Neon Darkness (Invite Only!)

[mugenginga]

(OOC: And its REALLY unlikely you can get in. The way the Night Dimension works makes it nigh impossible for most characters to interact.)

"I'm not going back to Wizeman!"

As the shout echoed out of the darkness, the world rippled. What had been a void-like miasma of black and purple was now a world of sorts. The "lines" that formed the world were of various shades of neon. The entire spectrum was somehow colored in the neon colors. There was an overwhelming amount of black, and the only light seemed to be from the flickerig neon borders everything possessed. In truth, those borders were the only things that made things definable in this setting.

A purple harlequin jester of sorts shot past. It was flying, but in a moment of rarity it made no attempts to be flamboyant about it. He knew this nightmare. Any self respecting member of this world would. It was rather infamous and the source of much power. He couldn't afford to linger here.

The purple jester known as NiGHTS had to pull up sharply as a red harlequin-like jester shot down in front of him. Reala, who for all extensive purposes was his twin. His "evil" twin, at that. It hadn't seemed to be Reala's intention to come down. In fact, he was looking at the scenery around himself. This nightmare again, huh? It was fairly odd for a nightmare to suddenly appear over two Nightmarens, but... his lips, which were painted in dark violet stage lipstick, curled into a cruel grin. He could use this.

"NiGHTS, I am sure you are aware that this manifestation of Nightmare makes Cerberus look like a basket of puppies. If you come along like a good little Nightmaren, it will save you much pain," Reala's voice was dark.

"Like hell, Reala!".

NiGHTS drew back and suddenly went into a corkscrew, aiming for his dark counterpart. The Visitor that had manifested this nightmare would likely see them. Honestly, they were the brightest things there. Even Reala was downright sunny compared to the scenery.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

The Visitor looked up at the two jester-like creatures that had suddenly come to inhabit Neon World. She tilted her head, causing her short braids to fall to the side before she tilted her head back up again. Her age was undetermineable; she looked like she could be a child, and yet an adult at the same time. She said nothing, but continued to watch NiGHTS and Reala.

The fact was, she'd never seen these two in her dreams before. They weren't Torningen, which was a blessing, but her dreams didn't often change. And when they did... she shiverred.

And not only that, but... they'd spoken. No one ever spoke in her dreams. Not even her. The only person who had was Seccom Masada, and it was his screams of terror as he ran from her knife. He was the only one who ever ran.

She manifested a bicycle, and began to ride closer to the two.

[mugenginga]

Reala scowled at NiGHTS outright refusal. He supposed by now he should be expecting it. Honestly, he wasn't sure how the only other 1st level Nightmaren in existance had managed to get free.... again. Usually he required a Visitor, and one with the Red Ideya of Courage at that. Not getting caught was one thing, but he had managed to get out of a cage. Wizeman really needed to stick him back in an Ideya Palace
- Just keep guards on it. Elliot and Claris had approached an unguarded Palace, after all.

He shot to the side out of the way, noticing the manifestor of this Nightmare as he shot past her. Okay, that was odd. He knew of her, of course. But the fact that she could obviously see him? New. He chose to ignore her and shot up into the air. As a creature of the dark side of the subconscious, a Nightmaren, her abilities would prove useless. At least at his level. But it didn't mean it wouldn't hurt to get stabbed with a knife.

NiGHTS was about to pursue his twin when he saw Madotsuki. His eyes widened. Those trapped in Nightmare were not supposed to be able to see them unless they had used their own powers to turn Nightmare around. And the scenery was clear the Visitor had not.

Reala took the moment of distraction and sideslammed NiGHTS. The purple jester was sent crashing into the black side of what seemed to be a wall. He winced as Reala put his hand around NiGHTS throat, the claw like nails rather prominent. He drew back his hand, the nails pointing forward. Master Wizeman would be mad if he brought significant harm to his twin, but if he could knock the purple jester out...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Madotsuki watched as Reala slammed NiGHTS into a wall, even sitting down on the dark floor after a moment. Something seemed to connect after a moment, and she stood up. She was staring at Reala.

Toriningen.

The bicycle disappeared and was replaced by a witch's outfit and broom. Mado floated up behind Reala, and then whacked the Nightmaren on the head with her broom.

[mugenginga]

Reala had pulled his arm all the way back. NiGHTS eyes were closed from the pressure as he tried to get Reala's hand off his neck. Reala was a bit stronger than NiGHTS in this regard, but the way they were designed rarely allowed the strength to come into play. NiGHTS was a bit more agile, and it proved more useful... usually.

Reala jerked back and spun around as he was hit in the head with a broomstick. He gave a dangerous glare to Madotsuki and attempted to knock her out of the sky. Or at least away enough from him to not hit him with the broom again. NiGHTS shot to the side and shouted to the girl.

"Can you hear me!?" came the feminine voice. There was a reason many Visitors assumed NiGHTS to be female, after all.

The Visitor was known for being a lucid dreamer. But with all her abilities she had never noticed the Nightmaren beyond those assigned to her dreams. If something had changed with her that would allow her to interact, maybe NiGHTS could help. No one deserved the hell Wizeman manifested from her subconscious, after all.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Madotsuki was pushed hard enough that her broom went flying, but she managed to hang on. At the sound of NiGHTS' rather feminine voice she very quickly nodded.

She wasn't sure what NiGHTS was, but it looked kinda like that red boy Toriningen. Maybe NiGHTS was a nice Toriningen.
Madotsuki made a mental note not to stab him.

[mugenginga]

NiGHTS glared at Reala. He didn't really like running from things. But this was not a Nightmare he had any desire to linger in one place for long in. He wasn't sensing Ideya from the Visitor. It was no surprise, Nightmare tended to swallow those lacking in Ideya the furthest. It did mean Dualizing would be difficult... if possible at all. NiGHTS flew up beside Madotsuki.

"We should leave!" NiGHTS finally said.

"I do believe I warned you," Reala growled. He lifted up his left hand and with a snap things that clearly were Toringen materialized in front of NiGHTS and the visitor.

NiGHTS glared at them and suddenly shot forward, likely surprising Madotsuki. Sparkles flew from his fingers as he made a quick loop around the three bird people before they had a chance to react. An explosion of light hit the surface he had looped around. The Toringen reacted negatively, but they weren't down. If anything they were more enraged.

Shoot! NiGHTS thought. He had forgotten that the strength of the Nightmaren within a specific region of Nightmare didn't fall under the usual rating system. The more fearful a dreamer was of their Nightmare, the more power the 'Maren within it had. This Visitor knew these Nightmaren (although not that they were Nightmaren) and the fact that NiGHTS had done little to them clearly indicated where she felt their power levels lay.

One of the Nightmaren shot at NiGHTS while the other two ran at Madotsuki. Reala scowled. He'd let NiGHTS "play" here. He wasn't sticking around in a world where he was as like to get attacked as they were. It was nearly impossible to see for the black ground, but a circle of inky darkness appeared at Reala's feet and he lowered down into it, vanishing from the scene.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Leave? But they were having so much fun here! Madotsuki opened her mouth to say something when she suddenly heard a sound she knew too well. She changed effects, and her body became a giant stoplight, which seemed stuck on red. The two Toriningen who had gone after Madotsuki stopped in their tracks. The stoplight took a few steps back before turning back into Mado and her bicycle.

"Run! Don't let them touch you!" Madotsuki called as she rode away.

She needed to find a landmark, or maybe a door. She didn't want to wake up yet,

[mugenginga]

And this is why those not assigned to a Nightmare aren't advised to traverse them, NiGHTS thought to himself. The powers of the Nightmaren were directly attached to the subconscious of the dreamer in specific Nightmares.
,
It meant that NiGHTS was more than willing to take the Visitor's advice. He shot high into the air and tsked to himself. This would be a homing beacon for the Nightmaren in the area, but he wanted to get away from here quickly.

For a split second a gold mask appeared on NiGHT's face. In a flash of light the harlequin jester-like figure no longer floated. Instead there floated a rocket ship with enough design elements taken from NiGHTS it was clear it was the same entity. The ship turned and pointed towards where Madotsuki had gone. A trail of fire shot out from the back end of the rocket.

Rocket NiGHTS was going with enough speed that he shot past Madotsuki on her bike. It was extremely unlikely she'd miss the sound of the rocket ship above her head. However, she had already put enough distance that he hadn't gone very far before the "fuel" ran out. He shifted back to his normal form. The Nightmaren that had remained on its tail had been swallowed by the darkness aways back. It certainly wasn't nearby. NiGHTS little trick, however, was likely to remind Madotsuki of her own "effects".

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Madotsuki looked up, and snapped her fingers. Of course! How could she have forgotten? She closed her eyes, and suddenly, her head turned into a giant hand, an effect of the Medamaude effect. She looked up at NiGHTS, and just as the bike disappeared, she jumped up and grabbed his leg with her head-hand. The Medamaude effect activated, and they both appeared in the Nexus.

Madotsuki's head returned to normal, and she looked back at NiGHTS.

"You're safe now, Toriningen-san," Madotsuki said. She actually hadn't been sure that would work, but it looked like it did. But the fact that this "Toriningen" actually had appeared in the Nexus was tripping her up a bit.
She started walking toward another door.

[mugenginga]

NiGHTS hadn't expected quite that reaction. He knew about her "effects", back to the Visitor's near legendary status in Nightmare. But he hadn't expected her to jump up and grab his leg. He dropped down a bit before appearing at what the Nightmaren sometimes referred to as the "Nightmare Gate". It was meant to reference the Dream Gate that lead to Nightopia.

The Nightmaren blinked at the way she referred to him. He flew ahead of her, putting himself between the door she was headed to and Madotsuki. He really wasn't used to this. In all the time he had existed he had never interacted with a Visitor in Nightmare.

"My name's NiGHTS, actually," NiGHTS winked, "You have a name, right? I don't think I've ever met a Visitor without one."

Or without Ideya, for that matter. I guess it makes sense in Nightmare, but I still don't get why I can interact with her...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Madotsuki tilted her head.

"Madotsuki." It wasn't a common name at all, and really, it wasn't a word commonly used as a name. "I've never seen a Toriningen that could talk. Then again..." She ducked around NiGHTS. "You don't have a beak. I guess that helps."

It was odd of her to apply logic to her dreams. Her adventures in Neo World had helped, she supposed.
Now that she thought about it, though, the name Neo World was a pain. She needed a better name for it.

[mugenginga]

"I'm not a Toringen," NiGHTS said.

There was a hint of annoyance to his voice. He didn't like the implication, however unintended, that he was a Nightmaren who had no choice but to follow Wizeman. He shooks his head and quickly flew ahead of Madotsuki again. He was practically directly in front of the door she was headed for now.

"Hey, have you ever run into Reala before? He's that guy you hit over the head with your broom."

Reala hadn't acted like he'd personally met Madotsuki. Still, NiGHTS was a bit on edge about all this. Wizeman had absolute control over Nightmare. The only options were that he was manipulating Madotsuki's Nightmare more than was characteristic or something had changed the very fabric of Nightmare... both were concerning. Nightmare and Nightopia shared an uneasy balance. If one was effected the entire Night Dimension could have issues. And NiGHTS didn't think he could face Wizeman without the power of all five Ideya to help him.

He really didn't want to get stuck in another Ideya Palace.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Madotsuki shook her head at NiGHTS' question. "I've never seen him or you before. And if you're not a Toriningen... what are you?"

He did seem really different from the other Toriningen she'd seen. But what else could she call him? Yumeningen? That really went for half of the people in her dreams anyways.

[mugenginga]

"I'm NiGHTS, just NiGHTS," NiGHTS replied.

Well, no. He/She/It was a Nightmaren. But Visitors always seemed to freak when they learned that. It wasn't even within the possibility of NiGHTS' mind to realize if he told people that upfront they might not freak so badly.

So she hadn't seen Reala. That was consistent with the reactions. NiGHTS floated up and looked around. It wasn't like Wizeman to just let him wander Nightmare./ The only reason he was here now was because Reala had almost had him. NiGHTS dropped back down and floated next to Madotsuki. He'd decided to stay with her for a bit. At least until he figured out... nah, until he got bored. NiGHTS was fickle like that.