(Inside Nightmare's Soul)

"D-Dream? You...lied? They want to kill me?" This time, Terror was standing right next to him, only slightly surprised.

I would say I expected this from him, but I'd be lying. Didn't think he would go this far.

"They're my family, and I killed mother. They all hate me, just like everyone else always does." Terror actually looked at him with a certain expression.

Kid?

"Why is it always have to be me? Why can't people just leave me alone?! Why do they target me for all this hatred?!"

Because everyone want something to be mad at. It's just in their nature. They find any hope in something, they want to crush it. Makes them feel powerful, for fun, or for other sick enjoyment. That's just how people work.

"But that's not how I am!!"

Does it matter what you think though? Nobody will listen to you, because they're so stuck up on one thing they'll stick to that idea for the rest of their lives. It's just like how you were back as a kid. Everyone saw you as a freak, just for being who you were.

"..."

We can't go back kid. I know you want to, but that's just a vision. No matter what, people are always going to see you as the monster that attacked his own home and mother. That's how your own family sees you anyway. I'm...I'm sorry.

There was silence for a while among the two. Terror's expression softened for the first time as he stared at Nightmare. The little skeleton only gripped his own clothes, purple tears slowly dripping from his eyes. For some reason, Terror felt something odd in the kid. It was flickering like a small flame starting to regain strength. Then, Nightmare pulled hard on the chains, making the ground vibrate violently. However, the chains started to crumble and fall to the ground. Nightmare was breaking free of the reigns.

What the-?! Kid, what are you doing?

"I'm right."

Wh-What? Nightmare stared at his dark reflection, purple tears still falling. They started falling faster and faster, streaming down on his clothes and arms. The chains broke in chunks as he walked closer to Terror, who was frozen on the spot.

"There is no point, is there? No matter what, nothing's going to change. I can't go home, I can't see my brother again." His expression turned angry for a moment. "I can't be NORMAL FOR ONCE!! So, what's the point of trying to be someone you're not? Why not just be the person everyone sees you? Why not just be who've you've been for years?"

The chains broke off completely, and Nightmare was staring into Terror's eyes. He was still crying. Terror felt something, fear, from the dead expression in Nightmare's eyes.

Kid, you're starting to scare me...

"I know. I always seem to scare myself. But I guess I can't help it." He lays a hand on Terror's shoulder. Then, Terror's eye widened as he yelled in pain from the cracking of bones in the boy's grip. He kneeled in pain while gripping his crushed shoulder. He tried to run, but Nightmare had him in his grip.

What are you doing?!

"I'm taking back what belongs to me. You are my power, and I want it back."

Y-You idiot! You'll kill me!

"Oh please, you were never conscious to begin with. I just was terrified of expressing my feelings through this power. But you know what? I'm not scared anymore. So I'm taking it back. Besides, isn't this what the people want? To see a real MONSTER?"

No... Was all Terror could muster before he disappeared...for good. He turned into a huge puddle of black goo and was crawling all over the crying Nightmare's body. The black void-like area started to pulse white markings. The markings resembled veins as the area glowed with it, and the little skeleton looked up before closing his eyes.

"I tried Dream. I'm sorry."

(Back in the battlefield)

Nightmare suddenly stopped screaming as the vines snapped. Lanny was surprised while Quetz and Dream were horrified. Nightmare's black goo started to dissipate, exposing parts of his original white bones. Patches of his purple clothes were dripping with purple and black goo. One of his eye sockets were a normal purple color, while the other remained blue. Black goo dripped out of the eyes like black tears, and his teeth looked like the goopy form's fangs. His hands started to grow sharp at the points, and the tentacles started spazzing like flailing arms.

What was most horrifying was his new voice. It was a mixture of his childhood voice mixed with the sounds of roars and screams.

"I never meant to hurt anyone or become a killer. But, you all made me into one. Everyone should just do me a favor...AND JUST DIE!!!"