Short Stories of the SMP centred around Dream

Bond between brothers pt 1

-Hi! It's been a long time since I published one of these, so I'm hoping this comes out okay. This story might be a three-parter, it just all depends on how I end this... Now enjoy the first part of the rewrite!-

-Location; somewhere in the greater SMP up a tree-

The feeling of the blade cutting deep into his skin caused pain to blossom throughout his body. Biting down harder upon the rag he muffled his screams.

"Just a few more seconds and it'll be done." His brother whispered.

He turned to watch his brother's focused face continue with the careful carving. Blood bleaching his pink skin wine red. Piggy ears flopped dramatically into his face, and fuzz from his newly shaved head caught whatever light shone in the cramped space. Blood still oozing out of his wound, he turned to face his brother. Quietly the two of them latched onto each other's hands. A promise made of silence and blood...

The soles of their feet pounded the burning soil as they dashed through the warped forest. Lava bubbling and boiling around them. Hoglin's snorted ungratefully at their rudeness. Arrows and splash potions clattered around them. The shrieks of their pursuers filled the eerie nether night with fear.

Abruptly they halted above a cliff, lava beckoning them from below. Cursing quietly the two remained stock still, neither saying a word. The glimmering effect of fire resistance still present on their skin gave them some reassurance of survival. However, whatever way they looked at it they'd be caught. Whipping his head around he made the choice. Time slowed to the point it was unbearable. His brother fell towards the lava, shock, horror and hurt all apparent on his face. Tears began to well up in his eyes. 'Why did he make that choice? They could have both made it! Why did he?'

"BROTHER!!!" Dream woke up abruptly, sweat dripping down his forehead. The grass tickling the insides of his nose was an ungrateful awakening. "Fuck."

His mask lay innocently beside him, the childish smiley face promised safety from the world that would ostracize him. Except for one he reminded himself. Gingerly lifting the mask, it felt like a death sentence. Forever bound to mystery with the only reminder of his past wandering around the world somewhere. Small fingers locked themselves together through the rusty iron bars, droplets of lava seeping in through the cracked Blackstone. A promise time forgot. His knuckles whitened at the thought, a small crack ran away from his hand travelling up to the nearest eyehole. "Fuck." Dusting himself off Dream shimmied up the tree only to find his sleeping bag destroyed. Snapped string snagged on the branch below. "Triple fuck." Collecting up his destroyed property Dream leapt out of the tree and prepared himself for another long day of searching.

Unpacking his armour he proceeded to clean himself up. Tucking his lime green hoodie underneath enchanted netherite armour. Slipping the axe into its place, his right hand glued to the weapon. Their chants revibrated around his skull, forever trapped with his body. Small children's screams filled the damp room, his own joining the cacophony of shrieks. His grip loosened allowing his right hand to travel to his stomach. The scar throbbed painfully beneath the armour as more memories pushed themselves to the front of his mind. His intestines spilt out as the priest continued to chant that loathly tone. He felt every movement that thing made as the crystal was shoved into his body. Its sickly red glow burning his insides like magma. Spots of black danced before his eyes but he clung on. Fighting to remain conscious he watched his intestines slither and snake their way back into him. Those memories were shushed by the comforting weight of his mask sitting snuggly upon his head.

He'd travelled further than he'd expected, leaving him with no choice but to camp it out in a tree. His communicator buzzed with yet another message from Pandas, aka. Sapnap. Dream couldn't stop his search, but his hope was dwindling. Everywhere he looked his brother's ghost taunted him, every sign he found led to a dead end. It had been four years of 'hopeless' searching.