There was something different now.
Dream was no longer following Tommy around. It had been weeks since anything had happened, and he had a feeling that he would know if something did. He didn't need to stay by Tommy all the time. After all, Tommy was a magnet for trouble because of his nature, not necessarily the cause of it. The biggest problems seemed to happen to him because of his former actions, not as direct consequences of his actions. There were, and would remain, tensions between the other Dream and Tommy, but so far neither had made a move.
Dream was currently flying aimlessly around the forest, looking for anything interesting. It was true that peace was productive, but it certainly wasn't entertaining. People on the server were building things, sure, and progressing in general, but for Dream, it was just boring. After all, he couldn't use weapons or armor, so he didn't need to grind to get them.
Having nothing else to do, Dream decided to test something he had found recently.
Dream landed on the ground lightly. In this form, he didn't really have substance. He didn't need food, and he couldn't take damage.
But something was different now.
Whatever had happened with the ender chest had changed something about the way this world worked. And the way he worked. Something fundamental.
Concentrating, Dream held his breath, then took a single step forward.
And it worked. His foot came down, if not solid, then certainly semi-solid, on the ground.
Grass beneath his feet again. It had been so long.
Even before he had died, he hadn't felt grass like this for a while. In his final days, there had been more conflict than not, and he went around everywhere in his armor. That much he remembered.
And before that? He still couldn't remember. His memories were returning with the advent of the ender chest, but they weren't entirely back yet. All he knew was that there had been cold rock, for much longer than there should have been.
Dream looked around the forest, and then began to walk.
This was the place. The first place.
Where he had come from, so long ago. He remembered memories, happy. His, and not. He had been here, and he had witnessed himself here.
What a strange feeling. He knew now that this was the very same world that he had first come from, before he died, but he couldn't remember anything. It wasn't blurry anymore, though. It was like a wall stopped him when he tried to reach for something. It was more honest than the soft feeling of vague memory he used to get, before the ender chest.
He still remembered the strange light and dark that day, and he still wondered. But right now, he didn't want to worry about that.
No, this world wasn't perfect. No, he didn't know everything. He didn't even know everything about himself.
But that was okay. Because in the end, he was confident that he would know why. And that would be enough.
Dream paused when he heard a humming sound. He stepped back, becoming ethereal once more. He instantly missed the feeling of grass under his feet, but he tried to ignore that as he stepped forward, following the vague humming.
There was another person here.
He must be new to this world. His name was Wilbur. Dream smiled beneath his mask. He saw memories of darkness when he looked at Wilbur. But there was also a light standing against it. The darkness was tinged faintly red. Yes, this man would be instrumental in his fight against the Nightmare. But Dream wouldn't reveal himself just yet.
He saw a spark growing into a flame in his memories. And Tommy at the center of it. Each new face brought new revelations.
For now, Dream would watch. Perhaps he would help, perhaps not. But he would wait until he was needed.
And Dream was not needed to start a business. Which turned out to be exactly what Wilbur decided to do first.
After building his camarvan, Wilbur went to recruit his first partner.