My feet skidded on the blackstone floor of the Nether base, purple shards still clinging to my clothing from the portal. Heat blasted my face the second I began running.

The mental map I had created before of the pathway to Logstedshire played out in my mind. My steps moved on memory, following the cobblestone path.

Now, a long log had replaced a bit of the pathway. It was extremely thin, only allowing the people who could properly balance cross it.

Instead of wasting time trying to balance, I jumped across the gap. As soon as my toes grazed the ground, I was racing forward.

Tommy's Nether portal came into view, my steps slowing to let me through without falling into lava on the other side.

Purple flecks reached out like a hug to pull me into the portal, but my body was ripped backward. I stumbled, crashing into someone's chest.

"Oh y/n, you're not allowed to go in there." Dream's voice was mocking, his mask brushing my ear.

I struggled, trying to pry my wrists free of the grip Dream had on them. My magic sprung towards him but was automatically shoved into the back of my mind from the copper bands that were wrapped around his wrists.

Where did he come from?!

"Let me go!" My voice sounded like a growl from the anger.

He spun me around to face him, a dark smile on his face. "I'm sorry, but you can't get to Tommy. He isn't accepting visitors right now."

Dream leaned in, his mask coming beside my face. He whispered, "Tommy knows you don't want to be his friend anyway."

Fury was turning into rage, becoming a fire burning inside of me.

Dream had stopped me once from saving Tommy, but he wouldn't again.

I smirked at him. "Well, I better go prove to him that I do want to be his friend."

Before he could respond, my knee shot up, catching him in the stomach. I spun away from him, pulling out my sword while he leaned over in pain.

I was already sweating from the small movement, but it calmed slightly as I got away from the copper and my magic came back.

Dream pulled his ax off his back in a swift movement after recovering from his pain.

"Y/n, I don't want to fight you." His voice was careful, watching for my swing.

"Too bad, cause I want to fight you," I said, lunging towards him.

My sword swung towards his chest, his ax catching my swing halfway there.

Unlike training, where I had to withhold my magic, I didn't hesitate to fight to the best of my ability. Although, Dream was holding back, playing the defensive.

He swung for my arm holding the sword, but I ducked underneath and rolled behind him. The edge of his ax missed my head by inches.

I was about to knock out his knees when he turned with a smirk on his face.

"I've learned from the last time you did that."

I just snickered, my voice full of poison. "Good for you. Bet you didn't learn this."

My leg shot out, my kick landing swiftly in his side, right below his chest plate. He grunted, backing up with his hand to his side.

I took my chance, darting towards him with my sword behind my head in a swing. Dream had a hard time lifting his ax but he blocked with both of his hands on the wood handle, holding it out in front of himself

My sword nicked his wrist, making one of his hands drop away with drops of blood. I took my advantage and swung as hard as I could at the handle.

The ax fell to the red ground with a clatter and I swiftly kicked it away from the two of us.

Within seconds, he lunged low, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hadn't been suspecting it and I lost my grip on my sword, flying to the ground.

The air whooshed out of my lungs on the impact of the Nether floor and I gasped. Dream's weight fell on top of me, his hands trying to pin my arms to my sides.

"Get off of me!" I shouted, scrambling to get away.

"Please, I don't want to hurt-"

I somehow shoved him off balance, and as he fell he accidentally pushed me further away from him.

"Y/n!" He yelled as I rolled away from him. The force of his push had sent me tumbling over the edge.

I screamed and caught the edge of the cliff with the tips of my fingers, my body coming to a forceful halt. I was dead weight for the second time in two days, hanging above a lava lake.

My limbs were slowly becoming fatigued, and the effort of trying to hang on was not helping. I pulled myself up with my forearms crossed on the edge and my fingernails digging into the ground.

Blood was trickling off my fingers and knuckles from the rough terrain. I could feel a bruise forming on my back from being knocked to the ground.

Perhaps I could plunge into the lava below and probably live from my fire powers, but I didn't think now was the best time to try that trick.

Dream was breathing heavily, clutching his side as he made his way over to me. His mask had been moved slightly to the side, revealing one of his clover eyes.

"Let me help you." As he was a few steps away, he reached out a hand towards me. Blood fell from his wrist under his glove.

I swung myself up before he could reach me, my limbs screaming as I stood. My eyes fell on my sword which Dream clutched in his hand.

"Dream, give me my sword back," I said.

"No, not until you realize you shouldn't be fighting me."

I stepped away from the edge, the two of us beginning to circle each other. Tension thrummed between us.

"You aren't going to stop me from getting to Tommy. I won't have to hurt you if you just let me go. I'm not yours anymore!"

My words sparked something in him, his eye clouding over with something dark. Evilness lurked in the air like a storm cloud.

"Yes. You. Are." His voice was rough with emotion. Something was taking over him.

Before I could react, Dream lifted my sword, slicing it down towards me. The blow was unexpected considering he had never hurt me.

White, hot pain shot across my stomach, below my chest plate, as the sword sliced through my shirt and skin. The air completely left my lungs with a scream.

I stumbled from the hit, my back colliding with the rim of the Nether portal.

My hands pressed to the gash, but it was too large to cover. The slice went from the middle of the right side of my rib cage all the way down to my left hip, crossing over my stomach.

Black began to edge my vision, winking in and out. My body went into shock but I could faintly feel the warmth of blood soaking my clothes. My eyes closed with the pain.

"Oh, shit." I heard Dream mumble, followed by the clatter of my sword hitting the ground.

Hands caught my falling body, holding me upright. Something felt different about Dream, my magic didn't sense the evilness anymore.

Just a second, I swore I felt the old Dream rise up. Worry and regret encased the air around us.

"I'm so sorry, y/n. I'm so sorry..." Dream's mask pressed against my shoulder, true emotion in his voice.

For the first time in months, I could sense the love Dream felt for me. But it was fading as he placed a kiss against my forehead, leaving me in the dark.

I opened my eyes, forcing the hazy feeling of sleep to back off. Tears were falling from Dream's eye, dripping onto my shoulder, mixing with my blood.

"I should've kept control of myself." His voice was soft. This was probably the last time I would ever see Dream like this when he was truly himself.

My slowing thoughts swirled, and I thought about what Neomi had told me about a price.

Maybe this was my last chance to join Dream, to become corrupt with greed and power. We would destroy anyone who stepped in our path.

Dream was already there, corrupting himself.

But he chose that. He chose to pay the price and lose our relationship.

So I would make my choice.

Malice rose up in me, my magic egging it on. My heart gave a forceful, heartbreaking pulse as I let go.

Through the pain, my voice was weak, "That was your last mistake."

His head flashed back, his eyes now clear of evil. Surprise had taken its place, lightening his eyes.

"What-"

His voice was cut off by my heavy punch, the last of my adrenaline pushing my arm.

There was a loud crack and Dream's head snapped to the side, his mask flying off his face. It clattered to the ground as he did, a wide fracture spreading across the smiley face.

Because I had hit him in the jaw, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out. A deep bruise was already blooming on his jawline, the skin split.

If it weren't for the pool of blood dripping at my feet from my wound, satisfaction and triumph would've washed over me.

My ragged breathing filled the silence that followed, my adrenaline washing out of me. I felt like I could pass out right then and there, but my magic kept me awake.

Just a little further. I can't die, not until I get Tommy safe.

I scooped up my sword and practically fell into the Nether portal, not glancing back at Dream's passed-out form.

Steam sizzled off of my clothing as I stumbled into the overworld where it was downpouring. The world was murky with clouds and rain, blurring the horizon.

I pressed a hand to the slash, trying to slow the damage. Blood painted my palm in seconds, pouring out like a waterfall.

Magic was rushing through me, trying to stop the blood flow. If I didn't have my magic, I would die within minutes, but thankfully, I should be able to make it a little longer.

I blinked several times to clear the rain and film from my eyes, looking at the world around me for the first time.

Large explosions were everywhere, the white tent and Christmas tree destroyed. The place looked devastated and I could only imagine that Dream did this.

To my left, Logstedshire looked the same. The walls were gone and a house had previously been there but was no longer.

I stumbled over to one of the lamp posts, bracing myself on it. My magic was the only thing keeping me standing.

A large pillar was up on a hill to the side of Logstedshire, made of dirt. It went high into the sky, past where a normal person should be able to see. But, I could see a figure at the top, dangerously close to the edge.

"Tommy!" I shouted, a pulse of pain following. I gasped, almost falling over with pain.

The figure looked down but didn't step away from the edge. I realized with a worrying throb that Tommy was going to jump.

"Don't ... don't jump!" It was becoming harder to yell and my hand was slipping on the wooden post.

Tommy backed up from the edge, but instead of climbing down, he ran and jumped.

I didn't have the energy to scream, so I lifted my left hand and grasped at the frayed edge of my magic. I found my way into Tommy's falling mind, where it was dark, and grasped at the invisible strings.

"Fly, songbird, fly," I muttered, my magic slowly slipping away from me.

In the foggy, rainy night, white burst from Tommy's back, easing his fall.

My body completely sagged against the lamp post. My breathing was slowing and my body was beginning to feel numb, my eyes closing.

There was a splash and hurried footsteps, someone rushing towards me. A soft object brushed my arm when they got close enough.

"Holy shit, y/n-" Tommy's voice was bleak but concerned.

I opened my eyes, seeing Tommy almost looking as bad as me. His hair held no color, and his blue eyes were almost as dark as the ocean. Scratches and dust covered every inch of him.

But coming out of his back, were his brilliantly white wings. The feathers were still in top condition from being tucked away. Rain dripped off of them, the droplets leaving the feathers shining.

Through the slow, murky thoughts, I thought to myself, I need to teach him to pull the wings out on his own.

"What the hell happened?" I could see the pain in his eyes, his mind clashing.

I just shook my head, unable to produce words. I hissed in pain when I moved, but I pulled an object from my back pocket, handing it over to Tommy.

The compass, now alive and pointing North, was covered in blood from my wound. Tommy took it in his hands, eyeing it.

"We'll ... be safe there." I was struggling to get air into my lungs. The world felt like it was crushing me, squeezing the air out of my body.

Tommy nodded, swiftly, and looped his arm under my own. His body seemed weaker than it had before but he took some of my weight.

We stumbled through the storm, heading North. I felt like I was close to passing out, or worse.

I couldn't recall more than half of the trip, at one point we crossed into the snow, and the rain turned to heavy snowflakes. A red trail followed us, hopefully soon to be covered by the falling snow.

"Hang in there, we're almost there." Tommy nudged my drooping head as my steps were beginning to drag. "Hey, I'm here. Stay with me."

I clung to the last shred of consciousness with all I had left. My eyes closed, despite my effort to keep them open.

Tommy shook me gently, making me open my eyes. "Keep your eyes open. You're not bloody dying in the snow." I could hear the emotion hidden under the layers of seriousness.

I lifted my head slowly, and I could see a cottage appear in the snow-filled wind. Smoke was faintly coming up from a chimney in dark tendrils.

Shivers, not just from the cold, were beginning to shake my body. The edges of my vision were dark and spreading.

"Tommy ... it's c-cold." My teeth chattered and my words were slurred. One of Tommy's wings spread over my shoulder to protect me from the thick clumps of falling snow.

"I know, look there's Techno's house." Tommy was trying to move quicker, he could see how my steps were slowing. "Don't bloody close your eyes."

A figure appeared outside of the house, floating towards us at a fast pace.

"T-Tommy, I-" My words were cut off as the world went dark.

~~~~

well ... at least we saved tommy

SURPRISE SHAWTY I PUT OUT ANOTHER PART AND THIS IS BY FAR MY MOST FAVORITE CHAPTER EVER! I've planned this part out since the end of whispers :)

look I know its unrealistic for us to take that long to bleed out, but I'm saying our magic is keeping us alive lolll

HEY I MADE A DISCORD!! if u don't want to join, that's totally fine haha but if u do, here's the link!

https://discord.gg/DkAZMRSw

if that doesn't work, it's also in my bio

as usual, have an amazing day! ily u all and make sure to stay hydrated!