Chapter Text
Blue was going to regret this wasn’t he? He shouldn’t have run from Dream and Ink. He knew that it was his fault.
It always was.
Yet he kept running, his legs taking him farther and faster. Years of fruitless training for a royal guard he’d never be permitted to join had prepared him for this.
He’d spent a lot of time convincing Error to transport him somewhere Dream and Ink would have a hard time locating. Error had promised that Dream would have a hard time sensing his aura here.
Now that he thought about it, that should’ve been the first red flag.
“OH WELL, THE MAGNIFICENT SANS CAN HANDLE ANYTHING THROWN AT HIM!”
He was trapped in a genocide timeline. Except, instead of seeing the human, all he saw was dust and snow. The world was empty, not even its Sans could be found. He considered calling out for help, if the timeline hadn’t reset yet then there was a good chance the human wasn’t around anymore to find him.
Carefully, Blue weighed his options. On one hand, if he called out for Error, Ink might hear it and he’d be back to square one. On the other hand, not trying might leave him stuck there forever.
Besides, there was no telling when this world’s Sans might come back.
Blue decided his best course of action was to take the risk. Atleast if Ink found him he could make some sort of excuse and try again some other time.
He was about to call out for help when he heard someone talking in the distance.
Curious, he approached the noise, trying to be as stealthy as his training would allow.
Through the trees and in the snow was a familiar figure. A hood over his skull and one eye glowing through the darkness.
He gasped and immediately regretted it. Dust turned his head around, seemingly talking to himself.
“no paps, there’s no one there. why the hell would anyone be here?”
Blue sighed in relief, he wasn’t caught yet. Still, being in what was apparently Dusttale wasn’t ideal.
If you asked him which of Nightmare’s gang he’d like to encounter least he’d say Dust without hesitation. Killer was cocky and too playful to seem threatening despite his obvious skill. Horror was more set on anyone who got in his way rather than anyone who just happened to be on the opposite side of battle. If you avoided his line of sight you were mostly alright.
But Dust scared Blue more than he’d like to admit.
He was insane and cruel. Murderous and full of determination. Dusting anything he deemed worth the EXP. He didn’t understand how a monster could become something so full of LOVE. So akin to the hundred of human Charas and Frisks he had seen while working with Ink and Dream. The fact that anyone could turn into that was terrifying.
“I believe we have a little stalker in our midst.”
Blue froze. He knew that voice. It was the same voice that haunted Dream’s nightmares, proven by the amount of times he had woken up to the sound of screaming in the middle of the night. He was so stupid to let himself get distracted, and worst of all, caught.
“Now what are you doing here Blue?”
Blue flinched at the sound of Nightmare’s voice. Then he started to panic. He was their enemy, and they still thought he was working with Dream. He cleared his throat, trying to suppress the pure fear he felt as he turned around to look at his single cyan eye.
“A-AHEM, YES HELLO NIGHTMARE. I DIDN’T EXPECT TO SEE YOU HERE….HEH….”
Internally, he cringed at the pathetic sound of his own voice. “So I thought.” Blue’s SOUL dropped at the mild threat in his tone. “But do enlighten me, why are you out here? This is a very negative AU to be in without any back up.” He continued, eyeing Blue’s fearful expression
I can believe my brother would stay away from this place. As sensitive as he is.” Nightmare almost sneered as he said it. “But without Ink? Were they really so irresponsible as to send you out here all by yourself?”
“THEY DID NOT SEND ME ANYWHERE. I CAME HERE OF MY OWN VOLITION. THEY DO NOT DICTATE EVERYTHING I DO. THE MAGNIFICENT SANS IS AN INDEPENDENT PERSON.”
The words held more contempt in them than Blue planned to show. And clearly Nightmare was taken aback by the sudden outburst as well. “Well then,” the guardian continued slowly, “I suppose that means you are no longer working with my brother nor the soulless heathen he keeps as company?”
Blue paused. Did he really want to tell the literal King of Negativity that he was truly alone? That if he went missing, no one would come to save him?
But Nightmare’s eye, it didn’t seem to hold any malice in it. His worlds suggested cruelty while his face remained apathetic. Blue couldn’t wrap his skull around it.
“I AM GOING TO BE IN THE ROYAL GUARD SOMEDAY AREN’T I? I CANT DEPEND ON OTHERS TO PICK UP MY SLACK ALL THE T-“
“What slack?”
“……..WHAT…?
“You heard me. I do not see any slack now nor have I seen it on any battlefield we’ve shared. Tell me, what is this ‘so-called’ slack you are referring to?”
“ARE YOU TRYING TO MESS WITH ME?” Blue glared at him. “IF THIS ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR TACTICS I REFUSE TO GIVE IN.” Blue stood his ground. He didn’t trust what Nightmare had to say no matter what feelings might’ve hid behind his words.
“They told you that you were falling behind didn’t they?” Nightmare whispered to him. “Of course they did. They are immortal guardians, their power far surpasses anything you could ever achieve as a mortal, and their needs are far and few between.”
He bent down, staring into Blue’s eyes. “They think you as weak. They see you as slow. They find you to be….incompetent. It doesn’t matter how hard you try, they will always see you as less.”
“WHY…..WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS…?”
“Because Blue, they don’t value you like they should. You are overworked and underappreciated. Even now I can feel the toll it has taken on your body. I sense your hunger, your exhaustion, your insecurity.” Nightmare lifted his chin to look at him. “But I can offer you something better.”
“THE MAGNIFICENT SANS DOESN’T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS.”
Nightmare blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of Blue’s words. “I am not a terrorist Blue, I maintain a careful balance. Despite what Dream has told you, I do not spread negativity just for the sake of doing it.” He paused to make sure Blue was listening. “While I do take much enjoyment from it, it’s an inherent part of my nature, not my reason for what I do. The balance is real and necessary, and it is my duty to maintain it.”
Blue still looked at Nightmare skeptically to which he sighed. “Join me, Blue. I will not look down on you as my brother has. I like to think I take excellent care of my mortals.”
Blue considered the offer for a moment, if he joined he’d never be able to go back. Not to Dream. Not to Ink. Not even to the Omega Timeline. Heck, he didn’t even know if he’d be allowed to see his brother again. But what choice did he have? He was in Nightmare’s domain, rejecting him could easily mean death.
Blue sighed feeling defeated. “FINE. I WILL COME WITH YOU ON ONE CONDITION: YOU DO NOT KEEP ME FROM SEEING MY BROTHER.” If he was going to enter another hellhole he was atleast going to make sure Papyrus was okay.
“Of course. That goes without saying does it not?” Nightmare raised an eyebrow.
Blue ignored how the guardian’s reaction made him feel. “SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO JOIN?”
“like this.” A gruff voice said from behind.
Blue felt something knock him in the back of his head and everything went black. His last thought lingering in his skull.
‘Oh….i forgot about Dust.’