Impure Saint (MareNight)

40

He whimpered, quiet and fearful, his back pressed against the large apple tree. He stared at the villagers in horror, his body trembling and his legs threatened to collapse beneath him.

"Please..." He whispered, "don't do this." His voice trembled, wavering as his violet eyelights turned pinpricks searched for a way to escape the angry mob.

He began to cry, tears spilling when his eyes finally landed on it. A black apple, shiny and reflective against the sun. A swift movement, he snatched it from the branch.

He held it to his chest, inhaling sharply as the villagers got closer.

Slowly, he raised the fruit to his mouth...

"Brother don't!"

And bit.

It hurt... no... not hurt.

It burned and aches! Something's trying to escape.

His legs collapsed beneath him, his knees slamming into the ground as the shrill scream left his mouth.

He choked, coughed, and gagged. He began to plea and beg, "It hurts..! Make it stop!"

Another scream as pain shot through his eye socket. The villagers backed away, watching as the guardian of negativity writhed in misery and pain nearing towards his end.

"Brother!" Dream cried out for his twin, shoving through the crowd only to pause dead in his tracks when the screams stopped. A sudden burst of adrenaline pushed him to shove further until he finally laid eyes on his brother... his brother's lifeless body.

Dream's eyes welded with tears and he reached out towards his brother's body only to have a slimy, black tendril swipe at him. The guardian jumped back, watching as his brother's body began to lift itself.

Violet eyelights replaced by piercing cyan and pristine white bones being stained by black goop. "Nightmare..." Dream mumbled, stepping forward.

A tendril swiped at him, knocking him back harshly. "Nightmare... I like the sound of that."

Dream slammed into the ground, yelping. As he attempted to get back up the sound of screams echoed through the AU and the sky slowly began to turn a deep crimson.

Blood stained the ground and splattered onto the grass. A body was thrown to the side without care, a bright grin on the black skeleton's face.

Dream raised to his feet, staring at the monster with wide eyes. "Brother..."

The monster never acknowledged him, tendril grabbing hold of another monster and stabbing through its body without hesitation.

"Brother!"

No reaction.

"Nightmare please!"

Finally the monster looked at the other, his eyelight boring into him. "Dream..."

The monster smirked, letting the body slide off his tendril, the appendage ravishing at the amount of blood that covered it. "Are you proud of yourself, guardian?" He cooed, his head tilting with that sick and twisted grin. "Look at what you've done."

Dream was taken aback; what he'd done? This was the monster's doing. "What are you talking about?"

"You caused this," the other purred, tendrils snaking towards the positive being, "your negligence is what cause this!" He began to laugh, slowly dying into a low chuckle.

"It was you who ignored your brother, it was you who ignored the signs, and it is you to blame for your brother's death."

Dream's hands gripped into tight fist, "You're not dead Nightmare."

The monster eye narrowed down, "Nightmare is dead, I am not your brother. How foolish are you?"

"I am not foolish," Dream frowned, taking a step forward, "I know you brother."

The slimy tendrils wrapped around Dream tightly without warning. "Night..." The tendrils tightened, threatening to squeeze the life out of the smaller who let out a pained whimper in response.

"I am not your brother... you know nothing of me, don't speak as if you know everything." The monster snarled, before allowing his tendrils to carelessly toss the positive being.

Dream hit the ground with a heavy thud, sucking in a sharp breath. A frown etched onto his face and he summoned his staff.

A breeze swept through the grass, enticing life to continue, carrying pollen and butterflies with it. Their fragile wings flapping in the air to carry them to more flowers.

A small and young monster watched as the beautiful creatures fluttered past, wanting to follow suit to the flower patches. The only thing stopping him was the promise not to stray to far away from the camp site.

"Nighty! Dinner's ready!" A voice called happily.

Night perked up with a smile, happily running back in excitement for food. "Coming Mr. Gaster!"

The older and taller skeleton chuckled at the sight of the child happily running to him, picking him up when he got close enough. "Look at you! Your boots are filthy!"

Night giggled a bit at his caretaker's dramatic reaction, "Sorry Mr. Gaster, I just wanted to follow the butterflies!"

Gaster chuckled at the child's response but smiled gently as he held him against his chest. "Well after we eat we can follow the butterflies, okay?"

"Okay!" Night smiled brightly, giggling a bit as he was sat down on a log next to the warmth of a campfire. Gaster grinned before handing the younger a plate of rabbit meat.

Night immediately began to eat, giggling a bit as Gaster fumbled with the piece of meat in his hands. Gaster chuckled a bit when he finally managed.

The two ate in somewhat silence, Night giggling whenever his caretaker told a joke or pun.

"Night, knock knock."

"Who's there?" Night perked up from his plate of food.

"Owl."

"Owl who?"

Gaster smiled, "That's right, owl's hoo."

Night giggled brightly before responding, "Knock knock!"

Gaster hummed and smiled, "Who's there?"

"Olive!" Night grinned.

"Olive who?" Gaster hummed.

Night gave a happy closed eyed smile, "I love you!"

His caretaker smiled, patting his head gently before both of them perked at the sound of soft laughter.

Gaster was the one to speak as the positive guardian came from the trees, "Dream," he frowned, "glad you could make it."

Night shot up, jumping to his feet before running to the much, much older being and hugging his legs. "I'm so happy you could make it Mr. Dream!"