two 'maren walk by, then followed them. Wherever they were going, it was better than being lost. Kaseth blinked. She instantly sat up and looked around. She knew where she was. "Go tell him," a voice behind her said. She looked over her shoulder. A 'maren was flying off, and a 'maren cat was watching her. She slowly stood up and turned. "Why am I here?" "Aaron will tell you." Kaseth looked around. "Don't bother, the only way out is through this door. The one I'm standing in front of." Kaseth reached for her sword, but it was gone. She stood up and waited. Silas flew through wherever he was, staring at it all in awe. He had to find Kaseth, and FAST. Nobody really paid much attention to him, but someone could get suspicious, and then... "Hey, you!" Silas turned. A 'maren he didn't know flew up to him. "I don't recognize you. Are you new?" "Er... yeah." "What's your designation number?" Silas paled. Designation number? "Um... uh..." MAKE SOMETHING UP YOU DOLT! he screamed at himself. The 'maren fingered the hilt of his sword. "Well?" "I.. um.. don't have one..." Silas tensed, ready to dash off is need be. "THAT new?" The 'maren said suspiciously. "Then maybe you should meet Aaron." Silas swallowed and turned. Several 'maren had surrounded the two. "Guards! Take him to Aaron!" Silas dashed through them, then flew as fast as he could. But the guards were faster. One of them grabbed his ankle and yanked him back. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. With a grunt he pushed himself up and looked at the guards that were surrounding him again with their swords drawn. He swallowed and looked for an escape. There was none. One guard pulled him to his feet, and another held him in place. "Well?" the 'maren from before said. "Take him away!" The guards pulled Silas off. The 'maren sighed. "Morons." "Hello Kaseth. How are you?" Kaseth jumped to her feet and swore at him. "Good as always then." "What's going on Aaron?!" "Simple. I want Nights. I have Reala. You get Nights, Reala lives. You refuse, Reala dies." Kaseth stared at him. "Wha-at?!" A smile played around Aaron's lips. "I'm sorry, this must be awful fast. I'll show you." He gestured for her to follow, and then he left the room. Glancing at the guards, Kaseth walked out the door as well. Aaron waited for her to catch up, then walked on. "Reala is in a cell just around the corner. I believe he has fallen asleep." "Must be hoarse," Kaseth muttered. Aaron grinned smugly as they turned the corner, and Kaseth saw Reala. "Reala!" She ran up to the cell door and watched him. He was dead asleep, his left hand tied to the bedpost with a long chain. Kaseth's eyes narrowed, and she turned to face Aaron. "What is this?" "I want Nights. Here. And you're getting him for me." Silas looked down the hall. He saw... "KASETH!" Kaseth glanced down the hall. "Silas!" Aaron looked over and growled under his breath. "Stupid guards can't do anything right..." Kaseth was about to run off when Aaron grabbed her arm. "Oh no you don't, not yet." She looked at him with hate in her eyes. "You didn't let me finish. If you DON'T get Nights for me, Reala will die." He paused. "Slowly. " Kaseth swallowed and looked in the cell at Reala. "I..." She would think of something. Play along. She sighed. "What do I do?" "Here." Aaron pulled a roll of paper out of his inside vest pocket. "Follow these directions." Kaseth nodded and put the paper in her pouch. She very suddenly remembered her dagger. In her boot. how could I forget?! She shook her head slightly, then glanced down the hall again. One of the guards was approaching with her sword. "You were never here," Aaron said. Kaseth nodded and took her sword. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. No, not yet. She flew down the hall towards Silas, who was getting beat up pretty badly by the guards. With a quick blow from her sword to the largest guard, the rest backed off. Kaseth helped Silas up. "Hurry." Silas didn't ask questions, he just followed her out of the building, and then out of the compound. "Will it work?" Xender asked. Matt snorted. "All of Aaron's ideas work, remember?" Aaron looked at them both with contempt. "I know Kaseth. She won't let Reala die. She will bring Nights to us." Aaron paused, then nodded to himself. She WILL bring him back. He knew it. Silas leaned against a tree while Kaseth bandaged the worst wounds. "What was OW going on back there?" "Aaron has Reala, and he wants me to get Nights for him. Or he'll kill Reala off." "Let him get rid of Reala. We don't need to sacrifice Nights for him." Kaseth let out a shallow sigh and shook her head. "I'm going to tell Nights what's going on anyway. I just need to figure out HOW." Silas nodded. "I won't say anything." "Thank you." She finished and stepped back. Silas looked himself over, then glanced at Kaseth. "Were you friends with Reala?" "Yes." Silas nodded. "That's why." They flew off. Kaseth sat on the beach and looked over the lake. This place felt so much like Splash Garden... NO! DON'T THINK ABOUT IT! THINK ABOUT REALA! Kaseth shook her head and sighed. The past was behind her... she needed to get that through her head. She laid back on the bank and closed her eyes. A short rest, maybe... She fell asleep. *** Kaseth was flying through Splash Garden, looking for rebels, when she heard a loud roar followed by a scream. She hurried on, and when she was on the top of a hill she looked around. She didn't see anything... BAKU!! "But they're just a myth!" She looked closer. Not only a baku, but a 'maren... "ZENNY!" Kaseth drew her sword and dashed down. The baku glanced at her, ignored her, and went back to Zenny. She was limp as a rag doll, tattered and torn. The baku picked her up. "NO! LET HER GO!" The baku looked at her again, then threw Zenny down and bounded towards her. "Oops..." She dodged it's claws, and suddenly found herself UNDER it. It took her a long moment to figure it out, and another long moment to figure out her sword was still in her hand. She grabbed it tightly, then thrust it upwards. The baku screamed and fell onto it's side. Kaseth rolled away and stood up. It stared at her, it's eyes a bright blue. She yanked her sword out and almost went deaf from the second scream. It's eyes dimmed and closed. "I... I killed it..." She walked over to Zenny. Zenny slowly opened her eyes and looked at Kaseth. "What... where's the..." Kaseth looked over her shoulder. Zenny followed her gaze and froze. "What... you... how... WHY?!" Kaseth looked at her friend in surprise. "It was going to kill you!" "I KNOW! WHY DIDN'T YOU LET IT?!" Zenny sobbed. Kaseth stepped back, then turned and walked over to the baku's body. Several minutes later, she had two jars full of baku sedative. She walked over to Zenny, whom had passed out seconds before from the pain. She picked her up, and flew towards Nightmare. *** Kaseth awoke with a jerk. Shenala was standing over her. "Are you okay?" "Yes..." she looked around. She was still on the beach, and the sun was setting. "I must have fallen asleep." "You did." Shenala sat down next to Kaseth. "When are you going to do it?" Kaseth looked at her. "What are you talking about?" Shenala grinned evilly. "You know Aaron isn't very patient." Kaseth's eyes widened, then she shook her head. "It figures. Poor Nights..." "It was a good act though, wasn't it?" Kaseth looked at her in disgust. "All of you are slime." "Then what does that make you?" Kaseth shivered and looked away. Just what DID it make her? "I need to think." "Think quickly. Aaron does have a backup plan." Kaseth glanced at her. "What?" "Me." Shenala flew off. Kaseth watched her leave, then looked at her hands in horror. What had she gotten into?! "Kaseth?" She looked up. A small 'maren, his face hidden by the shadows, looked around nervously. He moved slightly, and Kaseth saw who it was. "Trayton!" He smiled and sat down. "How are you? Did it work? Is your friend okay?" "Not good, yes, yes," she said with a smile. "Why, what's wrong?" "Well..." she looked around. I can trust him She explained what was going on. He listened and nodded. "What am I going to do?" "Well... tell him." "I know... I just..." "What is it?" "Well... you see... Reala..." With a sigh she let it all out, told him everything.His eyes widened, and then he gave her a look of sympathy. "Love really does conquer all," he said quietly. "Maybe," she said. Trayton put a friendly arm around her. "Are you going to be okay?" "Yeah..." She swallowed. "I'll go tell him now..." she started to get up. "Kaseth? Who's that?" Trayton froze. Kaseth stood up and looked over her shoulder. "Hi Jay. He's..." Trayton jumped up and backed away. "It's okay, he's my friend." Trayton swallowed and studied Jayston. He looked okay... Jayston gave him an odd look. "What's up with him?" "People aren't his strong point." Trayton blushed visibly and glanced around. "Are you new or something?" "Not exactly..." Kaseth grinned and shook her head. "Isn't it time for bed, Jay?" "Nope. I don't sleep. Party all night." "Tonight's not the night for a party..." Trayton mumbled. Kaseth sighed. "Trayton... why don't you help me?" His eyes widened. "I... I can't..." "Sure you can. Just leave your dagger where it is." "What about my bow?" Kaseth smirked. "Don't be a brat." "Yes m'am." She shook her head. "Men..." "Hey, there's nothing wrong with US. Just the majority of them," Jayston said. Kaseth grinned. "Of course, I should have known." Jayston laughed and walked away. Kaseth looked at Trayton. "Will you..." "Yes." "Thank you." The two of them walked to Nights office. Kaseth was about to open the door when she heard people talking inside. She went to the window and looked inside. Trayton looked over her shoulder. "Shenala-- this is absurd!" "Yeah! What are you smokin'? Kaseth's on our side!" Kaseth and Trayton glanced at each other. "Nights... Cye... I know what I saw. Kaseth attacked Silas, then flew off. She's turned traitor." Kaseth gasped. That little witch! Myriad scum! "Kaseth?" Trayton whispered. "Sh." "At least she didn't kill him." Kaseth turned and dashed for the infirmary. Trayton followed as fast as he could. He didn't want to get lost HERE. Kaseth landed in front of the infirmary door and peeked inside. Silas was in a bed. Ophelia was no where to be found. "Come on," Kaseth said. She stole into the infirmary with Trayton right behind her. She walked over to Silas' bed and shook him. "Silas, wake up." "Hmmmm? oooooh." Silas sat up and put a hand to his head. "Kaseth... Shenala attacked me! She's a Myriad!" "Shush, I know. She's in there telling Nights I attacked you... come on, I need you to tell him." Kaseth helped Silas up. He noticed Trayton. "Who's that?' "Later." The three flew out of the infirmary. Moments later, they burst into Nights office. Cye looked up, wide-eyed. "Silas you're ok-- Kaseth!" He jumped up and pulled out his sword. "Wait! Shenala's the one who attacked me! She's with the Myriad!" "WHAT?!" "I caught her talking to one of them. She caught me spying on her and... well, you know." Cye took his hat off and pulled his hand through his hair. "Oh man. This is bad." "What?" "Shenala just left with Nights... she was going to show him where Kaseth attacked Si--" He stopped, and his jaw hung open. "SHE'S LEADING HIM TO THE MYRIAD!" In another part of Nightopia, Aeana and Jackle were headed towards the base. "Are you sure they'll..." "As long as I explain fast enough." "Thank goodness you're a fast talker." Aeana grinned, then reached over to touch his cheek. "Poor Reala. He can never go back to Nightmare." "It's for the best... although I could have used him as an informant." "I don't think he would. He doesn't like you." "True. But not too many people do." Kaseth, Silas, Cye and Trayton scoured the forest for Nights. It was Trayton who found him, tied up and being dragged off by some 'maren. Shenala was nowhere to be seen. "Maybe she went back to he base," he said to himself, "to tell them that Kaseth came back and took Nights..." he called out for the other three. They soon caught up to him. "They have Nights." "Great." Silas sighed and tugged on the end of his hat in thought. "We have to go to the Myriad's base and get him back." "This should be fun..." "Kaseth!" Kaseth whirled. Aeana was right behind her. "AEANA! What are you doing here?!" "Helping." She glanced at Silas and Trayton. "Jackle's with me..." "WHAT?!" Silas drew his sword and looked around wildly. "Don't worry, he's with us. He's... an informant." Aeana gave Kaseth That Look. Kaseth smirked. "You vixen." Aeana smirked. "Jackle!" Jackle came out of hiding. When he saw Silas' sword, he reached for a card. "Wait! Don't. We don't have time to fight." Silas slowly sheathed his sword, and Jackle left his cards where they were. "Good." She looked at Kaseth. You know where it is, right?" "The Myriad base? Yes." "Better." She glanced around at them all. "Well? Let's go!" Kaseth flew off, and everyone followed her. Reala glared out his cell at an unconscious Nights and a grinning Aaron. "Well, things didn't work out the way I planned, but they still worked out." "Let me outa here." "Your life is no longer worth it. There's already a rumor going around Nightmare that you joined the rebels." Reala growled. "And Kaseth is in a lot of trouble. She'll probably be executed." "Ka... Kaseth?" "So you remember her." Aaron laughed. Reala struggled against the chains, to no avail. Nights groaned. "Ah," Aaron said, "right on time." Nights' eyes fluttered open, and he stared at the ceiling. The first thing he noticed was the pounding headache. The second was the color of the ceiling. Not white. Not black. Dark gray... dark gray? where am I? Nights sat up slowly. Slowly because his hands were tied against him. The first thing he saw was cell bars. Next he noticed Reala on the other side of those bars, chained to a bed. Reala imprisoned... me tied up... uh-oh Nights looked to his side and saw a 'maren in yellow and orange with similarly colored eyes. Raking through his memory, this 'maren reminded him of one Kaseth had told him about. Nights cursed. "It didn't take YOU very long to figure out what's going on," Aaron said with a grin. Reala growled under his breath. "I only figured out some of it, so why don't you tell me the rest?" "Why don't you ask Reala?" Aaron said with an evil smirk. Nights sighed. "No thank you." Aaron took a set of keys out of his inside vest pocket and opened a cell opposite Reala's. He pulled Nights to his feet, sliced the ropes, pushed Nights into the prison cell, and closed the door. Nights instantly jumped up and slammed into the door. Aaron pushed against it from the other side and struggled to lock it. Reala watched in surprise, half hoping Nights would win. "GUARDS!!" Two 'maren cats came, and right then Nights gained the upper hand and pushed the door open enough to get out. Aaron let go, and Nights almost lost his balance. He regained himself and flew down the hall. "GET HIM!! NOW!!" The cats bounded down the hall. Nights searched desperately for a door, a window, anything! But all he got was lost. lost in the Myriad Prison. This is real fun he thought sarcastically. Kaseth led her friends through the caves, ultimately coming through into the base. Everyone except Silas and Kaseth stared. "How..." "When..." "Why..." "Who..." "Time, recently, they're all insane, Aaron." Kaseth looked around, trying to remember where the prison was. "There," Silas said, pointing. Kaseth looked and saw the building. "Thanks. C'mon everyone." They flew off towards the building. Nights stared at the wall. He had come to a dead end. emphasis on the dead he thought. He turned and saw the two 'maren cats right in front of him. He swallowed and backed into the wall. The larger cat extended its claws and put them up to Nights neck. He stopped mid-swallow and waited for what was going to happen. "Lucky for you, Aaron wants you alive -- for now." "F-for what?" "You'll find out." The cat backed off. Nights glanced through them, then dashed. He would have gotten away, but the second cat reached out, claws extended. Nights fell to the ground. He saw blood on the ground, realized it was his own, and passed out. "You didn't kill him, did you?" "I'll get the doctor. Take him back to Aaron." The first cat nodded, picked Nights up, and trotted off. Reala glanced out of his cell as the 'maren cat brought a limp Nights back. "He's not dead, is he?" "No. Paz went to get Julia." Aaron opened the cell, and the cat dropped Nights in. Aaron locked Nights in, then looked at Reala. Reala glared back. "You've been after him for years, and it takes me half an hour to get him bleeding and in a cell." Aaron laughed and left. Reala crossed his arms and sat against the wall. Nights' eyes flickered open. For a moment, things were blurry. When the bars came into focus, he remembered where he was and sat up... or attempted to. He decided the pain was too great, and looked around. Reala looked at him, then instantly looked away. When Nights saw Reala, he did the same. A quick search showed nothing in his cell but a cot. Nights pulled himself up into it, and lay on his back. He pulled his hand away from his chest and stared at the blood. they said he doesn't want me dead YET... I really don't like the sound of that "In there. Hurry up." Nights looked over. His cell door opened, and a female 'maren was pushed through. She was dressed in white and pale purple, and had pale pink eyes. She wasn't wearing a hat, and had her pink hair back in a ponytail. She caught herself and sighed, then walked over to Nights with her medical bag in hand. "Ouch, nasty," she said. "Is there anything else besides the obvious?" "Just a headache." He attempted to sit up again, but she pushed him back down. "That's not a good idea. Just lay still while I bandage you." She opened her bag and took out disinfectant, bandages and medical tape. "This might hurt a little, but it won't be long." "Stop talking and just fix him." "Why don't you come in here and try fixing him up then!" She said with an angry glare at the cat. It smirked and said nothing. She sighed and went back to what she was doing. "You don't act like... them," Nights said. "I'm not exactly a volunteer," she said dryly. "They're... forcing me." "How?" "My daughter... they know where she is, and they'll..." she swallowed and looked away. He touched her face. "What's your name?" "Julia." She pushed his hand away and shook her head. "I'd better bandage you before you bleed to death." She started bandaging him. "What about your husband?" "I have no idea what happened to her father." Nights eyes widened. "Oh. Sorry." "It's all right." She finished. "I wish..." She shook her head. "That you could get out?" "...Yes." "When I get out, I'll bring you with me." "But... my daughter... besides, who will you get out? You already tried, and look at you." "I'm counting on my friends to figure out what happened." Julia smiled. "I hope they do." Then she stood up and left. Nights watched her go, then stared at the ceiling. He hoped they did, too. "Kaseth?" Silas whispered. "Yes?" "Do you have any idea where we're going?" he asked. "Sort of. A little. I know they're down one of these halls. They have to be... right?" Silas let out a small groan. He turned to the rest. "We should split up. Trayton, Kaseth, come with me. The rest, stay together." Silas turned and started down a hall. Aeana started down another, followed by Jackle and Cye. Kaseth and Trayton exchanged glances, then followed Silas. "How are we going to get the cells unlocked once we find them?" Trayton whispered. "We need the keys." Silas whispered back. "Tell me you have the keys in question," Kaseth pleaded. "I was hoping you'd know how to get them." "Me?! Since when do I know everything about the Myriad?!" "You do know more than anyone else." "That's not my fault." "Are you two going to sit there bickering or are you going to get me out?" Silas's jaw dropped, and Kaseth stared. "Well? Hello?" "...Nights?" "Yes yes I'm in here GET ME OUT WILL YOU?!" "Told you he was in here somewhere." "But we had to split up to find him." "That was your idea." "So?" "Guys!" "Oh... sorry." Kaseth looked at Silas. "Okay, now what?" "We're back to the keys again..." Trayton sighed in disgust. "Kids!" He shook his head, went to the cell door, and picked it open in less than a minute. Kaseth blinked. "I didn't know you could do that." Trayton shrugged. "You didn't ask." Nights walked out of the cell. Silas' eyes widened. "What happened to you?" "A 'maren cat. A BIG one." Nights glanced into the opposite cell. Reala was staring blankly out at him and the others. Nights caught Kaseth's attention, then looked into Reala's cell. Kaseth followed his gaze, then gasped. Trayton looked as well. He quietly cleared his throat, gave the lock pick to Kaseth, and led Silas down the hall and around the corner. Kaseth walked up to the cell door and stared inside. Reala stared back at her. Reala walked over to the bars, "Kaseth," "Reala," they said at the same time. Kaseth gave a small, tired sort of laugh. Reala reached through the bars and held her chin in his hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered. She touched his hand and whispered, "I miss you." She took the lock pick and unlocked the cuff on his wrist, then went at the lock on the door. "Kaseth, hurry it--" "What's going on over there?" The three looked up at the candle-light. "Uh-oh." "HEY!" "KASETH!" Kaseth fumbled with the lock pick. The second she got it open, the three 'maren turned and teared down the hall, just as Aaron showed up. "KASETH! WE HAD A DEAL!" "YOU BROKE IT FIRST!" she called back. Nights looked at her. "Kaseth?" "I'll explain later." "If we HAVE a later..." Reala muttered. "W..." "Sh!" Kaseth interrupted. Muffled struggling and fighting had made it's way to her ears, but Nights and Reala hadn't heard it yet. "...What?" Kaseth ignored it, drew her sword, and continued along the hallway with an expression of anger on her face. Reala and Nights followed, and it didn't take them long to hear the fighting as well. Kaseth peeked around the corner, and saw Silas, Trayton, Jackle, Aeana and Cye fighting four 'maren cats and several humaren. Kaseth looked at Reala and Nights as they looked around her at the fight. Nights looked at Kaseth and nodded. Kaseth nodded back, then turned the corner, sword in hand. "HEY!" Everyone looked at her. The nearest 'maren cat leaped at her. She ducked, and it slammed into the wall behind her. Two more cats came after her, and the remaining cat and humaren fought the others. Kaseth slashed at the cats, but there were three of them and two of her. One of them threw her into the wall. Reala dashed the one that threw her, then stood in front of her, dagger in hand, to protect her. Nights dove in with the others and fought with them. Kaseth stood up and slashed a cat's arm right before is slashed Reala's chest. "We're going to have to run as soon as we can. There's too many of them to fight, and more will be coming," Kaseth told him. Reala ducked under a cats' arm and pushed his dagger into it with such force that half of his hand went in with it. The cat howled in pain, and Reala barely retrieved his dagger before it collapsed to the floor. Kaseth stuck her sword in the other one, then pulled it out and pushed the cat over. She glanced at Reala, then jumped into the rest of the fighting. Reala hesitated, then followed. "THEY'RE OVER HERE! DOWN THIS WAY!" "Uh oh," Nights muttered. "Reinforcements," Trayton agreed. "We need to find a way out..." "Any ideas would be greatly appreciated," Nights said through his teeth as he blocked a punch from a humaren. "We could dash through the wall," Silas said. "Or the ceiling," Cye added. "Or solid rock," Kaseth told them. "The only thing you'll get is a headache." "How do you know?" Cye asked. "Not now." "You'll be spending all day explaining things," Reala whispered to her. "I know," Kaseth sighed. Above them, Julia was prying open the grate, attempting to create a hole in the floor(the ceiling for Nights and co.) for them to get through. "What are you doing?" Julia's head jerked up. A guard. "I'm... I'm..." "Destructing property?" Julia did not answer. "You shall be escorted to your quarters." "I don't think so." Julia jumped up and kicked the guard in the head. The guard gave out a cry and fell to the floor. Julia took out her dagger and put it to the guards' neck. "What are you doing?!" He said half in anger, half in fear. "I'm not going to kill you, unless you make me," she said quietly, calmly. The guard swallowed. Julia reached into her pouch and took out a cloth, then placed it over the guards' mouth. The guard gasped and coughed, the passed out. Julia stood up and went back to creating a hole. She hoped it wouldn't take very long. Candle-light suddenly filtered into the hall from above. Nights glanced up, just as a 'maren's fist came in contact with his face. Unready for it, he fell into the wall, blocked the next punch. "Up here! Nights! This way!" Everyone looked up this time, not just Nights. Julia was kneeling at the edge of the whole, nervously looking at everyone. Nights kicked the 'maren he was fighting and flew up to her. Silas, Aeana, Cye, Jackle, Trayton, Kaseth and Reala followed close behind, and Julia closed the hole before the guards could follow. "Julia." "Hi Nights." she said with a smile. "How... what happened?" "I got sick of being controlled." They smiled at each other. Nights looked into her eyes, she looked into his... "Nights? Mind introducing your friend?" Silas asked. Nights blushed and obliged. Aeana and Kaseth exchanged glances. Kaseth reached behind her, found Reala's hand, and held it. Aeana smiled and looked at Nights and Julia. "Now where do we go?" "I know the way out," Julia said. "Then let's go." Julia led them through the halls, towards the entrance. Aaron was waiting for them. "Well well. You led them right to us, Julia." Her eyes widened. "NO!" Nights put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay." He looked at Aaron, and his expression hardened. "Let us through." "Sorry, it's no--AH!" Aaron pulled the card out of his shoulder, then glared at Jackle, who gave a smug grin and crossed his arms. "GUARDS!" Several 'maren cats and humaren came out of nowhere and attacked them. "Oop!" Jackle said and threw several cards. "Nice one," Aeana said with a half grin. The fighting slowly made it's way into a large room just inside the prison. There were several barrels of lamp oil and gasoline in the corner, and several candles were lit. "Well this looks ominous," Silas said. Nights nodded and replied, "If any flame gets anywhere near that lamp oil..." "Kaboom." "Yeah." "Kaseth!" Nights and Silas glanced over at the cry. Reala was standing over Kaseth, whom appeared to be unconscious. "I didn't think he knew how to care," Nights muttered. "Somebody had better go help him," Silas said, ignoring the comment. He flew over and blocked a sword just before it impaled Reala through the back. Reala glanced at him. "Mind if I watch your back?" "Not at all," Reala said and snarled when a sword slashed his arm. "Aaron! Stop this!" Julia pleaded. He grabbed her arm and began dragging her out of the room. "Sorry my dear, but I'm afraid that that's not possible," he said with a grin. Julia shivered and struggled against him. Nights glanced over and saw what was happening. "JULIA!" He leaped towards her, but was stopped by a 'maren cat, who slammed him into the floor, where he stayed. Cye dashed over and stopped the cat from putting its' claws through him, and fought off any 'maren that tried to get at Nights. Jackle ducked as a cat threw a barrel of lamp oil at him, and dived out of the way when it hit the wall and shattered. Kerosene went everywhere. "This can't be good." A humaren knocked a candle over. Silence fell over the room as it slowly rolled towards the oil. "GET THAT CANDLE!" Somebody shouted. Several humaren dived for it, but they were too late, and the oil caught on fire, along with several 'maren. The remaining 'maren leaped out of the way of the flames. Reala picked up Kaseth and flew for the door. Cye and Silas dragged Nights out of the room, and the rest flew along behind them. Silas picked Nights up when they were out of the room, and everyone flew out of the building as fast as they could... Several barrels caught on fire. More than one were filled with gasoline. The fire charred through one of the barrels, exposing the gasoline. There was a deafening roar; wood, stone and bodies flew everywhere. Another explosion, another, another... The scene was quiet... bodies, stone, wood, everything laid strewn around in a big mess. The sun was slowly rising above the canyon. All the land was tinted pink, showing everything. When the barrels of gasoline had caught fire, it had caused a chain reaction. The first exploded, and then seven more in succession. None remained. A groan, a shift, rubble being moved aside. Reala stood up, then pulled Kaseth out, picked her up, and placed her on softer ground. His ankle was broken and a tendon in the same leg was torn. He sat beside Kaseth and closed his eyes. Oh, the pain. He could hardly keep himself from screaming. Kaseth's eyes fluttered open. She stared at the sky, slowly remembering. Then she sat up. "Reala?" "Here." She looked at him, then threw her arms around his neck in an embrace. He hugged her back, not wanting to let go. "I missed you so much," she whispered. "I missed you more... I missed everything about you," he whispered back. A tear slipped out as she rested her cheek against his. "I -- I need you." He smiled and held her chin in his hand. "I need you a whole lot more." She smiled and broke away. "Are you all right? You look hurt." "I'm fine." Kaseth stood up and held out her hand. He accepted and started to pull himself up, but his leg suddenly sent spasm of pain through him and he winced visibly. "Reala?" "I'm okay." He stood up all the way, and Kaseth noticed that he didn't put any pressure on his right leg. "No you're not. Your leg is hurt." "I'll be fine." "I think you should sit down." "I'm fine!" She tried to make him sit down and said, "You are not fine! You probably broke it. Sit down!" "There's nothing wrong!" Kaseth forced him down. "Don't be so stubborn." "I'm not stubborn." He tried to get back up, but she held him there. "Just stay here. I'll find out where everyone else ended up." "I'm..." "Going to stay here until I say otherwise!" With that she stood up and walked off, searching for others. Reala crossed his arms, but stayed where he was. After awhile he got bored of it, and stood up and leaned against a tree. It hurt, but at least he could see everything. He saw Kaseth, helping up the female 'maren that had helped them. He looked around some more. He saw Nights trapped underneath debris, trying to get out. He saw Jackle pulling Aeana out of a small hole, then pick her up. He saw Silas lying unconscious on his back and Cye sitting on the ground, apparently in a lot of pain. He saw several 'maren getting up, or not getting up. The one thing he didn't see was Aaron sneaking up behind him. The dagger bit into his shoulder, and he screamed. He kicked Aaron with his bad leg and screamed again, then turned around. Aaron smiled at him. Reala glared back. Aaron's smile faded as he said, "My base is ruined. My plan failed A lot of my guards and friends are dead." He smile returned full force, and he said brightly, "But at least I'll get to kill you." "You're insane." "Better insane than dead." Aaron lunged for him; Reala dodged and punched him as he caught himself. Aaron gasped and turned. Reala grinned and punched at him again. Aaron tried to dodge, but Reala got him in the jaw. Aaron rubbed his jaw and reached for his crossbow. Reala was about to fly away, but something made him stop. "Think I won't do it?" Reala crossed his arms. "Not at all." Aaron felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Julia slammed a brick into his face and knocked him over. Aaron cursed and swore at her. She grinned smugly and then dropped the brick onto his face. He blinked, then passed out. Julia shook her head and walked over to Reala. "Let me patch up that shoulder... and your leg." Reala nodded and Julia got to work. Kaseth glanced over at Reala and Julia to make sure everything was okay, then went back to trying to free Nights. The problem was, both of them together couldn't get him out. Nights winced and gasped; he was having trouble breathing with all the cement on him. "Kaseth... get someone to help." "If I leave you here someone might attack you." Nights dropped his head onto the ground. "Well this is a dilemma." Someone cleared their throat. Both of them looked up. "Trayton," Kaseth said in relief. He smiled. "I don't suppose you could use some help." "Go anywhere near the key situation and you'd better run." Trayton smirked and knelt down to help. Between the two of them they lifted the cement up enough so that Nights could crawl up. He sat up and caught his breath. "Thanks, you two." "You're welcome." "Hey guys!" The three looked up at Cye. "Have you seen Aeana or Jackle?" "No... why?" "Well... I've seen everybody except them. I was just wondering what happened to them..." Kaseth had a suspicion of where and what they were doing, but she said nothing, and covered her grin. Everybody except for Cye stood up, because he was already standing. Moments later Silas walked up. "What... happened?" He looked around a little, slightly confused. And his head hurt. "Silas... just... don't think about it for now. I think you need medical attention..." Silas slowly nodded, then looked around again. "Hey! Kaseth! Nights! Over here!" Everyone looked up. Julia was in the distance, standing up. No one could see Aaron or Reala. "Julia! Hold on." Nights ran to her. Kaseth rolled her eyes and followed, with Cye, Trayton and Silas behind her. When they caught up with Nights, Julia's hands were in his, and they were talking softly, looking into each other's eyes. Reala was looking away, and Aaron was still unconscious. Kaseth knelt next to Reala. "How are you?" "Hurting." Kaseth smiled and touched his cheek. Reala smiled back. "Aw man, this is too much!" Cye said and gagged. Trayton held in a laugh, instead looking at Aaron. "Uhhg," suddenly came out of his mouth. Trayton jumped a little, and everyone looked over. Aaron sat up and rubbed his head. He slowly noticed everyone looking at him. He rolled away and stood up, still dizzy. "This is far from the end. Enjoy your small victory while it lasts. Next time, it will be different." He took a step back and grinned at Julia. "I hope you find Kaya first, for her sake." He flew off. "Nights! He'll kill her!" Julia covered her face. Nights' face hardened. "No he won't. I'll stop him." Nights turned to fly after him. "I wouldn't." Nights looked at Trayton. "...Why not?!" "Look at yourself. You're not fit to go into a battle." Nights was about to argue, but sighed instead. "You're right..." "I know I am... I'll go after him." Kaseth glanced over at Trayton. "I can stop him better than any of you can at the moment..." "That's what's been bugging me!" Cye exclaimed. "...What?" "How come you're not injured? Not even a scratch? That was a pretty big explosion." "Explosions," Kaseth corrected him. Cye smirked at her, then looked at Trayton, who shrugged uncomfortably. "I just... didn't get hit as hard." Cye cocked his head to the side suspiciously. "Is that so..." Nights waved his hand at them. "Enough of this, Trayton needs to go stop Aaron." "Hey, guys!" Aeana walked up with Jackle behind her. "What's going on?" "Where were you?" "Uhm... I was... with Jackle." "And why is that?" Kaseth murmured, and smirked. Aeana gave her a look, then looked at Nights. "So... what is going on?" "He..." Nights paused and looked at Trayton. "I didn't catch your name..." "Trayton." "Trayton needs to find Julia's daughter before Aaron does." "Why?" "Aaron will kill her if he doesn't." Julia broke into sobbing at that, and Nights held her. "...What's her name?" Aeana asked. "Kaya." Aeana stopped, stared, then grinned. "I wouldn't worry about it." "...Why?" "Because I know where she is." Everyone looked at Aeana. "And what else do you know?" Kaseth asked. Aeana smirked. "More than you ever will." "Is that so?" "Uh-huh." "Are you two going to start fighting...?" Trayton asked. "Why?" "Because if you are, I'm taking bets." Aeana and Kaseth glanced at each other. "I'd win." "No way! I'd win!" "Yeah right! My sword's bigger than you." "Yeah well, my bow's faster than your sword." "Oh really? You want to find out?" Silas glared at Trayton. "See what you've started?" "What?! I was joking!" "Yeah well now you've started a war." "You still taking bets?" Trayton looked at Cye. "What're the odds?" Jackle laughed so hard he nearly fell backwards. "Kaseth... do you think we should stop?" "Hm... I guess." "All right." "But I'd still win," Kaseth said under her breath. "Hmmm?" "Oh, nothing." "...Miss?" Julia asked. "Aeana." "Aeana... can you... take me to my daughter?" Aeana nodded. "Guys... Jackle and I will take Julia... the rest of you get back to the base and we'll meet you there." She looked at Nights. "Okay?" Night nodded. Aeana nodded back. "C'mon, Julia." Julia nodded and followed Aeana and Jackle. The rest watched them go, then looked at each other. "We'd better get back before they send out search parties..." Nights said. Silas nodded. "Right." Kaseth looked away from them. Reala suddenly became fascinated with an ant that was marching through the grass, and wondered how it had survived the explosion. "Um..." Trayton glanced at Kaseth, then at Nights. Nights looked at Cye and Silas. They glanced at Kaseth and Reala. The three huddled, whispering to each other. "There's one way to do it," Trayton murmured. He shook his head. This decision could effect... don't get ahead of yourself Tray he thought. there will be a time, and a place... this is neither He looked at Kaseth and asked her if she was okay. She quickly replied in the affirmative then glanced away. Trayton suddenly felt sick. If they said no... His head hurt. He sat down. Nobody ever said the universe had to work correctly. It just had to work, regardless of the outcome. Unless the outcome changed the course of the future... but how can you change the course of the future? it hasn't been set, not really. there's just a certain way it is to work for everything to turn out right... and that's only the one way. there could be more. or maybe... maybe there isn't. maybe the Universe, Creation, isn't meant to be... or isn't meant to be the way it is... "Kaseth." Trayton was jolted out of his thoughts. Kaseth glanced at Nights. "Come here, I need to... talk." Kaseth swallowed the lump in her throat and stood. "Privately." Nights glanced at Reala. Reala looked at him, silently daring him to make Kaseth upset, that he wouldn't live to see tomorrow. Kaseth blinked and walked over to Nights, where she and the other three talked quietly. this is it Kaseth Trayton silently pleaded. make it work "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" "Kaya?!" "Kaya!" "Aeana! Help me!" Aeana and Julia dashed ahead, leaving Jackle behind to wonder what was going on. "KAYA! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Julia and Aeana had entered the old 'pian army base, and they could hear Kaya's screams. "PLEASE! HELP! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!" "KAYA!" "Julia! Over here! It's not Aaron, it's someone else..." Julia pushed past her and attacked Kaya's attacker before she even saw who it was. Kaya ran to Aeana and buried her face in Aeana's shoulder. "LEAVE MY.... oh my gosh..." Julia backed away when she saw who it was. "Hello Julia. How are you doing?" "ANDREW! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Julia took another step back. Kaya turned from Aeana and looked at Julia. "M...mom?" Julia slowly looked over. "Kaya... yes... it's me..." Andrew took this moment to tackle Julia. She screamed and fought against him, but he was too big to fight off on her own. He took out a knife and gave a wicked grin. "NO! MOM!" Kaya screamed. Aeana quickly took out her bow and strung it. She shivered suddenly; something was REALLY wrong. She shook her head and shot the arrow. It struck Andrew in the back; he screamed and collapsed on top of Julia. "GET HIM OFF!" Aeana and Kaya ran over and pushed him off. Julia sobbed and hugged herself. "Who is that?" Aeana asked quietly. "He... killed my family... framed my sister... and he's been trying to murder me ever since he found out I had lived... and now... he's after Kaya..." she broke into sobs again. "...Mom?" Kaya touched her mother's hand; Julia looked at her, then hugged her tightly. Kaya cried silently, although she attempted not to. "There you are... who's that?" Jackle asked. "I have no idea," Aeana said. "Someone who's after Julia, I guess." Jackle glanced at Andrew, then at Julia. "I think we should be getting back..." "Yeah... Julia, Kaya?" They both looked up. "It's time to go." Julia nodded. "All right... just... a moment more." Kaseth turned away from the others. Trayton and Reala looked at her. After a moment, Reala looked away. The expression on her face told him all he needed to know. Silas and Cye glared at Nights. He glanced between them. "...what?" Silas shook his head and walked off. Cye rolled his eyes and went to Kaseth's side. "...are you coming back?" "I don't know," she said quietly. "If you're not -- and even if you are -- I know of a place you'll be safe. If you need it." She looked away. "I am willing to help, Kaseth. Unlike--" He glanced at Nights, then looked back at Kaseth. She still didn't look at him. Nights watched them. He was starting to wonder if he had made the right decision... Trying to make the right decision all the time was such a burden, maybe he had... "Oh Nights," someone whispered behind him. He knew that voice... He turned to face her. there she was, the same as always... only now, her grin was evil... He didn't even notice the dagger until it was coming towards him. He gave a cry of surprise and started to dodge, realizing in the same split second that it was already too late. He saw a blur of red and black, and then there was nothing in front of him. He fell onto the ground hard, and tried to figure out what had happened. When nothing came to mind, he sat up and looked around. Shenala was standing with her back to him. Reala was facing her, hovering just above the ground and wincing in pain from the gash on his chest. Kaseth was to her right, Cye to her left, both swords drawn. Trayton was standing off to the side, his face expressionless... except his eyes seemed to be laughing. Shenala stared in shock at Reala. "You?! Of all people... you?!" She stared a moment, longer, then grinned. "Of course. 'Not all evil is meant to be evil. Even less stay evil. For to be evil, is to be perfect.'." She laughed. detrimental! Trayton thought in alarm. but how?! "What is this witch spouting off?" Cye asked angrily. Trayton glares at Shenala, his eyes burning a fiery red. "Shenala," he said, quietly, calmly. She looked at him, and her eyes widened. "Leave. Now." Shenala looked a Nights, then Kaseth, then Reala, then back at Trayton. She offered a wicked grin, and disappeared into thin air. Aeana was walking towards the Nightopian base, hoping she'd run into Nights and the others along the way. Jackle was next to her, Julia and Kaya were behind her. She stopped, screamed, and fell to her knees, holding her head. "Aeana! What's wrong?!" Jackle cried. Aeana sobbed and shook her head. "It's awful... the screams..." She raised her head and gave a bloodcurdling scream, then passed out. "Aeana?! Aeana!" Jackle knelt down and picked her up. Julia and Kaya stared. "What happened?" "I.... I don't know..." Jackle swore under his breath. Half an hour ago, he had been alarmed; now he was scared. "We'll have to hurry and get her back to the base." "I hope they believe that you're a good guy," Kaya said. "So do I, kiddo." "What... the heck.... how?!" Cye stared, changing from Trayton to where Shenala had been and then into the sky. Kaseth sheathed her sword, looked at Reala, and with a nod from him went to Trayton, who had his back turned to them. Kaseth put a hand on his shoulder. "Trayton... what...?" "Leave me be." Kaseth took a step back from him, and turned away, after a moment of thought. "Yo dude, you've gotta tell us what the heck just happened..." "I SAID LEAVE ME BE!" Cye stared in shock. "Sheesh..." He muttered something under his breath and looked at Kaseth. She looked back at him, a very worried expression on her face. "I can't imagine... i never knew..." She sighed and went to Reala's side. "Are you all right?" "The cut wasn't that deep," he replied. "That's not what I asked." He looked at her, un-answering. "Reala." He looked up. Nights. "Why... why did you?" "...I don't know." "..." Nights and Reala stared at each other. Cye looked at Nights. "If you don't let him join after that," Cye raised his sword, "you know where this is going." Nights held in a grin. "Are you threatening me?" "You bet I am." Cye grinned. Nights looked at Reala. "...Do you want to?" Reala looked at Kaseth. She looked back. Then he looked at Nights and nodded. Trayton slowly turned and looked at them. So, it had worked out, after all. And yet, if it hadn't been for the Detrimental... Trayton enjoyed a silent laugh. The universe most certainly worked in strange ways. "We'd better get going," he said suddenly. "We never know when another one will show up." another myriad, or another one of them... he thought to himself. "Trayton...?" "What WAS that?" "You're not ready." With that he turned and walked towards the Nightopian base, ignoring any further questions. "Well, we'd better... Wait! Where'd Silas go off to?" Kaseth and Nights looked at each other. They both knew there was no way of telling where that 'maren could be. "SILAS!" Kaseth tried, in vain, to call Silas over. But he was obviously out of rang of her voice. "We'll just have to hope he figures out what happened..." "He's probably already headed to the base anyway," Kaseth said uncertainly, more to herself than to anyone else. "Let's just go." "All right." *** "Kaseth... we did it!" "We... we really... we really did it...?" Young Kaseth took a slow breath and glanced around the street. It was pouring, and the three of them were soaking wet; but none cared. They were free. "We really did it!" "We... we really did!" Kaseth shouted with joy, raised her hands, and looked at the sky. The three 'maren whooped in joy. A few minutes later, they were inside an abandoned building, mostly to get out of the rain. "Where will we go next?" Zenny asked, looking at the other two. "Have either of you heard of Nightmare?" The other 'maren asked. He looked to be about sixteen or seventeen; he had been in the "orphanage" for a long time, almost ten years. He was dressed in fushia and gold. "I heard a little, from my parents and a few people I met on the streets. All I know is that it's a giant castle somewhere to the North, and it controls most of the land." Zenny was almost twenty-eight. "Yeah, this guy Wizeman runs it. He's pretty freaky looking, but I hear he's cool." The 'maren shrugged. "It's worth a shot." "Sounds good to me," Kaseth said. She was twenty-two, twenty-three then. "Hey, I never caught you name," Zenny asked the 'maren. "What is it?" "My name...?" He stared at her. "What...? You have a name, don't you...?" "Well... it's just... no one's really cared for so long... I've just been "him" or "a 'maren" or "it" for SO LONG..." He swallowed and looked down. "It's okay...we know how you feel..." "If... if I hadn't met you two..." He looked up. "I almost lost it. I think I was going crazy..." "Are you going to tell us your name or not?" Zenny asked with a grin. The 'maren smiled. "My name is... Aaron." *** Aaron blinked and woke up. "OUCH!" He rubbed his head. What a headache... He looked around. Nope, wasn't a dream. The place was still a big crater. Aaron cursed under his breath and stood up. It could take months... years... to get this fixed. If ever it was fixed. "Ohh..." his felt the side of his head again. Blood... He heard soft footsteps behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, then turned the rest of him around. A 'maren, in two different colors of blue, with his sword drawn. At first Aaron didn't recognize him; and when he did, he stepped back in horror. One of the 'maren that had come to save Nights; Aaron was in no condition to fight, and he didn't feel well enough to successfully escape. Metaphorically, he was knee-deep in quicksand, and sinking fast. "How do you like being on the wrong end of the sword?" Aaron took another step back, and tripped over a piece of rubble. His head hit the ground hard, and he hurt more than ever. When he opened his eyes, his vision was clouded; almost to clouded to see the sword that was pointing at his neck. But he felt it's point pressed lightly against his neck, and he froze in horror. "Don't worry, you won't feel pain for too long," Silas said, with a dangerous edge to his voice. maybe I drove him crazy Aaron thought. He closed his eyes and waited for it. "Maybe this is how Nights felt; but unfortunately for you, you don't have the friends he has." "On the contrary!" Silas looked up. Another 'maren, in red and blue, was pointing a cross-bow at him. Silas took the sword away from Aaron's neck and backed away. The 'maren lowered the cross-bow. Aaron sat up and looked at him. "Xender...?" He rubbed his head again. The pain... Xender walked over and knelt next to Aaron. "Friends 'till the end, right?" Aaron looked at him, then grinned. "Right!" Aaron stood up with a little help from Xender. Silas glanced between them, then turned and fled. Xender shot at him; when he missed he took out a bola and threw it at Silas. It caught his legs and wrapped around them; he fell and skidded across the ground. He struggled to get up, then struggled to free his legs when he figured out the reason he couldn't get up was because his legs were caught. It was in vain; the more he struggled, the worse he got. He dropped his head on the ground; there was no point, he couldn't get himself out. Maybe they hadn't seen him, or they wouldn't find him... "There he is," came a voice. Xender's. Silas swore. The five of them stopped and looked around at the sound of a bloodcurdling scream. "Was that..." "SILAS!" Nights whirled and dashed off. Cye quickly followed. Kaseth's eyes widened, and she looked at the other two. "Both of you, stay here!" She turned and followed after Nights and Cye. "..." "..." "...Gee, things are going so well..." "Aw shut up." Kaseth caught up with the other two. They were staring off into the distance; Kaseth looked over Nights shoulder. "Oh my gosh," she breathed. Silas was on the ground, unconscious; possibly dead. Aaron and Xender were standing over him, talking rapidly in low whispers. "AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGG!" Nights flew at them with such fury and force that they both fell over. He turned around and slashed at them with his sword. He missed Aaron, but got Xender in the arm. Cye came out moments later and got them both from behind. Kaseth was right behind him, her huge sword shaming theirs. Aaron and Xender where back to back, attacked from both sides. Aaron shivered in fear; from the fire to controlling the pan to back in the fire. What fun. He felt himself blacking out; his head couldn't handle all the damage it had been dealt, and he was losing control. He very suddenly felt himself quickly being half dragged off. He slowly opened his eyes, and discovered that he had been sub-consciously flying alongside Xender, who had him by the collar and was escaping from Kaseth and her friends. "What ... happened...?" he asked slowly. Xender glanced at him. "I got us away from them. I don't know if they're chasing us or not..." Aaron looked over his shoulder. "They're not." "You don't know that for sure. We'd better keep flying until we can be sure." "All right." They three of them went back to the rest; Nights was carrying Silas. When they got back, Julia, a little girl, Jackle and Aeana were there; Aeana was unconscious in Jackle's arms, and the little girl was clinging to Julia, her eyes darting around. "What happened to Aeana?" "...I don't know. She just... collapsed," Jackle said nervously, glancing at Nights from time to time. Kaseth looked around at them all. Trayton; she had met him only days before, and now he seemed like a good friend she had known for years. But what had that been about? What did Trayton know that she didn't? Reala; was he really going to join them? For real? Or was it just a plan to get himself back among the ranks of Nightmare? Aeana; Was she going to be okay? What had REALLY happened? Jackle; What was his story? How did he suddenly become a good guy? Julia; Kaseth had just met her today, but she already liked her. She was kind, innocent, and a good doctor. And she liked Nights. That would help with the pain he had received from Shenala, and would not forget any time soon. Cye, Silas, Nights, herself; would they be okay, or forever changed? Kaseth chuckled softly and leaned against a tree. Reala looked at her and asked her what was so funny. "Just look at us all," she said. He did, then looked at her. "Pitiful, aren't we?" He stared at her for a moment, not understanding; then he grinned. Nights smirked at her, and Trayton gave a soft laugh. Jackle grinned; Julia shook her head; Cye murmured something about insanity and smiled at her. Kaya wondered what was so funny. "One of these days, Kaseth, you're going to tell me where you got your horrible sense of humor," Nights said to her. Kaseth grinned. "I'll tell you the day Wizeman is defeated." Nights grinned. "I'm holding you to that promise." "I know." Everyone looked at each other; they all nodded; and they all walked to the Nightopian base. It was several hours later. Aeana, Reala, and Silas were all asleep in the infirmary. The rest had been bandaged and otherwise attended to by both Ophelia ad Julia, then let out. Nights, Cye and Kaseth were telling for the umpteenth time how everything had come about, why Shenala had said and done all that, and why Jackle and Reala were here. All three of them were exhausted, but the public would not let them sleep. Jackle, Julia, Kaya, and Trayton all had separate rooms in the guest house, so they missed all the "fun". Eventually, The three were too tired to go on, and they all went to their houses and slept. Trayton stared out his window and looked at the stars; Had the warning been there all along, and he hadn't seen? Or... or, could it possibly be, that even they weren't ready for it? They didn't know? Trayton's eyes flashed. "Pitiful indeed," he murmured. Wizeman looked down at the 'maren. After the recent defection on Reala, Nightmare had almost fallen into chaos. Wizeman had worked quickly to appoint a new General; Zeki was tall. He wore gold and black, and his eyes were the color of gray smoke. His weapon of choice was a broad-sword, and he had several daggers hidden around his person. He had a small pouch hidden in his inside vest pocket, which only he knew about and only he knew what it contained. He was not surprised that he had been made the new General; Nothing surprised him, ever. Everything always went the way he wanted it to. He was a 'maren with power. Hopefully not too much power. He half listened to the dull speech Wizeman gave him, then absently accepted the offer with grace, and promised that he would not fail Wizeman. Then he went to Reala's old thrown room and looked around. He would most definitely have to redecorate; it was not his style at all. And all the wrong colors. He wondered if there were any hidden entrances, or any similar surprises. It could take days to find them all, if he did find them all. He walked into the personal bedroom.A single bed in the corner, a couch in the opposite corner.The blankets were of black velvet; there was one unlit torch in the wall. Zeki shook his head. "He certainly pampered himself; but he could have made the room brighter." He sighed. At least, now, it was all HIS. "And I won't make the same mistakes he did -- Wizeman will surely be surprised." The End http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2549/index.html mutinyf@geocities.com