Error didn't expect Ink to go with the Spartan kick, but what's done was done. And what was done was weird. Not to knit pick, but Error was hoping to go with a little more style. (A/N: *inserts image of Error doing a backflip into the Void into your brain* you're welcome :))
But, once again, that was over. It was all over now. And Error could finally rest.
Error was in the Void.
He expected it to be painful, but it was rather ... peaceful. If a little eerie. Soon enough a familiar presence made itself known and Error nearly wept in relief. Slowly the presence enveloped him in a gentle hug, so light it was nearly imagined. Error relaxed into his Mom's hold. It had been literal centuries since they had met face to face ... even if her true form could not become corporeal so close to the multiverse, Error still cherished the reunion.
"You have done well my child." Destiny said, also choked up with emotion. He could tell she was proud.
"I've m-m-m-missed you ..." Error told her honestly, as tears finally welled up. Speaking made it feel real.
"I know, sweetie, I know." Destiny reassured. "I've missed you too. But we cannot stay here long. You know what is to be done?"
Error nodded, sadly. "You're s-s-s-sending me away." He thought of those he was leaving behind and trusted they would be well taken care of.
"Just until I can get my sister to reason." Destiny's presence ghosted over Error's skull in reassurance. "The new multiverse is called NaJ. There is no balance to hold and magic has long since gone out of practice, so fear not." She gave a watery, if fond laugh. "Though you do not remember it, you once said you wanted to be a teacher after all this was done."
"Me? A t-t-t-teacher?" Error also laughed, before he gave a soft smile, thinking of the Chara Realm. "... that might b-b-b-be nice."
"I know you'll do amazing." Destiny praised. "Fair-"
"Sorry ta interrupt yo radtasticaly touching reunion, yo." Fresh interjected.
"Wut?" Destiny gave the impression of bafflement.
"F-F-F-Fresh!?" A wave of glitches jolted through his body in shock. "What are you d-d-d-doing here!?"
"I live here, broski!" Fresh said, jovial gesturing to his Void House which was behind him. At least it was now. Don't ask - the Void is weird.
"This should not be possible ..." Destiny said in surprise. "No creature below that of a god should be able to-"
A new presence appeared. It was Void, and he was laughing.
<Well Fresh, you've simply out done yourself now! Hahaha!>
"Void!" Destiny said, surprised yet again and a little annoyed. "What is the meaning of this!"
"Go on, pops." Fresh said. "Tell her."
Void controlled his laughing fit long enough to explain. <Destiny, allow me to introduce you to my Child, Fresh. Admin Fresh.>
"Wut?" That did not seem to help the confusion.
<I jest not, had you been watching Karaoke Night you would have known. I am surprised gossip had not reached you by now.>
"You say that like I wasn't tricking Fate into sending Error to safety." Destiny huffed.
"Speaking of my s-s-s-safety." Error started with a deadpan expression. "I think I'm starting to f-f-f-feel the effects of being in the True Void too long." He held up his heavily glitching hands. "And as much as I a-a-a-absolutely adore the view, do you mind if we s-s-s-speed things along?" Even in this situation, the sarcasm was thick.
"Oh shiz." Destiny exclaimed, being censored by Fresh.
"Aighty, broski's. Inside!" Fresh said, shoving Error into his house, which was now even closer.
And just like the goopy Gaster, Error's appearance righted itself as soon as he crossed the threshold.
Error took a relieved breath, only to wince at his many injuries, prompting Fresh to start healing Error and guide him to the closest bean bag.
Error annoyed eye roll, before looking confused at the oddly familiar seating apparatus.
"Is this my b-b-b-bean bag???" Error then spotted a furby staring at him from the corner. "And what the h-h-h-heck kind of creature is that???"
Fresh merely shrugged, shooing a couple curious furbies into the other rooms, before he looked back out into the Void at the hesitating Deities.
"What cha waitin' for, dawgs? Another invite?" Fresh said. "Well, c'mon, dude-o's!"
Destiny was the first to enter through the door. Her form, while still not physical, appeared humanoid and wispy as if a gaseous ghost of light blue and white. She knelt next to her child and offered a hand to hold, in leu of a hug.
Void was next to appear through the door. Though one could only tell by the feet as his form was just as dark as the True Void that still backdropped him. Void's presence became much more notable once the door had closed.
"Kay first things first my divine dudes." Fresh said, finishing healing Error to the best of his abilities (scars would stay scars). "This plan o' yours? We be scrappin' it." Fresh made an X with his arms. "Consider it gonzo."
"B-But- you wouldn't send him back to that heck hole, would you!?" Destiny basically pleaded. "Please, he has suffered enough!"
"Well, Error-bro." Fresh said, turning his attention to said skeleton. He raised an eyebrow. "Ya really down to up and be leaving all your radical friends to the unrad consequences of there being no Destroyer, yo?"
Error broke eye contact first. "I'm sure Mom has a p-p-p-plan for them to be safe too."
"..." Destiny looked slowly away and the silence drew out.
"MOM!" Error exclaimed incredulously, letting go of her hand. "Tell me you w-w-w-weren't just going to forsake the whole multiverse for me? Few as they are, there are people I'd c-c-c-care if they were to die that kinda live here!"
"Well if things went well, then of course they would be safe." Destiny tried to reassure.
"And i-i-i-if things went poorly?" Error narrowed his gaze.
"..."
By this point Fresh and Void had taken a seat and were sharing popcorn as they watched the drama unfold.
Error crossed his arm and glared at his Mom. He then sighed and retook her hand slowly, expression deep in thought as he avoided looking her in the face. He didn't want to stay mad at her. "... what was the rest of your plan?"
"I ... was going to replace you as the Destroyer."
Error startled at the confession, eye lights snapping to her face as he gripped her hand tighter. "But that w-w-w-would mean-"
Destiny gave her Child a look filled with maternal love. "I would give up my Deity Rank a thousand times if it meant even the smallest chance of fixing this." She gently cupped his cheek, with her free hand. "Despite what you may think at times, you do deserve to be happy." She said firmly.
Error refused to let more tears fall as he looked away. But they were still close to falling.
"So Destiny pal, what would that do?" Fresh asked, reminding them they weren't alone. "Aside, get Error bro ta safety."
"I had hoped that my sister would realize how serious I am and maybe take away the Forced Fates and let the characters maintain the Balance for themselves." Destiny explained. "Before it all implodes, that is."
"And y'all thought that would just work?" Fresh deadpanned.
"The vote was outstandingly positive." Destiny tried to defend.
Fresh raised a brow at Void looking for confirmation.
<Indeed. However, confession to make, I only agreed because I have a feeling that this is all going according to the Server Owner's over all plan to fix it.> Void gave Fresh a once over. <And considering they personally had a hand in editing some of Fresh's code, I think it wise to allow him to take the lead here.>
The popcorn slipped out of Fresh's hold at that surprise. This was the first he was hearing about that.
But taking it in stride, Fresh cleared his throat as he stood, placing hand confidently on his hips. Fresh announced. "Well, the plan's simple, broski's!"
***
At the Party, after Error and Fresh left, Horror returned from his newly resurfaced AU looking over the quiet party using Sci's portable portal app. He tilted his skull at the odd atmosphere.
"... did i ... miss something?" Horror asked.
Cross facepalmed.
Nightmare sighed as he explained Destiny's plan to the group. At first, everyone was shocked and outraged and it eventually turned into complaints.
"that's stupid." Dust.
"the fuk?" Killer.
"what killer said." Cross.
"we're doomed." Lust stated.
"we're fucked." Red agreed.
"well, we could be-" Lust tried.
"n o ." Red rejected.
Sci had ran out of coffee and was blankly staring at the middle distance.
"... so." Horror said, seeing if he processed it correctly. "the multiverse hinges on fate ... growing a conscience?"
There was a pause.
"Well when you put it like that." Nightmare said, now regretting this plan even more. Especially since he could sense his brother's regret without even being in the same AU, it was that potent.
Which was odd. Normally Dream wouldn't let himself feel so negatively in fear of catching Nightmare attention. Nightmare always worried about that bad habit and the lasting damage it could do to his brother. But ever since Fresh's chat with his brother ... It seemed Dream was willing to open up and be more genuine about how he feels.
Further debate was halted when they felt a familiar magic pulse strong enough to cover the multiverse.
***
In the Blank AU with the Star Sans, the aftermath was playing out.
Dream collapsed to his knees as he watched Fresh, the first person to validate him in a long time, took a dive off the edge and into the True Void. Blue was hugging him as they both cried.
Blue gripped his puppet copy close. He knew Error and Fresh weren't dead, but he was almost sure they had both been sent away. Quite possibly forever.
Ink meanwhile stared at the edge. Not knowing that they lived.
"... I don't feel so good." Ink said, before promptly vomiting a rainbow. And it just kept going, the paints trying to make Blue and Purple the most prominent colors, despite Ink not having them in his system.
Classic looked over this scene and sighed as other Sans's were awkwardly trying to figure out if they were supposed to celebrate now. It was a hollow victory, and they all knew it.
Classic really hoped this wasn't going to end the multiverse like last time. It would just Reset if it did until they got it right, so Classic wasn't worried. But he wasn't exactly fond of the idea either.
And just as people were starting to think about going back to their AU's after some basic first aid, they felt it. A magic pulse encompassing the whole multiverse.
And with it, Fresh rose from the Void carrying Error by the scruff of his hoodie, like some oversized pouty kitten.
"ARE ... ARE YOU FLYING!?" Blue exclaimed.
Fresh totally knew that the /fly command would come in handy one day.