Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Too early into the morning, while Nightmare had been going over report sheets and gathered intel, Dust snuck in to stand attention at the front of his desk.

He had just gotten off on another raid, a successful one he heard from the Henchman himself. Which begs the question as to why he was standing there at all.

Usually, if he didn’t have anything urgent to do he’d still be in bed by now, or at least hiding in his room to get away from Killer. There truly was no reason for him to be here.

Unless he had left some important detail out.

Nightmare spared him a glance.

The other was standing rather stiffly for a monster who was usually apathetic about anything concerning work. Last time he checked he wasn’t hurt, and while unexpected accidents happen he would have known about it before he even stepped foot into the room. Furthering this, with a quick taste, Nightmare could tell the other wasn’t in some kind of mental dissociation.

Pausing Nightmare leaned back in his chair, letting his spine pop with satisfaction. He panned up Dust's form, eyes immediately catching the colorful emotional aura the other was sporting.

It wouldn’t be off if he described Dust's emotional state as monochromatic. He was constantly surrounded by a storm cloud of dark greys and blacks. If there was any color then it was usually some kind of blue hue.

The bright streaks of orange and the swirls of purple and green seemingly came out of nowhere. Even more curiously were the splashes of pastel pink.

Nightmare raised his eyebrow.

Something important must be going on to get that kind of reaction out of his usually desolate minion. Something much more interesting than old reports and the usual gossip his followers spew about constantly to him in their letters.

Taking a careful inhale NIghtmare addressed his charge, “Would there be a reason for this unexpected visit Dust?”

“I found someone you might be interested in.”

Letting out a low hum NIghtmare dragged another paper from his pile on the corner of his desk, Keeping his attention on Dust out of the corner of his eye, “In what kind of way?”

“I think-..” Dust paused, seemingly trying to phrase out his words.

It makes NIghtmare freeze, tensing against his own will. Narrowing his eye he finally put his full attention on the other skeleton.

It seemed to make him even more hesitant.

“I believe I found us another teammate.”

“I hadn’t realized I was looking for another one.” Nightmare stated coldly, crossing his hands in front of him. He could feel his tentacles twisting below him in annoyance.

He had not been. Nor has he asked for his Henchmen to find another one.

Nightmare casted a cold look at Dust, watching his bright aura spin and blur into muddy colors.

Truthfully he believes it to be too much work. Taking care of Killer had taught him a lot, things he should have known about mortals. At the time he believed that it would be easy to take care of more. He later learned that Killer's body had been forgiving, Dust’s body had been the opposite.

Even now Nightmare worries that he’ll crush the other with a single flick of his extra appendages. And that was just the physical problems.

Still, he had completely dropped the idea of adding another Monster to his team after pulling Killer off of Dust a week into his recruitment.

While he had considered all the potential the two had to work together he had underestimated how their morals and pasts would affect how they saw each other. He believed, for the briefest of moments, that the two would work phenomenally well together.

Killer fought fast and hard, was completely resourceful, and could think on his feet in an instant. He was also more determined than Nightmare will ever be in getting what he wants when he wants it.

He has saved and will continue to save Nightmare’s skin on multiple different occasions.

That being said he was awful at following plans and orders. Sue, he could recite every rule Nightmare had ordered him to follow, but that wouldn’t stop him from breaking them.

He was also terrible at missions that required even a crumb of stealth. He was a walking talking trash fire who demanded the spotlight everywhere he went.

Which leads to him finding Dust in that empty Au.

He was everything Killer wasn’t. Dust was quick in his work, hitting his targets with silent effective hits instead of the overwhelming storm of Killers. Dust could make long-term plans and follow them, albeit relying on Killer for in-the-moment plans.

Dust was always looking to the future while Killer was stuck in the present.

Relying on each other and working together would have increased the productivity of his kingdom and the success of his goals twice-fold. But, Nightmare forgot that things were never that simple.

He believed this lie up until Killer and Dust threw down in the middle of an unplanned dinner. Apparently, Killer had looked into Dust’s past and had used it to tease the other until he snapped.

Snapped he did.

Nightmare had to replace both the Kitchen and the dining room.

It had taken everything in him to get the two to so much as look at each other without bursting into balls of rage and disgust. Even now, after everything has settled, they still fight like feral cats in the best of moments.

Even thinking about trying to add another member to his team made Nightmare tired and tense.

The eventual profit wasn't worth the stress and planning it takes to actually manage it.

“Ah…” Dust murmured under his breath, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I know, but I thought with the Star Sanses adding that blue guy to their team, you might have wanted to add someone to ours…”

He trailed off, eyes panning to the side to avoid Nightmares.

“I see.”

That new addition, the Swap sans named Blue, had been a hard variable to plan around. He was exceedingly faster and flexible. Killer had been the only one to keep up at first, and even then it left him exhausted.

His use of heavy weapons was worrisome. While neither of his boys had been hit yet, Nightmare winces at the day to come. Having been hit himself he could tell it would leave them out of the playing field for weeks.

The worst effect of the addition was that Nightmare had to keep his attention on three, if not four, different fights. Its allowed Dream to strike him more often than before, making him leave faster than he truly wanted.

Nightmare sighed heavily, pinching his nose bridge. Automatically tasting out Dust's emotions. They felt oddly light for this conversation.

There was a pleasant twinge. Nervousness, maybe anxiety or panic, but something heavy and dark like usual. More importantly, it was creamy like hope.

He knew his men like the backs of his hand. He knows their skills, their weakness, and their soft spots.

One thing Dust has never truly had was hope.

Not even when Nightmare had plucked him from his empty world and brought him to his castle for a new start.

It has been something Nightmare's been trying to encourage for months now.

Nightmare softened his eyes, watching the other with a contemplative look.

“Alright.” He watched Dust exhale, that sugar-sweet hope blooming in his mouth, “You will have to show me.”

Chapter Text

Interestingly, Nightmare knew the Au Dust lead him to.

Horror-tale was a very prominent topic in the multiverse. Seemingly everyone had an opinion on it. Some thought it should be erased, and others thought it should be saved.

Not many have even met a Horror Sans, and yet they believed to have known everything about him.

While not many of the Sanses or Papyruses have escaped from their universe a few have been ‘rescued’ or were released in failed attempts at trying to be heroes. All it got them was a massacre and a half-dead Au who had to have a True Reset.

Nightmare reveled in all the negativity it brought his positive counterparts. It was a Universe full of nothing but pure and raw negativity.

Truthfully Nightmare had never thought much of the Universe, besides being a free meal that is.

He could say he was grateful to them. As one of the only worlds out of reach of his overbearing brother, it provided him not only a good baseline of where to begin in his quest but also the power to do so.

But that was it. He had never looked into it further than that.

His sources have told him that the Sans of the Au wasn’t that bright. Yes, he was strong but little more than that. A brute who thought nothing more than what was in front of him and what his next meal would be.

And, considering the nature of his Au, the health problems would rival that of a newborn kitten left out in the cold too long. Not only would he have too much Lv like Dust, but he has a dangerously large skull fracture. One Nightmare can not heal. Add on the Malnutrition and mental issues it was a problem all around.

Not too much potential for a henchman, especially one who couldn’t go around killing needlessly.

But, perhaps he was wrong.

Or should he say his intel was wrong.

When Dust had led him into the Au he had expected nothing more than a hollow being. Unexpectedly, after retreating into the trees to watch from above, Dust found the other Sans chasing a human into a trap.

The Sans was slower than he expected, but was easily trailing the Human with a patience Nightmare didn’t think the other had in him. The simple-minded mess of a Sans he thought the other was drifted away as he watched him led the human down a narrow but steady path. Each time the human would run off in a direction Horror didn’t like he would leap out and scare them into a different one.

It was a strategy that was slow, but very effective in gaining a high level of negativity. One that Nightmare hasn't tasted since the Star Sanses added Blue to their ranks.

It was a game of cat and mouse.

One that had Nightmare's interest immediately.

When Dust had finally managed to gather the other's attention Horror’s aura bursted into a bright landscape of pearly pinks and pale yellows. Instead of chancing at the other, he had taken a precious second to ask if the other wanted to join.

Watching the two weave and work together made something weak in his soul. Nightmare couldn’t decide whether he liked the feeling or not, it reminded him of times long since passed. Times he wanted to forget, but also cherished in a way that made him sick to think about.

He distracted himself further with the chase to ignore it.

What happened next was very fast, but caused so much negativity that Nightmare could feel it strengthening his bones.

Horror slowed to a standstill with a sharp face-splitting grin. His eye so bright it stained the falling snowflakes around him a vivid red. Dust fell back just as fast.

He only knew what had happened until a loud crunch and screams filled the air.

Horror had proceeded to leap forward with a promising cackle. Goading the pleading human into shrieking by taking bits of their flesh off with slow agonizing cuts with his butcher knife. Making the heady despair fill Nightmare's senses with each stab and cut. A delightful mesh of emotions and feelings.

He seemed to know how much the human could take before dying, and was dragging it out as long as he could.

Nightmare gazed at the lit-up aura of the other. Died vivid Yellows and bright Maroons. He seemed to take as much glee as watching the human squirm as Nightmare did. Taking large chunks off now with quick but precise wacks of his axe.

Checking to see where Dust was he tilted his head just the barest about to spot the Henchman out of the corner of his eye. He was stood still by a tree at the edge of the clearing, seemingly unbothered by the mess his friend was making.

He showed no sign of this being a new occurrence.

Perhaps he had attended one of these hunts with the other Sans before.

It didn’t take long for the human to perish.

It was all too soon that Nightmare felt their negativity fade into nothingness. Horror seemed to feel the same, his grin thinned out and the shadow under his eyes grew. Even his aura seemed to dim as he gather the severed limbs into a sack he pulled out of his pocket.

It caused Nightmare to pause.

Perhaps his information was wrong about the insanity too.

After a kill like that Killer would be crowing to the world about it, and while Dust never preferred killing even he would feel a type of satisfaction afterward. This Sans seems to feel empty.

Nightmare tasted the air, letting it settle on his tongue with a few snowflakes. The emotions of the other were oddly similar to the bitter bite of it.

Perhaps he fed off anguish and pain but hated killing. Nightmare frowned rethinking. No, not hating. That would be the wrong word for it. He had felt anything but hate watching the Human perish under his own hands. More like… discontent with it.

Nightmare could see why.

This Sans did not kill for fun, he did it out of a need for necessity. The act of violence was just a distraction, a little joy gained from an otherwise unpleasant task. But with it over he had to retire to the real world.

It was similar to procrastination.

You put it off until the last minute, distracting yourself up until the point where you had to get back to work.

Classic Sans was good at this, and so was every other version of himself from his timelines. This version was no different. He might even be better at it given the longevity of his certain Universe.

Still, the other Sans shook himself from his little rut, perking up slightly when he saw Dust. His smile turned less manic and more friendly, again turning his aura into pearly pinks and the pale yellows of before.

“Hey ya.. Dust Bunny,” Horror drawled slowly, half teasing. “I didn’t expect ya today..”

An interesting endearment that Nightmare had no pleasure of knowing the story too. It made his tentacles twist slightly as he watch the two approach each other. Curiosity picking at the back of his skull.

“Hey.” Dust sighed lowly and shook his hooded head. “It was a surprise to me too.”

Horror grin faltered at the sides for a split second. His eye darted up towards Nightmare in the trees, but back at Dust just as fast. If he wasn’t paying close attention to the two of them Nightmare would have missed it.

Oh?

Nightmare’s tendrils twitched, wriggling slightly with interest. He couldn’t help but lean down, watching Horror nonchalantly ignore him like he hadn’t noticed Nightmare at all.

Dust, seemingly focused on avoiding Horrors gaze, hadn’t noticed at all. He mumbled something Nightmare couldn’t hear, before reaching into his pockets. Rifling through him his aura seeped sightly with a sickly green color and bright pink again.

He pulled out what looked like one of the meat bun Nightmare had forced his henchmen to eat that morning. He’d grabbed them From Ccino during a brief visit, knowing his boys had forgotten to eat yet again after one of their missions.

“I-.. swiped it from Killer.” He offered it out in one of his hands, “Didn’t know if you wanted it or not.”

Ah… That would be what Killer had been going on about this morning.

“Thank ya, Bun.” Horror’s grin grew wider again, eyes crinkling with a warm smile as he carefully took the bun into his hand.

Curling his fingers around it, watching his red-stained fingers sink into the springy bread. Watching as he shoved them into his hoody Nightmare shifted in his spot, noting that if he was as simple-minded as others described he’d swallow the food right there without a second thought.

Nightmare should really find better sources.

Growing tired of passively waiting, and feeling the curiosity eating at his bones, Nightmare rose to his feet on the branch. He paused, watching the two have a quiet conversation below him. The other seemed to have a good effect on Dust. Maybe he would have one on Killer too?

Nightmare huffed at the thought, wiping them from his brain.

He steadied himself, watching Horror with a narrowed eye. He tensed briefly but didn’t show that he noticed Nightmare in any other way.

Grinning he twisted himself backward, pulling a portal open beside the skeleton with a violent rip. He propelled himself forward, lashing out with a thick tendril to impale the other.

Immediately Horror threw himself to the side, grabbed his axe with a grunt, and slammed it into the tentacle. Leaving a writhing pile of goo on the ground where it impaled into the dirt.

Surprised Dust jumped back, letting out a surprised grunt, “Boss!”

Nightmare didn’t need to see his aura to tell his emotions were a mess of colors.

Ignoring the call he analyzed the severed limb and the bristling Horror a step away from him.

He was slow. Nightmare had been holding back, not truly aiming to kill. Had he been the other Sans would be dead with such a slow counterattack.

Nonetheless, the hit had been powerful. More powerful than that Blue his brother has been catering around everywhere he went. Not even that Blue ball of energy had been able to slice through the thickest part of his tentacle.

Slow, but with a heavy hit. He could work with that, especially if he trained to get his speed up.

“You are stronger than I expected.”

Horror paused, turning to give Dust a low look. It made his minion freeze, fingers getting twitchy, Nightmare watched Horror's aura flush with a deep ugly red. “..Dust?”

Nightmare took a careful breath, wrapping a tentacle around Dust, half soothing and half protecting in case the unstable Skeleton in front of them decided to charge.

It didn’t take too long for Dust to relax in his hold, apathy replacing his nerves. The only hint of his emotions showed in the way his eyes darted quickly between Nightmare and Horror. Only to sink to the ground.

“Do not worry about him, he is not a part of this conversation.”

“..You are his boss…” Horror said darkly. “The one who… saved him.”

“I suppose you could see it that way. I am no savior, just an opportunist.” Nightmare swung one of his unused tentacles around, observing the way Horror's attention shifted between him and it, “And you are a friend of Dust. Horror, I believe?”

He continued without waiting for Horror to answer. “You are quite skilled. Not only are you strong, but you’re observant. You would make an exceptional addition to my team.”

Horror scoffed, shifting angrily, “Yeah.. no thanks....”

“Because I attacked you?”

“No… ‘cause I don’t want to..” He turned to grab the bag of meat off the ground, “I ain’t got time.. for that anyways.”

Before Nightmare could speak Dust pitched up from beside him, “Because you’re taking care of those deadweights.”

Horror growled low in his throat, eyes narrowing into a glare. He shucked his bag onto his back, uncaring of the gore and blood now staining his jacket turning to sulk away from them.

“Why? You don’t owe them anything.” Dust sounded frustrated.

“Of course I owe ‘em!” Horror roared loudly, turning to face them on his foot, clutching his axe tightly.

Nightmare watched dust out of the corner of his eye, all too aware of the potential fight brewing between them, “And why is that?”

Horror glanced at him like he just noticed he was there, but answered nonetheless. “If it weren’t.. for me they’d all be happy.. and livin’ it out... Sure we’d all be miserable, but at least… we wouldn’t have to eat humans.”

Nightmare considered that with a hum. “You are only staying here because of this sense of guilt. You believe it is your responsibility to help them because you destroyed the core.” He looked down at the splatted blood around them. “Can they not gather these… supplies themselves?”

Horror grunted, “Some have… but not many can tolerate.. It.”

Taking a second to reconsider his plans Nightmare glanced Dust's way. He was murmuring to himself, or maybe that phantom brother of his. It was too low for Nightmare to hear, but he had no doubt it was something about the strong leaving and the weak being left to dust.

“Is it not enough to show them a way to gather food?” Nightmare questioned, tilting his head back towards Horrors, “After all if they were truly hungry, if they truly wanted to survive, they would do this task themself. Let those too squirmish to hunt their own food relie on the others. Leave with us and let them suffer through their pitiful struggle and forget this world.”

The other tensed, “Nah..” He gripped his axe closer to his body, “Never been one to forget. I made a promise.. that I would help these people. I ain’t goin’ back on it now. Not because… some octopus showed up.. and told me to.”

Dust coked on a laugh beside him, Nightmare didn’t need to see his aura to tell the other was brimming in amusement. Rolling his eye Nightmare gave a long sigh. Ridiculous, all of them.

Still, this would explain Horror's attachment to Snowdin and its people. The promise, not the joke.

Nightmare had never understood Sans and promises. It was not something they made lightly. It seemingly bound them and their actions for infinity. He had once theorized it being their magic and its unusual properties, but after meeting them he could tell it was just their morals and ideals.

A Sans, especially in the Classic timeline, did their best never to break one. Even if it cost them their brother and everyone else they loved.

Dust himself seemed to follow this rule. His morals were seemingly loser though. He had to routinely break the one he promised his Toriel to finish the one he promised the rest of the underground.

Killer does not follow this rule interestingly enough. Although he may be from one of the original timelines he is very different from one. He has none of Classics' personality, fighting style, or morals.

It was a fascinating subject. One he has thought of extensively.

Relying on the information present Nightmare could tell convincing Horror to leave and join them would be almost impossible now.

Nightmare took a breath, considering his options. Then he paused, letting it go.

It would certainly be hard, but not as hard as he thought.

Horror wanted something desperately. He wanted the people of Snowdin, and possibly a few in Waterfall and the ruins, to live peacefully and to survive the fallout of Frisk's final ending. All Nightmare had to do to convince him would be to offer him a deal.

Sure he would be losing a negative Au, but it would pay itself back in full. What is that mortal saying he heard from the Television? To make money you had to spend money. It was a similar enough concept.

“If you will not leave them, then how about a deal?”

“A… deal?” Horror questioned, raising an eyebrow. He looked intrigued, maybe curious, but not all too hopeful.

Nightmare nodded passively, “You are determined to keep this miserable Au going, are you not?”

“...Until everyone I know.. Is dead or dustin’.. yea.” He agreed, tapping his fingers rhythmically along the strap to his sack.

There was a tiredness to his actions. A swirl a persistent grey. Dark and cloudy, the kind his henchmen get after a long night of nightmares.

Dust shifted beside him, silent but listening closely in the safety of his tendrils.

He could tell how great this mattered to the other.

“I often make deals with those under my command. Dust and Killer are no different. I have made deals with them before, and I will again.” Nightmare started, gesturing to the encased skeleton beside him, “How does this sound? You will move into my castle permanently-”

“No-”

Nightmare continued on as if he hadn’t heard him, “With weekends and holidays spent here with your family and friends. If you have free time you will also be allowed to visit at will.”

Horror stared dully at him.

“There will, of course, have to be a discussion to plan everything out, but with every mission you complete for me I will provide something for you and your community.”

That seemed to have gained Horror's attention, “What… do ya.. mean?”

Nightmare grinned, already knowing he would seal the deal, “You have a food shortage. If you go on a mission for me I will provide enough food for your little community for.. Let’s say a week.” Nightmare watched Horror eyes brows raise, “I would also be able to provide household, construction supplies, and doctorial visits. If you would like to use the deals for these instead.”

Horror let out a sharp breath. He seemed to be trembling.

“Of course, there would have to be limitations, but I do not skimp on my part of the deal. The better services you provide me and my henchmen the better everything I provide you with would be.”

He seemed in shock, his fingers twitching around the handle of his axe. “How- why… should I believe.. you?”

Dust shifted where he stood, and Nightmare watched his facial expression change a few times, “I trusted him, Horror.” His mouth twisted, “I know I should have asked first, before I brought him, but-...”

Nightmare observed the two.

Horror felt betrayed, simple as that. Something this particle version of Sans was sensitive to.

Dust was trying to help, but perhaps he could have done better at asking the other beforehand. Nightmare hummed. It did not matter, that was in the past. Going forward he did not want there to be bad blood between the two.

“He wished you a better life.” Nightmare stated calmly, turning his attention back towards his potential employee, “He braved punishment to recommend you against my will. Something neither I had not expected given his usual apathy. Had he wanted to cause harm to you I would not be here.”

He twitched, Nightmare could see the cogs turning in his head. He did not seem to have forgiven Dust yet, but his aura turned brighter. A few hues of pearly pinks seeped through again.

Similarly, it seemed Dust blushed. Just the slightest bit.

“Do you accept?”

Horror looked at him, eyes dark “I- I still.. do not trust ya…”

Nightmare hummed in appreciation, “I suppose that is only appropriate.” He stuck his hands into his pockets, “It is better to be cautious than to dive right into things.”

He took a look at their surroundings. For such a gruesome Au, its snow was rather pristine and perfect. The dust of long-fallen monsters seemed to sparkle amount the frozen flakes. Not even the blood splatter seemed to take away from its beauty, it had only made everything stand out more.

He finally looked at Horror again, “How about insurance?”

“..Insurance?”

“Yes, I could forward you a payment.” He nodded towards the sack in his hands, “Let's say food, you and your community will surely need it. I can get it to you by the end of the week, and, if you are satisfied with the amount, attend at least one mission with Dust. We will see about the deal afterward.”

He hunched slightly, eye going unfocused as he thought carefully. Then, very slowly, he nodded.

“Very well.” Nightmare agreed, lifting dust into the air behind him. His Henchman gave a little struggle before relaxing into his grip. “I will be seeing you next week then.”

If Horror was surprised by his actions he didn’t let on. He stayed silent watching Nightmare rip open a portal back to his castle.

The only movement he made was to stare up at Dust in consideration. Giving him a concerned, albeit disappointed frown.

Before Nightmare stepped into the portal he heard a murmur.

“See ya..”

With that Nightmare stepped through, pulling Dust carefully through as well. Letting the portal close with a snap. Almost immediately Killer was bouncing on his heels. After him about something or another while Dust squirmed dejectedly above them.

He sighed. A headache started to throb at the back of his skull.

A week was not a lot of time to prepare for Horrors deal, that and he had paperwork to do.

Chapter Text

Nightmare was leaned back against the wall of Oira’s house enjoying the cool breeze.

It had always seemed to be warm during his visits to Farmtale. Then again the Au always seemed to be in a constant time loop between spring and summer so it was not a surprise.

Still, he enjoyed it for all its worth.

War places were something he had always enjoyed. Even back when he was weak and useless. He’d hated it when winter had rolled around, always dreading the cooler weather.

While his brother had always been welcomed into the warm homes surrounding their tree, Nightmare had been continuously kicked out. Sometimes violently.

Dream had never seemed to notice. Then again, Nightmare had tried to hide those sides of the villagers from him. He had done everything in his power to keep his brother happy. He supposed it was too much for his brother to do the same.

He had always believed that the good of the people far out weight that of a single person. And getting onto a few ‘good’ people was too much of a small task for his brother when he had so much else to solve.

Nightmare let out a deep breath, opening his eyes.

Killer was sat directly in front of him on the railing of the porch. He was looking off into the distance, his aura spread out before him in the usual deep murkiness that claimed his soul. Although Nightmare could just make out the deep hues of emotions. Pink and red, a little yellow and orange too.

He had one of his knees up and was resting his chin on it, one hand in the air as he twirled his beloved knife in boredom.

He turned, probably feeling Nightmare's eye on him, and his teeth spread into a huge smirk. Nightmare found the other aura spinning into a mess of pink and watched the other wink.

Rolling his eyes Nightmare gave a huge sigh, tilting his head back against the boards. He felt one of his tentacles switching by his foot.

“You know.” Killer drawled, and Nightmare turned his head just in time to see him swinging his legs off the railing towards him, “I thought you would have forced Dusty pants to come with us.”

“Is that so.” Nightmare answered carelessly.

KIllers grin pulled to the side, “What, did he get on your nerves or something?”

“No, It was more important for him to remind Horror what we are doing for him.”

And he was getting on Nightmare's nerves, but that was beside the point.

“Because of the deal, or because of his little itsy bitsy crush?” Killer emphasised the phrase by gesturing with his knife. Nightmare had to pull his arm back when he saw the knife getting too close to the post beside him.

He didn’t want the other to accidentally scratch up the house again. Last time they had spent a good half hour apologizing and fixing their mistake. Nightmare definitely had no time for that given the time-sensitivity of their mission.

He thought briefly about taking the knife but shrugged the thought away. It would keep Killer from messing up their trip, but his complaining would be much worse.

Taking back his limb Nightmare rolled his eyes.

“Oh, come on. You know he has a thing for the Cannibal!”

“Yes, it’s rather obvious, isn’t it.”Nightmare relaxed against the wall, irritatedly bemused, “Also Horror is not a cannibal. He eats human meat, not Monster dust.”

Killer shrugged, “I'm pretty sure he’s done that too.” He kicked his legs out, practically vibrating in his seat as he leaned forward. “You know Dusty has been distracted all week. Every time I mentioned Horror or our mission about him he gets all blushy and squirmish!”

With a grimace, Nightmare nodded.

He had been distracted all week, and it had cost them a mission. The other two Dust had been on were only completed by a miracle. He wasn’t quite sure how Dust had survived that last one after finding himself strung up between all three Star Sanses… Alone.

He was just glad the other did not sustain any injuries.

Still, he had been a complete mess all week.

He hoped this wouldn’t continue after they gained Horror's trust, or he might just kill the two of them for Dust's incompetency.

While he was distracted Killer had bounced over to his side, “I didn’t think it would be so easy to rile him up about it, but it's been so fun! You should have seen his face before we left!”

“I thought you would have been tired out since you stayed up all night.”

“Oh come on moonlight!” He twisted where he stood eyebrows wiggling, “You know you loved it.”

Nightmare flicked his tentacles in mild amusement at the joke.

He did not, in fact, sleep with Killer in any kind of metaphorical or literal way.

Its always been one of Nightmares' duties to help Killer when his soul unstabilizes. In the first few years of their comradery, Nightmare would just crush it back into its regular shape, but over the years he found that it was much safer if he helped Leak off the excessive energy instead.

Unfortunately, it's more time-consuming, and while Nightmare did not need sleep Killer does. If only a little.

Which is why he's hoping this mission does not end in a brawl.

He knew Killer could hold his own, but with such little sleep, the other was sure to make mistakes and come out far more injured than normal.

“Still, I wish you would reserve your strength. You did not get any sleep and I would like you in some kind of fighting fit state.”

He watched Killer wrinkle his nose bone in annoyance.

“Seems like you guys are having fun.” Nightmare paused, looking to his left to find that Oira had exited his house. He had two wooden boxes the size of a large watermelon in his arms. “Sorry, I’m late. Got caught up in a conversation about our chickens with the kid.”

Nightmare straightened up, straightening out his jacket as he moved away from the wall. “Do not be. I am just relieved you managed to gather all I asked for in such a short amount of time.”

The Farmer set down the boxes by their feet. It gave a little thud as it connected with the ground and Oira let out a little sigh when he stood back up. Nightmare could only guess how heavy it was, but he bet it had taken a lot of strength to lift them both.

“Oh heh, I should actually be thanking you. None of our usual buyers responded back to our letters. Without you, we’d probably be scrapping most of this. And then we would’ve had to figure somethin’ out next harvest session. I’m just glad it's goin’ somewhere.” Oira gave him a big grin, scratching the back of his head.

Nightmare nodded in false sympathy, “Sorry to hear that, but I am glad we could help.”

He supposed that Dust had done well in his job, despite how distracted he was. It truly hadn’t taken much to get the other buyers to back off. With a few well-placed warnings, a few suggestions, and a couple of well-timed deaths, most of them shied back. Then it had only taken Nightmare offering a well-meaning deal with their old friend and it was done.

Speaking of old friends, Oira's eyes lit up upon seeing Killer.

Nightmare had almost forgotten how close the two of them were. He believes that the last time they had seen each other was well over a few months ago.

“Hey, Oira!”

“Mornin’ Killer, you’re not usually here for pick-up duty.”

“That's because Dusty pants had to do something, and guess what!” Killer didn’t hesitate to swing around Nightmare, sidling in beside Oira, not letting the other respond before he burst out with, “Dusty poos got a crush!”

Oira’s eye lights gleamed mischievously, “Oh, really?”

Killer nodded immediantly, speaking in a hunched whisper like he was spilling some great secret to the world, “Yup, and he's going totally nuts about it!”

Laughing Oira leaned in close as well, “Well, you’re gonna have to help me tease him about it next time.”

“Oh definitely.” Killer agreed back, eyes narrowing in focus. Probably thinking up some new pranks for his fellow henchman.

Nightmare flicked his tentacles in annoyance and let out a low cough. He raised an eyebrow when they both looked up at him unconcerned. Oira then let out a tiny laugh, amusement dancing through his aura.

“Oops. Sorry ‘bout that Nightmare.” Oira grinned, seemingly not sorry at all. He pushed himself back off of Killer, “I know you’re usually on a time constraint, so I won’t keep you talking about nonsense.”

“Aw.”

Ignoring his henchman's whine, NIghtmare gestured towards the boxes, “Is it all there?”

Oira gave a tiny nod, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. Running his hands down the side, he seemed to be checking it. “Yup, I think it’s all there anyway. I made sure to check the list a few times, but it was a lot. Do you want to check to make sure?.”

Giving a little nod, Nightmare took the list and checked it himself. It all seemed to be there, even the raw meat. He had been told that it might have been impossible to get because of the season, but they seemed to have pulled through.

Nightmare felt a bit of gratitude in that.

“Thank you Oira. You do not know how much you have helped me.”

The other waved him away. “It's nothing, do you need help carrying it all?”

Nightmare shook his head firmly, he tucked the list down into his jacket pocket. “I believe we have this all covered.”

Nodding Oira smiled and took a glance at the sky, “I guess I should be leavin’. It’s almost noon, and Pap comes looking for me after getting back from the market in town. I want to go take a nap before I have to help him in the barn.”

“Don’t you usually just nap while he cleans it out?” Killer questioned.

“Yup.” He tipped his hat back lazily, “But it takes a lot of effort sleeping the day away.”

Killer snorted, “That's good, you look like your sle-pea.”

They both busted out laughing and Nightmare gave a tired sigh. He felt his tentacles rolling behind him in agitation, and he took that as a sign for them to leave. Quickly he tore open a portal to the left of himself and then wrapped the laughing bundle up and tossed him through it. Killer gave a squeak, but he could vaguely hear him giggling in glee from where ever he landed.

He looked back to find Oira raising an eyebrow at him. Nightmare stared back unabashed. It took a second but Oira let out a few chuckles, shaking his head slowly.

“I’m glad he’s feeling better at least.”

Nightmare frowned with a pause, “How so?”

Humming a tuneless note, he looked off to the side. Something soft came over his features. “Well, last time I saw him he looked a bit.. Off? Like he wasn’t feelin the best or something.”

Trying to think back Nightmare almost came up blank, but then he remembered that incident. The one where Killer had jumped through a portal on some random world and met a Sans called Color.

Nightmare grimaced just thinking about the event.

After everything was over, and everything had been brought back to what it once was, Killer had been quiet and reserved. Nightmare had always taken it as the other recovering from the shock of having his soul unstabilized and then ripped back into shape.

But.. maybe it was something else.

“Yes,” Nightmare stated calmly, feeling his tentacles twitching in aggression. “He is okay now.”

He would make sure of it.

He saw Oira nod out of the corner of his eye.

“Alright.” Then he looked back at the boxes with a frown. “I’ll just leave these with you. I’m supposed to make sure they get back, but… eh, I trust ya.”

Nightmare made a sound in his throat, wrapping his tentacles around the boxes and lifting them. He was correct about his statement from before, they were clearly heavier than they looked.

“I will bring them back next time.”

Oira just smile and waved him away. In the next second, he was already inside. His door shutting behind him with a simple click.

Nightmare paused, taking a simple glance around him again, before stepping through the open portal he’d thrown Killer threw.

He hoped Killer hadn’t gotten up to anything in the few minutes he had taken to speak to Oira.

He stepped directly into snow, and unconsciously he curled his tentacles up so they wouldn’t touch the cold matter below him. He blinked, letting the setting settle in his mind.

He had ripped a portal into the middle of Snowdin.

The first thing he noticed was the streak in the ground from where he threw Killer. He didn’t seem to have gone very far, his footsteps littered the ground, trailing away somewhere behind him.

All around him were the ruins of what used to be a small thriving town. The house looked broken and stained. A few were completely crumbled, picked apart by scavengers looking for resources. Without any power none of them were lit up, all the windows were dark. They were also considerably dirtier and more cracked than usual.

What very few people were left seemed to ignore them, and those that do acknowledge them only do so to glance.

He shuffled around following the footsteps his minion left behind, finding himself stood directly in front of Grillbys.

The Bar was the only building in the surroundings lit up. Seemingly by the bartender if the wavy flicker of it announced. The building itself had seen better days as well, although it looked a lot cleaner than some of the ones surrounding it. The windows were dirty and smudge with a build-up of soot. It was also cracked, but it looked like someone had tried patching it up with some human trash.

He didn’t have to look far to find his idiots.

They were just a few feet away, standing off to the side. Dust and Horror were caught in a tense conversation. Killer seemed to be egging them on, dancing from either side and adding commentary to their little argument.

It looked like Dust was just a hair away from striking out to stab Killer. And knowing him, it was probably the ultimate goal.

Horror just looked mildly irritated but seemed to be able to hold himself back from striking. Nightmare would have expected to see that in his aura, but he only found some dark navy blues and greys.

As he approached he noticed a tiny child beside the larger Sans. It looked slightly wary, eyes wide as she took quick glances at the Sans surrounding her.

Finally arriving beside them Nightmare let out a huff.

“Oh, come on Dust! You know he’d be-”

“What are you blabbering on about now, Killer.” Nightmare interrupted, watching Killer snap to attention. The other blinked and then turned to Nightmare with a mischievous grin.

“Boss.” Dust greeted, biting back irritability as he nodded a greeting.

Nightmare noted how tired the other looked. Perhaps Killer wasn’t the only one missing out on sleep. He’d have to keep an eye on Dust. He couldn’t have both of his soldiers on death's bed in a fight against this brother and those dimwitted fools.

Killer skipped to his side making Nightmare pull his attention back to him, “Oh, nothin, just a few pranks.”

Nightmare tried not to sigh, from the look on Killer's face he did not achieve that goal. “I do not want to know.”

“Probably a good idea.”

Ignoring the irritating skeleton, Nightmare turned towards Horror. He moved his tentacles to pull the boxes in front of him. Horror peered cautiously at him but looked at the boxes with a snort.

“Is that.. yer supply?”

“Yes,” Nightmare stated. “It was not hard to find a reliable supply of food for you and your community.”

Horror gave Nightmare an unimpressed look, crossing his arms. “There might not.. be much of us left.. But I don’t think that’d feed all of us.”

“You’d be surprised!” Killer replied, leaning on Nightmare's shoulder with a grin.

Dust hummed beside NIghtmare, shifting to look down at the books with interest. His eyes flickered slightly before he turned towards Horror. “It’s a magic box.”

If the butcher noticed Dust saying anything he didn’t react, just tilted his head towards Grillbys taking a sharp look off towards Waterfall. “Fine. If we're doin’ this.. It gotta be inside. Don’t want no spies… thinking somethin’ fishy is about.”

He broke out into laughter, red eye glowing in pride at his pun. All Nightmare could do was take a withering breath as he corraled his boys after the other Sans. He made Dust go in first, ignoring his grumbles as he snagged Killer and made him go next.

He was about to go in, but was stopped as that one child -Aliza, Alisa?- darted in after Killer with a tiny squeak. She avoided his limbs with little trouble, something not most would be able to claim. Nightmare couldn’t help but admire how cautious the other being was, despite its pitiful nature.

He could tell that one was different.

Not ruthless nor exceedingly kind like some of the other human children he has met. It was like a breath of fresh air.

He entered with little trouble, letting the door snap shut behind him.

Immediately he was greeted with the smell of charred meat and wood smoke. It was almost enough to choke him out.

None of the other patrons seemed to have noted this. They all sat wide-eyed in their disheveled seats. He could hear a few people mumble to each other, but most seemed to have gone quiet at the sight of him and his men.

Nightmare could taste their curiosity in the back of his throat.

As he gazed over them he noted that there were a few monsters hunched over what looked like cups of muggy water, but none of them had food. It must not have been feeding time yet. That or Horror had gotten lazy and waited til the last minute to go catch something for everyone.

“Over ‘ere,” Horror called loudly. He had stopped at the end of the bar and found himself a seat by the counter. The Grillby of this universe was standing behind him, shining a glass with an old handtowel.

Nightmare paced over, watching Dust lean up against the counter beside Horror. He had paused for a brief second, looking at the malformed body of the bartender before looking away unconcerned.

Killer didn’t seem to have noticed the being, instead bouncing on the back of his heels as he watched the events with interested eyes. It was almost like he wanted a fight to go down.

Which he probably did.

“Set it ‘ere.” Horror gestured towards the bar, and Nightmare obliged gladly. The counter seemed to shift and creak under the weight.

A few startled mutterings went echoing through the room at the sight, but Horror seemed unimpressed.

“What's happening Sans?” Called out one of those dog guards. It seemed to be a woman.

Nightmare had never gotten around to learning their names. They had never seemed all that important. He’d never actually seen them play any grand role in an Au before. Most of the time they seemed to be standing on the outside.

Horror barely glanced at her, letting out a grunt he wavered her away, “Workin’ out a deal…” He tapped a small rhythm into the countertop, turning to Nightmare with a bored look. “Don’t know if I’mma take it.”

There was a rush of hushed voices coming from behind them.

Nightmare flickered his tentacle in annoyance. “You shouldn’t decide before you know all the facts.”

“What can.. One little box do fer me.” Horror rolled his eye, leaning heavily on one of his hands.

“Two boxes!” Killer pitched up helpfully.

“Not much difference.. if ya ask me..”

The human child shuffled in between Killer and Horror, crawling up onto the chair. Nightmare noticed she had something green clinging to her. He spotted a splash of yellow under her collar he guessed it might have been flowey. They must be inseparable like in some of the other Aus he saw.

She blinked at the box with a fearful kind of curiosity. She hesitantly reached up to open it, only to flinch back with a glance at Nightmare.

With a plain frown, Horror gestured towards the first box. “Go ahead, Aliza.”

With a nod she carefully reached forward, unclicking the latch and pulling the lid open. She flinched back, crouching fearfully in her seat like something might pop out and grab her. Her aura filled with sickly green and purple.

When nothing happened she perked up, sitting up to peer into the opened box. With a low whisper to the flower sticking out of her dress she reached in. She paused but riffled around without any hesitations. Within a second she pulled out a red apple.

Horror's eyebrow went up as he sat back with a frown. “A.. piece of fruit?”

“Oh shit, these are my favorite!” Killer cried, he lunged over the human girl to grab one. Aliza squeaked and ducked, Flowey yelled but Killer ignored it.

He danced away with his prize, lifting it in the air with a taunt. Nightmare spotted quite a few people staring at him in both awe and envy. He went to take a bite but Nightmare stopped him by wrapping a tendril around his arm. Nightmare used his actual hand to rip it from his grasp.

“Those are not for you.”

Nightmare turned, tossing it to a waiting Horror.

He turned back to his minion to find him hunched over with an exaggerated pout.

“Oh come on,” Killer whined spinning in his grip to get closer. He pressed his back against Nightmares with a wink, “Unless you want to give me yours~”

Nightmare barely listened to the other before he sent him flying with a flick of his extra limbs. He giggled, crashing into an empty booth.

Giving his attention back to Horror he found that Dust was quietly explaining the fruit to the other. The other patrons were looking on in awe, some had even scooted over, leaning in to get a closer look.

“So.. it comes from the surface?”

Dust nodded, “It's a popular fruit. One of the most well-known. The red ones are good, but I’ve always preferred the green ones.” He waved his hand at the first box, “I think the Boss ordered a few bags of it if you want to try it.”

Horror's face went blank, and then he looked towards the box, “..Bags?”

Dust nodded again, a bit slower this time. “It’s magical, kinda like the inventory box, but better.”

Horror shifted in his seat slightly, “Our world.. Don’t get magic anymore. Not with the core… down.”

Dust hummed, “It's probably got some kind of self-sustaining power source.”

“Like a battery.”

“Yeah.”

Thankfully it seemed like they were getting along again. Nightmare was glad, he didn’t know if he could handle any more of Dust's befoolery.

“Can- Can I try it, Sans?” Said the same Dog woman leaning over her stool to gaze longingly at the fruit.

With a pause, Horror blinked carefully at her. His fingers clenched tightly around the apple for a second, looking conflicted, but nodded and tossed it toward her with a sharp grin.

She caught it and immediately sank her teeth into it. Nightmare couldn’t help but feel a twinge in his soul at the sight but brushed it away without a thought.

Perhaps he should have asked for peaches instead. At least then it wouldn’t be his privates being bitten into.

An excited yammering filled the room as the rest of the patrons yelled and called about wanting to try it as well. To say it was a hit for the starving mass of monsters was massively downplaying the situation. Nightmare greedily basked in the negativity, shutting his eyes for a moment to drink down the bitter spill of emotions in the air.

He opened them just to watch another monster try to snag the apple away, only to yelp back when the woman snapped her teeth at them.

Almost immediately the room seemed to burst into arguments and chaos.

Horror waited patiently at first but when it didn’t die down he snapped fast, throwing his axe between the two who started it. “Enough.”

Immediately the room froze and settled down. Several monsters shuffled back into the shadows, abashed and embarrassed for causing such a scene. He could hear a few whispering apologies or muttering excuses to one another.

Horror peered at them with a dangerous glare, but huffed and looked back at Aliza. She didn’t even balk at the fight, instead, she had already started chopping down on her own apple. When Horror looked at her, she froze and then quickly shoved the apple down into her lap with an embarrassed look.

He just rolled his eye, “Pull.. out one’a those bags.”

She nodded, letting Flowey take hold of the apple, she sat up in the chair. She stuck her hands into the box and tried to pull up, only to fail immediately. With a startled blink, she and Flowy had a hushed argument before she climbed to her feet onto the bar stool. She stuck her arms into the box again, and then pulled back with all her might.

With a thunk the bag came free, sending her falling back off the stool. She would have cracked her head open if Flowey had used his vines to wrap around her and the counter.

“Shit, you have got to be more careful Aliza!” Flowy cried wrapping around Aliza for more stability. He lowered her back to the ground, the heavy bag laying in her lap.

Horror gave a roar of laughter, but reached down and pulled the heavy sack off of Aliza with ease. He gave it one look and then raised an eyebrow, “Ya weren’t kid-din.”

Dust snorted, and Nightmare noted with a sigh that Killer was chuckling behind him.

Horror looked into the sack with a whistle, “Alright.” He murmured, turning to announce to the hopeful crowd, “Everyone line up. There's plenty to eat.”

Without a second thought, they all lined up. Each one with a spark of hope in their eyes.

Still, Horror first left an apple on the counter, nodding toward his old friend. Grillby put down his glass, and stiffly reached for it, a glimmer of gratitude in his being.

Then Horror patiently handed a single apple to each of the monsters in the room. Every once in a while Horror would snap, growling lowly at someone who tried skipping in line or sneaking back in for a second apple.

Each time the monster would flinch away, or mumble an excuse, but went without any complaint or argument.

Nightmare tilted his head in interest.

They all seem to follow him like some kind of leader.

That is not unexpected if you thought about it. Sure this town had a mayor, but in all rights and purposes, it was just a title now. It's not like did anything that Horror wasn’t already doing on the major side.

Any official business with the Queen was done with Horror there.

He made sure Snowdin got a fair amount of rations, keep the capital guards from killing everyone, and struck up deals with Waterfall and the Ruins for food and supplies.

If anything Horror was the King of Snowdin.

And didn’t that make for an interesting plot. A Queen who forced her way into the position, and a King who fumbled his way into the role instead of asking for it.

While Undyne was the Queen of the Underground, Horror was the King of the people.

Nightmare knew that there was no ending in the Classic universe that ended with Sans taking over leadership. The closet was the one where Papyrus takes over, but even then Sans is more of a right-hand man than anything else.

Perhaps this was the ending that led Sans into taking the role of King.

Perhaps if this Horrortale continued for a few more years it would end with Horror taking over the Underground.

Nightmare hummed low in his throat, contemplating that concept.

He leaned back against the counter with Killer, watching as Horrors people gathered around him like helpless chicks.

Their happiness burned against his skin, but he brushed it away. If he could handle the parties his brother threw when they were younger and when he was at his weakest, then he could handle a room of misery-filled monsters enjoying a snack.

Nightmare's gaze fell back to Killer. He had somehow gotten his hands on another apple. He had already taken a few bites, but when he saw Nightmare he smirked. He gave him a leer only a lust could beat and slowly bit into it. Smirking when Nightmare narrowed his eyes.

Looking back at the crowd he was adamant to ignore him.

He watched until everyone was settled again, and then settled his gaze on Horrors. The butcher had set the sack down on the floor with a thump. A few apples rolled away, but Aliza quickly gathered them back up.

Horror eyed the box, taking a curious glance at the second one, but mostly at the first.

“Are you not going to try one?” Dust asked curiosity, holding one of the fallen apples he’d stolen from the human child to Horror's face.

His eyes narrowed in on the fruit. Nightmare felt curiosity prickle at his spine, his tentacles twisting around his feet. Horrors aura lit up with red and a light blue, but he turned his head away with a tsk.

Huffing Dust stood more clearly in front of him, frowning with irritation, “It's not like one little apple is going to kill you.”

Snarling slightly Horror sat back in his chair, looking past the apple shoved in his face to peer straight into Dust's eyes. Then something flickered in Horror, his red eye narrowing as he bit down into the apple, not even glancing away from Dust first.

With a bit of amusement, Nightmare noted the dark pink blooming in Dust’s aura. A lilac blush dusted the other cheekbones.

Horror was oblivious as always, instead, he had immediately let out a groan of appreciation. His stomach growled lowly, making him chomp down into it again, nearly getting one of Dust's phalanges in the process.

When he swallowed the last bit he sat back stiffly, eyes heady and dark. “...Didn’t think I liked eating.. healthy.”

Dust snorted, cheekbones still dusted with color. “You’ll get more if you join us.”

A few of the surrounding monsters perked up at that statement. Conflicted emotions began to fill the room, swirls of dark colors and bright ones mixing together. It all seemed to make Nightmare's head spin, nausea rising in the back of his throat.

With a wince he shook his head, stepping forward beside Dust. “If you would be interested, I have a list of all the items I brought you today.”

Dust jumped slightly at his sudden arrival. Nightmare would have to break him of that habit, he could not get totally wrapped up in Horrors being when there could be a fight at any moment.

Speaking of which, Horror raised an eyebrow but nodded slowly like he was thinking.

Carefully pulling the piece of paper from his pocket he handed it over to the other skeleton. Unfolding it, Horror's eye went wide as he read over the list, “That's alot..”

Nightmare gave a low chuckle, nodding briskly. One of his tentacles lifted up to brush against Dust's back, and the other barely hesitated before relaxing back into him.

Nightmare focused back on Horror, “I went over how much another Snowdin consumed over the time period of a week. It was a surprising number for such a small town.”

Horror nodded, still looking shocked, “And you would give me this every time I went out on a mission with you?”

“Yes, if you would like me to. Or I would provide you and your people with something else.”

Horror paused, seemingly trying to remember the exact details from before. “How.. many missions… do ya usually go on?”

Nightmare took a second to calculate. “It varies at times, but on average 2 to 3 a week. I would not be miffed if you worked overtime either.”

Dust shifted at his side, hope burning the back of Nightmare's throat surgery sweet. “So.. would you like to join us?”

Horror paused, looking back at the monsters surrounding him, each eye filled with hope.

He went still, a whole range of emotions rolling off him and into the air. Hope was prominent, distrust and fear followed close by with flash of anger and depression, but faded quickly into bright happiness and relief.

He swallowed, “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll join ya.”