Haha. Now that my writing has improved since I've started this story, I hate it. Some things are just going to be...cliche. And the things that have happened have also been a bit boring, and I am sorry about that. It also doesn't help that my readers for this story have been dropping, although that is mostly on Wattpad that that is happening.

However, despite my personal feelings on it, I will finish this story, as I am still proud of it regardless. It was technically my first well-written fanfic and so I want to see it through to the end. I will finish it, I promise you that. I may rewrite it way in the future, but most likely not, as a part of being a writer is learning and improving, even if that means cringing while reading your older work.

Anyways, I didn't mean to take up this much of your time. Read the chapter now. I'm sorry for saying this right at the start.

People were selfish.

If there was one thing Dream knew without hesitation, it was that people were selfish. It was ingrained from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads. It didn't matter if they were black, white or even purple, never mind if they were human or monster. They were all selfish. They would always be selfish. He couldn't change that. They take and they take, and he can't change that, no matter how much he tries.

He hated it. No matter how he felt, the villagers, his people, who were supposed to respect him, they always asked him for more and more and got angry or sad or…just something wrong when he couldn't (or wanted to) do what they wanted. Which in turn made him feel guilty and angry at himself that he couldn't be useful like they wanted him to be.

As he said, he hated it. It was so frustrating. If he tried to be nice, they would ask about something he had said no to the day before. If he tried to reason with them, they would get defensive and blame Dream that because he was the prince, he should do things for them. Which, he wouldn't lie, did make a bit of sense. He was supposed to help his people, as was his duty when he took the throne. But he was confused because if that was true, then his people would surely understand that he wasn't some god and that he did need to rest, just like they did, right?

Right?

And then he ate the apple it was like a fog had been lifted. He realized that the selfishness, while ingrained too deeply to be removed from the individual, wasn't there for no reason. It was there because it was caused by something. Negativity. Selfishness was bad and bad equalled something negative. It made sense. Dream was tired of being used and so he made it his goal to destroy that selfishness, and in order to do that, he had to go to the source.

Destroy the source, destroy everything that stemmed from it.

It was easy to understand.

However, despite realizing this, there was one thing Dream knew he couldn't—even though he really wanted to, needed to, even—change. His aura. Giving people happiness. That stemmed from him and he would be doing that for as long as he existed. That was fine. He could live with that. That would be doing his job anyways. He would be helping people, so yes, it was fine. Not exhausting at all.

Which is why it surprised him when the Swap boy spoke. The boy was happy. Dream doesn't mean the happy that people usually get from being around him. He means actually genuinely happy. It was surprising, especially considering what had just happened to his kingdom. If anything, the boy should be sad as hell. But he wasn't. He was standing in front of Dream with a smile on his face.

Dream was curious.

This had never happened to him before. He had always been the one supplying people with fake happiness, making his own hell by getting people addicted to being around him. Yes, he will admit that it could get a bit tiring—just a bit though. Nightmare was always going to be wrong. Admitting that it was really tiring and made him want to pass out at times would be admitting that his brother was right. And he wasn't.

He needed to know how the boy could be this happy. It wasn't natural. It was a bit relieving, yes, but it made him feel lost just standing there. He didn't know what to do if he wasn't making people happy. So, he needed to know how the boy was avoiding that. How he was avoiding the effects of Dream's aura.

So, he asked.

And waited.

The boy dressed in blue blinked. Surprise and…concern…came off him, another thing that increased Dream's curiosity. He had never had someone be concerned or worried over him besides Nightmare.

Dream shook his thoughts of his brother.

He didn't have time to think of him right now.

The boy shifted. His brow furrowed as he thought. "I…I'm afraid I don't understand what you're asking me, Your Highness."

Dream waved his hand absentmindedly, shaking his head. "Please, call me Dream." He paused and realized that he didn't know the boy's name. "Forgive me, but what is your name? I forgot to ask."

The boy was surprised again and Dream didn't know why. It was a simple thing to answer. "M-my name is Blue, Your Hi—Um, Dream…" He said slowly, like it was the first time he had been asked it. Interesting.

Dream nodded, looking him over again. Blue. It fit him. "That's a wonderful name. Fitting to."

Blue blinked again. The surprise was getting annoying. "You…you're not gonna laugh?"

"No," Dream frowned, "why would I?"

Blue looked starstruck at this. Then he beamed, like this was the best thing in the world. The happiness radiating from him increased. He leaned back on his heels, bouncing in place. "That's great! Everyone else laughed, but you didn't. Thanks."

Oh. Well, he still didn't really understand why people would laugh at a name, but okay then. Moving on… "How do you do that?"

Blue stopped bouncing and looked worried. "Do what? Be happy?" He looked the emperor over, as if searching for signs of something.

Dream almost laughed at how silly it all was. Blue shouldn't worry about him. Of course, he was happy! Look at him! He practically radiated what happiness looked like. He was fine. It was Blue he was puzzling over. "Yes and no."

Blue tilted his head, curious.

Dream shifted, struggling to put it into words that the other would understand. He had never explained this to someone before, not even Nightmare. "Tell me…do you feel something…off, like an itch that you can't scratch or like there's something else in your head besides you, even a little bit?"

Blue scrunched up his face and thought for a few seconds. Slowly, he nodded. "Yeah, kind of. It's like something is trying to, I don't know, get in? If that makes sense?"

Dream nodded, relieved. "Yes, that would be me, or more specifically my aura." He tacked on a hastened sorry at the end at the alarmed and suspicious look thrown his way. "I can't control it. But because I'm the embodiment of positivity, I always radiate it. Usually, that means people become happy around me."

"Usually?"

Dream nodded. "Yes. But you're not affected by it. You're actually happy, so I don't need to fill in that happiness for you with some fake stuff."

"Oh." Blue looked down for a second before looking back up, confused. "But…wouldn't making people happy a good thing?"

Dream hummed, stealing himself. Here was the hard part. "You would think that, wouldn't you? But no. The happiness caused by my aura isn't real. They're just imitations of the chemical that causes the emotion, which just duplicates upon itself. It creates a happiness that is both better and worse than real happiness."

He looked to Blue to see if he was following along. He continued at the slow nod. "It's better because it's more there than the real thing. It's more upfront, more filling, bolder. Sometimes overwhelmingly so." He smiles bitterly. "And it's worse because when I leave, the happiness weakens and fades. This makes the person it's affecting sadder than before, which makes then seek me out to get the fake stuff again and they eventually become addicted to it."

Blue looks saddened at this knowledge. "Oh."

Dream laughs now, small and forced. "Yes. Oh." He falls silent, staring out the window at the setting sun. Had they been talking this long? He hadn't noticed.

Saying all of this stuff brought back memories that he wanted to leave behind. Why did he always think of the past? He wanted to get away from it, not wallow in it. Yet he kept bringing it up of his own free will. Why?

A certain memory of when he really learned why selfishness was bad came up, taking over Dream's vision.

"Ugh, did we lose it now?!"

"Template."

"Yes?"

"We're in a tree. We didn't lose it; we're hiding from it."

"Oh, right. Well, now what?"

"I don't—"

"…I have an idea."

"…"

"…no."

"Nightmare—"

"No! You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Just trust me, okay?!"

"Cross! CROSS! GET YOUR ASS BACK UP HERE OR SO HELP ME—!"

"Hey Dream! Can you help me with something?"

"Dream, you promised to play with us today, remember?"

"Hey, I need your help for a minute."

"Dream, please. My brothers sick and needs your help!"

"Dream, help us."

"Dream, help me."

Dream took a shaky breath from where he was hiding. He gathered enough courage to peek out towards the street where the villagers were, looking for him. They wouldn't leave. He hid again before someone noticed him, bringing his knees to his chest and hugging them.

It wasn't that he wanted to hide from them. He liked them. One of the things he loved was helping them, putting a smile on their faces. It lifted his spirits when he was told he had made someone's day. He loved playing with the kids. He loved healing someone who was hurt, seeing their face relax from all pain. He liked it. He loved it. It was just…

They asked him to do everything. Healing, cooking, playing, sewing, anything you can imagine. Sometimes people asked him to do things that he physically couldn't do. He had to say no then, right? If he couldn't do it? That's what he thought. But they always got so angry with him when he told them that. It was like they didn't want to believe him, like they didn't really care, as long as they got what they needed.

It was like they were being…selfish.

He didn't want to think of them like that. Being selfish was bad. That's what the councilmen have told him, and they were adults, they were the leaders, people he was supposed to listen to. If they said that, then they must be right. All of their teachings, no matter how small they made him feel, had to be right. Selfishness was bad, it led to people being unreliable. Because Dream was a prince, and would soon lead this kingdom, he was to never be selfish.

So, if selfishness was bad, then why were the villagers like that? He wanted to deny it, that there must be another reason why they were acting like this, but he couldn't think of anything else. That made him feel bad, like he was doing something wrong. He didn't understand anything.

The only thing he was sure of, was that he didn't want to do everything they asked of him. He knew that he affected them in some way by simply existing. But that shouldn't mean he has to do everything they ask of him. Especially the mundane things, like helping someone put groceries away or help someone cook their food. They should be able to do those things by themselves. He shouldn't have to help them.

He almost felt…angry…that he did these things. After all, if he hated them so much, why would he do them? It made him angry at himself, for not saying no in fear of anger being directed at him, and angry at the villagers, for asking these things of him in the first place.

He hated it.

He hated everything.

He just wanted to be free.

"Dream? Why are you hiding?"

Dream looked up at his brother, surprised he was even out here. Nightmare usually stayed away from the villagers, claiming he just didn't fit in with them. He suspected that he was lying, but he couldn't prove it and he would hate to made Nightmare upset by asking, so he kept everything to himself.

That went for any of his problems, too. He didn't want Nightmare to worry.

"Oh, uh…" Dream stood up and faced his brother. He took a quick glance behind him and relaxed. The villagers were gone. He didn't know why they were gone, but he was glad they left. He smiled at Nightmare. "I was just playing Hide n' Seek with some of the kids."

Nightmare blinked. "Oh." He looked a little down and it made Dream's brow furrow with concern. "I think I might've scared them off. I just came down to get you. It's time for lunch."

"It's okay, I think they had other plans anyways!" Dream grinned, casting aside his worries. He would go over them later. Now was time for food. He grabbed Nightmare's arm and started walking back to the palace. "So…what do you think we're having? Oh, I hope it's apple pie!"

Nightmare laughed. "That's a dessert, silly! We won't have it for lunch."

"Aw, but I really want some now."

"Then wait until after supper."

"But that's hours away!"

"You'll be fine."

"I'll starve!"

"Then starve."

"See? I told you!"

"Well, yeah, but did you have to kill it?"

"It was either it or us, okay? I'm not proud of it, but it was necessary."

"I suppose…"

"…"

"Well! We should get a move on."

"Why can't we just take another portal?"

"Because it has come to my attention that this will be a good bonding trip!"

"…F—"

Blue's voice brought Dream back to the present. "I'm…still not sure how you want me to answer your question…but…"

Dream blinked. His mood had definitely gone down, and he should probably get a hold of himself before it started to affect his aura. The last thing he wanted was for people to start feeling bad because of his inability to control his emotions.

But he didn't really want to. Some part of him, the bad part, wanted him to let his aura run unchecked, let it make others feel negative. He was tired of always doing things for them, so why should he shield them at all? Why bother caring if they're just going to use him, treat him as a tool? Then again, if he didn't do all this, he'll fail and he doesn't want to fail.

There was no way out.

Taking a breath, Dream shook himself. He gathered up everything but calmness, happiness and selflessness and tucked them all in a box. He then stuffed the box deep, deep down. Hopefully, it would stay buried there.

He turned his attention back to Blue, who seemed to be struggling for words. "It's alright," he sighed. "I can make due. It wasn't that important anyway."

Blue frowned at him and shook his head. "No. I want to help you." he smiled. "That's what friends do, right?"

Dream stopped breathing.

Friends.

With Dream.

With Blue.

Friends…

Blue wanted them to be friends. He wanted to be friends with Dream. Actual Dream, not just the one warped by the aura, by positivity. Dream. The real Dream. Well, at least he hoped that was the case; he could never be one hundred percent sure.

…He had never had an actual friend before. Usually, he was just hanging out with people because they needed a boost, needed something fixed, help with something, things like that. Usually, it was just his job to make people happy. The only person who hung out with him because they wanted to was Nightmare.

Well, actually, there was also…no, they didn't count.

A friend sounded nice. Just the thought of one made something warm spread in him, something that made him want to smile and jump for joy.

Blue blinked, suddenly alarmed. "Unless, I'm not your friend, in which case, I understand. It stings a little, but I understand. I am a bit annoying, so if you don't want to be friends, that's fine. Totally fine. And then I am very energetic, so you may not want to be friends because that can sometimes be annoying too. Oh, also—"

"No." Dream cut him off softly. "I want to be friends."

Blue blinked again. A smile showed up again and he giggled. "Great! That's great." He tilted his head. "Now, I can try to answer your question."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

"I want to," Blue said, face serious. He paused and his mood dimmed a little bit. Not fully, but enough for Dream to notice. "I…I had a brother once. Stretch."

Dream blinked. "Oh."

"Yeah." Blue nodded. "Younger, though he was fairly taller than me. He quite lazy and laidback." A smirk of remembrance appeared. "And he didn't like puns, but said them because they made me happy." The smirk disappeared, fading into a sad smile instead. "I never really made any friends growing up. People tired of me easily, got annoyed by me easily, things like that. Stretch was the only one who stayed."

"He…sounds like a good brother." Dream couldn't help but think of his own brother, even though the two sounded nothing alike. And he hated thinking of his brother.

This day was full of things he wanted to avoid: Flashbacks and Nightmare.

Blue perked back up. "He was! The absolute best! And he was the one to introduce me to the friends that I have now. They…tolerate me, at least. It's fine." His smile stayed firmly in place for his next words. "However, Stretch did vanish one day. I have no clue whether he's alive or dead."

Dream paused. "I see."

Something like that shouldn't explain why Blue was so happy all the time. In fact, it should explain why he would be sad. Hm. His friend got more and more interesting as the conversation continued.

"I try not to let it bother me too much. I mean," Blue chuckled a bit, "it hurt. Still does. It's just…kinda already known that it would hurt if someone you knew your whole life, the only person who listened to you and saw at you as an actual person, was just…gone when you woke up." He fell silent. "It would hurt knowing they essentially abandoned you, wouldn't it?"

It would.

Dream knew this for a fact. They made sure of it, promising to be there for him always, made him hope for a way out of his duties, even if he knew it was selfish of him to want to hope for that. Then they never came back. They were there, then they weren't.

They abandoned him, with no remorse.

"I know how you feel." Dream said, bitterness seeping through. "I know exactly how you feel."

Blue gave him a small smile. "It sucks, doesn't it?" He waited for Dream to nod before continuing. "But you see, that's exactly why I'm so happy. I know what it's like, so I want to make sure no one else feels the same way, or worse. I want to make everyone happy because everyone should be happy." He tilted his head. "You know what I mean?"

Dream smiled back, his wings giving a quick flutter. "Yes. I think I do."

He had never met someone who wanted to do the same thing he did. Yes, he was tired of being expected to always want to do it nonstop, regardless of his own health. That didn't mean he didn't want to spread happiness. He truly did want to. It made him happy, in a difficult way.

But, despite Dream's feelings on the matter, it helped to know he wasn't alone.

Yes, Blue would fit right in.

He would be perfect.

Hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think. You know the drill. See you (hopefully) next Thursday, as I have a plan from now until the end of Part One. Hopefully, it'll work.