Star Darlings; The Soldier

I AM SO SORRY PICHOLAS

Piper couldn't comprehend what she'd just found. Dream? All this time... he was Nicholas?

"It does make some sense." Colin said, breaking the silence. "He joined about a few days after Nicholas was captured; and everything adds up."

Piper stood up, before doing a mad dash for the door. Colin followed, going to Dream's room. Or Nicholas'.

She collided with another person around the corner, who she identified as Adelaide.

"Piper!" She said. "Where's the others?"

"Behind me I need to see Dream!" Piper said, trying to shoulder past her. Adelaide cupped her shoulder.

"Why?" She asked. "He hasn't been feeling well these days and would-"

"It's complicated." Piper said, pushing past her.

She opened the door, only to find the room...

"What in the world happened here?" Hector asked.

The room was absolute chaos; the bed was overturned, there were things written on the wall in black, words like who am I and what am I seeing. The bedside counter was smashed, and there was a side of the wall with a ton of dent in them; like they've been punched repeatedly.

"Where is he?" Piper asked. "Nicholas?"

"Why are you searching for him-" Adelaide started.

"BECAUSE DREAM IS NICHOLAS!!!!" Piper yelled back, cutting her off. "WHERE IS HE!??!?!?!"

"I don't know, Piper." Adelaide said. "He's stayed in his room for the past few days; I only saw him last night."

Colin took another look into the room, looking around.

"Uh... Piper?" He asked. "There's a note here."

On the undamaged side of the wall, there was a hologram with writing on it. Piper picked it up.

If anyone is reading this, I'm sorry.

This is... Dream? Another random person caught in the midst of chaos? I don't know anymore. If you're reading this, please tell the rest of the Resistance that I will be absent for the rest of the war.

Ever since the siege of Fort Sumter, I have been experiencing blackouts-- and every time, I remember something about my old self. And they're getting worse and worse as you're reading this. I-- I can't stand it! I can feel myself slipping away-- everything is different; I can't look at Virtue without thinking about a girl I once knew-- is she who I think she is? I don't know anymore. I can't think of anything without it triggering something.

This may seem irresponsible of me, and you may say I am a deserter, but I can't stand these blackouts anymore. I'm going home; I know where it is now and I need to find it; maybe I can find my parents, or friends and family.

Goodbye. I'm sorry.

"Oh no..." Piper said. "He's... no no no... he can't be gone... no.."

"He said he's going home; and if he's remembering his memories in the order he remembers... that means the home he meant is..." Colin trailed off.

"Polar Peak." Nico's voice said from the doorway." He's going home."

Dream poked his head out from behind the crates. He'd stowed away on the supply planes heading north; he knew it'll lead there.

He'd made a little crannie for himself, big enough for him to sleep comfortably but not big enough to cause suspicion.

He sighed. No one can see him; or else they'd be sure they'd send him back. He needed to find out who he was, no matter how difficult it was.

He shivered in the cold air; he knew it'll be cold up north so he was sure to bring thick clothing, though he didn't expect the plane to be this cold. He'd grabbed himself a hoodie and a snowsuit on the way out, but he wasn't keen to move anytime soon. The crew have ears of a fox.

He laid his head down on his makeshift pillow, curling up into a ball. He hit the snooze button.

His dreams were nothing but nightmares. Angel's face looked at him, telling him to remember who he was. Apollon's twisted, smirking face curled into a smile, asking him who he really was as the ice crept up her body. He saw the faces he'd killed, all looking down at him. Everything haunted him.

Colin sat down beside Piper. She'd been crying for hours now, and He was hoping to get her out of it.

"Piper." He said gently. "Listen, I know it's been a long time since we've seen Nicholas, but-"

"We need to find him!" Piper said, her voice heartbroken and shattered. "I can't... we need him to win this war! I need him!"

"Piper, we can't give up this position." Andrew said sadly. "I would gladly go wherever he is, but we can't risk the rest of the Skylars to take us."

"But... I can't stand this anymore..." Piper whimpered. Hector glanced at the others. The effects of her and Nicholas' connection breaking was finally catching up to her.

"Piper, listen." Colin said gently yet sternly. "He is safe; nothing can hurt him. We can find him after we end this; we know where he's going."

Piper couldn't argue back. She just needs to be patient.

"As soon as we end this war, we will find him." Colin reassured her. "He'll be fine."

Piper buried her head into Vega's shoulder, who was sitting beside her. Vega let her sob onto her shoulder, whispering gentle words to reassure her.

"We'll find him." A voice came from the other side of the room. Jonathan, Ethan, Grayson, Beckett, and Adonis stood in the corner. "We'll find Nicholas."

"But-"

"You all are the one need here; not us." Ethan said. His arctic blue eyes glittered sadly. "We should have known it was Nicholas; and we know how to find him."

"We're not losing another one." Adonis added. "We're doing this for Kristopher and Nicholas."

Kristopher was another one of the older SDs. he'd passed away during the middle of the war; killed by the Chancellor.

Piper nodded. "Thank you." She said. "Find him, and... keep him safe."

"Will do, milady." Beckett said. "Come on everyone; we have a friend to find."