The moment Dream pulled us off the ground of the Doodle Sphere, I knew it was going to be a fight. We were yanked away so fast it felt as though I'd left my soul behind. The center of our path was a rushing river of blinding light. On either side were rapids churning in the opposite direction, leading to who knows where.

I sensed the imbalance almost immediately. We were being pulled to the left. Before I could do anything to correct our course, I came in painful contact with the sides. It felt like I was being dragged through a sandstorm that was rasping away at my very existence. Ink almost followed me in. In desperation, I unfurled my right wing. Despite the horrid pain, the plan worked perfectly; it tilted us back to the center.

Dream seemed to be running into the same problem. But upon the second time of him correcting the course, it suddenly sent the three of us spinning out of control. I tried to hug tighter to Ink, as did Dream. I sensed we still had a few seconds in this current. It was doubtful we'd make it. Magic didn't work in here. I couldn't form a protection bubble. We just had to hang on…

Right as my grip gave away, we were pitched as a tumbling mess through a lush patch of soft yellow flowers. Desperate, I struggled to my hands and knees. Through my churning vision, I managed to find Ink and reengage the healing magic. A few seconds later, the glow was joined by yet another golden, encompassing light: Dream's magic. There was a tense pause. Would our combined powers be enough? Then, a few seconds later—Ink's HP started increasing.

We both collapsed pathetically back to the ground, letting out synchronized sighs of relief as we tried to regain our bearings.

"never… again," I insisted. I assume the blurred motion to my left was Dream nodding his head.

Just as my mind began to recover, there was a rustling sound somewhere to the right and beneath me. Dream gasped, rolled for Ink and I, and teleported. We dropped onto an overgrown platform. From the safety of the ledge, high on the wall, I observed a cute, pinkish-white flower pop up in the field where we had been moments before. I assumed it was the Flowey of this world.

"Hello?" the tiny plant ventured. "Is someone there?" A glance at Dream told me not to answer. Flowey looked concernedly around, scanning the recesses of the cave. The big, curious eyes didn't seem sinister. Upon his search turning up empty, Flowey tilted his head back, gazing up through the fissure in the earth. The sun fell on his happy little yellow face, and he smiled, soaking the light in. His expression made me realize he was harmless. A few minutes passed in silence. Then, from across the caverns, I heard a soft call—

"Flowey? Where did you go?" The flower turned back.

"Sorry Frisk. I thought I heard something," he called. Pulling at his roots, he opened a tiny crack in the dirt and disappeared down it. The ground closed behind him. A few more minutes passed in silence. Then, Dream declared—

"Coast is clear. We gotta stay quiet." I sighed slightly in relief, inexpressibly weary from all the soul-stopping scares of the day.

"I take it HavenTale isn't aware of the AUs?" I asked. Dream nodded.

"Correct. It would be best if our presence here goes unnoticed." There was a long, silent pause, during which Dream mostly stared tiredly ahead or at Ink.

"you know…" I started carefully, "you never answered my last question." Dream shot me a puzzled glance. I met his gaze, tried a sympathetic smile, and asked—"are you alright?" There was a moment of hesitation, then Dream sighed.

"I'm alright," Dream affirmed, a light smile on his face. Another pause. "I suppose… I didn't actually answer any of your questions." He stopped, thinking. Eventually, after a long wait, he gazed up towards the sunlight far above, and said—"Once upon a time, there was a tree."

Since "once upon a time" means story time, I sat back and got comfortable, hoping I'd finally get some answers. Exhausted though I was, I was determined to not fall asleep. Dream continued.

"From the tree sprouted an entire universe. Two brothers, the prince-children of the tree, cared for the apples that grew on it. One cared for the side covered in golden fruit, the personification of happiness and light; the other looked after the side with dark fruit, the personification of worry and night. Together, they protected the fragile balance of a peaceful world."

golden apples, embodiment of happiness… dream must have been one of the caretakers. well, i guess that's why he always has a cloud of apple-scent following him. I tried to hide my grin. The mental image of Dream diving into a crate of apples didn't seem so farfetched anymore.

"People came from far and wide to see the tree. The golden fruit was praised, but the dark fruit was unnoticed or feared, same as the prince that cared for it. His cheerful brother didn't share in the foolish prejudice, but, the admiration of one person is not enough; the Dark Child fell into despair, and the Gold Child failed to notice the warning signs."

I began to sense a hint of remorse in Dream's tone. He was staring straight ahead, now, absentmindedly fiddling with one of the buttercups. Ink seemed to detect the change in his friend's mood and stopped twitching and murmuring in his sleep; it was as if he too was listening to the tale.

"The lonely child went behind his mother's and brother's back and took one of the golden apples. He wished to prove he could care for them just as well, that his fruit was beautiful too… but it was all for naught. The moment he touched the fruit, it withered. The tree turned black. Everyone was fearful and filled with anger at the prince, and, cornered, he did something drastic; he ate the dark fruit." Dream rested his head at the wall at his back, gazing up at the sunlight once more. "Worries, in moderation, keep us alive and safe. But when they become all-consuming… they morph into hate. The remaining prince had no choice but to confront his brother. He ate the last golden apple and fought to protect his world. But the power of many dark fruits could not be overcome by one golden apple. The child of Night won, destroyed the world and sealed his brother in a prison of stone for over an age. The Child of Light eventually broke free and escaped. It was then he became allies with The Artist, and, well…" He sighed and smiled wearily. "Here I am today."

Dream apparently decided he had spilled enough backstory, and turned to me, hoping the explanation was perfectly sufficient. My mind was balking. The pieces fell into place.

"nightmare's your brother," I breathed in shock. Dream nodded slightly. "so… that's why he singled you out. that really was stone. that's why—! oh goodness, that's why you didn't want to hurt him…" I murmured. Dream sighed.

"I'm sure I can still save him. I mean, he could have killed me when we first fought. He didn't. He just trapped me. So, he still cares, deep down. He's got to care… right?" He thought about all this, then asked—"Or am I just being optimistic?"

For a moment, I just stared at him, unsure what to think or say. But then, I grinned slightly.

"i'll be honest; i may have somewhat underestimated you. you're more than sunshine and lollipops. you're a lot braver than i thought." Dream seemed quite honored at this comment. His smile widened. "and, nah, you're not just being optimistic. you're right. there's still hope." Despite the fact he had no physical soul for me to ping nor gold to show for the hurt, I could have sworn I saw a slight shimmer of light.

Just as Dream was about to say something in response, all conversation came to a stop as Ink, delirious, as if dreaming, pathetically murmured—

"Mmm… apples…"

Dream and I exchanged a glance, grinned, and burst into hysterics. We tried to keep the volume level down so as not to draw attention, but it was hard.

"oh my goodness, he's at it again," I wheezed.

"How long has Ink been doing that?" Dream whispered, shaking with laughter.

"a long time," I replied, grinning so wide it hurt. After a few more laughs—

"Serif," Dream chuckled, "we gotta have a basket of apples waiting for Ink when he wakes up." I grinned.

"think he'll remember enough to understand?"

"Doubtful," Dream admitted, "but it'll make for a great inside joke between us."

We laughed some more. Soon, though, chuckles turned to light snores as the healing was completed and the three of us fell safely asleep.