#Frisk controls Frisk | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

abhainnwhump · 3 months

Text

IMYM Chapter 37

Nightmare's Labyrinth: Dream?

(Content warnings: Torture, psychological torture, hallucinations, eye gore, minor mouth gore, noncon body modification, hypnosis/mind control, child torture, injuries via glass, pseudo death, minor body horror, bad pun. Yippee! This chapter is fun.)

<- Previous Chapter || Masterlist || First Chapter

Dream fell to the ground, and it was a miracle his bones didn’t break. His emaciated body trembled as he sat up and looked around. He tried to nap, but the portal opened beneath him snapped him out of it. They were in a hall made of gray bricks varying in shade. It seemed familiar, yet they couldn’t place why. He could’ve sworn the corridor was shifting, but that could’ve been his tired eye lights.

“Hell- hello? Core? Cross? Blue? Is anyone here?” Dream’s voice was raspy from lack of use and lack of water. His voice echoed through the corridor, but no one responded.

His body went cold like a coat of ice covered his body. Dream knew the feeling from anywhere, especially from the last month or so of torture. He looked down at the Anti-Magic cuffs on his wrists. They had been attached so long that they began to rub his wrists raw, leaving nasty wounds.

Nightmare’s smooth voice echoed through the space. “Welcome. welcome, my dear prisoners. I assume you have many questions about your current predicament. Let me explain. This is a challenge I came up with to deal with you. It’s a maze you must traverse to get to the other side. There is no time limit, so don't feel pressured to rush and hurt yourselves. The rules are simple, there are three. One, no magic allowed. However, you can have your weapons back.” The voice paused and Dream’s twin blades clattered down in front of them. They were useless as a bow since he had no arrows, magic or otherwise.

“Two, you may team up with your friends if you see them. It’s not my fault nor the fault of anyone else if they’re . . . different. Three, the challenges will involve you challenging your moral compasses. Don’t be afraid to act a little selfish to survive. If you find your way out, you will be free to leave. If you don’t, you’ll still belong to me. Is that fair? Good. That’s what I assumed. Ta ta." The voice went silent, leaving Dream to only hear their own breathing.

“Nightmare . . . why.” Dream muttered. Sighing, he picked up the swords off the ground. He looked around for an exit but saw nothing. The only path was the corridor ahead. To freedom, to death, to better, or worse, Dream didn’t know. He didn’t have a choice. The hall was as cold as Nightmare’s soul. The walls were made of bricks tainted with purple. While his aura-sensing magic worked for a while since he was so powerful, it couldn’t anymore. They wished it did.

They watched for the others, cautious. He stopped and yelped as he felt something clench around his foot. He kicked and pulled it out of what appeared to be a large mouse trap. This place was booby-trapped. He still heard nothing of the others, no sign they were okay.

Dream walked a while longer until he came across a fork in the structure. Purple glitter shone on both paths, enchanting the maze. Dream’s gaze flipped between both paths. They feared one of them would lead him to a hole where he would fall to his death. Truthfully, compared to everything else, an eternity of falling through darkness sounded peaceful. Dream looked around and spotted some pebbles. He picked both of them up and threw them down the hall. They both bounced and made an equal amount of noise, equally safe, he wouldn't die yet. Dream hummed, taking the left path after a bit more thought.

What were these puzzles Nightmare spoke of? That's what worried Dream the most. He wasn't mentally prepared for the horrors his brother had up his sleeve. They had to get out, it may be their only way back home.

==============================================================================

“I hate that octopus bruh . . .”

Epic trudged through the maze, muttering to himself. He squeezed his chicken to have something to do. The only thing to keep him interested was the hallways kept changing directions. He ignored the scuttles and creaks because he knew it was Nightmare trying to scare him. Or one of the Murder Time Trio members. Epic liked pranks, but those guys were just assholes. Was Nightmare serious about everyone being in here? Epic smirked. He wasn’t going to break, he told himself that a thousand times in his cell.

Two thuds caused him to turn. He didn’t see anything, he thought his nerves were taking over. Epic looked forward and footsteps ran up to him. When he turned around, no one was there. He could barely react before he accidentally stepped on a pressure plate and spikes ripped out of the ground, tearing into his coat and bones.

"Ow! What the heck?" Epic pulled his spiked and bleeding body from the trap. His clothes were all torn up and his jacket was shreds. He also bled from several bones. Epic shed the jacket off, it was useless now.

If it couldn't get any worse, ghosts surrounded him. They were pure black with purple eyes that looked so white. Epic squinted and felt sick. He recognized Alphy's tense and short figure anywhere. All these ghosts were the souls of the monsters Nightmare corrupted when he infected the AU. They muttered muddled words, either nonsense to disturb him or his final words.

You can make the guilt fade away, all you need to do is let your feelings go. A voice echoed through the hall, or maybe it was in his head. A sash appeared at his feet, melted from malice and whatever the floor was made of.

"What? I'm not doing that! Why would I blow up my dead friends? That'd make them double dead." Epic laughed and tried to make a joke, but it did affect him. The Omega Timeline was a great place to live, sure, but he missed his AU.

The shadows started to surround him, clawing at him and crying for his help. Epic pushed them aside. For some reason, his hand didn't go right through their bodies. It felt a solid surface, which made it worse when they could all grab and touch him, scratching up his bleeding body further. Epic kicked them aside, but it hurt since well, he knew these people. That was the guy he got drinks from every Tuesday. That was his coworker. That was his friend's girlfriend.

"Get off me! I tried to help you, but I couldn't save everyone! Leave me alone!" Epic looked at the grenades. That would only make him feel worse, right? Epic groaned and gave in, grabbing the sash and throwing a bomb at some shadows nearby. He squeezed his eye sockets shut so he wouldn't have to watch.

The shadow screamed way too humanly for his liking. He opened his eye sockets to notice he wasn't being attacked anymore. Epic looked around. The room went silent with only a shadow puddle where the bomb hit. He felt even guiltier than before. The malice that gave him the bomb sash before now summoned a white jacket with darker camo prints. It was even a trench coat like his old one with a new black turtleneck, how considerate! Epic switched out his clothes and noticed the ends of the sleeves at strange buttons on his palms. They were tiny black devices that reminded him of a web-slinger. The purple liquid with the drop sign on the bottom helped him figure out it was a poison blaster, one on each hand.

Epic stared down in one of the malice puddles and his hand slacked. His face had new scars across his nasal bridge and right cheek from the spikes. A teal swirl spun around inside, going right to his soul. Also going right to his soul was malice climbing up his body and eroding his soul. His worldview changed completely. As the voices said, all his feelings of guilt faded away. He wondered if he could finally sleep at night. Not a bad deal if he did say so himself.

He looked around and threw another bomb at some shadows. It screamed and ran away with a misty arm. Then he tried the poison blaster and stung one in the eyes with a yelp of pain. Epic began to laugh. Holy bruh, this was a lot of fun! He could wipe them out like one of the video games he used to play with Cross! He could even make fake points and have a score. Cross was going to love this, wherever he was.

==============================================================================

Blue tried to keep his head up as he went through the maze. He was glad Nightmare let him keep his hammer. He kept it on his shoulder, swinging it slightly. He thought the maze switching around was fun if infuriating at times. It was more interesting than staring at the same gray stone walls every day. He held Error's scarf, which he started wearing after his murder. But he also found it weird he hadn’t seen anyone. Were the others okay?

“Dream! Cross! Epic! DREAM! Is anyone around?” Blue called into the darkness, but the only response he got was his echo. He worried about them. What if this was all a death trap? Blue had to watch his step to keep from setting off a spike trap or something else. He came across a gap in the middle of the floor and took a running jump. His left foot slipped, but he did make it over the edge. He accidentally stepped on a button and glass shot through his foot. He hissed, looking down at his red boot turning dark purple. How strong was that glass to break through his boots?

He paid more attention to the ground this time. He listened for any possible footsteps or screams. What if they were in danger? The knight tilted his head. He didn’t hear screams, but he did hear laughter.

Wait, laughter?

Blue cocked his head and walked faster. He traveled toward the sound until he came across a hallway. He walked through it, barely avoiding the malice crawling around on the floor.

He entered a palace so gray it was white. Blueish-white light shone through the windows. Queen Toriel sat on her throne, wearing a gold crown and a purple dress adorned with jewels. She held a sword across her lap. But that was only at the end of the massive hall. A long red rug lined the ground and barriers blocked off the side. Dozens of monsters stood and looked at him, expecting something. Blue squinted and noticed the banners lining the sides of the huge castle. The Deltarune sign? But that was only used in the royal guard ceremony! He knew this because he watched hundreds on TV when he was a babybones, dreaming he could be up there someday.

“Woah, a knighting ceremony? Home? But . . .” It was long gone. Blue knew that. His world was turned to dust by Error. Error kept him as a hostage, but grew attached. Thinking about Error made his soul ache, so he focused on the current moment.

Queen Toriel laughed. Blue hadn’t heard that sound in ages. She held a gloved hand out toward him. “Of course this is your home, this is your knighting ceremony. This is your moment, come here.”

“My knighting ceremony? Are you saying I got into the royal guard? Wowie . . ."

"Yes, you've proven yourself brave. Come here, hero."

Blue stepped a foot forward, but he hesitated. This could be one of those puzzles Nightmare talked about.

Stretch set his hand on his shoulder. Blue's older brother, he hadn't seen him in years and teared up. He still smoked and refused to get out of his orange hoodie. But Blue couldn't care less. “G’job, bro. You earned it. Go get yer reward, I'm here for you."

"Th- thanks." Blue stammered out. He took the chance and walked down the hall. No one seemed to mind he was a glitch with a mostly inverted color palette. When he made it to the end, he got down on one knee out of respect. Toriel laughed lightly and waved her finger. With magic, his unwashed old glitching armor turned into a fine set of royal guard gear. That . . . wasn't something she could do before, but oh well.

"I hereby knight Blue PopPrince as a member of the royal guard. You'll start tomorrow morning. You'll arrive each day at four in the morning, you'll train and fight from sunrise to sunset, you will never take the armor off, and you'll see your brother on holiday only. Most of all, you'll leave the Star Sanses. Your life is devoted to this cause alone. That's why it's an honor."

“Wait, what? This isn’t what I wanted!” Alarm bells went off in Blue's head, the ones trying to warn him earlier. That wasn't even right, he knew the guard guidebook by heart. He clawed at the armor, trying to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge. It was like it was part of his bones. Blue screamed and kept trying to yank his gloves off, but it still didn’t do anything.

Toriel, or at least what he thought was Toriel, laughed the same laugh, but darker. "I thought it was. This is how the world works. Nothing is as we want. It's a miserable and cynical place, chasing our dreams will only lead to more heartbreak. You'll learn."

Toriel's face glitched into a spiral and malice crawled up his legs. It held him down and forced him to look. The malice that didn't restrain him swam into his soul and sucked the joy out of him. He still couldn't take the armor off.

As he stared into the teal swirl, Blue scrunched his face. It felt like weights pulling down his mouth and eyes and forcing his face into a permanent scowl. The strangest part was it felt . . . natural. He tried to look away, but something kept him looking. His friends and brother faded around him, including Toriel.

Blue blinked away the swirls now reflecting in his eye lights. His soul went cold and ached. He finally managed to look away. The room around him faded and he was back in the boring, dreary hallway. Blue scoffed at the walls. This place sucked. He still had the metal armor stuck on his body. Something in his head told him malice held it in place.

==============================================================================

Cross paused at the sound of a scream, followed by a shifting a new hallway opening up. It had to be Epic, he could recognize his best friend’s voice from anywhere. Cross narrowed his gaze and bolted toward the hall. The halls shifted again and Cross focused on hearing in order to find him.

After Fresh and his home world, he wasn’t going to lose anyone else. Dream had already been falling mentally, along with himself. Cross jumped through a small opening and rolled on the floor. He finally spotted Epic on the floor, crouching with his hand covering his eye sockets.

Cross’s eye sockets darted around the room in case there were any traps. Coast was clear. He was expecting a torture chamber, but instead, it was a normal hall. Epic sat in the middle of it, scratching at his arms like he was covered in fleas. He didn't notice Cross at first, not even when he snapped his fingers to get his attention. Cross raised a browbone in suspicion. Just in case, he tightened his grip on his swords. Nightmare wouldn't let them find each other this easy, right? He hasn't even seen any of the 'puzzles' he boasted about.

Epic turned around and wiped his forehead with a dramatic sigh of relief. "Bruh! Finally! I was waiting for you to show up!

Cross relaxed when he spoke. It sounded like him, but something was still off. That wasn't Epic's normal jacket. He wore purple and black clothes, Cross had never seen him wear white camo in his life. Where did he even get it? Epic noticed his skepticism and laughed it off. "Got caught in some spikes and it ripped my coat to shreds. It's somewhere in that area." Cross gestured vaguely behind Cross. He looked back at where he pointed but saw nothing.

Epic picked up a sash from the ground. Shocking Cross, the whole thing was lined with grenades. "I got this too. Wanna see something cool? There are these shadow things around this area that are annoying as hell, but I figured out how to get rid of them. Watch and learn, Oreo."

Epic loaded a grenade and threw it up on a tripwire trap. Shadows of Epictale's citizens wandered around the place. Epic kicked the side of the wall. It set off a wire and the bomb rolled down onto the group of five creatures. It exploded and Epic covered the sides of his skull. Two of them flew against the wall and the others scattered and screamed, leaving what looked like Monster Kid to be charred. As Epic said, they disappeared.

"Bruh, their screams! They sound so desperate! It's one bomb, you're overreacting! Easy kill!" He braced himself on the wall to stop his laughter.

Cross wasn't as disturbed about the fact Epic blew up these . . . creatures, but his reaction. They've laughed at memes about dark humor or death, but directly someone's suffering? That was something Killer, Dust, and Horror would do. The confusion and disturbance must've shown on his face because Epic relaxed.

"Oh come on, that was a little funny. Live a little! I thought you liked my jokes!" Epic jabbed his elbow into Cross's side. Cross pushed him aside. Something was wrong with Epic, more than the clothes. Cross shook his head, making Epic roll his eye lights.

"Boring. Come on, one hit, give it a shot!" He held a bomb out for him. Cross pushed it away with gentle force. Epic frowned, dissatisfied. “Ooo, you still got your necklace! Maybe this will knock you out of your daze because I don't know bruh, but it's going to be fun." Epic pounced on Cross.

Cross tried to push him off, but Epic snuck around the back. He grabbed the necklace and dangled it in front of Cross to taunt him. "Aw, ya want this? Fetch!" He threw it far down the hallway.

Cross blinked in shock and grunted. He ran after and grabbed his locket as Epic laughed at him. He glared back at him, both out of anger and confusion. Nothing was broken. The pent-up rage mixed with the hope he could snap him out of it made him slap Epic in the face. It caught him off guard and made him clutch his cheekbone. Epic's eye lights lost the glaze for a brief moment and he looked scared. Then it turned cocky again, and Cross could tell he pissed him off.

"The hell is with you, bruh?" Epic asked. Cross got his act together and huffed, grabbing his friend by his collar and pulling him up.

Cross tried to explain he wanted to bring Epic out of there with hand gestures and sounds. Epic watched and shook his head, shoving him away. "I get whatcha trying to say, but no. What's the point? Not gonna lie, being this is a lot more fun than that rubber chicken I used. I betcha I could find better friends than you." He crossed his arms and slid down the wall, glaring at Cross. He stuck his tongue out at him.

Cross's eye socket twitched. He gave up on arguing, he wasn't listening like this. He planned to come back for Epic, but for now, he stormed off. He couldn't bring himself to leave him behind, even if he was acting like a complete prick for no reason. He had to snap back to his senses soon, Nightmare was inside his head. He wouldn't get inside his.

==============================================================================

Nightmare nuzzled close to Ribbon as she cuddled into his lap, head leaning on his chest. Nightmare kissed her skull as he watched Cross leave Epic alone in the hall. Ribbon tilted her head with interest, taking a small handful of popcorn to eat. They sat in the fancy living room of his castle, relaxing on the black velvet couch on a dark wood floor.

He looked behind himself at the two souls strung up in black threads. They throbbed as liquid hatred covered them. One was a regular white monster soul and one was a black soul covered in glitches. Three more sets of threads hung empty. Killer poked Blue’s soul, Horror watched the footage with him and Ribbon, and Dust leaned against the wall. It was his idea to bring popcorn and treat the torment like a reality show. He believed that was what Dust called them. Nightmare never watched one.

“This is possibly the greatest idea I’ve ever had, don't you agree?” Nightmare inquired, enjoying watching them break and split from each other.

“Hey!” Ribbon argued.

“The second greatest idea I’ve ever had,” Nightmare corrected. He fed Ribbon another popcorn piece. He kept her under his jacket to use as a blanket. “You will always be my number one.”

Ribbon seemed satisfied with the answer and went back to watching the others suffer. Nightmare wrapped an arm around her. She seemed to enjoy the suffering as much as he was, what a perfect wife. He watched as Core tried to traverse their way through dirt, dust, and traps, Dream looked miserable, and Epic fell asleep. The traps were only there because he felt a little extra today. It sounded entertaining. He also decided to give them all new outfits. If they would be his toys, he decided how to use them.

Killer poked Blue’s soul again and this time, a screen appeared. Killer jumped back. “Shit! Boss? I think I broke it.”

Nightmare hummed and looked behind him. “Ah, you're fine. That’s simply a little extra spell I put on them so I can see through their eyes.” Nightmare snapped his fingers and one more appeared above Epic’s soul.

“Is it possible to get out? Or did you make it secretly the traps impossible to do?” Killer asked.

“It is possible. None of them have been smart enough to solve their puzzles though.” Nightmare smirked at the screen. “Which one do you think will make it out?”

“I’m betting twenty gold on Cross. He already doesn’t trust anyone, I bet he won’t get into his trap. He’s too smart for that.”

“None of them. You owe me and Horror twenty gold. each if he fails.” Dust muttered.

“Had hope for Blue but . . . not anymore." Horror added.

Nightmare looked down at Ribbon, curious for her answer. She just shrugged and lay her head back onto his chest. He didn’t need an answer. Ribbon’s comfort was enough to satisfy him. He looked back up at the screens and watched as the next prisoner fell to their trait.

==============================================================================

Core Frisk figured out where they were a few steps after the announcement. (name) in the Omega Graveyard. It made them antsy. They were right there.

They squinted as they tried to see through Nightmare’s magic's block. If the negativity wasn’t enough, the Anti-Magic cuffs made their foresight useless. They didn’t care about that though. Their thoughts surrounded the Omega Timeline. The graveyard was only about five miles from the central and while they still had no clue what went down, it was bad. The second they got out of here, if they got out of here, they planned to rush back and save whoever was left.

Core was so lost in their thoughts about rescue and cooking Nightmare into sushi that they didn't notice the floor change. Instead of the dark stone, it was smooth, almost blue tile. The walls were the same texture. An archway with a sterile purple light glowed above them. Core walked onto a bridge and looked down, realizing where they were. It was pure white light, the color of the void. Undertale's CORE. They covered their mouth. The memories they tried to repress for decades. If this is what they thought it was, then they knew who was coming.

“Kid,” Sans said.

Core glanced to the side. They caught sight of their hands, which turned almost yellowish. Their sweater transformed from gray to blue and purple. They haven’t been in this position for a century, it was how they turned into an outcode. And when that happened, their mind stuffed this memory down as deep as possible. This trap made all those memories smack them in the face.

Sans kept his usual nonchalant smile as he walked onto the bridge. He kept his hands inside his blue jacket, but his look was different. Sans’ face was burned in Core’s mind, so they knew. His face blurred, like imagining a drawing but when it came time to put it on paper, it was confused.

“Sans?” Core asked. They took a step back. If this was what they thought it was, they had to get out of here.

"Heya, you've been causing a lot of problems, both for me and my friends. I hate to pick a bone with anyone, but this can't happen anymore. See ya." He raised his hand and blue magic surrounded Core. Sans' eye lit up blue and they threw Core into the white void below. They screamed and reached out as their body fell further and further into the abyss. As they fell through the top, their body stung like a million scissors cut into it.

Just as their hands faded, they woke right back up at the start of the maze. They blinked in confusion but ran across this time. Sans wrapped them up in blue magic. "Kid. You've been causing a lot of problems, both for me and my friends. I hate to pick a bone with anyone, but this can't happen anymore. See ya."

He threw Core Frisk back into the void, scattering their remains across time and space. It hurt as much and like before, they're right back to the start, clutching their arms. Black malice began to form from both sides of the bridge. Oh, now they figured out their puzzle.

Over and over, Core Frisk tried to make it across the bridge or fight, only to get the same results every time.

"You've been causing a lot of problems-"

Help, HELP!

"I hate to pick-"

Another scatter.

"This can't happen anymore. See ya."

Core's entire body stung and they panted.

It’s too much stress, isn’t it? It’s driving you mad. You can't handle it and want to cry and hide.

Core listened to the voice over the speaker in the corner. It didn't sound like Nightmare, but it was something he would say. They narrowed their eyes. No way in the multiverse were they going to do it. Especially not with the malice crawling around the floor. It threatened to eat their soul. Core narrowed their eyes and groaned. As they teleported back to the start, they knew they needed a new plan.

Give up. You're just a child. This is too much pressure for you.

"Shut up! I'm thinking!" Core shouted at nobody. They shut their eyes to avoid looking at the spirals appearing on the screens around the CORE. They didn't have much time before Sans came back in. Their eyes darted between the malice puddle growing on both sides. Their eyes set on the bridge itself. It wasn't that wide and there were pipes around it . . . they had an idea.

Sans walked back inside. "Kid. You've been causing a lot of problems, both for me and my friends. I hate to pick a bone with anyone, but this can't happen anymore. See ya." His eye flashed blue and he wrapped Core in his magic, throwing them into the abyss. Core wrapped one hand around the pipe and swung under it, holding on for dear life. The dust slipping from the boots fell into the void.

Core waited for Sans to leave, listening for his sigh and the slippers walking away. Their hands started to slip as they clung to the bottom pole of the bridge. Their shoes slid off the bars and they almost fell again, kicking dust into the void. Core summoned all their strength and pulled themself up. They rolled onto the bridge and took a deep breath. They kept an eye out for more malice or another trap, but there weren’t any. It all faded away when they solved the puzzle. The door in the back of the room opened. Core ran to it, but checked for traps before going through. There weren’t any.

They were safe for now and ran off. Their body turned back to monochrome, everything was good. Well, except their body stinging with pins from being soul scattered twelve times.

==============================================================================

Dream walked through the hall, dead-eyed like a zombie. Glass and spikes ripped into his feet and boots, but he managed to ignore it.

He hadn’t seen another soul in this maze and it felt like he was wandering for hours. Did Nightmare lie? Or did the others escape? Or did they . . . no, he wouldn’t think about that. Stay positive. Hold onto that little bit of hope left in his heart.

He turned down another one of the hallways that never ended. They could’ve been searching in circles and he would never know. Maybe this was Nightmare’s punishment for him, dooming him to walk in a maze alone with no exit yet a desperate goal. Dream sighed, but then a sound caught their attention.

Grumbling.

They didn’t sound friendly, but Dream was desperate. “Hello! It’s me, Dream! Who’s there?”

“Dream?” Blue’s voice echoed clearer. Dream grinned when he came into view. However, something was off about him. His clothes, where did he get the suit of armor? His eye lights were dull, more white than blue, but that was natural for monsters in pain. More magic was used to keep them alive than to keep their soul bright.

Dream ran up to Blue and hugged him. For some reason, he didn’t hug him back. "Thank the stars, I thought you were dead or worse. We have to stay together. I'm worried about Cross. I've been hearing voices saying he could be in danger, come on. We have to find him and the others." They took his hand.

“Oh boo hoo hoo, your boyfriend is gone. We all lost people, get over it. You’re not special, Dream. You're the last one who needs pity.” Blue said his name with a sneer.

Dream blinked, trying to be sure he heard that correctly. He also had to be sure he didn’t see Blue’s eye lights flash with teal swirls. “I . . . I wasn’t saying I was special or deserved extra attention. I’m saying I’m worried about our friends! Blue, what’s going on with you? Did something happen? Where did you get the armor? I can try and help you, I'm not held back by a cage anymore."

Blue rolled his eyes lights. “You can’t help with anything! Even if you could, it would just get worse again. Everything always gets worse.”

“That’s not . . . well, it is true. Things have been getting worse, but we have to get out of this maze. We can get angry about it later." He gave him a questionable look. “Why are you talking like this? This isn’t you. The Blue I know would be finding an optimistic approach to this and never giving up. That's what you've done this whole time! Now when we need the support, you're stopping?"

“Optimistic?” Blue scoffed and turned away from him. “Why would I ever be an optimist? That’s just another word for naive and stupid.” He flicked the front piece of his guard helmet down over his face.

Dream was taken aback by his words. They brushed their fingers against his arm, which was cold and smooth. He reached out and took his soul in his hands. His white soul turned dark and appeared scorched in a fire, dappled with bits of teal. That wasn't Blue.

The Guardian of Positivity tried to use his magic to purify Blue's soul, but then he remembered the cuffs. He groaned in frustration and let it go. "Fine, if you're going to be miserable and not help, then figure this out on your own! I don't need you!"

"Good! I don't need you either, you pompous piece of shit!" Blue yelled. He rolled his eye lights and stormed away at the same time as Dream. Dream was almost too angry to feel bad for him. He nearly punched the wall, but his senses knew better. The injury wasn't worth it. He turned and walked away. This must've been what the maze did, turn them into evil caricatures of themselves. Oh, he hoped Cross wasn't affected. He worried what a twisted version of him would be.

Dream thought he was hallucinating, but it was Cross. His eye lights seemed less glazed than Blue's, in fact, none at all. His clothes were the same. Dream didn't run up to and hug him this time, he kept his distance. Cross sighed in relief at the sight of him and leaped over a tripwire. He pressed Dream against his body, using one hand to hold the back of his head. Dream melted in the comfort and hugged him back. Cross was still himself, this was real.

“Cookie, something happened to Blue. He’s acting weird. He was cold, angry, and almost heartless.” Dream shivered and spoke with a rasp. "Have you seen Epic? Or Core?"

Cross nodded at Epic and shook his head at Core. He frowned at the sound of his name and Dream assumed the worst, he was acting like Blue was. What was going on here? Core was likely infected with whatever this strain of the virus was too.

“Let's get out of here. If we can't save them, we have to save ourselves. I'll protect you, come on." The couple held hands as they worked their way through the maze. If it picked them off one by one, it should have a harder time when they were together.

The maze opened a fork as usual and they took the right at Cross's request. They took a few steps before the room went dark, near pitch black. Cross held Dream close with his daggers out. A light flashed in the distance and revealed a platform with three mini stairs. On top was a delicate piece of metal, a shiny steel. As if it was modeled to fit his skull, it was a lower jaw bone the perfect size to fit Cross. He walked toward it, but then the floor broke, separating Cross and Dream.

Cross wobbled as it separated them over two arm's length away. The light on the metal appeared to glow brighter. Dream could almost hear Nightmare's laughter, enjoying tearing them apart. He gasped as he advanced a hand toward it. It made his eye lights unfocus.

"Cookie dough, no! It's a trap! I promise that as soon as we leave, I'll find you a prosthetic or a spell! I know you want to talk again, but don't. Believe me, I will help." Dream reached their hand out.

Cross stared at him. Faint sounds Dream couldn't hear whispered around him, but they made Cross agitated. He gave in and took the lower jaw off the platform. He held it up to his own and attached it in place. It sealed on its own, digging into his jaw and leaving indents to fit. Cross yelled out. Dream held back from running to him.

Malice surrounded Cross's soul and made his eye lights flash. Dream ran to the exit, but his boyfriend jumped in front of him, blocking the path. He smiled down at him, but not his usual caring bashful grin. Dream didn't want to fight him, but he kept his swords out. "You're just going to leave me here? Dream, I got my voice back! I don't have to be fed with those tubes anymore. Why aren't you happy for me?"

Dream stepped back. Cross winced as the new jaw made a chain grow around his neck, locking tight. The end was a lock with the letters C + K engraved in it. Cross tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. Dream took his chance, wiping tears out of his eyes. He'd have to leave him behind too. Dream dashed for the exit, pushing Cross aside. But he was faster, the magic gave him a power-up, and he pinned Dream to the wall.

I thought you cared about me, you're going to leave me behind? Alright then, flower." Cross brought his dagger down in his eye socket and Dream screamed. Despite all the torture Nightmare put him through, not a single beating or electrocution compared to this. It burned and sent bolts of pain through his mind. He pulled it out and Dream clutched his eye socket, gold blood running between his fingers. They pulled it away and blinked it. It was dark. Cross blinded him.

Cross had no remorse. His scowl turned crueler if possible. Dream was frozen in shock, horror, and mind-numbing pain.

“Get up, it’s just an eye. Or are you too kind to do anything about it? Fight me! It was a mistake to be with you, I could've had a fun relationship with someone like Killer. But you? You're boring and pathetic.” Cross set a hand on his head as horns broke out the top, curving out. It reminded Dream too much of when he was infected in Birdtale.

“Cross, stop it! Snap out of it! I know you're not in control right now! Oh my stars . . . ow, ow!" Dream gasped in pain. Was this how Nightmare felt when he lost his eye to the corruption?

Cross ignored him. Instead, his hand brushed against his locket. He ripped it off, snapping the chain, and threw it at the ground. A crescent moon mark appeared on his cheekbone. "Don't need this anymore, don't know why I kept it."

Dream looked between his boyfriend and the other direction. He grabbed Cross’s locket and ran as fast as he could in his condition. His starved, exhausted, powerless condition couldn’t go far before tripping and skidding. He took a moment to catch his breath before moving. Cross didn't chase him, he lost interest.

Dream dragged himself through the corridor, clutching the locket in one hand and holding the wall with the other. He let go of the wall occasionally to put pressure on his bloody eye. Golden blood covered his gloves. Dream took deep breaths before collapsing to the ground again. This was torture in its purest form.

“Is this what you want, Nightmare? I have nothing left to lose, you won!” Dream looked around, expecting his corrupted twin to appear from the mist and mock him. The guardian wasn’t sure why he still had his soul. It should have been drained by now. Their gaze settled on a strange sight, a small cardinal. Where did it come from? Or was it another trap?

The bird chirped. Come on! I know a way to safety! Come, come! Quickly, before he gets back!

Dream didn't hesitate. He chased after the bird as it led him down a special path. He slipped between the walls of the maze, not quite a corridor, and entered a different room. They breathed in the smell of fresh grass and warm water. The bird landed on the grass beside the pond and grew to be twice as large as Dream in a spark of blue magic. Dream blinked in surprise. Sit down, let it out.

Dream did as the bird asked, crouching in front of it with one hand still on their eye socket. The bleeding failed to cease. The bird tilted his head and blinked at him. For a brief moment, its eyes flashed into spirals. Dream looked away, but it was long enough to stir something inside him. The negativity building up finally spilled.

“It’s not fair . . . IT’S NOT FAIR!” Dream screamed through his tears. “I work so hard to make everyone else happy, but my life keeps getting worse each time I do! My friends are gone, my boyfriend beat me, the multiverse is falling apart . . .” He sobbed, every word feeling like a bullet into his weakened soul. He was so tired, he just wanted to sit out of a fight or conflict for once. He wanted someone to let him rest and tell him everything was going to be fine, he was so sick of being strong . . .

Dream turned back to the cardinal. “I’m too nice, is that it? Everyone uses me as a doormat. None of this would've happened if I wasn't nice! Everything bad that has ever happened to me was my own fault. Blue was right."

The cardinal gently nudged their shoulder. It opened its beak, but instead of the squeaky voice he was expecting, it was a cold booming voice. That’s right, there’s no one left for you. Your friends, your boyfriend, your home, they all turned on you. Stop pretending you’re a hero when all you do is lose. You’re bitter and cold, and your heart knows it’s true.

Dream listened to those words with a conflicted heart. Part of him wanted to deny it, but the stronger bit believed it to be true, just as the words said. They had to urge to get revenge on the villagers, a wish they didn’t die so he could torture them. They felt like someone was going to hurt them and they had to fight first. The cardinal kept speaking in that same voice, the painful words telling him he was envious, bitter, angry, hateful, sadistic. If no one would respect him, fear would be a good replacement.

The bird's eyes flashed into spirals and Dream didn't bother to look away. An outfit melted out of the malice for Dream to try on. He recognized it from the variant of him in his visions. Dream tossed his gold cape off and replaced it with the dark gray one. He pulled the hood up and took the eye patch for his bloody eye.

Give up, give in. It would be so much easier since you’re too far gone to win.

Dream covered the sides of his skull as he continued to feel hate rip apart his soul. It shaped into something else. It fed faster due to the sheer amount of positivity. He could barely breathe and let himself embrace the malice. The blue crescent moon appeared on his cheekbone.

“Fine! If the multiverse won't let me be happy, then I won’t allow anyone else to be either!” Dream threw aside his gold circlet and replaced it with the black thorn crown.

==============================================================================

Core ran through the maze, still shaking after that puzzle. They brought themself together and kept going. It was too silent, even by creepy labyrinth standards. They expected to see someone by this point, or at least hear running and traps. But nothing. Where was everyone else?

Their legs ached, but the rest of their body finally shook the stinging off. They held their left arm with their hand and walked down another hall. But the end of this one was different. Instead of a dark path, it was an arch carved with a black apple on the top. Core didn't hesitate and ran to it, jumping over for speed and jumping outside. They rolled on the soft dewy grass and looked around. It was dark outside and only crickets chirped, but who cares?

“I’m out . . . I’m out! WOO HOO!” Core shot their fist in the air and did a little happy dance in a circle. As they spun, they realized they were the only person there. Where were the others? They closed their eyes. Despite being outside, Nightmare’s magic still interfered with their foresight. But they had glimpses of the maze. Maybe there were multiple exits, or they were the first one? How long were they in there for-

“Well done, Core.”

Core turned their head around to the sound of slow clapping. Killer, Horror, and Dust stepped out of the shadows from behind them, clapping in sync. Killer and Horror grinned, Dust was apathetic. Core’s body went cold.

"Killer, you owe me twenty gold." Dust whispered to him. Killer sighed.

Nightmare walked out last, holding Ribbon’s hand as he bounced. Core scoffed. They couldn’t look any more different from each other with their clashing aesthetics. And they thought Nightmare had taste. Core stepped up. “Where are the four?”

Nightmare waved his hand and four bodies dropped from portals, hanging by ropes made of malice. It looked like it would snap any second. In order, Blue, Dream, Cross, and Epic hung unconscious from them. Their outfits were all darker and their souls were stained black. Their cheekbones glowed with blue moon marks.

Core covered their mouth. Nightmare laughed at their face, which was followed by the Murder Time Trio. Ribbon only smiled. “You’re the only one who escaped, you’re a smart cookie. I should've given you more credit. They all could have made it if they acted on logic rather than emotion. That was part of the challenge. They have no one to blame but themselves.” Nightmare walked around and placed his hand under Dream’s chin, grinning at Core. “I was honest when I said I would play fair.”

Core stomped on the ground. “Play fair? You . . . you just doomed the Doodlepshere and killed thousands. That's not fair, you-"

“Still, I didn’t break my rules.” Nightmare’s voice stayed nonchalant. His face looked extremely punchable right now. Core stared back up at their friends. "I should've mentioned one more rule, my apologies. If you want, you can exchange your life for one of theirs, choose wisely."

Core Frisk glanced between all four of them. If they saved Blue, he wasn't strong enough to take this on his own. If they saved Dream, he'd drown in guilt over the others. If they saved Cross, he'd want to get Dream or Epic back. And Epic wasn't experienced in multiverse combat enough, plus he'd try and save Cross. Core felt a pang of selfishness, just what Nightmare wanted. "None of them. I'll keep my life."

"Very well, congratulations. Now, you may go. I won't be after you unless you try and attack me first, sound fair?" Nightmare snapped his fingers and the cuffs broke off Core's wrists. Then he opened a portal behind them to the middle of the corrupted Omega Timeline. Core glared back at Nightmare, then up at their friends. They wanted to take Nightmare down right now and wipe the smug grins off the MTT's faces.

But Core wasn’t a fighter, they were a seer, a mentor. It would be suicide to attempt to fight. Instead, they balled their fist and looked at the necklace. Each soul charm glowed brighter the closer they got to their friends. They looked at Ribbon, remembering how they first met Ink. Core sensed a disturbance in the multiverse and found him zipping around AUs. He introduced himself and called himself the Protector and the rest is history. So was Ink's existence now.

Core glanced at the others and ran through the portal. Nightmare shut it as soon as they left. Ribbon bounced with cheer. "We did it! We did it! They won't hurt us anymore, right?"

Nightmare chuckled and brushed her chin. "No, of course not. If they do, I will protect you. The multiverse is ours. Oh, and before I forget, Killer, what do you think of your new boyfriend?" Nightmare lowered Cross's unconscious body. "He despises everyone and no longer has his loyalty, but I adjusted him to adore you and you alone. Well, and serve me and Ribbon. Dress him up however you like."

Killer set his hand on Cross's cheek, pressing his skull against it. He pulled on the chain collar around his neck. "I love him, boss. Hell, he's hotter like this. How much does he hate Dream and everyone else?"

“If I put them all in the same room while they’re active, they’d kill each other. But he will be loyal to you. I don’t want to lose my new toys in a bloodbath, at least not yet. Give me some time to test them out.” Nightmare stared Dream in the eyes. His naive, pathetic brother was finally on his level. He knew the perfect place to place him. He'd have him patrol the Omega Timeline while Nightmare was tending to the rest of the multiverse.

Everything he ever wanted, Nightmare had right here in the palms of his hands.

18 notes · View notes