Chapter Text
When he made it out his AU, Nightmare found out that there were other universes out there, and he used it for his benefit. Suddenly, he felt a huge influx of emotions, positive and negative. Sometimes there was a lot of happiness, too much. Other times, the ones he preferred, there was sadness and grief and anger and rage and guilt.
There were thousands of universes, is it really bad if he caused just a little more suffering in the world? Well, apparently, someone thought it was.
Nightmare found out that emotions from people he didn't even know were even stronger, because they were fueled by far more confusion, and what did confusion cause? Fear. And fear was a savory meal. So he enjoyed every bit of it, making his victims suffer through their last moments while they watched their loved ones dust and disintegrate. Oh, how pleasing. But someone had to interrupt his fun because he soon saw a figure in the background quickly approaching.
Nightmare wasn't too aware of the AU’s nature so he just assumed it was some sort of inhabitant, but soon the skeleton appeared next to him appearing from ink similarly to him, though he wasn't actually made of ink. It just looked like that.
The skeleton yawned, not even looking up at the Guardian of Negativity himself. Just what did this lowly being think they were? Nightmare focused on them, fueling the surrounding people’s confusion on his shift in focus.
“Error, didn't I say it was much easier to use the doodlesphe-” The monster finally opened their eyes, and Nightmare assumed they were talking about someone. Must be he, because the voice was - masculine? No, it was far too feminine, plus the monster before him stood in a cropped outfit. Definitely ‘she’. And if the skeleton assumed he was someone else, that means someone was able to cause as much destruction and negativity as him. Delightful information to interrogate for later.
“Oh, you aren’t Error. But you aren’t from this AU? Who are you?” The skeleton asked, unaware of the splotch of ink on her cheek. Disgusting, thought Nightmare.
“You are about to find out…” Nightmare spoke in a mysterious, brooding tone to intimidate the lesser skeleton, but she seemed indifferent to his attempts at intimidation. That was new to him.
“Sure. What AU are you from anywa-” The stranger paused, seemingly focusing on something else before her face. Her eyes widened as she seemingly skipped over text again and again, even if nothing was Infront of her. “Ohh, Nightmare! Dreamtale, right, that thing that happened with the apple tree. I was right to assume you’d show up sooner than later. Hello! It’s nice to meet you, I am Ink, the Protector of Universes!”
Ink (a ridiculous name in his opinion) knew about the apple tree? How? This random monster knew something she shouldn't. Then again, the title she gave seemed to be pretty important. Nightmare gave in, this person seemed like a valuable ally to have on your side, even if she was a bit too loud for his taste.
“Ink.. How are you aware of what happened?” While Nightmare wasn't too happy acting all nice and clueless, this seemed like the best course of action in a situation like this. Only now did Nightmare take notice that he could not feel the emotions from this monster. Something was askew, surely.
“Oh, I just read the code-, and I was NOT supposed to say that! Anyway, yeah I kinda know everything about you sooo, calm down a bit? Anyway, you're causing a whole lot of mayhey and we don't want that, do we? So, how about we fuel down, hm?” Ink spoke in an almost condescending tone, but he could not pinpoint what she was feeling due to the simple non-existence of her emotions. This surely was some special block on her emotions because it seemed too well hidden.
“I will not listen to thy orders.” Nightmare replied, waving his tentacles to act more intimidating. The stranger stared at him in awe, the reaction he was not hoping for.
“Woah! What are those? Can I touch ‘em? They look kinda goopy, does it hurt when it droops? Can I lick it?” Ink rambled, endless questions. Nightmare hated her already.
“Leave me alone, lowly creature. You do not deserve my attention.” Nightmare claimed, turning away. Since this monster radiated something unbeknownst to him, and not knowing something scared him (although he'd never admit that), he walked away because he knew this would turn up as a problem later. Plus, the questions seemed insensitive. Not that it mattered to Nightmare, of all people.
“Aww, that was pretty mean. Anyway, you can leave now or I’ll just take ya away, you can't disrupt universes just because.” Ink shot back lightheartedly, like the insult was something she heard on a regular basis. Nightmare, who was getting annoyed by the monster’s funny accent and her ignorance of his perspective on things, grabbed her by the bones and swept her into the air with the intention of murder. It wasn’t something he was worried about, anyway, and a nuisance like this was not something Nightmare needed.
“Man, can't we just talk this out? I’m not fighting you, you’re still a kid an’ everythin’.” Ink chuckled, her smile growing at the remark even if Nightmare had no idea what she was talking about. Nightmare? A kid?
“Look, lady, I don’t know how you have not disintegrated yet, but be grateful you are still alive. Leave me, or suffer the consequences.”
Nightmare heard a genuine laugh from the smaller skeleton. “Lady? No way! I mean, sometimes, but not today! Am I that feminine? Oh wait, your AU is set back into the 1500s… Anyway, I’m a guy, so um, yeah. Unless that was derogatory? If so, I’m not offended!” Nightmare was baffled. The skeleton was a man? But men did not dress so androgynously, the monster must be lying!
“Anyway, ya’re goin back to DreamTale, since yer not listenin to me. Buh bye!!” Ink waved him goodbye, and suddenly the world went dark. Nightmare thought he was suffocating when suddenly, he was met with the familiar sight of his abandoned AU. And his petrified brother stood before him.
Nightmare did not care for the scene. He instantly left into another AU, without causing disturbance so Ink wouldn't catch him once again.