BEFORE YOU YELL AT ME--
Yes, I deleted "1/5 uwu", because I realized that there were a shit ton of chapters WHICH HAVE CONTINUATIONS!!! This being one of them. Soooooooo, sorry-

Today was the day. Cross had been bought by one of the many Dream's in the multiverse. Apparently, this one was to be addressed as "Lord Dream Von Licht" and nothing else. How peculiar.

Cross sighed as he was forced onto the platform for teleporting. Maybe this one will be nice...? Cross's thoughts were cut off when he suddenly reappeared in a large... Mansion? Estate? Cross couldn't tell.

A bored voice drawled behind him. "Are you Cross Peñaloza?"

Cross whipped around to face the owner of the voice, his instincts telling him he was about to be attacked. But as soon as Cross made eye-contact with the speaker, Ink, he relaxed. Ink's usually worked with Dream's, so there was nothing for him to worry about.

"Yes, I am he. Are you Ink?" Cross spoke cautiously. He still didn't trust Ink, even though he knew that Ink won't attack him.

Ink scoffed and rolled his eyelights boredly, grabbing Cross's arm and dragging him down the exceedingly large hallways.

"Yeah, 'm Ink. Boss has been waiting a bit, so he's kinds cranky at me. Now that you're here, he won't be mad! And I might even get another solo mission after I deliver you to him," A smile graced Ink's features, bit something about it felt... Off. The smile was certainly real, but it also had that... Artificial touch. Like it wasn't a natural expression for Ink. Or like he wasn't built for wearing a smile. Nonetheless, it made Cross wary.

After a few more minutes of the energetic Ink dragging a weary Cross through long, exaggerated hallways and opulent corridors, they arrived. Maybe. Cross wasn't sure. They stood in front of an average-sized door that looked to be made of either gold, or some other similar mineral. They certainly weren't painted. Ink's grin grew as he opened the door, and Cross couldn't help but smile as well. He wasn't sure why, he just felt... Happy. Hope surged through Cross. Maybe everything was going to be alright after all!

Cross's happy feelings only grew stronger when he was ushered into the office-looking room.

At a desk, scribbling away with a quill, was a tall, handsome figure. Golden wings of light sprouted elegantly from his back, lighting up the room with a warm golden glow. His eyelights were extremely pronounced—a sign of deep concentration among skeletons—and his mouth was contorted into a tight frown.

"Ay, boss, he's here," Ink called out, snapping the handsome figure—'Oh Fox, it's the Dream he had to work for'—from his work, and causing him to look up. Cross could see and feel his piercing, warm, handsome golden eyelights quickly scan over him, an unreadable expression apparent.

"Very good. Leave him here, Ink. There's a serial killer in Fableswap, serial number 1437702598. You may go alone. When you are done, wash your clothes and-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know,", Ink interrupted. "Wash my stuff, leave the pin, yadda yadda." Ink mock-saluted, then titled backwards into a portal. Cross was dumbfounded. What had just happened?

He looked back at Dream who seemed to be glaring quite harshly at the spot where Ink's portal once was. Cross felt uncomfortable.
Once Dream had deemed the spot plenty glared at, he redirected his attention to Cross, and examined him once more.

After a few more tense moments, Dream let out a hum of satisfaction, motioning for Cross to come over. Cross did with no hesitation.

"Yes, sir?"

Dream seemed to hesitate, then he spoke slowly, as if very carefully selecting his words as he went.

"How would you like to be a free monster?"

Cross's magic—the "blood" of monsters—instantly froze. What? What had Dream just said? Surely he had heard wrong.

"I'm sorry, sir? Could you repeat that please?" Cross's voice was quavering with anticipation.

"I asked you if you would like to be freed," Dream seemed a little more certain now. Cross just about screamed in joy, but he somehow managed to not do that, and instead settle for a shaky nod. Dream smiled at the raw positivity he felt from the small skeleton. He knew he had done right.

"Well then, let's go,", Dream stood up, wings gracefully wrapping around Cross and nudging him forward. "Let's go free you, yes?"

Cross could only nod happily, walking out of the door to Dream's office, and to his first taste of freedom.

Lol while editing this I noticed that Cross only says one thing and the rest are questions
787 words

~Bery