You've Convinced Me

Chapter 1: Tears

He had tried.

Tried doing nothing.

That had been a horrible idea. There would be days where he would stare into nothing, wondering if his purpose was still worth going for. He longed to be back at the tree again, when his burdens had been lighter. He'd always felt so small and vulnerable. He hadn't changed at all, even after all this time.

If Dream were to be locked in another half millennia of this never ending battle, he didn't know if he could take it. If he gave up, would everything finally end?

In the end, his sulking had brought his brother before him, taunting him about how negative he had been feeling. Dream wanted to shut him up, to tell Nightmare how much he hated those expectations. But he said nothing, because it didn't matter in the end. Instead, he hardened his face into one of displeasure before facing his brother. It ended with a small scruffle, to which Nightmare went off. It didn't feel like a match of life and death.

Nothing had, lately.

Despite everything, the visit had motivated him. He realised that having anything to do at all took away that desolate feeling of futility.

He laughed hollowly to himself after his brother had long left. Everything was his fault. Nightmare's corruption was all his fault. His weakness and inability to stop that had been also his fault.

Therefore it was his obligation and his duty. To end everything once and for all.

-----

Nightmare had been there, waiting for him.

They were alone again, as the battles usually went. Nightmare liked to isolate Dream from the rest, as he would like to 'deal with his brother himself'.

Even in the blazing blizzard, there was no rest for conflict. While the cold rattled their bones, they remained steadfast, eyes only on each other.

And then Dream looked down.

Dream was worried about Ink despite everything, as he had to deal with the rest of Nightmare's gang. But this worry was pushed away when a dark tentacle flew in his direction. He leaped away, like the many times before and the ground was hit instead.

"What's the matter Dream? Worried about your friend?" He laughed.

"Ink will do fine." He said tersely, despite his worry from earlier. If he could keep Nightmare away, Ink would be fine.

"Better keep your attention here then, because you're gonna need it." Nightmare started running towards him, unceasing in his attacks. Strike after strike, Dream had no time in between to ready his bow. He should really have started considering, investing into another weapon, one that was easier to use in close combat.

He used the bow itself to block off any incoming hits. But he couldn't launch any attack himself. His brother had four extra limbs and it just wasn't fair.

"Why do you keep doing this?" Dream asked tiredly. The question seemed simple enough, and one would think it had been asked hundreds of times. It probably had. But that didn't mean it had been answered.

"I thought by now you would have understood. I don't need to explain to you something so simple." Another tentacle blocked, deflected.

"Going around destroying everything, ruining people's lives, do you really have nothing better to do, brother?" Dream couldn't understand, why did Nightmare want so much power?

"Take a look at yourself. You travel through the multiverse helping others. Fixing their problems? Meddling in others' business? Who do you think you are?" He sneered. "What was it you think got us here like this in the first place?"