Snow took the ocean's place as Tommy and I were dropped back into reality. Cold nipped at my cheeks as the tears were threatening to return, and my hair fell out of its braid from running through the forest.

I landed on my knees with Tommy next to me, kneeling down to look at my face. My heart felt like it was going to shatter all over again.

"Tommy, go get Techno," I said, my voice broken and raw. I said I would be strong, but I knew I was about to collapse and only Techno would be able to pull me out of the river.

"Y/n, I-" Tommy said.

"Please, Tommy. Please," I pleaded, leaning over with my face almost touching the snow. Tears were falling down my face onto the snow.

He hesitated for a second but then when I looked up, I saw him running down the mountain towards the cottage. Wilbur's old coat flapped out behind him from the cold wind.

Once he was gone, I shattered.

My magic was released on the world around me as I screamed in pain. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my very chest. The tears that streaked down my face disappeared in steam.

Flames of every color erupted around me, setting my world alight with heat. The main colors were navy and brilliant gold, matching the blood that used to be on my cheeks and hands. Our two colors danced and burned together.

I felt myself light on fire but I didn't burn. My magic wouldn't let my body burn or get hurt, but I released every drop of magic that was in my wells.

The snow around me remained intact despite the heat, but it dazzled with the changing colors of the flames. If I wasn't in so much pain, the fire would be beautiful.

But my heart was flaming with pain and desperation. I could be strong later, for now, I needed to grieve and let myself fall apart.

For her, Neomi. The mother I couldn't remember but my heart had loved as I did remember.

I opened my eyes to see someone running through the rainbow of flames, their cape billowing behind them. His crown glinted in the radiant light and heat.

Techno didn't say a word as his eyes fell on me after searching. The fire didn't dare hurt him and actually parted to let him towards my bent over form.

Concern and seriousness were in his sleepy eyes, his pink hair a tangled mess. His dark boots weren't even laced and his crown was tilted.

I pushed myself off of the snow and ran towards him on wobbly legs. He opened his arms and took me into his chest. His arms wrapped around my shaking form and the fire disappeared into the night sky.

My weight was taken away from my legs as Techno held me upright and lowered the two of us onto the snow. My knees folded under my body and I pressed my teary face into his cape.

He held me as I shook with sobs, not asking a single question and just sheltering me from the world around us. Techno was never one to show affection for his family but now, he gladly protected me as I grieved.

"I could've saved her," I somehow got out between the tears and sniffles. My breathing was uneven and fast, making my lungs feel constricted.

Techno pushed my head up so I could see him. Tears streamed down my fast and he looked into my glassy eyes with concern.

"No, y/n. Don't blame yourself," He said in a calming voice. "Now, take a deep breath."

I obeyed and made my lungs expand with cool air. I called a small trickle of wind and pushed it into my body, soothing the constricting feeling. The tears began to slow, leaving my face feeling sticky.

"Good, now try to relax," He said, motioning for me to lean on him.

I curled up on my side in his arms, half-hugging the man that I called a brother. He really did seem like the best older brother I could've asked for, even in my times of grief and pain.

The world slowed with my heart rate, and even the pain began to recede a bit. Techno somehow sent out a wave of comfort and protection without even doing anything.

"Look up there." He pointed at the sky. The Northern Lights were gone, probably with Neomi's death, but the stars shone brighter than I had ever seen them. "You see that shape?"

There was a line of stars and I followed Techno's bare finger as he traced it out. An image appeared now that I could see it. It was a wolf's outline in a fierce stance.

"Yeah, it looks like Ghost," I whispered in the quiet night.

He smiled and pointed next to that one. "There are more wolves behind it. See?"

I nodded, seeing the constellations come alive in front of my eyes. My heart eased and the pain ebbed out of me, being replaced by solemness and a quiet pulse.

Footsteps came up on the hill, nearing us. I peeked over Techno's furry shoulder to see Tommy whispering to Phil and Ghostbur as they trudged through the snow. Ghost was beside them and began to run to me.

I welcomed him into my lap, grounding myself on the feeling of his soft fur. The wolf licked my face and dried the tears, earning a small smile from me.

Tommy sat down next to me, a worried expression in his crystal eyes. He had scrapes on his face from the thick forest in the other reality.

Invisible strings were pulled and I flushed life into his features. The scrapes closed over and the bags below his eyes disappeared.

"Y/n, are you alright?" He asked, his voice gentle for once.

Phil settled on the other side of Techno, with Ghostbur on the end. Phil's wings were long enough to wrap around all of us, adding a comforting weight.

I looked back up at the wolf constellations, sniffling. "Maybe not now, but I will be."

We were quiet for a minute, the sounds of the forest filling the silence. Our breaths came out in white puffs in the dark night, drifting up into the sky.

Ghost's ears pricked at the sound of wild wolves howling in the distance, somewhere in the spruce forest. All of us looked in the direction of the sound, hearing the layers of cries of different wolves.

Tommy gasped, drawing my attention. When I looked at him, he was pointing up at the stars. "Y/n, look!"

I followed his finger and gasped as well when I saw a star appear amongst the others. From its position, it created a new constellation.

The shape was a small lotus in full bloom. Golden lotuses were what had bloomed from Neomi's tears, I just hadn't been able to fully pay attention to them.

Now, she was really a part of the stars. She could rest with the other gods and goddesses that had fallen.

"I guess she was right when I said I could look to the stars to see her," I said in a stuffed-up voice.

I'm assuming Tommy had quickly filled Techno in when he had woken him up because Techno wrapped his arms tighter around me and said, "Your mother will always be there with you now. You just have to look up to see her."

Ghostbur moved out from Phil's grey wing and floated in front of me. His see-through hand reached out towards me, offering something.

"Here's some blue," He said, bright blue lining his dull eyes. His tears were the color of the blue material I held in my hand.

A weight was lifted off of my heart and shoulders as the blue sucked the sadness out of my soul. I closed my hands over the blue and placed it near my heart.

"Can you show me some more constellations?" I asked, looking up at Techno.

He nodded and began pointing out different clusters and shapes that the stars made. The distant galaxies also became visible to my untrained eye as he pointed them out.

"This mountain is the best place that I know of to see constellations. Especially in the late fall or winter because the sky is so clear," Techno hummed above me.

Tommy's head fell onto Techno's shoulder with a soft plop. Soon his light snores could be heard.

I peered sideways and saw that Phil had also fallen asleep, leaning on one of his hands. Ghostbur laid on the snow with his almost invisible head on his father's leg, asleep as well.

"Thank you, Techno," I whispered, watching as the stars dazzled.

"For what?"

"For this." I gestured at our small group that sheltered me and came to my rescue. "And for making Tommy and I feel so safe here with you."

He paused, surprised by my answer. I know I had expressed my gratitude already, but I needed to say it out loud again.

"Of course, y/n. You will always be welcome in my home."

We fell back into a comfortable silence. Sleep and fatigue were beginning to tug at my mind after experiencing the overload of emotions.

My eyes were starting to droop when Techno said, "Look."

I fully opened my eyes and saw a star shooting across the sky. It was quick, disappearing as soon as it appeared.

"Make a wish," Techno whispered, surprising me. He didn't seem like the one to believe in wishes.

But I watched as the shooting star disappeared from our view, and I squeezed the blue tightly in my hands.

I wish to save anyone who I can, for Neomi.

-

I must've fallen asleep after seeing the shooting star because when I opened my eyes the next morning I was in a white bed. Warm light spilled into the window above the bed I was laying in, warming me.

The room I was in was small, stacked with bookshelves at the end of the room and an enchanting table in the center of them. A cramped desk was placed under the other window, stacked with ink and paper.

My face and heart felt tired, despite the sleep. But the weight was no longer there and the aching, burning pain was gone.

Thud!

The sound came from downstairs, followed by some shrill laughing and someone scolding the other. A small smile crept its way onto my face at the sound of Tommy's name in the chiding.

I pulled my boots and cape on, which were left in a neat pile next to the bed. My unbound hair was pulled up and out of my face in a braid, as it was before yesterday.

Before I left, I pulled the emerald out of my cape pocket that I had left after Techno had given it to me. There was a small hole near the top, perfect for a chain.

I dug through a chest in the room, and successfully found a leftover silver chain. I looped it through the hole and placed the emerald over my neck. It pulsed slightly, a reminder of my connection to Techno.

Once I was ready, I opened the trapdoor and climbed down the ladder.

It was a chaotic mess downstairs. Tommy and Techno were doubled over with laughter, supporting themselves on the fireplace. Ghostbur was happily sweeping up a shattered mug.

Then there was Phil, standing with his arms crossed and coffee stains on his long jacket. His lips were pulled into a thin line with annoyance but I could see the hint of amusement in his eyes.

Their heads turned to me as I climbed off the ladder, Techno and Tommy gaining some composer. Ghostbur leaned the broom against the wall and floated over to me, offering some blue in an outstretched hand.

I took it gratefully, savoring the weight it took from my heavy heart. The white material quickly turned a deep hue of blue, containing all my burdens and pain for the moment.

"Good morning, y/n. Did you sleep well?" Ghostbur asked with a soft smile.

I tried to return the smile as best as I could and nodded. "Surprisingly, yes. But whose room was that?"

"Oh, it was Techno's room! He and Tommy insisted on letting you rest here after last night. Although, it was quite a struggle getting you up the ladder," He said, looking at the ladder behind me.

I peeked over Ghostbur's yellow shoulder, seeing Tommy and Techno trying to avert their eyes. Clearly, I wasn't supposed to know that much detail.

I looked back at the ghost, my smile brightening a bit. "Well, I appreciate their efforts to keep me comfortable," I aimed my voice at the two to show my appreciation. "Anyway, what happened down here?"

"These two," Phil said, glaring at a sheepish Tommy and a smug Techno. "Thought it would be funny to scare me as I walked into the house with hot coffee."

"Hey, you have to admit it was a tiny bit funny to see you jump," Tommy said, trying to contain his laughter.

Phil just glared at him in response and ruffled his feathers. He turned on his heel, opening the door to the cold wind. "I'll be back after I go change."

Once the door shut, Techno and Tommy folded over in laughter again. A smile appeared on Ghostbur's face as he knelt down to pet Friend. Their laughter was so contagious that it got a few laughs out of me.

Techno looked up at me at the sound of my laugh. I had to admit, even though it still hurt like hell, this family would make it easier to get through. They already had by rescuing me from my burning pain.

"I would offer you coffee, but..." Techno said, his eyes falling on the broken mug and coffee puddle.

I laughed again, surprising myself. "No thanks, I'm good." I peered out the window to where Phil was trudging through the snow. "You better make it up to Phil though."

Tommy waved his hand dismissively, talking around the golden apple he shoved into his mouth, "Nah, he's fine. He had to deal with this when we were back home, so he's used to it."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. Poor Phil, I couldn't imagine how mischievous a toddler version of Tommy was if this was how he is now.

Sunshine flushed into the room as it rose, and some of it landed on my form against the ladder. Something sparked inside of me from it, sending a call out to a new power inside of me.

It felt new and foreign, but it was warm and calm. In a way, it felt like it sparkled like glitter and confetti.

I quickly shoved it back down, forcing it to hide. I wasn't ready to learn how to use her powers yet, not so soon. Time was needed before I could take my namesake.

Techno must've noticed the change in my mood, and quickly searched through a chest. He emerged with a bottle of honey, handing it over to me.

I pocketed the blue in one of the dozen pockets in my cape, right next to where my sword was once again sheathed. The bottle felt warm in my hands, likely from being fresh.

"I got the honey this morning," Techno said, gesturing at the wall behind him where the bee farm was outside. "It should still be warm."

I nodded my thanks, popping off the cork as he and Ghostbur got to cleaning up the mess of coffee. Tommy sat down on the ground in front of the fireplace, petting a sleeping Ghost.

The honey had a distinct, bitter taste but at the same time tasted sweet and pleasant. I could taste the earthy and herbal undertones in the aftertaste, my naturalist powers rising from it.

Light spread through me, reaching my aching heart. With the help of the blue, the honey quickly took more of the pain away, leaving me feeling lighter.

I was swallowing the last drop of the sugary liquid, when Techno cleared his throat, drawing my attention.

"Um, could you help me with something?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the ground. I hummed a yes, and he continued, "Since Phil isn't here right now, could you braid my hair? I haven't done it in forever and..."

He continued to ramble on, clearly embarrassed to be asking. I just smiled, placed my empty bottle down, and walked up to him. His eyes were clear in the mid-autumn light as he stopped rambling and looked up.

"Of course I'll help," I said, gesturing for him to move a chair so he could sit. "I've been doing braids in my own hair for forever, so hopefully that skill can transition over to other people's hair."

Techno sat and pulled his crown off, placing it on a nearby chest. He pulled his hair out from between his back and the chair, letting it flow over. It reached his mid-back, much longer than after the war.

I gently began to pull at the hair, leaving the top part of his head loose. The pink hair was divided into three sections and then twisted together in a loose coil. My fingers moved easily with years of practice, ending the braid within minutes.

After tugging the rubber band around the bottom, I reached over his shoulder and grabbed his golden crown off the chest. I eased it onto his hair, making sure it looked right and wasn't tilted.

I stepped out in front of him, holding a small mirror out to him that also sat on the chest. "There, is that good?"

He peered at his hair in the mirror and looked up at me with a grateful smile. "Yeah, it's good."

Tommy cleared his throat, making us look at him. He was looking at Ghost on his lap, quietly saying, "Y/n, uh, could you ... could you braid a tiny part of my hair?"

My smile widened and I said, "Yes, come here." I ushered Techno out of the seat so Tommy could take his place.

Tommy practically sprang into the seat from the ground, earning a glare from Ghost for leaving him. I moved around so I was in front of Tommy, peering at his hair for a place to braid.

His blonde hair had definitely gotten longer in exile, now curling over his forehead and ears. Still, it was too short to do what I had done with Techno's hair.

There was a small tuft of hair near his ear, just long enough. I gently crossed over the tiny sections and pulled them into a mini knot at the end.

He scooped up the mirror and smiled at himself. He faintly touched and got a smug look on his face. "Oh yeah, I'm such a big man."

I laughed and leaned against the chest behind me. Ghost waddled over to me, placing his muzzle on my stretched-out leg. I took that as a sign that he wanted to be pet and began running my hands through his fur.

"Y/n?" Techno asked, pulling on his cape. I looked up at him, waiting for him to continue. "Are you up to doing something today?"

I pondered his question, my eyes becoming unfocused. The images and words of Noemi and the Goddess of Nature drifted back into my mind.

They had told me that she would want me to continue my life, to be strong and push through it.

Be strong. You were chosen for a reason.

If going out to do tasks would lead to me saving Dream and this world, once again, from darkness, then maybe I could do it. Even if it meant starting out with baby steps.

The house in front of me came back into focus, as well as Techno's patient expression. I noticed then that there was a matching emerald to the one that hung around my neck attached to his sword hilt on a chain.

I pushed through the haze in my mind, forcing an answer to come out, "Yeah, what are you planning?"

He smirked, grasping the doorknob. "We're going to get my weapons back." His face softened into a smile. "Oh, and I have a surprise for you and Tommy."

~~~~

aww matching braids

I PROMISE IM MAKING IT UP TO YOU ALL FOR LAST CHAPTER

ay thank you all sm for 16K reads! I appreciate every single one of you, your votes, and comments! I love reading ur comments, even if they are about how much pain I've caused with certain events *cough cough last chapter*

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