fandom: dreamtale, datashift by @datashift-official
characters: AI, Dream
word count:1,214
Summary: Dream accidentally teleports to a different universe and runs into a different Ink.
Teleporting into an entirely new AU always carried it's risks. Dream knew this. But he'd been teleporting from the Omega Timeline - and it shouldn't have taken as much energy as it had in order to get here... The guardian of positivity shook his head a little as he staggered forwards, turning off his eye lights briefly as he tried to concentrate on the beings around him - searching for a consistent source of positivity to pull from. But he could only sense one being - and their emotions were strangely... Muted.
No, muted wasn't the right thing. It felt as if the being's emotions were merely artifice - as if they were painted on... Ink? Dream turned his eye lights on again and squared his shoulders as he teleported over to where the Creative guardian was, hopeful that he would be able to get some help from the other, as he was still very low on magic, and Ink would be able to teleport the both of them to a more positive au... But where were they? It seemed strangely familiar, though it was also... Different somehow. As soon as he saw Ink, he froze in place as he stared at the being in front of him, his eye lights widening in surprise as he took several silent steps backwards.
They were in the Doodlesphere. But not as Dream knew it - the papers were arranged differently, and Ink was wearing what appeared to be a long white lab coat, edged in rainbow colors. He must have traveled to an alternate multiverse accidentally, the capability of doing so caused by the strange properties of the Omega Timeline - from which he had traveled. He needed to find the Core Frisk of this multiverse and ask to please be let in, so that he would be able to travel home. Dream hoped that he hadn't switched with the Dream of this multiverse - as that tended to make things even more of a mess back home, and things were horrifically chaotic as it was already.
The last time that he had traveled to an alternate multiverse, it had been he who had consumed almost all of the apples, and the Ink was working for him as an Assassin, in exchange for positive emotions and a steady place to exist. Dream was unsure as to how to approach the other, or even if he should. This Ink could be villainous, for all he knew, and that would be... Bad. But he shouldn't immediately assume that just because he was in an alternate multiverse, that good was evil, and evil good. Besides, he had to start somewhere, and he wasn't going to make a very good first impression if he immediately fled from the other. He cleared his throat a little, calling out "Uhm... Hello?"
The Ink immediately turned around sharply, a small frown appearing on his face, one eye light blue, the other green as he said "Dream why are yo-... Hello? I do apologize for initially greeting you rudely, the Dream of this multiverse and I had a bit of a falling out years ago... Unfortunate, really as we had been such good friends." The other stopped scowling immediately, as a warm smile appeared on his face, and the other walked towards him, extending a hand forwards.
Dream blinked a little - had he been a bit less tired, he might have noticed that there was something ever so slightly off about the Ink's mannerisms. As it was, he was glad to see a friendly (if slightly different) face. This Ink was... Really tall. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that you don't get along... Is your name also Ink, or do you prefer to be known by something else? I don't want to be rude." He took the other's hand and shook it firmly, trying to to sway a little.
"Ah, I'm known as AI, actually." The other's eye lights shifted colors and shapes several different times very quickly. "Are you alright? You seem a bit unsteady."
"Oh, it's just... I hadn't intended to come to this multiverse - I was trying to go somewhere else in my own, actually. It took a lot of magic out of me, hahaha..." Dream explained, a light golden blsuh appearing on his face.
"So... You can travel AUs on your own? Fascinating, simply fascinating. Forgive me for being so forwards but... I think I can sense you using your magic. Since you're so low, I would suggest that you perhaps stop?" AI suggested, an amused smirk appearing on his face as he wrapped an arm around Dream's shoulders, steadying the other.
"I... Ngh.. You must sense my aura of positivity... It's not something I can exactly turn off, hahaha... Oh... If only I could do something like that. But no. I can't. Though if you could bring me to a... Happier AU, I will be able to recover my magic much faster, than if I stayed here with just you." Dream explained, struggling to keep awake. He yawned a little as he stared up at the other "A post-pacifist swap should do - though I'll perk right up if you take me to a Haventale, if that AU exists in this multiverse... Most post-pacifist timelines will work, though the fells will still have lower levels of positivity than tales or swaps. At least in my Multiverse."
AI hummed a little at that, nodding a little "Very well then. Why do you have a positive Aura? If I may be so bold as to ask. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Am I... Is this version of me not the guardian of positivity? Hmm... I wonder how many differences there are between our multiverses... Oh I don't want to think about it right now, I'm not awake enough for it. I should be able to get out of your not-hair as soon as I speak with Core Frisk.. Accidentally came here through traveling through the OT of my multiverse and stumbled into your Doodlesphere." Dream responded back, allowing the taller skeleton to carry him as his legs had stopped working.
"I have no idea what that is, but you're likely quite important to your multiverse. No doubt the Nightmare of your multiverse is quite worried that you're not home yet... Which is where I was guessing that you were trying to go?" AI prodded lightly, clearly curious.
Dream couldn't help the tiny sob that left his lips, and he buried his face in his hands, his body shaking. He didn't need to be reminded of Nightmare right now "I... Ha... Hahaha... Nightmare he... Ngh... I'd rather not talk about him, e-either."
"Of course... I hadn't meant to accidentally speak of a sensitive topic." AI responded sympathetically, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he lightly touched one of the pages that would lead them to an Underswap timeline. "Once you're feeling up to it, I really would like to have an in-depth conversation with you about your multiverse and your theories on just how you managed to leave your own. I have a feeling that we will have a great deal to discuss."
"Of... Of course, AI..." Dream responded with a small smile, unaware of just what he was getting himself into.
