Blackness consumed my vision, thick as smoke. I knew I was dreaming, trapped in my own head. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. A sudden coldness racked my body with chills. Something floated all around me, but it wasn't human.

"Hello?" I called out, still shivering. I tried to warm myself but it was no use. My powers didn't answer my call here.

"You are almost mine, y/n."

Another chill went up my spine. That thing out there was the same darkness that had tried to consume my mind a few days prior.

"Although I could take you now, I must wait to take another form," its voice came from all angles, "A form where we can rule together. Darkness will rule. I've already started to take another person, someone very dear to you."

"Who do you serve?" I called out, trying to move.

"Some forgotten gods who wish to rise again. And they will rise again. With you and that masked man."

With those words, my heart dropped. Dream?

I felt a presence shift near my ear. I moved to swipe it away but I was frozen in my spot.

"Don't fret, I won't hurt you. I can help you, make you even more powerful. I can help you unlock even more of your powers." It crooned, floating all around her head. "For now, rest. I'll be with you soon."

And with that, the world became even darker.

-

I was being carried when I opened my eyes. My head was bouncing, the person was running.

Where am I?

I closed my eyes again, it all came flooding back. Tommy's shocked face, the arrow, the darkness, some forgotten gods.

The thought of the darkness made me shiver, I opened my eyes again, eager for light. George looked down at me in his arms, his eyes widening.

"You're awake!" He panted, his breathing was heavy from the weight of me. His pace didn't slow though.

We were moving on a wooden path, wait no, the prime path. We passed through the community house, running towards Eret's castle.

"Where is everyone?" I mumbled.

The pain in my leg was almost unbearable, keeping me barely awake. I could feel my hold on consciousness slipping away. The thought of returning to the darkness made me keep my eyes open. I focused on George's goggles bouncing on his head.

"Somewhere behind us. They were covering for me so I could carry you to the castle." He panted, slowing as we entered the front doors. "We lost the camp, somehow they outsmarted us."

Eret's head popped out from around the corner, surprise showing on his face. Without a word, he led George towards a room in the corner of the castle. It was a small room packed with medical supplies and a cot.

"Please don't sedate me." I gripped George's arm as he lowered me on the cot.

I couldn't stand the thought of going back to the darkness. I would leave the fears of gods and Dream for later.

"I won't y/n but I have to check your injury and change the bandages."

George removed the red-stained bandages before inspecting the injury on my calf. He applied some ointment, making me hiss in pain, then wrapped fresh bandages over it. The pain faded in my leg from the cream.

"You lost so much blood, we thought we were gonna lose you." He looked away, fear covering his face.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." I laughed softly, grabbing his hand.

Sleepiness was poking at my mind again. I wasn't afraid this time, it felt different. Sleep felt warm, not cold like the darkness.

"You should rest," George said, "I don't think you'll want to be around when an angry Dream gets back." He chuckled.

I would've laughed too but sleep was already pulling me away.

-

George pov

He stood, softly closing the infirmary door as the trio ran into the castle. Eret lowered the iron gate behind them, a precaution in case of attack.

Dream tried to get past George into the room, but he stood firm. Y/n needed to sleep, not him waking her up because he was worried.

Dream pulled his mask to the side, showing the anger on his face. "George, let me in."

"No. She will be fine but only if you let her rest."

Dream blew out an angry sigh, stepping away from him. He turned, walking up the stairs towards his room. George's eyes followed him, making sure he wouldn't sprint back to get past.

After seeing him go upstairs, George followed him. He needed to know what was going on with Dream. Sapnap and Punz wandered off towards the front, to keep guard.

Dream paced around a guest bedroom, taking off his armor. Anger decorated his face, but there was also a hint of fear.

That was something new.

"Dream, are you alright?" He closed the door behind him, stepping in.

Dream stopped and turned to him, fear more visible. This was only an emotion George would get to see, Dream was only vulnerable around him.

"I don't understand what is happening to me. I never liked her like this before. I've tried to ignore it for the sake of the war but now..." Dream tugged his hair, lost in thought. There was something else there though, more than he was letting on.

"Well, things change sometimes." George placed a hand on his best friend's arm, trying to comfort him. "Embrace those feelings if you want, but don't forget we are in the middle of a war."

Dream nodded, appreciation taking over his face. "Thanks, George, you're the best."

"I know I am." He laughed, shaking off the sense that there was more.

-

y/n pov

How many times would I wake up with an awful headache?

I sighed sitting up in the cot, rubbing sleep from my eyes. I dangled my legs over the bed, testing my weight on my injury.

There was a slight pain, but it passed as I stood. At least I can walk, I thought walking towards the door.

It was dark outside Eret's glass windows, the moon high in the sky. Dark thunder clouds could be seen in the distance, soon rain would be here.

Not wanting to speak to anyone yet, I wandered around, looking for a sword. I couldn't find one in any rooms, but there was one I had yet to check. I crept into the room, not realizing there was a sleeping person in there.

I rifled through chests, blowing out a sigh when there was no sword. Who doesn't have a sword? Turning to leave, I tripped over the rug with my bad leg. It caused the sleeping person to sit up, sleep framing their features.

It was too dark to tell who it was but I melted into the shadows before they could see. They laid back down, their breathing becoming even again.

Fine, I could do this with no sword. I walked back downstairs and out into the garden, a slight mist hitting my face. An idea struck me, I could make a sword!

I warmed my hands, thinking of the sword's image in my mind. I imagined all my powers coming together.

I felt a weight in my hands, opening my eyes to reveal a beautiful sword, made entirely out of magic. It was perfectly weighted, the molten that was created from the water and fire shining in the night. Ice crystals decorated the hilt, and lotus flowers were engraved in the guard.

Testing my theory, I thrust flames into the sword. The sword held, fire dancing across the blade. It had become an extension of myself.

I swung it in a wide arc, the flames moving with it. It didn't slip or fall from my hands, it was perfect.

"Dream, why don't you come down to look at it up close?" I called out, finally acknowledging him. He came out when I had come out, quietly following me in the shadows.

No movement followed my words, but his voice came from somewhere in the shadows. "You should be resting, not training." His voice sounded tired, anger hinting it. Clearly, he was mad I got shot, but his voice sounded off.

"I couldn't stay in that tiny room any longer. And besides, I'm fine. That stuff George put on my leg made the pain fade."

"Y/n." His voice shifted, becoming serious. He still hadn't moved from the shadows, but something seemed different about his voice.

As if it weren't his own.

"Dream are you alright?" I called out, anxiety tugging at my heart.

The figure in the shadows changed, it wasn't Dream out there.

It stepped out, revealing a horned man with dark hair. He had an evil grin on his face, walking lazily towards me.

"Who are you?" I called out, my face turning serious. I lifted my sword, taking a step back. I accidentally put all my pressure on my wound, causing me to cry out. I fell down, holding my leg.

With a swift movement, the man was right in front of me. He moved unnaturally fast, bringing a strange yet familiar feeling as he moved closer. A slight black fog rippled around him.

A horrifying thought struck me. The darkness found a form. It had taken over someone so that it could be closer to me. The gods were rising.

"Hello, darling," he said menacingly, dark amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Get away from me," I spat, still trying to tug myself towards the castle.

The man stepped closer, reaching his arm out towards me. I swung without thinking, making contact with his wrist. He hissed in pain, taking a step back.

I gazed at the sword, which now had a slight glow to it. It seemed to retaliate against the darkness.

"That's not a very nice thing to do to a new member of these lands." He huffed out, cradling his damaged wrist. "You'll know who I am soon enough because we will be ruling these lands together."

He reached towards me again but this time someone else's body stood in front of me. The man's eyes widened and quickly ran away.

"Y/n, are you alright?" Dream asked, scooping me into his arms. I tried to wiggle out of his grip but he held tight.

"Yes, I'm fine." I tried my best to keep my voice from shaking but the encounter had shaken me up.

"Who was that?" He said, anger tugging at his voice.

We were in the castle but instead of heading back to the infirmary, we went up into his room.

He lightly dropped me on his bed, sitting down next to me. "I didn't get a good look at him."

"I have no idea." I sighed, realizing that I had to tell him about the darkness. There was no way around it. That also reminded me to ask him about what the darkness had informed me about him.

"Dream there's something I have to tell you." I took a deep breath, beginning at the moment from their house before the fire.

By the end of the explanation, he was pacing around the room. His face was taut with anger, his eyes unfocused.

"So that man has the dark power inside him?" Dream questioned, turning to me.

"I believe so." The image of the black fog that surrounded the man surfaced in my mind. The rain started to pound on the roof, distant thunder could be heard. The windows became streaked with rain, blurring the outside. "You can't tell anyone else about this."

Dream nodded, sitting down next to me on the bed. "You have to stay wary now. The rebels seem small compared to this issue." He mumbled the next part. "A fight with gods."

"Dream you have to promise me something." I grabbed his hand, forcing him to look at me. "If the darkness ever consumes me, don't let me near you or the rest of our friends. I don't want to hurt anyone."

He nodded, his face serious. Sadness flashed in his eyes for the briefest moment, making me think that I imagined it.

"I promise."

-

Dream pov

She had fallen asleep in his bed a few moments after their conversation, leaving him to watch the rain fall outside. He was sat on the window ledge, thinking of what she had told him.

So it looked the gods have made their presence known to her as well. But they seemed to be trying to get her to join them willingly, unlike him.

The dark god had chosen him because of his position in the lands and his skill. He had arrived and taken over him, but still struggled when he fought back.

He had no clue as to where they had come or why, but he did know something bigger was brewing.

The horned man they encountered seemed to recognize him, Dream replayed the recognition in the man's eyes. He was a message to y/n and him. It was becoming more difficult to fight back the voices.

He wondered how she was able to fight back so easily.

Something like determination settled in his heart, turning to the sleeping figure in his bed. He made himself promise something.

He would fight as long and as hard as he could to protect her. To protect his friends. He would lock out the voices as long as he could.

In response, all the whispers seemed to do was laugh.

~~~~

ooooh evil jschlatt :o

Heyyy, it's a longer chapter! I hope ur all enjoying the story plot, as it's not exactly the story plot that the creators made. But I hope you enjoyed it anyways! have a good day :)