The stupid dedication thing won't work, so this is dedicated to mg39771

*Attempted "commit self-delete" in this chapter. Avoid if you aren't comfortable with that, please!*

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Nightmare's gang had been doing well recently..too well. Usually, we would savor some time to ourselves, but..this was different. There had been a steady increase of negativity for a while, but Nightmare thought it was just a death or something; it wasn't. We eventually realized that we needed to find the cause for this negativity sooner rather than later, in case it was something serious. As such, we looked around the multiverse. It was currently my turn to search a few universes, and Paps was accompanying me - he's the best - to help me look faster. We were currently in one of the many Undertale copies, one which Nightmare had sensed a large amount of negtivity coming from. We had already searched the Hotland, Waterfall, New Home, and other various places; we only had Snowdin and the forest to search now. So far, we hadn't found any source of large negativity, but we were determined to find it. We had just stopped at the bridge.

"Anything in the Ruins, Paps?" I questioned, as Papyrus had searched the Ruins.

"Nothing, brother." He replied. 

"Okay, well, that only leaves Snowdin and here. You're the best, Paps."

"I am the Great Papyrus!"

"So, do you want to take the forest or the town?"

"I shall search the town, brother! I can be more stealthy, since I am invisible to most! You will have more luck searching the forest, and there will likely be no uncalled-for chaos."

"That's a great idea, Paps - just like you."

"You flatter me, brother!"

"Heh, let's get searching."

"Right!"

At that, Papyrus floated over to the town, and I took to the trees. I could have walked on the ground, but I felt safer in the trees - less chance of scaring someone, anyway. So I went, from tree to tree, balancing nimbly on the small branches, but not really having too much trouble, due to my lightweight body. I searched for about an hour, and I was about ready to give up and return to the bridge - our rendezvous point - when I heard a sound..it sounded like..crying? Well, crying was negative, all right. I decided to move closer to the crying, making no noise as I moved from tree to tree, trying to find the source of the crying. I eventually found it, but I was a bit startled at the sight: it was Dream! There he was, the Guardian of Positivity, crying his eyesockets out in a cold forest..I knew it was bad to eavesdrop, but Nightmare would have likely wanted a reason as to why his own brother was possibly the source of the negativity strain. So I hopped over to the tree Dream sat against and listened closely, making out the words that the Guardian was muttering to himself.

"I'm so sorry, Nighty.." He sobbed. "I've let you down..I've hurt you so much..you deserve so much more than me. I'm weak, Nighty; I let you make the mistakes you did, and I didn't even care! I'm a terrible brother, and I realize that..I'm so sorry for hurting you. After today, though..you won't have to worry about me messing up your life anymore."

I silently wondered what Dream was up to; was he going to leave the Star Sanses? Why wouldn't he be talking to them about it? Or..had he already? What was he planning..? Papyrus floated up to me, and I papsigned for him to listen to Dream as well.

"Heh..I remember when we used to play together as kids.." Dream recalled; I was curious as to what he could have been doing. "You would always rather read books, though..I wish I had known what they did to you sooner..maybe I could have stopped them. Sometimes..I wonder if you're even in there anymore..have I been trying to reason with a monster? I guess I'll find out on the other side..goodbye, Nighty..I love you.."

Dream opened a portal, but..it was not an ordinary portal! It was a portal to the...void. I had to react quickly. I descended the tree speedily, grabbing Dream and pulling him away from his portal to certain death.

"Hey!" Dream struggled in my grip. "Let me go!"

"Not happening." I wouldn't let go.

I opened a portal of my own beneath us, forcing Dream to fall through it into the emotion room; that was the end of that...mostly. I still had an angry Dream to deal with.

"Why did you do that?!" He was very angry.

"Because you can't just do that!" I shouted. "Do you have any idea how stupid that was?!"

"I can make my own decisions!"

"Like walking to your death?! Are you insane?!"

"It wasn't your business!"

"Listen, Dream, and listen well: when it comes down to life and death, it's everyone's business."

"What were you doing there, anyway?! Spying on me?!"

"As a matter of fact, yes, and I'm glad I was."

"What do you mean by that?!"

"Just sit down, Dream; maybe think about the consequences of what you might have just done, okay?"

With that, I left Dream in the emotion room and locked the door, preventing his escape. After that, I calmly walked to the library, where I knew Nightmare was; I would have preferred to have a mental breakdown, but I didn't have time for that - I'd have it later. When I reached the library, I found Nightmare sitting in his chair, reading a novel; I wished I didn't have to disturb his peace, but I had no choice. Now I just needed a way to tell him that his brother tried to kill himself in the nicest way possible. I pondered that as Nightmare finished his page.

"Yes, Dust?" Nightmare put his book aside and looked to me. "You seem tense..did you find the negativity source?"

"Y-yeah.." I sighed. 

"..Was it disturbing? Oh, I shouldn't have sent you...I'm sorry, Dust.."

"N-no, it, um.." I looked at my father figure sadly. "It..the source was..Dream.."

"Oh?" Nightmare gave a look of concern. "Is he all right? Did he say anything?"

"He..I brought him back here.." I frowned. "He.."

"Do you need a hug?" Nightmare offered.

"Dad, promise me you won't freak out or anything?"

"Is it truly that bad?" Nightmare seemed very concerned now.

"Yeah..um..everything's okay now, though.."

Nightmare sighed. "Dust, tell me what happened; I can handle it."

"That's the thing..I don't think you can.." I felt tears forming.

Nightmare hugged me as I started to cry. "Shh, it's okay; tell me what's wrong, and I'll try to help."

"I-I don't w-wanna make y-you s-sad.." I clutched to Nightmare.

"It's okay, Dust; if I'm sad, you can help me be happy again, right?"

"R-right.." Yes..I could help him be happy again after I told him!

"Tell me what happened."

"D-Dream.." I took a deep breath. "He t-tried to j-jump into the..v-void.."

I felt Nightmare freeze; I knew I shouldn't have told him! I cried harder as I hugged Nightmare, hoping he wouldn't be too sad. It took ten minutes of crying - Nightmare participated in it, too - before my father figure spoke up, comforting me.

"It's okay.." He whispered. "You brought him here, and now he can't try it again; you did the right thing, Dust."

"D-do you want to..s-see him?" I offered, wiping my tears.

"Yes..I'll talk to him."

"Sh-should I stay h-here?"

"..." I could tell that Nightmare didn't want to go alone.

"I-I'll come with you.."

Nightmare stood, picking me up and hugging me. "Thank you, Dust..I'm not sure I can do this alone.."

"I'll protect you!" I smiled at the thought of being needed.

"I'm sure you will." Nightmare was glad that I wasn't crying anymore.

We began our trip to the emotion room, where Dream had been left. When we arrived at our destination, we noticed that the door hadn't been opened since it was locked; that was good. Nightmare put me down in front of the door and pulled out a key to unlock it. When the door was opened, we entered, finding a crying Dream curled up on the bed. Nightmare closed the door behind us before facing his brother.

"Dream.." He started. "Why did you do it?"

"...You hate me.." Dream responded, curling up tighter. "You want me dead.."

Nightmare sighed. "No, I don't."

"Don't try to lie! Ever since that day, you've changed! I just want the Nighty I used to know.."

"Dream..people change; just look at you! You used to be a happy-go-lucky child with a bright future, and now you're allied with the protectors of the multiverse; heck, you are one! Me? I was just a stupid kid with a lot of problems."

"N-Nighty..wouldn't hurt people.."

Nightmare sighed, taking a seat on the bed next to Dream. "I know what you want, Dream. You want a small skeleton in a purple vest who reads books under a tree ninety-nine percent of the time. You want a brother who will put himself down just so you don't worry about him. You want a brother who asks you how your day went and listens to every word as if it were life or death. You want a brother who desires to play only when you're alone, but when he plays, you have the time of your life. Isn't that what you want?"

"..." Dream nodded.

"Then you're living in a fantasy..there's no simpler way to put it. You're looking for an impossibility, Dream. I never was that person, and I never can be that person."

"Y-you were.."

"No, Dream..I wasn't. I only read books when I was sure I was safe from the villagers; you should know by now what they did to me. I never tried to put myself down, because I honestly thought I couldn't be any lower. I sometimes only listened to your accounts of the day to see who to avoid for the next few days..to me, it was life or death. I did enjoy playing with you..but that time is long gone. You want a brother with little to no imperfection..I was never that, and I will never be that."

"B-but.." Dream was shaking slightly.

"You need to let the old me go..even if you were to remove this," Nightmare gestured to his goop, "I still wouldn't be the one you used to know. If you really want to know who I was back then, I'll tell you. I was selfish, and I felt like the entire world was against me. The only person I cared about was too innocent to be burdened with that information; I decided to keep it to myself, as stupid as it was, and it ended up like..this."

"Wh-what are you s-saying?"

"Dream..I'm saying that it wasn't your fault that things are like this; it's mine, and it's always been mine. You were too precious to me to be burdened with everything I had to carry, so I hid it from you. I realize that I may have said hurtful things, and I may fight you on a regular basis, but I don't hate you..despite what it may seem like. Now, Dream..I'm only going to say this once, so listen up: I love you, and I have always loved you. Please don't take your life because of me.."

"..." Dream's crying intensified, and he hugged Nightmare. "I-I'm s-sorry.."

"It's okay.." Nightmare hugged his brother lovingly. "Everything's okay."

"Hey, Dusty-" Killer walked in at the most moment-killing time. "Oh...should I come back later?"

Nightmare sighed. "What did you need, Killer?"

"I was gonna ask if Dusty's seen my knife?"

"Which knife?" I wondered.

"The one with the target on the blade?"

"I don't think so."

"Aw, okay. I'll look more, then. Thanks!"

"Sure."

Killer left the room, and it suddenly became very awkward.

"Brother...?" Dream addressed.

"Yes, Dream?" Nightmare responded.

"I thought you hated me.."

"Yes..well, you shouldn't have tried to jump into the void to make me express my feelings.."

"I'm sorry, Nighty..I won't do it again..I promise."

"You had better not, or else I might have to engage in a loving conversation next time! Do you realize what that would do to my reputation?"

Dream chuckled a little at that. 

"I'm glad you find that funny, Dream." Nightmare smiled. "I'm erasing your memories of this."

"Why?"

"Because this is the second time you've forced me to open up to you."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, and I don't know how many more times there will be..but you can stay here for a few days, if you wish."

"Can I?"

"Sure, as long as you stay in this room."

"Why?"

"Because it's the only room you can actually survive in, due to the negativity levels of the rest of the house."

"Huh..that's cool."

"Indeed. I'll see you later, then?"

"Yeah.."

"Very well."

Nightmare then left the room, and I followed him out.

"Well, that went better than expected." He said, when the door was closed.

"I think you did better this time." I complimented.

"Practice makes perfect, I suppose."

It could have been worse.

~~~chapter end woot~~~

Dust bean save Dream bean!

Thanks for reading my weird writing!

Bye!