Chapter Text
( Art drawn by Hollowfox )
The multiverse has been quiet for too long. Two months, to be exact. With no signs, no fights, nothing. Which is… Concerning, to say the least.
The only plus side is that negativity was getting stronger each week. I needed that boost after practically getting nothing for weeks with how positive things have gotten. I’ll admit, if this keeps up, Dream could be in danger. I mean big danger. It would be really nice if Dream decided to do one of his countless positivity spreads about now, but of course, just like the rest of the multiverse, the stars have also gone quiet.
Which reminds me, it’s been a while since I’ve heard from Blue. Typically, that's been more usual than not, so I'm not too surprised. Plus, if Blue needed assistance, he would have texted us or alerted me.
This situation we're currently in is just all kinds of weird. As I've mentioned before, the word "quite" is not normally associated with the multiverse we live in.
It shouldn't even be possible. In my five hundred years of existence, I've never encountered anything like this before, and all I really want to know is…
Where the FUCK are the two gods?!
--
I was hoping we wouldn’t need to go out today. I wanted the boys to rest after the week we had. Positivity has been spiking from its normal level, and we had no idea why. Furthermore, Error needed help with destroying universes. Ink has been going through a non-stop creative spree lately, making Error run around every hour while we helped speed up the process by destroying the tether of the universe so that he didn’t have to do it all himself. This whole situation has made Error very tired, and when he gets extremely tired, he tends to become very snappy. Even the usual pats on the back or shoulder made him reboot like crazy.
So, yeah, today was supposed to be a rest day, so of course, Dream just had to ruin it by doing another positivity run. I wanted Error to stay back as he looked exhausted, but he insisted on coming. What a fucking workaholic. I sent the boys to deal with the stars as I tried to convince Error to stay back. He didn't listen. Eight minutes later, after going back and forth. He created a portal and left without letting me finish my sentence. I growled. Tentacles lashing out in anger. He never fucking listens when it comes to his health. With my anger already introduced, I was ready to take it out on my brother. As I entered the universe, I started to realise that nothing was gonna go right for me as I felt the effects of the increased positivity covering this au. Shit. How did I forget that positivity was already rivalling negativity? I did not care. I just wanted to blow off some steam. Without any hesitation, I spotted my brother and lunged at him, starting my attack. Even with the disadvantage, I held my own pretty well. Dream's pleas about "You're better than this" and "Please, stop this, it's not you" gave me a breather to replenish my energy. I didn't have to worry about the others as I knew they were fighting Blue. Thinking about it, they were probably making a game about it. I rolled my eyes.
"Why don't you listen! You're harming lives, Nightmare!" Dream shouted, bringing me back to the fight.
"Oh, please. Look who's talking."
"I'm serious! Don't you get it!"
Now, if I were in better condition, I would have totally stopped what happened next. Piercing hot pain erupted from my shoulder. Positivity started to melt away negativity. I hissed. Looking at Dream, who was already preparing another dreadful arrow. Thankfully, I was ready and dodged it just in time. Using one of my tentacles, I pulled out the arrow, watching it disappear before touching the ground. I teleported to where the rest of the fight was and waited for Dream to follow. With the time I had to rest, I turned to see where Error was fighting Ink. Error was clutching his hand, like it was broken; it was definitely broken. His skull was cracked in multiple areas. My anger resurfaced as I stared at Error. I fucking told him he shouldn't have come. At least Ink looked just as damaged, if not more than Error.
"Boss! Fuck, you good?!"
I looked at Cross as he appeared out of nowhere.
"Shit! You don't look so good."
"I'm fine."
As I started to pay attention to my state, I realised that I was, in fact, not fine. My skull felt heavy, the minor injuries I sustained felt like lava on my body, and I could feel my goob dripping off me. Shit. Not good at all. I hadn't realised the negativity was getting that low.
"You're definitely not fine, Nightmare."
Cross spoke up again, making me aware that I had forgotten that he was here.
"That's it. I'm calling a retreat."
I was about to deny that request before Cross moved me to the side, as he stopped an arrow that was aimed at my back. Guess Dream finally caught up. At this stage, there was nothing productive I could do. I watched as Cross fought Dream alone.
"Shit, boss. Ya look terrible."
I looked up to see Killer standing there. When did I start sitting? When did Killer arrive?
"Cross-"
"Don't worry, boss, Dust is on it. Hold still, I'm not da best, but I'll try to heal you."
With that reassurance, I allowed Killer to take charge. Even with minimal assistance, I could feel the heaviness in my skull lessening, and all my minor injuries gradually fading to a dull pain. I placed a hand on Killer, signalling him to stop.
"That's enough. Thank you."
"No prob, Boss. Alright, let's retreat-"
Killer was abruptly interrupted by a sudden scream that reverberated throughout the place. I could see that everyone had stopped what they were doing. And, yes, it wasn't just any scream. It was a distorted, glitchy one. I paused, realising that Error had never screamed like that before. I stood up to see Error on the floor, glitching so intensely that it looked as if he was teleporting around.
I frantically turned to Ink, expecting to see a smug smile, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, he looked just as confused as I was. Probably how everyone was. His eyes shifted into an exclamation mark and a question mark as he took several steps back. I could see his mouth moving, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Without any prompting, Horror and Killer quickly made it to Error's side. I was too stunned and also way too tired to do anything as I watched my boys try to help Error. Apparently, today wasn't on our side when the worst thing happened. Error lashed out. Error has never, and I mean never, attacked us before. Not like this anyway. Horror and Killer have both just been thrown and crashed into the trees. I was in complete utter shock. Error started to curl himself into a ball, still glitching all over the place, and was that... Is that tears? His crying??? This day is just getting more confusing.
The last thing I could comprehend was Ink screaming and running up to Error. Then everything happened in a blur.
A portal opening. Red strings appearing. Error getting pulled into a portal. Ink still screaming, trying to rip the strings off. More portals opening. Strings reaching out to Ink. Error getting pulled into the portal. Ink getting pulled into the portal. The two portals closed, then silence. Just silence.
No one moved. That is, until Dust broke it.
"What the actual fuck was that?!" Dust shouted in desperation. His soul was screaming to understand what happened.
With that, everything broke loose, and panic started to set in very quickly. The stars were shouting, Cross was trying to help Killer and Horror up, and Dust was standing there, hands shaking.
And I... I was just in the middle of it all. Feeling everyone's negativity. Confused about what I just witnessed. Confused about how the strongest monsters in this multiverse, the two gods, were taken right in front of us.
With that, I just completely shut down.
Ink and Error were taken, and we have no idea who or what did it.