E!Pap's POV

Dream leads me into a room and shuts the door. He leaves with Geno, saying I have to stay here until further notice. I nod. I sit down after they left on the floor and look around the room. I see some kind of cabinet full of containers. I get up and over to investigate. Each of them were labeled. Some were for souls and dust! Most of them were empty except for two. Two had souls in them. One was Blue's and the other was Dust's. I take Blue's out of the container and bubble it. That will protect him. And heal him. I reach for Dust's. I am taking his soul out when I hear the door open and get a bad feeling. I quickly bubble him and tuck the two into my scarf. I turn and see E!Gaster. I frown.

"WhAt dO yOu wAnT nOw, DaD?"I ask

"FoR yOu tO jOin Us."He says

"I'm nOt aBaNdOnInG tHem aNd tHat'S fiNal."I say

"YoU wOn'T jOin mE?"He asks

"No, I wOn't. I'd rAtHer bE wIth mY bRoThEr."I say

"YoU fOund yOuR bRoThEr?"He asks

"He's bEen wIth mE thE wHoLe tIme. EvEr sInce yOu tUrnEd iNk inTo a Cat."I say

"OooOh, sO tHat wAs hIm!"He says

"AnD yoU wIlL lEaVe hIm tHe hEck aLone! You'Ve dOne eNoUgh tRouBle."I say

"What do you MEAN?"He asks

"YOu aTtaCkEd uS, Are tEaMed wIth tHe bAd gUys, HeLp tHem hUrt uS, bReAkInG tHe mUltiVerSe anD aLlOwed tHem to NearLy kIlL uS! In fAct, yOu'vE kIllEd twO alReady!"I say

"BuT doN't yOu kNow wHy I'm doIng tHis?"He asks

"No aNd I dOn't wAnt to! TheY neArly kIlLed mE anD yoU juSt waTched! WaTched wIth a SmIlE! I Do Not Want to JoIn sOmeOne lIke tHat! THeY aRe prObabLy lYinG tO yoU to gEt yOu tO bE wiTh tHem!"I snap

"BuT wE cOuLd fiNallY hAvE a wOrld. In The nEw muLtIvErse. YoU, Me, yOur bRoTher, a wOrlD juSt fOr uS. Don'T yOu wAnT tHat?"He asks, coming closer to me until I'm against the wall

"No! ThIs iS NoT tHe wAy! HAve mErCy! HaVe mErcy oN tHem!"I say

"WhY cAre foR theM? ThEy ArE uSeLeSs aNd dOn'T cAre fOr aNyOnE wHo doEsn'T hAvE a WoRlD."He asks

Tears fill my eyes.

"They aRen'T uSeLeSs! DoN't calL tHem ThaT! TheY DO cArE! I cArE ab0uT tHem&lOve tHem bAcK! I cAn pRovE iT!"I tell him

"HoW?"He asks

"ThEy gAvE mE anD Err0r a wOrlD! ThaT hAs t0 mEaN s0mEthiNg!"I snap

"ThAt's nOt poSsiBle! NonE oF thEm caN cReatE liKe Ink cAn! AnD eVen Ink cAn n0t d0 tHat mUch!"He says

"YeS tHey cAn! AnD tHey dID! BecAuSE...B-b-BecAuSe-!"I say, clenching my fists 

"They ARE my world!"I yell

He stares at me in pure shock.

"EvErY sInGlE oNe oF tHeM! ThEy Are mY FriEnDs anD pRacTiCaLlY mY fAmIlY! ThEy'vE sAvEd me, HeLpeD mE, shOWeD mE wHat iT'S lIkE tO bE sOmEbOdy! To bE Me anD bE lOvEd! SaMe tHiNg wItH ErRoR! ThEy aRe mY wOrlD! ThE oNlY oNe tHat I hAvE EvER kNoWn! AnD rIgHt nOw, YoU aRe tHe dArKnEss iN mY wOrLd! YoU hAvE siDeD aGaInSt mY WoRlD! I wiLl nOt fIghT oR hUrt yOu lIkE yOU hAvE to uS, bUt shOw yOu tHe mErcY tHey hAvE shOwn mE and wHat yOu sHouLd gIvE tHem! It'S eItHeR yOu jOin uS oR nOt!"I snap

"AnD iF I dOn'T?"He asks

"ThEn yOu ArE nOt My fAtHer. NeVer hAvE, nEvEr is, NeVer wIlL bE! I wIlL nOt Be reLaTed tO a FaThEr lIkE yOU!"I snap

"WhaT eViDeNcE d0 yOu hAvE oF tHesE 'gOoD tImEs'?"He asks

I take out my scrapbook and shove it to him.

"VioLa!"I say

He flips through the pages.

"ThE cHoiCe iS yOurs, sIr. ErRoR dOes nOt kNoW hE'S reLatEd tO yOu AnD dEpENDIng oN yOUR cHoiCe, I wiLl enSuRe hE nEvEr wiLl!!"I tell him, calling him sir to prepare for a possibility

He looks through the book. He drops it and I pick it up, tucking it away. He stands there and stares at his hands, then shakes his head. He looks at his hands again. This repeats. It was as if he is questioning himself.

"AnSwEr wHenEvEr yOu'Re reAdY."I say, crossing my arms

There's a knock.

"WhO iS iT?"He asks

"Dream. Permission to enter, boss? He's ready."Dream's voice says

"Boss"? Why is he calling this man his boss?  Who is "he"? Huh?

"C-ComE on iN. BriNg hiM iN."He says 

The door opens. A complete stranger enters. Looking a lot like Nightmoore, except with more of a golden glow. They have a good, clean, poker face but as I gazed at them, their outer appearance gone. Now, unlike the others, I see a scared, upset friend that I know as Dream. He walks in and drags someone with him before slamming the door. 

Geno.

I smile.

"GeNo!"I cheer

He looks up at me. The fear in his eyes. So strong. Then that all goes away when he sees me.

"E!Pap!"He cheers, running to me

I put my arms out and warmly embrace him. I hold him close. I smile.

"You're okay! I'm so glad you're okay, E!Pap. If you ever got hurt, I don't know what I'd do! Or any of us would! Has he done anything to you? I can see you're upset!"He tells me.

"No....I aM oKaY...I pRoMiSe. ArE yOu oK? HaVE tHeY dOnE aNyThInG tO yOu?"I ask

"I aM. ThEy dId mOrE...M-MoRe tEsTs oN mE."I say

"W-WhAt?"I stutter

"Ya...They poisoned Dream. Dream says it's order from E!Gaster. I'm scared, E!Pap. If they can do that to Dream, what else could they do? What else could they be doing?"He tells me

"I thInK I kNow. I fOuNd BlUe aNd DuSt....iN a wAY."I tell him, lowering my scarf for only him to see the bubbled souls

His eye-light shrank. 

"Will they be okay?"He asks

"Yes, thE bUbbLeS hEaL tHeM aNd I'Ve cOdEd tHeSe tO onLy reLeAse tHe sOulS iF mE, ErRor, oR oNe oF oUr friEnDS tAp iT 4 tiMeS."I tell him

"O-Ok. That's reassuring."He says

"I'll pr0tEct You."I tell him, holding him tighter

"Th-Thank you, E!Pa-AAGH!"Geno says, but got cut off

He choked out blood. A spike fires through his chest, blood at its tip and the wound bleeding already. I frown. Tears form in his eyes. Tears flood from my eyes. I hug him tighter.

"QuiT sTeAlInG mY sOn yOu wOrThLeSS glItCh!"E!Gaster snaps

"G-G-Geno!"Dream shouts, some of the goop shrinking away to show half his face

"ThAt's iT! YoU mAde y0uR choiCe! Go0dbYe Dad, hEll0 siR!"I snap

"E!Pap...I'm...I'm so sorry! I...I..."Dream cries

"It's oK. It iS n0t y0uR faUlT."I say

"H-Help.."He says

I nod.

"I gOt y0u buDdy. I wiLl trY t0 hElp aNd hEaL y0u."I say

He runs over quickly. He trembles and bows his head. He grabs his tentacles and hold them in place behind his back. Tears run down his face. I snap and his soul appears. I snap again and it's bubbled. Dream fades away, leaving nothing more than the apple that is his soul. I bring it close and the other bubbled souls fly out, hovering above my head as if to greet Dream. I slowly lower to the floor to protect Geno. Geno is crying in pain.

"It hurts.....Everything......hurts...."He cries

"Don't w0rRy, GeNo. I gOt You. I g0t yOu aLl. I wiLl  pr0tEct y0u eVen iF it's tHe laSt tHinG i d0. I wIlL geTuS oUt oF hErE."I say

"No...I'm...Agh...I'm supposed to protect you!"He says

"ReSt. You'rE g0nNa bE oKaY."I tell him

"Son, lEt tHem gO."E!Gaster says

"I'm Not y0uR s0n aNd I w0n't tAke oRdeRs fr0m y0u."I snap

I look at him. 

"E!Pap...please..."Geno whispers

"SssSh, I g0t y0u."I reply

"WhY?"E!Gaster asks

"BecAusE...I won't let you destroy my world. We, n0t inclUdiNG y0u, are leaving."I say

"And hoW d0 y0u pLan 0n eScApiNg? Y0u cAn nOt sUmM0n aNytHiNg hErE!"He snaps

"ThAt's WhY I mAdE tHiS."I say, lifting a small orb

I smack it down and smoke is released from it, making us hidden from sight. I drop another orb and a portal opens. I grab the souls, holding Geno close, and roll into the portal. I snap and the portal shuts. I sit down and look at our new location. 

I smile and sigh from relief.

We are in OuterTale.

"What was that...?.....Smokebomb?....What are you?...F-F-From NinjaTale?"Geno asks weakly

I look down and see he's still up.

"I toLd yOu tO reSt!"I snap

"N-No...HurTs t0o muCh! Can't rEst...Won'T rEsT! Oww..."He cries

The souls in my hold glow and lean close to him. I tap each of them and they pop. Blue, Dust and Dream land by us. They each lean against me. Their conditions saddened me. I could sense their pain. But above all, they were checking to see if we were okay. They check Geno's injury, Dream profusely apologizing. They couldn't do anything. They didn't know what to do. Plus they are too weak to do anything. Instead, they press against me, trying to rest. Their wounds bring tears to my eyes.

"You're the good we have, E!Pap. Error is lucky to have a brother like you."Dust told me

"Thank you...for everything, E!Pap. Papy says you're a great friend and I believe it! Like how I'm the Magnficent Sans, you're the Exciting E!Papy."Blue says

Geno is silent, too weak to speak.

"A hero."Dream says

Dream  against my back, his face grim and saddened. He doesn't want to look at us. He seems traumatized and shaking. Guilt is written on him, for what he was forced to do I bet. He didn't have a single wound on him to say, but I could sense and see that he was emotionally and internally wounded. Plus, the poison is still fighting for control. His left hand is black but he tries to hide it and keep it at that.

Geno's injury is getting worse.

Blue has two wounds. One across his face, by his right eye. It isn't bleeding, but there's quite the mark. Then there's another slash mark by his chest. Yet he has the strength to smile. He really is magnificent.

Dust is similar. But only has one wound. He has one big slash right across his chest. He does not say anything. I can see he is nervous and upset. But he is silent with his eyes shut. He holds me tightly though with Blue. They do not want me to go, none of them. I don't plan on it either. I reach up and wipe my tears.

"GuYs, yOu aLl nEeD tO rEsT. I wiLl hAnDlE iT. YoU All nEeD tO hEaL. IncLuDiNg yOu, GeNo aNd DrEaM. We ArE iN OuTerTaLe, wE ArE sAfE."I tell them

"O-Ok..."Geno says

"B-But-!"Dream begins

"Don't argue with him, Dream. He knows what's best. And he did just save us."Blue says

"F-Fine..."Dream sighs

Dust nods. 

They all close their eyes. I take out my phone and call a random number, not even looking because I am trying to aid their wounds while they rest. I quickly realize who I called though. And it was not Error.

"Hello?"Cross calls

"HeYyYy, CrOss. HoW yA dOiNg? EvErYoNe OkAy tHeRe?"I say nervously and quietly

How do I explain this?

"E!Pap! You're okay? I'm ok and so is everyone else! But we've been worried sick about you all! How'd you survive? We heard an explosion over the phone!"Cross says

"Ya...I'm Okay. We aLl aRe aS fAr aS I kNow. ThAt eXpLosIoN wAs froM a BoMb tHaT hAd cHeMiCaLs. OuR cOdEs gOt afFecTed bUt tHe mOst iT dId wAs tElEpOrT uS sOmeWhEre. ReApEr, ErrOr, Ink, GeNo, aLl of thEm aRe aLiVe. BuT...."I say

"But what? Where are you guys?"He asks

" BuT....We gOt sEpErAted. InK aNd ReApEr sHouLd bE wItH ErRoR, BuT I aM iN OuTeRtAlE wItH BluE,GeNo, DusT aNd DrEam. GeNo, BlUe aNd DusT aRe wOuNdEd."I explain

"I'm coming. Don't worry, dude. We got you guys covered."He says

"CaN sOmEonE cOnTaCt ReApEr oR gEt iN tOuCh wItH mY bRo? I duNno iF hE wIlL aNsWeR mY pHonE. He hAs gOtTen pAroNoId."I ask

"Of course, bud!"Cross says

"A-Are y0u gOnnA hAnG uP?"I ask

"No! I dOn'T wAnT sOmEtHiNg tO hApPeN tO yOu gUyS iF I dId. We cAnNot riSk It."He says

"T-ThaNk yOu..."I say

I smile and he talks to me over the phone. I speak with him and I feel myself relax. I feel safer and better. He tells me that they'll open a portal nearby. I comply and stand up slowly. I pick Blue and Geno up, them being the worst wounds. I nod, smiling and comfort them when they awoke. Dust wakes up and stands up with help from Dream. We wander around a bit. I soon see a portal. A smile grew on my face. Out comes Cross with Nightmare. They look around. I notice Dream hides behind me.

"They must hate me for what I did..."Dream says

"DrEaM, nO. ThEy dOn'T. ThEy kNow yOu hAd nO cOntRoL. ThEy hAvE bEen wOrRiEd aBoUt yOu. HoNeSt. YoUr bRoThEr EvEn cRiEd wHeN hE lOsT yOu."I tell him

"Really? Wait...You're lying. You're just trying to make me feel better. Nightmare has never cried in years."Dream says

"I'M sEriOuS! I cAn sHoW yOu I'm tElLinG yOu tHe tRuTh!"I say

"Suuure. You really are kind, E!Pap. To a new level."He tells me

"CrOsS!"I yell

"E!Pap! Guys!"Cross cheers, running over with Nightmare following

Cross grabs Dust and starts to help him instead. Nightmare checks for nearby threats and says we are all clear. 

"Where's Dream?"Nightmare asks

"RiGht bEhInd mE. He tHiNkS yOu bOth HaTe hIm."I say

"WHAT?! Why?"Cross asks

"ThE tHinGs hE diD hE sAyS."I tell him

"Dream! Brother! Get out! Step out! I wanna see you!"Nightmare says

Dream hesitantly steps out. Dream looks at them with a terrified look on his face. But Cross and Nightmare gazed at him with joy, both of them having tears in their eyes. Nightmare beat Cross to Dream though. Nightmare hugged Dream tight while Cross supported Dust.

"Brother! You're okay! I'm so glad! Dream! It's so great to have you back! I was so scared! I got so worried that you were-you were...gone! I didn't want to lose you to that stupid parasite and his stupid poison!"Nightmare cries, holding him close

"W-What? You did? You were? B-B-But I-I cau-"Dream stutters

"You didn't, the poison did."Nightmare says

"But I hurt them! Those wounds on the three of them are because of me! A-And I was gonna have to k-kill you! I even had orders to kill Cross! But he talked me out of it and got me to rest before I could get or follow those orders. I woke up, recieving the orders from some device placed in my crown, but he was gone. He knows, doesn't he? I-Isn't that bad? Wrong? Why do you give me such mercy?"He says

"That's bad for them, not you. It's wrong of them to make you do. I am giving you mercy because you are my brother and you did not do that. Not willingly. You are just a victim to their sick game and I will not stand for you to deal with their consequences. You don't deserve it brother. Also, he didn't leave you because he knew. I took him away in a panic and didn't even know he was with you. Everyone was panicking so I forced him back. I'm sorry. He was quite upset. He had made you a promise and I made him break it."Nightmare says

"N-No, you saved him. Don't be sorry. Nightmare, brother, th-thank you. I love you....I love you so much..I am sorry for not just what I did under the poison but what I didn't do when you needed me. I should've listened! I should've helped you! I should've done more! I'm so sorry, Nightmare! I am so sorry! I-I-I-!"Dream cries, bowing his head

Nightmare stares at him in shock. This is really what he has waited so long to hear, deep down, but never expected to hear from Dream. Nightmare holds him closer, hugging him in tears.

"It's ok...It's ok....I love you, Dream. Some things are just out of our control and that was just out of yours. You were under their influence and couldn't do much. You were a people pleaser. Heh, but that's in the past. I'm just so glad to have you back."He says

"Don't forgive me. I have to make it up to you somehow."Dream whimpers, then reaches up and breaks something from his crown, most likely the communication device

"You just did. That was all that I needed, Dream. I love you, Dream. I really do. I forgive you. Now, let's get you out of here. And I will let you speak with someone special.~ Hey, Cross! I'll handle Dust, you speak with Dream!"Nightmare says, parting from Dream

Nightmare leans over to me.

"He has the signs if you get what I mean."He whispers

"Ah! Ok! Nice."I say, nodding

Nightmare goes over to Dust and swaps out with Cross. Cross runs over to Dream, scooping him off his feet.

"Dream!"He cheers, his face lighting up

"C-Cross?"Dream stutters

"I'm so happy you're okay! I missed you! I'm sorry I broke the promise! I-I-I-!"He says

"N-No...It's good you broke the promise. Breaking it kept you safe."Dream tells him

"Well I won't break it again! I'll protect you!"He says, nuzzling his skull against Dream's lovingly

Dream's face lights up brightly in a yellow glow. Cross nervously smiles.

"Cross..."Dream says

"I promise....I promise. I won't fail you. I won't let you get hurt."Cross says

Cross then looks around and nods.

"That said, let's get out of here."He says

Nightmare and I nod. We all head back to the portal and go through it. Cross refuses to put Dream down and instead goes to alert everyone of the news with Dream still a blushing mess in his arms.

"Is it bad that I ship those two?"Nightmare asks me

I chuckle and shake my head.

"NoT at alL, NiGhTmArE, n0t aT alL."I say

"Okay, well...I won't make it easy for Cross either! He's my brother after all! He won't get my brother from me so easily!"He says, crossing his arms with a pouty expression after laying Dust on the couch

"Oooo! ProtEctIvE I sEe. AlRiGhTy tHen."I say with a smirk

He rolls his eyes and goes off to get someone to give Dust some medical help. I go upstairs, laying Blue and Geno in beds. Ink!Pap and S!Pap come in, hug me, and check on the two. They heal what they could, which was more than me. They asked me what happened and I explained everything. They nod and thank me for protecting their brothers, Ink when we were taken and Blue when he was contained. I say it was no problem, I'd do it for my brother so theirs are no different. They are my brother's friends as well as mine so that added to it. 

"AlSo, yOu alL gAve ErRoR aNd I mUcH mOre tHaN wE kNeW. MoRe tHaN a cHaNce. YoU gAve uS cAre, mEmoRiEs, fUn, lOve, anD lIfE. You GuYs gAvE uS a wOrlD."I say

"I don't recall making that."Ink!Pap says

"ThaT''s bEcAuSe yOu guYs dIdn'T hAve tO mAkE iT tO gIvE uS iT. YoU aLl bEcAme oUr wOrlD. My wOrlD. SoMeThInG I nEvEr tHoUghT I, or wE, woUlD eVeR gEt. So tHanK YoU, FoR tHat. ProTeCtinG mY wOrlD, eR, yOu aLl, iS tHe lEaSt I caN d0 iN rEtUrn."I say

They tackle-hug me down.

"So sweet!"Ink!Pap mutters

"And innocent!"S!Pap adds

"HuH? DiD I dO SoMeThInG wRoNg?" I ask

"No! Never change, E!Pap!"They tell me

"OkAy!"I say

They smile and hug me. It is silent.

"HaS aNyOnE tRiEd t0 cOntAct mY bRoThEr? I wAnt tO mAke sUre hE iS oKay!"I say

Their smiles disappear. Their eye-lights shrink. They look at each other, then at me. They got anxious looks on their faces.

"SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA!"They yell, releasing me and running off

"OkaY....? ThAt dOeSn'T aNsWer mY qUeStIoN.....AnD wHy dId tHey quOtE tHe mAdAgAscAr mOvIe?"I mutter, shaking my head

A few hours pass and I'm sitting on a chair between the two beds, watching over them. Nobody gave me any updates on anything. Every time I asked about my brother, they'd quote that zebra from the movie. I soon gave up on asking and decided to ensure that Error's friends are ok. But I quickly find out that they have come. 

Nobody told me, but I could hear it. 

Hear him.

"GENO!"Reaper yells

Quickly, Reaper bursts into the room and zips to Geno's bedside. He hovers there, placing a hand on Geno's head softly. The worry and emotion I could see on his face pulled at my soul.

I hesitate. 

But I speak anyway.

"He's rEsTiNg. He nEeDs iT."I say

He looks at me, worry reaching new levels on his face.

"He's gonna be okay, r-r-right?"Reaper asks

"DoN'T yOu hAvE yOuR lIsT?"I respond

"Lost that part of code in the explosion."He says

"WelL eItHer aSk S!GeNo, ScIeNcE oR sOmEonE eLsE. I rEalLy dUnNo. AlL wE cAn d0 iS hOpE fOr tHe bEsT."I tell him

"Can I stay then? To watch over him with y-y-you?"He asks me

"Hmmm.....SuRe, bUt oN oNe cOndItIon."I say

"Name it!"He says

"YoU rEaD tHe pAgE aLrEaDy! He aNd I wOrKeD hArD mAkIng tHat ScRaPbOoK. AlSo ThAt pAgE hAs iNfO tHat wiLl bE uSefUl t0 yOu wHeN hE wAkEs uP.~"I say, winking

"Wait! You helped him make that?"He asks

"WhY oF cOuRse! ShoWed hIm EvErYtHinG I kNow. He wAs vErY prOud oF maKiNg iT, pUt a lOt oF wOrk iNto iT. EsPecIaLlY oN tHe vErY pAgE yOu dId nOt rEad. WoUlD bE a sHaMe fOr iT tO gO tO wAsTe yA kNow."I say, tossing him the book

He nods and begins looking through the book. Then, he hid his face in his hood and the book, but his hood really hid nothing. I knew he read the page. And it's about time!

Days passed and Blue woke up. He slowly recovered but kept going to check on Dust downstairs, who had healed quicker, no matter how recovered he was. More time passes. Geno doesn't move. He doesn't speak or even open an eye. The only sign that we have of him being alive is his tight grip on my hand. But so much time passes that we even begin to doubt that as a sign. Reaper never left the room. He refused to. He had hope for Geno. 

But then, one day, everything changed.