I find myself in a bedroom of a house with pale walls when I rise from the puddle. There is a bed neatly straightened and made with fluffy blankets and soft pillows. Toys lay around on a carpet, randomly selected and spread about. Pictures of me hang on the walls and some pictures of Dream as well. I frown, catching onto the fact that this room is meant to be mine.

He will never get me to come here. This room is a trap and a mockery of what this family has been to me. His family at least. I have to be careful though, don't know what he is planning. And he has Ink on his side which makes it even more unpredictable.

I slip out of the room cautiously without making a sound. I glance around, seeing neither of them around. I creep down the hall with light footsteps, noticing all the names printed on the doors. Mr. Blue's room has extra care taken to it as well as Mr. Cross' room. I've met them only once or twice and could tell that Dream had deep, if only temporary, interests in them. I note the names on the doors to my memory, knowing that those dusty, cobwebbed rooms for Lux and the other names are most likely other abandoned children that they seek to bother without end.

Then I come across one door labeled THEM and had darker colors than the rest. There weren't any cobwebs in the hinges or around it so it's been maintained recently. Then I hear voices from down the hall.

"He's coming, Ink! He is really coming! Your plan worked!"Dream cheers

"Told ya so. Everyone has a weakness, just have to use it to your advantage."Ink says

"I don't see why he cares for them so much. They are Error's kids so they are bound to be trouble when he could be remaking a family with us."Dream sighs

"Whatever you say. Now where's your candy in this kitchen?"Ink asks

I slip into the dark room, quietly shutting the door. The I hear the clinking of chains and glance over, my eyes meeting Slate's. His eyes widen at the sight of me as he lays on a blanket and pillow, his wrists chained in cuffs to the wall.

"Palette!"He says, his voice no louder than a whisper

"What are you doing here?"I ask

"Golden boy didn't like how I treated you and wants to keep me here until I learned my lesson. Palette, I'm so sorry. I-!"He begins

I summon my roller and slash some paint to cut through the chains. It burns through the chains and he sits up, newly freed.

"Get lost."I say quietly

He nods, teleporting away.

"Rebooting 48% complete!"I hear nearby

I glance over and gasp, covering my mouth. Gradient lays on the rough stone floor rebooting with some bruises and a chain trapping him to the wall. Radier lays not too far away, an arrow or two in his tentacles as well as bruises or chains holding his unconscious body down. I slip between them to my knees and quickly pull the arrows out of Radier. I try to heal the two of them while gently shaking Radier to wake him up. I know I can't touch Gradient without endangering his rebooting progress. I slice through the chains on them as Radier starts to wake up.

"Palette....? What's going on....?"He asks quietly

"I'm getting you both out of here."I say

"Oh are you now? And without even giving the gift you promised?"I hear Dream say from behind me

I turn to see both Ink and Dream standing in the doorway.

"Right. Here's your reward for being insane enough to go after my family!"I say, throwing the trophy at them

Dream catches it, seeing his tacky gift inside and reads the trophy label.

"Worst Former Family Award?"He says

"You earned it!"I say

The two frown.

"So this means that you aren't going to stay?"Dream asks

"Have you ever done so when I asked?"I ask in response

He shakes his head.

"Then why should I? You're basically strangers to me. Strangers that abducted my family that I love. Not that convincing of loving and safety. Did you really have to shoot Radier? You're an adult shooting a child! Yeah, that's totally healthy and reasonable!"I snap

"Then let's do some catching up!"Ink says, pulling me away from Gradient or Radier

I glance at Radier, shaking my head. He lifts his tentacles before dropping them in pain. He gets up shakily, blocking Gradient and watching carefully. Ink and Dream both start circling me and Ink pushes me back so I couldn't reach them. I glare at these "parents" of mine.

"So you found a place where the grass is greener! And you jumped the fence to the other side! Is it good? Are they giving you a world I could never provide?"Dream asks me, forcing tears out

I nod, clearly annoying them. Dream more than Ink.

"Well I hope you're proud of your big decision! Yeah, I hope it's all that you want and more! Now you're free from the agonizing life you were living before!"Ink snaps, swaying his hands with sarcasm

The two both try to close in on me to make me back up into the wall.

Uggh, this is nonsense! Playing the victim, how original. Well those games or tricks won't work on me anymore! Ink doesn't even care, he's just here to take what he can and leave!

"And you say what you need to say! So that you get to walk away!"I snap back at Ink, marching forward

That obviously shocks them and Ink looks startled, not expecting that. Gradient finishes rebooting and gets up beside Radier, looking at me worriedly. Ink turns to Gradient and marches towards him with a frown.

"And it would kill you to have to stay trapped! When you've got something new! You couldn't just stay where I kept you and do one thing right!"Ink snaps

I block him off from Gradient, glaring at him. But Ink's words shook my brother up.

"Well I'm sorry I had it rough...And I'm sorry I'm not enough!"He shouts back at Ink

"Thank God they rescued you!"Ink says with a roll of his eyes

"So you got what you always wanted! So you got your dream come true! Good for you! Good for you, you, you!"Dream snaps at us, following Ink to corner us now with Radier

I put my arms out, blocking them from Radier or Gradient as they get closer.

"Got a taste of a life so perfect! So you did what you had to do! Good for you! Good for you!"Dream and Ink say coldly

"Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry? Do you even care that you might be wrong?"I snap

"Was it fun? Well I hope you had a blast while you dragged me along!"Gradient snaps, glaring at Ink

"I wasn't dragging you along! It was fun! It's called free parenting!"Ink snaps

"You gotta understand, boys-!"Dream begins in his defense

"And you say what you need to say! And you play who you need to play! And if somebody's in your way? Crush them and leave them behind!"Gradient and I growl at them

Radier steps forward, wrapping his tentacles around us protectively as much as it clearly hurt him.

"And you've been nothing but trouble since you got here, you little punk!"Ink snaps

"Ink! That's my nephew!"Dream gasps, smacking Ink on the head

"You didn't want him here either! Remember? Or am I mistaken?"Ink says, glaring at Dream

"Well I guess if I'm not of use! Go ahead, you can cut me loose! Go ahead now, I won't mind!"Radier snaps

"I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go...Is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?"Ink asks looking at each of us

"Oh please, you never shut that mouth of yours! That's a lie!"Gradient snaps

"Shut it, Ink! I want them to stay!"Dream exclaims

"Oh, so I'll just sit back while you run the show! Is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?"I snap with sarcasm, pushing them back as I take steps toward them before they can touch my family

My real family, at least.

Dream's face goes pale, seeing everything fall apart.

"All I need is some time to think! Before it all gets to sink! Can't erase all the words that I can't take back!"He shouts, holding his head

As if we would just stop for him to think of more excuses.

"I've got to find a way to-!"Ink begins

"Stop it, stop it! Just let us out!"Radier shouts, knocking them away

"So you got what you always wanted! So you got your dream come true! Good for you! Good for y-you, you, y-y-yo-you!"Gradient snaps

"Got a taste of a life so perfect! Now you say that you're someone new! Good for you!"I snap, turning away from them

"Palette, wait!"Dream shouts

"Good for you!"Radier says, wrapping his arms around us to protect us from them

"Nephew please!"Dream shouts

"Good for you!"Gradient says with an eye roll

"Good for you!"We snap together as we go down the hall

"Children, please!"Dream cries out

"So you got what you always wanted!"The three of us say

"Just give it up! You failed horribly! I don't ever want to hear, see, or know that you were ver near my loved ones again! Cause you're not them! Go live your life like you always wanted! Fight Nightmare or Error all you want! I don't care and won't be here to hold you back anymore!"I snap, swiping some paint to form a wall

We head to my room and slam the door shut. I check both of them for injuries and heal them the best I could. Radier hugs me.

"H-He was going to s-s-send me back t-to....I didn't want to face h-him again...."He stutters, his body trembling

I catch onto what he means and hug him closer.

"I won't ever let that happen to you."I say, then glance at Gradient.

He is sitting, tense and frozen in place. His grip is tightly on his sleeves as tears roll down his face.

"Gradient, ignore him. I won't ever let him hurt you or send you away...You're wonderful, smart, and strong. He is just stupid."I say

He nods, smiling as he wipes his tears.

"Why am I so shaken up? He always talks nonsense...I know that by now...."He sighs

"Even if you know, words can still hurt. It's part of feeling."I say

Then I see him tense again.

"I heard Dream upset and mentioned Goth....He was upset that Goth didn't even try to persuade you to join him...So he found someone eager to get Goth in order to get his revenge."He says

"Okay! Everyone through the puddle!"I say

They hop into the puddle and we come back out on the front lawn. I see Bluescreen peeking out the window as Gradient and Radier get to their feet. He quickly opens the front door, running to Gradient and cheering something I couldn't understand. Gradient smiles and reaches out blindly to him, who eagerly pulls him inside. I go inside with Radier, shutting the door.

"Thank the stars you came back okay. My brother was panicking."Blueprint says, checking Radier already while his brother examines Gradient

Once they are settled and I make sure the house is secure, I get my phone out to call Goth. He picks up luckily.

"Hey, Palette. I was just thinking of calling you. My father went to work again, pulling Raven along and my dad went shopping with Shino. You could come over to hang out since we'll be alone.~"He suggests

He sounds so relaxed and happy, unaware to the dangers closing in.

"A-Are the Reaperlings with you?"I ask

This would be the perfect time to strike!

"Nope. You don't have to worry about them reporting to my parents."He says

"O-O-Okay, Gothy. Please make sure all the doors and windows are locked. I'm coming over right now."I say, heading out and locking things behind me

"Huh? Is something wrong, Palette?"He asks

"Yes! You need to be careful! Dream was stupid again and-!"

Crash! Shatter!

"What was that? Gothy?"I ask, quickening my steps

"Someone just broke in.....I'm locking myself in my room...."He whispers

I split my screen with my contacts, messaging Asgore quickly on what's going on. I start running towards Goth's home, listening closely for any noises.

"W-What's slipping  under the....Wait....Get away! No-!"I hear Goth say, followed by a scream

Gothy!

TBC