Loyal Servant (Crossmare) (Rewrite)

God of Destruction

Cross shut his eyes, basking in the familiarity of Nightmare's garden. The leafless trees and shimmering webs may not be everyone's style, but creepy or not, this place felt like home. He walked down the gravely pathway, catching the faint whisper of words. He noticed something odd about certain patches of bramble he passed. Some coiling branches were shriveled and blackened, as if they had been scorched and killed by a flame. Reaper's cloak must have brushed against them when he came by.

Reaper wasn't the only obvious visitor within the courtyard. From the nearby clearing, golden light cascaded between the trees. He could recognize Dream's magic when he saw it. She hadn't been graced by Nightmare's magic, and clearly lacked her brother's excellent night vision. She must be trying to comfort Reaper as well. Cross still made his way over. He had to talk with her about forcing Error's cooperation anyhow.

He reached the clearing, and listened in on the conversation. Reaper looked quite frustrated as he paced before the bench Dream watched from. The golden sphere of light hovered just overhead, darkening the shadows of Reaper's face. Below him, the grass had turned as black as Nightmare's coating. "So you have nothing to say? Nothing that might ease the pain?" He questioned.

Dream frowned, her hands on her lap and her legs neatly tucked beneath her. "I couldn't possibly understand what you're going through, Reaper. It's a lot to take in," She replied, her voice almost too soft and gentle to hear from where Cross stood across the clearing. "You can talk to me about it though. I can be a shoulder to cry on," She offered. She sounded genuine, but Reaper huffed at the literal meaning of her words.

"That's where you're wrong, friend. If I touched your shoulder for more than a brief few seconds, you'd be in pain. And, if you were a mortal, you'd be dead," He pointed out. He turned his back on her, growling under his breath. "Geno was the only one I could touch- I could hold. He'd even seek out my touch! No one else would ever do that unless they had a death wish! But now he's changed. He's become a maniac set on destroying the multiverse!" He complained, throwing a hand up.

Cross made himself known, stepping further into the clearing where he knew Dream's light would reach him. She looked over, though Reaper had just turned to pace in the opposite direction. "I think we might have a solution to that problem," He announced.

Reaper froze, and looked back over his shoulder. "Do you mean a way to save Geno?" He questioned. He looked hopeful, his energy making Dream's magic brighten.

Cross nodded. "Yes. A way to reverse the damage done to his soul," He told him. He stepped closer, eyes a tad irritated by Dream's bright light. "Paperjam told me of an enchanted pocketwatch of sorts, capable of reversing any damage done to souls," He explained, glancing towards Dream as well. "Error currently has the watch, but we're going to get our hands on it, one way or another," He assured them.

"You're going to steal from Error? As if," Reaper muttered with a shake of his head. He sounded more disappointed than angry. Cross nearly placed a hand to his arm on pure instinct, but luckily Dream quickly stood and shoved herself between them. Right. I can't physically comfort him. Dream clearly intended not to be too obvious about her interruption, but Reaper noticed the situation anyhow. He sighed, tightening his grip on the scythe he always seemed to carry.

"Try to have hope, Reaper," Dream urged before she turned her focus to Cross. "If I may suggest it, there's a certain Star Sans who I think should accompany you," She told him. He immediately became hesitant. I don't need your team babysitting me... His discontent must have been easy to see. "It's not that I don't trust you and Paperjam, if that's what you're thinking. I'm suggesting it because Error may not show mercy much, but he does tend to take it easy on Blueberry," She explained.