It had been one month since the balance tip, and people were beginning to realize that there was no more sense of conscience; Underfell and a few other dark universes had already reached part three. If the ones we had saved didn't believe us before, they did now; they had borne witness to the atrocities that now raged across the multiverse. As for our survival, Error had managed to isolate a farm-based universe for emergencies; if we ever ran out of food, we could learn how to grow our own food there. Ink was just sitting back and watching the chaos unfold, but we expected that, honestly. I had devoted a fair amount of my free time to my work with dust, but I had been able to make no progress; I needed certain materials that weren't readily available, not to mention the fact that our goal had never been achieved in the past. With Nightmare currently unavailable, Error had taken lead of our family unit until everything was back to normal..if anything ever went back to normal. He was also trying to keep up with his job of fighting corruption, but it was difficult when universes were spreading corruption like crazy. In any case, we were still staying in Nightmare's house; it was the safest place in the multiverse.

"What if we just did what you used to do and cause chaos?" Classic Sans wanted ways to restore the balance, and I was the only one home to respond at the moment, unfortunately.

"The amout of negativity we'd need to produce would be far above what we can accomplish in a straight month of negativity spreading." I shook my skull. "We'd have to find some way to scare the wits out of every soul in the multiverse simultaneously to even have a chance."

"Then how do you propose we fix it?"

"Well, it'd be a long shot, but if Dream were to take up Nightmare's mantle, he might be able to at least produce some amount of negativity..that is, if he actually does have the capacity to perform such a feat without losing his mind."

"How would I lose my mind?" Dream looked at me oddly.

"For starters, you'd be willingly hurting people; there's a chance you could gain LV if you're invested enough."

"What difference would that make?"

"..." I wondered why that question existed. "Have you ever gained or known someone who gained mass quantities of LV?"

"Not particularly."

I sighed. "Dream, LV does not only increase attack, defense, and health, nor does it only appear as a mere number on a meaningless check box. When that number rises above a certain point, it can be suffocating; at some point, it comes back as physical pain. It's not constant; it just spikes at times, and when it does, depending on the number, it can honestly feel worse than death. Nightmare felt it..Killer feels it, Error feels it, even I feel it."

"I can take pain."

"But it isn't just pain." I wanted him to know what he could have been getting into; it was a terrible plan, but it might have been our only one if worst came to worst. "It's horrific dreams, it's voices taunting you inside your mind, and it's..breaking. If we are pushed to the point where you decide to do Nightmare's job, you will develop fears you never had before. You will be pushed past your breaking point, and you may turn into an entirely different person."

"..Is that what happened to him?"

"It happens to everyone who pushes LV to the extreme.."

"How did you cope?"

"We surrounded ourselves with others like us. We'll never truly be free from the endless torture, but we can make it easier to handle for eachother."

"If I.."

"Hey, it's not even guaranteed to work; it's only a theory. Unless we're in desperate need - or you feel some determination, I guess - we won't speak of it again. But..if you do end up doing it, we'll help you through it."

"Thanks..but what about Cross and Horror?"

"Well, Horror has low LV, and Cross has never gained any."

"Then how.."

"Horror only helped us because he cared for his universe and those inside it; after a while, it became more of a desire to do what was right in regard to the balance. Since the beginning, Horror has only ever cared for others; to gain LV, one must be willingly hurting or killing others for a cause, whether good or bad. Horror never really hurts anyone when we go out; he sticks to demolition, mostly. As for Cross, he's just got a kind soul..and all of the LV he may have gained was pushed to the determined half of his soul; he probably does have LV, but it doesn't affect him due to half of his soul being human and absorbing it."

"What about Killer? He's so carefree; doesn't it affect him?"

"..." I looked down. "Killer is one of the most affected individuals I've ever met. He just covers it..very well. He used to be an emotionless..killer, but when Nightmare recruited him, he was impressed upon by an emotional aura. After a while, he began to redevelop his emotions; that's why he may act childish at times. He knows what it's like to feel absolutely nothing, and he doesn't take what he has for granted. As for the other effects, you can just tell when he's hurting..he tries to hide it when he's hurting, and sometimes he succeeds, but if it's a worse spike, he'll come for help. If you ever gain that amount of trust, remember that he's fragile; if you turn him down when he asks for help..he may never ask for help again. Once, a long time ago, I made the mistake of turning him down; I was busy with personal matters at the time, but I noticed that he hadn't been around me as much. I found him in his room, just staring at the wall, completely devoid of any emotion..I don't think he even knew I was there. He didn't speak to me for a week after that; I apologized at that point, and I told him that I'd never turn him down again. Trust is a fragile thing; it is more so with fragile people."

"Why does he try to hide his pain?"

"The same reason the rest of us do: we don't want to worry eachother." 

"But..wouldn't it be better to ask for help than to deal with it alone?"

"No..yes..I don't know! When the tormenting starts up again, you can't think straight! It..it tears you to pieces..it makes you think that asking for help would just be a bother - a burden! It just..makes you feel worthless..like there's nothing you can do right. It isn't just pain; it's a detailed study of every flaw you have and why you're not fit to have anything that you do have! It's a reminder that you never should have left your universe, because they would be better off without you! It's a reminder of every time you have failed, and you can't deny it, because you know that it's telling the truth! It's just..torture."

"..." Dream frowned. "There's no need to believe all those lies."

"How can you say your own mind is wrong about you? It knows you best. It knows every mistake you've made - every accident you've lied about. It knows of every being you've slaughtered and what their screams sounded like. It can replay the pleads for mercy over and over until you break down into a sobbing mess because you know that you could have stopped yourself. You know you could have tried to enjoy the life you had instead of throwing it away just for something as simple-minded as revenge.."

"..You're talking about yourself.."

"I know who I'm talking about..who knows me better than my own twisted version of a mind, after all?"

"What about the others? Have you ever asked them for help?"

"Are you kidding? I can't ask them for help, especially not now! They're mourning! I'd just be more of a burden!"

"You're not a burden."

"Yes..I am. Nobody else needs physicals every week. Nobody else poses the constant threat of dying due to a terminal illness! Nobody else has to eat a higher magic intake just to stay alive! Nobody else has had to deal with the struggles that I have, therefore I am the largest burden I could possibly be; and don't tell me not to feel sorry for myself, because I'm not. I can't be sorry for myself, since that would make me an even larger burden! I don't want to be that..I don't want to hurt them more.."

"..Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.." I was fine..I was perfectly under control..

"Have you ever asked for help?"

"..No. And I never will. I don't deserve help, with all I put them through. My priorities put them first in all regards, and that is how it will remain."

"Where are you in your priorities?"

"..I keep myself alive and healthy; that's all I deserve, if even that."

"Don't you ever want to be happy?"

"I'm only happy when they're happy; being happy when they are sad is a violation of everything I live for."

"Why do you punish yourself like that? Don't you deserve love?"

"I did, once..a long time ago..but I exchanged it for the worst kind, and it cost me everything. I now have a family I don't deserve, and I will do anything to keep them happy; that is the only way I can bring myself to be happy, and I will continue in that way until I draw my last breath."

"..But you've seemed genuinely happy before." 

"Like I said: when they're happy, I'm happy."

"..What about sadness?"

"I..know what sadness is.."

"But you're not wearing an emotion watch."

"Neither are you."

"Why don't you need one?"

"I'm a broken skeleton - more broken than most. Can we stop this discussion? I only wanted to pose an idea, and I ended up ranting..I'm sorry.."

"You don't have to be sorry! It's fine! Actually, it's nice to know that you're not as shut-off as you try to be."

"Maybe..do you guys need anything?"

"How's the outside world looking?" Classic Sans wasn't too enthusiastic about that topic.

"I think some of the more passive universes are still in stage one, but most of them are beginning to realize the absence of guilt."

"What about.."

"Undertale is on stage two.."

"What happens if it gets destroyed?"

"You and your brother will be safe, since this universe is nowhere near Undertale, but it's likely that you'll never be able to return unless everything goes back to normal soon..which I doubt will happen."

"I never thought I'd have to abandon everyone like that.."

"It's difficult, but if you need help, we're willing..probably."

"Dusty!" Killer jumped out of a portal and tackled me; he seemed unhappy.

"What's wrong?" I immediately questioned.

"I got scared again.." Killer hugged me tightly.

I sighed, hugging him back. "It's okay, Killer; there's nothing to be scared of."

"Wh-what if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing's going to go wrong, Killer; just focus on the present, okay? Can you do that?"

"B-but.."

"Hey, the present. I'll focus on the future, and you focus on the here and now. What's going on, Killer?"

"I..I'm worried.."

"Worry is for the future, Killer; you focus on the present, remember?"

"O-oh, right.." Killer's breathing slowed.

"Now, what's in the present that's bothering you?"

"..."

"Nothing?"

"Nothin'.." 

"Everything's okay?"

"Yeah..everythin's fine."

"Well, that's good to hear; now, do you need anything?"

"No..just a hug."

"I can give you that." I hugged Killer tighter.

A moment of silence.

"Why don't we hug like that, Sans?" Classic Sans's brother questioned.

"...I don't know." Classic Sans seemed a bit embarrassed..or maybe he was jealous; I couldn't feel emotions like Nightmare could..I wished he was still here..

"Nightmare never hugged me like that.." Dream sighed.

"You people have never had true hugs.." The alive Chara pitied them; I did, too.

"I'm okay now, Dusty.." Killer pulled away slowly.

"Good." I smiled. "Is everyone else doing okay?"

"Yeah, we just finished monitorin'; they're gonna do one more look at Undertale before comin' home, but I wanted to make sure ya were okay."

"Thanks, Killer, I don't know what I would have done without your coming home."

"Were ya in danger?"

"In danger of conversation, maybe."

"Don't worry, Dusty!" Killer picked me up with a brave look. "I'll save ya from the conversations!"

I was too busy laughing to stop him.

We were a family.

~~~chapter end woot~~~

Dust bean talk. 

Goal of having an entire chapter just be a literal conversation: check.

And what was that at the end? Rogue fluff? Wow, never thought I'd see that!

Why am I better at writing angst smh-

*casually contemplates life*

Thanks for reading my fluffy writing!

Bye!