How to Establish Your Gang and Take Care of the Children in It

Rule 4: Don't Let the Demon on Your Shoulder Handle Negotiations

Nightmare collapsed almost as soon as their surroundings shifted, his wounds and his magic too much to bear. Horror, on the other hand, could at least keep his feet. It was painful, sure, but he hadn't taken as sound a beating as Nightmare had.

Nightmare coughed, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath that made him feel more in pain than he already was. Damnit! It had taken all of his strength just to keep on his feet while talking to Classic, but a quick move on from Undertale had been necessary- while he'd almost definitely won Classic's respect, that didn't remotely translate to being trusted enough to wander the single most important and vulnerable universe unchecked. If he and Horror had stayed there any longer, at least one of them- more realistically both- would have died one way or another. The chances of going to a negative AU at random and possibly dying were less risky than staying and certainly dying.

Having said that, though, Nightmare was in no condition to fight or even stand. Horror was only slightly better, but trying to defend themselves would be a suicide mission in their conditions. But most if not all negative AU's were hostile, so it was a lose-lose situation all around. Maybe if they could get back to Nightmaretale, though...?

"No!" Horror cried with an uncharacteristic note of panic in his voice. "You're barely breathing, Mare, you can't waste any magic moving through AU's!"

Ah. He must have said that last part aloud.

"Have to... be safe..." Nightmare said painfully.

"It's more safe here than dead!" Horror cried. "You don't have enough energy to go anywhere, and you'll kill yourself if you try!"

"Horror..."

"No," Horror said firmly. With a small intake of breath at the pain, he sat down next to Nightmare. "I respect your judgment most of the time, Mare, but I'm going to have to veto this. You can't kill yourself like that. I mean, c'mon," he added. "Who would I have to annoy with bad pickup lines if you were gone, am I right?"

Nightmare gave a small, painful laugh. "I... guess..."

"Exactly." Horror managed to give him a grin that only revealed the barest hint of how much pain he was in. "Just rest and recover, Mare. I'll make sure nothing happens to us."

"Mmm..." Nightmare didn't exactly disagree- he didn't have enough energy for that- but he definitely didn't agree either.

But despite his skepticism, he found himself nodding off into dreamland.

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Cross wasn't deaf or blind. He had seen the two strange skeletons appear in what was left of X-tale and had heard snatches of the conversation the two were having. He wasn't unaware of them.

He was, however, uncertain.

There's a difference between knowing someone is there and knowing what to do about it, Cross thought as he sat down a fair distance away. He could see the two skeletons and heard them fairly well, but he knew that in the blank whiteness of X-tale he was pretty much invisible. As long as he didn't move, he knew, the strange intruders would have no idea they were being watched.

I know what to do about it, Chara said with annoyance. Neither of them can fight back, which means you can take their SOULs. Like, might I add, I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU.

"..." Cross glanced away uncomfortably.

Chara noticed this and sighed, adopting a gentler tone of voice. Look, Cross, I know it might be hard to take from people who can't defend themselves. But if we don't get a SOUL for me, how would I be able to defend you? You're strong, They added hastily, seeing anger flare up in the skeleton's eyes. I'm not saying you're not. But Cross, what happens when you meet someone too powerful for you? What happens when you get knocked out, and I can't take over because I'm not powerful enough? What happens when you get hurt and there's no way to call for help because I can't be heard by anyone other than you?