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The park was beautiful.
Dream felt at peace when he entered the park and started towards the garden of flowers, trees bordering the garden to give plenty of shade, but far enough away that the sun could reach the flowers. He paused at the flower beds and leaned down to smell the refreshing fragrance of the flowers. He smiled and sighed contently and quietly made his way towards a tree he started to favor since coming here.
It wasn’t as big as his tree from home, nor the one he always found himself sitting under with Core!Frisk or Epic. This one had a smaller trunk, yet it seemed so perfect just for him. It dipped in enough that he fit against it perfectly as he sat down and made himself comfortable.
The children were at play, running around and playing pretend. Giggling and playful screams were far enough away from him that it didn’t bother him much. He smiled and leaned back against the tree, letting his sockets close and he felt himself drift off into his thoughts.
The wind was gentle as it flew between the trees, playing with the loose fabric of his clothing. He breathed in the fresh air and released another peaceful sigh as his mind faded into a favored memory.
Another beautiful sunny day.
Usually he would already be in the village to play with his friends, but he had decided to stay with Nighty. He missed him.
Beside him, he couldn’t hear his brother reading aloud anymore; Dream peeked open an eye light to look at his brother only to find him lost in thought. Nighty’s focus was somewhere in the distance, his bone brow dipping down and a frown had chased away his brilliant smile.
“What’s wrong?” Dream asked, startling his brother out of his thoughts. Nightmare turned his startled eye lights to look at his brother, surprised; “I thought you were asleep.” Dream laughed softly and shook his head. “I wasn’t! I was only resting my eyes!”
Nighty laughed and rolled his eyes. “You were sleeping.” He awkwardly teased Dream. The bright and positive brother poked him in the side, earning him a yelp of surprise. “I was not! I was listening to your story!”
“Yeah? Then, what was the last sentence I read?” Nightmare challenged his brother with his own grin. Dream’s embarrassed blush on his cheekbones and his stuttering reply was answer enough. “See? You were asleep.” Nighty said and closed his book before setting it aside.
Frowning, Dream leaned closer hugging his brother close, startling him; “I’m sorry, Nighty! I won’t fall asleep again! I wanna hear the story!” Nightmare laughed and rolled his eyes once more. “Alright, but don’t fall asleep again!” With a cute chuckle, Dream nodded. “I promise that I won’t!”
Dream did fall asleep once more.
-
“Did you fall asleep again? ”
Dream slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at his side; Nightmare was no longer at his side. His innocent, wonderfully smart brother of his, with his beautiful violet eye lights that matched his outfit- he was no longer at Dream’s side. No longer looking at him with his happy smile. His eyes crinkled with delight after receiving a new book to read. Eating his favorite snack. Reading to his brother .
Nightmare was gone, along with his voice.
Tears burned at his eye sockets and Dream reached up to wipe the stray tears that he couldn’t hold back. His soul ached from the memory. When times were better. When Nighty was happy, and normal. When he wasn’t hurt by the villagers.
Before Dream accidentally hurt him by choosing to stay with the villagers and not at Nighty’s side. Protecting mother.
It really was his fault, wasn’t it? All of it. His mother’s death. Nighty being hurt and forced to eat the apples. His transformation.
Stars, how he missed his brother…
He pulled his phone out from his pocket to check the time; he had been here long enough. Now, with a sad sigh, Dream pulled himself up and dusted himself off before making his way back home.
It was best to leave all of that in the past. He would keep his brother where he belonged; in his memories.
Hidden companion, phantom, be still in my heart. Make me a promise that time won’t erase us, that we were not lost from the start.
I’d die to be where you are. I tried to be where you are.
Every night, I dream you’re still here. The ghost by my side, so perfectly clear. When I awake, you’ll disappear, back to the shadows with all I hold dear, I dream you’re still here.