Dream stared blankly out of the window to look at the stars. The sky looked absolutely stunning tonight. He remembered when Nightmare and him used to stargaze under the tree. How happy his mate was back them. He missed their smile and the sound of their laughter. How the two would spend hours talking to each other and making flower crowns. Tears welled up in the guardian's eyes, his soul overflowing with despair.

He missed those days dearly. Dream would do anything to go back. He would take on any burden if he had to, just to fix his mistakes. To save Nightmare from falling into corruption. But he couldn't. There was nothing that could undo his foolish mistakes. Dream let out a humorless chuckle. He was so pathetic. Everything was his fault. Tears fell down his face as he curled up into a ball. It was his fault that Nightmare was running around tormenting people. He was a terrible guardian. Couldn't even save his own mate. But maybe... just maybe... Dream wiped away his tears as an idea formed in his head.

He was going to make a truce with Nightmare, for the safety of the aus. Whatever Nightmare did to him, he didn't care. Dream knew he deserved this.

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

Nightmare was quite surprised when his mate Dream came knocking at his door. The darker guardian considered killing his counterpart right off the bat, but his curiosity got the better of him. After all, why would Dream come here? He allowed Dream inside his castle and was greeted with another surprise. His lighter counterpart offered him a truce. Dream had put himself on a silver platter for him. But in exchange, Nightmare couldn't destroy anymore aus. And of course... Nightmare accepted. He finally had Dream. A wicked grin slowly made its way onto his face. The corruption inside his soul fueling his twisted thoughts, as he thought of what to do. Oh, this was going to be fun.

He was going to break the guardian, piece by piece. Until there was nothing left of them. He ignored the voice that pleaded with him to spare his mate. Why should he spare Dream? It was his fault that he became this way. "You know that's not true..." They were wrong. It was all his fault! He could have prevented this! Dream could have saved him! "He didn't know... we never told him." The corruption of the apple had blinded him.

The corruption told the darker guardian it was Dream's fault that he became this way. And Nightmare believed them. But now... the guardian of negativity found himself at a loss. He wasn't sure anymore. He had been so sure that Dream was the reason for all his suffering. But he had been wrong. All this time, he had been wrong.

He tried to get Dream to talk to him, but the other remained silent. There was no life in his mate's once bright eye lights. It was all his fault that Dream became like this. He took away his starlights joy. He stripped away his counterpart's hope. Tears fell from his eye as he called out for Dream. "I'm so sorry, Dream! It's all my fault!" He begged and cried, "Please! Come back to me!" He wanted to hear his starlight's laughter again. He wanted to see their smile again.

But no matter what he said, his mate remained silent.

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

"Dream, I'm back." Nightmare opened the door to find Dream sitting at his desk. His starlight turned around and smiled softly at him. "Welcome back." The darker guardian felt like bursting into tears. The smile on his mate's face was fake. There was no joy behind that smile. No joy in his beloved's eyes. Just an unsettling blankness. And while he was happy Dream was finally talking, it didn't change the fact that he was still like this.

"I'm sorry, starlight." Dream tilted his head, confused about why Nightmare was apologizing to him. "Why are you apologizing for? I deserved this." Nightmare shook his head and hugged his mate. "You didn't deserve this, Dream." Dream didn't hug him back. Instead, Dream remained unmoving in his arms.

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

He was confused. Why was Nightmare being so nice to him? Why was Nightmare apologizing? He should be the one apologizing. He's the one at fault. So why... why was he being so nice to him? "I don't understand." He whispered softly to himself, "I just don't understand..." The fresh claw marks on his back stung, but he ignored them. Just like how he ignored the aching between his legs. It was nothing he couldn't handle. Dream continued on with his day. Then the guardian realized something. "Had the hallway always look this blurry?" He was sure that... why was the world turning dark? The guardian stumbled around, trying to balance himself. But he lost the battle and collapsed. Just as he was about to hit the ground, Dream swore he heard someone calling out for him.

Nightmare was beyond furious. When he found out that his belove starlight had collapsed, he had thought his mate had fallen down. Nightmare was relieved to find out that Dream had only collapsed due to exhaustion. At least that's what he had been told. When Nightmare went to change Dream's cloth he was greeted with something entirely different. Scars. Millions of scars were on his starlight's bones. The darker guardian had frozen at the sight. How... how did this happen? His eye light came across the fresh wounds, and Nightmare snapped. How did he not know?!

His rage could be felt throughout the entire castle. The air seemed to grow colder and darker. Nightmare felt fear. Good . Because whoever did this wasn't going to see tomorrow. Oh no... not after this. "I'm going to tear them limb by limb!" Dream let out a small groan, and Nightmare turned back to his mate. "It's okay. I'm here, starlight." He had to calm down first. He was sure that his negativity wouldn't help Dream get better. He would take care of Dream's wounds, and then he would hunt them down. Every. Single. One.

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

Dream opened his eyes and blinked. "Where...?" The guardian let out a small groan as he tried to sit up. He almost forgot about his wounds. "For some reason... they don't hurt as much." Did someone... heal him? Dream saw that someone had treated his wounds and scars. A tear slipped down his face. He recognized that magic anywhere. "Nightmare..." He whispered softly. Nightmare had healed him. Before Dream could think further on this, the door opened. "Starlight..." Dream looked up to find Nightmare standing by the door, tears in his eyes. "Nighty..." The darker guardian smiled warmly at his beloved, and the lighter guardian couldn't help but smile back.

"Good morning, Starlight"

"Good morning, Nighty."