Intervention

Pieces Coming Together

"Nighty, we're back," Paper Crane says as he sets down the same picnic basket from yesterday.

"Wow, you guys are early," Nightmare exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, and we have breakfast and lunch this time to share!" Papy said as he held a small basket.

"Why did you guys decide to come so early?" Nightmare asked after sitting down on the picnic blanket Paper Crane set up.

"Besides sharing breakfast?" Tk asked. "I had our big bro close the shop for a month like I told that group yesterday. Chro decided he and our older brother were going to be out for the day. They left me in charge. It's not really an issue since they'll be back to have dinner for us. That means we stay until Dream gets back."

"Why do you do that?" Nightmare asked. "Why do you wait until Dream comes back?"

"We want you to be safe," Papy explains as he hands everyone a breakfast burrito. "The group yesterday were mean, and a lot of the villagers don't mess with us because they really love our big brother's work. So we stay to protect you."

"Awe, that's ... that's very nice of you guys," Nightmare said. He's never felt this safe unless he was with Dream. For these three to provide safety for him from all the other mean and cruel villagers was a blessing that he would be forever grateful for.

"Think nothing of it,"Tk said. "It just means we can spend a lot of time together."

"What about your big and older brothers?" Nightmare asked. "Won't spending time with me take time away from them?"

"Not at all," Tk replied. "Chro is always busy with the shop. They both spend time with us in different ways. Chro spends time with us in the morning and night. Both of them play with us until it's bedtime. Then they tell us stories and sleep with us."

"What kind of stories do they tell?" Nightmare asked before taking a bite from the breakfast burrito.

"Ancient stories," Tk said. "Some of them aren't always happy, but they hold a lot of lessons to learn from."

"Chrono also tells love stories," Papy said. "Some he's seen or heard. Some he has actually experienced!"

"Your big brother is in a relationship!?" Nightmare asked.

"Was," Tk said sadly. "He was in a relationship. Fate kind of took Chro's love away."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Nightmare said.

"Don't be," Tk said. "He's in a better place now. Chronos has gotten over it."

"Where's Dream Boy?" Paper Crane asked suddenly as he looked around. "Dreamy not here? I thought he would be."

"Dream promised his friends that he would hang with them today," Nightmare said sadly. However, his sadness didn't last long as his smile returned just as quickly as it left. "Could you tell me one of the stories your big bro told you? I've only ever read stories to Dream or from books."

"Sure, but let's finish out food first," Tk said. "Then I'll tell you the story of Love's Triumph. It's a love story my big brother went through."

"Oh, that sounds exciting," Nightmare beamed.

"Eat first, ten I'll tell the story," Tk said.

Then all four of them ate in a peaceful quiet. All of them enjoyed the beautiful view the hill provided of the village. Nightmare, Paper Crane, and Papy enjoyed the food that Papy and Chronos had made once again.

However, Tk was thinking about what Chronos had told him about the Apple twins. He was told the reason not to leave Nightmare alone was that Dream would become distant with his brother. That didn't go over well in Tk's mind. Dream and Nightmare only had each other for family.