As I neared our home, I noticed someone had brought Ash back from the old base. She was placed in a temporary stable that someone had built sloppily. Her gray fur seemed even lighter in the morning sun.

I ran past her, into the house, sprinting up the stairs towards the guest bedroom. My bones creaked as they were stitched back together by my magic, groaning as I took the steps two at a time.

The only sounds that filled the house this early in the morning were my footsteps and Sapnap's snores. The snores grew louder as I neared the room Karl was supposed to be staying in, Sapnap's room only a few doors down.

When I flung the door open, the room was empty. The bed was a mess as if someone was asleep in it previously, with pillows moved and the sheets being thrown back. A pair of shoes, his goggles, and the book were missing from the room.

Closing the door, I leaned against it, straining my ears to hear if I had woken anyone. Surprisingly, Dream wasn't trying to pry the door open to see me. And neither was my wolf.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of green light, forcing my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes again, Karl stood panting, his back to me. He was clutching his book, a slight shake in his legs.

"Karl?"

His head snapped around to me, his body tensing. In the same movement, the hand that didn't clutch his book snaked into his hoodie pocket, probably reaching for a weapon.

But, thankfully, no scratches were anywhere on him. In fact, his skin was spotless, only sweat shining on him, replacing the blood that was on him in the Inbetween. Relief rushed into me with the image.

When he saw me, he relaxed, "Oh, y/n. It's you," He gave me a half-smile, "I thought I was about to be caught."

"Where did you go?"

He placed the book under some clothes in his drawer, "Just somewhere to clean up some things."

His answer was closed off, clearly not wanting to tell me. And there wasn't a way I could ask him about the scratches without mentioning the Inbetween.

I took another route, "Oh okay, did you go into the future or the past?"

"The past, why do you ask?"

"Oh, I was just wondering. I'm still trying to figure out how time travel works." I gave him a smile, trying to seem like I asked an innocent question. His answer had given me no information on where he had been, or why he was so injured.

With an exhausted look, he sat down on his bed. He gave me a warm smile as he pulled back the covers, "Maybe I can take you somewhere, one day."

I smiled back at him, gently grasping the door handle. The boy was already falling asleep as I stepped out of the room, eyes closed and his breathing beginning to even out. The events of the war and wherever he had gone, had worn him out.

So I let him rest, closing the door behind me.

"Y/n?"

I practically jumped out of my skin at my name. Whipping around, I came face to face with Dream.

His mask was clipped to the side of his head, showing off his freckles and fair skin. Green twinkled in his eyes as he looked at me. It baffled me how he didn't look tired after yesterday.

I smiled, putting a hand to my racing heart, "Geez, Dream. You scared me."

It was rare to sneak up on me because of my slightly better hearing. So this got a chuckle out of Dream, "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I thought you had heard me. You always do."

"Well, my senses are a bit muted after yesterday. Constant rocket explosions in my ear are taking its toll."

A worried expression appeared on his face, "Oh, are you alright? Do you need to get some more sleep?"

My smile widened at his fretting, warmth filling me. "No, I'm okay. Don't worry about me, did you need something?"

The concern remained on his face but he reached out a hand, intertwining it with my own. He began to pull us towards the front door, "Come on, let's take a walk, I want to show you something."

As we made our way outside, my magic hesitated inside of me. While I couldn't remember everything in the Inbetween and my conversations with Noemi, my magic could. The details of something sad and frightening were imprinted into my powers, but the reason was unknown.

So when I grasped Dream's hand, instead of the usual sparks that fluttered, it was only met with an empty feeling. No magic rushed through me, it even flinched a little bit at the feeling of Dream's fingers brushing my own.

I ignored it, trying to focus on the world around me. The sun was now fully risen, painting the sky fiery orange. Purple faded below the horizon at our back as we walked towards the Community House.

Dream led me towards the castle, "I'm assuming you know that I dethroned Eret?"

Yeah, I meant to ask you about that, just haven't had the time."

Speaking of, Eret's belongings were now missing the castle, leaving it bare. Only the basic furniture and the golden throne was left.

As we neared the throne, there atop the seat of the throne was Eret's golden crown. It had a golden glow around it from the light streaming in from the window. It was slightly jarring seeing the crown left behind for another.

"Well, respect was the only thing protecting him from a knife in the back. He didn't hold any true power."

We stood staring at the empty throne, "Where did his power go? I thought he held power after the L'manberg war."

Dream cocked his head at me, a devilish grin on his face, "His power came from me. And when he decided to side with Pogtopia, instead of staying neutral, I relieved him of his power. Kings should stay neutral, especially when I tell them to." He emphasized the last part.

I gave him a pointed look, "So you thought it would be best to make George the King instead? Dream, I don't think that's the best idea."

"Why not? George is good at being neutral, and we are here to protect him. It'll be fine."

I turned away from the throne, fully facing the man. I crossed my arms, my armor clinking slightly. The noise of it reminded me of its weight, "Because conflict never ends here, I don't doubt that there will be conflict again in the future. And when there is, having George as King will only hurt us. If he gets hurt or something crazy, it will affect whatever side we are on."

He scoffed, "Oh come on now, you are basing this off what ifs?"

Annoyance flickered in me from his scoff. My magic knew that it wasn't a good idea to put George as the monarch, and it wasn't usually wrong.

Dream never doubted my words, so it was strange he was this time. Why was he so sure he was in the right?

"My magic knows that this isn't-"

"You can't base this on your magic. I know what I'm doing, y/n. Why are you doubting me?"

I blinked several times at him, surprise echoing through me. I wasn't doubting him, I was trying to keep us safe and happy. Dream and I were a team, why would I doubt him?

"I'm not. I'm trying to show you the cons of this decision. And even without my magic, this doesn't seem like a good idea. Just think about it alright?" I softened my voice, trying to come to a compromise. I didn't want to fight with him, not after everything was just getting fixed.

He seemed to realize how he was acting because his face eased, a small twinkle returning to his eyes. He pulled my hands from being crossed gently, "Alright, although it is a little late since George is already King."

"You can always find a new King or Queen, so think about it. You don't always have to be thinking about what will bring us the most power. There's more to it, Dream."

His head dipped slightly as he looked away, not looking me in the eye as he said, "Sometimes power is better though."

I ignored his response, unsure how to respond to it.

"Actually, before we start the day, do you want to come with me to speak to Sam?" His face brightened again, giving me a small smile.

With my nod, he pulled the two of us out of the castle. Leaving the crown and soon to be seated throne.

-

I had never really gotten a chance to get to know Sam, but I knew of him.

He seemed to be an excellent fighter and quick on his toes, based on his form during the Pogtopia Rebellion. Dream had also told me on the way to his base, that Sam made pristine builds and was even better with redstone.

Sam was already up when we arrived, despite how early it still was. He had a mask like Dream, but his was square, green, and had the face of a creeper painted on it. I had never seen him without it.

Tufts of dark hair, tinted with dark green, poked out from the hood of his matching sweatshirt. He had a single netherite chest plate loosely strapped around his tall frame. He was only a little taller than Dream, but it wasn't by much.

Warmth and kindness radiated off of him as we neared. Turning to us, he waved cheerfully, "Hey, Dream! And y/n right?"

I smiled at his friendliness, "Yes, and you're Sam?"

His own smile was tugged up below his mask, "That's me. What can I do for the two of you?"

Dream cut right to the chase, "Sam, do you remember that building idea I brought up about a month ago?"

"Oh, yeah I do. Wasn't it like a small prison or something?"

That same mischievous smile appeared below Dream's mask, "Yes, that's it. But I've changed the plan just a little bit."

The man walked over to an ender chest that was placed amongst normal ones, opening it up. While he dug through it, Sam looked to me for answers. I only shrugged, as lost as he was.

Dream stood up straight again, now holding long rolls of dark blue paper. Sam and I walked over to where he was now spreading the rolls out, placing some potions to hold the corners.

When Dream said he changed the plans only a little bit, he was lying.

The prison was huge, as tall as it was long. The light sketch of the original build could barely be seen below the new one, but the new sketch was four times as large. It would be able to hold dozens of people and had the main holding cell deep in the building. There would only be one way in and out, a maze of redstone in between each checkpoint.

It would be impossible to escape.

This brought Dream's idea of 'go big or go home' to a whole new level.

And Sam seemed to agree with me, rubbing the back of his neck while he looked at the plans, "I- wow, Dream this is huge."

Pride rippled off the other masked man, "Well, it needs to be impossible to escape. The redstone needed for my ideas needs a lot of space. But don't worry, I have enough and more to pay you for it."

He opened the ender chest once more, stepping back for us to look in. My eyes widened at the items inside.

Stacks of diamonds glittered in the morning light as they sat in the ender chest, waiting to be awarded. This reward would make Sam extremely rich.

"You see, I want you to build this prison as fast as possible. I'll be here to help you build the exterior."

Sam dragged his masked face towards Dream, still in awe, "Can I ask why you'll be needing it so soon?"

The mischievous smile disappeared, his lips tugging into a serious line. His body went slightly more rigid, "I need a place to put the people who will only hurt me."

Concern slightly filled me at his tone, "And who would that be?"

My magic erupted into a frenzy when he looked at me. I don't know what it was so scared of, obviously, I wasn't the one who would be put in there.

"Anyone that threatens me, or my power." His serious demeanor dissolved, a sweet smile replacing it. It was strange to see his mood shift so easily, "Would you be able to start that prison today, Sam?"

"Uh, definitely." He glanced back at the papers, looking towards the supply lists, "Y/n, would you like to join me to get some of the supplies? I'm gonna need all the help I can get."

I had nothing else to do that day and I wanted to get to know Sam, "Sure, unless you needed something else Dream?"

"Nope, you're good to go. If you go to the nether, please be safe."

I smiled at his overprotectiveness, "Alright, I will be."

He waved goodbye, walking back the way we came.

-

Dream pov

The idea of the prison was not his own.

The plans had come from the darkness when it was still in control, straight from the dark gods. But originally, he had pushed it away, deeming it as a bad idea. There was no need for it at the time.

But now, despite being free of the darkness, the prison actually was ... a good idea.

Dream knew he needed somewhere inescapable, to put the people that threatened his power, as well as his friends.

And if the prison never ended up being used for his enemies, if all hell broke loose, it could always serve as a refuge for someone who he would go to the ends of the earth to keep safe.

After all, not only was the prison inescapable, but it was also impossible to get into without Sam. Not even Dream would know about the prison's inner workings.

Y/n had said he didn't always have to think about power. That there was more out there than power.

He knew that obviously he had y/n, his friends, but power filled a hole in him. The thought of finally having a big, happy family on his lands with him at the head of it, sounded so appealing.

Power was his motivation behind it all.

Well, that and y/n.

But power was a drug to him. It gave him rushes of highs, never bringing him down to his lows.

And he was getting addicted to it, reminding himself that it was y/n and him until the end.

Even when he had control over every single person.

~~~~

oooh the prison

so I think I'm going to stop updating every day, and update every few days instead. I'm sorry if that upsets you :( it just works better for me with school and sports

thank you for all the support