[One of my dear readers rekavok_sanyikaim made a drawing, based on what I asked in the previous chapter, for now you can find it in the Mah beautiful artbook. But later on, with they permission, will also appear in the story. Thank you again, I really appreciate it 😊]
["Thoughts of Nightmare / Palette"
"Thoughts of Error / Goth"
AU= Alternative Universe
Warnings: Mention of destruction and death, restlessness, questioning Ink capacity and a little piece from his past, mention-level indifference.]
– It's time to start the meeting! I think you all know why we're here! What happened yesterday is a very serious problem! Many of you were even affected or present during the rescue operation! But for the sake of those who don't know way we're here, I'll tell you! Yesterday, several worlds collapsed and perished, in addition, an energy wave was detectable throughout the whole Multiverse! Based on the information so far, we are sure that the two are linked, but I would rather leave the details to the professionals! – Ink with this officially starting the meeting.
Many squirmed and whispered among each other as he spoke, the restlessness grew and everyone wanted answers.
"They comportment make that clear, they don't respect him enough, to be able to listen calmly all the way through! But dis is Ink's fault too, for trying to play a leader for all of them at the same time! When I spoke as Nightmare something like this never happened, they always listen it to everything I say! But dis could have something to do with the fact, he didn't spoke unnecessary! Everyone was conscious enough, to give signal if they wanted to speak!
And I let them talk depending on the situation, time and person! And I also took the time to teach them how to respect me! Error was the only one who was present as an equal! But he always kept his distance from being seen as another leader! Regardless, no one respected him less than me, just as no one bowed before him, like they did in front of me, after all, they all known that I was their king, while Error was our ally!" he thought back proudly.
After finishing what had to say, Ink sat down and Sci and a couple of researchers, scientists and informants stood up to report their findings.
– We have placed several machines for research, but due to the sort amount of time, we do not have all the data, yet! It would need more time for that, but given the situation, we will share what we have achieved so far! As Ink mentioned, the two events are undoubtedly related, and we are not sure whether the energy wave caused these crashes or was a warning about the collapse, for the part of the Multiverse! The data is a bit chaotic, due to the fast pace of events... Regardless, we've managed to track down two waves! One started from Oceantale and went through the entire Multiverse, while the other started from the cave of Dancetale and only went through the AU... Neither did any visible damage to the AU itself from which it started, but both affected other Au's! Unfortunately, we haven't been able to trace the specific place where the wave started in Ocentale, yet... But we've already set up several devices in Dancetale's cave to gather information, the area around the collapsed worlds and Oceantale! We will notify the council, as soon as we find anything useful! – finished the report the seemingly sleepless Sci, while also showing several diagram and information to those who were interested and understood. At times he stopped drinking coffee and let the others talk as well.
"They did a pretty thorough job, compared to how little time they had! Yet, no one noticed that the Muliverse was falling apart... Fate?" Nightmare / Palette addressed it in a suspicious voice, the response was just laughter. After hearing it he just sighed to himself. He didn't want to deal with Fate right now, the time will come, when he will deal with it.
– Let's continue with some damage reports! How many worlds were lost, how many died? – Mafia bringing the mentality of mafia meetings.
– More than 100 worlds have collapsed and billions have died... We can't provide more specific numbers, until Reapertale not lets us look at the info, about the collected souls! But we all know that this is not an option! – Sci sure it won't happen. – Maybe, Ink can help with specific numbers of worlds... – turning the majority's attention towards him.
– Honestly, since several worlds collapsed at once, I am not sure of the numbers... But it could have been around 147-233... – Ink a little uncertain.
– You say it, you feel every destroyed AU, then how are you not able to tell? – Crimson (Underfell Papayrus) critically.
– Try to tell exactly where it hurts, when it hurts in several places at once! – snapped back Ink. – Anyway, it's different when a world naturally dies... – he added hesitantly.
– Are you saying what happened was natural? – Fell outraged.
– No, I'm just saying it felt like it was... – Ink a little thoughtful.
"It's really interesting information and it makes sense, after all, the wave has only given the collapsing worlds the final blow!" Nightmare / Palette quietly watching what was said.
– Is there any idea what might have caused the wave? – Classic is still keeping an eye on the subject.
– We're not sure, but it's quite likely that it was caused by the crash! – Color answered him. What Nightmare/Palette sees as a bit strange, Color was smarter than to really believe it...
"Now he's just speaking for others or has some other reason to mislead them..." Nightmare/Palette thought, this was an information worth looking into.
– If so, why did start from Oceantale and Dancetale? – Ocean visibly stressed.
– Probably because these Au's were in the epicenter of the event – Dream trying to calm him down.
– There's something about what Dream is saying... – Sci over studying the data. Ocean accepted with a hesitant nod, seeing the logic in the words. – But according to our theory, the wave overloaded the Au's and that's why they collapsed... And if we find the cause of the wave, we can prevent it from happening again! – added Sci.
– Then we have nothing to worry about? – Crimson (Underfell Papayrus).
– We don't know enough yet to make that statement! – Color pointed out. Crimson (Underfell Papayrus)'s face showed his displeasure, but he didn't say anything in the end.
– I know it doesn't really fit the main topic! But I want to report about the case of missing children's... Since the case was officially closed yesterday! – Candy hesitantly.
– Go ahead! – allowed him Dream with a soft smile, hoping it brought good news.
– Based on the clues, we know they knew each other and went to Flowertale together, where they were walked into a giant Trickyscrem... It was another tragic accident... We've already done what we needed, to make sure dis will not repeat! – Candy words saddens many of them, including Dream.
– Only I feel like, the tragic accidents, have increased in recent years... – Dance voiced his bitterness.
– It's hard to say, after all, in darker times it's harder to notice... – Razz realistically.
– This is quite thought-provoking info... – Honey (UnderSwap Papayrus).
– Unfortunately, we could not say the exact date of their death, but based on the report of the disappearances, it could have happened one or two days after the celebration in Outertale! We've already notified the parents about it! – Candy continued the report. – I am sorry, I could not provide better news, but I definitely wanted to tell the progress and result at this meeting! – He added, seeing the sorrow caused by the news.
– You don't have to apologize, it's not your fault! Thank you and the search team for the work! – comforted him Dream.
– Now that we know what happened to the kids, can we get back to the original topic?! – Vermilion (Underfell Undyne) impatiently.
– Of course! Do have any suggestions for the situation? – Ink also happy to change the subject.
– If we don't know what caused the crashes, then what can we do to prevent it! – Mafia pointing to the main problem.
"So far, everything is going according to plan! The revenge has been officially declared an accident! And they are not even sure about the cause of the wave and crash!" Nightmare/Palette smiling to himself.
– What if it really was natural? – Ink suggested.
– How could this be natural? – Fell blurted out.
– It's not the first time when worlds have collapsed – Ink shrugging.
– Yes, but not dis much! Not as far as we know about it! Unless Ink hid it from us... – Katana questioned him in a calm voice.
– How could I have kept such a big event a secret? – Ink a little offended. Forgetting the period when the Multiverse was more closed and most Au's were busy with Resets. And in the absence of company, he made one world after another, not caring about the collapsing, not working worlds. After all, as a new artist, he too needed time and practice, so the worlds he created could remain alive.
Ink didn't really care about anything at the time, just enjoyed the ability to create... It is only after the opening of the Multiverse and appearance of Error; Ink actual begin to pay more attention to protecting them.
It didn't matter before that time, after all, he wasn't attached to anyone yet. And everything was just a game. It didn't matter until they naturally collapsed... Never ever suspected, that at times toes word were lost because of his negligent work.
The destruction of Error, on the other hand, frightened and infuriated him, after all, he gains his vials and his emotions with them, from the Au's and for Creating the Au's. He was at least as terrified of the thought of emptiness, as he was for begin forgotten, to be left alone or a world without colors. He was addicted to the emotions given by the Vials. And because of this the existence of the Au's and making new one.
And the presence of Error makes him to greatly reconsider the importance of Au's. After all, every Au's Error destroys physically hurt him... After Error started destroying, there were fewer naturally destroyed worlds, but that was a detail that didn't really stand out to anyone because the constant fighting.
Error consciously did this, because he thought worlds better be destroyed by his hand. Of course, due to too many tasks and later responsibilities collapsing at him at once, he did not always have the time and opportunity to be there. So, like Ink, he learned to live with it.
[Sorry, I've wandered off again...]
– Ink is right, dis is not something that he could hide! – Dream staying in his side, not ever suspecting what Ink had done in the past.
– Instead of blaming, we should focus on what we can do! – Color in a soothing tone.
– While the one in charge are looking for the answer, we could find a way to deal with the survivors! After all, caring for so many persons in the short term can cause problem, and a solution should be found for them and those affected, as soon as possible! – suggested Nightmare / Palette in a calm voice, grabbing everyone's attention, surprising many and gaining their recognition with his intelligent words. – Do have any idea, how are we going to house and feed them? – diverting the conversation in a different direction.
– Ink could make them new Au's – Candy without thinking too much about it.
– And what are you going to do with them, while it's done? – Nightmare / Palette not ever a little appreciating his answer.
– Palette is right, creating an AU is time consuming! And we cannot expect them, to wait in these circumstances, until the AU are finished... – Dream pointed out the problem with his plan.
– What do you mean, time consuming? He used to make one in a few hours! It's not because you two, become way to comfortable?! – Vermilion (Underfell Undyne) disapprovingly.
– Alternates already had a basic, but creating a whole new world is not that easy and it is more time consuming! – educated him Ink, grimly for being questioned.
– And what about the pocket dimensions or the Omega timeline? – Vermilion (Underfell Undyne) not having every detail of the rescue operation.
– Pocket dimensions are too dangerous! And if they stay on the Omega timeline, we still have to build houses and figuring out a functioning system! We can't expect Core to do everything! – Medic tried.
[I don't know the character, I just found it on the net.]
– All right then, let's choose those who will deal with it! – Dream.
– We could involve the survivors to distract them from what happened! – suggested Nightmare / Palette.
– Good idea, my treasure! – Dream is pleased that Palette is handling the situation so well.
– We should provide food, materials and thinks like that during the construction! – pointed out Nightmare / Palette, wearing a smile like he was happy for the praise. It actually bothered him and made him a little annoyed. Because it treated him like a child and yes, he knows it was technically a kid, but nonetheless, the attitude of the adults was no less annoying.
– I will lead the team responsible for food! – volunteered Blue enthusiastically.
– I'm taking part in the construction! – Ink impatiently to create.
– Fell and I are leading the construction! – Classic, after all this is not the first time it has taken part something like this.
– I'll handle the paperwork! – Color already tired of the thought of so many papers.
– I think Medic, Sci and the others who noticeable sleepless and tried, should rest! – Nightmare / Palette in a firm voice, leaving no room for opposition.
– Palette is right, Astronomy and I will be watching the device, equipment put out to collect information's, while you relax! – Outer told Sci gratefully that Palette had mentioned it.
Then a lot of tasks were handed out and everyone left a little calmer, seeing how the situation was handled. And those who took or were given a task, started to process with the task. Razz was responsible for dealing with possible fights and troubled individuals. Nova helped oversee the delivery of the materials, while Palette had to keep the kid's occupant.
"It's better, then playing emotional support with Dream again!" Nightmare / Palette thought to himself when he took the task voluntary. Luckily, he could handle children younger than him quite well. It was an ability; he had gathered during his present life. He had just taken advantage of his storytelling ability, capturing the attention of children of various ages, who had recently suffered a loss. Among the kids, were a few with similar age with him and a little older.