Dream's POV

I hear laughing up ahead, discussing how they'll start hurting the gang by hurting Farmer. As if that's happening. I frown, recognizing their voices from the pet shop. I walk over to them with a grin.

"Hello! You all sound like a lovely bunch!"I say as I start untying my blindfold.

"What are you doing here, Dream?"

"Watch what you say. We dunno how much he heard..."

"Oh, I heard plenty. I don't know why you're so surprised to see me. I have a good reputation for showing up to meet trouble. I usually stop anything seeking to harm others, especially those I care about. So can you do me a favor and stop before you can't turn back?"

"Or what?"

"Why should we stop? There's five of us against you."

"Hmm, good point. You outnumber me and I'm not in a mood to fight so can you look me in the eyes and tell me why you think this is a good idea?"

"Fine, we'll humor you."

I shake my head but remove the blindfold, feeling tentacles extend from my back and quickly block the group in. I gaze at each of them and see them tense up as the moment my eyes meet them, they turn to stone. It was a quick process and my tentacles shrank away once it was done. I feel how solid the statues are and frown, in a bit of disbelief at this new ability. My horrible experience buried in my code turned into an ability to make others experience it all with a single glance. I'd hate for a loved one to accidentally face this end...I quickly tie the blindfold back on and start to walk away.

"Duck."Agape says in my head.

I quickly obey and feel something narrowly soar over my head.

"On your right."

I dodge to the left, feeling the force of a missed swing from a punch. Someone is trying to attack me...Odd. I counted five statues...

"What the hell are you?"A voice snaps

I recognize Horror's voice and grin.

"Hey, Horror! I can explain but you should probably go check on Farmer!"I say

"D...Dream? What the hell? How did I see tentacles sprout from you? And how the hell did you dodge my attacks so easily?"

"I unfortunately got my code manipulated and experiments were done on me. The tentacles are part of the results."I say

"Did you mean to turn these strangers to stone?"

"Perhaps. I think they need some time to rethink a few things, which the stone state makes quite easy to do. Is this Farmer's AU?"I say with a shrug.

"Yep."

"Then they are better in stone than roaming free here. They are part of a new gang trying to outdo yours and they recently got the idea that if they can beat your gang, then they'll prove to be better. Call it a long shot since I know from fighting them that they're not as strong as  Nightmare's gang. I heard them planning to get to you through Farmer soooo they saw me and now we're here talking."

"...I see...."

I feel two arms grab me and toss me up. I feel myself hanging over his shoulders. He carries me away without another word, putting me down on a cushioned seat. I hear him step away but he orders for me to stay still. I stay where I am until he returns, saying that he called Error. Apparently he knows that I've been missing since Nightmare and Error were considering bringing in the gang for their searches. Those weeks that I was keeping a low profile, they were searching and I didn't know or couldn't know...He also made a call to Error to relieve him of his worries.

"What time is it?"

"Six in the afternoon, basically sundown. Why?"

"A different test done on me may activate after dark."

Sure enough, once the sun went down my body started shifting and shrinking until a cat sat in front of Horror without any blindfold on my face. It was so quick that I didn't feel anything other than the blindfold falling off since I shrank down.

"Dream?"He says, looking confused out of his mind.

"Mew."I say

"Huh, always took you for the golden retriever kind."He says, tilting his head.

"Mrow."

"Error's here!"Farmer says from the fields as I notice that I'm on a bench swing on the front porch.

"Let's take this inside."Horror says, leading me inside as Farmer follows behind him.

Farmer goes to start making dinner, humming a tune while Horror takes me to the guest bedroom. Moments later, the door swings open and Error enters, looking around quickly with a look of concern on his face and a first aid kit in his hands. Instead, he finds Horror staring at me, still a bit confused out of his mind. I glance at him, then jolt as I find purrs escaping me without any control or conscious effort. Horror grins, glancing between us and knowing why.

"That confirms it. No normal cat would purr when the AU destroyer or I am in the room. Hey, Error. Glad you came here and um, wait-where are you going?"

Error frowns, promptly walking out. Horror follows after him and I hop down to follow him.

"Where are you going?"

"To tElL h1s br0tHeR tHaT hE cAn st0p h1s muRdEr spr3e."

"Which one?"Horror asks

"B0tH n0w tHaT i tHiNk aBoUt iT."

"Okay, I'll get Dream some food."

"YoU s3e h1m?"

"Of course I do! And an explanation of how he went missing or what's going on would be nice! I saw him sprout tentacles!"

"I t0lD y0u wHaT i kNoW, h0rRoR. It wAs suDd3n aNd wE'Re tRyiNg t0 fiX iT. I aM sTiLl tRYIng t0 g3t aNsWeRs abOuT tHe experiMenTs, iNclUdiNg thE tEntAcLeS."

"Are you aware of a gang trying to pick our gang off?"

"MoRe tRoUbl3s0m3 aNomali3s? GrRre3eAat."He says, rolling his eyes.

They continue to bicker or vent their frustrations as they both try to ask for answers at the same time or complain about the troublemakers they do know about. I turn around and go to a desk, finding some paper and a pencil. I start writing it out with the pencil between my paws, picking the paper up and hopping back to Horror and tugging at his leg. He glances down at me, taking it from me with a grin, holding a hand up to stop Error from talking. Error pauses, looking between us.

"I see Dream has something to say...1. Have Nightmare or Obscuro call Will, then have Mom transferred to our realm safely to recover. 2. Ask Obscuro or someone for special glasses made-you know why, Horror. 3. I can name most tests I'm aware of being done on me in the morning but basically: 4.I basically am stuck being a cat at night unable to speak and can't open my eyes in the day without consequences. That's what I know or can write right now. 5. Is there something going on nearby because I feel weird...high even...floaty...Um..."

Horror and Error look at each other, then glance at me as I struggle to focus on them and not flop down on the floor. Horror seems nervous for some reason, glancing at Error.

"I swear that I didn't give him catnip before you came! He literally just turned into that!"He says defensively

"RelAx, i kn0w tHaT h1s auRa wAs m3sSeD wiTh. tHe c0d3 mak3s h1m f3el l1k3 tHeRe's a l0t 0f p0siTiViTy. ThAt mAy b3 tHe caUs3 h1m t0 fe3l hiGh."Error says

"How do you feel about cats?"Horror asks

"Fin3...."He says, glancing away.

"The rest of it asks for me or someone to make sure that he's careful around you when he is like this. He doesn't know how much the cat instincts will take over so..."

"Y0u'v3 alr3aDy th0uGhT aBoUt tHis, DreAmY?"

"Mew."I say, nodding.

"He probably has to be a quick thinker with everything going on."

"Mrrrooow."I say

"AnYth1nG els3?"

"If he does get cat instincts and urges, please don't let anyone mess with him about it."

"I s3e...DrEaMy, c0m3 here."

I hesitantly walk closer to him and he picks me up, gazing at me carefully.

"I'm a biT cUri0us..."He says

"I'll get him food..."Horror says, leaving us alone as Error examines me in his grip.

I'm already purring without any way to stop it and he smiles at this. He starts petting my head, scratching between my ears or under my chin and his grin widens as my purrs increase as he seems to explore what makes me purr the most. My ears press against my head and I find myself focusing on his loving gaze fixed on me and his happy grin.

"Y0u'r3 aD0rAbl3...Lik3 a liTtl3 kiTteN..."

I hide in his chest, a bit embarrassed by my current state.

"I'm g0iNg t0 mak3 y0u s0 c0mFy baCk h0m3."

I purr louder, happy at the idea of going home. Horror gives me a quick meal and Error takes me home afterward. Horror and Farmer follow behind him, offering to help. Farmer knows how to handle animals and any urges they have while Horror just wants to help because it means a lot to Error. He says I have helped a lot so he wants to help me in return.

I quickly learn that I do have animal urges because for some reason E!Gaster stayed in my home and while the rest were chatting to figure out the next move to take or calm Obscuro down, he approached me as I sit watching them from the couch. Error had put me there with soft pillows to comfort me while they make plans or catch everyone up on what has happened. Obscuro apparently showed his so-called mom no mercy for what she caused, trapping her in deadly games until she had no strength left in her...but needs to recharge due to that. I glance up at E!Gaster, already unsettled by his analytical gaze. It's the kind that sees me as an experiment opportunity instead of a person.

Then, he got out a laser-pointer and my focus zoned in on it. I couldn't control myself and he toyed with me by having me chase it around the room. Next thing I know, I'm leaping at Error's skull with the red dot on it and nearly topple him, only to leap to the ceiling after it moments later. Obscuro saves me by taking it away from E!Gaster and I quickly got control of myself again...which didn't make it much better. I felt humiliated by the mess left behind as I acted like an animal more than a person, breaking a few things or nearly knocking Error over. It's scary how I can lose control so easily and be unable to fight the urges, so I keep my head low. My mind races with considering how bad this is and I know I can't risk it happening again so I find a basket of blankets and bury myself at the bottom of it, hiding from sight. I hear footsteps come closer and curl up more to make sure none of me is visible.

"DreAm..?"

Noo, it's Error! I can't peek out! I don't want to lose control or risk hurting him! E!Gaster I hate you so much! I can't even speak to apologize!

"DrEaM, i kn0w y0u're iN tHe bAskEt."

"..."

"Y0u c0miNg 0uT?"

Nope.

"Mrow."

"Is tHaT a n0?"

Yep.

"Mew."

"Is tHaT a yEs?"

"..."

"Is tHiS b3cAuSe 0f tHe d0t?"

"Meeew...."

To me, it's more than that. More reason to hate E!Gaster for toying with me and my life. He plagues me with a life-threatening sickness of turning to stone when he disapproves of my happiness with Error and now toys with me in a helpless state while claiming to like our relationship and desire to bond with me. The sudden leap at Error could've harmed him or made him crash! And it honestly scares me how little control I had over myself...how easy it was to lose control...What if these urges continue in the day? What if someone can manipulate me that easily now? In the day when a simple glance can turn others to stone? How much harm could I cause? It scares me...worries me...I notice my claws digging into the bottom of the basket, keeping me from leaving or risking that...

Then I feel the blankets moving and look up, seeing Error smiling at me.

"We'Ll f1nd a s0luTi0n t0 tHiS. Y0u'r3 g0iNg t0 b3 oKaY."

"Mew..."

I want to believe that....

"StiLl n0t c0miNg 0uT?"

I glance around, ready for another trick that makes me lose control and hide deeper into the basket again.

"Ar3 y0u w0rRiEd aBoUt y0ur cAt uRgEs?"

I nod.

"I tHiNk i mAy hAvE a t3mp0raRy s0lut1oN. y0u cAn't b3 diStrAcTed bY a d0t iF y0u'r3 alr3adY diStrAcTeD."

I lift my head out and he reveals a ball of yarn and string. As soon as it starts to roll, I lost my control again and leap at it. This was a lot more harmless as I toyed with it between my paws or lay on my back to bounce it. I hear Error laugh and pause, glancing at him. It was a nice laugh, not mocking...just happy...I like seeing him happy...I set the yarn aside and press against his leg with a purr. It seems even my cat urges agree. He picks me up and carries me away to bed.

He gets it really comfy and I curl up on a pillow. He doesn't seem to want to lose sight of me, laying close to me on the bed and gazing at me with a smile. I tried to signal to him that he should go. It would be safer if he wasn't near me in the morning....but he refused to leave and dozed off to prove his point that he's staying with me. I stay awake though, finally getting a real chance to process everything and how I feel about it. I think over the lines of the new prophecy and consider how I felt, specifically with the line of giving my role or crown up...Thinking it over, my feelings amazed me and shocked me...in a good way.

By morning I turned back to myself but tied a blindfold over my eyes before I did anything. After doing so, Error pulled my arm to him and based on his snores, he did this in his sleep. I stay still so I don't bother him but after a bit he wakes up. He leans against me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"S0m3tHiNG b0tHer1nG y0u?"

"No...Well, yes. Losing control so easily and the possibility of that being the case for me in the day when my vision turns things to stone...The situation with Mom...But now, I'm just thinking things over...I was given some info but I'm not sure how much I can say or it may not happen...I just realized how I feel about some of it and it's...a bit surprising...in a good way, I think."

"WhAt iS iT?"

"Well, besides mentions of death and trouble, some of it described good things. Part of it mentioned my crown getting passed down and that means someday I may not be a balance-keeper or an active guardian...I'm surprised how okay I am with it."

"Is thErE sOmEtHiNg BAd aBoUt tHaT? YoU dOn'T hAvE tO dO tHaT. I kNow yOuR cRoWn iS iMpOrTaNt tO yOu."

"No....no, it's not the crown that's the issue with how I'm feeling...It's just that I'm realizing how much things have improved...Just thinking about how a few years ago if I was told that, I'd be horrified. It would probably break me since I wouldn't know what to do...I'd consider that as saying that I'm dead since my role was all that I was or all that mattered about me...It would essentially be saying that I'm getting replaced and that I failed...But I don't feel that now...I know there's more to me and my life and it's just...nice yet shocking how much of a difference it is...I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed and appreciative of how things changed..."

"YeAh, I gUeSs I caN sEe ThaT....It w0uLd bE a l0t t0 tAkE iN 0r ke3p n0ticInG...BuT iT iS diFfErEnT f0r tHe beTtEr aT lEaSt."

"Mhm...I just think that when that day comes when my role gets passed on, I want them to live a life with less of the challenges or pressures I had...I want them to know that they're a person, not just a role...Not experience the interactions that I did..."

"YeAh, mOre r3spEcT w0uLd bE niCe..."

"Things change over time and I don't want the next era to be a repeat of history...It seems that's a good while away and there are some troubles before it gets to that point."

I feel him kiss my cheek.

"We wiLl g3t tHr0uGh iT..."

I smile, pulling him to me and kissing him on the head the best I can with the blindfold on.

"I love you, Error. Nothing will ever change that."

"I kNoW. I lOvE yOu tOo."He says confidently.

I smile, happy to hear how certain he is of it. I hope any deities seeking to disrupt our lives heard this so they know our connection won't end. I spend part of the morning just snuggling him in bed as we both seem to enjoy being together again after weeks of being apart. I can sense how relieved he is to have me back considering what might've happened to me. It's a mutual feeling.

Later that day, I help set up a room for Mom in the home where she can recover safely. Will and Nightmare went to get her and transfer her safely. Obscuro floats beside me closely, helping where he can.

"Sooo, why the sudden urgency to get Mom to move in?"

"I don't trust the ones around her in her weak state. She, Destiny, and Will are among the few who don't do things for their own amusement or boredom and don't look for more power than they already have. The rest aren't reliable with what they may do or take advantage of. I have some sources saying that she could be poisoned or eliminated for more power...Besides, this gives more time to bond."I say

He nods and grins.

We get Mom settled into the home, and she hugs me firmly once she sees me. We had plenty of time to talk and she enjoyed having more time to bond with Palette and Obscuro as well as seeing our routine while she recovers. I often checked on her as a cat at night and brought her breakfast since she couldn't stay standing for long. I feel relieved to have her here where she is safe from anyone else trying to cause her harm. But she isn't the only one I had to look after and reassure. I also devote time to reassuring my brothers that everything is okay and that they don't have to scheme any revenge that would result in a rampage across the multiverse. We don't need to cause more damage and trouble than there already is and I'm not going anywhere so they don't have to worry. Somehow I convinced them to calm down but now I can rarely leave either of their sight if one of them can't stay at the house. It's like they're talking shifts to watch me, partly since Nightmare does have a gang to look after and a castle to maintain so he can't stay at the house all day. Obscuro makes shaded glasses for me, so I'm not walking around with a blindfold. I adjust to wearing them.

Yet it doesn't take long for Agape to start whispering in my head, telling me to handle the threats before they get out of hand. So, I go on trips across AUs and "coincidentally" find members of the gang targeting Nightmare's gang. The ones targeting Nightmare himself are easy to catch since they are following the "loved ones are his weakness" tactic and think attacking me is a good idea. So it just took a quick removal of his shades and the issue was gone. Keep doing that and soon there aren't any members left but a garden growing around statues frozen in different poses and their overconfident grins stuck on their faces in various AUs. My brothers don't have a clue I did this and Horror only knows that I can do it since he saw me freeze the ones targeting Farmer. He may have suspicions but nobody else knows. Agape was very pleased to eliminate the threats and even get to knock them around with tentacles or pose them as my gaze froze them.

At night, I stayed inside while I was a cat. I often curled up to my sleeping brothers or checked on my mother as she recovered. Sometimes I pushed a ball of yarn around or curled up on my bed. Error frequently leaves little crafted toys, pillows, or balls of yarn to distract me. Then one night, a black cat arrives at my window and I glance over to it as I notice that it's glitching. Error...?

The cat glitches through the window, hopping down. It slips around me, rubbing against me and tucking its head under my chin with soft purrs.

What is happening? Is this him...? If so, how? If not, what version of him came here?

The cat promptly knocks me down onto the pillows, curling up to rest around me. I fall asleep moments later, waking up and putting my shades on before I check for the cat. I glance over, seeing Error sleeping beside me with no sign of the cat. He looks completely normal. He slowly wakes up and smiles at me.

"What happened last night?"I ask

"InK cAuSeD tr0uBl3 iN a fiGht aNd i b3caMe a cAt. He fl3d s0 i cAmE hErE...I diDn'T kNoW i'D tuRn bAcK s0 iT mAy b3 teMpoRaRy liKe y0u...ThiS cAn heLp m3 fiGur3 oUt tHe c0d3 aNd g3t a s0luTi0n f0r y0u."He says, opening a code screen.

He sits beside me as he works on it, his grin only growing.

"Huh, for once Ink's trouble caused something fitting for you."I say

"WhAt?"

"Error, you already purr like there's no tomorrow when we snuggle and you can get grumpy like a cat when you don't have any chocolate treats to have. Turning into a cat just seemed quite fitting for you, Erry."

"I d0 n0t puRr!"

I lean against him and he jolts. I wrap my arms around him and he leans against me unconsciously and purrs erupt from his chest. I can see his face burn up.

"You were saying?"

He grumbles quietly to himself, turning his head away.

"And there's the pouty cat. You're adorable, Erry."

"ShUdDuP..."He huffs

He doesn't pull away and soon the purrs resume as he leans into my touch, focusing on his code screens and adjusting stuff I can hardly understand. He works through it and after a little bit, he opens the code screen with my name on it. After a few minutes, he hums with a grin.

"YoU shOuLd bE fReE fr0m y0ur cAt tRaNsf0rmAtiOn nOw. As aM i. It iS jUsT tHe viSiOn iSsUe n0w. So..."He says

He glances at me and he stares back at me, seeming to be thinking of something. He tilts his head and I see a hopeful spark in his eyes.

"CuDdLeS?"He asks

I nod, smiling at him. We spend the next few hours cuddling together. I appreciate this peace while it lasts. As far as the new prophecy says, there will be tough times ahead so it's good to enjoy this now.

Turns out I was right because a few days later, I was gardening. I planted some new seeds and trimmed bushes, then sensed a stronger aura. Then a few and could tell that it was from the other realm. I glance up, seeing figures hidden in cloaks draped over them so they obviously don't want others to recognize them, not even those watching from the other realm. I hear tapping on the glass and glance over, seeing Mom staring in horror and shouting something, still recovering from her weakness. Then two fingers pinch my skull as a hand rips my soul from my chest.

"It is time to do what has failed to be done. Get things back on track."

Everything starts turning grey until my vision is completely shut out, my body frozen in place.

Crap...

TBC