A few days later, Goth's POV

"Anything new on Palette?"Pakeekee asks

"No....My grandpa got nothing out of Gaster and my parents can't locate him with either of their abilities..And even if they did, they say there's no clue to what they're doing to him or how to get him back."I say

My grandpa showed me to Palette's home the day after he got taken. I've been coming here to take care of Pakeekee and update the little bird on what's been happening. Which isn't much.

Going to his home does give me insight to Palette, some things I already knew and other things I didn't. Like I didn't know he even lived in these woods! It's so isolating. And based on the carving in a nearby tree and the lack of family photos inside, his parents really are workaholics in life. Extreme ones to a fault. There's no indication here that a parent took notice of Palette or even made him a priority. It's just Palette tending to things himself. And he seems to have already accepted that. Where there were often family photos, he had paintings of him with Pakeekee or crafts to brighten the space. Where there were usually parent bedrooms were rooms for guests or art rooms for himself. Everything a kid could need all handled by himself.

It feels so wrong...So isolating for him to be out here like this. It explains why he has been so kind or compliments my family when I complain about their overprotective actions. Because he has dealt with worse...And now he's gone. I frown, wanting so badly to get him back. Cause as soon as I do, I'll change his life for the better. He won't have to be alone.

I get taken out of my thoughts when a phone starts ringing. I wander around the house, finding Palette's phone. An unknown number was calling.

Could it be Palette calling his own number? He may be thinking of Pakeekee or the first number that reaches his mind....Or it could be those freaks going for more trouble. They could of forced a number out of him. Those kidnappers could be looking for ransom.

I pick it up to answer.

"Hello? Palette? Thank goodness you answered! You better come back before there are consequences!"A voice says on the other side

"Who do you think you are? Don't you dare threaten my friend! Identify yourself and what you did to Palette!"I snap

"Ink, someone took Palette's phone! They claim to be his friend!"The voice says

"But Palette never has friends!"Another voice says

"Until now! Listen, kid! We're no threat! We're just looking for Palette! What's your name?"The voice asks

"Yeah, like I'd believe that! Last time I heard that, someone got hurt!"I say

"We're coming to help!"The voice says

I hang up on them and block the number. I tuck his phone in my pocket in case more calls may come.

A puddle of ink forms on the floor and Pakeekee starts screeching. I summon my sycthe since it looks as black as Nightmare's goop. Two strangers rise from the ink. One had a golden crown on his skull, glowing yellow eyes and bright clothes with the shades of a sun. Well, as well as black underneath all the bright clothing. He held a bow in his hands and ready to fire. He looks hopeful and has a warmer aura than when I encountered Nightmare...More like Palette's, but I'm not trusting him just for that.

The other stranger had a long brown scarf similar to Palette's that he wears sometimes...His clothes were mostly shades of brown and had multiple layers. His shirt cut diagonally with yellow stripes to show a white half underneath as well as white sleeves. He wore brown gloves with green pinkies being the only one covered. He wore a sash of multicolored vials and despite having long skirt-like pants, he was without shoes. He had a giant paintbrush collecting the ink puddle, an ink mark boldly printed on his cheek while his eyes were changing colors or shapes. Unlike the archer beside him, I couldn't sense anything from him. And his expression was dull, not showing much of a care for the situation either way.

"Pakeekee stay behind me."I tell the scared little bird

He nods, landing a few feet behind me to hide from their sight. I point my scythe ahead at them and frown, unfolding my wings to hide him better.

"I told you to identify yourselves, not come here! You better stay back, too! O-Or else!"I snap

"Where are we?"One of them asks curiously

"You're intruding on a home, that's where! Now fess up!"I snap, edging closer to the alarm system Grandpa set up

The archer glances around, seeing the pictures and artworks Palette decorated the walls with.

"Ink....This is where he ran off to....This is what he meant by having his own life now...His home not being with us....He made his own...."He says, seeming saddened by the realization

"Wait, this is Palette's home? Tch, he could've worked on it better."The other, Ink, says

"That's not the point, Ink! We chased him away! We hurt him and now he is gone! He cut us out to go here! This should've never happened!"He snaps

I throw my scythe between them, my fists clenching.

"What the hell did you do to my friend? Give me one good reason I shouldn't activate the alarm right now!"I snap at them

"Little boy, please calm down! We're his parents! Hasn't he told you about us?"Ink says

"Oh! So you're the workaholics to busy to prioritize him? To the point that he doesn't even know what holidays or family bonding is? Great, just great! Of course you come now! Hah, Palette told me that his family has poor timing skills but I had no clue that you were this bad! That is, if you're being honest."I say

"Go ahead, test us then."The archer says

"Where is your family home with him?"I ask

"Home? Hah! His home is an empty space!"Ink laughs

"Vast emptiness...I lived nowhere..." Palette had said

I frown.

"What's his favorite subject?"I ask

"Hmm..."Ink says

They look at each other and shrug.

"Here's an easier one, what's his favorite color?"I ask

"Hmmm....Brown?"Ink suggests

"Green?"The archer says

"No, he can't decide a favorite color yet so he loves all of them. Okay, here is definitely an easy one. When is his birthday?"I ask

They both look at each other, lost in confusion. They glance at me blankly. The archer looks guilty.

"Oh my stars! You don't even know his birthday! Okay, I'm disappointed to say that you pass as his parents. Dear stars, no wonder he cut you guys out. You're not even parents! What even reminded you that he existed?"I say, shaking my head and pulling my scythe back to my hand

"So? Who are you?"Ink asks

"I'm Goth, Palette's friend. Now, who are you?"I say, pointing at the archer

"I'm...My name is Dream. This is Ink."He says

"Dream? As in Nightmare's brother?"I ask

Palette was kidnapped by his uncle?

He nods.

"You....You're the one to blame! How can you abandon him or forget about him when you have a freak as his uncle? As your brother? If it weren't for you and your terrible parenting, he'd still be safe here!"I snap at them

"My brother beat us here?"He asks

"Hmm, maybe I wouldn't be snapping at you and he would be here if you beat him here! How do you even call yourselves parents?"I snap

Then my phone starts ringing. I take it out and see an unknown number. I answer within seconds.

"I swear if this is another uncle or grandparent of Palette-"I begin

"Gothy! Goth! It's me!"A faint voice shouts, sounding out of breath

Palette? But how?

"Why do you sound so out of breath?"I ask

His "parents" look at me confusedly.

"I.....I got experimented on....It made calling a lot harder."He says, panting

"How'd you get a phone for this number?"I ask

"I...found a way out resulting from the experiments and....there was an abandoned phone so I sort of...used it..."He says

I frown, my worries growing. That just sounds too easy.

"Say no more, I'm coming."I say

"Please don't hang up...."He says softly

"I won't."I say, then put the phone to my chest

Dream and Ink look at me, more curious than concern in their expressions.

"I better find you two GONE when I get back here. Come on Pakeekee."I say

Pakeekee lands on my shoulder.

"Who are you on the phone with?"Dream asks

"A cousin. Now get out. If you don't, you'll meet my scythe."I lie

"Of course. Our apologies for disturbing you."Dream says

"I'm not sorry."Ink says

They walk out the front. I take Pakeekee out the back. I slice the air with my scythe, creating a portal. A list appears with a single name under the title of Innocence: Palette!

"You want to go or stay here?"I ask

"I-I'll stay here."Pakeekee says, flying inside again

I shut the door and go through the portal. My wings start flapping as soon as I come out the other side to find myself hundreds of feet in the air. I put the phone to my head again.

"I'm coming, Palette. Just hang on. Do you see anyone?"I ask

"I...No, I don't. Wait why is my soul glowing?"He says, his voice as quiet as a mouse

I see a beacon of light shoot up in the air. I see Palette's name on my list glow. I soar quickly in the direction of the light, knowing that if I see it, so could Nightmare. I get closer to the light but see Nightmare among other skeltons with weapons.

"Uh oh...I see them coming!"He says

I recall stories from my parents saying that I used glitches as a babybones. I snap my fingers and some glitches appear. I smirk, then send the glitches to make a wall from the group.

"Not happening."I say

I see one teleport past the glitches to get closer, swinging some knives. I fly down quickly, swinging the scythe. It slices right through him and he glows for a moment before getting sent back behind the glitches. I look at my weapon and then at the list.

"The innocent shall be protected and the guilty shall be repelled."A message appears at the top

"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!"The stranger shouts

"Where'd these glitches come from?"I hear another yell

"Up there! There's a kid racing us!"A third says

So this basically has guardian power? Works for me.

I see Palette sitting on a phone. He is smaller than the phone itself and covered in wounds.

Okay, now I have to pick him up without my touch hurting him. I don't have Toby to collect the extra power...Just focus with a clear head like Dad said.

I fly down and land beside Palette. I hang up the call, putting the phones away, then put my hand out to him.

"Quick, Palette. Climb on!"I tell him

"Goth!"He exclaims, climbing up my sleeve

His foot slips and he falls from my arm. I quickly put him in my scarf.

"You're safe. I'm getting you home."I say, taking off before they could get near us

I open a portal with my sycthe, thinking of avoiding going directly home. I fly through another world, ignoring the beautiful environment and focusing on not getting followed. I feel two tiny hands hold onto my neck.

"Goth....Why did you come?"He says quietly

I glance down at him.

"What are you saying?"I ask

"I didn't want you to get hurt...To get into my mess....But you still came..."He says

"Of course I do! Palette do you hear yourself right now? You went through hell! Just by looking at you I know! I'm not going to let you suffer!"I tell him

He bows his head. I sigh, not wanting to be harsh with him.

"Palette, here's a thing about friends that you should catch onto. We help each other or look out for each other. You protect me, I'll protect you. It's a two-way cycle or process. That's part of what builds trust. Though you and Pakeekee are staying at my home for a while."I say

"W-What?"He says

"Yeah, as nice at my grandpa's security system is, I'm not going to let you stay in that place alone when you are hurt so badly. But hey! It will be our first sleepover!"I say, trying to put a positive spin on it

He hugs me firmly by the neck. I see him smile up at me with tears rolling down his face. The way he acts or speaks is as if he's a burden ready to be dropped. He isn't that but his mindset is understandable given his so-called parents' talent of presence.

Poor Palette.....

I open a portal again and land outside his house. I notice an obviously oversized paintbrush sticking out of a bush and whispering.

They're watching the place...Tch, cowards. Won't even face Nightmare to save their own son...

I lift my scarf up to hide any potential sight of Palette. By now it has turned to night outside. I open the door slightly.

"Pakeekee please come with me. I'm taking you to my home."I say

Pakeekee flies to my shoulder and I shut the door. I walk through the forest, keeping a sharp eye out for any troubles.

"Um, Goth...Do you see-?"Pakeekee says, seeing the giant paintbrush sticking out of the bush as I keep walking

We are definitely being followed by his parents.

"Yep, I see them. Just ignore the bush weirdos. If they have common sense, they will back off."I say loud enough for them to hear

The paintbrush stopped following us. I reach the safe entrance of my home but quickly glance around to make sure I wasn't followed. I quickly go inside and run to my room, shutting the door and the blinds, locking my window. I set Palette down, turning on a small lamp. I toss my scythe aside, shutting my wings and sit at my desk.

"First things first, let's get you healed."I say, getting out a first aid kit

"Why do you keep that in your room?"He asks

"My dad has it in every room to be prepared for anything that goes wrong. Now hold still, I'll try to bandage what I can see and use magic for what I can't."I say

His face glows a bright shade of green to yellow. I bandage him carefully and use magic to start the healing process for what I couldn't reach. I don't dare touch him, fearing that I'd lose control and kill him with my touch. I set him on a soft pillow and start sewing some fabrics together.

"Your clothes are torn and dirty. It may infect the wounds so I'll make you some new ones."I say

After a few minutes, I set the sewn tiny clothes beside him and set my scarf down to give him privacy. I also take the chance to change into my pajamas. Once that is done, I set his pillow beside mine on my bed. I lay down as I find Pakeekee already asleep on my nightstand.

"We'll figure things out in the morning, Palette. You're going to be okay though."I tell him

"Thanks Goth...."He says

"Anytime. Good night, Palette."I say

"Good night, Goth."He says softly

I turn to turn out the light. Then I pull the blankets up with a smile.

He's precious....I'm so glad that he is safe.

TBC