Chapter Text
Dream was confused about a lot of things. So many things. Where was Ink? What had happened to Blue? Where was Error?
Blue had been unconscious for a few days now. It reminds him a bit too much of what had happened after he became an error, but this time it’s more worrying.
He had talked to Frisk, them allowing him to be in the Omega Timeline until they figured out what actually happened. They said that they only knew that a good and bad thing had happened, but that was all.
“I don’t know what had happened Dream, but I have a feeling that it’s both good and not. What that means, I can’t tell. But the moment we find out, you most likely won’t be allowed in this place. I will let you contact me, but I can’t let you off for all the chaos this caused.” They had said.
Dream had nodded in response, guilt filling his soul. That plan had only caused confusion and like they said, chaos. Blue was now in an unknown state that nobody knew how to get him out of, and it was confusing.
And most important of all, Ink was missing.
So Dream had asked another thing. “Do you know where Ink is at least?”
“...He’s somewhere else. I don’t know where. I’m sorry, Dream. I know you care about him deeply.” Frisk had responded.
That didn't help the fear filling his soul, the fear that still hasn't gone away after days have passed.
He looks down at Blue, currently looking over him in his room. Blue…
"Do you know how I can help Blue?" He had asked, hopefully not overwhelming Frisk with too many questions. "Y- You don't have to help, I just need some advice. A suggestion, no matter how small. Please."
"...Wait." They had just said.
He had stared at them, confused on what they meant. "What? Do you need to get something, or…?"
"No, I meant... He will get better soon, he just needs time. Give him that, and don't try anything else to wake him up. Neither of us want his condition to get worse."
Okay. So he just has to sit here, anxious and scared. Why can't Ink just show up already? Would that even make things better, or would he get upset too?
He doesn't think that he could manage to cheer his partner up. Not right now. Not like this.
Maybe it'd be better if he came back later, after Blue wakes up.
…If he's even coming back at all.
No, come on, he has to come back. Frisk said that he's somewhere, and if he can find that somewhere, then everything will return to normal.
Normal. He just wants that back. Normal.
This is all his fault.
Nightmare, was surprised. Nightmare, was confused. Nightmare, was angry.
Nightmare, had so much going through his mind that it was killing him. Not literally, but that's what it felt like.
He was so stupid, Error that is. Giving up his life, and for what? To end the fight between him and Ink? Part of it was reasonable, but…
Why? Why kill himself along with that ink stain? No, not kill. The void, it's more than death. You end up scattered across space and time, bits and pieces of you lost for all of eternity.
How are the both of them still in his memory? Is it because they're both outcodes with no universe? Would there be no place to be forgotten, therefore the memory of the two would never be lost?
That would mean Ink didn't have a universe to begin with. Or like Error, his universe is dead.
Long dead, most likely. Ink would've had a noticeable reaction if it had died after he came into existence. He would've seen his suffering.
There was no universe resembling him in general. To be fair, there was no universe resembling Error either. He only found out that his place of origin was Aftertale a bit after it had died.
Why would Error choose the fate of the void? Was he really that keen on being gone? He saw when his emotions shifted from wanting life to wanting death.
But he didn't stop him, because he didn't think he'd go through with it.
Oh Error, he really was fun to watch. His suffering compared to no other.
But now he's gone.
He's gone, and Nightmare isn't getting him back.
Never again…
Stars.
Stars dammit.
Stars dammit !!!
It's not like him to feel like this. Everything is disposable in this multiverse, after all. Every single thing comes to an end, even if it's never even ever been touched.
But why does he feel this way? He thought Error was just another… thing for him. He was above him, gone the days of ever thinking of him as an equal.
Error was too broken to ever be on his level. Too used to ever be as powerful as him.
If that weren't the case, Error would've overpowered everybody else. His feud with Ink would've been over years ago.
Technically it is over, but that's not what he means. Dying like that, leaving like that, is only a sign of weakness.
He wasn't strong enough, and oh how he hates that.
Why does he hate that?
The company of that sans he always visited wasn't enough to keep his will to live strong. Nightmare would have assumed that having some kind of positive company around would've kept him going, but turns out that wasn't the case.
How annoying.
He should've done more, that sans that is. Should've done anything better than he already was doing. Pathetic, he is.
Pathetic like everybody else in this damn multiverse.
Speaking of pathetic, he can feel him staring, his ghostly presence right behind him. Staring like something's on his mind.
"Speak." He commands, without even turning to look at him. "You have something to say, and you and I both know that I don't like having things hidden from me. So say it."
He jolts, his transparent body trembling with nervous energy.
He starts to speak. "I, uh, I just was thinking."
"Clearly."
"You, uh, have been acting different, sir. Since Error did… that. I- I don't want to intrude, but… Is there something wrong?" He questions.
Oh. He didn't realize how obvious his feelings were. Surprising, since his emotions are usually held behind closed doors.
How he wishes he didn't feel whatever he was feeling now.
"That imbecile Error is getting on my nerves, that is all." Nightmare sighs. "The gall he had to throw away his life, and with that his power, is how very annoying, is it not? He was a god, and he shouldn't have taken that for granted. "
"...I agree. He… He had a lot of power, didn't he?" He floats beside him as he speaks.
"More than I, and you know how much power I hold. I wouldn't have given that up if I were in his place. I would have destroyed all those annoying bright and happy universes and would have reigened."
He is silent. That isn't all of it, isn't it? It feels like there's something more but is it really his place?
He should just ask.
"Sir?"
"Yes, little prince?"
Here we go…
"Are you still… still upset that he didn't join you?"
Nightmare glares back at him, making eye contact for the first time in their talk. "That isn't any of your concern, now is it? It wouldn't matter if that is the case anyways, I can't change what happened."
He's right, isn't he? But… why does he still seem upset? Is there anything he can suggest that can change that? Anything to make him feel less like… this ?
Strong… he has to be strong. Helping him might make him more of that? Maybe.
Nightmare always let his unnecessary feelings out by doing things. Hurting others, something he's grown used to watching.
It's become normal. It is normal. That's how you're supposed to get by in life, by showing others that you're better than them.
Error never realized that, and that's what led to him doing something that was more than suicide. He won't let the same thing happen to himself.
The past him didn't know how to protect himself. The past him was hurt and abused, because he wasn't strong enough.
Being kind only got him hurt. Caring about others only got him hurt. At first trying to become something better seemed wrong to him.
Hurting others was bad, he had thought. But Corrupted wouldn't be as powerful as he is now if he was nice.
Someday he wishes to actually use what he has learnt, but that would require control of his body be given to him. Control that is already being put to use, perfectly finely at that.
And he didn't use his body wisely the first time, so who would say he wouldn't mess up the second?
He didn't do anything to earn a second chance.
For now, he just spends his days relying off of him. Like some type of leech.
Error… he was only alive for so long because he had someone to lean on. He can relate to that, but Error wasn't getting help from the right person. That's why he was so weak, despite all his power.
Nightmare should've been the one. He's better than the rest of them. He helped him, so he could've helped Error.
Speaking of him, he's still sitting there. He looks so… upset? Conflicted? Yeah, conflicted. At least he thinks so.
"What are you going to do now, sir?" He asks.
He sighs. Even he thinks he should do something. And he agrees. He really should.
And he has just the idea. The one he cared about the most.
If he can't hurt Error for his stupid decision, he guesses that he'll just have to hurt someone else.
Luckily, he had someone where it'd hurt whatever much of Error's consciousness is left out there.
This will be fun.
"Don't worry, I know just what."
It's been days now. Nearly a week, even. Where is he?
Error has every right not to visit him, Sans knows that. But a reason? He doesn't know.
Please, don't let it be because he doesn't feel like he's worth enough. That isn't true. He's worth this whole multiverse and more, carrying it on his back for years and years on end.
He's been keeping it from collapsing, and that? That's worth more than anything he could ever offer him.
Has his company been enough? He hopes so.
Today he brought that plushie of himself that Error gave him long ago. He thought that maybe, maybe bringing it would make him come?
But there's been no sign of him. Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Was he enough for Error? Should he have intervened? He offered to, but he had said that his company was enough. That he didn't want him getting hurt.
Why is he thinking like he's dead? Error can't die. At least as far as he knows.
Maybe he's just overreacting. Maybe it'll be o-
"Hello, Sans."
A voice. One that he doesn't recognize comes from right behind him, gripping him out of his thoughts. He turns to look and…
A dark, black monster covered in goop stares at him. Monster? He thinks he's a monster. His single eye stares deep down into his soul as a dark presence fills the air around him.
Who is this? The goop coming from his body glows green, but despite that he is still so dark. Tentacles twirl in the air, coming from the stranger's back.
"W- Who are you?" Sans readies his guard, approaching this encounter with caution. He's never met anyone other than Error from the multiverse, and this stranger is most likely an out-code.
And from what he's heard, not a single person has treated Error with kindness. That would most likely include all beings not tied to a world of their own.
"Oh, just an acquaintance of a friend. Here to send a message." The stranger says.
An acquaintance? Error has mentioned a few people, so maybe if he got a name he'd be able to figure out more about him.
Sans takes a breath, and speaks. "I need a name first. Mine is Sans, but you clearly already know that. It'd only be fair for you to give me yours since you know mine, you get that?"
"A name?" He tilts his head, pondering something. "I assume that is common courtesy, after all. It's Nightmare. Now, will you-"
Nightmare. Sans jolts up onto his feet, and summons a blaster aimed directly at him. He knows who this is.
"I've heard about you." He growls. "Leave, you aren't welcome here. I know what you've done."
To his surprise, Nightmare doesn't seem to feel threatened. No, he seems… humored? Not even making an effort to get away.
This isn't funny.
"I'm warning you. Whatever business you have here, I'm having no part in it."
He only laughs in response.
So, in his angered state, Sans fires…
…Only for his attack to be blocked with one of the tentacles protruding from Nightmare's back.
"Anything else you have to throw at me? Surely that wasn't it. I've seen toddlers stronger than you." He mocks.
Bones form around Sans, aimed directly at him. They fire, but Nightmare swirls around them, getting closer and closer to him.
Until he's right behind him.
A hand covered in corruption grips his shoulder. Nightmare hovers over him, his bigger darker body shadowing over Sans' lighter one.
His presence is stifling. He can't move.
"Come on now, Sans. I'm only here as a messenger." A tentacle begins to wrap around his body. Nightmare forces his face to stare at him with his hand that was placed on his shoulder. "But… I think it'd send a better message of how badly you failed if I did something more."
"Let me-" He places a finger over Sans' mouth, shushing him.
"No. Let me speak." Another tentacle wraps around him, the first tightening around his bones. It feels like his body is on the verge of cracking, but it never breaks. "You failed him, you know that?"
He tries to wriggle out of his grip, but that only makes it worse. "Wh- What do you mean ? I don't-"
"You do know. You're holding something he gave you a while back, aren't you? I wouldn't be talking about anybody else."
No- he didn't- that can't be.
Nightmare is just messing with him. Error is fine. Perfectly fine. He probably just needed some space.
Nothing bad happened to him. He's too strong for that. How else would he have survived for so long?
Sans doesn't believe a single word he's saying. Especially since…
"You expect me to believe you after what you did to him? I'm not buying it." He snaps.
Tighter. The grip Nightmare has on him grows tighter. It hurts, but he has to stay strong. He isn't going to die to the likes of him .
The smirk on his face grows, and laughter erupts from the corrupted creature.
"Oh, if you don't believe me, then answer me this. Why isn't he here right now? If he still really was here, then this wouldn't be happening, don't you think so? He cares about you a lot, and I doubt I would be able to do this under his watch." Nightmare swirls his appendages more around Sans, enjoying furthering his squirming and pain.
He… He doesn't have an answer for that. Clearly Nightmare knew about him before, so why hadn't he attacked him before?
That would have furthered Error's pain, something he seems so very keen on doing.
But like he said, he would've stepped in. And from what he's gathered, Error is one of the most powerful beings in this multiverse.
So why? How? Why is he attacking him now if he's gone?
How is he gone? Why is he gone?
"You seem to be silent. Don't have a good answer?" Sans averts his gaze, confirming his answer with a single action.
He sighs, defeated. "Just tell me. Tell me what happened. Tell me how I failed. I can't think of any way he could've left. He's immortal, for stars sake."
"Even immortals are not over the void's power." Nightmare talks back, placing a hand on his chin.
Sans stares at him. "W- What…?"
The void. How did he get consumed by the void??? Error is careful, Error has reflexes, Error has portals, Error literally has strings that could've dragged him up before he fell.
"I- I… No, explain it to me. I can't understand how he'd end up there." Sans takes in a breath. "He- He's careful, he's powerful, he wouldn't've ended up gone from that ."
Nightmare lets out a laugh, as if this is funny to him. Of course it is, he finds any kind of suffering humorous. That has become clear since the first moment he's met, no, he' heard about him.
"Oh, you didn't really understand how much he was suffering, did you?" He smirks.
Sans snaps back. How could he not- "Of course I did! More than you, anyways!!!"
"Think of who you're talking to." He pauses. "Would a god of negativity or a mere mortal who just so happened to be friends with him understand more? But…"
Nightmare gazes at him, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"To be fair, I was expecting him to last longer. Be stronger than to commit what is more terrible than suicide. So I assume I can understand where you're coming from…" He says.
Sans suddenly stops struggling, his body going limp. Shock fills his very soul, causing him to just… stop fighting back.
That can't be. This situation, this information… it just seems more and more surreal at the moment. He can't process it.
His mind swirls, trying to come up with any coherent thought. Nightmare has to be lying, but like he said…
Why is Error not here? He tries to come up with an answer. Any answer.
"Y- You just- just trapped him again, didn't you? This is all to hurt me, i- isn't it?" Tears start filling his eye-sockets, him gripping that doll he was gifted for dear life.
"Trust me, if I had just simply trapped him again, there would be universes dying right at this moment. And honestly, I'd rather avoid the collapse of this multiverse as we know it." Nightmares free tentacles flick smoothly. "Really, do you think I'm stupid enough to do that again? I've learnt from last time. He's gone, Sans. You weren't strong enough to save him from himself."
No. No, no, no, no, no, no. He's dreaming, he has to be. If not that, Nightmare has to be lying to him. But then why? Why isn't Error here???
"Wake me up…" Sans mutters. "...I don't want to be dreaming this anymore."
Nightmare was right. He should've done something, anything more. He wasn't a good enough friend to Error.
What is this feeling in his chest? It hurts. It's the only thing he can feel. Even the feeling of his body being strangled is muted by his…
His heartache.
"I've been wanting to wake you up for awhile, actually. You were like a lifeline to him and…" The tentacles tie harder into Sans' bones. They start to crack, dust leaking out of the shattering bones. "...You weren't good enough. You failed, Sans. Not even worthy enough of that name he gave you."
This is what he deserves. He wasn't strong enough, he should've done something. Should've gotten involved. Error said he shouldn’t’ve, but maybe he’d still be here if he helped him. If he had protected him, maybe things would’ve been different.
So, in his unmoving body, he accepts his fate.
“Nightmare!!!”
Dream had felt the negativity coming from that universe. Outertale, was it? At first he had just wanted to leave it alone, because he has more important things to do. The more important thing being to watch over Blue.
But as the minutes passed, he grew more uneasy. Sure, keeping an eye on Blue is important, but his partner hasn’t woken in days. Is it really worth neglecting his duties just to wait for something that hasn’t happened in ages?
What kind of guardian would he be if he didn’t even do his job? One more useless than he is now, apparently.
Also… he can feel his brother’s presence in that universe. It’s unique, not as much as Ink’s, but still unique enough to where he’d be able to tell who it’s coming from.
And it's weird. There isn’t much chaos coming from the universe, something that usually follows Nightmare’s wake. He’d think that this would make him less concerned, but no. It’s making him more concerned.
Who in that universe would he be picking out just to hurt? Outertale is a normally peaceful universe with all monsters alive in it at most times, while Nightmare usually only targets people like this in negative universes with few inhabitants. Like the now-dead Dusttale and such.
What did they do to set him off like this? Whoever he’s targeting must’ve did something to anger him, and badly. That’s the only explanation he can think of, if he’s targeting them specifically.
He glances down at Blue. That updating sign is still hovering above him. Still.
And another day it stays there is another day where he feels a little of his hope break.
Bit by bit.
“I’m sorry ‘Berry. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll be back soon.” Dream gets up, and gathers as much energy as he can muster. “Don’t wake up on me while I’m out, okay?”
Blue doesn’t respond.
…Hopefully he’ll be in a strong enough state to deal with Nightmare himself. His positivity is low, but it’s only one person he’s protecting. He doesn’t have to deal with evacuating anybody else, or fighting his brother while he’s fueled by the universe's negativity.
So, he opens up a portal to Outertale, and heads on out.
The sight before his eyes is one he had expected, but brings more questions to mind. The resident sans of this universe tied up by his brother. He gets into a fighting stance, staff in hand, and shouts his name.
“Nightmare!!!”
Upon the shout, a growl comes from his brother. “I can’t have any fun, now can I?” He groans.
“Let him go, brother!” Dream yells in response.
Nightmare glances behind him, back at Dream, “I guess I could do that…” He raises Sans into the air, and slams him into the ground. He makes no noise upon impact, his plush doll he was holding falling out of his grip. Dream’s sockets widen, and a laugh comes from him. “...See? Now what do you want?”
The question was spoken less like, well, a question, and more like a command for him to speak.
Dream knows that Nightmare would be able to tell if he lied. And there isn’t really a good reason to lie in the first place, so he decides to just tell the truth.
“I want to know what you’re doing in this universe! Y- You’re just targeting,” He gestures at Sans, “him, and I don’t get why!”
The stress and confusion is growing.
Nightmare starts walking toward Dream, his steps slow and threatening. “Would you rather me target this whole universe? Because I can do that. Your team is currently not in their best state, so you should take my actions as a blessing. If I went all out, you’d need luck from the stars to be able to stop me.”
What?
How did he- “H- How do you know that? You weren’t-” He catches himself before he says too much about the attack. His brother wasn’t there, he couldn’t sense his presence. But, his senses were overwhelmed, so…
As if he could read his mind, his brother responds with a smirk. “I was there, actually. I saw everything that happened, even more than you did. Blue is incapacitated, Ink is gone, and you’re left alone. It’s lonely, isn’t i-”
Before Nightmare can finish, Dream hits him with a blast with his staff. The anger and stress coming from the guardian is even apparent to Sans, who isn’t an empath like the two of them.
So much has been going on. So much is his fault. He can’t take his brother doing this right now. It’s too much on top of everything else.
He didn’t even notice Nightmare there. He’s just so stupid.
Nightmare might be why everything’s so… bad , and he could’ve made him leave if he had actually noticed him.
He could've stopped Blue from getting in the state he's in, stopped Ink from getting lost wherever he's at, but no!
A failure. Just someone that just so happened to be a guardian. Someone who's stupidity and weakness got others hurt.
The stress boils over into words.
Hatred for himself and others more than he's felt ever before screams out.
“You… You wouldn’t understand how it feels, so don’t act like you do!!!” Dream shouts. “I’ve been watching over Blue for days, while Ink has refused to show his face! I haven’t felt this bad since you left me alone, and even then I had someone to lean on once I realized you weren’t by my side anymore! It’s terrible brother, I just want Blue to wake up! I just want to see Ink again! But I don’t know when that’s going to happen, so could you at least stop doing,” He gestures at Sans, “this, until everything gets back to normal again!”
Silence. Nightmare stares thoughtfully at him, as if something’s on his mind. Dream lets out silent puffs of air as he tries to calm himself. Sans lies on the ground, staring at the two brother’s dispute.
Eventually, one of the brothers says something.
“Ink is ‘gone’, correct? ‘Missing’, isn’t he?” Nightmare starts.
"I can't seem to find him, or he can't seem to find us, so yes! What is your point?" He snaps back.
More silence, as if the darker brother is contemplating something. Dream can't tell what he's thinking, his own abilities only being able to sense the negativity coming from the other.
That's it. Just something as vague as negativity. What emotion is that? Is it sadness? Anger? Cruelty? One of the normally positive emotions turned dark?
He.
Is.
So.
Weak.
Not even strong enough to sense something simple as an emotion. Something that he's usually good at!
The blast didn't even do any damage…
What a guardian he is.
Nightmare's voice breaks him out of his thoughts.
"Fine." He says, as if he's finally come to a decision.
"F- Fine?" Dream echoes.
A sigh. "I've decided that I have much better things to do than this. Besides, I already got done what I planned on doing, even if it… wasn't fully."
Dream lowers his staff. "T- This isn't a trick, is it?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I said it wasn't, so what's the point in telling you? Clearly you already despise me enough."
"I don't-"
Before he can finish his reply, Nightmare is gone. Leaving both Sans and Dream alone.
Dream, shaken but still needing to make sure he's alright, walks up to Sans. The other is on the ground, attempting to push up his body with his arms.
A hand is offered by the sunset clad guardian, and it is taken.
"Are you okay?" He pulls Sans up, the both of them shaking at the effort. "I, ugh, I'm sorry he came here. I don't know why he did, but at least he's gone now."
No reply. Sans' eyelights are small, him still shaking from the emotional and physical pain.
"D- Do you need me to heal you? I have some food at home that could do the job, since I'm not in the best state right now, ha ha…" Dream asks.
Still no reply.
"W- What's wrong? Nightmare's gone now, so you're safe! Are you still recovering…?"
No reply yet again. Instead, he starts walking toward the doll that was on the ground. Grabbing it, something mutters from his mouth.
Dream rubs the back of his head, nervous. Tension fills the air. "I, uh, can you repeat that please?"
"...gone…" He mumbles.
"What?"
Sans glares directly at Dream. "He's gone ."
"Yeah, I mean, Nightmare is-" He stutters out.
"Not him. Him. Error is gone, and I'm never getting him back." He growls, his heartache turning into a horrible, great anger that fills the air. Tears still come from his sockets, but not from sadness.
Dream looks at him with confusion and shock. "Error's… what?"
"Don't act like you don't know! You're one of the ones who pushed him to do what he did, aren't you!?"
"I don't-"
"Aren't you!?!?!?"
He stands there, silent. Their plan… it worked? But why…? What did he…? "Why are you so upset? If he really is gone, then the multiverse is safer now! You should be happy now that he's-"
"Happy? I should be happy ?!" Sans shouts. "Firewall… he's in the void because of how you treated him. How everyone treated him!!!"
Dream stares at him in even more confusion. The void? That wasn't part of the plan! Did Ink do that to him? How?
And why does he seem to know, and care about what happened? Specifically, what happened to Error.
Also… who's Firewall?
Maybe he's just misunderstanding him. Maybe he's just upset that they couldn't solve this peacefully, and had to resort to the plan. Maybe he thought all the fights they had were uncalled for. "I- I'm sorry that we couldn't solve this issue with him peacefully, but Error was insane. He was too strong and couldn't be reasoned wi-"
" Couldn't be reasoned with??? He's been trying to reason with you this whole time!" He snaps. "And you're calling him insane ??? Did you ever even try to listen to him?!"
Oh. He… He knows what's going on now. Dream's expression shifts from confusion, to anger.
"Do you even know all the horrible things he did, Sans? He hurt all of us. All of us, and you're defending him?" He sharply says.
"Yes, I am! Because nobody else is going to!!!"
"Don't you think there's a good reason for that??? He was a god of destruction who only hurt people, only killed people. He kidnapped Blue, and turned him into whatever he is! He caused Ink so much pain from destroying his creations! He- He isn't a good person like he told you, Sans!!!"
"THEN WHY DID HE NOT HURT ME!?!?!?"
Dream stares at Sans. Sans stares at Dream. Both of them wonder… what kind of world do they have to be living in to think what they're saying is true?
Sans starts. "He only hurt people. That's what you're saying. Then why am I not hurt? He held regret for his actions. I know that he hurt others. But to me, it's clear that he didn't want to."
He… No. No, Error just lied to him. Told him about his deluded beliefs. And he believed him. That's why he didn't hurt him, because he wanted him to believe him.
And it worked.
It's clear that this sans isn't going to change his mind.
"I'm sorry he told you his lies. But I suggest you forget about everything he told you. Forget about him in general. He isn't worth your time."
"Hey-"
Dream turns away from him, opening a portal. "Goodbye. I hope you get well soon."
And with that… Sans is left all alone.
Alone…
"I just want to see you again, Firewall…"
Nightmare floats in the in-between. Traveling universes is something he has known how to do for years, but going somewhere he doesn't know is tricky.
Negativity was where he always followed. It’s easier that way, costs less energy than just beelining toward his goal.
His goal, that is…
If that place is somehow positive, it’ll be a real waste. But the waste is worth the reward, no?
The reward, that being…
"Where are you going to go, sir? It's taking… a bit." The ghost of what he used to be, floating behind him asks.
He doesn't respond, shifting his focus to an idea. Focusing only on glimpses he's seen through portals.
That idiot is gone, but clearly his creations are not. But his safeguards he's put in place to protect universes he's cared about might not be the same case.
Glimpses. He's seen that rainbow color filled sky.
Glances. He's seen that messy field full of a variety of various flowers.
It still exists. And he feels it, it's accessible. No longer hidden from his view.
The god is gone. He wonders if he can go to the anti-void too…
But that would be more dangerous than what he has planned. This universe he's going to… it's safe by design.
As safe as a place made by an idiot can be.
His feet touch soft ground. He can feel flowers as high as his knees.
He can see that chaotic, messy house.
He can sense that muted presence.
Good, muted. He's still unconscious. In all honesty, he had some worry as to whether or not he'd still be unconscious.
"Where are we…?"
Nightmare smiles at him. "Oh little prince, Dream, with his words, made me realize something."
He takes steps towards the house, putting his hand on the star-shaped handle of the door.
The handle turns, no lock being installed in the door. He walks through the home, scowling at the messy decorations.
"What was it?"
The hallway houses three doors with three familiar names written on them. He turns the door colored in blue.
A skeleton is lying there, unconscious still. An updating sign hovers over him, as it has been for a time now.
"With Ink gone, I'm free to go wherever I please. And I know what I just want to do."