Chapter 21

Nobody's P.O.V

It was dark out, there was no wind tonight. Everything was silent, even the river didn't dare make a sound under tonight's stars. The moon hung high, watching over the survivor camp that once offered a safe home for everyone. Goth stood at the main entrance to the halls of the wall. Next to him was a very tall monster who nobody could determine whether they were a cat or a bird. She was a mixture of both and she held a calm and confident stance.

Goth glanced down at an old watch on his arm. Palette had given everyone involved with the plan a watch, so that everyone knew when to begin. When the time was right, Goth gave the bird-cat monster a nod. The bird-cat monster nodded back and lifted her hand to the open door of the wall. A harsh breeze blew into the door and through every floor, every hall of the wall, blowing out all the flames that lit it up.

When everything went dark, Palette's glowing eye lights provided him with all he need to see, while still leaving everyone else in pitch darkness. He hummed softly as he took a brayer covered in paint and rolled it across the wall as he walked up the stairs and to the third floor. His quiet humming alerted the soldiers who were surrounded by darkness. One soldier, a general in fact, summoned a flame in his hand and saw Palette walking away from him. Several soldiers, including the flame-wielding general, charged at Palette. The paint on the wall shot out and wrapped around the soldiers and the general, silencing them and holding them tightly against the wall.

Palette continued on his way. Along the way, Lucid and Dream joined Palette. They passed the cells that held Error, Ink and Geno. Error went to speak, but Dream quickly put his finger to his mouth, telling him to stay silent. So Error stayed silent. They reached King's now unguarded door, but couldn't open it yet, as it had been locked when the lights had gone out.

Somewhere else, Asy and Davian were crawling through the ventilation tunnels, used to keep fresh air going through the whole wall. Asy was giggling to himself with excitement. He loved it when he was included in everyone's plans. Davian was the one leading the way, listening closely for the familiar voice of his owner. When he found it, he crawled out of the open vents and dropped into a pitch black room, the only light being two glowing, mismatched eyes. Asy wanted to jump down after them, but he had to to stay and pull Davian back into the ventilation tunnels once he received a key from his owner.

They continued on to another place, creeping to ensure nobody could hear them. Davian stopped and sniffed the air, recognising his other owner's scent. Asy and Davian dropped down to Palette, Dream and Lucid.

"We have the key!" Asy chirped happily.

Davian gave the key to Dream.

"Thank you." Dream said, petting Davian's head before turning to the door.

"We ready?" Palette asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Lucid confirmed. "Lets do this."

Dream turned the key in the lock until it clicked. The door opened into a well lit room that the wind could not reach. Standing at the desk at the far wall of the room was King, wearing his toothy grin. Reaper was there, too, holding his scythe tightly.

"I was wondering when you'd finally try this." King said.

"We've had enough of your unjust rule." Dream readied his bow with a glowing arrow. "It's time you step aside and let those who know what they're doing take over again."

King shook his head. "You don't even understand my intensions. Surely you should hear me out before you-"

Lucid ran at King, a spear appearing in his hand and and jumped over Reaper, swinging it down. King grabbed Lucid's spear and threw him to the side.

"It was worth a shot." King said to himself.

Lucid got to his feet, pointing his spear at the crocodile monster. Reaper let King handle Lucid and he focused on the other four.

"Please understand why I'm doing this." Reaper said.

Dream nodded and fired an arrow at Reaper. Reaper blocked the arrow with his scythe and swung at the four. Asy and Davian ducked and Palette and Dream jumped. Palette took a vial of paint and threw it at Reaper. The vial smashed and the paint covered Reaper's black cloak. The paint wrapped around Reaper, holding his arms against his sides.

Reaper broke free and a pair of eye lights appeared for just a moment in his eye sockets. As they did, Dream, Palette, Davian and Asy found themselves under the great tree of the camp. Reaper raised his scythe, preparing an attack. Asy giggled and snapped his fingers. Ghostly balls of magic appeared around Reaper and bashed into him, knocking him about.

"Thank you, friends!" Asy sung.

Dream and Palette looked at each other for a moment, then went back to focusing on the battle. Dream fired several arrows at once and Palette emptied several vials of paint onto the grass. Reaper managed to narrowly dodge most of the arrows but was hit by one in the shoulder. He hissed and cursed, but managed to stand his ground.

The paint emptied onto the grass jumped out at Reaper and pushed him backward. Reaper sliced through the paint but the paint came back together and wrapped around his weapon, rendering it useless. Reaper dropped the scythe and his eye lights flickered into existence again, signalling a magical attack. Davian bounded forward and bit down hard on his leg. Reaper howled with pain, but he held his fists in front of him, ready to fight even without a weapon.

"Are you really prepared to die for someone like King, Reaper?" Dream asked, aiming an arrow at Reaper and showing no emotion.

"No," Reaper panted. "I'm prepared to die for my family."

Dream breathed out slowly. "So am I."

As Dream pulled the arrow back in his bow, a voice yelled at them.

"Wait! Stop fighting!"

They all turned their attention. Lust was running towards them and Horror wasn't far behind.

"Don't get involved, Lust!" Reaper hissed. "I'd rather die betraying as few people as possible..."

"You don't have to die!" Lust said quickly, running right up to Reaper. He summoned his soul and showed it to Reaper. "Look! I have Geno's souling! You don't have to fight anymore!"

Reaper stared at the little souling that orbited around Lust's soul. It was no longer a pale white, now it was a crimson colour.

"How did you get that?" Reaper asked, stunned.

"Geno gave it to me to show you so you wouldn't have to worry anymore." Lust explained.

Reaper's hands slowly unclenched and reached out for Lust's soul. Lust let him take it and examine it closer. Reaper summoned his own soul, allowing the souling to make the connection to it's true parent and break it's connection to the foreign soul.

Reaper looked up at Lust, all the fight disappeared from his expression. "Thank you."

Lust nodded and everyone lowered their weapons. Davian sensed everyone's passiveness and let go of Reaper's leg, sitting down and panting happily.

"Thank the creators for that." Dream said. "I'm glad I didn't have to dust a friend..."

"Asy," Palette ordered. "Take Reaper back to the treehouse for treatment. Take Davian, too, you'll want someone to keep you company."

"No need!" Asy chirped. "My friends can keep me company! Follow me, Mr Grim Reaper!"

Reaper floated after Asy and Davian bounded after them.

Lucid sliced through the spikes of earth with his spear then quickly charged at King. King was ready to grab the spear but found that it disappeared from view. Lucid leaped over King and thrust his spear at him. The crocodile monster's surprisingly flexible tail wrapped around the spear's long handle and tugged it out of Lucid's hands.

"You're an excellent warrior, young guard! You would be perfect as a general in my army!" King exclaimed.

Lucid kept his calm, emotionless stare. He summoned another spear and swung at King's tail. The spear's sharp blade pierced the think scales of King's tail. King snarled and whipped his tail at Lucid and Lucid jumped away. Another thrust of a spear impaled King's back and he howled in pain. The crocodile monster turned and threw a claw at Lucid and Lucid leaped again over him.

"On the other hand," King growled. "You are incredibly annoying. Perhaps I should just get rid of you."

The door behind Lucid opened and Jenny walked in.

"You wanted me, King?" she asked, seemingly oblivious to the battle.

"Yes," King smiled widely. "I've decided our first test for our new weapon. Tell him to kill this young skeleton here."

Jenny nodded. She took a small laser pointer out of her pocket and shone it at Lucid. Two glowing eyes glared at Lucid from the darkness on the other side of the door. There was a low giggle and Lucid knew he was in for a more difficult fight.

Dust ran in and tackled Lucid to the floor with a sharpened bone in his hand. He raised the bone but Lucid kicked him off and took hold of his spear. Dust roared and grabbed Lucid and threw him so hard out the door that he smashed through the metal wall and practically flew through the air. Lucid crash landed close to the great tree, skidding and rolling across the grass until he came to a stop. Dream, Horror, Lust and Palette ran up to him and Dream helped Lucid to his feet.

"Are you OK?" Dream asked, his eyes full of worry.

"I think I broke a few ribs..." Lucid groaned. "But that's the least of our problems-"

Lucid coughed harshly and his legs gave in, Dream had to carry him.

"What do you mean? What other problems are there?" Lust asked.

"I don't think we have to ask." Palette pointed towards the sky. "Up there."

Everyone looked at where Palette pointed. Dust was up in the sky, being carried by a mysterious, ghostly magic, similar to Asy's. He burst out laughing and it echoed throughout the camp, a horrible chill went down everyone's spine. The ghostly magic placed Dust on the ground and his insane eyes and smile stared at the small group.

"Lust," Dream whispered. "Take Lucid away from here."

Lust nodded and took Lucid, carrying him away as quickly as he could.

Dust licked his teeth. "This is going to be so much fun!"

Horror, Dream and Palette readied their weapons, preparing to fight to their potential end.