Nightmare's POV months later
I smile, spending time with Triton playing around and stuff for the past few weeks. He is hitting his double digits and teen phases so now we "train" for fun and he has gone out to explore the multiverse. He still defines me as his home and keeps in touch, but he's growing independent. We were currently doing archery with Dream beside us. It was nice to see us together and not be the target of his arrows.

"So....How are you and Cross, Uncle Dream?"Triton asks

"Dunno, haven't seen him. Don't care either. Why do you ask?"Dream asks

"I see him every now and then. He asks about you both and wishes you both well. Apparently he has feelings for Ma-"Triton begins

"Well he can keep those feelings to himself."Dream snaps

"Ma's brother which would be you. He wants to start fresh with you guys."Triton says

"Interesting. "Dream says, firing rapidly

"Let him see the gang again. Then we'll talk."I say

"Ooo! That'll be fun to watch!"Triton says

A few days later, I was just exploring OuterTale while Triton was out exploring the multiverse and Dream was meeting Blue and Ink again to fix the relations with them. I was just wandering around, gazing at the stars and saw Outer not too far off.

Then I felt someone grab my hand. I turn to see Cross there.

"H-Hey, Nightmare. Long time no see, huh?"He says

"Yeaaah. Give me a reason not to knock you into the next asteroid belt."I say

"I am sorry for how I acted. I've changed. Can we start over? With a fresh, clean, second chance? Who knows where it'll go....Perhaps a Bone Zone......"He says, squeezing my hand

I shake my head.

"You can't use me and get past it with words that easily. Just because you don't have Dream doesn't mean you can play pretend with me."I say

"It's not with that! I've changed! I really want to start anew with you!"He pleas

"Talk it over with the gang, not me."I say, slapping him away with a tentacle.

Within minutes he found his way back and my phone rings. I hold him back with my tentacles and see that Killer is calling. I smile, picking up.

"Hey Nighty.~ Where you at?"Killer asks

"Hey, hun.~ I'm in OuterTale just enjoying the sights. Why?"I say

"HUN?! Who are you calling hu-MmmNmh!"Cross snaps but muffled by a tentacle

"Who was that?"Killer asks

"Nobody important. He's gone."I say, tossing Cross away

Suddenly my form sank away to my passive one.

What the?!

I look around but there was no sign of anything to cause my forms to change. Cross was stuck on an asteroid. I try to shift back but something was preventing me.

"Uuuuh....The heck?"I mumble

"What happened?"Killer asks

"Not sure. My forms are acting up again."I say softly

The whole multiverse doesn't need to know my weakness.

"The gang and I are coming. Just stay where you are."He says

"Okay..."I say

"GUYS! Let's go!"He yells over the phone

A bone fires from the ground, knocking the phone out of my hand. More started coming up and I ran to escape them, not even knowing where it's coming from. I bump into someone and look up to see Cross as he grabs me even tighter.

"There we go. Just give me a chance and things could be better. You could feel safe enough to be in this form again."He says

"Let go of me!"I snap, trying to tear away

"Don't be like that!"He says

I kick him between the legs and he dropped backwards, releasing me. I shake my head and back up, feeling myself trembling. Cross got back up but I felt two arms grab me with a kiss on the cheek before he could get near me again. I look to see Killer hugging me. I smile as he slips my phone back in my pocket.

"Hey.~ He didn't hurt you, did he?"He asks

"Sent bone attacks but none hurt me..."I say

"Alright. Get him guys."He says

I see the gang charge at Cross, firing attacks. Killer hugs me close, tucking my face away. I look up at him.

"Did he say what he wanted with you?"Killsy asks

"To start over....Claiming he has changed and wants to improve things....Have another chance and suggested the Bone Zone."I reply

He clenched his teeth, clearly angry and pulled me closer.

"Killer? Why are you near him?"Cross asks, appearing in front of us

"Killsy...."I purr softly up at him

"This is my boyfriend, aka my lil Nighty."He says

"WHAT?!"Cross exclaims

"Don't believe me?"Killsy asks, pulling me into a kiss

I feel my soul skip beats and flutter. He pulls away and looks at me with a big grin. He scoops me up in his arms and smiles even wider.

"You stay the hell away from him, Cross."He snaps

"Killer! Please! Give me another chance! There has to be some way to put this behind us!"Cross insists

"Nah...Breaking my Nighty's soul and using him like you did isn't easily just brushed under the carpet."Killsy says

"I actually have a few ideas and I think everyone will like it, except Cross."X!Chara says

"Do tell.~"Horror says

A few hours later, everyone was "training" by firing attacks at Cross repeatedly. Scared the living daylights out of him but the rest were having fun getting revenge. X!Chara was eating popcorn beside me, enjoying the show.

I left them to have their fun, curious on why my forms were acting up. I went into another room and checked my soul. Doing so reveals red strings around my arms and more attempting to wrap around me and my soul. I recognized them and grab my soul, pressing it to my chest and tearing free from the strings. Instantly I was able to turn back to my goopy form and I watched the strings flee from my sight.

They'll have to try harder than that to twist me into their puppet.

I walk back out and I grin.

But given that they're being troublesome again, I should probably check in on my gang.

"Nighty.~ Where did you run off to my little moon?"I hear Killer coo

He runs over to me.

"Hey, Nighty! Are you alright?"He asks with a smile stuck to his face

I see a few strings dropping down, trying to grab him. I scoop him up and his smile fades, looking confused.

"Yep. Fixed the form issue. Now what do you want to do, Killsy?"I ask

I watch as the strings slipped away, seeing a genuine smile grow on his face.

"I want to snuggle you. Everyone is doing their own thing now anyways."He says

I smile, carrying him into my room where we start snuggling. The next day, I saw the red strings slipping between the ceiling door frame and the door to Horror. And they were clumping quickly. Nothing good. I ran into the room to find Horror was wrapped in the red strings and tearing at the hole in his head.

"Horror!"I snap, running to him and grabbing his hands

He looks at me with his eye a small red dot.

"What have I told you about doing that to yourself?!"I ask

"Not to or else..."He says, bowing his head

"Why are you even doing this?"I ask

"I...I don't know...Thought of Undyne back home and...that stuff...Fell kept insulting me too..."He says

I scoop him up and toss him over my shoulder, carrying him downstairs. The rest of the gang peek out curiously as I pass by with Horror.

"Horror's fucking dead now. Look how pissed Nightmare is!"Fell says

"On the contrary, Fell, it's you who should be running. Dust, he was insulting Horror again. Handle him."I say

"Gladly."Dust says

I set Horror in a chair and get him some food, my tentacles healing his wound and tearing the strings off of him. Nobody else can see the strings so I try to be subtle when tearing them away.

"Eat it. And don't ever let me catch you doing that again."I growl

He looks at me with his big, twinkling eye and nods, digging into the food. Dust was chasing Fell around, Cross was locked up, Palette was playing with Triton, Dream was chatting with Xavior, X!Chara was making more popcorn, and Killer was asleep. The other kids were running about, Blue and Ink were somewhere out there in the multiverse. Error dropped down beside me and grins on his own blue string seat.

"HeY, NiGHt. WhAt ArE yOu u9 t0?"He asks

"Nothing much. Just checking in on everyone."I say

"CoOl. I'lL be iN mY hAmMocK iF tHinGs gEt cRazY."He says

I glance at him and see a red string lingering near his neck.

"Are you doing alright?"I ask

He looks at me in some sort of surprise, nodding.

"WhY woUldn'T i Be?"He says with a clearly forced chuckle

I swat the string away with a tentacle.

"Cause I know you, Error. You don't just drop in before isolating yourself unless something is bothering you. Have the voices been bothering you? The creators?"I ask

He bows his head.

"ThEy jUst woN't sTop.....ThEy JUsT wAnT dEstRucTiOn aNd sAy tHat's aLl I am GooD foR! It's aLl sO lOuD anD iT woN't sTop!"He tells me, breaking down in tears

I carefully pull him closer with my tentacles, knowing his phobia. But he openly welcomed my touch, hugging me. I hugged him back.

"Ssssh, ssssh. It's alright. They don't matter. They are just cowardly morons behind a mask of anons. Don't listen to them. Instead, let's tune them out with some Asgoro, shall we?"I suggest

He looks at me while wiping his tears.

"Y-YeaH...."He says, smiling

I spent the afternoon watching UnderNovela with him until he was happy and there wasn't a trace of any red strings. I smile, then spend the night sleeping in my room. But it was anything but pleasant, waking up from my own bad dreams.

I spent the next few days checking in on my gang and taking care of them to keep the nasty red strings away. I knew these actions were gonna have consequences eventually and more red strings were starting to come after me, but it is worth it in my eyes. Screw the strings, my gang comes first. They're my family. I started slipping them gifts as well, just in case something happens.

Dust got a scarf I made for him.

Fell got a locket to add to the chains that for some reason he keeps in his jacket pocket.

Error got some puppets I made and a sweater to keep him warm.

Triton got my guitar.

Dream got my violin.

Killer got a jacket or hoodie from me, can't recall clearly.

Horror got my crown.

Cross got a necklace, despite my mixed feelings about his actions I still cared for him.

Xavior got a blanket I intended to give him earlier but never found the chance in my AU.

I gave X!Chara a journal so he could write his own story, maybe tell about all the mischief he causes and such, after he confided in me how he feels that he can't control his own life. He smiled when I did so.

Once that was all done in a few days, I told Horror that I was going to take a nap for a while when everyone else was busy and not to come in unless it's an emergency. Same goes for everyone else. But truth was, I was going to face the bundles of strings in my room and don't want them to get involved, especially if something goes wrong. He agreed to my nap time excuse and I locked myself in my room, laying in bed and waiting.

It was still. And quiet.

Then it all dropped down. And up. All from different angles or hiding spots, tying me down.

Shit! I didn't expect there to be so many!

The strings quickly bound my tentacles and wrapped me up, impossible to tear free from and quickly blocking out my vision.

"Someone has hell to pay for their rebellions."A voice I haven't heard in decades says

Welp, they were worth the price, whatever that may be.

A few hours later, NO POV

Horror sat in a chair, fiddling with Nightmare's crown in his hands. Though he was careful not to damage it. He smiles, remembering what Nightmare told him when giving it. He sets it on his head proudly. The crown slanted on his head due to the hole in his skull, but it fit. He shut his eyes with a grin as he sat back in the chair, feeling better than before. He dozed off a bit. He almost appeared to be a peaceful protector as he rested outside his friend's room despite his horrifying conditions that people saw him for. He rested peacefully with the crown gleaming on his head.

And of course Dream had the nerve to wake the sleeping so-called "beast", getting a growl and glare in response that made the golden skeleton step back in fear.

"Why are you w-wearing my brother's crown? I demand the motive of this theft right now!"He says, shaky at first

"Right to accusations as always, huh? Well let me tell you something, Dream."Horror says, getting up

He towered over Dream, setting Dream uneasy. Horror smirked despite being irritated by the archer.

"You're in our territory. The only reason you are not locked up with Cross is because Nightmare loves you. If it were up to us, we'd lock you up the second you step foot in here. So I wouldn't be charging in with accusations like you run this place, little firefly. Nightmare gave me this. He trusted me to hold onto it since he said he won't need it anymore. He gave it as a reminder that despite what everyone sees me as, there is someone that thinks I am good enough. Him. Ya know for a claimed guardian of positivity, you don't exactly help make misfits like me feel good. Nightmare does plenty of that, then again, I guess you and your buddies gave him the misfit experience, didn't you? No surprise that he is so good to us, to me, then. Cause he has a little something called sympathy and empathy. Anything else you wanna accuse me of doing to my admirable friend? It'll cost you a head-dog.~"Horror growls

"Good enough? What do you mean he makes you feel good enough?"Dream asks

"Your reactions to me tells enough. Your fear and horrified or disgusted gaze at me, your eyes traveling to the hole in my skull, all of it. Everyone sees me as a freak. A beast. Good-for-nothing animal that should be put out of its misery. People like you don't care to ask if I'm okay or wonder how I got like this, all people like you do are attack me verbally or physically and flee from me in disgust, fear or hatred. But Nightmare is different. Lust is different. Blue is different. This gang is different. We all are a bunch of misfits that look out for each other. We ask the questions to each other that others don't think of. We CARE. Especially Nightmare. He breaks me out of my bad habits that are caused by the words and actions of people like you. Look at my hole if you're so interested by it. Your brother put some medicine on it to heal it after I tried to break it open wider."Horror explains

"Why would you do that to yourself?"Dream asks

"Cause words hurt. And sometimes, death seems better than being treated like you don't matter. You never know the power or effect that someone being there for you or not being there for you when you need them can be. I have Nightmare to thank for that."Horror says

"Actually, I do...."Dream says, looking away

"Oh right, cause that's what happened with Nightmare! Guess you didn't learn much or change from that did ya?"Horror snarls

Dream shakes his head.

"Back to the crown. Why wouldn't he give it to me if he wouldn't need it anymore?"Dream asks

"Guess a small part of him didn't trust you with it or what it symbolized. Can't blame him. I wouldn't want his power or whatever he has to be tainted by you. Such a shame for you I guess."He says, grinning

Having the crown made him feel so much better now that he knew that Dream didn't know about it. The fact that he trusted Horror over Dream to keep something so valuable made Horror feel very special and even more proud. He admires Nightmare and was thankful for everything he did, wishing sometimes to pay him back somehow.

"Well can I see him?"Dream asks

"Nope. He told me that he was going to take a nap and not to let anyone disturb him unless it's an emergency. And you're not an emergency."Horror says

Dream tries to go around Horror but Horror swings out his axe.

"Are you deaf and looking to lose your head? Stay. OUT."He snaps

Dream stomps off and a few minutes later Horror got curious once he saw the time. Nightmare has never slept this long. He knocks at the door.

"Nightmare?"He says

No response. He knocks again. No answer. He opens the door, peeking in. He saw a huge mess in his friend's room. Goop splattered all over the walls. You would've thought that Ink tried to paint the room randomly if it wasn't for the goo being recognizably Nightmare's, which didn't make him feel good. He steps in carefully. He searches the room but couldn't find Nightmare anywhere. He took out his phone and called the gang back to the castle, not liking this one bit. He took off the crown and set it on the bed as he searched for clues. He found a red string ripped up and covered in goo.

Killer was the first to arrive, finding Horror curiously finding the strings under the goo.

"What the hell happened here?"He asks

"I'm trying to figure that out....Nightmare said he was going to nap and not to let anyone in. I found this scene when I came to check on him. Have you ever seen red strings before?"Horror says

"....Triton would mention them but I thought he was just using his imagination when he said he saw the red strings around us.....Did Nightmare see them too?"Killer wonders

"That may explain his behavior lately...Has he randomly dropped in to help you as well or give you things he claims to not need anymore?"He asks

"Yeah...He gave me his jacket to remind me of his love and warmth...You?"Killer asks

"He gave me his crown to remind me that he believes in me..."He replies

"Why the heck is he so secretive around us? It only puts him at more risk!"Killer grumbles, frustrated

"He is secretive to protect us. He does so much to help us that he doesn't open up about the dangers so we don't get hurt. He's a very selfless person....He even hinted at it by telling me when he gave me the crown that there are so many things he would do for us because our happiness and unconditional love or everything we do for him is rewarding enough. That misfits stick together....."He says

Killer walks over, picking the crown up and setting it on Horror's head. The rest of the gang walk over, peeking in with Dream.

"So what do you suggest we do?"Killer asks

"Huh?"Horror says

"You found the scene and seem to be connecting the dots. How can we help?"Killer says, Dust and the gang nodding

Fell crossed his arms.

"Why is he the fucking leader now?"Fell growls

Suddenly, the walls trembled and the lights starting flickering until they burst, going out.

"What was that?!"Dream exclaims

"Nightmare made this place with his own power and hands. It relies on him to stay working. Usually the lights would flicker when he is angry as a warning but this is different. Fell, shut the hell up unless you want to fall into the basement again."Dust growls

Lust came up the stairs and looks around. Ink and Blue quickly followed behind him.

"Oh my, this place is a disaster! What happened here?"He asks

"What do you mean?"Killer asks

"There are red strings everywhere and the stairs were crumbling! It is destroying this place! Where's Nightmare? He knows what I'm talking about!"Lust says

"You can see the red strings?"Horror asks

"You found out about them, Horror Bear?"Lust asks

Horror shows the goop covering a red string. Lust covered his mouth and trembled at the sight.

"Guess things caught up with him....Oh dear...."Lust says

"Is this place gonna collapse on us? Should we evacuate?"Ink asks

"No! This place won't ever fall apart, Nightmare made sure of it in case something ever happened to him. He wanted this place to always be a safe home for his family."Lust says

"Lucky Dream."Killer says

"No! He considered his gang his family! He made sure it would stay for you!"Lust insists

"Then why is it shaking?"Blue asks

"It can be...temperamental."Lust says

"And how do you know about these red strings?"Ink asks

"I'm from UnderLust but trying not to be a sinner like the rest of my AU. That isn't exactly what the world wanted me to do and I kinda broke out of a trance or prison you could say, opening my eyes to a different reality. I can see it only because I broke free from the red strings. Anyone trapped by the red strings can't see them since the puppeteer doesn't want them seen in that reality. The only reason you see the one in Horror's hand is because of Nightmare's goop, and Nightmare broke free so it kinda is stuck there visibly somehow. I wouldn't be surprised if the puppeteer came after him for everything he did. The puppeteer doesn't like when someone meddles with the plans set out for someone."Lust explains

"YeAh..I kNoW hOw thOse pUniShmEntS gO..."Error says

"Error? You met the puppeteer with red strings? They hurt you?"Ink asks

"HoW dO yOu tHinK I eNdEd uP gLiTChY lIkE tHis? Or eVeN bE a DeStrOyEr? I diDn't jUst wAkE uP anD sAy tHat I wAnTed to Be a frEaK!"Error snaps

"Why didn't you tell me?"Ink asks

"NigHtmArE wAs thE onLy oNe whO sEeMed tO cArE eNouGh tO lIsTen. YoU oNly sEeMed fOcuSed On bEaTInG me inTo thE grOunD foR somEtHinG I nEvEr wAnTed tO dO."Error says

"Who is this puppeteer?"Blue asks

"Fate. Designs a certain path and punishes any who go against him."Lust says

"But we haven't been punished...."Dust says

"There's a difference between breaking free and being freed from Fate. Nightmare broke you all free by bringing you guys here, taking care of you, and just by being there for you. He'd see when the strings came to put you back into misery and go to help you to keep the strings away. Though it seems Fate finally caught him...."Lust explains

"And since when did you know my brother so well?"Dream asks

"Awww, your little sheltered mind can hardly comprehend it, huh? That the brother that you believed was evil was actually better than you and saving more people in ways you never knew? Even tried to help you? I can see the red strings all over you. So, since when did you know Nightmare beyond an evil brother to shoot arrows at?"Lust replies with a little grin but his tone burned like venom into Dream

Dream was silent.

"I was the only other person that he knew could see the red strings. Not even you, Xavior, since you were the first one he freed. So once he found my AU and met me, he'd visit quite often to just compare notes or get some understanding. He couldn't keep the things he kept inside in him forever after all. Oh he spoke so highly about his friends, telling about how much he loved each and every one of you. He'd do anything to protect you guys, even if it meant he'd be put in danger. He was used to the danger or getting hurt, he said. But at least now he had something to suffer for that he felt was worth it. So he defied Fate despite the consequences. He jokingly told me that misfits must stay together. If everyone was going to judge him or others as misfits, so be it. And you guys were his misfit family."Lust explains

Horror leans against a trembling wall.

"He enchanted each gift he gave each of you to keep the red strings away. Like Horror Bear wearing that crown is keeping the strings away as we speak."Lust says

"I can sense his pain...He is scared, drained, in pain, but is determined."Horror says

"How can you sense it?"Killer asks

"When I first came here he showed me how this place depended on him and his magic. If you clear your head and just feel this place, it can speak for him."Horror says

Then he starts knocking along the walls. He finds a hollow spot and tears it open to find a hidden space with a journal inside. Horror takes out the the journal, carefully opening it.

"Entry One, I am finally free from that living hell...Dream is stone now...Maybe someday we can be there for each other again, but the fact that he fought for my bullies, shot me instead of being there for me, hurts. We'll always be brothers, but I need to escape that darkness. I met Fate and boy is he ugly. All those red strings....I was able to tear free from him. Apparently he put me through that to make me heartless villain. That will not happen. It's like I just opened my eyes again, everything is so different now that I'm free.....I'll probably update this since I'm all by myself right now. Now I know I can defend myself with this strange goop on me, but what else can I do? There are all these worlds to explore too that I never heard of! -Nightmare"He reads

Dream bows his head.

Horror flips through the next few pages.

"Aww! He's like a lil kid discovering the world in these entries! It talks about him learning his powers, training himself, and exploring worlds! Oooh! He wrote about the castle construction too! He sounds so happy with only acknowledgments of how other people saw him. He's learning about the multiverse. This must've been what he was doing while Dream was trapped in stone."Horror says with a bright smile

He flips through some more pages.

"Meeting Lust......Meeting Outer...Chats or notes of worlds...Close encounters with the red strings and Fate, so vague so far......Entry #98, Today I nailed opening portals or teleportation at will! Still feels weird to sense other people's negativity.....I found this strange world called.....Oooh! Dust! This is his first entry with you!"Horror exclaims

"What?!"Dust says

"Yeah. Red strings lay everywhere, torn and piles of dust everywhere.....Feels familiar....Could Fate be torturing someone else? I see words in the sky saying Reset 5,768......I was walking around when I heard crying nearby. I went to find the source in this abandoned place and found a skeleton crying beside a pile of dust with bones in the center.....He held a red scarf and his clothes were covered in dust. His eyes were red with a tint of blue. I've never seen red strings put around a neck so tightly. Fate is so cruel. He looked at me as I sat beside him, my tentacles breaking the strings just by the weight of them. I introduced myself and he told me his story. I could feel his pain radiating off of him.....He's in one of the many empty rooms of my castle now. Well, they I should say. His brother hangs around him but hides from me. I can sense a second aura with him. They're both clearly suspicious of me. Heh, don't blame them after everything they were put through......But there was no way I was leaving them to be tortured by Fate. The feeling of being alone in such a terrible time is one of the worst feelings ever, and I will prevent this Dust guy from feeling it. I will be there for him. I can already see that he was a good guy twisted by Fate's cruel game...It'll be nice not to be alone anymore. Will report back later.-Nightmare."Horror reads

"I told you guys Papy is real!"Dust says

"There's more on the next page. Entry #99, I was getting food for my friend Dust and I by world hopping while he stayed home. Yep, he's my friend. We've gotten to know each other over the past few weeks and my senses were right, he's a very good guy despite everything done to him. He just needs some sensitivity when it comes to certain topics and some sympathy or empathy, NOT pity or judgments. I've even seen his brother once or twice, but very rare. Anyways, Fate came to see me. Apparently he found out about my meddling in his plans for Dust. Which was to remove any sense of morals or sanity he has to make him kill until there's nothing left or he dies. That was debated and a few torn strings sent him running. But that confirmed my suspicions...There are others out there suffering or being put through hell for Fate's pleasure. It's hard to look through the petty hatred or other negativity to single out those genuinely suffering, but I will find them. I am hopping through some portals to make sure I am not being followed.............What the fucking hell..................Umm.."Horror reads, then falls silent.

"What? What is wrong?"Killer asks

Horror looks at Error.

"Error....Why didn't you tell us you were tortured like....That?"Horror asks

Error crosses his arms, hugging himself tighter and looking at them all with some sort of fear. Especially when he looked at Ink. Horror pulled Error away from Ink, slamming the door on Ink and Dream's faces.

"What did you find?"X!Chara asks

"He found Error on his way home."Horror says

He looks to Error for permission to read and Error nods.

"There is this white, empty, void-like space with dozens of red strings dangling down from what may be the ceiling. Some are torn but more of them jumble together to the same spot. I've never seen so many. I got overwhelmed with dozens of horrible auras, none of which were visible or in the world itself but dripping in from up above. Such sick things they wanted. Then I got the darkest feeling that I've ever sensed. I just realized I dropped the bags. I have to go.-Nightmare. Entry #100-Phew, I got them before it was too late. I've never seen so many red strings on someone. I found this black skeleton alone in this place, glitching and tearing blue strings from his face, then tying them around himself..As if the red ones already on his neck weren't enough....Who is he? What happened to him? How long has he been suffering? When I tore him free of the strings it seemed like it knocked him out. I took him home with the groceries and set him in a room. He just woke up....We're talking...Dear AUs he went through hell...He is hearing voices? He calls himself Error....Fate is an unjust asshole, this guy is a total bean. I'll introduce him to Dust later, he's still recovering. But he's staying with me, no doubts about it. I'm not letting Fate use him again. Entry #101-It's been a few months since I've written in this. Dust and Error have settled into the castle, calling it their home. They seem to get along well. Error doesn't recall what happened when we met because he had to crash and reboot, a symptom of whatever was done to him by Fate. That and his haphephobia. He cannot be touched or he will crash. On rare occassions short touches from me will be allowed. But he is such a sassy, sarcastic, smart, creative and very good friend that I don't want Fate to get a hold of. Voices torture him and force him to go out and destroy worlds to please them or bring back some so-called balance. Dust and Error make this place brighter and better....-Nightmare :) Entry #102-We were in OuterTale just stargazing and talking, something we've grown to enjoy with Error. He was sewing another puppet and we spaced ourselves from everyone else, already knowing how they saw us as freaks. Nothing new. Then out of nowhere an arrow was shot into Error's arm with bits of paint firing into his head and legs, burning him like acid. He cried out in pain and I saw more arrows coming. I got up and used a tentacle to block them, pulling Error and Dust behind me. I see Dream standing there with a stranger beside him holding a giant brush. They're attacking Error but somehow the panicked bystanders put the blame on us freaks. Dream hasn't changed, I could tell already. Already hurting the one who wouldn't harm others if it was his choice, the misfit everyone looked down on. Dream looked shocked to see me, but I gave him and his new friend a warm welcome with tentacle slaps or other attacks. Dust fired attacks at them as well. Morons called us abominations or villains, but those words don't hurt anymore. If that's what they think, so be it if it means standing by my FRIEND in this twisted world. A red-eyed Sans dropped in mid-battle to argue with so-called Ink. Apparently Dream's new friend wasn't a saint either and a pain to this guy. This Sans, naming himself Fell, looked at us and joined our side. We eventually left and I learned about Fell. Apparently he has a rough AU and mean brother that Ink had manipulated, creating worse conditions. He now has a room whenever he needs it. Error told us about this Ink guy and boy is he a jerk! He only shows up to hurt Error and won't even listen to Error just because he is said to be a glitchy fiend and destroyer! Soulless, literally! His only motive is to hurt Error and create for his own pleasure. Error can't stop himself from destroying or it will disturb balances and he will get hurt one way or another. And now that I know that THEY are after him, I'm not going to just sit by. Dust said the same. We'll go with him, help destroy or fight those so-called heroes and protect him. Consequences or others be damned, I don't care. Fate has been cruel and unjust so if we become the villains for not following his plan, so be it. Everyone will meet their true judgment and karma some day. Sorry we have morals and care for our friends.-Nightmare"Horror reads

The door bursts open and Ink knocks the door open, leaping towards Error and attempting to hug him. Horror knocks him away quickly.

"Why are you even reading that?"Dream asks

"Why are you an asshole for a brother?"Fell replies

Dream is silent.

"It could give clues to Fate since he is the only one who has seen him, let alone so frequently."Lust says

Horror continues flipping through the pages.

"There's just entries for a while of how he found Killer, Cross, X!Chara and I. There's entries about battles with the Star Sanses and growing closer to us with memories of celebrations, birthdays, games and such. How he protected us from the red strings and.........How he considered us family. A few entries were theorizing or planning emergency scenarios and responses if something happened....Heh, he bottled up his feelings for you Killer in here for a long while. Let's see.........Oh! He left a clue....Did he give anyone a hoodie recently?"Horror asks

"Yeah..."Killer says, showing that he was wearing it

"Check the right pocket."Horror says, hiding the journal again

Killer takes a small locket with a note out.

"This holds everything that I think Fate could use me to hurt others....To hurt you..Fate can be cruel, horrifying, merciless, insane and unjust.I won't do any of that sort,willingly, so I trust you with this. But there's something else that could be used....I'm sorry, I should've fixed this long ago, Killsy. Please don't be mad.-Night"He reads

Horror and the gang look at each other, knowing what he meant. Killer kept rereading it though in disbelief. Horror lowers Killer into a seat gently and then Killer dropped the note, gripping the chair tightly in some sort of pain. After a few moments it passed and Killer was fine. He checks his soul to see that it is no longer target-shaped but the shape of a regular monster soul, just red and white.

That horrified Killer more than liberated him.

"What do we do now?"The gang asks

TBC