A Tale Long Gone

Chapter 1, The Parasite.

"Why do you get all the saints? I get the sinned. That simply doesn't make sense, all they do is spit at me, curse at me, hit me...While you, YOU, get the affectionate, the kind, the LOVING, Why are you so lucky and I'm not?"
Dream sighed, now seeing how his brother was jealous...
"Brother, I cannot control what I do, nor what you do. Please, understand Father and how he-"
In the midst of Dream's talking, Nightmare interrupted with a booming and demonic voice...

In a world of dreams and nightmares, a world of destruction and creation, the God of creation, Alloy, decided to add two places for the sinned, and saints. After creating a place called Earth; The God decided to name it Heaven and Hell. Giving it two guardian angels to protect and keep the saints and sinners inside. Dream, and Nightmare, Brothers, yet forced to stay apart.
Nightmare, he held the negative emotions of a creation named, 'Earth'. Dream, helped young ones and old, to their well deserved spot in heaven, and the power of positivity. Until, Nightmare was spoken to by a mere mortal.
The mortal told Nightmare,
"Why don't you go have fun? Have chaos for once? I betcha sittin' and doin' nothin' is borin'!"
Nightmare responded,
"Such a weak mortal, trying to tell someone what to do? Hm...I am not lazy, I do not sit like a louch like you...You mere stupid humans. I am not stupid, I watch you sit on your...Phones, tablets, and computers...And do nothing"
The mortal's calm and playful demeanor slowly showed its true color.
"Listen, I ain't goin' to hell! You take meh to that good ol' place!"
Nightmare simply rolled his eyes and brought the rude mortal to the place known for Sinners...

Dream went to a beautiful river, one side looked beautiful and the other side was...quite dead. Dream hated that his brother had to have such an ugly job, yet neither of them had a choice. Dream brought his two friends, Ink, the God of artistic abilities, and Swap, the god of strength and euphoria. Dream was having a meeting with his brother, and his band of helpers.
For a while, Nightmare didn't come. The water made its usual splish and splash, yet Nightmare didn't arrive yet. This made the three visitors confused, yet after a while; Nightmare arrived, except...his eyes held a glint of EVIL; There was a mysterious goop covering him. This caused Dream to worry, seeing his brother hold a thought about evil. Swap and Ink seemed to notice this, Ink quickly teleported away, planning on having a chat with the creator. Nightmare glared at his dear brother, saying,
"Why do you get all the saints? I get the sinned. That simply doesn't make sense, all they do is spit at me, curse at me, hit me...While you, YOU, get the affectionate, the kind, the LOVING, Why are you so lucky and I'm not?"
Dream sighed, now seeing how his brother was jealous...
"Brother, I cannot control what I do, nor what you do. Please, understand Father and how he-"
In the midst of Dream's talking, Nightmare interrupted with a booming and demonic voice...
"FATHER? THAT MAN? HAHA! I'D RATHER TAKE MY LIFE. HE SIMPLY SHRUGS IT OFF. YET WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHINGS WRONG, HE COMES TO THE RESCUE!"
Dream let out a sigh as he took a step forward,
"Please, Brother. I never asked-"

Dream heard an arrow fly, and then a sharp pain in his right shoulder...Swap immediately took out his weapon, a cyan bow with a silver arrow. Ink got back and saw the dramatic scene ahead...Ink grabbed Dream swift move. Nightmare yelled,
"IF NO ONE CARES ABOuT THOSE WHO SUFFEr. I'LL MAKE EVERYONE SUFFER!"
The plants wilted, the sky turned black...Black Tendrils were sent towards the three, causing Swap to react quickly. Swap swiftly grabbed Dream and Ink, throwing them over his shoulder before teleporting back to Heaven.

Dream held the arrow that embedded in his right shoulder, his golden blood spilling out of the wound. Ink quickly said,
"Dream!? Wha- What happened!? Shall I tell father!?"
Ink's voice was filled with terror and fear that Dream may die.
"D-Don't tell him! H-He'll kill him, He'll kill Nightmare!"
Dream said quickly, his voice filled with sorrow and fear.
Swap sighed as he spoke, the clouds wrapping around his feet.
"Dream...Nim got to him..."
Dream froze, speaking softly,
"N-Nim?" Nim, a well known demon, angel, and god killer. A parasite which cannot infect the god of Creation. Dream's eyes filled with sorrow...Swap sighed...
"Dream, I-I'm sorry...W-We have to kill it."
Dream tried to sit up, yet the wound inflicted on him was too much to bear. Ink sighed and swiftly tore the arrow out. Dream yelled in pain, causing Swap to flinch at the sudden yell. Swap sighed as Ink healed Dream...
"P-Please! There must be another way! I cannot hurt hi-"
Dream pleaded..Yet interrupted by Swap, paint spiraled from Ink's fingers before going into the wound, healing it.
"He will kill you. He can't come back, That's...That's how I lost Honey..."
Swap sighed, remembering his brother, The god of laziness, Honey.

After Dream was healed, the two gods took the angel of heaven to the overworld, Earth.
Dream quickly turned to the form of a human. After making sure Swap and Ink were morphed too. Dream looked around, seeing how the busy streets of New York were packed...
"This is where its aura is..."
Swap muttered to Dream as he got up.
2024, New York City, 3:34PM, EARTH. Dream noticed a black spot on the ground, as he looked on. He noticed a trail!
"Come on!" Dream said before dashing into the crowd, leaving Ink alone with Swap following eagerly.
"Wa-Wait!"
Ink said frantically as he tried to follow within the crowd. Dream bumped into a tall cloaked figure, Swap let out a gasp and helped Dream up. Dream looked at the oddly cloaked figure. Ink finally came along then froze...
"HORROR?"
Ink quickly grabbed Dream and Swap and pulled them away.
"You're not supposed to be here! Y-You're supposed to be in Hell, helping the others control things!"
Ink said frantically, Dream pulled away from Ink and said to Horror,
"Are you looking for Nightmare too?"
Horror nodded as he looked down at Dream,
"I'm supposed to be scouting...I'll join you though..."
Horror spoke softly within the chatting, busy, crowded, sidewalk.
"Scouting?..."
Dream questioned, yet Horror's eyes looked unfocused. Horror took a moment before he spoke,
"Normally, I would be in Hell...Killing...But I was scouting for Nightmare, He's-"
Horror was interrupted by a horrified scream...Swap threw Ink over his shoulder before running towards the sound. Dream sighed and motioned for Horror to follow along. Dream made his way through the crowd before seeing two cars crash together...Dream looked for Swap and Ink, noticing Swap being pinned to a wall with a knife against his throat...Dream was about to intervene when Ink tackled the mysterious person. The person only turned into the shadows and disappeared, leaving Ink alone. Swap gasped in relief...Ink groaned in frustration as Dream quickly crouched down to Ink as Horror went to Swap and examined where the figure touched him.
"Who was that?.."
Dream said in a soft tone to Ink...
"DAMNIT!"
Ink said angrily...pounding his fist into the ground, causing it to crack.
"THAT WAS HIM!"
Ink said angrily while Dream froze and started trembling. Swap went to Dream and rested his hand on his shoulder, rubbing it in a comforting motion.
"It'll be okay..."
Swap said quietly... Horror sighed and looked at the sky, before black rain began...Dream sighed and looked at Horror. Horror quickly said,
"Follow me."
Before disappearing into the crowd. Dream grabbed Ink and dragged him along as he followed Horror. Swap followed along in a swift motion. Horror guided them to a mansion...

Horror dragged them in then froze when he saw who was standing in the hallway. Dream looked at who it was, KILLER. Dream waved happily before Ink went up to him.
"Why are you here?"
Ink said rudely before Swap grabbed Ink and pulled him back.
"I live here, rat."
Killer responded while popping a popsicle into his mouth. Ink gasped, preparing to scream at Killer. Yet Dream stopped him, stepping in the middle of the two. Dream sighed,
"This is no place to fight, we are in this together. Ink, cool your jets."
Ink groaned and rudely pulled his arm away from swap upon hearing Dream's words. Ink sighed angrily while Dream asked Horror,
"How do we find...It?"
Horror took a moment to think...
"First, we need to focus on where you numbskulls are staying."
Horror said while glancing between Swap and Ink. Dream hummed before hearing Killer speak,
"The prince can stay in my room, I don't mind."
Killer was staring at Ink as he held a smug smirk.  Horror looked at Dream while Ink was preparing to tackle Killer.
"I don't mind!"
Dream said with a broad smile. Oh, How Killer thinks Guardian Angels sleep! Killer smiled and gently took Dream's hand and guided him up the stairs and to his room. Leaving Ink, Swap, and Horror. Horror showed Swap and Ink their rooms, of course, Killer talked happily to Dream in their room. Horror came up to Killer's room with a knock, KNOCK...KNOCK... Killer got up and answered,
"Yes?~"
Horror looked around, he had already told Swap and Ink to go to the dining table. Now he needed Dream and Killer.
"Come, we have to discuss."
Killer sighed and looked back at Dream. Dream got up and walked to the door as Killer stepped out. Horror then made his way to the dining table as Dream and Killer followed, chatting happily.
Horror took a seat at the table as he grabbed a map. Dream and Killer sat next to each other and looked at Horror expectantly. Swap and Ink noticed this and started to smirk, Yet Horror spoke as he stood and looked at the map,
"This is New York City, The black rain followed all the way to Oregon. We need to go to Oregon. Killer, you and-..."
Horror paused as he looked at the small group,
"Where is Dust?"
Killer shrugged before a slam was heard from the front door, upon turning. They saw a soaked figure walk in.
"Good, Now, I know a friend in Oregon. That is where we can rest while we search."
Dream nods before sighing,
"I've heard about Oregon, It's expensive and rude..."
Dream spoke softly while Ink got up.
"We can han-"
Ink tried to speak yet rudely interrupted,
"Expensive? Ugh...Those greedy little charlatans..."
Dust, soaked in a black liquid, spoke as he sat next to Swap.