Nightmare had heard rumors of some beings finding themselves in places that weren't usually accessible, but never believed he would be one of them. At first the Prince of Negativity assumed he had found himself in the anti-void, until he looked around and found what appeared to be monsters. Upon closer inspection he found that the monsters around him appeared to be soulless half finished sketches. There appeared to be a possible Toriel, Undyne, Alphys and even an Asriel roaming around the emptiness around him and it was then he realized he was in an abandoned AU of the multiverse.

He had no idea how he got here, but he knew it was best to leave. Most unfinished AUs had nothing but soulless creatures, especially one like this one that had barely gone past the sketching stage. He turned to open a portal, but froze when he was met with the tall stature of a Papyrus sketch standing behind him. These creatures didn't even make any noise or have any emotions for him to track. That was the most disturbing part about them, the emotionless empty chasm that met Nightmare when his powers reached out for any emotions.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Nightmare caught a glimpse of fear before it was overcome with curiosity. Blinking in surprise, the Prince of Negativity looked around for the source of the emotions. He knew it couldn't be the sketches he had seen so far, and it definitely wasn't the Papyrus in front of him and yet he could sense curiosity. Nightmare finally focused on the Papyrus as he realized the being appeared to be trying to get his attention. Following where the white gloved hand was gesturing, Nightmare's single eyelight widened at the sight of a small skeleton hiding behind the sketch. The being was supposed to be a Sans, but not an adult. No, this was a child. A child that stared out at him from behind his unfinished brother with a curious tilt to his head and his eye lights glimmering with emotion.

Nightmare was many things, he will admit. Cruel, ruthless, malicious. But no matter what people thought of him, no matter what his own brother thought of him now, he wasn't heartless. The mere realization that the tiny child before him had emotions, had a SOUL, made the Prince of Negativity's rotten apple heart clench in sympathy for a brief moment. How alone must this child have been to be surrounded by beings, but be the only one to have emotions. To have been the only being considered completed enough for him to even have a Soul was cruel even in Nightmare's books.

Seeing the child duck further behind the Papyrus sketch, Nightmare knelt down to appear less intimidating to the small skeleton. Though with how small the child was it was hard to make himself small enough to not be intimidating, plus his tentacles and appearance in general probably didn't help. It seemed to work nonetheless as the child peeked back out at him and seemed to lean out a bit more to examine him. This child appeared more curious than afraid of him, which was impressive since it had been a long time since Nightmare had anyone feeling anything but fear when they saw him.

"Where did you come from?" The child asked curiously, making Nightmare jolt at the sudden sound in the silent space.

"I came from another AU. A place outside of your world here." Nightmare replied.

"There are other worlds?"

The wonder and excitement in the child's voice had Nightmare's amusement growing and he smiled.
"There are. Many worlds." He replied, glancing up at the Papyrus sketch as the being moved slightly when the child completely moved from behind him. The sketch was watching the child and if Nightmare wasn't positive that the unfinished creature was completely emotionless, he'd swear he saw a flash of affection in the one eye that wasn't covered in notes. He returned his attention to the smallest skeleton as the child stepped forward excitedly.
"Can I go to the other worlds?!" He asked, with a gleam in his white eyelights.

"You would have to leave this world, and I do not know if you would be able to return if you do."

The child seemed to pause at that, his emotions becoming conflicted between excitement, curiosity, fear and apprehension.

"Can't you bring me back?" The child asked cautiously. Despite clearly being from a world blocked off from most knowledge of the multiverse and knowledge in general the small skeleton was very aware that Nightmare was a stranger.

"I'm unsure if I will be allowed back in once I leave here, little one." Nightmare answered honestly.

The fear that spiked through the child at his words nearly toppled Nightmare over with its suddenness and he froze as the kid rushed forward and clung to his nearest tentacle.
"Please don't leave! I don't wanna be alone!" The child exclaimed frantically. Nightmare felt his SOUL clench at the fear in the child's voice and he carefully reached out to brush his hand along the little one's skull.

"I cannot stay forever, little one. But perhaps you should come with me, this world is no place for a child." Nightmare suggested, his eyelight snapping to the Papyrus sketch as the being seemed to encourage him and his suggestion with a simple wave. The soulless being wanted him to take the child from here, even with no feelings it wanted to save him.

"Come with you?" The tiny skeleton said curiously.

"Yes, I can take you with me. You can leave here and join the multiverse. Perhaps find a home." Nightmare replied.

"A home? Can I find a home with you?"

That had Nightmare pausing and staring at the child in surprise. He hadn't considered taking the child in himself, only taking him to an AU, but he supposed it would be scary for any child to leave their AU and be thrust into a new one. Even if he was a stranger at least he would be a savior in a sense for taking him from this place.

"I suppose if that is where you wish to go then yes, you could find a home with me." Nightmare finally answered, receiving a happy gasp before one of his tentacles was hugged tight by the child.

Nightmare stared at the smaller skeleton a little confused, but didn't tug his tentacle away from him. He then slowly wrapped his tentacle around the small child in the form of a hug before smiling slightly.
"Alright little one. Let's get you out of here." Nightmare instructed gently, looking to the Papyrus as a goodbye.