Chapter 4

Dream felt a familiar sense of worry creeping into his heart as he woke up to an empty house. Piko hadn't returned home the previous night and it was unlike her to be gone without any communication.

Swallowing his growing anxiety, Dream decided to check the news. He switched on the TV, tuning into the morning news. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for any information about Piko.

Then, the news anchor began to speak, "In breaking news, the royal guard has reported a successful mission against a new rebel threat that emerged last night. The rebels have broken out of prison! The entire royal guard came together to restrain them!"

Dream's heart dropped. As the news anchor continued to speak, he felt as if the room began to spin around him. Piko was missing. He had to find her. He had to make sure she was safe.

Then he got a text from Piko 'Got a little scratched up at battle, getting medical help'

The vibration of Dream's phone pulled him from his panicked thoughts. He almost dropped it in his rush to check the message. When he saw Piko's name flashing on the screen, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

'Got a little scratched up at battle, getting medical help,' the message read.

Dream's heart pounded in his chest as relief washed over him. She was okay. Piko was okay. She was hurt, yes, but she was alive and getting help.

He quickly typed a reply, his fingers shaking slightly. 'Stay safe, Piko. Let me know if you need anything.'

As he sent the message, Dream couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. Despite the danger she faced, Piko was strong and resilient. And she was safe. For now, that was all that mattered.

At work, a familiar face to everyone walked in. inside of the royal guard, she was known as captain undyne. Outside it, she was known as QUEEN undyne. She walked up to alphys, the royal scientist. "Alphys, my girl!" She hugged alphys. "What did you want to tell me?" "W-w-well, i-it's a-about one-one of the royal g-g-guard members from s-snowdin." Alphy's stuttered. "Th-they're a-a..." She whispered it into Undyne's ear. "A HUMAN?!" Undyne yelled in both shock and anger. "Alphys, show me to them!"

Dream felt a cold dread settle in his chest. He knew the law, knew the fate that awaited any human discovered in the Underground. His thoughts immediately went to Piko and Ava. Piko, who was still recovering from the battle, and Ava, who was blissfully unaware of the danger they were in.

He had to warn them. He had to get them out of the Underground. But how? Undyne was the most powerful monster in the Underground, and she was relentless in her pursuit of humans.

Dream's mind raced as he considered his options. He could try to confront Undyne, convince her that Piko and Ava were not a threat. But he knew that was a long shot at best. Undyne was unwavering in her beliefs, and she saw humans as nothing more than a means to an end.

He could try to hide Piko and Ava, keep them safe until he figured out a way to get them out of the Underground. But where could they hide where Undyne wouldn't find them?

As he grappled with his options, Dream knew one thing for certain. He had to act quickly. The fate of his friends depended on it.

He remembered that they could only get out with a boss monster soul, so neither of them could get out without killing someone. So they would have to hide. But for now, Dream had to save Piko. Because undyne was coming straight her way, spear in hand.

Dream's heart pounded in his chest as he set off in the direction Undyne had gone. He knew he had to reach Piko before Undyne did. He didn't know what he was going to do when he got there, but he knew he had to try. Piko was his friend, and he wasn't going to let her face Undyne alone.

As he raced through the corridors, he tried to come up with a plan. He could try to distract Undyne, give Piko a chance to escape. But that would mean putting himself in danger, and he wasn't sure he was ready to face Undyne's wrath.

He could try to reason with Undyne, convince her that Piko wasn't a threat. But that was a long shot at best. Undyne was unwavering in her beliefs, and he wasn't sure he could change her mind.

They entered Alphys's lab. Alphys opened a door where lots of royal guard members were resting. Alphy's showed her to a bed where Piko was resting. Piko looked WAY more than scratched. Her head was covered in blood that was being washed off with a rag, she was covered in bandages, and some still had blood seeping through them. When Piko saw undyne, she tried her best to sit up, but was too weak, so she settled for halfway. "Captain Undyne! I'd salute, but..." She motioned to the cast bandages on her arm. Undyne glared at her. "H U M A N."

Dream arrived at the lab just in time to hear Undyne's accusation. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the room, his gaze immediately finding Piko. The sight of her injuries made his stomach churn, but he forced himself to focus.

"Undyne," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "I can explain."

Undyne turned to look at him, her gaze cold and unyielding. "You better have a good explanation, Dream," she said, her voice icy.

Dream swallowed, steeling himself. "Piko isn't a threat," he said. "She's been helping us. She's been fighting alongside us."

"... Alphys, is this true?" Undyne asked. "W-w-well, y-yes. I-i-t s-seems that she's been f-fighting for the royal g-guard for quite some time now..." Alphys stuttered. "Have you taken the oaths?" Undyne asked Piko. Piko recited the Oath. "I, Piko, have solemnly swore that I will Protect and fight for the underground, and keep my fellow soldiers safe as commanding officer." Dream didn't realize that Piko was a COMMANDING OFFICER. So thats why her job was so important.

The revelation left Dream stunned. He had always known that Piko was strong and brave, but he hadn't realized just how integral she was to the royal guard.

Undyne seemed to be considering Piko's words, her gaze flickering between Piko and Alphys. There was a tense silence as everyone waited for Undyne's verdict.

Finally, Undyne sighed. "Alright, I'll let it slide for now," she said, her voice gruff. "But remember, Piko, you're still a human. That means you're still a potential threat."

Piko nodded, her gaze steady. "I understand, Captain Undyne. I'll continue to do my best for the Underground."

With Undyne's departure, Dream let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. They had averted disaster, for now. But they still had to find a way to get Piko and Ava out of the Underground, before Undyne changed her mind.

When Undyne left, Piko seemed to relax. "She is WAY more terrifying than I thought she'd be."

Dream allowed himself a small laugh, moving closer to Piko's bed. "That's Undyne for you," he said, his voice soft. "She's intense, but she's also fair. She won't harm you without reason."

Piko gave a weak smile, her eyes tired. "I hope so," she murmured. "I don't think I could take on Undyne in this condition."

"Don't worry, Piko," Dream reassured her. "I won't let it come to that. You have my word."

Piko's smile widened, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Dream," she said. "I'm glad you're here."

Dream returned her smile, his heart aching at the sight of her injuries. "I'm glad you're okay, Piko," he said sincerely. "Don't scare us like that again, okay?"

Piko chuckled weakly, closing her eyes with a sigh. "I'll try my best," she promised.

And another familiar face entered the infirmary. As he passed by, the guards resting and passing by gave him a small nod, saying "Lieutenant sans." Lieutenant?! How many ranks were there in the guard? and SANS was the Lieutenant? Sans walked over to Piko. "Lieutenant Sans." She said with a small nod like the other soldiers. "Come on, Piko. You don't gotta be that formal. I just came to check on you. You seemed pretty hurt last night, are you okay?" This is why Dream was a little jealous of Sans. They were perfect for each other, and Sans seemed to know it. Piko, probably didn't, but Sans did. And so did Dream.

Dream watched as Sans approached Piko's bed, his heart aching with a pang of jealousy. He had always admired Sans for his laid-back attitude and quick wit, but seeing him now, so concerned for Piko... it stirred up feelings he hadn't known he had.

"Hey, Dream," Sans greeted, shooting him a small wave. "Didn't see you there."

Dream returned the wave, forcing a smile onto his face. "Hey, Sans," he replied, doing his best to keep his voice steady.

Sans turned his attention back to Piko, his eyes softening. "So, how're you feeling, kid?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Piko smiled weakly, her eyes meeting Sans's. "I'm okay, Sans," she reassured him. "Just a little beat up."

Sans chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Well, you're one tough cookie, that's for sure," he said, his voice full of admiration.

As Dream watched the two of them, he couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. He wished he could be the one sitting by Piko's side, making her laugh, comforting her in her time of need.

But for now, he would have to settle for being her friend and protector. And that was enough. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"Anyway, I should probably get back to snowdin." Piko started to stand up. "I got a job to do."

"Piko, wait!" Dream rushed over to her side, his hand reaching out to steady her. "You're not in any condition to go anywhere, let alone back to Snowdin. You need to rest."

Sans nodded in agreement, a serious look crossing his usually jovial face. "Dream's right, Piko. You've been through a lot. You need to take it easy for a while."

Piko sighed, sinking back onto the bed. "I know, I know. But I can't just sit around here doing nothing. I have a duty to fulfill."

Dream felt a surge of admiration for Piko. Even in her weakened state, she was still thinking about her duty. He knew then that he would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant standing up to Undyne again.

"Promise me you'll rest, Piko," Dream pleaded. "We'll figure out a way to handle your duties in Snowdin. Just focus on getting better for now."

Piko hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, Dream. I'll rest. But only because you asked."

As Piko settled back down into her bed, Dream couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He knew they still had a long way to go, but for now, Piko was safe. And that was all that mattered.

"Although I'm still going to work tomorrow!" Piko said.

Dream sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Piko, you're stubborn," he said, but there was a fond smile on his face. "Alright, but only if you're feeling better by then."

Sans interjected, "And only if Alphys gives the okay. She's the doctor here."

Piko rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine. I'll get Alphys's approval first. Happy now?"

Dream grinned at her, relieved. "Very. Now get some rest. We'll sort everything out for you."

As Piko closed her eyes, Dream turned to leave the room, Sans trailing behind him. They had a lot to discuss and plan. But for now, they had managed to keep Piko safe, and that was a victory in itself.

When Piko got home, she picked up her Ukulele, and started to work on the next part.

Dream, who had been quietly listening nearby, couldn't help but smile at Piko's excitement. He had always admired her musical talent, and her dedication to her craft was truly inspiring.

"That sounds beautiful, Piko," he said, walking over to her. "You're really talented, you know that?"

Piko blushed, a modest smile on her face. "Thanks, Dream. I'm just trying to capture the feeling of the season, you know? The warmth, the joy, the love... it's all so magical."

Dream nodded, his gaze softening. "You've definitely captured it," he reassured her. "I can't wait to hear the final piece."

Feeling a surge of confidence, Piko strummed her ukulele and began to sing the verse she had just composed. Her voice filled the room, her words painting a picture of a peaceful winter night filled with love and joy.

As Dream listened, his heart swelled with admiration for Piko. She truly was an incredible person, and he felt lucky to have her in his life.

She thought for a second. "I had a friend in the RUINs. His name was Nastblook. He said he lived in waterfall. I might go visit him tomorrow. He's great at making songs."

"That sounds like a great idea, Piko," Dream replied, nodding his head. "And it might be good for you, too. A change of scenery, some fresh inspiration..."

He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Actually, do you mind if I come along? I've never been to Waterfall before. And I'd like to meet this Nastblook."

Piko smiled at him, a twinkle in her eyes. "Of course, Dream. I'd love for you to come along. Nastblook is a bit shy, but he's really sweet. I think you two would get along well."

Dream felt a surge of excitement. A day out with Piko, exploring a new part of the Underground and meeting new people... It sounded like a perfect day.

"Great," he said, his smile matching Piko's. "I'm looking forward to it."

The next day, they both called in and said they were taking a vacation day. Dream also found that Piko had 260 vacation days, and never used one of them in her time in the guard.

"That's... a lot of unused vacation days, Piko," Dream commented, a hint of surprise lacing his tone.

Piko simply shrugged, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "I guess I just never found the time to take a break. There's always so much to do, so many people to protect..."

"But that's exactly why you need a break," Dream pointed out gently. "You work so hard, Piko. You deserve some time off."

Piko nodded, looking thoughtful. "You're right, Dream. I do need a break. And I can't think of a better way to spend it than exploring Waterfall with you."

Dream felt his cheeks heat up at her words, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. "I'm glad to hear that, Piko," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't wait to spend the day with you, too."

At waterfall, Piko knocked on the door. A quiet, ghostly voice answered "Go away... no one's home?" "It's me nastblook. Remember the party we had in the RUINs?" Piko said, and they waited. "Oh... you can come in... I guess, If you want to..."

Dream followed Piko into a surprisingly cozy house, despite its ghostly resident. The interior was dimly lit, giving off a serene ambiance. In the middle of the room was a ghost, who Dream assumed to be Nastblook.

"Hey, Nastblook," Piko greeted, her voice gentle. "It's been a while. How've you been?"

Nastblook floated around a bit, seemingly lost in thought. "Oh... I've been okay, I guess," he replied, his voice soft and barely audible. "Just been... making music, mostly."

Piko's face lit up at that. "That's great, Nastblook! In fact, that's why we're here. I've been working on a song, and I was hoping you could help me with it."

Nastblook looked surprised, but pleased. "Oh... I'd love to help, Piko. I'm not really good at much, but... I do enjoy making music."

As Piko and Nastblook got to work, Dream watched, a warm smile on his face. It was nice to see Piko so excited and Nastblook so engaged. He couldn't wait to hear the song they would create together.

for the rest of the evening, they listen to effects that could help make the song, and other things that could help.

They tried out different chord progressions, various tempos, and even experimented with some hauntingly beautiful sound effects fitting to Nastblook's ghostly nature. Piko strummed her ukulele while Nastblook added in layers of ethereal synth sounds, creating a unique blend of music that filled the room.

Dream sat back, simply watching and listening. He was no musician, but he was fascinated by the process. Seeing Piko's eyes light up with excitement as a melody came together, or Nastblook's quiet satisfaction when a particular sound effect worked just right, was a joy to behold.

Hours passed in a blur of music, laughter, and creativity. By the time they decided to call it a night, they had a rough version of the song ready. It was enchanting, filled with the magic of the holiday season, and Dream couldn't help but feel moved as he heard Piko sing the lyrics she had written.

It was a memorable evening, and as they left Nastblook's house, Dream couldn't help but feel grateful for the experience. It was a day filled with music, friendship, and joy - a perfect vacation day, indeed.

And suddenly, everything went black. When Dream woke up, and couldn't remember anything about ink, or nightmare. All he remembered was going up to his room and falling asleep after watching TV with Ava and Piko.

He blinked, staring blankly at the ceiling. His head felt foggy, as if he'd just woken up from a very deep sleep.

"Dream? Are you okay?" Ava's worried voice cut through the haze.

He turned his head to see her sitting on the edge of his bed, her eyes filled with concern. Piko stood behind her, looking just as worried.

"Dream, you passed out," Piko explained. "We were so scared. Do you remember anything?"

He tried to recall what had happened, but his memories were a jumbled mess. "I... I can't remember," he admitted, his voice shaky. "All I remember is watching TV with you guys and then... nothing."

The only people in the house were Ava, Piko and Dream. "You were heading up to your room, and you just passed out! Are you eating enough Iron? You don't have any blood, but maybe it still effects you." Piko said.

Dream frowned, trying to remember. "I...I think so? I mean, I don't feel unwell or anything. Just a bit... off."

Ava exchanged a worried glance with Piko. "Maybe you should take it easy for a while, Dream. Just rest and recover."

Dream nodded slowly, still feeling slightly disoriented. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I'll just... rest for a bit."

With that, he laid down, closing his eyes. Ava and Piko watched him for a moment before quietly leaving the room, allowing Dream to rest. But even as he tried to sleep, Dream couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't quite right.