Heya everyone, been a bit. I was in a bit of a creative rut...but! Luckily, with a few oneshots I wrote, I got the juices flowing again. Especially with this story. So, as always, I won't hold ya back! Tell me what you think and hope you enjoy it!
Eventually, Nightmare deemed it time to return to Cross.
The friends had wandered around the kingdom for a bit. They had created a game of guessing what each building was and what happened to it, including its backstory. It got them a few laughs between them.
Nightmare made sure to tell Template why he had dragged them away. Luckily, the Pixelian understood and was more than happy to comply with exploring. In fact, he did most of the talking while Nightmare watched and listened with a smile.
Nightmare also kept an eye on Cross's emotions through all of Template's excitement. Now that he met the skeleton, it was easier to keep track no matter the distance. That was good. He could make sure that Cross didn't try to suppress his emotions anymore. Also, he could make sure the monochrome skeleton did, in fact, mourn his family well.
Which he was. It was a healthy mixture of just the right amount of sorrow and nostalgia. Hopefully, by the time they returned, Cross would have mourned his family well enough to start to move on.
Nightmare was glad. Though, he did find something a bit confusing.
It was buried underneath everything, so it was a bit hard to place, but now that Cross was letting his emotions out, the guilt was also rising. Which, he supposed was good, as it meant the other wasn't deluding himself as others have done. The question Nightmare found himself asking, however, was why it existed in the first place.
Was it because Cross was the only one left alive? It would make sense. Most survivors of murders or accidents found themselves guilty of causing it, even if they couldn't have prevented it. Cross could be feeling this survivor's guilt.
Nightmare didn't think so, though. Call it a feeling or an instinct but he just knew that Cross wasn't feeling that kind of guilt.
However, he didn't want to speculate about that now. He had felt Cross's sorrow turning into acceptance, which meant it was time to return to him.
"Hey, Template?" he called to his friend, who was currently climbing over some rocks.
Hearing his name, the other turned to Nightmare. "Yeah?"
"How about we return to Cross? I think it's time." Nightmare watched as Template beamed at him, hurrying down and past him, calling out to the other to hurry up. A smile tugged at his mouth as he rolled his eyes and followed.
They got back to the castle quickly. As Template got there first, he opened the door and immediately bounced up to Cross, who had stood up when the door opened again. Nightmare hung back, a calm smile on his face as Template began to talk to Cross, who listened attentively.
While he was content to watch Template and Cross, Nightmare found the thoughts from before returning, taking his attention.
He couldn't help it. He had to know why Cross felt this way if he was going to help him, he just had to. Or else, Cross might become consumed by his guilt and...well, he'd rather avoid thinking about that.
If the guilt didn't come from surviving, then it must come from...
Being the cause.
The realization made him freeze. It made sense. Why Cross was the last one remaining, why he said this kingdom was destroyed by one person, why he felt all that guilt. Why didn't he see this sooner? Everything pointed to it.
Then again, there was no real proof to it. No real evidence. Unless Cross admits it himself. Which he probably won't, not for a while or he confronts him.
Another thought came into his head and he glanced at Template, growing scared. If cross destroyed his kingdom, killed all of his friends and family, then who's to say he won't do it again?
He was a terrible person for thinking this. Cross didn't give him any reason not to trust him. But he just couldn't let it go. He had to take all precautions. If that meant turning Cross into a villain, even if he isn't, then so be it.
Template wouldn't agree. Nightmare already knew that the Pixelian wants to ask Cross to join them. If Nightmare denied him that, if he revealed what he thought, then his friend would be devastated. He didn't like to see his friends sad.
Still, he couldn't help but fear for his friend's safety.
Template had officially run out of things to say.
This surprised him. Usually, he had topics to talk about for days. Now, when talking to a potential new friend, he seemed to have only a handful.
Maybe he was still being affected by his talk with Ink (which he still got giddy over; like, he met his idol!). It would make sense. Bantering with Nightmare had taken his mind off of it for a while, but he hadn't been feeling like himself ever since.
Anytime he looked at himself, he saw Error. It made it hard to return to normal.
Nightmare understood, luckily. He was grateful to have him as a friend. Really, really grateful. Especially because he liked Template for who he was and liked him whether or not he was a hero.
He shook his head clear of those thoughts. It wouldn't help him now to dwell on them.
Now, he had to find something to talk about with Cross. Cross was a good listener, even if he got a little lost in his mind sometimes. Like Nightmare did when things were bad. This is why he made such a good canadine for a new friend.
Hm...
Wait, they were here to see if the kingdom was willing to help fight Dream, right? Well, maybe they failed a bit, as this kingdom was already destroyed by someone—he would like to find out who and kick their butt—but...
They had found Cross.
They had still found a potential ally.
Yeah. That made sense. Sure, it wouldn't be a whole kingdom, but any bit counted, right? They had still, technically, achieved their goal.
Besides, Cross looked like he needed some new friends.
He nodded to himself. Nightmare would understand. He knew he would. All he had to do now was ask.
The thought gave him the familiar anxious thoughts he always got. He got them talking to Nightmare, so it was only natural he got them with Cross. The thoughts that Cross would be mad with him, refuse his offer in disgust, laugh at him. The what-ifs...everything of the sort.
He pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Hey, Cross?" He began, waiting for Cross to look at him. When he did, Template took a deep breath. Just rip the Band-Aid off. "I was wondering...if you'd like to join us?"
Pale had to hand it to Razz and them, they were quite powerful and helpful.
They had remained at the camp for a few more days, just to make sure the group was healing well. A couple of the monsters did, unfortunately, fall down despite everyone's efforts. Luckily, it was only a couple and everyone else was alive and well.
Well, as well as they can be considering.
The group hadn't revealed anything specific about how their kingdom was destroyed. Pale, upon seeing this and recalling the crash course about how emotions work by Dream, told his guards not to push things. They understood. Everyone understood that their kingdom being destroyed is pretty traumatic and people won't talk about it willingly, if they can help it.
Pale had given Razz, who was the leader (at least, now he was) like he thought, a tour of the camp, as he had seemed like the least injured person among his group. That way, his group had someone they knew who could show them around instead of a stranger.
Dream would be proud.
...note the sarcasm.
Pale doesn't have anything against Dream. Honestly, he doesn't! He just...realized that something was off about the leader. He didn't know what, but he was sure it was there.
If it wasn't, then he was going crazy like many of the Destroyers did after a time.
Pale shook his head as he started to pick up the pace again. He had to get out of his head. Today they had to get a move on again. They had fallen behind, so they had to do a bit of a rush. The problem was...they didn't know where their little group of survivors could go.
"Hey, Pale?"
Pale blinked and came to a stop, turning. Razz was standing there. The skeleton looked better than he did a few days ago, though there were still some bandages on his arm.
"I wanted to say thank you, again," Razz said, doing a good job of keeping eye contact. He reminded Pale of a solider who never lets his guard down. "for letting us stay."
Pale tilted his head. "Of course."
They stood there for a bit before Razz looked over at his group in the distance. Pale followed his gaze. Some of the remaining kids were wrestling on the ground with some adults watching with amused grins. Pale saw Razz's gaze soften out of the corner of his eye.
Pale looked to the ground, studying it as he thought.
Dream sent him on this...mission, if you wanted to call it that, as a way to draw more people to Empire Sun. Specifically, he said to invite people who were bordering on little to no hope, as he wanted to help as many people as he could be happy.
And the survivors of Kingdom Swapfell fit that bill, didn't they?
"Hey," Pale started, looking back to Razz. "I know somewhere you and your people would be safe at."
Razz snapped his gaze back to Pale.
Pale continued, more confident now that he had the other's attention. "It's why we had this camp in the first place. We're on the lookout for people to join us." He fingered the tattoo on the side of his face, which he had forgotten about. "Join Empire Sun."
Razz inhaled. Pale knew then that the other had heard about their empire already. Dream was right. Word does spread fast. That was good. If the group heard the rumours already, they would be more inclined to join.
Which was very good.
"I..." Razz hesitated, looking back at his people. "I'll be back."
With that, he ran off. Pale watched as he conversed with the adults of his group. He waited a few minutes, then Razz nodded to something they said and ran back to Pale, a grin looking to try and take over his face.
"Okay." He said once he took his place back at Pale's side. "We'll join you."
Pale nodded, smiling. "Alright. I'll have a few guards escort you back, then."
Razz nodded also before pausing. "And, uh...one of the others wanted to let you know about Kingdom X. If you're interested. She says they might be exactly what you're looking for."
Pale blinked before narrowing his eyes. Interesting. "Tell me more."
