A few days passed. I was eating some chocolate when there was a knock at the door. Ink was taking a nap, Dream was out looking for his brother, and Blue was at home. Who knew where the other Star Sanses were. I go and open the door, still eating my chocolate. Dust stood there.

"Error! What are you doing here? Cool new outfit!"Dust says, stepping back in shock.

"HeYa, DuSt. DrEaM atTacKeD mE & iNk bRoUghT mE hEre tO hEal. InK mAdE tHis siNce DreAm rUinEd mY lAst OnE. BuT I coUld AsK yOu tHe sAmE quEsTioN."I state, finishing my chocolate.

"I was gonna visit Blue! Nightmare sent me to....find weaknesses! Ya that's it! Hehe."Dust explains, his face getting a shade of purple blush.

"Uh-huH. ThEn hOw aNd wHy wEre yOu aT a sLeEpOvEr thaT hE dId nOt KnOw aBoUt? BlUe toLd mE eVeRyTHing. PlUs, He ain'T hEre RIgHT nOw."I say with a shake of my head

"Well, I just wanted to be independent. Can't be Nightmare's minion forever, right? He's not? Dang it! I'm too late to warn him! Wait, he told ya everything? What did he say about me?"Dust asks

It was clear he was hiding something. I didn't let him inside, even though he's the most trusting and trustworthy skeleton I find out of that gang, as well as my friend in it. But if Blue or Ink is in trouble, I needed to know.

"RiGhT. WhAt dO yOu mEaN wArN? Of WhAt? I-Is BlUe iN dAnGeR? He dId. He cAlLeD yA a GrEaT fRIeND."I say

"Oh goodie! Nightmare plans to attack Underswap to lure Ink and Dream into a trap! And he is willing to kill Blue! I know we're his friends so I knew you and him would want to know!"Dust explains

I look around quickly and pull him inside quickly. I wake Ink up and explain everything. I tell him to stay here in order for the trap to fail. Dust and I are within the gang so they won't fight us and we'll figure out a way to get Blue back if the plan was in action already. And, maybe, Dream too if he also got his skull into this mess. I open a portal and Dust worriedly hops through. I glance back over at Ink, who smiles at me. We both had the same thought and nod to each other. Dust and Blue. I then step through with my strings ready behind my back. I shut the portal.

Sure enough, there was Nightmare's gang in Underswap. Killer, Cross, Horror and Nightmare of course. Fell was at UnderFell I knew. Dust was walking beside me. Each of them were facing off. Nightmare was busy fighting Swap!Pap and I know from experience that the Papyrus is great at fighting and distracting the opponent. Horror and Cross were fighting Captain Alphys and Killer was fighting Napstabot. All would be busy for a while and none of them seemed to notice Dust and I arrive, which was good.

Dust took the opportunity to lead me toward Blue's house. I was confused on why. The battle was in Hotland, meaning Blue must be captured and hidden there, right? Wrong.

"Nightmare planned to keep Blue at the last place anyone would look:where they attacked! Now c'mon!"Dust says

We reached the house to find it a wreck. Knives, bones and marks from Gaster blasters were everywhere. I simply tap the door and it fell inward, breaking into pieces. I enter with Dust following. We search the ruined place. I soon found Blue, tied up in his very room and in a bone cage.

"DuST! He'S oVeR hErE!"I yell.

Dust came and quickly broke the bone cage with a single blow of a bone attack. I lift Blue with my strings and smile. That was easy. Dust hugs Blue and Blue weakly hugs back while I untie him from behind Dust's back. He was in horrible shape. I then use another string to search for Dream. The string soon dragged the unconscious glow-stick from Swap!Pap's room.  Dust then got a worried look in his eyeholes.

"Nightmare's coming. I can sense him. We need to get them out now."Dust says

I open a portal and nod. I toss Dream through after Dust carried Blue through. I'm about to step through and I can see Ink on the other side, aiding Blue. I felt a tentacle grab my arm. I make my strings go away and already knew who it was. Ink noticed and looks at me. I toss him the puppets. Worry filled his expression. I shut the portal. The tentacle then yanked me downstairs and I came face to face with Nightmare's slimy self. Swap!Pap was held in another tentacle, horribly hurt.

"Hey, Error! Bout time you showed up! I don't know or care what you were doing! Now, help us destroy this AU, silly minion!"Nightmare says, tossing us both aside.

I quickly signed to Swap!Pap the few things Blue taught me, the sign language alphabet and certain codes: C-O-D-E 4DS. He looks at me and nods. He teleported away. Nightmare was turned away, calling for his other "minions".

"Ya, aBoUt ThAt, I uH, cAn'T dO tHaT ANyMorE aNd I aM dOnE bEiNg ParT oF yOUr gAnG."I say

Nightmare turns around.

"What did ya say?"Nightmare asks

"I'M nOt sOmE SIlLy mInIOn. I maDe a TrUcE wiTh InK a-"I begin, but pause.

I felt a hand grab my arm and next thing I knew, I was yanked through some paint and I'm back on the couch. I knew Nightmare may come with the wrong idea and cause trouble. But maybe we had some time. That's the positive view of it. I feel a tug again, more firm and forceful this time, causing me to lean back on the couch. A face was soon above mine. Ink's. I realize my head landed in someone's lap. Ink's. I lift my scarf over my face, feeling it light up.

"HeY, InK. WhAt yA dO tHat fOr?"I ask

Ink said nothing. Then, he hugged me. He hugged me in his lap as if he was scared of letting go.

"I wasn't sure if Nightmare knew about you and Dust. When I saw that tentacle grab you, I thought he found out and was gonna kill ya! I couldn't let that happen! I'm so glad you're okay!"Ink explains

I hesitantly hug back and try to calm him. He was shaking. I couldn't understand why. I look at Dust to see he was tending to Blue's injuries while Dream laid out cold on a chair. I could see blush spread across Dust's face. I smirk at the sight. Then we all froze.

"Where. Is. He?!"A voice yells.

Dust scooped Blue up in his arms and ran upstairs, using blue magic to drag Dream up. They were quickly out of sight. Ink released me and I stood. The door caved in. Nightmare ran in and the gang surrounded Ink. Nightmare hugged me. What the hell is going on? Nightmare quickly released me.

"Attack! Nobody takes my minion and gets away with it!"Nightmare says.

The gang closed in on Ink.

"No! DoN't hUrT hIm!"I snap, using my strings to lift Ink out of reach.

"Error! What are you doing? You're my minion! We must kill him! Explain yourself!"Nightmare demands

"I aM nOt! I mAdE a TrUcE wItH InK aNd wHiLe yOu wErE sChEmINg, He sToPpEd DrEaM fROM kIlLiNg mE! He hElPeD mE hEaL! So, nObOdy hUrTS hIM."I snap.

"Listen to your master! I don't care about some silly truce! You're in my gang! You listen to me! So, Ink will get hurt if I want!"Nightmare snaps, shooting a tentacle up at Ink.

A bone attack sliced right through it. I look to see my good ol' buddy Dust coming over.

"Not anymore. We're going solo."Dust states proudly

Nightmare was clearly getting angry. He began yelling and throwing threats at us. I then got an idea. I used my strings to grab the gang's souls, then was able to grab Nightmare's corrupted one. He went silent, as did the gang. I look at Dust and he smiles, seeing where I'm going.

"HmM, yA kNOW, iT's noT reAllY a GAnG iF nOBOdY's iN iT. NoW, iF yA doN'T sToP bOtHerINg DuSt aNd I aLoNe, tHat'S thE fAtE yOur gAnG hAs. Ya wAnNa sEe iT?"I say

The gang shakes their heads, including Nightmare.

"Ya know, this kinda sounds like a family thing. When people grow and leave the home. Very natural thing. And Nightmare kinda seems to be the parent. If you replace one word in a statement of his, it says: Nobody takes my son and gets away with it! Aww, Nightmare! Don't worry, Father Nightmare, we'll be careful! We'll still cause trouble! You don't have to worry about us! You still have plenty of other kids, er, minions, to look after!"Dust states in a teasing tone

The gang laughed, but then got upset at being called kids. I chuckled. The look on Nightmare's face was hilarious. It was anger, shock, fear, disgust, sadness and even a bit of joy all in one.

"Ok, fine. We will go. Ya better cause chaos somehow or I'll return."Nightmare says

I release them from the strings and each of the gang make a portal away, most likely Nightmare's castle. Dust went to check on Blue and Dream. Nightmare remained. He was eyeing Ink, who was climbing down a string. I saw the puppets in Ink's jacket that he never puts on properly. I look back at Nightmare.

"But before I go...."Nightmare says with a sly grin and purposely trailing off.

I heard a noise and a tentacle returned to Nightmare, colorful ink mixing with the goop. Nightmare left through Killer's portal before it closed. I then heard a yell.

I turn around to see Ink falling from the string. I ran quickly, catching him. His sash of vials were broken and leaking, plus his skull had a slash mark across the side. Definitely Nightmare's doing. I hold him close and gently.

"Why'd you do that? Ya didn't have to leave the gang. And ya didn't have to protect me."Ink says as I lay him on the couch and remove his sash to fix.

"We hAvE a TrUcE. KiLlinG iS dEsTrOyINg. ThaT bREakS tHe TRuCE. BeSiDeS, I waS gOnNa lEaVe tHe gANG anywaY. AnD, yOu'Re mY fRiEnD, iT woUlD bE wRoNg oF mE noT tO pROtEcT yA."I say, cleaning the vial sash.

I then realized what I said and that I meant it. So when the question of being enemies or not to be enemies, I choose not. I instead choose to be his friend but only let those I can trust know it isn't just for a truce. But I'll make sure Blue stays the only one who knows of my feelings for Ink.

"Oh, okay! Thanks, Error!" Ink says as I bandage his injury.

"No proBlEM. I'm goNnA cHecK oN BlUe aNd DuSt. MaYbe hE cAn hElP."I say

"If they're not kissing already."Ink jokes

"GoOd pOInt. I'lL rEpORt bAcK sOon."I say with a chuckle.

I then notice something odd about Ink. His blush was back and his eyes were changing to shapes and colors I haven't seen before, faster and even when he wasn't blinking. I thought that he was just handling what just happened and went to check on my friends.

Dream was awake now, but very grumpy that he was defeated by his brother and saved by former enemies. Man, for the protector of positivity he isn't that positive. Dust and Blue were unfortunately not kissing, but were awkwardly trying to make a conversation. Dust was silent, for once. Blue, who always seemed to be chatty and never nervous, was doing the unthinkable. He was....stuttering! Both of their faces were bright blushing messes. I open the door.

"HeY, DuSt. Hi, BlUe. InK'S viaLs wEre bRoKen. WhAt dO wE dO?"I ask

"Oh! I'll go take care of that! He told me to keep an extra sash just in case that happened! I'll go get that now!"Blue says, then ran out of the room

I was surprised at how fast Blue left, but understood the reason. He was nervous for once and wasn't sure of what to do. Dust covered his face with his hood.

"Ugh, I freakin messed up!"Dust groans.

I walk over and kneel by him.

"HeY, dOn'T wOrRy aBoUt iT. I'm sUre yA dId FinE. He geTs likE thAT mOre tHan You ThInK. YoU aRe a GrEaT fRiEnD tO hIm."I assure him.

Dust lifts the hood up slightly.

"Like when?"Dust asks

"HmM, lEt mE thInk....WhEn hIs tACOs aRe bUrnInG, wHen hIs brO tRiEs to TicKle hIm, whEn CodE 22B iS cAlLeD, wHen fRiENDs aRe vIsiTinG, eTc."I say, lifting a finger for each time

"Ah, ok! what's 22B?"Dust asks

"TiCklEs fOr bOtHErINg wHoEveR cALls iT. InK maDe iT aNd hAs bEen uSinG iT fOr...wAit a SeC. BlUe! GeT bAcK hEre!"I reply, realizing who I left Ink with.

Ink did say that the vials Blue has aren't the normal ones he has and unwanted or needed, troublesome ones. Like the ones that made me sing and made him go crazy. I explain this to Dust, leaving out the singing part, and he agreed that this may be bad. He never knew Blue could be so sneaky.

I run out with Dust strolling behind me and leap over the stairs. I quickly go to Ink, keeping Blue with some strange-looking tacos away. Dust inspected them and sure enough, there were vial liquids in them. Ink was still clueless to it though. I then got another idea.

"NoT lETtinG yA dO tHat AgAin, BlUe! InK waS upSet EnOuGh afTer ThE lAsT tImE! DuSt, yOu cAn dO CodE 22B."I say.

Ink chuckles. Blue steps close to Ink. I pull Ink closer to me protectively. I look to see Dust had just finished a taco. I shake my head, but grin. This will be interesting.