Brush your teeth before you cross the road

Schizophrenia - a mental health condition where you may see, hear or believe things that are not real

Dream sat outside beneath the Tree of Feelings, admiring the sunrise in all of it's glory. The sky was a pretty blend of yellow, pink and blue with a few dark pinkish clouds dotted around and framing the rising sun. Beams of sunlight casted a warm, golden glow on the land and made the few small ponds glitter like a thousand gemstones. The cheerful song of birds could be heard from within the many trees around the land. They sang together in harmony making Dream smile softly and relax against the bark of the Tree of Feelings. He had forgotten how nice it was to sit outside and just watch the sun rise and awaken from it's slumber. It made him feel warm and at ease. He stayed outside for a while, observing the sunrise and listening intently to the birds chirruping melodically and the leaves swaying gently in the pleasant breeze.

He'd come out here to clear his mind and it seemed to have worked perfectly. Lately he's been stressing about Nightmare. He's worried for him. He doesn't understand what's happening but something isn't right- he knows that much. Dream really wants to be able to help him yet how can he when his brother won't tell him? They used to tell each other everything- their dreams, nightmares, hopes, fears. Now Nightmare is hiding whatever is happening from him and he doesn't understand why or what to do about it. Dream's smile turned sad and he released a small sigh. 

They'd get through whatever this is- he's sure of it. It'll most likely be difficult but he'd try his best to help his brother and be there for him. He promised he'd always be by his brother's side and he intends to keep that promise. He'll never go back on his word. Dream nodded to himself, rising to his feet and smoothing down his crinkled clothing. 

"Dream."

The guardian let out a squeak, spinning around with wide eyes and meeting familiar mismatched eyes. He stared dumbfounded at Error, wondering why of all people the destroyer would come and visit him.

"Error?" 

The destroyer glanced towards the two guardian's house in the distance before meeting Dream's bewildered eyes again. 

"Nightmare is still asleep."

Dream blinked.

"Well, yeah. It's like, five in the morning."

Error rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"There's something really wrong with him." He stated, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes slightly. 

Dream tilted his head, slight annoyance in his expression.

"What do you mean by that?" 

"What I mean, is that he seems to be fighting with himself." Error answered with a slight edge in his tone. "And I don't mean putting himself down though I suppose that could be a part of it, but he's physically hurting himself at night or when no one is around. I've seen him injure himself while calling out for something to stop hurting him!"

Dream had no idea how to register what the destroyer had said. It didn't make much sense yet at the same time it did. But why? Why was Nightmare hurting himself?

"I don't understand." Dream stammered, thinking about how his brother has been acting recently. His eyes widened a fraction as a certain memory wove it's way into his mind. He remembered the nightmare he'd had when his brother transformed into a tar-like monster. He inwardly shuddered, wondering if that had anything to do with it. He's also noticed how Nightmare often talks to himself in either a defiant or scared tone, like he's actually having a conversation with someone.

In fact, yesterday Dream had overheard him in the kitchen arguing with seemingly nothing. The guardian of negativity had been almost challenging himself, spitting out words of contempt only to end up falling quiet mid-sentence as if something had silenced him. When Dream asked about it later that day, Nightmare just brushed it off saying it was nothing to worry about.

"Maybe he has schizophrenia." Error suggested, snapping Dream out of his thoughts.

"Schizophrenia?" Dream asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Yeah." Error replied. "It's when you see and hear things that aren't real. I've been watching your brother sleep-"

"What?"

"And I've noticed how he talks and argues with himself- fighting like I mentioned before."

"Why are you watching my brother sleep?"

"Does he sometimes look distracted or talk to himself?" The destroyer asked, trying to see if he could puzzle everything together. 

Dream hummed and nodded.

"Yeah- I've heard him arguing with himself and sometimes it's as if he's looking at something that isn't there." Dream replied. "A few days ago we were playing tag and he suddenly stopped running away from me and seemed to just stare blankly at something that wasn't there. When I tagged him, he snapped out of it and looked around dazed and frantic."

Error narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the information. 

"That definitely sounds like it could possibly be schizophrenia." He concluded. "I have similar symptoms though I don't attack myself."

Dream blinked.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know you had it."

Error shrugged.

"I don't believe I have it but Ink keeps mocking me about it."

Dream frowned. That's not very nice- he thought Ink was super friendly!

"Anyway," Error started, dismissing the subject with a wave of his hand. "We need to help your brother, will you trust me to help? I know you hate me."

Dream frowned deeper, feeling a sudden pang of guilt.

"I don't hate you- not anymore." He mumbled. "You're Nightmare's best friend and I can tell you really do just want to help. I'm sorry I thought you were evil."

"Oh I was evil." Error corrected. "But maybe I don't want to be the bad guy anymore." 

Dream let out a small breath of amusement, smiling slightly at the glitchy skeleton.

"I trust you." Dream declared, nodding at his decision.

Error's eyes widened a fraction. He hadn't expected that to be so easy.

"Oh, awesome." He answered somewhat awkwardly. 

Dream chuckled. He could understand how him and Nightmare got along so well- they were very similar, minus the whole 'destroying alternate universes.'

"So we'll have a truce?" Dream asked. "You're not just going to up and destroy this universe, right?"

Error scoffed.

"I'll try not to, I guess."

The two gave each other a toothy grin and shook each other's hand in agreement. 

'This is good' Dream thought to himself. Now that he and Error are working together they should have a better chance at helping Nightmare through this mess. Maybe he could convince Blueberry and Ink too. 

Ink observed the two from a distance, completely devoid of emotion.

--End--

This is also short (like Ink hAh) but again I have no brain today and my mind don't work. This isn't even what I meant to write it was supposed to be Dream wanting to play but Nightmare refusing idk how this happened-

Brush teeth before road