Chapter 13

A chill ran down Dream's spine as he overheard the conversation. His heart pounded in his chest, fear gripping him as he realized what they were talking about - they were planning to harm Piko.

Without wasting a second, Dream followed the voices, moving as quietly as he could. He turned a corner and spotted a group of humans, their faces twisted in cruelty and malice. In the middle of them was Piko, her face pale but determined.

A wave of fury washed over Dream, but he knew he had to be careful. He couldn't risk making a scene and causing a panic. He needed to get Piko out of there safely.

Taking a deep breath, Dream stealthily approached the group, ready to do whatever it took to protect Piko.

The two human men had a gun, and were pointing it at her. Her hands were up, and her breath was quick. When they saw Dream, one of them said "I told you." The other one snorted. "You take care of that thing. I got the worm."

Fear coursed through Dream's veins, but he pushed it down. He had to be strong, for Piko.

As the man turned towards him, Dream squared his shoulders and met his gaze head on. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but he refused to show any sign of fear.

"I'm not here to cause trouble," Dream said, keeping his voice steady. "I just want to take Piko and leave."

The man laughed, a cold, harsh sound. "And why would we let you do that?"

Dream took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. "Because if you don't," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "you'll regret it."

It was a bluff, of course. Dream didn't want to fight, didn't want to cause any more harm. But he would do whatever it took to protect Piko. He just hoped that the man would believe him.

The man chuckled, and softly punched his own hand as a sign of aggression. As both the men closed in on their targets, the last Dream saw of Piko was her eyes. They had a familiar hue of red, as her breath got faster and faster.

The sight of Piko's red eyes filled with determination gave Dream an unexpected surge of confidence. She was scared, but she was also ready to fight. They would get through this, together.

As the man lunged towards him, Dream did his best to dodge his attacks. He wasn't a fighter, but he was quick and agile. He used that to his advantage, moving around the man, trying to tire him out.

Meanwhile, he kept an eye on Piko. She was focused on the other man, who was slowly advancing towards her with the gun. Her eyes were glowing brighter, and Dream could almost feel the intensity of her passion.

"Piko!" he called out, hoping to distract the man. "Remember your PASSION!"

He didn't know if she heard him, but he hoped that she did. He hoped that she would remember her strength and use it to protect herself. Because right now, they needed all the strength they could get.

yet the hue of her eyes also reminded Dream of when her LOVE made her get taken over by... whatever that black stuff was. When she was overwhelmed with so much Levels Of ViolencE, she'd killed a few monsters. The only reason why those monsters were alive was because of the reset. She could be dangerous. Beyond her own control. Her LOVE spiked only when provoked.

Dream's heart clenched at the memory. It was a dark time, one that Piko had struggled hard to forget. But he knew that she had grown since then, had learned to control her power and use it for good.

He had to trust her. He had to believe that she could handle this, that she wouldn't let herself be consumed by the darkness again.

"Piko!" Dream called out again, his voice desperate. "You can do this! I believe in you!"

He could see the man with the gun getting closer to Piko, his eyes filled with malice. Dream's heart pounded in his chest, fear gripping him. But he couldn't let his fear control him. He had to stay strong, for Piko.

"Dream..." Piko's voice echoed in his head, her voice filled with determination. "I won't let them hurt you. I won't let them hurt us."

And with that, Piko sprang into action, her eyes glowing brighter than ever.

She lunged at the man with a gun. He yelped, and shot. He just barely missed. He started to reload, when she landed on top of him. She punched him in the face. He fell unconscious. The man that had gone after Dream swung a punch, but missed when he heard the gunshot. He swung around to punch again, And Dream squeezed his eyes shut. Yet he stopped. When Dream opened his eyes, he saw a red-ish purple sword had pierced the man through the heart. The sword retracted, and the man fell down. Piko was shaking. She stared at the sword in her hand before dropping it. She stared at her shaking hand, eyes wide.

The scene around them was silent for a long moment, the only sound the shallow breathing of the unconscious man and the distant noise of the city. Dream was frozen in place, staring at Piko, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

He was scared, terrified even, but not of Piko. He was scared for her. He knew how much she hated violence, how much she hated to hurt others. And now, she had been forced to do just that.

"Piko..." Dream began slowly, his voice shaking slightly. He moved towards her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Piko, it's okay. You did what you had to do."

Piko didn't respond, her eyes still wide and her body shaking. Dream reached out and gently took her hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly.

"We need to go," he said, gently pulling her away from the scene. "We need to get somewhere safe."

As they left, Dream couldn't help but look back at the two men lying on the ground. He felt a pang of regret, but he knew that there was no other choice. Piko had protected them, had saved them.

And for that, he was grateful.

"W....we.... need to..... c-c-call...." She said, pulling away and facing the two men on the ground.

Dream quickly pulled out his phone, glancing at Piko as he dialed the numbers. "Yes, we need to inform the authorities," he said, his voice steadier now.

As he reported the incident, he kept a close eye on Piko. She was still shaking, her eyes wide and filled with shock. He wished he could do something, anything, to take away her pain and fear.

Once he was done with the call, he turned back to Piko. "Piko," he said gently, "We've done what we need to do here. We should leave."

He could see the internal battle raging within her, the guilt and fear warring with her sense of duty and responsibility. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and gently took her hand again.

"Piko," he said, his voice soft but firm, "You did what you had to do. You protected us. You protected yourself. It's okay."

He wasn't sure if she believed him, but he hoped that she would. Because despite the terrible situation, Dream was proud of Piko. She had shown courage and strength, had stood up against those who wanted to hurt them.

And for that, she was a hero.

She was still shaking. She didn't even respond. Her eyes were glowing a terrified red.

Seeing Piko like this broke Dream's heart. He'd seen her scared before, but this was different. This was a raw, bone-deep fear that she couldn't seem to shake off. He wished he could take it all away, bear the burden for her, but he couldn't.

"Piko," he tried again, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, look at me."

When she didn't respond, Dream gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Her eyes were still glowing red, but there was something else in them, too. A deep sadness, a profound regret.

"You did what you had to do," he repeated. "And I'm so, so proud of you."

He expected her to pull away, to reject his words, but she didn't. Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes searching his for something. For what, he wasn't sure.

"Let's go home, Piko," he said softly. "We can talk about this there."

He didn't know if she would listen, if she would even understand, but he had to try. Because Piko wasn't just his friend. She was his family. And he would do anything to help her.

At her house, Piko sat down on the couch, still trying to fathom what just happened.

Dream watched her from the doorway, his heart aching for her. He wanted to help, to comfort her, but he didn't know how. He felt helpless, and he hated it.

After a moment, he moved to the kitchen and boiled some water. Tea might help soothe her, he thought. It was a small gesture, but it was all he could do right now.

Once the tea was ready, he carefully brought it to the living room and set it down on the coffee table in front of Piko. She didn't seem to notice, her gaze still fixed on a spot on the floor.

"Piko," Dream said softly, sitting down next to her on the couch. "I...I know this is hard. I know you're scared. But you're not alone. I'm here with you."

He reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

Piko didn't respond, but she didn't pull her hand away either. That was a start, Dream thought. A small, but important start.

And so, they sat there in silence, hand in hand, as Dream hoped his presence could provide at least a little bit of comfort for Piko.

Dream watched her from the doorway, his heart aching for her. He wanted to help, to comfort her, but he didn't know how. He felt helpless, and he hated it.

After a moment, he moved to the kitchen and boiled some water. Tea might help soothe her, he thought. It was a small gesture, but it was all he could do right now.

Once the tea was ready, he carefully brought it to the living room and set it down on the coffee table in front of Piko. She didn't seem to notice, her gaze still fixed on a spot on the floor.

"Piko," Dream said softly, sitting down next to her on the couch. "I...I know this is hard. I know you're scared. But you're not alone. I'm here with you."

He reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

Piko didn't respond, but she didn't pull her hand away either. That was a start, Dream thought. A small, but important start.

And so, they sat there in silence, hand in hand, as Dream hoped his presence could provide at least a little bit of comfort for Piko.

July 26,2023

With her other hand, she reached up to her neck. She pulled out her necklace, the music note one that Dream had given her in the underground, and started to fiddle with it. She started to take deep breaths.

Dream watched as Piko played with the necklace, a small glimmer of hope sparking in his chest. That necklace had been a symbol of their friendship, a constant reminder of their bond and shared past. It was a source of comfort for both of them, a tangible reminder that they were never alone.

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze, hoping to provide some semblance of comfort through his touch. He didn't say anything, didn't want to interrupt her thoughts.

After a few moments, Piko finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I...I didn't want to hurt them," she said, her eyes filled with tears. "But I had to...I had to protect..."

Dream nodded, understanding the unspoken words. "I know, Piko," he said softly. "You did what you had to do. And I'm proud of you."

Piko's tears spilled over, but she didn't move to wipe them away. Instead, she clung to Dream's hand and the necklace, grounding herself in their shared past and shared pain.

And in that moment, Dream knew that they would get through this. Together, they would face whatever came their way. Because that's what they did. They faced the world together, hand in hand, side by side. And no matter how hard it got, they would never let go.

"Hey, um, guys? What is this?" Ava asked, holding up a letter. It was a calling from cort. Dream didn't have to read it to know that it was about what just happened.

Dream felt a wave of dread wash over him as Ava held up the court summons. It was a stark reminder of the reality of their situation. They were in deep trouble, and there was no running from it.

Taking a deep breath, Dream reached out and took the letter from Ava. He scanned the contents quickly, confirming his suspicions. "It's a court summons," he said grimly. "For Piko and I."

Ava's eyes widened in shock. "But...but you guys didn't do anything wrong! Those guys were trying to hurt Piko!"

"Yes, but...the law doesn't always see it that way," Dream said, forcing himself to stay calm for Ava's sake. "We...we'll have to go to court and explain our side of the story."

He glanced at Piko, who was still clutching his hand and the necklace. Her eyes were wide and fearful, but there was a hint of determination there as well.

"We'll handle this," Dream said, squeezing Piko's hand reassuringly. "We'll stick together, like we always do, and we'll get through this. Okay?"

As Ava nodded, still looking worried, Dream hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. Because while he trusted in their bond and their friendship, he couldn't help but worry about what lay ahead. But for now, all they could do was stick together and face whatever came their way. Together.

Seeing Piko drink the tea was a small relief to Dream. It was a sign that she was calming down, even if it was just a little. He watched her closely, taking note of the color returning to her eyes.

"That's it, Piko," he encouraged softly. "Just take it easy. We'll figure this out."

He wasn't sure if his words were of any comfort, but it was all he could offer at the moment. He squeezed her hand again, a silent promise that he was there for her, no matter what.

Looking at Ava, he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "We'll handle this, Ava. We've faced tougher challenges before."

His words were as much for himself as they were for the girls. They were in a tough spot, yes, but they were not alone. They had each other. And together, Dream believed they could overcome anything.

The next day, they went to court.

As they entered the courtroom, Dream could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on them. The room was filled with a cold, sterile atmosphere that made his skin crawl. He glanced at Piko, her face pale but determined, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

They were led to their seats, and Dream took a deep breath, steadying himself. He looked around at the stern faces of the judge and jury, the bustling lawyers, and the spectators watching them with curious, judgmental eyes.

As the trial began, Dream did his best to keep his composure. He answered the lawyers' questions clearly and honestly, doing his best to explain their side of the story.

Beside him, Piko remained silent, her eyes downcast. Dream could tell she was frightened, but she was doing her best to hide it. He wished he could take her fear away, but all he could do was be there for her.

It was a long, grueling day, leaving them both mentally and emotionally drained. But as they left the courtroom, Dream found a small glimmer of hope. They had told their story, and now all they could do was hope that the jury believed them.

No matter what, Dream knew they would face the outcome together. Because that's what they did. They stuck together, no matter what.

They all rose for the judge, and sat back down. "May the defendant please come up to the stand?" The judge said. Piko stood up. "How do you plead for the assault of Michael plawsworth and the murder of Chiplan coulter?" The Prosecution asked. Piko took a deep breath. "Guilty. I plead guilty." Everyone exchanged glances. "You see? The murderer confesses!" The prosecution said. The judge then said "Accused, you may speak."

As Piko rose to speak, Dream could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He watched her, his eyes filled with concern and admiration. Despite her fear, she was standing up for herself, accepting the consequences of her actions.

"Your Honor," Piko began, her voice steady despite her nerves. "I did what I had to do. I was protecting myself and my friend. I didn't want to hurt Mr. Plawsworth or Mr. Coulter. But they left me with no choice. They attacked us."

Dream watched as Piko recounted the events of that fateful night, her words painting a vivid picture of their fear and desperation. He watched the jury, their faces carefully neutral, but he could see a flicker of sympathy in some of their eyes.

As Piko finished her statement, the room fell silent. Then, the judge spoke. "Thank you for your honesty, Miss Piko. This court will adjourn for deliberations. We will reconvene tomorrow for the verdict."

As they left the courtroom, Dream felt a mix of hope and fear. Piko had spoken her truth, and now all they could do was wait. But no matter the outcome, Dream knew they would face it together. Because that's what friends do. They stick together, no matter what.

"Yet do you have any witnesses of this?" The judge asked. Piko nodded. "Yes your honor. May I call Dream... um, unknown last name to the stand?" She said, motioning to Dream.

Dream felt his heart rate quicken as he heard his name. He stood up, giving Piko a small nod of encouragement before he moved towards the stand. As he took his place, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

"Please state your name for the record," the judge directed.

"Dream," he stated simply. He didn't have a last name, not one he could share, anyway.

"And can you confirm Miss Piko's version of events?" the judge asked.

"I can, Your Honor," Dream said confidently, his gaze steady. "Everything Piko said is true. We were attacked. She defended us."

The room fell silent as Dream's words echoed in the courtroom. He could feel the weight of the jury's gaze on him, could see the wheels turning in their minds as they considered his words.

He only hoped it would be enough.

"Can you please explain the story in more detail, Mr Dream?" Piko's lawer asked.

"Of course," Dream said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "It was late. Piko and I were walking home from a friend's house. We had just turned a corner when Mr. Plawsworth and Mr. Coulter approached us. They were... aggressive. Threatening."

He paused, glancing at the jury. "They demanded our money, our phones. We tried to comply, hoping that would be the end of it. But it wasn't. They became violent. They... they attacked Piko."

His voice shook slightly at the memory, but he forced himself to continue. "Piko defended herself. She fought back. It was self-defense. She... she didn't have a choice."

He fell silent, letting his words sink in. The courtroom was quiet, everyone listening intently to his account of the events. He could only hope it was enough to convince them of Piko's innocence.

"Alright. Thank you Mr Dream, that'll be all." Piko's lawer said.

Dream gave a nod, acknowledging the lawyer's words. "You're welcome," he said, giving Piko a small, reassuring smile as he moved away from the stand.

As he retook his seat, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He had done his part, had told their story as honestly and accurately as he could. Now, it was out of their hands. All they could do was wait and hope.

He looked over at Piko, reaching out to give her hand a gentle squeeze. "We did all we could," he murmured to her, hoping his words would bring her some comfort.

No matter what the jury decided, Dream knew they would face the outcome together. Because that's what they did. They stuck together, no matter what. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Well there's not much to say, ms Piko. You pleaded guilty, so the only thing that we can discuss is what your sentence is." The jury said.

A heavy silence fell over the room at the jury's words. Piko had confessed, had taken responsibility for her actions. Now, it was just a matter of what her punishment would be.

Dream felt his heart sink. He had hoped for a different outcome, had hoped that the jury would see Piko's actions as self-defense. But it seemed like that was not the case.

He glanced at Piko, her face pale but composed. He could only imagine what was going through her head. Despite the heavy atmosphere, he reached out to give her hand another reassuring squeeze.

"No matter what happens," he whispered to her, "I'll be there for you."

It wasn't much, but it was all he could offer. And he meant every word. No matter what the jury decided, Dream would stand by Piko. Because that's what friends do.

"We will ask if the families of the two victims are pressing charges. But for now this court session is come to an end." The judge said. Two guards came up to Piko. "Ma'm please follow us." Piko gave Dream a nod saying she was ok, and followed them.

As Piko was led away, Dream felt a hollow ache in his chest. He kept his gaze on her until the last possible moment, her nod of reassurance doing little to quell his worry.

Once she was out of sight, Dream felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ava, her face pale but determined. "We'll get through this, Dream," she said. "We'll find a way to help Piko."

Dream nodded, appreciating Ava's support. "We will," he affirmed. "We won't abandon her."

They left the courtroom together, the heavy silence of the room lingering in their minds. But despite the gravity of the situation, Dream felt a small flicker of hope.

They would find a way to help Piko. They had to. Because that's what friends do. They stick together, no matter what.

That night, Piko didn't come home. She was in prison until the court session tomorrow.

As the night fell, the reality of Piko's absence hit Dream hard. Their shared home felt empty and cold without her presence. He found himself glancing at her empty chair, her untouched tea cup, reminders of the friend who was currently locked away in a cell.

Ava remained quiet, her worry for Piko evident in her silence. She didn't try to fill the silence with forced cheerfulness or hollow reassurances. Instead, she let the silence stand, a testament to their shared concern.

Dream spent the night restlessly, his mind filled with worries and what-ifs. He thought of Piko, alone in her cell, and felt a pang of guilt. He should have done more, should have protected her better.

As the first light of dawn peeked through the window, Dream made a promise to himself. He would do everything in his power to help Piko. He would stand by her, support her, fight for her.

Because that's what friends do. They stick together, no matter what.

The news hit Dream like a punch to the gut. Three years. Piko would be locked away for years, separated from her friends and her home. The thought was almost too much to bear.

Ava took the news hard as well. She was quiet, her usually bright eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "This isn't fair," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Piko didn't deserve this."

"I know," Dream said quietly, his heart heavy. "But we'll get through this. Together."

In the days that followed, Dream and Ava did their best to continue their lives without Piko. They visited her when they could, bringing her books, food, and news from the outside.

It was hard, but they were determined to support Piko in any way they could. They wrote letters, made phone calls, even organized a small protest outside the courthouse. They did everything in their power to make Piko's time in jail a little more bearable.

And throughout it all, Dream held onto his hope. Piko was strong. She would get through this. And when she did, they would be there, waiting for her.

Because that's what friends do. They stick together, no matter what.

One day, around the 2nd month, Dream got a letter asking him to ask mettaton to visit from Piko.

Dream was surprised by the request, but he didn't hesitate. He knew how much Piko admired Mettaton, how much she looked up to him. If anyone could cheer her up, it was him.

He quickly penned a letter to Mettaton, explaining the situation and asking if he would visit Piko. He wasn't sure if Mettaton would agree, but he had to try. For Piko's sake.

He sent the letter and waited, hoping for a positive response. In the meantime, he continued to visit Piko, bringing her small gifts and updates from the outside world. He could tell she was struggling, but he admired her strength. She was holding on, staying strong despite everything.

When the response from Mettaton came, it was better than Dream could have hoped for. Mettaton agreed to visit Piko, expressing his sympathy for her situation.

Dream couldn't wait to tell Piko the news. He knew it would bring her some much-needed joy, a bright spot in her otherwise dreary days. And for that, he was grateful. Grateful to Mettaton, and grateful for the chance to bring a smile to Piko's face.

A few weeks later, He saw mettaton on TV. He said "This is a song that was written and requested by one of my fans, Piko Scythe, also the ambassador for the underground. This Song is for you darling!" Mettaton began to sing, and Dream realized why she'd asked mettaton to come in.

As Mettaton's melodious voice filled the room, Dream couldn't help but tear up. The song was beautiful, filled with hope and resilience, a testament to Piko's strength and determination. It was the perfect tribute to their brave friend.

He thought of Piko, alone in her cell, and hoped that she was watching. He hoped that she could hear Mettaton's song, that she could feel the love and support pouring out from every note.

When the song ended, Mettaton gave a graceful bow. "Remember, darlings," he said, looking directly into the camera. "No matter how hard things get, never lose hope. Keep fighting, keep dreaming. Because you are loved, and you are not alone."

Dream took those words to heart. They were a reminder of their mission, their promise to Piko. They would not abandon her. They would keep fighting, keep hoping.

And when Piko was finally free, they would be there, waiting for her. Ready to welcome her home with open arms.

Because that's what friends do. They stick together, no matter what.