They skeletons rode on their Gaster Blasters, save for Blue, who enjoyed riding on Cadoc while they still had the horse. They all chatted, eventually the topic of the skulls coming up with the humans, and the monsters explaining how their magic and attacks worked, Dust even demonstrating by firing one Blaster into the sky at one point. The others just lazily summoned their attacks.

Before long, they approached a small village, where the others chose to hide around the outskirts with Saphira while the humans sold Cadoc with Nightmare watching from the shadows.

Then the real journey began. Everyone started getting closer, learning more about each other and discovering shared interests. Eragon, Murtaugh, and surprisingly Killer enjoyed talking about archery with Nightmare as the humans, Killer and Horror also obsessed over hunting. Admittedly, Horror was irrefutably, the best hunter. Killer was exceptional at skinning, as well as killing, hence his name. Dust would also talk about weaknesses humans had, as well as talk about the constant war the Bad Guys had been fighting since forever back home.

In the evenings, Eragon and Murtaugh began sparring, the others watching excitedly while sometimes placing bets on the winner. It ended quickly when it became obvious that the two were perfectly matched, most battles ending in a tie. And every time they drew near a town or city, Eragon insisted he go inside, though his disguises became more and more elaborate. Nightmare of course followed him as he checked every jail they had, no doubt for the woman in his visions. After a while of this, Nightmare took him aside and explained what he knew while trying to ease the human's fears.

Often Blueberry started joining Saphira as she flew, the pair getting to know each other well as the Sans adored the flights, being able to fly higher with her than she could with Eragon, as skeletons had more resistance to the elements than humans. This prompted Horror to ask to join her too, especially when she was hunting, as they had the most fun hunting together. Killer soon warmed up to this and rode her as well, making jokes and whatnot in the expansive sky. Dust sometimes went with her too, but he mostly preferred to ride his Blaster, so he would join her while someone else was in her saddle, mostly Killer. Though when it was just the two of them, dragon and skeleton had long, introspective and deep thoughtful conversations.

Nightmare would often sit down and generally educate the humans on many subjects, mostly after hearing that Brom had been teaching Eragon battle strategies and had a strange desire to fill in that void the human left behind. Although he started giving easy ones every time Murtaugh was around after noticing his familiarity with the politics of the Empire. He could tell that Murtaugh wanted to leave his past in the past, that he was living under a dark shadow that he hated. Nightmare understood this well, but despite everything he felt something strange about that one's future. One of sorrow...

But even so, he still taught the humans about the history of his Multiverse, believing that it was most certainly doomed to die. He wanted to keep all that history alive somehow.

Error started teaching the humans, too. But he liked discussing science, technology, and the stars. At night, he sometimes brought out a telescope Blueberry had gifted him long ago and show them the sky in a whole new way. They were amazed with all of this. But most of the time, the glitch spent knitting new clothes for everyone, starting with Blueberry and himself.

Gradually, all of them had elegant clothes that fit in with the fashion of Alagaësia, though it was mostly simple and still a version of their old outfits.

In their spare time, Nightmare and Error spent it on deciphering the code left by whatever the Grey Folk were, realizing more and more about this Ancient Language and it's capabilities.

In turn, they each discovered that it didn't work properly with the skeletons. Some magics naturally didn't function. They found this by actually trying it out. On one another. And even Eragon, upon promising they'd teach him more of this language.

A spell like brisingr, fire, could be cast and be a real threat to them, but then something like Jierda, break, wouldn't do anything. In general, a spell that directed something harmful their way was dangerous, but something that affected any of the skeletons themselves had no effect.

As they traveled, it became frequently harder to stick together as soldiers patrolled the roads and guarded the bridges. It took longer than expected to scrape by the capital known as Urû'baen, but once they did, they encountered a vast plain. It was shocking to the skeletons, Nightmare and Error being the only ones to not be bothered by it as they had seen huge open spaces before, Blue being amazed because it was just an endless expanse of grass and sky, Error practically at home in it because of his familiarity with the Anti-Void.

At last, the ragtag group of monsters, humans, and dragon paused outside of Gil'ead. The city was not very pretty. It was obnoxiously rough and cruel, annoyingly loud dogs barking their heads off, everything hazed by blue smoke. A hideous stone fortress rose from it's center. Five miles beyond was the vague outline of a lake, Isenstar Lake. They turned around and broke camp two miles off. Here, they spoke.

"I'm not sure you should be the one to go into Gil'ead." Murtaugh began.
"Why? I can disguise myself well enough." Eragon defended. "And Dormnad will want to see the gedwëy ignasia as proof that I really am a Rider."
"Perhaps, but the Empire wants you much more than me. If I'm captured, I could eventually escape. But if you are taken, they'll drag you to the King, where you'll be in for a slow death by torture- unless you join him. Plus, Gil'ead is one of the army's major staging points. Those aren't houses out there; they're barracks. Going in there would be like handing yourself to the King on a gilded platter." Murtaugh finished.
"Not to mention that would make our jobs in rescuing you much harder now, wouldn't it?" Nightmare added.

Eragon was asking Saphira for her opinion, the dragon wrapping her tail around his legs and laying by his side as Blueberry removed her saddle after riding with her today.

He eventually agreed with whatever she said. "Alright, you can go." He said reluctantly. "But if anything goes wrong, we're coming after you!"

Murtaugh laughed. "That would be fit for a legend: how a Rider and seven magical skeletons took on the King's army alone."
"Hey, I have the right to declare war as a King myself." Nightmare scoffed.
"And we absolutely have more than enough power to be our own army!" Error added.
Murtaugh shook his head, grinning. "Is there anything else I should know before going?" He asked.
"Shouldn't we rest and wait until tomorrow?" Eragon inquired back.
"Yeah, we've been traveling all day." Killer pointed out.
"So? We do that every day. Why should we stay any longer than we have to? The longer we stay, the greater the chance that we'll be discovered. If this Dormnad can take you to the Varden, then he needs to be found as quickly as possible. None of us should remain near Gil'ead longer than a few days."

"He's right, it's not safe. We may have considerable power and unique skills that aid us in Alagaësia, but we are almost as unfamiliar with our enemy as they of us, and they are the ones with greater numbers as well. When have we actually fought in a lasting war with hundred warriors? Never. It always consisted of small teams with extraordinary power. We are admittedly out of our element, sorry sir." Cross added to Murtaugh's point, apologizing to Nightmare.

"I'm not offended. I see the logic and admit we need our own army. The Varden are the only ones willing to fight this Galbatorix, so we need them."

Discussion over, Eragon told Murtaugh what he needed to know, who got himself ready.
"Very well. Unless there's trouble, I'll be back within a couple of hours. Make sure there's some food left for me."
He waved, jumping onto Tornac and riding away, Nightmare melting into the shadows to follow him.

The others began talking, waiting for Murtaugh and Nightmare's return. Eventually the topic of magic and the skeleton's strange immunity to some of it's aspects. Then Dust had a fantastic idea.

"Hey, Eragon, what was that see anyone anywhere thing on water? Something about staring at Dream??"
"You mean draumr kópa?" The human asked while the others fell into a fit of laughter at Dust's choice of words.
"Yeah, that one. Why don't we see if it works with us or not?"
"Alright, I guess. I need something reflective, like water."
"Use my cleaver, it's like a mirror!" Horror called out, tossing the huge blade over, Dust catching it easily.
"Okay, now what?" Dust prompted.
"Just say draumr kópa while focusing on who you want to see."
"Okay Berry, get ready!"
"Me?!"

Dust had already cited the words before the other could protest. Slowly, a picture formed. "Holy shit, it works! It actually works!" Dust laughed loudly, everyone else crowding in for a glimpse while Blueberry pouted.
"At least tell me the angle!"
"Okay, okay!" Killer shouted.
Then they all started calling out little adjustments.
"Turn to your right! No, left!"
"Look up a bit!"
But then Berry tilted his skull, staring right at them through the illusion.
"I can actually see it." He commented.

"Wait." Eragon looked up. "It's supposed to be an invisible spell."
"Well, I can see a little grey blur or distortion of some kind."
The others started staring in the general direction, and started seeing it, too. Only Eragon and Saphira couldn't see anything.

This could prove invaluable in the future. Saphira told them. You can tell when we might be getting spied on without our knowledge.

The skeletons all took this to heart, or Soul in their cases, so they familiarized themselves with the magic.

Error focused his attention on it, trying to store the memory, codes, and sensation of the spell. It wouldn't do very well if they were spied on constantly. He'd notice it, along with everyone else.

Then Blueberry grinned at the illusion, which caused the others to start asking what he was doing.

"I'M BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL MWEH HEH HEH!!" He yelled, lunging at the faint distortion with a manic smile. Dust ended up throwing the knife across the campsite from the jumpscare, the cleaver embedding itself into a tree on the far side. Then they all laughed.

Blue went over to grab the blade, yanking on it once, then staring back at Dust in surprise, the other shrugging.
Berry gave it another wrench, and it came free with a loud crack from the wood. They all chuckled, a few wood chips hanging off the knife as Blue returned it to Horror, who glared at it distastefully.
"Coverin' it with bark 'n sap." He grumbled as he started cleaning it.
This produced a few chuckles and gave Cross an idea.

"Hey, the humans have been practicing their battle skills and improving with each other this past month. We've only watched them. Maybe we should train a little? So we don't fall out of practice?"

Killer scoffed. "Of course you'd say that."
"No-no-no, he has a point. We never know when we're gonna get in a big fight. We don't wanna be slacking that much. This may be a permanent vacay from the Multiverse, but we aren't out of the woods yet. We don't know much about fighting here. So we should be on high alert and stuff." Dust spoke.
"And you wanna practice our Magic right next to enemy territory?" Error questioned.

Cross shook his skull. "No, I was only making a suggestion."
"You know what? We can still do little things. Cross, do that knife trick you used to do every morning!" Dust told him. Monochrome skeleton scoffed. "It's not a trick; it's an exercise."
"Just do the thing! Eragon and Saphira haven't seen it yet!"
"Fine!"

Cross pulled out his gigantic knife, and started juggling it boredly. Eragon stared, even Saphira seemed a little perplexed at the increasingly dangerous and dramatic maneuvers Cross started pulling off, to the point where he was jumping in the air to do flips and general circusy looking sorts of tricks, before landing hard with the tip impaling the earth, sharp edge facing outward.

Eragon leaned forward. "How do you even lift that so easily?" Cross deadpanned, then just offered the human to hold it. Eragon took it by the handle, the tip immediately hitting the ground as his eyes bulged at the weight.
"How do you move so fast holding this?!" Cross shrugged, then Error answered the question.

"We've noticed that the humans in Alagaësia, namely from observing you and Murtaugh, are weaker in physical strength than those of our Multiverse. Also, we're generally much faster with keener senses than you. Our humans didn't have our level, either, but Alagaësia's humans are kinda.. lesser. No offense, Eragon."

"Seriously?" The Rider groaned.
"Yep. Here, we're practically gods. But back home was kinda shit, if you recall. Everything was a constant fight." Dust droned on.
"Well, we're almost. Error and Nightmare are literal gods here, Boss because of the misery here." Killer added.
"Nightmare is always a god in my book." Cross muttered.
"Oh, just go date him already!" Killer yelled at him. Cross blushed purple. "Dude, I am not interested in Boss like that!"
"Admit it, you goddamn tsundere!" Horror barked with laughter.
"I'll admit when Blue and Error kiss!" Cross yelled back, entire skull glowing purple.
Now Blue stuttered, turning his namesake as Error's face lit up yellow and glitched.

There was a moment of shocked silence before Eragon said, "But you're all men..?"
Then it all fell apart.

Error just started chanting nope and glitching crazily as he walked away, Blue pulling his shirt over his skull and screaming quietly to himself as Horror and Killer shrieked with laughter, Cross faceplanting and muttering he wanted to kill himself while Dust snickered insanely.

Dust was the one who recovered the fastest to answer Eragon's question.
"Gender is kind of meaningless for monsters. We love whoever we will, 'cause the Soul wants what it wants. There's no telling it what to do, and those anti gay and lesbian things humans do is a load of shit."

"How would that even..??"
How would same-sex lovers mate? Saphira questioned. Dust blushed, not expecting that question. Then he shook his skull.
"It works differently for monsters." He hoped that would explain it for her.
Saphira stared at him a little longer, then relented.
"Jesus." Dust muttered. "Just throw subtlety out the fuckin' window."

Then Cross stood up straight, his movement loud. Nightmare was back, staring back at Gil'ead, probably waiting for Murtaugh. Shortly after everyone quieted down, a single horse departed from the city, galloping at full speed.

He rode at breakneck speed the entire time, until he arrived and leapt off his horse. Everyone had their weapons out, alarmed.
"Why did you start running like that?" Nightmare questioned.
"What's up with you?" Killer added.
"Anyone follow me from Gil'ead?"
"No, you just ran like you were bout to die." Horror told him.
"Good. Let me eat before I explain. I'm starving." He grabbed one of the bowls and began gobbling down the food.

"Was it that stranger that recognized you?" Nightmare pressed. Murtaugh nodded while shoveling food.
"Oh shit." Dust remarked.
"That can't be good news." Error had returned.
Murtaugh spoke with his mouth full.
"Dormnad has agreed to meet us outside Gil'ead at sunrise tomorrow. If he's satisfied it's not a trap," "He'll take us to the Varden." Nightmare finished.
"Yeah."

"Where are we supposed to meet him?" Murtaugh and Nightmare pointed west. Skeleton spoke. "A hill past the road. It's not very fit for ambush, but I'd say we keep our guards up."

They nodded.
"So someone recognized ya?" Horror asked the human, who nodded again.
"It's a rather simple thing, but all the more deadly because of it."
"Yes. He seemed... talkative. I take it he'll spill what he saw?"
Murtaugh laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh.
"It's not a question of whether he'd tell, but whom. If word of this reaches the wrong ears, we'll be in trouble."

This was certainly frustrating. The Guardian of Negativity sighed, sitting down. The rest of the group followed suit.
Eragon spoke again. "We can at least count on being safe until morning, and by then, if all goes well, we'll be leaving with Dormnad."
Now Murtaugh shook his head.
"No, only you will accompany him. As I said before, I won't go to the Varden."

This earned a few hurt looks and glares. "But why..?" Blue muttered unhappily.
Nightmare seemed lost in thought, sharing a look with Error before the pair started thinking.

Then Error blinked, clapping for everyone's attention. "You should go to sleep. I'll keep watch as usual. I think us skeletons should sleep in the trees tonight, just so we don't leave too many tracks and arise suspicion when we leave on the Blasters."
Everyone eventually agreed, because they knew sleeping in trees meant Error's hammocks. And those were amazing.

....

Dawn wasn't far off when Eragon awoke, following Nightmare as they and Error felt something off. The glitch went into the tree the goopy one swung from, whispering quietly.
"You hear it too, don't you?" Black boned skeleton asked him.
"Yes. We have visitors. Should we kill them? Or capture them? I sense something with great power."
"I can smell whatever's here. It smells disgusting." Horror spoke up from a lower branch.
"And horses." Error added, watching Eragon wake Murtaugh, who reacted a little violently before realizing it was just him.

Suddenly, whatever was there encircled the camp. "Shit shit shit shit." Dust whispered frantically. "Papyrus, tell me what you see." He added in an even quieter tone.
"Chara says they're like huge ogres with ram horns." Cross whispered to Nightmare before Dust relayed. "Ten of them, they're setting up for an ambush."

"Well their ambush is about to get ambushed." Killer pulled out two knives.
"Wait." Nightmare ordered. They froze, every one of them ready.

Then one of the creatures stepped out of the trees, yelling like he was imitating a dragon. The lone warrior was literally exploded by Eragon as the rest of them charged from behind.

The ugly creatures hit the humans just as the skeletons hit the ground with several yells. Nightmare and Error sat back and watched as the others ran forward, cutting the enemy down.

Suddenly Eragon called out. "Fly, Saphira!" Right before he was knocked out by one of the creatures. It was at this moment Nightmare realized that that a) these were the Urgals Nightmare had heard of and b) they were here to capture Eragon.
Nightmare roared with Saphira, actually matching her in tone.
"THAT'S MY PRISONER, NOT YOURS!"

Everyone froze momentarily, mostly shocked as Nightmare began angrily chasing after the Urgal that kidnapped Eragon. Error ordered the others to conserve their strength and use basic attacks to eliminate the rest before following.

Unfortunately the Urgal slipped into Gil'ead, a sea of soldiers and more of the towering brutes coming out of hiding and blocking the way. Error yanked on his strings, but Nightmare grabbed his arm, causing the other to glitch.
"We're inexperienced here, it's unwise to challenge this many until we know how to fight in these situations. Fall back."
"But Eragon-"
"Fall. Back." The goopy one growled, glaring at the enemy while his tentacles waved angrily.

They teleported back to the scene of the ambush, seeing that the others had dealt with the beasts easily.
"They have a small army. A full-frontal assault isn't a good idea, we need to find Eragon and leave as soon as possible; I sense something dark in that place and it is not on our side." Nightmare informed his boys.

"How dark?" Dust asked flatly.
"Me, back in the old days." Nightmare responded curtly.
"Me when I was still insane." Error added, having noticed it too.
The rest of the team blanched, for these two to make that comparison meant it was a great evil indeed.
"What's the plan?" Cross piped up, always thinking of their duties.

"We sneak in, but later. Right now we need to get out of here and hide." Error began, facing the rapidly approaching enemy.
"How do we outpace them?? Those look to be Kull!" Murtaugh yelled.
"Well it doesn't look like they can fly now, does it?" Dust rebuked. Murtaugh paled, obviously thinking they were about to abandon him.

The other skeletons caught on quickly, Nightmare putting together a plan. "Alright, Dust, Cross, you carry the horses on your Blasters. Saphira, are you willing to let Murtaugh ride you?"
Yes, but who will carry the little blue one?
"I'll take Blueberry." Error told her.
"Alright, human. Get on the dragon and take off immediately. The horses will be safe."
Murtaugh nodded, scrambling up Saphira's scaly sides and adjusting himself in her saddle like his life depended on speed, which it technically did.

Everyone else teleported atop their Blasters, holding the animals in place on the smooth skulls while the entire company shot up into the evening sky.
After a sharp order from Nightmare, they hovered above Saphira so they wouldn't be seen. It was better they remain as hidden as possible, their existence and capabilities were still largely unknown to the Empire, and they wanted to keep it that way.

They eventually found a secluded spot east of Gil'ead, too far away to see the town from the ground. They set up camp, picketing the horses and eating in silence.

"Will Eragon be okay?" Blue broke the tension with his bright, worried voice.
"By my understanding, they will drug him and try to send him to Urû'baen as quickly as possible. But it will take a while to mobilize their forces to do that. So we have time to come up with a rescue." Nightmare explained calmly, interlacing his fingers as he spat out the facts.
"Is this where we reveal ourselves for real, then? Teach the Empire to fear us?" Killer inquired while playing with his knives.
"No. I'd prefer to do that in a setting where we can see their full might as well. This mission shall be quick, and mostly in secret. Murtaugh, you know the layout of Gil'ead, correct?"
The human nodded.
"Let's start reviewing it together, starting with where they'd most likely keep Eragon."

They went to sleep that night, Nightmare staying up with Error so they'd be ready for any surprises. They chatted quietly, discussing what they should do next over a map of Alagaësia as well as practicing the Ancient Language they had been learning in secret more than everyone else. They had wanted to use spells, they were an advantage they saw as useful.
But shockingly, Horror woke up and grinned at them.

"I've been trying to use that enchanting stuff to improve my axe." He spoke softly, bringing the crude weapon into the light.
"How so?" Nightmare asked.
"He's been studying different parts of the code, as hard as it is for him." Error told him.
Nightmare was rather impressed. "Well, what have you done so far? And what inspired you to do this?"
The creepy skeleton twirled his axe while sitting up. "I had a thought one day.. what if that magic could heal..me?" His hand reached up and gripped the edge of his hole absentmindedly.
"And make my axe the best axe to ever exist?" He added humorously.

They sat in a circle in the darkness, seeing clearly in the black night, their eyelights casting a faint glow across each other.
Nightmare pondered what Horror brought up.
"Perhaps it is possible. But understand, Horror. If anyone is to fix your mental disability it will be me."
His subordinate seemed pleased. "Honestly, I'd rather keep the hole. But if it means I can think again, I'd get rid of it in a Soulbeat."
The other two smiled.
"We'll try to find an option where you get to keep your cavity."
There was a pause.

"What if I just made a better axe?" Horror mumbled, staring at the weapon laying in his lap.
"I love this thing, but she's getting old. I don't wanna accidentally break her."
"You want to fight with a different axe?" Error asked.
"Yeah.. Like a battle axe. My baby's never seen a long fight before. I don't know if she can take the strain.. I care about Axella." He mumbled while staring off into the distance wistfully.

"Well, I'm sure the Varden has good weapons." Error suggested. Horror frowned, gripping the handle.
"I don't want just another axe. I hafta make it myself, just like Axella. Because then it's mine."
Error blinked, then dipped his skull. "I get it. You want it to be yours, to protect it and it to protect you."
"And my family." Horror rasped, his lone eyelight staring right at Error, before flicking to Nightmare to give him the same look. It was touching.
Horror was labeling them as his family.

He then yawned, stretching his arms up before standing. "I'm goin' back to sleep. Wake me when it's mornin'." And stumbled back to his sleeping bag. Error hummed, then turned to stargaze, opening the code screen for Nightmare to continue studying.
The Guardian of Negativity mumbled the words out loud, learning more about this Ancient Language and the spells it contained.

That night, he stumbled upon a spell of invisibility, causing a wide smile to stretch itself across his face. This was going to be useful.
He began plotting changes to their current plan of attack, involving the new spell.

And the next day, when everyone had woken, he discussed it in length, managing to not let Murtaugh hear the spell himself. His uneasiness about that human's future only grew worse as time went on. Nightmare was beginning to think Murtaugh was going to suffer terribly soon. And for once, the idea of someone else enduring agony didn't please him.
The rest of the day was spent preparing and scouting Gil'ead.

By nightfall, they began their infiltration of the city. Murtaugh got inside fairly easily in disguise, Cross and Dust following invisibly, Dust quietly giggling half the time because he was invisible.

Nightmare went ahead to find Eragon in the prison, hiding his aura so he wouldn't alert whatever dark entity existed inside this place as he flitted across shadows, nothing more than a shadow himself.

Killer and Error remained outside the city limits in the sky with Blue and Saphira, ready in case reinforcements were necessary. All of this was instead of a skeleton teleporting inside and back out with Eragon was because they were also searching for the dark entity in this place, and they knew the chances of getting attacked by this thing were exponential.

Nightmare found Eragon quickly, mainly because he had just broken out of his cell, a squad of soldiers frozen in front of him.
Then they charged at Eragon like utter fools.

Nightmare snickered and erupted out of the shadows behind his human, scaring the daylights out of the men before stabbing them with sharpened tentacles. They collapsed, coughing up blood as two were left standing.
But by then, Murtaugh had appeared down the hallway and shot one down, Eragon yelling to keep the last one alive.
So the trio approached the final man, who was close to hyperventilating.

"You know I am a Rider; you've seen what he can do. If you don't answer my questions, the rest of your life will be spent in utter misery and torment. Now where's my sword- it's sheath and blade are red- and what cell is the elf in?"
The moron kept his mouth shut.

"Wrong answer." Eragon and Nightmare spoke in unison, human's hand glowing ominously as Nightmare lifted the soldier's head up with a tentacle, caressing the man's face with the slimy appendage, enticing a shiver from the victim.
"ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ ɪ ᴀᴍ." He spoke teasingly as Eragon scooped up a grain of sand, watching him impassively.

"ᵢ ₐₘ yₒᵤᵣ wₒᵣₛₜ ₙᵢgₕₜₘₐᵣₑ gᵢᵥₑₙ fₒᵣₘ."
He continued in a voice he often reserved for times he was going to drive someone insane.
Deep, echoing, haunting.
"ᵢ ₐₘ fₒᵣₘₑd fᵣₒₘ ₚᵤᵣₑ ₕₐₜᵣₑd ₐₙd ₛₒᵣᵣₒw. ₜₕₑ ₒₙₑ ₜₕₐₜ ᵥᵢₛᵢₜₛ yₒᵤ wₕₑₙ yₒᵤ ₛₗₑₑₚ, gᵢᵥᵢₙg yₒᵤ ₗₒₙg, ₛₗₑₑₚₗₑₛₛ ₙᵢgₕₜₛ ₐₛ ᵢ cₕᵢₚ ₐwₐy ₐₜ yₒᵤᵣ ₛₐₙᵢₜy. Yₒᵤ dₒₙ'ₜ wₐₙₜ ₘₑ ₜₒ ᵥᵢₛᵢₜ yₒᵤ ₙₒw, dₒ yₒᵤ?"
The human whimpered. "P-please.."
"Answer the question." Eragon ordered, after staring uneasily at Nightmare.
"Okay!! Okay!! Okay!! Elf is last door on the left, I don't know about your sword, it's probably the guardroom upstairs, all weapons are there!"
Eragon nodded, but before he could waste his energy Nightmare pressed a hand on the human's forehead and let him fall to the floor.

"Did you kill him?" Murtaugh demanded as Eragon growled. "You should have spared him!"
"He is alive, I put him to sleep. We have what we want, he is spared."
"Oh. Well Eragon, Cross and Dust are behind me and ready to go."
"Didn't you hear what I just said? There's an elf in the prison. I saw her! We have to rescue her. I need your help."
"An elf...!" He started marching down the hall angrily. "This is a mistake. We should flee while we have the chance."

"Is this the woman you saw in your sleep?" Nightmare asked him quietly as the followed. Eragon nodded quickly.
They stopped at the correct cell, Cross tossing a ring of keys over while remaining unseen. Eragon started looking around wildly, confused. He didn't notice as Dust slowly lifted a few strands of the boy's hair.
"We discovered an invisibility spell." Nightmare explained as the door swung open.

There she was, tensing for an attack as Nightmare entered first and did not have a friendly appearance. She held her head high, regally, eyes so dark green they were nearly black, like her hair. Then she shook and collapsed, Nightmare catching her with his tentacles before recoiling at her faint weight.
"She's almost as lightweight as a skeleton, she must be starved." He commented in a dull voice, shocked to his core.

"But she's beautiful!" Murtaugh gasped. Eragon shook his head. "But hurt. Can you carry her?" He asked Nightmare. He tugged her up and pressed her horizontal to his back, tentacles wrapping around her protectively. "Yes."

Murtaugh dragged Eragon upstairs, Dust in front while Nightmare was behind, Cross watching his back. The two were still invisible, as it provided a tactical advantage.
They arrived in the banquet room, Eragon immediately attacking some food, he must have not been eating.
"Can someone tell Saphira to wait five more minutes?" Murtaugh asked, also informing Nightmare they were going with plan B. The entity still hadn't been spotted and soldiers were swarming. They had to draw it out.

"Why does she need to wait?" Dust asked.
"Whatever you're planning to do, I don't think we have much time." Eragon warned.
"Just tell her and stay out of sight!" First he directed at all of them, second at Eragon. Then Murtaugh sprinted off.
"Cross, follow him and keep him safe."
"But Boss-"
"Go!"
"Yessir!" The currently invisible monochrome skeleton took off after the human, footsteps loud on the floor.

The two came back, Murtaugh carrying a strange bow and sword, both beautifully carved and shaped. "Found these looking for Zar'roc, I assume they're the elf's."
Said red blade appeared as Cross slid it across the floor to Eragon, who took the sword as well.
"Let's find out if it is." He muttered, slipping the sword into the elf's sheath. It fit.
"Now what? We can't stay here forever. Sooner or later the soldiers will find us."
"Now, we wait. We're going to escape soon enough, it's been arranged." Murtaugh avoided talking about their plan to draw the dark entity out of hiding.

"You don't understand, there's a Shade here! If he finds us, we're doomed."
Nightmare blinked as he recalled where he read that in Domia abr Wyrda as Murtaugh gasped.
"A Shade! In that case, we need to leave immediately. We don't stand a chance. Tell Saphira to come immediately."
"We still need to confirm it's a Shade." Cross explained to Eragon before he could ask why they can't teleport.

"I'm afraid it's a little too late for that." A cold voice filled the room. Nightmare stood up stiffly, sensing the evil and chaotic magic fill the room. He spotted the source, a snow white man with blood red hair and evil, maroon eyes that immediately made Nightmare realize just how much they contrasted each other. He, black with a pale blue eyelight, the other deathly pale with dark, dark red eyes. The Shade smirked, probably noticing the same thing.

The rest of them stood up behind the King of Negativity, the other skeletons realizing they were visible again. The ghostly enemy unclasped his brooch, cape falling behind him as he drew a matching pale blade with a scratch on it.
"My quarrel is not with you, good friend, but the Rider." He addressed Nightmare as an equal, clearly aware of the power that he radiated as well. The goopy one scoffed, his tentacles moving to hand the elf to Murtaugh behind him and waving angrily.
"Unfortunately for you, I have a quarrel with you. This Rider and his dragon are my prisoner, which you quite rudely stole from me. I am very displeased." He thundered as Cross hefted his massive blade and Dust summoned a dozen or so sharpened bones.

There was a moment of silence as the other studied them. Then he twitchily lowered his blade. "I suppose that was my mistake." He took a semi friendly stance and spoke again, baring his filed teeth as he grinned.
"I am Durza, Shade and partner of King Galbatorix, rightful master of the greatest kingdom of Alagaësia, the magnificent Empire." The human king he spoke mockingly about, obviously hating him.

Suddenly a loud boom sounded from above, the whole room rattling from a heavy impact, wood and debris falling from the ceiling.

Nightmare scoffed, then introduced himself.
"I am Nightmare. Lord of Darkness, Guardian of Negative Emotions, Keeper of nightmares and yin to the Balance of Emotion. I am the King of Negativity. I feed off of suffering, and this land of Alagaësia is quite brimming with it."

That was an introduction he hadn't used in centuries, his voice echoing with power and the humans behind him inching away as they realized exactly what he said. There were details about himself he had deliberately kept from them, and it was for good reason. Durza tilted his head, obviously hearing the intro differently as indescribably loud screeches sounded from the ceiling, long cracks appearing above them and more chunks rained down.

"If you are a king, where is your army, Lord of Darkness?"
Nightmare chuckled.
"One key difference between me and your king is, I like to get my hands dirty." He stabbed his tentacles outward, all targeting the ceiling. They collided, hitting the center beam and shattering it while blue strings started worming through the gaps, waving dangerously.

Then the massive breach widened as Saphira stuck her head through and roared, the soldiers that had rushed inside devolved into chaos trying to avoid the falling debris while blue strings and magic easily kept it away from Nightmare and his boys.

"Funnily enough," Nightmare spoke calmly while his voice amplified to be heard over the damage. "This Rider and dragon have been so cooperative that I have given them some freedoms. One could say they are loyal to me." He grinned, chuckling at the madness around him. The Shade's eyes bulged in rage, men running all over the place in a panic.

"Who's side are you on?!"
Nightmare scowled. "I am on my own side, fool. It's about time your King realized that things are changing. The Balance of power is tipped over, and now I am here. He shall get his reckoning soon, I can see his fate." He paused as Error lowered himself into the room, an insane grin on his face as strings filled the space and caught all the soldiers like flies in a web.

"I myself, have more power than all the armies in Alagaësia combined due to Galbatorix and his reign. This land screams in agony; it is the most negative world I have ever seen, and I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of worlds. And with my most loyal subjects and the God of Destruction with me? Not even that pitiful human who calls himself a King stands a chance. The fool has attracted the attention of the gods, and that is no small feat."

Killer teleported beside his King, grinning and holding a knife, playing with the tip.
"Killer, would you like to send this spirit home?"
"Fuck yes, the bastard looks like fuckin' Chara."
"Have fun.~"

His servant squared off, holding his knives and challenging Durza, who snarled and readied his blade.
"Cross?"
"Yessir!"
"Kill these incompetent excuses for warriors."
"On it!"
"Dust?"
"Boss?"
"Take our humans, the elf, and Blue with Saphira and head east. I will join you shortly."
"Yup."

Everyone went to work while Error moved to Nightmare's side.
"You're being showy. I thought we weren't revealing ourselves yet." He started.
Goopy skeleton sighed. "Consider this more of an introduction, and a way to strike fear into the enemy. I doubt it will affect Galbatorix much, he reminds me of myself in my younger days. Arrogant. Egotistical. Unhinged when things don't go his way. But still smart enough to take threats seriously."
"So he's not something to play with?" Error asked.
"No. We don't want to anger him, this is still his world and we are inexperienced with it. He has the numbers. We must rely on his ego for now, but still make it clear that we are a new player in this game of chess that is Alagaësia."
"We being you with us as your soldiers."
"Would you prefer to still be just an ally instead of a part of the team? Because I still haven't introduced you as one of them, I specifically said you were on my side."
The glitch sighed. "This isn't the Multiverse, Nightmare. This isn't Ink we're dealing with. Things have changed. I'd prefer to go back to the Anti-Void, but I'm struggling to reach it, obviously. And protecting Blueberry is my top priority. So yes, I am still your ally, except we have the same goals this time rather than similar occupations."

"You just didn't like that I wanted to turn the whole Multiverse into a miserable cesspool of agony and suffering, didn't you?"
Error didn't answer.
Nightmare sighed, watching Killer and Durza have a violent and blindingly fast battle to the death, mostly involving the Shade dodging bone attacks with a slightly shocked face that he hid in a grimace. Killer was toying with him.

"Killer, that's enough playing."
Durza was thrown into the wall with blue magic.
"Ya sure, Boss?"
"Yes. Cross is returning from clearing out the pests, and it's high time we get moving. As for you, Durza! Tell Galbatorix to keep his grubby human hands off my prisoners. He has a Shade and his own dragons to play with, after all."

The Shade's eyes widened, then he screeched as a knife buried itself up to the hilt in his head. He spasmed, turning grey before mist enshrouded him and he disappeared.
"I killed him!" Killer exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
Both Nightmare and Error shook their skulls.
"No, he's no more dead than if you inflicted that wound on one of us. He'll reform later." Nightmare explained as Cross returned, dragging his now-bloodied giant knife.
Killer frowned. "I'm still gonna say I killed him." He muttered.

They four teleported away, arriving at camp in darkness to hear Saphira panting while Dust held the reins to the horses, Eragon and Blueberry both healing injuries in the dragon's wings.

"Why is Saphira hurt?" Nightmare demanded.
"Archers." Murtaugh explained curtly while staring suspiciously at him. Eragon and Blue were fussing over a wound in Saphira's wing, the dragon ripping a tree out of the ground and biting down on it, hard.

"What's with the face?" Killer questioned Murtaugh, who scowled.
"You feed off of misery and suffering? My, Alagaësia must really be a buffet for you, huh?"

Nightmare immediately stiffened, his eyelight vanishing.
"Some of us are born into things we cannot control. I did not ask for my power, status, or duty. It is a part of who I am. Once, I despised what I was. Once I was weak. But then I took control of everything, and the only one capable of opposing me is in a whole other Multiverse. Now, my motives for Alagaësia are for me to know and me alone. Does that answer your question, human?"

"Who was it that was your only enemy?" Murtaugh was now confused. Error butted in.
"Technically, it was two people. He's talking about Dream, but Ink could fight him too. He just didn't care because Night never destroyed AU's like I did."

Now the human began to remember the war the Sanses had been fighting back home. In the heat of the moment he'd forgotten. He dipped his head, apologizing.
"Just don't ever speak of it again." Nightmare ordered, his voice tired. Murtaugh turned away as Saphira jerked, whimpering past her self gag and knocking Blue off his feet.

Said skeleton got right back up as Eragon healed Saphira's wing. Nightmare clapped for everyone's attention. They all stood, watching expectantly.
"We are much too close to Gil'ead and it's army after attacking their stronghold. We need to put distance between ourselves and the enemy if we are to avoid those denizens. We need to move, and quickly. Saphira, can you fly with the Elf?"

Yes. She is the lightest being of flesh I have carried thus far.
"Alright. You are carrying her. Murtaugh, Eragon, are the horses doing well? Can they ride for tonight?"
"Yes. They're fine, as always." Eragon called out.
"Good. You are riding. The rest of you, we are going to go faster than usual. Try not to get distracted and lost. Dust, Cross, I want you two up high with Saphira to keep watch over her and the elf. Try to have Papyrus and Chara help you, particularly with scouting ahead. Have I made myself clear, boys?"
There was a general chorus of affirmation.
"Good. We are off."

So began the brutally long walk through the night, mostly a struggle for the humans. Nightmare and Error kept a close eyesocket on Eragon and Murtaugh, seeing that they were having a bad time. Blue tried to keep the atmosphere light, but quickly got drowned out by the exhaustion.

The two skeletons riding up near Saphira gave regular reports, some of which were troubling. Groups in the far distance were assembling, their formations suspicious.

Eventually those that needed sleep had to rest. So they found a small cliff, a stream beside it. Saphira drank from it gratefully, as did the humans and horses. Then even a few of the others.
The elf was still unconscious.

Soon, they began filling Eragon in on the details he'd missed.
He was shocked and angry once he learned the Urgals were working for the Empire, exclaiming that the people of the Empire, but the others, including Murtaugh, crushed his hopes with the cold hard facts.

Then they decided to check the elf in case she was injured.

She was very, very hurt.
The whole company was enraged that she was so cruelly abused, even Nightmare, despite their surprise. Blue and Eragon set to work on healing the worst of her injuries, Cross quickly joining them, then Dust after a few minutes.
With the teamwork they healed her in minutes, but the elf still didn't wake.

Since she still refused to wake, they decided to sleep, those who didn't need to staying up and on guard for soldiers.

The next day was spent evading soldiers and hunting dogs, mostly by riding Blasters. It was hard, as the animals didn't take to it well. When they all stopped to eat and drink, they discussed their predicament.

"We can't keep up this pace; we aren't gaining any ground on the soldiers. Another day or two of this and they're sure to overtake us." Murtaugh began pessimistically.
"What else can we do? Teleport across Alagaësia to wherever the Varden are? Ride Saphira and the skulls to the Hadarac Desert?" Eragon shot back.
"Maybe we can find a way to keep the horses from freakin' out on the Blasters. Then we'd be on our way just fine." Horror suggested.

Error stared at Horror with wide sockets, like he'd had a eureka moment. Killer, Eragon and Murtaugh started arguing about where they could go to escape the Empire while Nightmare faced the glitch and Blue tried to feed the elf water.

"What if I tied them down with my strings? Or under, like a sling." Error suggested to the goopy one.
"You should give it a try. The pace we have while they ride those animals is infuriating, and better yet, we leave no tracks when using them. We would be better off."
"I'll see about weaving something up quickly. The sooner we're off the ground, the better." Error informed the goopy skeleton.
They exchanged nods, then Nightmare made his way to the others, who were currently discussing how to cross the Hadarac Desert. Namely the issue of water. He watched, curious at what they could come up with.

"Wait, wait, wait. What about the water table?" Cross suggested.
"The what?" Eragon questioned, Murtaugh appearing just as confused while the others gasped.
"Okay, so the underground below you, no matter where you stand, has an area that's always filled with water. It counts for the desert, too. That's why wells exist, they're holes dug down deep enough to access that water. There's gotta be some way to bring it up to the surface to drink, right?" Dust explained.
"Yeah, it doesn't take a lotta magic; it's only water." Killer added.
"Let me experiment on it." Eragon told them, moving a little ways off to test their theory.
When he gave a thumbs up upon returning, they all applauded lightly at the good news. Then Nightmare brought up the other issue at hand.

"The horses are getting worn out. We need to give them a rest or give them up."
At this, the humans all started speaking out hotly, incensed at the idea of leaving their treasured animals. Nightmare spread his hands.
"I'm not done talking."
They quieted, upset.
"Luckily, Horror made a suggestion earlier that gave Error an idea."
Said skeleton perked up, surprised his mind came up with something useful for once.
"We could let them ride our Blasters, or rather, hang from them." He stared at the confused faces.
"Error is going to make slings to tie under the skulls and around the animals, so they can be carried without panicking constantly. Because so far, I have been very annoyed dealing with them every time we need to use the Blasters to escape, and Eragon has experienced similar frustrations. So while they are being woven, Blue will be helping Error weave as the rest of us take turns guiding them, because we don't have time for them to waste constantly watching where we are. Understood? This will pay off well, I promise, boys."

Eventually they all mumbled in agreement, just wanting to sleep at this point.
"You're dismissed." Nightmare waved them off so they could rest, knowing the next few days were going to be testing their endurance.

They quickly passed out in their individual sleeping bags and began snoring softly, Saphira humming peacefully. He touched their minds lightly with his magic, deciding to protect them from his namesake. Hard for him to do, because it was opposite of his normal skillset.

Nightmare then checked on Error, who hummed his greetings.
"I trust you'll be fine?" He inquired softly.
"Honestly Night, I am still grateful to be here. It was a hell of a lot worse to be dealing with that damn squid. I think you know that."
"I'm just checking. Everyone is getting stressed. I care for my subjects... and friends."
Error turned his skull to the side, not looking at him but pausing in his work.

"Do you still want to Corrupt the Multiverse, Nightmare?" His tear marks pulsed a little brighter as they glowed. Nightmare's tentacles curled then laid on the ground around him.
"Do you want the truth, Error?"
"I always want the truth."
He sighed, staring up at the stars above.

"The second day in Alagaësia made me realize I feel sick with this extreme imbalance. I guess I still am a keeper of the Balance. I still hate Dream.. but I hate this constant negativity more. Ironic as that may seem. I want to correct it. And I can feel it in Eragon's fate. Not like that bitch that made you destroy, but.. something else. Do you understand?" He asked, a little worried.

Error was quiet for a while, thinking.
"Yeah. I can feel it, too. You've become sensitive to certain energies here, right?"
"Don't tell me... you have too.."
"Yep. I've sensed things around the continent. I can sense whenever someone is near or magic is being used. And I can sense everything through my strings like they're a part of me, now. Not like antennae, but a part of me like my ribs or arms are."
"Does this still work even after you weave them into something?"
"I can shut it off. But I realized that it's also useful. I always know where they are now, and I've secretly been testing it, but I can teleport to wherever they are easily. No matter where they are. So can't that be used as a tracker or a form of protection?"
"That's actually ingenious, Error."
"That's not all. I've found I can store energy in them, kinda like how Eragon can with those gems and all, but better. In fact."

Error pulled out a beautifully weaved blue bracelet of strings. "I've been storing as much as I can safely spare into this. I was thinking I'd give it to Eragon for when he needs it. I have a feeling he will eventually need it."

Nightmare reached out and touched it, physically and mentally. It was a truly enormous amount of energy. He compared it with the ring Eragon wore all the time, Aren. It was only a fraction compared to the bracelet.

"If he gets his jewels taken for whatever reason, he'd be able to use this, because no one would suspect it to be a store of energy." Error continued.

Nightmare stared at it. Then lifted his gaze to the glitchy skeleton.
"I'll help you. I've been under the same impression. That, and something terrible is going to befall Murtaugh."
"I know. I can tell he's already had a tortured past. I think he might have something in common with you, Nightmare. I'm just not sure what."
Nightmare hummed. "I guess we'll have to find out."
"Yeah."

They both fell silent, one knitting quietly as the other started watching the stars. In their little bubble of peace, the two skeletons of the Yin side of the tao relaxed in one another's presence, waiting for the sun.