OVERWRITE

"Ink! Thank the stars I was getting so worried! I thought-" My words caught in my throat.

Ink looked like he always did. With his flowy outfit and dark sash, he could have been mistaken for a Star Wars character. Paint was splattered across his left cheek. Broomie was strapped to his back. But looking closer, Ink was also completely different.

Everything about him appeared as if it were under a purple filter. His cheerful grin and eyes were replaced by an amused, cruel glare. A lavender X surrounded by a matching circle in his left eye acted as his pupil. I know skeletons can't be physically malnourished, but somehow Ink pulled the look off. The worst bit was his aura. His negative. . .conflicted aura.

Ink caught me gawking. "What's the matter Dream? Don't you like my new improvement?" Not even his voice was the same. Ink's voice sounded normal, but a second one overpowered it. G's voice scraped Ink's like nails on a chalkboard.

"Improvement? Ink, what did you do? What was in the vial?" I caught myself only after I said it. But I didn't care. There were other things to worry about. I felt brave, but a little voice in my head was chanting, Danger, Danger. I felt my hand go for the dagger in my belt.

"The via- were you spying on me?" Ink clenched his jaw tightly. He took a breath and regained his composure. "No matter." His eyes lit up with excitement, "I've got something exciting to tell you," he held his hands out. "We can stop your brother for good now. I finally have the power to fix him."

"Fix him? What are you talking about?" My grip tightened on the dagger. I had the feeling I was going to need to use it. My head hurt from Ink's clashing emotions. A sense of dread built up in my ribcage.

Ink snapped his fingers. A purple button (what's with all the purple?) appeared. On it, the word 'OVERWRITE' glowed brightly. "It's a simple plan: we capture Nightmare, pull out his soul, and press the button. It will only take one press to make your brother perfect. Hell, we can fix the rest of his gang too." Ink gripped my shoulders, "Think about it Dream. We can save this failure of a multiverse. All I need is your word that you are on my side."

If there was anything I learned in four hundred years, it was that if something was too good to be true, it was. His word choice unsettled me. The multiverse may have its flaws, but it is by no means a failure. And since when has Ink cared about perfection. I looked around at what used to be X-tale, then at the button, then at Ink. His purple eye glared like a spotlight. His grin was collected and insane and the same time.

Suddenly, it struck me. I shook out of his grip. "Get off me, G. I won't help you."

Both of Ink/G's eyes gained the X sign, "You must have misunderstood" He had a ravenous eye on the Overwrite button, "But don't worry. I'll help you see clearly." G pulled out Broomie, "And please, call me X-Gaster."

I dodged his first advance, maneuvering aside with both daggers in hand. I sliced my left one across his cheek. X-Gaster howled in rage and pain. My soul wrenched. It was still Ink, in a cruel and twisted way. X-Gaster"s shock didn't last long. He summoned a dozen hands made of dripping ink. They shot projectiles so fast that I couldn't even register them. I was shot once in the arm, twice on both legs.

I coughed up golden blood. The lack of emotions was taking a toll on my powers. My legs were on fire, my left arm was on pins and needles. Do it now.

I struck the handles of my daggers against each other. The move was murder on my damaged arm. The daggers disappeared as a golden bow took their place. I thought of all the happy memories I shared with Ink and Blue. All the times we fought together, laughed together. A blue arrow of positive energy appeared in my open hand.

Everything blurred around me as I fired arrow after arrow at X-Gaster. Purple blood and black ink leaked from where the attacks hit. X-Gaster still had a few tricks up his sleeve as he surround me with blasters. I ducked down to avoid their energy beams. I heard a snap, followed by searing pain. Shit.

I fell to my knees. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to heal. A hand lifted my chin. X-Gaster's face was of mock concern and amusement. "Your determination is admirable, but you're overestimating yourself. Your efforts are suicide. Accept that I'm stronger than you." his voice changed to a comforting purr and held his hand over the 'OVERWRITE" button, "Now hold still, this will be quick."

Unfortunately, I agreed. About the effort killing me that is. I couldn't win this one, not in my condition. You need to run, find help now. Warn the others.

I struck the button out of his hand. "I'm sorry, Ink." With my last bit of energy, I summoned a portal beneath me. "I'll be back." The last thing I saw was X-Gaster's face of defeat and a gray child with a striped shirt before everything went black.