I woke up with a small yawn; had I fallen asleep during the cuddle? I must have..I didn't even have a bad dream! I smiled when I realized that I had woken up without any visions of my captivity. Stretching slightly, I looked up to see my family waking me softly.

"Are you awake, Dust?" Nightmare questioned. 

"Uh-huh." I nodded, happy to see my family.

"It's..time to go.." Nightmare didn't seem to excited about that. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah.." I knew I wasn't, but I had to do it. "Um..Dad?"

"Yes, my son?"

"Could..um, nevermind..it's stupid.."

"Dust, I'm sure it isn't." Nightmare placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "What did you want?"

"Um..c-could you maybe.." 

"I'm listening."

"C-could you maybe..carry me?" 

Nightmare smiled. "Of course I can do that."

"Th-thank you.." 

I felt comforted as Nightmare picked me up and held me close; I needed that. I held onto his jacket tightly as he opened a portal and led the others through; Error was waiting for us in the universe. We were outside a large building, but I didn't get a very good look at it; I only knew that it was tall and gray. We entered the building quickly, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention; we were still the apparent criminals in the multiverse. I clutched to Nightmare for the entire walk. When we reached a large double door, Nightmare read a sign that was on it, basically stating that a meeting of different multiverses was going on and that anyone who was late should quietly take a seat. Well, we weren't going to do that. Nightmare opened the door rather abruptly, and the sound echoed through the room, alerting everyone to our presence. The talking that could before be heard ceased, and all attention turned to us; I looked away from the crowds, preferring to bury my face in Nightmare's jacket.  

"Nightmare, what are you doing here?!" He spoke..I shivered at the stern tone.

"Ink Sans, I formally accuse you of breaking the most sacred law in the monster code." Nightmare didn't waste any time; I heard multiple gasps.

"That's ridiculous! I've never broken anything of the sort!"

"Ink, I'm going to have to ask you to remain silent." Classic Sans spoke up. "This is a serious accusation, and a trial must be held. Can anyone back up the accusation?"

"I can." Outer confirmed.

"As can I." The swapped Papyrus joined.

"Very well." Classic Sans said. 

As soon as that was said, just about everyone in the meeting room was led to a courtroom. In an instance such as this, it didn't matter who the accuser was; they weren't to be harmed, which ensured our safety. Soon enough, Ink was placed in a defendant's seat, Classic Sans was in a judge's seat, and my family were placed in the prosecution's place. It was decided that Dream would act as the defense, and Nightmare was the head prosecutor.

~~~~~

Just a side note, I've never been in a courtroom, and this is probably not a good representation of a trial. Thank you.

~~~~~

"All right." Classic Sans started the trial. "Ink Sans versus the monster code. Prosecution, state your claim."

"Thank you, your honor." Nightmare stood. "We claim that while the defendant had Dust Sans in his custody, he went over the - sickening as they were - boundaries he was restricted to, and he likely inflicted pain upon my client after the victim reached the breaking point, which he wasn't supposed to do. As for the boundaries, it is a well-known law in the monster code that nobody is permitted to touch the soul of another without express permission, but my client claims that his abuser did exactly that."

"And there's no chance that it could have been an accident?"

"Your honor, I urge you to take a look at the state of my client's soul and tell me it could be an 'accident.'"

"Very well. Will Dust come up here and show me?"

"I'll take ya up, Dusty." Killer offered his hand, and I took it.

Killer led me up to the judge's place, where Classic Sans sat; I didn't want to bring out my soul..he could have hurt me! I hid behind Killer; I didn't want to do this! I wasn't ready! 

"Dusty, it'll be okay." Killer comforted me by rubbing my skull slowly. "Just show him your soul for a second, and then we can go back down."

"Wh-what if he h-hurts me?" I was scared..

"Dusty, if he hurts ya, I'll keep ya safe. Promise."

"..O-okay.." 

I brought out my soul; I hadn't looked at it since I had been released from Ink's torture, and it looked horrible. There were scratches visible, with only the magic restorer seeming unharmed. Classic Sans seemed very unsettled when he saw it; it was easy to tell that he was mad, but I couldn't help feeling that he was going to take out his anger on me. When I couldn't take it anymore, I brought my soul back and hugged Killer tightly, promptly being brought back down to my family. When I sat down, Cross, Horror, and Killer hugged me and offered encouragement.

"You did a great job, Dusty." Killer smiled.

"We-we're really proud o-of you." Cross rubbed my skull.

"Don't get much better'n that." Horror complimented.

"I see.." Classic Sans spoke up after a minute or so. "This is..definitely..not an accident..does the defense have anything to say?"

"Yes, your honor." Dream stood. "I've known Ink for decades, and I know that he is certainly an amazing citizen of society. He has always followed the rules of the monster code, and he's even stopped those he knows from unintentionally breaking a law; that's just how he is."

"I see. Do you have any proof that he didn't commit the crime?"

"Well..not explicitly.."

"Do you have any witnesses you'd like to call up?"

"No.."

"Prosecution?"

"I'd like to call Dream up to the stand, your honor." Nightmare looked at his brother sternly as the latter took the stand. "Dream, you live with the defendant, correct?"

"I do."

"Have you ever seen the defendant do anything..illegal?"

"Not aside from the entire torture thing.."

"Did you ever watch the defendant as the torture went on?"

"No..I don't like stuff like that."

"Is there anything that might lead you to believe that the defendant did commit the crime he is accused of?"

"Well, I didn't look..I wouldn't know."

"Did you ever talk to Dust while he was in the defendant's charge?"

"Well, he had a break for about an hour every day, but he never said anything about what went on during the torture."

"Did he ever leave hints?"

"Nothing I could pick up on, if any; I honestly don't recall him saying anything of the sort."

"Did the torture take place inside the house?"

"Yes, in Ink's room."

"Did the defendant ever allow you into his room while the torture was taking place?"

"Well, no, he locked the door."

"Could it possibly be because he didn't want you to see what he was doing?"

"I.." Dream was unsure. "I guess so.."

"Did you ever hear anything coming from the room when the torture was taking place?"

"Well..there were a lot of screams.." Dream frowned at the memories. 

"Did you ever hear words amidst the screaming?"

"Well, I-" Dream suddenly froze.

"I'm going to assume from your reaction that you did hear words, and from that, would I be correct to also assume that these words would serve as evidence to convict the defendant?"

"..." Dream nodded slowly; the crowds started to whisper.

"Your honor." Nightmare reclaimed his seat, and Dream slowly walked to his.

"Is that all, prosecution?" Classic Sans questioned.

"For now." 

"Defense?"

"..Yes.." Dream was a bit out of it.

"In that case, as adhering to the rules of monster code, the defendant will now plead. Ink Sans, after seeing and hearing these claims, how do you plead?"

"Plan B if he doesn't confess?" Error whispered to Nightmare.

"Not guilty." Ink stated innocently; he wasn't innocent.

"Go for it." Nightmare whispered back.

"That's rich coming from you." Error glared at Ink. 

"What are you talking about?" Ink acted as if he didn't know.

"I mean, you've already committed more crimes than I have in your spare time!" Error's statement surprised the crowds; even Classic Sans seemed intrigued, since he hadn't cut off the conversation yet.

"I have not!"

"Mind control? What about murder?"

"I've never killed a soul!"

"Touched one, haven't you?"

"Your honor, these accusations are unfounded!"

"What about poor little Outertale seventy-six on Wednesday? Oh, he did his research on you, didn't he? Had to kill him, huh? Official report says Nightmare killed him..I happen to know that Nightmare was sick in bed on Wednesday." Error remembered well; Nightmare had caught something a few days ago, but he was fine now.

"I didn't do that!"

"Had no trouble framing us though, did you? Oh, look, the villains of the multiverse? Why don't I just pin all my crimes on them?"

"I don't commit crimes!" Ink's voice was getting louder..I didn't like it.

"What about terrorism?"

"I've never terrorized anyone in my life!"

"Torture?"

"Before Dust, nobody." Ink's tone was making me shake; the others hugged me while Error carried out the plan.

"Cross begs to differ." 

"Cross is a murderer, like you."

"Explain his one LV. How does a murderer have one LV?"

"He must hide it!"

"Like you hide yours? What is it now, the millions?"

"I have never committed a crime!"

"Of course not, because you frame us for everything you do!"

"I do not!"

"I know you've engaged in theft."

"Have not!"

"Harrassment."

"I would never!"

"Child abuse."

"I've never hurt a child in my life!"

"Yet you've reverted Dust's mindset to the level of one."

"That's not the same thing!"

"Genocide." This made a few members of the crowd flinch; most of them were judges, and genocide was a very serious thing to them.

"I have never done any such thing! You have!"

"Slavery."

"Slavery has never taken place in multiversal affairs!"

"Again, Cross remembers you."

"Will you stop bringing him up?!" Ink was getting mad..Cross hugged me tighter.

"Fine, but surely you haven't forgotten that you enslaved me."

"I never enslaved anyone!" Ink was getting very angry; Nightmare was shuddering from the negativity. 

"That's a lie, but moving on..littering."

"Now you're just making things up!"

Ink froze; the crowd did, too. He had just indirectly confessed to every crime he was accused of.

"I-I mean.." Ink tried to backtrack. "Y-you can't honestly believe him!"

"Ink, it would be in your best interests to be silent." Classic Sans recommended. 

"The prosecution rests, your honor." Nightmare smirked.

"Defense?" 

"U-um.." Dream was in no condition to continue. "We rest..too.."

"Very well." Classic Sans looked to us. "Nightmare's gang, that was one of the craziest tricks I've ever seen to get a confession out of someone..but it's convinced me..and it was impressive.." He then looked to Ink. "As for you..there need be no recess. I find the defendant guilty."

"B-but.." Ink couldn't believe it. "This isn't fair! The prosecution is made up of criminals!"

"No further comments will be heeded in the court. As this is a case of the monster code, I am bound to give you whatever punishment is listed inside of it.." 

Classic Sans opened a large book and began to flip through the pages. My family comforted me as Ink tried to get out of his sentence, but he failed. When Classic Sans spoke again, the sentence was as clear as day.

"Ostracism. For anyone in the court who doesn't know what this means, it's quite simple: the defendant will be excluded from society as a whole. This means no communication, no befriending, and essentially forgetting the existence of the defendant for all who are aware. Since the defendant is an immortal, the sentence will last for thirty years. As soon as the defendant leaves this courtroom, no monster will be permitted to acknowledge his existence. This includes selling and buying, and no monster will be permitted even to look at the ex-protector, save for accidental glances. Anyone caught socializing with or harboring the defendant will be sentenced to one year in prison, whether the intentions were good or evil. Dream will be given one week to find new lodging, and Ink is no longer part of the group known as the Star Sanses. Are there any questions?"

"Your honor, I have a request." Error stated. 

"Yes?"

"I request that a portion of the defendant's magic be removed for his sentence."

"Which portion would that be?"

"Code magic. With that, he has the power to force anyone he wishes to do anything he wishes, and that includes forgetting about this entire trial; it could nullify everything that's happened here today."

"I see.." Classic Sans contemplated the problem; he was one of the few who knew of Ink's coding power. 

"You can't do that!" Ink argued. 

"As a matter of fact, we can."

"No..n-no.." 

"It will be done; that type of magic is too powerful to be put in a situation to be abused easily." 

"Y-you're all insane!" Ink was getting scared. "Y-you can't do this to me!"

Classic Sans turned to the swapped Papyrus, who nodded and left the room. Ink was avidly trying to change Classic Sans's mind when the swapped Papyrus returned, holding a magic suppressor meant for isolated types of magic. In the middle of one of Ink's rants, the swapped Papyrus forced the magic suppressor onto him while he wasn't paying attention; I was glad that it was the type that could be removed in only one way, and I was also glad that Ink wasn't made aware of the way..I hoped it was hard. Ink then attempted to open a code bar, failing. He was promptly kicked out of the courtroom, and his thirty-year sentence began; I hoped he stayed out of sight for the next few decades..I was still utterly terrified of him. When all was said and done, my family and I left, and Nightmare successfully avoided conversation with his brother, who was in the middle of rethinking life. When we got home, my family continued the cuddle from earlier, which made me feel a lot better; I had been scared the entire time, if I was being honest, and I really just wanted to be in the safety provided by my family.

I trusted them with my life.

~~~chapter end woot~~~

Dust bean family convict Ink sausage!

Thanks for reading my accusing writing!

Bye!