Brush your teeth before you cross the road

'Hopefully Error's awake.' The guardian mused, stepping into the house. He quietly shut the door behind him with a soft 'click' and stayed still for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh and glancing around the living room. There was no sign of Blueberry or Error.

'Don't panic, they're probably in the kitchen or my room.' Dream reassured himself, taking a deep breath and treading towards the kitchen. He leaned through the doorway to peer inside however was met with no one. Frowning, the guardian scanned the room to see if there was any sign of Blue or Error being here. He let out a breath of relief when his eyes landed on the half-open cabinet where the chocolate was stored. Error was definitely here- and it seems like he's okay.

The sudden sound of something falling startled Dream and he let out a quiet yelp. The fight he'd had with Nightmare had caused him to be on edge- what if that was his brother breaking into the house? Dream quickly rushed out of the kitchen and darted up the stairs fearfully though as soon as he spotted Error tangled in one of the spare blankets the two guardian's owned he immediately calmed down and raised a non-existent eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" Dream asked, faintly grinning.

Error huffed, sitting up and fumbling with the blanket for a moment before tossing it off himself and folding his arms.

"Blue's trying to suffocate me."

"No I'm not!" A voice called out and Blueberry emerged from Nightmare's bedroom holding a handful of blankets. "He was cold- I'm just trying to help!"

Dream sighed softly, stepping forwards and placing a hand on Blue's shoulder.

"You're doing great,"

Blueberry's eyes lit up.

"But please stop before you smother him to death."

Blue slackened and grumbled something under his breath, dropping the blankets onto the floor and sulking. Dream turned to face Error, glancing at the bandages wrapped securely around Error's skull. Blue must have patched him up while he was blacked out.

"How are you feeling?" Dream asked the destroyer, tilting his head somewhat. "Does your head hurt?"

Error subconsciously lifted his hand and grazed over the bandages as if he'd just realized they were there. 

"Uh- I'm okay." He answered awkwardly, stuffing his hands back into his pockets and glancing sideways. "I feel a little dazed I guess but apart from that I'm fine."

Dream hummed thoughtfully.

"I have some medicine that you could take- It might help."

Error made a face at the suggestion, seemingly offended by it.

"No medicine." He huffed. "I'm not taking that gunk."

Dream faltered and he no longer saw Error- instead he could see his brother refusing to take his medicine. His breath hitched.

"Uh, Dream?" Blue said, waving a hand in front of the spaced out guardian.

Dream blinked. The memory of Nightmare faded and suddenly he was back in the hallway with Blueberry and Error.

"I'm sorry." Dream mumbled quietly, shaking his head slightly. "For a moment I could see him."

Blue and Error glanced at each other curiously however remained quiet. The trio stood there in a prolonged silence before Blue remembered something he had found while rummaging through Nightmare's closet for blankets.

"Oh- hey Dream, I made a magnificent discovery while gathering blankets!" He announced, bolting back into Nightmare's bedroom and returning with what appeared to be a thin, lilac blanket.

"Wow, you found a blanket while searching for blankets." Error drawled. "Amazing."

Blueberry huffed and childishly stuck his tongue out at the destroyer before approaching Dream and holding out the lilac material for Dream to inspect.

The guardian's eyes widened as the entirety of it was revealed. There was a large, dark purple crescent moon sewn crudely onto the lilac material in the center, similar to Dream's cape. He felt himself tear up as he shakily reached out to take the purple cape from his friend. Memories flooded back to him and he was overwhelmed with nostalgia. He smiled wistfully and a stray tear rolled down his cheek.

Error furrowed his non-existent eyebrows, observing Dream's reflective expression and how he held the lilac cape as if it'd slip away from his grasp at any moment. He put two and two together and came to the conclusion that the cape belonged to Nightmare and definitely held sentimental value. The destroyer perked up, recalling his plan he'd had earlier. This discovery will help.

"Dream, I know a way we could try and help your brother."

Blue and Dream simultaneously turned to listen to what Error had to say. Error faltered slightly, not used to anyone paying this much attention to him.

"I uh," He coughed before regaining composure and focusing on the plan. "Well, my idea is that maybe if we remind Nightmare about all of the positive memories he's had with you and his other friends he'll start to feel regretful."

Dream and Blue listened intently.

"He's now completely made up of negative feelings, right? Reminding Nightmare of all of the pleasant experiences he's had with his friends will surely make him feel a sense of guilt and remorse and that should weaken him."

Dream nodded along, thinking it over. Maybe this could work- but what would they do once he's weakened? 

"We should interrogate the enemy spy and ask him if there's a way to fix Nightmare." Blue spoke up. "Yes, that's a magnificent idea." He praised himself.

Dream and Error shared a look.

"I'd like to have a few words with Ink." Error growled, clenching his fists. 

Dream frowned. He couldn't believe Ink was capable of something this messed up- he was so nice to him, Blue and even Nightmare. Surely it's just some kind of misunderstanding, Dream's certain that Ink didn't intend for this to happen.

"Okay, we'll go look for Ink." Dream reluctantly agreed.

Blue cheered and fist-bumped the air, grinning with determination in his starry eyes. Error nodded and folded his arms, a contemplative look on his face.

"But first, I want to see Nightmare." 

Blue deflated.

"But he might hurt you!" He exclaimed, waving his arms frantically. 

Dream shrugged nonchalantly. 

"Uh, I don't think it'll be very hard to find your brother, Dream." Error said, peering out through the window.

Dream frowned, padding over towards Error and moving the curtain aside so he could see what Error was eyeing. His breath hitched- Nightmare was in the distance and seemed to be staring directly at them. How had he found them so fast?

"What are you looking at?" Blue asked curiously.

Error and Dream simultaneously turned to glance at Blueberry.

"Nightmare." They both answered, turning back to face the window. 

As soon as they glanced back out through the glass pane they screamed and stumbled back. Nightmare was right up against the window with a twisted, sinister grin etched onto his face. He tapped against the glass twice before sprouting a tentacle out of his back and shooting it into the glass like a bullet. Blue shrieked, grabbing Dream and pulling him away from the oncoming glass shards that fell like rain. Error cursed, using his strings to lift himself up onto the ceiling.

"Hello." Nightmare greeted, climbing his way through the shattered window. "I was feeling pretty lonely down there- the atmosphere was a little lifeless." He snickered.

Dream gulped, barely able to recognize his own brother anymore. Nightmare's cyan eye locked onto Dream's dull, golden eyes and he grinned wider.

"Dream- the cape!" Error reminded.

Dream perked up and nodded, quickly scurrying away from his brother to grab the lilac cape he must have dropped when Nightmare had startled him and Error.

Nightmare eyed him, confusion and irritation written across his face. Deciding he'd been patient enough, the corrupted guardian giggled before hurtling towards his brother with insane speed and slamming him into the wall. Dream sputtered, coughing out a mix of blood and saliva as he doubled over in pain. Nightmare grinned, turning his attention away from Dream and locking eyes with a terrified Blueberry.

"Don't touch him." Dream wheezed, weakly grasping Nightmare's arm. The corrupted guardian snarled, tearing his arm away from the guardian of positivity and stalking towards Blue with killer intent.

Error wasted no time in creating more blue strings and latching them onto Nightmare. Dream winced, summoning enough strength to step away from the wall and shamble towards the strings so that he could infuse them with positivity.  He barely managed to take two steps forward before Nightmare broke free from the strings with an angered cry.

Dream staggered and fell to the ground, wheezing and shutting his eyes tight. He clutched the lilac cape he'd forgotten he was holding close to him. The noise of everything happening around him was drowned out as he reminisced about the day he and Nightmare had made the cape. He thought back to Error's plan and his eyes shot open. He couldn't just lay around acting depressed- he needed to at least try and save his brother and protect his friends.

"Blue, watch out!" Error yelled, hastily wrapping his blue strings around the smaller skeleton and dragging him away from Nightmare's attack.

That was enough to give Dream the strength to heave himself up. The guardian winced as he stood up, calling out his brother's name to get his attention. Nightmare faced Dream with a sneer however froze as his cyan eye landed on what Dream was now holding out.

"You recognize it, right?" Dream whispered, shambling forwards and practically shoving the article of clothing in the corrupted guardian's face. "Remember!" He cried out, golden-yellow tears streaming down his cheekbones.

He remembered.

--End--