Error.404 Has Crashed

Ch. 5 Part 1

Blue caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned to see where it came from, but before he could, a voice asked, "dOn'T yOu kNOw hOw tO gReEt aN oLd fRieNd? tuRn arOunD aNd sHAke mY haNd." The figure extended a hand forward to him.

Blue instantly knew who it was. He turned around and joyously shook Error's hand, the thrill of their first meeting coming back to him.

Blue wanted to tell Error that he missed him, but the words wouldn't form in his mouth. Instead, he let the moment sink in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Use your senses!

There is no way he is here alone!

Error did not care about what his voices were yelling at him about. He was thrilled to see Blue again. Blue was the only 'sane' person in the whole multiverse to treat him like a friend; sane as in what a certain Creator and his allies think. Technically, Error thought. They are. Doesn't mean they don't have souls or anything... he added sarcastically.

"i aCtUAlLy nEEd tO tAlK tO yOu abOuT sOmetHing," he told Blue.

"What is it?" Blue replied. Error remembered what it felt like to have someone to talk to, and relished the feeling.

"iT's aBoUt thE muLtiVErSe. it'S rUnNinG oUt oF rOOm, anD InK cAn'T sEe tHat."

Blue looked surprised, but not too surprised. "That's not good. We've got to stop this somehow." Blue had that determined look in his eyes, and Error knew he was going to try to help any way he can. They started brainstorming.

"fiGhTinG wOn't woRK, wE stiLl hAve tO kEEP soMe kInd oF bAlAncE."

"Talking won't work, you've told me too many times to count that Ink doesn't listen to you, and I doubt he'll listen to me."

Blue and Error looked at each other. "i'Ll rUn iT pAsT NiGhTmAre aNd sEe whAt hE tHiNks."

"Okay. It was nice to see you again."

Error detected anger and longing in Blue's voice.

He could never imagine what Blue had been through in the past two and a half months, but he knew he didn't take it well. Anger at his brother, for imprisoning him in his home for so long. Longing for freedom; Error figured that was the only thing that got Blue through that period. There was something else in Blue voice, Error realized, a hint of relief. Relief about what, Error didn't know, but his voices revealed more than they probably wanted to.

Ha! It's you!

But he shouldn't care...?

You're just going to make things worse for the both of you!

Me? Error thought. "yoU tOo. sEe yOu aGAin aT soMe pOint."

"But, what about Ink?"

"hA! i'D liKe tO sEe hIm tRy tO sToP mE!"

Error gave Blue a quick wave goodbye and teleported to the Anti Void to recollect himself before going to Nightmare's place. Only after leaving did he realize how much he missed Blue. He swallowed it up, knowing it would not help, and teleported to Nightmare's domain.

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Nightmare was in the kitchen. Somehow, Killer got his hands on some of Cross's chocolate. It was not a pretty sight. There were tables tipped and a few of the cabinet doors hung open. What was remarkable was that most of the cabinet doors were torn off and jumbled in a sort of pile on the floor. Killer and Cross were laying flat on their backs on the floor, deeply heaving, amidst all the chaos and clutter.