Chapter Text
El tried his best to not freak out, but from Dream’s view El gave off strange emotions such as shock and anxiety there was much more but he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what it was. Dream gave El a small smile, once Daisy was done with patting his head he walked off right towards El before grabbing his hand, his hand flinching in response but soon hesitatingly accepting the grab. El couldn’t even begin to start talking and he could just feel himself shaking, yes definitely he was excited about this, being in Dreamtale and all..but..he knew in the future or later on date ‘The Accident’ would occur causing blood to be spilled in this two-faced town. He did not want that to happen..but he knew the villagers definitely deserved it in a way.. “Hello Mr El? Are you okay? Do you need me to heal you?” Dream asked worriedly, looking concerned, El shook his head letting out a small sigh.
“Hey kiddo, I heard you have a brother, may I meet him too?” Dream's face soon turned into a big grin while Daisy's ears twitched, getting frustrated with the other two. But she could not say a word to ruin her face in front of Dream. “Of course I do! He's the best brother I could wish for! Though..he's not fond of people..that’s okay though! You're really nice, I’m sure he doesn’t mind!” Once Dream's sentence was finished he dragged El off to the tree of feelings as Daisy watched them leave. She had to plan for the next move of El DID defend that monster..
“Hey kid slow down, I’m not that fast I may trip!” El said quickly, almost tripping on a pebble while on his way, Dream giggled softly, his cap flowing gently onto the wind, the wind was definitely strong today, how strange. Soon, a small skeleton the same size as Dream was seen in the far distance reading a book silently. The skeleton wore a crown similar to Dreams but had a crescent moon engraved onto it, they wore no cape but had a more mature aura around him that can be felt slightly despite being far away. The clothes were the same but purple including the belt which had something else on it, but it was too far for El to see it. “Brother brother! There’s someone new I want to introduce you to!” Dream squealed and stopped in front of his sibling named ‘Nightmare’ of course El would know after seeing so much about him online in his original world. Nightmare glanced over to El looking more like a glare rather than a just friendly side eye, who am I kidding? There was never a friendly side eye in the first place!
“This is my brother, Nightmare! And this is my new friend El! Actually..what’s your full name Mr?” Dream looked over to El, now both were staring at him..El felt overwhelmed by both twins staring at him but quickly shook it off and gave a smile to both Dream and Nightmare. “My full name is Elliot, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. Nightmare.” Nightmare seemed surprised to see El give no hesitation with his greeting, but paired no attention to it and kept his walls up. Slowly Nightmare sighed, placing his book down onto his lap before actually filling, turning to both Dream and El, “It is a pleasure to meet you El. You must be very tired after all your travels, why don’t you ask one of the villagers to let you stay at their place for awhile? I’m sure they would be kind enough to let you in.” Nightmare gently said his tone laced with coldness. Which was understandable, he was bullied, and had to keep up his older brother act for Dream. El tried his best to not seem a threat and changed his posture entirely. Dream looked at Nightmare in protest but said nothing looking at El if he actually wanted to rest.
“I actually don’t mind staying here for awhile to get to know you siblings a little more” El said taking a seat onto the grassy ground, it felt wet which made him cringe but not enough to make his face actually twist. Dreams face quickly brightened and he sat with them, now it looked like a triangle was made being, El the furthest from Nightmare, Nightmare closest to the tree which he had not moved fully from, and Dream being in the middle. “So, it seems like you like to read Nightmare, what do you like to read?” Nightmare eyelights shifted to the side, he did not expect anyone to ask him this sort of question rather then Dream he had no idea what to say.
Before Nightmare was able to muster something up Dream cut him off excitedly, “Oh! I know I know! He likes all those books about sciencey and magical things!” Nightmare looked over to Dream smiling warmly, El nodded before gently saying, “Dream, how about we give a chance to Nightmare instead? I’m sure he knows his own interests” Dream looked embarrassed and quickly quieted down for nightmare to speak, mumbling a small ‘sorry’ to his sibling which made Nightmare giggle, “well..no one has asked me before other than Dream..I do love books about fantasy and maybe about stars, did you know that stars are in perfect balance if they are own the main sequence?” Nightmare said slowly getting more shy he stared down at his book scared of what the other two would say.
Dream ooed loudly looking really happy that Nightmare was telling them more facts about stars, “Woah! That’s really cool! You're so smart brother, I hope to grow up and be like you in the future!” El chuckled to himself softly, he was actually enjoying his time with the twins, “That really is an interesting fact Nightmare, I’m glad you could tell us about it.” Nightmare blushed using his collar to hide his embarrassment muttering
out a small ‘thank you’. El was glad he could have the darker twin share a fact he had learned from books he read, he knew that he has no one to share this with due to reading by himself most of the time, unless it was bedtime stories for Dream. He hoped that by spending time with both of the twins he could at least make them happier not to get bullied and used by the villagers for their own interests. “Are you not here for the golden apples?” Nightmare said warily quickly interrupted his thoughts, jolting him back to reality.
“Apples?” El asked
“The Yellow one’s up at our mothers branches, they contain positivity” Nightmare explained his embarrassed face soon turning into a cold glare.
“Oh the apples” El looked up at both black and golden apples, they reflected the sun rays, he couldn’t stare for that long.
Three of them stayed in silence for a few minutes, El looked to be more in thought while Dream looked worried. How could Nightmare even suggest such a thing?! He knows that people have tried stealing the apples before..but El seemed nice! He would never steal it..Would he? Nightmare was getting irritated by the silence and hoped he would at least get an answer soon before he actually kicked El away. Maybe this was just a distraction so that the other villagers could sneak up behind them by surprise. He had to be on guard for the sake of his mother and Dream.
“Ah..No. I won’t take them.”
“You..won’t take the apples?”
“I have no use for them” El said bluntly looking back at Nightmare and Dream smiling. Both Nightmare and Dream looked shocked, someone..not wanting to steal the apples? It was a strange occurrence for them. Nightmare breathing got slightly shaky. He wanted to say something but got cut off by Dream once again.
“Why?”
El giggled at the question, almost every time he did something he would be asked over and over again ‘why’, it does get annoying every time he has to answer. But this time he doesn’t have to lie not to his parents or his friends, he doesn’t want to lie to both of the twins, he wants them to learn. “Why? Because I don’t want to” Nightmare was absolutely shocked by how blunt El was being, it was really getting annoying. By the look on Dream's face he was now more worried for Nightmare he was showing so much frustration, “I don’t understand..What do you mean ‘i don’t want to’?” El grinned giving off more peaceful emotions which did calm both Twins down slightly. Both twins thought, ‘how could someone be so calm In a situation like this?’ They both couldn’t understand a single bit.
“I don’t understand Mr El..” Dream said softly In Nightmares stead looking nervous, they both wanted an answer by this strange ‘traveller’ why in the world would not anyone want power and control? “It’s simple, I don’t want it. What’s the use anyways?” Nightmare could not hold in his anger anymore he could feel tears slowly blurring his vision, Dream quickly shifted over to Nightmare and tried his best to calm him down. “I don’t understand what you mean ‘I don’t want it’ The villagers sought this power almost everyday and yet you, you're not like them. You should be taking these apples and eating them for power! Everyone seeks for this power!” Nightmare shouted his hand starting to tremble, he tried his best to wipe his tears away soft sniffs were heard.
El sighed softly, soon Nightmare felt a soft embrace of someone. It wasn’t Dream, the person was too big. It was El who hugged Nightmare, he was hesitant to even hug back so he trembled not moving an inch. “I don’t need power nor control. Even if I ate them it won’t do me any good. If I gained control and power I would have nothing else to do. No goals, no problems I can solve or be with anyone. In the end it’s useless” Nightmare, sobbed loudly soon hugging El back. Dream was also in the hug letting out a small giggle hugging both his brother and El.
Nim watched the scene quietly from the tree, she couldn’t talk nor could she move, she was stuck. But, she felt relieved to see someone come by and comfort the darker twin.