My mind races, and I am unable to sleep. As I lay there, tossing and turning on my bed. I can't help but to think back to the picnic I had with Dream earlier in the day. Now the name Dawn is all that I can think about.

'Who was Dawn?' Was the same question that kept popping up in my head. 'And why can't I remember him?' 

I finally just sit up. Obviously, I won't be sleeping tonight. I teleport outside my castle and wander around. No direction or destination in mind, just something to keep me active. After the whole ordeal with Ink, I made my base in Dreamtale permanent. Mostly because trying to find another place with a castle that isn't already occupied was difficult. And most of my gang is living here.

I try to think back to my past, to the time I was still an uncorrupted guardian of negativity who was easily bullied by others. Mostly faint memories of my tormentor's face were shown. No indication of this Dawn villager. Now I'm curious...I wander around some more before making a decision I might regret later.

I teleport near a river and start walking towards a hill, a hill I am all too familiar with. When I arrive at the top, I stare at the treestump that once was the Tree of Feelings. A place with horrible memories. I look around the area, trying to find something, anything that might jog my memories. But there was nothing but the dead treestump and two sunken dirt spots where I am sure Dream stood when he became stone.

I chuckle a bit. Whether from amusement or guilt, I am unsure. In a sense, Dream lost a thousand years' worth of time. His time paused when he was stone. So I'm technically older than him... It's sad to think about it like that then...It would mean I was fighting a child when I was an adult...

I shake away that thought...I cannot undo the past. I try to look around some more in the hopes that something else will catch my attention. When nothing but grass is all I can see, I sigh. Looks like I'll have to go down into the village. Was really hoping I wouldn't need to...

Surprisingly, I've never reentered the village since becoming corrupt. I've only ever wandered around and outside or sent my goons to check. That place just disgusted me to my very core. I didn't even bother to destroy it myself since I didn't want to even look or touch that place. Even being reminded of it caused me to boil. But...if I want to remember Dawn and see if he was actually my friend or a traitor...I'll need to go there. It's the only place that will have the answers.

I make my way down the hill, stopping once I see the village that is now in ruins. I blink and chuckle a bit. After this adventure, I'm going to have my gang destroy this place. It's useless to me now. I enter the village, looking around at the ruins. Dust and spiderwebs cover the place. Cracks with plants growing out of them really bring out the gloomy atmosphere. 

I walk towards one of the houses, grabbing the door handle which is hanging just barely from a single screw. Unfortunately, it breaks off once I open it. I just kick away the door to the side and enter the house. I look around the inside, it's very small. Old books, beds, some kitchen items, and a cracked lamp are all that's seen inside. 

I walk towards the old books, grabbing a tattered and dusty one off the crooked shelf. The pages are littered with the old language of monsters, one I faintly remember someone taught me to read...But who? I place the book back on the shelf, making a mental note to tell one of my gang to grab all the books. This causes the shelf to cave in and all break apart. I sigh and just walk back outside.

I walk around some more, trying to recall anything. I've only entered this village once, and that was when I was going to kill them all. I pause in my steps, realizing a problem.

"...Dream never brought me books...so how did I get them?"

A faint memory flashes in my head. One of a fox monster smiling while holding a book. My breath quickens when I see the silhouette, but not the face. Is that...Dawn...? I start to run, my legs carrying me to wherever it wants to go. I pass by all the houses until I finally make it to the center of the village. There, I see something that brings back horrible memories. Memories I now realize why I had forgotten. I fall onto my knees, my breath quickening. I clutch my chest as if trying to pull at my heart.

The voice of someone I knew from a long time ago starts to play in my memories. Their calming smile reassured me. Tears start to drip down from my face as I stare at rusty, broken steel poles that litter the ground. I am all too aware of what those poles made. I lower my head, trying to shield myself from the truth. But...I shouldn't forget something so important. I should remember it, even if it hurts.

I find myself recalling everything...

"Dawn..." I mumble, "...I'm sorry."