A few days later, Dream's POV

Finally, another day with nothing planned but relaxation.

I start getting set up on the couch with comfy pillows, snacks, and books to read. Then there's a knock at the door. I open it, finding Error on the other side. I haven't told him or anyone what I saw in his dream or that I was even there. It'd be too uncomfortable and I don't want him to think I invaded his privacy on purpose, especially when he was using that dream to review his "observations" about me. I'm just glad that he concluded his investigation so that our friendship can feel less conditional...

"Hello, Error. How are you doing?"I ask, smiling at him.

I see a flicker of blue on his cheeks already and he seems to reach for his scarf automatically. It's interesting to notice his minor reactions that I didn't pick up on before. Now it seems so obvious that he likes my smile and I've seen him focus on me a few times when I was laughing, seeming dazed. It's interesting to see since he looks like he's in the same trance that others would be in when sensing my aura. Yet it isn't my aura that causes his reaction, it's my actions. I can't help but observe and appreciate that difference. Same result but for different reasons...

"DoInG aLrIgHt. WhAt hAvE yOu aNd yOuR bROThEr bEeN uP tO?"

"He's out exploring AUs but he said he'd be back in the evening. I just finished helping some AUs so today I'm taking the chance to relax."I say, letting him in.

"GoOD."He says with a grin.

He glances at the necklace resting on a table nearby.

"HoW iS tHe dIsguIsE wOrKinG? ArE aNy aDjuStMeNts nEeDeD?"

"It's working fine. It's very comfortable. It just takes a moment to adjust to."I say

"AdJusT?"

"It's just different and it's the first time in years that I can wear comfy clothes that are considered casual..."I say

He stares at me, quiet for a few moments. His gaze scans me up and down a few times.

"So thAt mEaNs....YoU'v3 0nLy w0rN tHaT f0r tHe mOsT pArT?"He asks

"Well for a few years after being freed from stone I wore my AU's clothes until I got these clothes...I always fixed them and cleaned them but yea, I've mostly worn this since I never knew when I'd be attacked or pulled into something."I say

He frowns, grabbing the necklace and putting it on me. Then he opens a portal, only taking a moment to glance at me. He puts his necklace on and his glitches get hidden. His tear marks become blue freckles on his face and his teeth get whitened, essentially removing the main colors or traits that would give him away. His red eyes remain but are kept to yellow and white at a minimum for his eye-lights. Most of his clothes stayed the same, just changed colors and his pants grew to his feet. A nice detail was fingerless gloves and a beanie that both look hand-knit which could explain the abundance of his strings. I didn't have much time to acknowledge it before he pulled me through the portal quickly, taking my hand in his.

When he released my hand, he was already zipping around as my eyes adjusted to where he took me. I glance at my hand, then around to find him. How did he do that without crashing? Wait, has he crashed? Then he pulls me by the sleeve to a small room, handing me a stack of clothes and shutting the door with a slam.

"Don't come out until that's sorted!"He says, his voice disguised.

I look at the stack he put in my arms and sigh, getting to work. I open the door a few minutes later and he glances at me.

"I made four piles based on the colors."

"Did you try them on?"

"That's what you meant by sorted?"

He facepalms with a groan.

"Ugggh, that wording was on me...Yes."

I shut the door, doing as told. I come out when done and he seems happier this time. He has me tell him which ones I liked and walks away after taking the clothes from me. He returns with a bag and pulls me through a portal again. Not long after, he leaves with a grin. I found the bag in my hand and I didn't even notice when he handed it to me.

Okay then...Guess that happened...Bye, I guess?

I sort the clothes away and smile. I put my necklace away, then went to water the tree sapling. It has gotten stronger and gained some height. The little fabric that I tied around it sways like a flag in the soft breeze. I smile, gently feeling the wood and examining the roots to ensure it is sturdy.

"Nice tree there. How big do you think it'll become?"I hear a voice ask behind me.

I glance over my shoulder and tense up, seeing Nightmare smiling at me. I frown as he glances at the house.

"Nice home you got here. Looks cozy."He says

"What do you want, Nightmare?"I ask, standing up cautiously.

"What? I can't give compliments?"

"You never do."

"There's always time for change."

"Oh, so you can say that but you'll slam me in the ground if I tell you that?"I ask, already irritated by the hypocrisy.

"That's in the past though. Things will be different now if you give it a chance."He says, stepping closer.

"A chance? You're telling me that after all the ones I gave you? I don't even hear a sorry, just dismissing the consequences of your actions. Let's remember who ruined our relationship, Nightmare. Who spent years enjoying beating me into the ground and making me feel worthless just for wanting my brother back!"I snap, glaring at him.

I see him flinch at the reminder, seeming uncomfortable when I mention how he made me feel.

"So you found a better place and went to it. Tell me, is it good? Are you getting the world you insisted I could never provide? Well, I hope you're proud of your big decision. I hope it's all that you want and more, Nightmare. Now you're free from the agonizing life you were living before. You can't turn around and tell a different story when I'm finally free from the agonizing life I was living before. Not after over two decades of you leaving me broken and enjoying it. You made your choice years ago and stuck to it."

"You're wrong, Dream. That's a mistake. I do care about you."

Why is he saying all the words I wished for and gave up on years ago? To twist the knife in the wound? Why?

"Now you care for me? I didn't think you knew what that word meant after all that you did. Or are you just saying what you need to say so that you get to walk away with a clean conscience? It would kill you to have to stay trapped and face consequences when you've got something new. Well, I'm sorry I had it rough and I'm sorry that I never was enough. But you're not the caring type and I'm not falling for that. Whether you are genuinely sorry or not, that's nothing close to fair."I say, crossing my arms.

"I was wrong! I know that was wrong!"He says, stomping his foot.

"Oh really? That's not how I remember it. Last I recall, you claimed that you got what you always wanted. That you got your dream come true. I know you did because I could sense it from you. You were happy whenever you got to break me. Good for you. Good for you for getting a taste of a life so perfect. You just did what you had to do. But I'm not going to be your punching bag anymore. Now you have to live with me doing what I had to do to get a taste of a perfect life."

"It's the truth! I'm sorry!"He says, his voice almost pleading.

Almost.

"Since when was anything the truth with you? You're a well-known master of manipulation. This could simply be a trick. You say what you need to say so that you get to walk away with a clean conscience. Without any guilt. Because you could never be wrong. No no no, it's everyone else who is beneath you and wrong! You've made it very clear, Nightmare. You play who you need to play and if someone's in your way, say a brother looking to reunite with you perhaps? What do you do? Crush them and leave them behind! You just use people! They're just pawns on a chessboard for you to toss aside as you please! Well, I guess if I'm not of use you can cut me loose. I won't mind, go on. Or you can tell me what the hell changed for you to come to me with this act now."

"Things are different now, Dream. I don't have my gang anymore-"

"Oh, so that's what it is? Your gang got sick of you so you come to me? You can't hurt and degrade them so I'm your next best option? I'm the afterthought when you have nothing better? Well, I'm sorry but that's not how things work! I'm not your backup plan! But while on the subject of your gang, let's review for your faulty memory how badly you screwed up! You had a skilled cook, fighter, and craftsman in a loyal axe-swinger named Horror, an observant and strong fighter in Dust, and a hyper, sarcastic, yet determined fighter ready to be challenged in Killer. Each of them could've served you and weren't perfect but they were certainly good to have. Good company when your goal is to wreck the multiverse and can provide valuable insight. But do you appreciate that? No! You toss them and drag them as you please and verbally insult them inside and outside of battle! Oh and let's not forget that you were lucky enough to befriend Error of all people! What kind of entitled fool do you have to be to screw that up?"I shout

His eye shrinks as he sees where I'm going with this.

"Wait-"

"A crafty, smart, strong, and dedicated destroyer of AUs! Anyone lucky enough to get into his inner circles is cared for and he does whatever he has to get the job done or help them. You got to enjoy his company that would've meant death for anyone else! One of the few who could live to see him smile, laugh, or cheer when he sees Asgoro on screen! To see him gaze in awe at the stars and to hear his wonderful ideas! You had his company! His friendship, respect, and trust! But do you appreciate that? No! You disrespected him by calling him names such as the glitch that is known to annoy him or referring to him as a thing and treating him as if he was beneath you too! Even when you threatened me to not get closer to Error, you disrespected him by calling him a glitch! You had the nerve to order him around as if he served you when he had the power to eliminate you at any moment! And you clearly didn't appreciate him since the moment I compliment him, he checks if I'm lying or being sarcastic! Who could be the cause for that? Maybe the condescending octopus that uses sarcasm to verbally wound others! How little do you have to appreciate him for his first response to compliments is to check if it's true? Oh, and I've heard plenty of rumors about how you beat him around, knowing about his phobia and getting mad at him for showing a hint of independence! You used him like another pawn in your stupid game! A tool to toss away when it no longer works for you! You didn't even lift a finger when he went missing! You dared to betray him like that and punish your gang when they wanted to find him! And guess who found him? Me! He called for you and I found him! Do you have any idea how wrong that felt? He called for you, his friend, and yet you couldn't be bothered. How do you think he felt when he woke up and learned who came for him? That your sworn enemy was helping you because your friend for years didn't care enough to do it himself and prevented your loved ones from searching for you? How do you think he felt considering that question? He was broken down and wounded so badly but you couldn't be bothered. What kind of idiot makes their so-called friend experience that and thinks it's ok? I'll tell you what kind of idiot. The kind that didn't deserve that friend. You didn't deserve him and he certainly didn't deserve your obnoxious cruelty. They had every right to leave you, Nightmare. You didn't deserve them if that's how you're going to treat them. They were just tools for you to break, tape back together, break, and toss away. You hurt everyone who dares to care for you or support you in one way or another. You never recognized or appreciated it. What makes you think that someone that can treat the ones closest to them like that, broken and neglected or betrayed, deserves anything with just an apology?"I yell at him, infuriated by such a concept.

He comes crawling back when he doesn't have anyone else to boss or push down. He comes to me when he has nothing. When he has nobody else to hurt...and that hurt. But I'm not surprised anymore by that pain. It's just a slight sting now. But I honestly don't understand why he is here now claiming to have an apology and thinking that he deserves to be heard or to say anything after all he did. What makes him think he can have any of it back when he was the one who ruined it all? How could he have everything and ruin it? How could someone leave Error the way I found him and think a sorry would work? That's the worst bandaid I've ever seen on a wound. He has done nothing but hurt and use people, doing nothing to earn relationships. Words alone don't undo all that and he can't keep avoiding it as if it didn't matter.

Then I hear a growl from behind me and freeze up. My hands start shaking, recognizing it and my eyes shrink, seeing Nightmare step back. I quickly catch onto what this is.

No....That's why he is here?

"Look out!"Horror shouts

I turn my head, seeing him run over toward us with his axe. I turn around, seeing a giant Owl Demon soaring toward me, its eyes fixed on me and sharp goop-covered talons reaching forward. Just like last time...

I summon my bow with three arrows at the ready, aiming up and firing. It screeches as its wings get impaled by my arrows and I quickly draw back again, firing another three at once, two going through its tentacles and a third piercing its chest. It crashes to the ground roughly, screeching in pain. Pain that it only intended to cause its victims. Horror swings his axe, cutting the tentacles that I didn't pierce. Seeing that it can't move, I quickly turn around with an arrow aimed at Nightmare.

"Is that what your little visit here was for? What your little act and plan really was about? A trap set while you distracted me and your pet attacked me? Well, clearly you don't know what I dream about. Unlike you, it isn't fixed on my suffering but freeing myself from it. I will never be that bird's meal again. I've been practicing to make it a reality. Sorry to ruin your fun."

"That thing isn't my pet."

"The goop and tentacles appear to disagree."I say

"You misunderstand, Dream. I-"

"When don't I misunderstand anything when it comes to you? You're always sooo much better, smarter, and stronger than me. How did I ever mistake you for the one I admired and loved most? I must have really been a fool and my words only worsened your ego. Silly me I guess..."I say sarcastically with a roll of my eyes.

He stares at me, seeming shocked as I pull back on the string with the arrow aimed at him.

"See? I can do that too. The bitterness and the eye roll. Just like you. Now, tell me how I'm wrong again. Make it as simple and clear as you did with the fact that I'm not your brother and a worthless curse. I dare you."I say, smiling at him with the challenge.

"But but b-b-but...I-I-I...I never intentionally made it. I didn't even r-realize that it existed until that dumb Obscuro told me! I'd never make that abomination intentionally!"He says

I frown. Part of me doubts him. He would definitely do it if he knew it could hurt me. Another part only believes him since he'd probably see the animal as too much trouble to care for when considering that he couldn't even care for his gang, living people. But a small part of me noticed the change in him. His words are stuttering in a pleading voice and he looks worried or scared. He never acted this way when facing me or my arrows. Has he really broken down in that empty castle? Does he truly realize his mistakes?

I frown, readjusting my aim to fire a warning shot barely past his head.

"That better be the truth or I won't miss the next shot. Face it, Nightmare. You created it and it's multiplying across the multiverse. Who knows what else has been made in the wake of your destruction? That doesn't really matter. Neither you nor those creations will ever get to break me again or claim the achievement of killing me that you've been desired for years. And don't ever insult my little brother again. You may have become the multiverse's biggest bully, but you're not coming here and spewing your hate onto him. He's not your next tool to break."I tell him, lowering my bow.

Horror marches over and raises his axe at Nightmare.

"Horror-"

"Don't step closer or I'm cutting those tentacles. I made the mistake of trying to protect those I cared about from him yet it was you I should've kept away. I failed Error by giving you too much power and letting you get away with hurting or neglecting him. I won't make that mistake again. I won't let you make anyone I care about starve, bleed, or cry again."

"Horror, I'm so sorry-"

"I don't want to hear it. Sorry doesn't remove the scars from our bones. Sorry doesn't erase the words and threats from our minds. Sorry doesn't eliminate the methods you used to torment us and the nights you starved me for not meeting your expectations. Sorry doesn't undo the hours I was worried about Error and made powerless by you to do anything. Sorry doesn't erase the thought of losing Error, the one who gave me everything, from my mind. Sorry doesn't do a damn thing. So get lost. As you always said, words are just jumbled nonsense of sounds. It means nothing without action. So act and give that sorry more power."Horror growls

Nightmare nods, leaving quickly. Both of us sigh with relief once he's gone. Horror gently held my wrist, making me realize how much I was shaking.

"Thanks Horror..."I say

"I'm done just watching him break people. Your brother sent me here to have dinner with you both but I don't think he knew what was happening here. What do we do about that thing?"He says with a shrug, pointing to the wounded creature a few feet away.

I walk over, reach into a pocket, and stick a small cube into the goop.

"There. Blip wants these things tracked so he gave me a few in case any targeted me. He will be able to check their code and match each one to any attacks. Now, let's go get dinner ready. You came for a meal, not a mess."I say, heading back toward the house.

He nods and I lead him inside. Obscuro joins us shortly afterward and smiles when seeing Horror with us. We sit together, chatting while enjoying a nice meal. Obscuro mostly tried to get to know Horror better and I listened for the most part. It feels so nice to have their company.

TBC