Chapter 11

After getting the snowman a carrot, they went over to him, and Piko started by saying "Hey, mr snowman? I'm so so SO sorry for what I did. I Didn't mean to-" The snowman interrupted. "Sorry for what? I'm just fine! Did you hit your head?" He asked.

Dream watched the interaction with a small smile on his face. It was a perfect example of how sometimes, we hold onto guilt and worry over actions that others may not have even noticed or felt hurt by.

But it was also a testament to Piko's character, her willingness to apologize and make things right even if the other party wasn't aware of any wrongs. It was one of the many things he admired about her.

"See, Piko?" He said, giving her a gentle nudge. "Not every mistake is a catastrophe. Sometimes, we just need to forgive ourselves and move forward."

Then it occured to Dream, the snowman didn't even REMEMBER what she did.

Dream gave a soft chuckle. "Well, that certainly makes things easier," he said, looking at Piko with a gentle smile. "Sometimes, people forget. Or sometimes, what seems like a big deal to us doesn't even register on their radar."

He paused, giving Piko a moment to process this. "What's important is that you were willing to apologize, Piko. That shows maturity and humility."

"But remember," he added, "just as it's important to apologize to others, it's also important to forgive yourself. Don't carry around guilt for things that are in the past. Learn from them, yes, but don't let them weigh you down."

"Well time to apologize to Sans and Papyrus... I wonder if they remember..." Piko said.

Dream gave her a reassuring smile. "Whether they remember or not, what matters is that you're taking this step," he said. "But remember, apology is as much about making amends as it is about learning and growing. So, even if they don't remember, it's still a valuable experience for you."

With that, he gave her a gentle nudge. "Come on. Let's go find Sans and Papyrus. We'll face this together, just like we have everything else."

When they knocked on the door, Papyrus answered. "Hm? Oh, hello there human Piko! How are you on this fine morning?" Papyrus said. "So... um, Papyrus... I, um.... I wanted to say, um..." Piko said, starting to stutter.

Seeing Piko struggle, Dream stepped in to help. "Piko has something she wants to say," he explained, shooting her an encouraging smile. "She's sorry for any trouble she may have caused in the past and wants to make amends."

He turned to Piko, his eyes warm and supportive. "Go on, Piko. You're doing great."

"I'm.... sorry. I've.... done a lot of things that I'm not proud of, and I'm so very sorry." Piko said, grabbing her own arm, and squeezing it, in a shy-sorry way.

Papyrus looked taken aback for a moment, then his face softened into a warm smile. "Well, it takes a big person to admit when they've done wrong and to apologize for it," he said. "Apology accepted, human Piko."

Dream felt a wave of relief wash over him. He gave Piko's hand a gentle squeeze, silently conveying his pride and support. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked, smiling at her.

"It really was." She said.

"But, um, what are you apologizing for?" Papyrus asked. "I would have already forgiven you! You're my closest friend Piko! Whatever happened, it's alright! I, the great Papyrus, forgive you!" Papyrus said. "Oh, um, thanks... is Sans here?" Piko asked.

Papyrus tilted his head, then called out, "Sans! Piko is here to see you!"

A moment later, Sans appeared at the door, a lazy grin on his face. "Heya, Piko," he greeted. "What brings you here this early?"

Dream gave Piko an encouraging nod, ready to step in if she needed his help. But he knew she was capable of handling this herself, and he was proud of her for facing her past head-on.

Sans looked at piko with a dirty look. Dream could tell that Sans remembered what happened. He remembered her killing Papyrus, AND him. He looked down at her, with a disgusted look. Piko began to shake. She sighed, and unsheathed her sword. She kneeled down, and stabbed her sword into the ground, and put her helmet onto the hilt. "Commander Sans. I have violated my oath as a lieutenant. And for that, I resign my position in the royal guard." She said. Sans looked down at Piko and studied her for a few moments before smiling. "Piko, I accept your apology, but I'm afraid I do not accept your resignation." He helped Piko up, handed her sword and helmet. "Your the best guard we have Piko. We can't afford to lose you."

Dream watched this whole exchange in silence, feeling a mix of relief and pride for Piko. It was clear that she had been deeply troubled by her past actions, and this was a crucial step towards her healing.

He stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Piko's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Piko," he said sincerely. "You faced your past and took responsibility for your actions. That's not an easy thing to do."

Looking at Sans, he added, "Thank you for understanding, Sans. We all make mistakes. What matters is that we learn from them and try to make things right."

With a final reassuring squeeze on Piko's shoulder, Dream said, "We should probably head off now. There are still others to apologize to."

As they walked away, Dream couldn't help but feel hopeful. This was just the beginning of their journey towards redemption, and he was glad to be a part of it.

"And Piko!" Sans shouted just before they were out of earshot. "Don't be so chilled to the bone!"

"Sans!" Papyrus exclaimed, shutting the door.

"I still feel like it's wrong to be in the royal guard. I broke my oath!" Piko said. "And now I feel like I gotta apologize to Alpys, and Undyne, and Ava, even though I didn't do anything to them!" Piko said.

Dream listened to Piko's worries with a gentle smile, understanding her feelings of guilt and regret. He stopped their walking and turned to face her, his eyes full of compassion.

"Piko, it's okay to feel how you're feeling. But remember, everyone makes mistakes," he said. "You broke your oath, yes, but you also came forward, admitted your mistake, and apologized. That's more than many would do."

"As for apologizing to Alphys, Undyne, and Ava, maybe you feel that way because you want to make sure all your relationships are on good terms, even if you didn't harm them directly. And that's a good thing. It shows you value them and their feelings."

He gave her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "And remember, Piko, you're not alone in this. I'm here with you, every step of the way."

Piko looked into Dream's eyes, and hugged him.

Dream returned the hug, his arms wrapping around her in a comforting embrace. He could feel the tension in her body, the guilt and fear that still clung to her despite her brave actions.

"It's alright, Piko," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're doing great. And remember, you're not alone. We're in this together, okay?"

As he held her, he hoped that his words would bring her some comfort. After all, in this vast, unpredictable multiverse, the least they could do was support each other.

"Thank you Dream..."

"You're welcome, Piko." Dream said, his voice filled with warmth. "Remember, we're a team. We stick together, no matter what."

Releasing her from the hug, he gave her a soft smile. "Now, let's go talk to Alphys, Undyne, and Ava. I know you can do this." With that, they continued on their journey, facing whatever the multiverse had in store for them together.

"But I didn't do anything to them."

Dream nodded, understanding her point. "That may be true, Piko. But apologizing isn't always about righting a specific wrong. Sometimes, it's about expressing regret for any harm you may have unintentionally caused, or for not being the person you wanted to be."

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's up to you to decide what feels right. If you feel like you need to apologize to them, then that's what you should do. But if you don't, that's okay too. What matters most is that you're trying to make things right and learn from the past. And that's something to be proud of."

And so, the day concluded on a peaceful note. Dream was pleased to see Piko taking steps to reconcile with her past. As they gathered around the table, sharing laughter and stories over Ava's delicious steak, Dream couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.

Back in their shared home, the air was filled with the comforting smell of home-cooked food and the warm glow of companionship. As they settled on the couch to watch TV, Dream felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in a long time.

As the day drew to a close and they all retired to their respective rooms, Dream couldn't help but reflect on the events of the day. Piko had shown incredible growth and strength, and he was proud to be by her side. As he drifted off to sleep, he looked forward to the challenges and adventures the next day would bring.

In the morning, Dream noticed that Piko left the house WAY earlier than usual.

Dream woke up to the morning light filtering through the window, bringing with it a new day filled with possibilities. As he stepped out of his room, he noticed Piko's door was ajar. Surprised, he knocked lightly and peeked inside, finding the room empty.

"Piko?" he called out, looking around the house, but there was no reply. A glance at the clock confirmed his suspicions. It was way too early for Piko to be out of the house.

With a sense of unease, Dream grabbed his coat and hurried out, hoping to catch up with Piko. He had a feeling that something was amiss, and he was determined to find out what it was.

He found a note on the couch that said 'When the end becomes the beginning, new vows are made and never broken. Find the restrain and break free. If things go wrong, Enjoy the surface for me.' Dream's mind buzzed. Restrain? Surface? Dream's mind put two-and-two together, and figured that she was at the barrier. But if she mention the surface then.... She was trying to break the barrier!

Dream's heart pounded in his chest as he read the note, Piko's handwriting clear and purposeful. His mind raced with the implications of her words. The barrier. It was the only thing keeping monsters trapped underground, away from the surface. And Piko was trying to break it...

With a deep breath, he grabbed the note and stuffed it into his pocket, quickly rushing out of the house. Every second mattered now. If Piko truly intended to break the barrier, there was no telling what consequences it might have.

As he ran towards the cavern that housed the barrier, Dream could only hope that he would reach her in time. The thought of a world without Piko was unbearable. Despite her past and her mistakes, she was their friend, and he wasn't about to let her face this alone.

"Dream!" A voice echoed in the cavern. It was Sans. "I saw Piko run past, she looked... determined. What's going on?"

Before Dream could explain, a sudden surge of energy pulsed from the barrier. The silhouette of Piko, her hand outstretched, was bathed in a red-purple glow.

"Piko!" Dream shouted, fear gripping his heart. He made to rush forward, but Sans held him back.

"Dream, wait!" Sans cautioned. "We don't know what will happen if you go through."

"But we can't just stand here!" Dream argued, desperation creeping into his voice. "She's trying to break the barrier, Sans! We have to help her!"

"But only 7 humans souls can break it! Piko's just one person! The amount of DETERMINATION needed for that will kill her, AND make the barrier stronger!" Sans yelled.

Dream's heart pounded in his chest as he processed Sans' words. He was right. Piko was taking a huge risk, one that could cost her life and make their situation even more dire.

However, leaving Piko to face this alone was not an option for Dream. He clenched his fists, determination welling up within him. "Then we have to stop her, Sans," he said firmly. "We can't let her do this alone."

Without waiting for Sans' response, Dream surged forward, his gaze fixed on the glowing silhouette of Piko. He had to reach her. He had to stop her. For her sake, and for the sake of everyone in the Underground.

Dream heard loud CRACK!s, and Piko fell to her knees. She continued to crawl forward, purple-ish red wisps swarming around her. Dream saw cracks starting to appear on the barrier. She was doing it, Piko was breaking the barrier. But would she live to see the surface?

"Dream, stop!" Sans yelled, but it was too late. Dream was already at the barrier, his hand outstretched.

"Piko!" Dream called out. His voice echoed around the cavern. He could see the strain on Piko's face, the determination in her eyes. She was so close, yet so far. The barrier was cracking under her effort, but at what cost?

"Piko, you have to stop!" Dream pleaded. "You're going to kill yourself!"

But Piko continued to push forward, her expression one of sheer determination. Dream could only watch helplessly as Piko moved closer and closer to the barrier. Would she survive? Would she be able to enjoy the freedom she fought so hard for? Only time would tell.

The force of the explosion sent Dream flying backwards, his body slamming into the cold cavern floor. His ears rang and his vision blurred. He could taste blood in his mouth, and his body screamed in pain.

"Dream!" Sans' voice echoed in the cavern, but it sounded distant, like he was underwater.

With great effort, Dream pushed himself up, his eyes searching for Piko amidst the settling dust. The barrier was gone, sunlight pouring into the cavern for the first time. It was beautiful, and yet, it filled Dream with dread.

"Piko..." he whispered, his voice barely a croak. The last image he had of her was her determined face, pushing against the barrier. Was she okay? Did she survive? Dream didn't know, and the uncertainty was killing him.

His heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled towards the form on the ground. His legs felt like jelly, but he pushed forward, every fiber of his being focused on reaching Piko.

"Piko..." Dream murmured, his voice hoarse. As he neared, he could make out her features. Her skin was pale, her eyes closed. He knelt beside her, his hand shaking as he reached out to touch her.

"Piko, please..." Dream whispered, his voice breaking. "Please be okay..."