#Ancha I'm shaking you again!!!!

[spotaus]

Hey! The ask!! Lets see if i can manage to type everything i thought about in the time i got my break!!

So. I got thinking. (This was also a half baked drabble idea but didnt feel like making it a full one so you are getting the idea like this!! >:D)

We spoke about how Killer would be guarding Nightmare in the raid where Dream manages to steal him.

The problem is. If Killer can still move this guy WILL throw himself at Dream to save Nightmare. Meaning that Killer has to be mortally wounded. (Also works with why Nightmare rushes to shield his older brother)

So we got Killer just laying in whatever room Nightmare and him ahd been in. Probably slowly bleeding out.

On one hand. You can have the Knights run in right after. But then what is stopping them from splitting up, one part staying with Killer and one part rushing after Dream? And it has been YEARS since Dream last visited the castle. He may not remember everything quite right.

So... in theory. It should take more time for the Knights to get to Killer. But Killer is mortally wounded.

So. In comes!! Ccino (my beloved).

Ccino had been going towards killer and nightmare after helping the servants and maids evacuate or go to the bunker.

He gets there to see Killer pretty much laying there dying on the ground, Nightmare no where to be seen.

What does he do?

Ccino's crisis management skills activate. He wants to find Nightmare but he has no clue of where Nightmare went and he has no way to fight whoever took him. Killer is in front of him actively dying.

He goes to Kilelr's side.

Killer, the romantic idiot, probably realises he is fucking dying. So maybe he is like. Maybe i can confess? (Add some extra angst and make it that the hit was by either his neck or spine or soul. Making him unable to communicate)

Ccino is trying to keep the wound closed but he has no healing magic. He doenst even have first aid kit on him beyond the bare minimum. What does he do?

Well... he knows there is one being still in the castle. He does a little prayer and asks for help.

For Killer? Killer is slowly falling unconscious. He tried to confess but cant speak. He cant even apologise for failing everyone and losing Nightmare. At least Ccino is here in his last moments. He isnt alone. So he falls asleep.

Maybe some warm light guides him. A familiar voice that was once a friend? He tries to follow only to be stopped. Stopped by something sharp and pulling him down. Back into the darkness. It feels like when he fell into a bush. The way those thorns prick his bones.

Killer at first tries to follow the image of his friend (were they his friend? They saved him right? So why shouldnt he follow them?)

Only to hear so soft. So quietly from the darkness. 'Please dont let him die...'

And that sounds like Ccino... so Killer follows that voice. Goes into the darkness and it feels as if he traveled through a overgrown forest with sticks and stuff all pulling on his limbs.

And he wakes up. His skull in Ccino's lap as Ccino keeps the wound closed and did the best first aid he did. Moments later the Knights rush in to assist.

(Yes. The tree pulled Killer's soul back to the living side while the memories of chara were trying to pull killer into oblivion and get him to die)

Okay that is all. I wanted to get that out of my system.

Okay. Hi. As always, losing my everloving mind over this. Gonna make a Cut so it's easier to scroll hehe-

First off, you are SO right about Killer fighting till he physically can't move. I think that the combat between Dream and Killer is actually decently drawn out, because Dream is kinda in a frenzy (Storm growing outside + just obliterated Cross as far as he knows) and as a mostly long-range attacker it was stupid of him to try and fight Killer alone in a confined space. Killer's fast, and has a lot more to lose if he loses this fight (Nightmare is still hidden but low key stuck, and Dream is very adamant about ending his life) so he gets up close and personal for a while and lands quite a few solid attacks. However, Killer has also heard about Dream. He saw the distress on his little face when Cross admitted who had sent him and why. How Nightmare refused to send an assassination party to end things prematurely. This is Night's brother, so Killer won't kill him. As much as he wants to.

This leaves him at a direct disadvantage, and anytime he backs off to recoup Dream shoots arrows at him. (I also think he took a couple on purpose, because where he'd hidden Nightmare was the trajectory and he couldn't block it fast enough). And then, I like to think that when Killer gets in really close one time, Dream summons his blades, the ones he was still a novice with. But! One of Them peirces Killer's outer ring of his soul, and Dream jabs upwards (kinda using his other hand on the hilt to have more force) and wedges it into Killer's spine just past his ribcage. When Dream does this it his the magical equivalent of a vein, and when he shoves Killer away and off his blade, the other can only stay upright for a few stumbles before he teeters and falls onto his back.

Soul out in the open, covered in wounds (I like to think Dream's arrows peirce and burn), and now bleeding and seemingly paralyzed, Dream pulls out his bow again, ready to shoot Killer straight in his target soul. But, he's still selfish, and he wants to monolgue a bit, curse Killer (who he believes has been controlling his brother for so long) and shoots his hand, then a gash in his neck from a well-placed arrow, until he can see that dusty layer rising on Killer's bones signaling it'll be a slow death.

But, when he finishes cursing out Killer, is ready to fire the final shot? Nightmare had been hiding in a wardrobe, when Killer had stopped talking he'd gotten worried and peeked out against his better judgement. Now, with the scene, he rushes into the crossfire and, like we've discussed, the arrow ricochets off the mask and knocks it off, revealing Night in his teen form.

And it's a quick pleading, a desperate little plea from Nightmare not to kill Killer, or hurt his knights or the people. To just stop. And Dream, after his moment of shock + probing Night's emotions to find this really is him, scoops him up. His intention was to finish Killer off, but the storm outside roars louder and he can feel a strong emotion hurrying his way, so he decides to retreat. Killer should bleed out anyways.

And now finally to your point!!! Ccino is absolutely the best option! The Knights have no idea what's happening inside, and all they can. Do to help is keep Blue and Ink occupied. Cross is down for the count and looking rough, and they just have to trust that Killer got Night out or somewhere safe. Ccino? Ccino finished his part of the job, efficient af, and is rushing to go find Nightmare and Killer. He doesn't know Dream got in, he doesn't know quite where they'd be, but he can kinda sus it out based on carnage and wet steps in the halls where *soneone* got it. If they did, Killer would probably be stalling with Night nearby.

And like u said, he gets there and finds Killer actively dying, and crisis management kicks in! Ough everything about this moment is so perfect... Ccino never learned medicine, and has no healing magic, so he can only make Killer a little more comfortable and put pressure on his wounds to try and stop the bleeding. And he *sees* that soul injury. No matter how well he staunches the blood flow with his apron, that would surely kill him without treatment. And Killer seems to still be conscious, but barely. He's fading. And silent, which is deeply eerie and Wrong.

And good gods. Killer wanting so so bad to confess because, he's gonna die anyways so he wants to get it out, but he Literally can't say anything?? Wauhh!!!!!

And Ccino reaching out to the Veing in the castle... praying, begging for Killer to be saved, because Ccino refuses to leave him alone, and also refuses to lose him. Killer was Night's first knight, the most important person in that kid's world (Ccino doesn't count himself). All the Knights rely on Killer for guidance and support. Ccino needs Killer in his life, this idiot, this criminal, is somehow one of his favorite people in this castle. Please, please, please don't let him go. Keep him here until help arrives. *please*.

And the Castle obliges. Not only is Killer the one who protected Nightmare, the prince who is restoring this land, but Killer is one Ccino values. Ccino is here, stopping his wounds, begging for help to save a life. He hasn't done that before.

And!!! The description from Killer's perspective!!!!! For all intents and purposes, it seems the warm friendly voice (Chara!!!) Should be the one he follows. It's gentle, beckoning towards a soft glow, it's peaceful. And then the tree's method of getting Killer back is to snag him. Darkness, unpleasant contact that stabs and pricks and scratches. It's not nice, it's not subtle, it's dragging him back into pain and agony of his injuries (even if it's not immediate). But Killer doesn't fight because he hears Ccino! Even if he doesn't process that it's him, it unlocks something in his core that makes him decide to take the hard route and push back through that dense forest until he's back to the living realm. Still on death's door, but alive!

Oh I love this visual so dearly, frothing at the mouth about it....

And ofc the aftermath. Dream couldn't find the main entrance, so he snuck out a servant's door and signaled from outside that he was ready to go. The militia (I think the guard was busy holding off militia members from entering the castle walls) retreats first, scattering into town and Rogers demands no pursuit, hold the walls strong. Then Blue and Ink narrowly escape by simply using Ink's magic puddles, appearing somewhere else in the city through a big enough rain puddle. (Though, miles out they're still dodging the occasional lightning strike).

Only after they're too far off do the knight rush back. Horror's got Cross (in critical condition due to a blow to the side of his ribs+spine but ultimately stable) and Dust leads the way to search for Night and Killer, also following the trail Dream had left, and... they find Ccino and Killer. Killer is very very much limp in Ccino's lap, they're basically sitting in a pool of Killer's blood, and Ccino upon spotting them rapidly tells Dust to go find a healer and bring them here. Immediately.

Horror sets Cross nearby and focuses his efforts on trying to help Ccino put pressure on Killer's wounds but he can't do much either.

But, y'know, the healers who have magic for it are able to stabilize him (they are flabbergasted that he's not dead) and Cross is alright too. Dust + Horror go searching for Night. Nowhere to be found.

[spotaus]

So i was rereading the new age masterpost (as i tend to do lmao)

And i had the thought because... dustedafterdeath? In a real real real rough spot.

I think after fresh returns to his brothers. It starts the like... slightly hostile neutral period (it isnt dust who is hostile. The other knights are)

But there is this kinda peace and neutral air and things are getting a little better. Geno is at least allowed in the same general area is dust again and reaper and dust had a short conversation.

Which is nice. But i like drama and was wondering how interesting it would be to have this moment. Before they truly make up but after the most hostile moment. So many feelings but no one daring to speak about it, but still very obviously there and it does colour every interaction.

So. Of course. I figured it would be fun to lock them in an enclosed space together.

Why? Well... you said how reaper's land has large mountains ans stuff?

What if some people are like trying to set up like a drugs ring? Like magical drugs or maybe even like slave colours or soemthing?

It is a threat but the mountains are an amazing defence for a reason. They are very hard to navigate and large.

The best way to navigate them? By horse :3

But you need to be a damn good rider.

And then you have dust. You know. Ex-crime lord who knows traffic rings and the politics around it. Who is a knight and trained with survival skills. And who is The Horse whisperer.

And everyone is aware of this so everyone knows the correct way to go about this problem. But well. Magical drugs/collars/tools? Geno is very much the expert on that...

As you can imagine. There is some tension lmao

It is. Early enough in the morning that I have time to answer this. And. I will be thinking about it. SO much.

I love the idea of after Fresh finally returns, they have this weird uneasy peace (shout out to our Knights! They're the protective brothers Dust needs!) And it's like... a really really slow period of re-intigration. And then there's news. Those drugs (I like the idea that because the one Dust was in collapsed, those who escaped moved off to a new location, and surviving supplies were moved slowly but surely to the border mountains of Reaper's kingdom to hide there abd develop more. Distribute there in paradise to the truly wealthy.) and collars and dangerous magic tools? They're getting distributed there now. At Reaper's kingdom.

It IS a threat, one which stemmed from Night's work dismantling the branch in his kingdom. Reaper doesn't want to risk sending troops into the mountain for the reason you gave, it's dangerous by foot, but also dangerous for those unexperienced with horses. Nightmare wants to help him, as per their treaty he said he was willing to lend any reasonable aid to him should there be a threat to his land. But... Dust is his resident crime/horse expert!!! He doesn't want to send him out there alone, but the others aren't quite as good with horses, and more people going would place them in more danger trying to be efficient in the dismantling.

And, of course, Geno is the one who deciphered what all of these drugs and items did anyhow. He recognized the magic composition and the intent and spells woven in. It's amiture magic amplified by a different, stronger source. Everything is highly dangerous, and sone of the drugs abd the collar coukd degrade a monster's soul with too much contact or prolonged use. He needs to be at the place where they're made to destroy or seal off that source somehow so no one can use it like that again.

And ofc Reaper has a kingdom to run. Troops to manage as they hunt down anyone in the city trying to spread this stuff! He and Nightmare are probably discussing this in person (he can't just ask Night over letter to send the Knight Geno was harassing over to their kingdom. Alone!) I like to think in the War Room since they have a lot of map space in there. And they both know exactly what *should* be done. The most efficient and direct route to an easy solve. Reaper knows from his countless years as a general. Nightmare knows because he's seen his men and no one could handle this as easily as those two. But neither of them say it for a while. Nightmare mentions that Dust is an expert regarding crime rings. Reaper explains what Geno found about the items that were turned over to them. And there I'd a little pause where they both know they've come to the same conclusion about how best to solve this. The safest way to do so, but... damn they don't want to.

I think it's finally admitted by Nightmare that to get anywhere they'd need Dust's riding prowess, and that a smaller group would be best. Reaper then admits that Geno would be the best to send up to finish off the threat. No one else they could trust enough to go up and find a power source and seal it away. Understand it's origins and functions. Magic-wise they'd be fine. Dust is strong, and knowing him he could probably talk their way right into the heart of the operation to obliterate it first. They are, theoretically, the only smart team to do the mission.

They resign to talk to their respective parties, and reconvene the next day.

Dust takes it decently well, all things considered. When Nightmare explains the mission to him, he agrees he's the Only choice of the Knights to take it on. No one could even get a horse up those mountains, let alone find a hidden base. When Night brings up his partner would be Geno for the mission there's a moment of hesitation. But, Dust notoriously doesn't care about his own wellbeing, so..... He agrees. Just him and Geno sounds awful, it makes him jumpy just thinking about it, but... it's work. It's for the treaty. So long as Geno stays like he has been, they'll get through it and then keep distance for a bit again. ...at least, that's what he hopes. Nightmare sees how fast Dust agrees and tells him he does NOT have to go. If he's uncomfortable, that is a reasonable purpose for not letting him go. But... who would go in his place? Killer was good with the crime rings, but he's kinda shitty at horse riding. Horror's good with animals but he needs a stocky horse and it might not take mountain passes well. Cross? They are NOT sending Cross out alone with Geno, they'd have a missing Mage on their hands. It has to be him . And he's fine with that (or, he can at least say he is).

Meanwhile Reaper returns to Geno and Geno's mostly just nervous because!!! What does he mean Dust's their crime expert? He knew about the horses but like, why can't they have a third? To make Dust more comfortable, to keep him in line? What if he says something stupid and invasive and Dust hates him even more? What if he screws up worse? Reaper helppppp. And. Yeah, they're not happy about it, but the show must go on!

And dude.... I like to think the trip itself is wild (Nightmare only tells the other Knights of Dust's mission after he's already left. I'm debating whether Night would send some guards or Horror along with them to recieve Dust and travel back with him when the mission was done.) as in. It takes almost 3 days horseback to get high enough on the mountain range to find the spot where the crime ring is re-establishing itself. It's out of the way, but Dust figures they're using old mining shafts to get up and down a lot easier. Y'know what multiple days of riding means??? Camping!!! (I think for proper tension they probably need to be up there a few days, if not a week or so lmao- just enough time to worry anyone not up there with them-)

Geno's horse is a bit sturdier, so it's the one carrying a lot of their food supplies. They packed a tent and some other supplies too. Dust is good about guiding their horses, and it's an eerily silent climb for the whole first day. The only time they seem to talk is when Dust let's Geno know they need to stop to let the horses drink from a little stream/waterfall or graze a bit. And then they find a good spot to stop just before nightfall and set up. Dust sets up almost everything the first night, aside from the fire (Geno uses a spell that won't make smoke). And then they rest. They stay on opposite sides of the tent, and Geno's pretty sure Dust didn't actually sleep that first night.

It's an agonizing routine for Geno, and by the middle of the 2nd day, he decides he's going to start asking about the mission. Just to heard something aside from nature. He can only make so many crystal structures to fidget and pass the time. Dust is tense about it but answers when Geno asks him questions. Geno's curious, and he's trying to get better at remembering and listening to what Dust says, but he's not tactful. Eventually he's accidentally trying to pry into Dust's past with the crime ring and why he joined. Dust clams up at that, and Geno has to quickly apologize because it's not for the mission, he was just being nosy- That night at camp is less quiet, and Dust still sets stuff up on his own while Geno chills out and thinks about nothing and everything.

On the third day Dust starts talking business and what the plan should be. It's a lot like back at the start, when he'd talk Killer through how they'd infiltrate and destroy each base. Only, Geno wasn't a fighter. As far as he'd been told. Geno just listened to him, afraid of crossing boundaries by trying to encroach on his skills and knowledge. Almost the entire day is them brainstorming and planning. And then there's the base. Which, honestly, isn't nearly as hard to take down as Dust expected. They were given permission by Reaper to just... play Judge jury and executioner. The mountains were technically still in his land, and Reaper had the power to give others authority in his stead. In this case, Dust and Geno. They weren't very merciful. Though, anyone who fled to the mountains would probably die on their own anyways. Geno finds that power source and the big supply and atomically deconstruct pretty much all the items. (I like to think they were hidden in a cave, so Geno's magic just covered the cavern in crystal formations.) And then Geno seals off that source by placing a sort of geode (dampener) around it. It should obscure it from all normal senses for a long time.

And then they head back and (sorry I'm losing steam lol- this whole thing I imagine is a lot more hesitant/aggressive than I'm writing it lol-) I think they get down safely. (Maybe for a touch of drama something happens to the mountain itself on their way down and they have to pull a teamwork to survive <3 like, maybe a rockslide. Dust's busy calming the horses, and Geno actually manages to cast a shield spell around them before rocks obliterate them-)

They get back safe, and visibly it seems like nothing between them has changed because Dust still evacuates Geno's vicinity as soon as he can, and Geno still seems subdued, but! Separately the trip let them get a better understanding of eachother. Geno wasn't pushing about Dust's magic (didn't even mention it-) and Dust got to see that Geno is really truly skilled at what he does, abd it made him both better and worse to see Geno obsess over the magic on the mountain in an all-too familiar way.

(When Dust gets back, Cross is going to crush him in a hug because ??? What were you thinking ??? You idiot skeleton ???)