Chapter 6

In the morning, he saw that Piko HAD returned, but when she came out of her room, she walked towards the bathroom, hiding one side of her face.

Dream's concern deepened, noticing Piko's odd behavior. He quickly got up from his seat and approached her. "Piko, are you okay?" he asked, trying to catch a glimpse of the side she was hiding.

She didn't respond, continuing her path to the bathroom. Worried, Dream followed her. "Piko, talk to me. What happened?"

Once they were in the bathroom, Piko finally revealed her face. A large bruise covered her cheek, the skin discolored and swelling. Dream gasped, horrified at the sight. "Piko, who did this to you?" he asked, his voice shaking with anger and concern.

Piko didn't meet his gaze, her expression pained. "It was an accident," she mumbled, "I... I fell during my shift."

Dream didn't believe her. He knew Piko was strong and coordinated, she wouldn't get such a bad bruise from a simple fall. But he also knew that pressing her for answers wouldn't help, so he decided to focus on getting her help.

"Let's clean this up," he said gently, reaching for the first aid kit. "We need to reduce the swelling and make sure it doesn't get infected."

"Piko," Dream said softly but insistently, "you're hurt. Let me help."

He gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bathtub, opening the first aid kit and getting out what he needed. He soaked a cloth in cold water, then gently held it to her bruised cheek. Piko winced slightly but didn't pull away.

As Dream tended to her injury, he could feel tension radiating off her. Her silence told him more than words ever could. Something had happened during her night shift, something she was unwilling - or unable - to talk about.

"Dream..." Piko began, her voice barely above a whisper. He looked at her, encouraging her to continue. She hesitated, then sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to hide this from you."

"It's okay, Piko," Dream reassured her, giving her a soft smile. "We all have our moments. But remember, you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, okay?"

Piko nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Okay, Dream. Thank you."

After the bruise was taken care of, Piko looked at the time and said "Shilo and bros, I got to go! I'm late!"

"Piko, wait!" Dream called out as she rushed towards the door. "You're still recovering. You need to rest."

"I can't, Dream," Piko said, pausing in the doorway. "There's too much to do."

Dream sighed, knowing he couldn't force her to stay. "At least promise me you'll take it easy," he pleaded. "And if you need anything, anything at all, call me."

Piko turned to look at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I promise, Dream. And thank you, for everything."

With that, she was gone, leaving Dream alone with his thoughts. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease, the fear that Piko was hiding something more. But for now, all he could do was trust her and hope that she would keep her promise.

Thats when Dream remembered. She said that she had the nightshift. So why was she doing the morning shift as well?

A sense of dread filled Dream as he realized the implications. Piko had been working harder than ever, taking on extra shifts and barely resting. This wasn't like her at all. She was always so diligent about taking care of herself.

Concerned, Dream quickly grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, intent on finding Piko. He knew she was strong and capable, but he also knew she had a tendency to push herself too hard, to put others before herself.

"Dream, where are you going?" Mettaton asked as Dream hurried past him.

"I need to find Piko," Dream replied, not slowing down. "She's been working too much and I'm worried about her."

Mettaton nodded, understanding. "I'll cover for you, Dream. Go find her."

Grateful, Dream gave Mettaton a quick nod of thanks before continuing on his way. He had to find Piko and make sure she was okay. He had a sinking feeling that something was very wrong.

"Doggo, it's your shift!" Dream stopped around the corner when he heard it. "Don't see why we even need shifts if your so 'Devoted to your work.' Besides, dontcha want to save human comin this way like 'th traitor you are?" Doggo asked, picking his teeth with a bone. "I wouldn't say that if I were you." Piko said, putting an hand on his desk. "An why not? Your justa commanding officer. While Im a sergeant major." Doggo stood up and growled. "Doggo! Stand down." Sans said, coming up from beside Piko. Sans knew about this?! "Oh yeah? Well Im tired of this little brat stickn her nose in where it doesn't belong. And I don't care if Im fired. Just wanna put her in her place." Doggo raised his fist, and punched Piko. She yelped as she was thrown back. There was a drizzle of blood where Doggo had used his claws. "Doggo!" Sans yelled agitated.

Dream's blood boiled as he watched the scene unfold. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Piko, his friend, being assaulted by Doggo. And Sans, who knew about this all along and did nothing to prevent it.

Without thinking, Dream rushed forward, placing himself between Piko and Doggo. "Enough, Doggo!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. "You're out of line!"

Doggo sneered at him, but he didn't make a move to attack again. Instead, he turned to Sans. "You gonna let this human defend her, Sans?"

Sans, for his part, didn't look phased. "Dream's right, Doggo. You're out of line. Now, stand down, or you'll have to deal with me."

Doggo backed down, grumbling under his breath. Once he was sure Doggo wouldn't attack again, Dream turned to Piko, concern etched on his face. "Piko, are you okay?"

Piko nodded, wiping the blood from her face. "I'm fine, Dream. Thank you."

"Let me take you to the infirmary," Dream insisted, offering his arm for support. "You need to get that checked out."

Piko didn't argue, allowing Dream to lead her away. As they walked, Dream couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Piko was safe, for now. But he knew that they would have to deal with Doggo sooner or later.

As they walked, Dream heard Piko mumble something under her breath.

"Pardon?" Dream asked, leaning closer to her. "What did you say, Piko?"

"I said... I could have taken him." Piko said, angry. Her shoulders were tense.

Dream sighed, understanding her frustration. "I know you could have, Piko. But that's not the point. You shouldn't have to fight your own team members. We're supposed to be working together, not against each other."

Piko looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and gratitude. "You're right, Dream. Thank you for stepping in."

Dream nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Anytime, Piko. We're in this together, remember?"

Piko nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "I remember, Dream. And I'm grateful for it."

"But still. He deserves it. Right now I'm noting everything I might have done wrong. Let down my guard, approaching with my weapon sheathed, helmet off." Dream couldn't believe what Piko was saying right now. Piko had taken and memorized an oath to protect monsters from all harm, but now she was talking about fighting one.

"Piko," Dream said softly, placing a hand on her arm. "Listen to me. This isn't your fault. You haven't done anything wrong. Doggo is the one at fault here, not you."

"But I could have-"

"No," he cut her off. "You were doing your job. You're not expected to anticipate an attack from one of your own. This is on Doggo, not you."

Piko was silent for a moment, her gaze dropping to the floor. Then, finally, she nodded. "You're right, Dream. I just... I guess I just need some time to process all this."

"Take all the time you need, Piko," Dream said. "I'm here for you, no matter what."

Piko gave him a small smile, genuine gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Dream. That means a lot to me."

In the infirmary, Alphys came up to Piko and asked "U-um, O-Officer P-Piko? C-can I t-talk with you for a moment?"

Piko turned towards Alphys, confusion written on her face. "Of course, Alphys. What is it?"

Dream, sensing that it might be a private conversation, took a step back. "I'll be right over there if you need me, Piko." He gestured towards a nearby chair before walking away.

Piko nodded at him before turning her attention back to Alphys. "What's on your mind, Alphys?" she asked, her tone gentle. Despite her own troubles, Piko was always ready to lend an ear to others. That was one of the many reasons why Dream admired her.

"I-I-I need to run a few test real quick, m-may I?" Alphys held up some cords that looked like they would check Piko's pulse. Piko nodded, and held out her arm. Alphys connected some cords onto Piko's wrist, and asked "M-may I see y-your soul?" Piko showed Alphy's her soul, and Alphys connected the rest of the cords to it. Her eyes widened only a little when she saw that the soul was a red-ish purple. She read the readings on her screen, and her eyes widened a lot. "O-o-oh no. Oh Nonono...."

Dream looked up from his spot as he heard Alphys' panicked voice. He quickly rose from his chair, approaching the two. "What's wrong, Alphys?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Alphys didn't answer right away, her eyes glued to the screen. She reached out a shaky hand to change the screen's settings, as if hoping that it was a mistake.

Dream glanced at Piko, who looked just as confused as he felt. "Piko, are you feeling okay?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. But he couldn't help the worry seeping into his tone. Something was wrong, he could feel it. But he had no idea what it could be.

Dream exchanged a worried glance with Piko before following Alphys. He had a sinking feeling in his gut as they walked down the long, sterile hallway. Alphys led them to a small room filled with various medical equipment.

"S-sit down, Piko," Alphys stuttered, gesturing to an examination table.

Piko did as instructed, looking up at Alphys with a questioning gaze. "Alphys, what's going on?"

Alphys didn't answer right away, busying herself with setting up a machine next to the table.

"Piko," Dream started, his voice shaky. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out, okay?"

Piko nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "I know, Dream. And thank you."

Before Dream could respond, Alphys turned to face them, her expression solemn. "I-I think I might know what's happening, b-but I need to run a f-few more tests to be sure."

Dream nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Okay, Alphys. Do what you need to do."

After running tests, Alphys concluded "Y-yeah, i-it's- Here's, um... It appears your LOVE has spiked..." Dream had never heard of LOVE, other than the feeling. But Alphys said it like it was an acronym.

"LOVE?" Dream echoed, glancing at Piko, who looked just as confused as he was. "What do you mean, Alphys?"

"W-well," Alphys began, fiddling with her glasses nervously, "LOVE stands for Level Of ViolencE. It's, um, a measure of someone's capacity to harm. The more someone kills, the more their LOVE increases."

Dream felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Piko was capable of defending herself, but the idea of her killing... it was hard to believe.

"But Piko hasn't killed anyone," Dream said, looking at Alphys for confirmation.

"N-no, she hasn't," Alphys confirmed. "But her LOVE... it's unusually high. I-it's as if she's been thinking about h-harming others a lot."

"But I haven't!" Piko protested. "I mean, yeah, I thought about fighting Doggo, but I would never actually hurt him."

Alphys nodded, looking relieved. "That's good, Piko. But we should still monitor your LOVE. If it continues to rise... well, it could be dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Dream asked, feeling a knot of fear in his stomach. "How so?"

"Well, high levels of LOVE can lead to a lack of empathy, and even aggression," Alphys explained. "In extreme cases, it can even cause physical changes."

Dream felt his heart drop. He turned to look at Piko, who was staring at Alphys in shock.

"We'll keep an eye on it, Piko," Dream assured her, squeezing her hand. "We won't let anything happen to you."

"Th-that's why humans i-in the past have been treated with death. Only humans have LOVE, it comes with the DETERMINATION of a human's soul. S-so of course they have more than us monsters, if monster have it. Only Boss monsters have LOVE..." Alphys said as they walked out the door. "O-oh, and Dream?"

Dream paused, turning back to look at Alphys. "Yes, Alphys?" he asked, his heart still pounding from the revelation.

"I-it might be a good idea to keep an eye on Piko, especially when she's around other monsters," Alphys suggested hesitantly. "Just in case her LOVE spikes again."

Dream nodded, understanding the implication. "I will, Alphys. Thank you."

With that, he turned and followed Piko out of the infirmary, his mind racing. This was a lot to take in, but he knew one thing for certain: he would do whatever it took to protect Piko, and to help her navigate this unexpected challenge.

"Th-that and take this." Alphys handed Dream a roll of what looked like needles. "I-if she starts to act overly aggressive, to the point of killing, put this in her soul, and withdraw. They'll take out DETERMINATION, and lower her LOVE. But only take out as much as you need. Taking out too much could kill her. Don't let her know about this, in case she DOES turn... that violent. Okay?"

Dream took the roll from Alphys, his hand shaking slightly. The weight of what he was holding sunk in. This wasn't just a roll of needles; it was a potentially life-saving tool, but also a potentially deadly one.

"I understand, Alphys," Dream said, his voice firm. "I won't let it come to that, but if it does... I'll do what needs to be done."

Alphys nodded, looking relieved. "Thank you, Dream. I know it's a lot to take in, but I trust you to do the right thing."

Dream nodded, tucking the roll into his pocket. He then left the infirmary, his mind buzzing with thoughts and fears. He had a lot to think about, and a lot to prepare for. But he knew that he would do whatever it took to protect Piko, no matter what.

The next day, Dream decided to go and spy a bit around when Piko's shift ended. Again, she went up to Doggo. Doggo started and argument. "Who do you think you are?! You think you're better than me?!" Doggo growled. "Oh. I don't think I'm better than you. I KNOW I'm STRONGER than you." Piko said. Doggo swung to punch her. This time she dodged and grabbed his fist. She twisted it and held it down on the desk. He yelped and howled ever time he tried to break free. Dream thought at first this counted as violence, but truth was, she wasn't hurting him, she was restraining him. That and He was hurting HIMSELF by trying to struggle.

Dream remained hidden, watching the scene unfold. He could see the tension in Piko's body, the controlled force with which she kept Doggo pinned. Every time Doggo howled and struggled, Piko's grip tightened, but she never once sought to inflict pain.

He felt a twinge of pride for Piko. She was standing up for herself, showing Doggo that she wouldn't be bullied. But at the same time, he was acutely aware of Alphys' warnings. He kept his hand near the pocket containing the roll of needles, ready to intervene if necessary.

After what felt like an eternity, other officers arrived and pulled Doggo away. Piko let go of his hand and straightened, her gaze never leaving Doggo's.

Dream continued to watch as Piko calmly explained to the officers what had happened. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. Piko had handled the situation perfectly—she'd defended herself without resorting to violence.

Still, as Dream left his hiding spot and made his way back, he couldn't shake off a nagging feeling of unease. Despite everything, Piko's LOVE level had escalated. The thought of using the needles on her made his stomach churn. But if it came to that, he'd have to do it.

For now, all he could do was keep an eye on Piko and hope for the best.

One day, on Piko's day off, Papyrus came up to her. "Piko? Might I ask you something?" Piko turned her attention to him. "Sure. What's up?" "Well your in the royal guard, so I was wondering if you could perhaps help ME train to be in there. So I can be even more great when I'm in it." Papyrus said. "Sure Pap. We can spar a bit." Piko said.

Dream, who had been quietly observing from a distance, felt his breath hitch. He knew Papyrus meant well, but sparring... That could be a trigger for Piko's violent thoughts. He discreetly moved closer, ready to intervene if necessary.

The two of them found an open area and Piko started with the basics, demonstrating stances and explaining the importance of balance. Papyrus watched with rapt attention, mimicking her movements.

Despite his initial unease, Dream found himself impressed by Piko's patience and teaching ability. She was calm, detailed in her explanations, and most importantly, showed no signs of aggression.

Papyrus, for his part, was an eager student. He listened intently, practiced diligently, and took Piko's corrections in stride.

The spar that followed was more of a friendly bout. Piko was careful to keep her attacks controlled, always giving Papyrus a chance to counter. Papyrus, on the other hand, was all enthusiasm and energy, his attacks more wild but harmless.

Dream relaxed, letting out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Maybe Piko's LOVE level was not as big of an issue as they had thought. Or maybe Piko was just that good at controlling it. Either way, Dream felt a surge of hope. Maybe they could navigate this after all.

Yet every time they sparred, Piko kept encouraging Papyrus to put power into it. To 'Not hold back'. Meaning she was telling Papyrus to not be afraid of hurting her. Over their sessions, she would shout "Come on Paps, Hit me with it!" "Enough defence, try offence!" "Don't pull your punches!" It's almost as if Piko WANTED to get hurt.

Dream's initial relief started to ebb away as he noticed Piko's strange encouragement. She seemed to be almost goading Papyrus into hitting her harder, and that was concerning. Was this a manifestation of her rising LOVE? Was she seeking out violence, even if it was directed towards herself?

"Piko! That's enough!" Dream finally called out, unable to hide his concern any longer.

Both Piko and Papyrus paused, turning towards him. Papyrus looked confused, but Piko... there was something unreadable in her eyes.

"Dream?" Papyrus asked, breaking the heavy silence. "Is something wrong?"

Dream looked at Piko, trying to see if she understood his concern. "Piko, we should talk," he said, hoping she would follow him away from Papyrus. He didn't want to involve the skeleton in this, not if he could help it.

"What is it? Dream, nothing's wrong." Piko said.

Dream shot a glance at Papyrus, who looked between them with growing concern. "Can we talk in private, Piko?" he asked, his tone serious.

Piko seemed taken aback by his insistence, but she nodded. "Sure, Dream."

He led her away from the training area, his mind racing with how to tackle this conversation. He didn't want to upset Piko, or make her feel like she was being attacked, but he also needed her to understand the gravity of the situation.

Once they were out of earshot, Dream turned to face Piko. "Piko, I'm worried about you," he began, keeping his voice steady. "The way you've been pushing Papyrus... it's like you're trying to provoke him. Like you want him to hurt you. Why?"

"What? Dream, I don't want him to hurt me. I'm just saying that if He wants to get in the royal guard, he can't be afraid of doing some damage." Piko said.

Dream sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Piko, but there's a difference between teaching someone to be strong and encouraging them to hurt you. I'm just... I'm worried about you. And I think it's part of this... this LOVE thing."

Piko looked taken aback, her eyes widening slightly. "Dream, I... I didn't realize. I didn't mean to worry you."

Dream gave her a small, tired smile. "I know you didn't, Piko. But we need to be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Piko nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "I understand, Dream. I'll be more careful. I promise."

Dream let out a sigh of relief, pulling Piko into a quick hug before releasing her. "Thank you, Piko."

As they made their way back to Papyrus, Dream felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Maybe they could handle this after all. With communication and understanding, they could navigate this strange, new challenge together.

"But then again, how's a battle going to be fun without a little pain." Piko said.

Dream's relief was immediately replaced with a new wave of concern. He turned to look at Piko, his brows furrowed in worry. "Piko," he started, choosing his words carefully, "battle isn't supposed to be 'fun'. And it's definitely not about causing or receiving pain."

Piko looked at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes before it was replaced with understanding. "I... I see," she replied.

Dream sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Piko, we need to be careful with this. It's okay to be strong, to defend yourself, but taking pleasure in violence... that's not healthy."

Piko nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You're right, Dream. I didn't realize that... I'll be more careful."

"Thank you, Piko," Dream breathed, feeling a little lighter. It was clear that they still had a lot to work through, but it was a start.

A few days later, Dream saw the news. It said "REBELS, BREAKING OUT OF PRISON! ROYAL GUARD ALL THE WAY FROM SNOWDIN BATTLING!"

Dream's heart pounded in his chest as he read the news headline. His first thought was of Piko. Was she okay? Was she involved in the battle? He knew she was strong, but he also knew the dangerous implications of her high LOVE level.

Without a second thought, Dream rushed out of his house, heading towards Snowdin. He needed to make sure Piko was safe. As he ran, his mind raced with worry and fear. He could only hope that he would reach her in time.

He couldn't get through to Piko till the battle was done. When it was, he saw Piko come out, looking horrified. She was stained with blood, but... it wasn't hers. She was shaking.

Dream's heart dropped at the sight of Piko. The blood staining her clothes, the terror in her eyes... it was a sight he never wanted to see again. He rushed over to her, barely noticing the chaos around them.

"Piko!" he called out, reaching out to steady her as she swayed on her feet. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Piko shook her head, her eyes wide and unseeing. "I... I didn't... I didn't want to..." she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Dream wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "Shh, it's okay, Piko. It's over now," he murmured, trying to comfort her.

But he knew it wasn't over. Not really. This was just the beginning of a new, terrifying chapter in their lives. And Dream couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in his heart.

"I... I need to... I... I need to think." She said, walking home.

Dream nodded, respecting her need for space. He quietly followed behind her, ready to offer support if she needed it. The walk back to their home was long and silent, the only sounds being their footsteps and the occasional distant echo of the chaos they'd left behind.

Once they arrived home, Piko disappeared into her room without a word. Dream didn't try to stop her. He knew she needed time to process what had happened.

As he sat alone in the quiet house, Dream couldn't help but worry. He knew Piko was strong, but this... this was something else entirely. He hoped she would come to him when she was ready to talk. Until then, he could only wait and hope for the best.

Dream heard music from a small piano come from her room. He heard her singing.

Dream's heart ached as he listened to Piko's quiet singing. The lyrics were haunting, filled with regret and despair. It was clear that the day's events had deeply affected her. He wished he could take away her pain, but he knew that wasn't possible. All he could do was be there for her, support her as best as he could.

After a moment, he quietly approached her room, knocking softly on the door. "Piko?" he called out, keeping his voice gentle. "Can I come in?"

"...If you want." She said.

Dream took a deep breath and gently opened the door, stepping into Piko's room. He saw her sitting at her small piano, her fingers lightly resting on the keys. Her face was pale, and there was a haunted look in her eyes that made his heart ache.

"Piko," he began softly, closing the door behind him. "I... I heard you singing. I just wanted to see if you're okay."

Piko gave him a faint smile, her fingers idly playing a soft melody on the piano. "I'm... I'm not sure, Dream. I just... I need some time to think."

Dream nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need, Piko. I'm here for you, okay?"

Piko nodded, her gaze dropping back to the piano keys. "Thank you, Dream."

As Dream left the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Whatever had happened during that battle, it had deeply affected Piko. And he knew that things were about to change, and not necessarily for the better.

After a few moments, he heard her singing get quieter, laid down by guilt.

The sound of Piko's agonized singing sent a jolt of pain through Dream's heart. The guilt and confusion in her voice were palpable, and he wished more than anything that he could take away her pain.

"Piko," he whispered, pressing his hand against the door. He wanted to go in, to comfort her, but he also knew she needed space. "Please, Piko... you're not alone in this."

He didn't know if she could hear him. He didn't know if his words could reach her in her current state. But he had to try. For Piko's sake, and for his own, he had to try.