Chapter Text
Two cousins were goofing off. Lux and Crescent. Their parents, once enemies now come together by an otherworldly entity. However, this story isn't about their parents, or at least, not yet. Lux and Crescent were chasing each other, childish for their age as they were both 16, but who cares, life is great for them. Most troubles between AUs had been solved years ago. Years ago by that otherworldly entity. Their "aunt" yet she wasn't related to them at all. She had been the one to bridge the AUs and bring peace, she helped solve the relationship between Nightmare and Dream, which was thought to be impossible. However, if it were, neither Lux or Crescent would be here, even if they would've been, they would've been enemies. Though since they don't have to worry about it, they'll play for as long as they want...
Or that's what they think.
Somewhere else, there's a meeting between Dream, Nightmare, Ink, Error, Reaper, Geno, and ☟︎♏︎❒︎. They haven't had a serious meeting in years, however with the urgency displayed by ☟︎♏︎❒︎, they didn't dare miss it. They all sat at a round table, awaiting what would be said by ☟︎♏︎❒︎. Nightmare had noticed his dear friend had been acting off for a while, he asked but got no definite answer from her. After a minute of silence, she spoke.
"I'm sorry to say but.. my powers are fading, as you all know, my powers keep me attached to this world, even past me, the memories everyone holds of me, but now? If it's fading, then all progress I've done will fade with me. If this happens, then you all know that the multiverse will change drastically, the lives built may disappear completely and return to war."
The group was shocked, the idea her powers could fade with unbelievable. Nightmare wasn't willing to accept this. He shouted "Well how do we stop it?! We've gone on adventures before, and we'll do it again!"
All his friend did, was shake her head. The group all realized that for once, not even she could fix it. She always had a plan, or an idea, but this time she simply had nothing. Absolutely nothing. Dream sighed and asked "What preparations should we take? Are there any"
She nodded. "Yes, but you all may not like the idea. If I am to disappear, there's still a chance the life built here may stay, just without me. If a small group is sent back in time and repeat what I did but in their way, then everything will be okay. Your lives will be just like they are today, absolutely perfect and peaceful. "
Nightmare hated this idea. Life without his friend? The one who had returned him to his passive form? The one who fixed his relationship with his brother? The only person willing to have reached out to him during his time of greatest need? No. No way. He's going to be in that group and find a way to fix everything. He'll make sure life with ☟︎♏︎❒︎ will happen. "I volunteer" he said, "I'll go and find a way to bring your magic back too."
His friend shook her head. "Nightmare, no one in this room can be the ones to do it. With what magic I have left, I saw one possibility. If Lux, Crescent, Paperjam, and Goth all go, then there may be just a sliver of chance you may keep your lives"
Geno wasn't fond of this, he shouted "You're making our kids go?! Goth is only 15! There's no adults in that group! The oldest is 16! It's a suicide mission! I'm not going to risk having my child killed! We'll go! We have experience, especially Ink, Nightmare, and Error!"
Reaper chimed in, wanting to defend his lover, and keep his kid safe. "Yeah! You can't seriously expect us to send our kids into the most dangerous times of our lives! They aren't ready, they haven't gone through life like we have! They aren't used to how things used to be, Goth can hardly use his magic!"
Their friend sighed and raised her voice "We have no choice! Would you rather have a reality they don't exist?! We have no chance at all other than this! We have no time! The magic in my soul is depleting fast. If they don't go, they won't be here at all."
Ink contemplated for a second. Then spoke up. "Paperjam will go, he's the most capable. If there's no other way, then we'll do what has to be done." Error looked at his lover, but sighed "He maKes a decent point, your juDgement is always correct, as much as I hate it, PapeRjam and the other's must gO." Everyone else around the table thought, and began to agree. If there's truly no other way, then this is all they can truly do. Send their kids into the past, to keep those same kids safe. Ironic isn't it?
Eventually, the four kids were gathered up, none of them knowing why they were put into this room all together, all they know is it's an urgent matter. An urgent matter none of them have ever known in their lives, the worst was figuring out who broke something. Yet the way their parents were acting somewhat scared them. Crescent wanted to figure out why his father was so stressed, Lux just wanted to comfort her parents, Paperjam wanted to return back to his games, and Goth was just worried. Eventually their parents and "aunt" walked in.
"There is not much time for me to explain, I hope you forgive me on that, but we need your help. You all know my judgement has never failed me, and I regret to say that my magic is fading. I need your help to maintain the life everyone has here, the life you all have here. You've heard the stories of what we did in the past, stories of our adventures, it's time for you to live it. I need you all to go back and take my place."
The group stared at her, shocked. They had never been asked of such a thing from her. Occasionally they'd been asked of small tasks, never to this scale. Crescent assumed it was some sort of joke. A prank. It can't be real. He didn't think she was truly serious. In what world would anyone ask a bunch of 16 year olds to go back in time?! However, his "aunt's" face told him all he needed to know. She was completely serious. Only Paperjam looked excited, Goth looked absolutely terrified.
"You can't be serious right?! I-I haven't even learned that much magic! I-I don't wanna go!" Goth shouted as a desperate attempt to get out of this situation. Lux was in agreement with this. "YEAH! You can't seriously expect us to go back in time where our parents were their most dangerous!"
"I'm sorry, but it's either this or lose your existence entirely. I'm sure none of you want such a thing to happen"
The group all thought for a second, then either nodded or let out small mutters of agreement. Their "aunt" all handed them each a necklace with a heart shaped pendant. Crescent got a light blue, Lux got a light purple, Paperjam got a pink, and Goth got a dark red. None of them knew what this was for, they all just assumed it was some sort of gift.
"Alright, I'm going to open a portal. All four of you must go in okay?" Then with that, their "aunt" used what little magic she had remaining to open a portal for them, the other side could not be seen. Crescent was the first one to walk up, but not before his cousin Lux went up with him, grabbing his wrist, as they both walked through. Paperjam was next, he inhaled (with what lungs bro) and stepped through. Finally, Goth walked up and hesitated, before stepping through.
Lux and Crescent appeared in the same place, it was a dark, the walls were painted black, neither of them at the moment knew where they were. Lux turned back to talk to Paperjam and Goth
"Let's stick to-..gether.."
When she looked back, there was no one there. Paperjam and Goth had gotten separated. For now, they'd all have to take their own paths if they wanted to keep their lives intact.