It Was Never the End DreamNotFound

Chapter 42

Dream POV

Dream's ears rang with the thunder of the waterfall. In front of them was a massive cliff, torrents of water cascading down the center into a large pool at the bottom of the cliff. The pool of water was surprisingly small for the size of the waterfall, but Dream suspected it disappeared underground.

"Is that...?" Sapnap trailed off, squinting in the sunlight at the crashing water. "There's a cave there." 

Dream followed Sapnap's gaze. Sure enough, a dark opening yawned directly next to the edge of the water fall. A quick glance at the compass showed the deep red needle pointing in the same direction. 

"You think they're in there?" Punz looked over Dream's shoulder at the compass, frowning.

"Looks like it." Dream turned the compass every which way, but the needle stayed true, stubbornly turning to stay pointed at the cave. 

"How the fuck do you expect us to get up there?" Quackity pointed out. "There is no way to climb it." 

Techno grunted in agreement, his eyebrows furrowed. The pink-haired man scanned the cliffside, clearly looking for a way up. Dream copied him, but his gaze snapped back to the cave when movement flickered. 

"Whoa, what-" Punz stumbled backwards, raising his bow, arrow pointed upwards.

Dream's heart sank, falling into the depths of his stomach. A wide shadow fell over the group, sunlight setting the blond highlights in the god's hair aflame. He wasn't wearing his cloak, leaving his body in a tight black long sleeve shirt that covered each middle finger. Gaps on the shoulders and sides of his abdomen revealed smooth, muscular skin. Black skintight pants matched his boots. Fluttering in the wind was pale green sashes wrapping his hips.

"Holy shit." Sapnap breathed. 

Dream couldn't bring himself to move his eyes away from the cracked mask concealing a face he was all too familiar with. Dream's heart pounded when he noticed the black color of the god's wings, the green rings around his head.

DreamXD's head turned, and Dream could feel their eyes lock. Something deep inside him felt disturbed, as though he was looking into a funhouse mirror. Staring at his warped reflection, knowing it was still himself. 

"Dream." 

"DreamXD." 

They stared one another down, frozen in the moment. DreamXD's wings beat the air, the long sashes at his hips swaying with each powerful movement. The god finally broke eye contact with his alternate self, his head turning to scan their group. 

"Where is George?" Dream demanded. From the corner of his eye, he saw Techno step to his side, one hand on his sword hilt.

DreamXD didn't answer. He held out his hand, a green-and-black death scythe appearing from thin air in his palm. 

"Can't you just talk to us?" Sapnap's voice was strained. Small beads of sweat formed on his temple, but he spoke anyways. "Come on, man. Get your ass down here." 

A soft green light encased the scythe, and Dream was tensing for the attack when a scream made them all freeze. His head snapped around, the world tilting on its axis as he watched a familiar brunette plummet towards the ground. 

"GEORGE!" Dream screamed. The next moments happened in the span of a second, rushing together in a horrifying jumble.

DreamXD reacted immediately, tucking his wings and diving after George. The god plucked the brunette from the air, shifting back to his white-feathered form. A whistle split the air before an arrow embedded into DreamXD's wing, flashing golden light, exploding with a loud BANG.