-Nightmare's Castle Throne Room-
Cobalt paced in front of the empty throne glancing at the five Gasters the team was able to find impressive really. Given the almost total annihilation rate of Gasters. These five were sain, not evil, still in existence, and scientists. "Do you know why you have been invited here?"
LittleTale Gaster raised a hand looking nervous. "You need scientists and no one outside our AU's will notice us going missing unlike a Sans?"
"Well you're not wrong but not completely right either I plan to bring in a few Sans later." Cobalt smiled at him. "I am glad to see you have a realistic view. At this point I don't care if the Multiverse knows what we are doing. No we brought you in because you are not lazy and we have three months to save ourselves. "
The Gasters trade looks. Then Flowerfell #7962 Gaster asked, "It is about the anomaly that is destabilizing the Multiverse isn't it?"
Cobalt looked him dead in the sockets. "Yes two of the four balancers that held our Multiverse stable are gone, murdered or as good as. We believe we have a reference to another Multiverse. We need a stable portal to get there and are willing to take you and yours with us in exchange for building it."
HavenTale #8 Gaster looked at him worried. "What's about everyone else?"
Cobalt smiles but there wasn't anything warm or happy about it. "Oh we are giving them a copy of the plans and whatever you make after all we won't need it anymore. And I want them to live a very long time. I want them to feel their sins crawling up their backs every fucking day and to wake screaming at night from dreaming about it. I want to give them one last broken grace."
Flowerfell Gaster laughs while Haven looks sick. "I am so in. Maybe you can get my brats to grow a backbone."
-With Error-
It hadn't taken long to get everything packed up. Soon Error was in his jacket, bag on his shoulders and holding both kids in his arms. Of course it took a lot of convincing - Not listening and doing it anyway, then proceeding to ignore all the protests - to make the others let him wear the bag as they felt it would be too much weight for his bones.
When Skull asked Nightmare why he didn't try to stop him he just smirked. "I have never been able to turn him from his course or convince him my way was better so why waste my time and energy."
Error wasn't stupid, if he is going to be walking into a trap then he is going to keep the kids close at hand so he could run at a seconds notice if needs be. He's played this game too many times to not know what to do or what could happen.
"Are you sure you don't want any food to go, you haven't had any at all!" Toriel fussed, hovering around Error and the children. "I could wrap something up for you!"
Twitching Error just stood still while Toriel eventually gave Skull some food to take, she then turned back to the children with a smile. "Please take care of yourselves, and come visit when you have the chance!" Then she leaned down and gave a kiss on their little cheeks much to their confusion and surprise.
"W-What was that?" Null asked, rubbing his cheek while Void gushed, also rubbing his own cheeks. Their SOUL'S warming at the touch.
Toriel gave a bittersweet smile. "That was a kiss, children." She glanced to Error, who also looked slightly confused and dazed. "It is something one gives to show affection, love, for one's family and friends. It can also help one feel better after they have been hurt."
'Feel better?' Remembering how his Mama screamed, banging his face on the floor, and clawing at it too, Null knew that he was very much hurt. More than he has ever been. 'But I can help Mama feel better?' Toriel giggled when a glint entered Null's and Void's sockets. She knew where this was going.
Just when Error was about to walk to where Ink and Skull stood, he felt little lips on each of his cheeks. He could feel himself starting to glitch at the feeling worming it's way into his SOUL. 'Wha....WHAT!?'
Ink didn't know if he should laugh or cry at the sight of the dark skeleton glitching, looking so confused and weary at a simple kiss on the cheek. He was about to go and lead him to the portal when Error did something that surprised him. Error took in a breath, making the glitching fade, then quickly gave a peck on each kids covered head. "THERe! NoW cAN We GO?"
Skull caught a movement out of the corner of his socket and looked to see Nightmare watching Error with the kids hand pressed to his chest over his SOUL. Skull looked away getting the feeling he had seen something private. "Yeah this way." Skull chuckled under the bags and boxes of food. 'Man, Tori doesn't do anything in halves does she?' "Call me Skull, as you are about to see a lot more Sanses." Skull muttered to Error. Error just gave a short nod, he knows what it is like to see many Sanses in one place after all, and started walking after him. But 'Skull' was a new one he had to admit.
Slowing down, Error peeked at Toriel. "GoOD BYe." Then quickly hurried out, missing the look of affection that Toriel made after his bashful goodbye. "Goodbye child, I hope you get the help you deserve."
'I will make sure that happens.' Ink could feel the DETERMINATION coursing through him as he went after the other skeletons. Turning the corner, Ink was met with the sight of a snickering Skull, who had a dark gleam in his sockets, and a confused group of skeletons. Error scooting away slowly, watching the shorter one warily. "Skull?....Did I miss something?" Ink questioned, not really knowing if he wanted to know. The last time he asked him that question, well, let's just say he had nightmares over the next year from the answer he got. 'The Mob life is definitely not for me!'
"Ah, nah." Skull shook his head as Ink made a portal to the Multi-Void. "I'm just picturin' all the others reactions to our new friends here." Seeing how Error flinched back, a worried look on his face, Skull was quick to reassure him. "Don' worry pal! No one's gonna hurt ya! They'll have to get through me to get to you." Skull couldn't help but promise, and seeing the bewildered and disbelieving look he got in turn made him want to shoot someone.
"No Skull your job is to make sure I don't have to make it safe because it will get very dusty if I do." Nightmare smiled and Skull suddenly wanted to hide under his bed and yet again asked himself why he didn't notice this guy.
"nIgHT nO fIGhTinG YoU nEEd tO hEAL." Error's voice was almost gentle.
Ink shivered, smile freezing at that image. "Let's....let's cross that bridge when we get to it." 'Because I know once we get all the details things are going to go to shit. Two broken scared Sanses, and that's physical damage! Once everyone sees them they are going to be asking for someone's SOUL. And that's only after the more affectionate ones try to take care of them.' Everyone is always over protective over new AU's, and who are in them as we rarely get new ones. But they are also protective in general, as there are not many who understand them and what they have to go through. It doesn't matter where the new Sanses came from, only that they are hurt. As the Judge, they have a certain protective streak in them to protect those who need it.
Sure they have fights at times with others, some getting hurt and feelings broken, but no one breaks another's bones for fun. What was the point when they are all mostly in the same boat? Besides, they try to help each other as much as they can.
"Now, here we go! We have a very long day ahead of us." Ink sighed, stepping through the portal. "Come on! The others are waiting!"
Snorting, Skull waits for Error to go in first. Skull hated to think about it, but he had a suspicion that the taller could run at any minute even if his ribs were falling off. "I have to warn ya, some of the others are.... colorful and quite the characters if ya catch my drift."
Now that should have worried Error, but Error has seen some shit. He had seen that Virus take over more bodies than he can count as for some reason he likes to come and bug Error from time to time, seen the AU's that only have hurt and suffering in them - He destroyed those ones as quickly as he could, not wanting them to be in pain like he was. Error could still remember one Sans that had flowers growing out of him thanking him for finally ending it all just before he turned to dust. That was the only time he destroyed the whole thing all the AU's, or different copies that Inky made you could say, connected to it and the original flower AU that Inky created. He would not let them suffer like he had to. The worst thing? All those Flower covered Sanses thanked him, looking relieved once they figured out the Destroyer came to kill off his AU completely. The original one even cried in happiness once Error told him everyone had been destroyed before he willingly gave up his SOUL. When it was all said and done Inky showed up only to have Error laugh in his face when he said he loved this AU. That was the worst lie he had ever heard from the beloved creator. - and he has seen so much destruction that he is almost numb to it.
It will take a lot for Error to start genuinely worrying for his own SOUL. And the only way he can see himself worrying is if this is a trick that Inky made up and there is another army waiting for him on the other side. That's mostly because of the kids in his arms. So without another thought, Error stepped into the colorful portal.
-Multi-Void-
Error had no idea what he expected of this 'Mult-Void'. He had never heard of one before, only the Anti-void. But they both had the world Void in it, and unless it is the Void in his arms, then he expected it to be the same or almost the same. He expected nothing but white and the normal voices to greet him, not a huge house surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with colors and not even a whisper of the Voices. Ink gave him a bright smile as Skull lightly stepped through, trying not to drop any of the food.
"Wow~" Null gave a gasp at the sight of the big house - A mansion to be honest - and turned to look up at Error while Void gushed at all the new colors surrounding them. "Are all buildings like this?!"
"NO. REmEMbEr ThE StORE?" Error muttered, looking all around paranoid. Null gave a soft hum in answer. "tHIs iS rEAlLy DIFFeREnt FrOM thE aNTi-VoiD....hOW cOME i DIDn'T gEt SoMEtHIng lIKe THis?" 'Oh, I remember why. Because Fate hates me and I can't create anything like Inky can.' Not hearing any of the usual screams was new, but a welcome change. He didn't want the kids hearing what they usually had to say, didn't want them to turn out like he was. A filthy glitch in the system.
"They are probably waiting out back in the backyard." Ink gestured for them to follow him before walking on. "There is a playground there for the kids to play on as we talk, and there is a huge table for us to sit at." Ink started explaining. But Error and the children just looked confused.
"What's a 'Playground'? Does it hurt?" Null worriedly asked up to Error. Error just shrugged. "i hAve NO idEA...BuT i WoN't LEt yOU gET HUrt. HaViNG sAId tHAt, Don'T RUN oFF wIThOUt ASkINg mE fIRSt. wHO KNoWS wHAt cOUld haPPeN." Error decided, looking an insulted Ink up and down, while Null gave a quick agreement. Skull couldn't help but chuckle even if it was a sad thing that they never played on one. But maybe his AU didn't have one? But Error had no idea how right he was, who knew how the others would react, or even themselves, once they got all the facts.
"Dream once told me about playgrounds. They are places for children to play with large toys to climb on. It is my understanding you must be invited as they are to be shared." Nightmare's slightly warped explanation gave Skull a sick feeling about why he had only heard of playgrounds.
Before Ink could correct him and explain further, they were at the back of the house greeted by the sight of other skeletons. Said skeletons froze in whatever they were doing to look back at them once they noticed them. Seeing the new babybones in the arms if a dark glitching skeleton was not what they were expecting.
The first thing Error noticed was there was not an army waiting for him. The second thing, there were only a few here. There are hundreds of original AU's, and that's only if you are not counting all the copies Inky made. Counting them you would get into the six or more digits. It was hard to keep count when Inky created everyday and Error had to concentrate on doing his job. 'There is no way this is everyone....Are some hiding and waiting for an ambush?' Error slowly glanced around, trying to see if anyone was hiding.
"We have found the different monsters and the new AU babybones." Ink moved over so all the others could the little group as Skull went to the outdoor table to sit the food down. "Let's get introductions over so that we can move on to the more important discussions."
Error narrowed his sockets looking all of them over, confused out of his mind at how bizarre they all are, while Ink pointed at them. "This is Error, Nightmare, and the two little ones are Null and Void." Ink made a motion with his hand to cut off the questions at those names, about why they are not called Sans and Papyrus. They could get to that later. "Error." Ink started to point at another Sans, "Let me introduce you to them okay?" Ink asked gently. When Error gave a nod, he continued.
"This is Undertale!Sans, we call him Blue." Blue had to look up at this new monster, but so did most of the others. Seeing all the cracks in his skull, the way his eyes were always searching for danger made him relax his body to show he meant no danger to him or his kids. At least the kids looked better than before, and with some very fancy clothing too. 'After what that version of Gaster did to them, they deserve it.'
Error watched the little Sans, Blue gave him a lazy smile. He looked like Classic, but was much smaller than him. Only coming above his knees while Classic came to his collarbone. Same clothing, same smile, but different look in his sockets. He can still see Classic's empty smile and sockets looking down at him as he screamed for Mercy. "Hey there. It's nice to see ya safe and sound after what happened in that new AU." Before Error had time to really think on that a copy of Classic - because what else could he be? - was actually happy to see him, Ink moved on.
Ink pointed to a more edgy short skeleton, only a few inches taller then Blue. "This here is Underfell!Sans, his nickname is Red." Red knew that this skeleton was not one to mess with. In his AU, you respected and feared the monsters with marks that survived getting said marks. Those marks just meant that they survived hell once, and that they could do it again and take you there with them. With how it looked like his skull could cave at any moment, and like he wasn't at all in pain, made Red sweat. "H-hay pal...." 'Please don't let these monsters meet my Bro anytime soon! I can see Fell wanting to fight just to see how strong this guy is!' After the last time Fell tried that, he had started a fight with Razz making both Maple and him have panic attacks, Red did not want a repeat of that scenario.
Seeing a sweating Underfell!Sans was nothing new to Error, it seemed to him that they never stop sweating. So Error just gave a glance over. Everything but the height and anger. The original Underfell!Sans, Edge, came about to his stomach and was not afraid to try to rip off his arms. Error can hear the bones popping and creaking in protest as he pulled and pulled.
"Then we have Reaper!Sans, we call him Death to be simple. He doesn't talk much." Seeing a tall grim reaper made Error blink. Death stood behind Blue and Red, but was making sure not to touch them in any way. Death could sense the others magic, and this monster's magic was screaming in pain and calling for a death it will never get. Death could sense that this monster has been touched - no, practically scarred by death. He could feel magic like his own on the other monster in certain places, mostly around the neck area. That confused him. He has never touched another beside his brother, as it would kill anyone, and though he could try in the Multi-Void he did not want to chance it. It was a nightmare just thinking about it, what if they died after leaving? Because he can't touch them when they are out of here, they will surely die. With a touch he could kill anyone, besides his brother of course, so how can this monster want death but he can't get it?
How can he have touched a monster that he never met until today, and this monster still be alive? Death has touched him and yet he still lives? 'Can....Can I touch him and him not die from it?' This excited and worried Death to immense degrees.
A tall, the same height as him which threw Error for a loop, black clocked death with his scythe strapped to his back. Reaper came to his upper ribs, and never lost that damned teasing grin as he made joke after joke about death. The one who laughed and made death puns as he tried to carve them into Error's bones. This one was so sad - no depressed! Error tried to connect the one who he called 'Hipster Death' to this silent sad Death, and he was having a bit of trouble doing it. Death's face was forced into a sad little smile, eye sockets dark and half lidded, and his whole body just seemed to droop.
This also worried Error. There was no copy of ReaperTale, and for good reason. Gods always made everything complicated, just look at him and Inky. And Error was not in the mood to fight off all those gods unless he had too, they were harder to dust compared to young AU's or even just normal monsters in full grown AU. It also helped that there was only one, the original AU, so that means Error had no reason to start a fight with Reaper. But for some reason Reaper hated him, probably for making his job harder as Error has to kill off a lot of monsters and humans everyday. He always did hate his job from what Error could tell, but then again so did Error. 'Did Inky make a copy after I fell?! But why?!' Error is now unsure of what is going on, and all he can do is hope that this isn't a delusion from falling into the VOID.
"EchoTale!Sans, we nicknamed him Echo." A Gaster!Sans, one that is a head taller than him, and Error could only sigh in relief that this one is wearing a white sweater underneath his jacket. He never did like how G would wear nothing and show his ribs, spine, and whatever else to the world without care. Error could remember when G had lifted his shirt and cracked a few of his ribs slowly over his pained screams, smirking all the while. At least this one is the same height as the original, but with extra clothing, it was a nicer surprise, and Error had a feeling that he wasn't going to get many of those.
Looking this new monster up and down, Echo knew that he had been through hell. He may have had cracks on his face, but that was from Gaster. While Error's weren't as deep as his, and maybe could heal up if he got proper care, there were a lot more of them on his skull then what Echo has. No one comes out with that many wounds and not have, at least some mental scarring. "Hey there handsome." Echo couldn't help but tease, throwing the very confused skeleton a wink even as others glared at him. But it threw him for a loop when the other didn't blush, just mouthed the words as if not understanding them.
Error may have been clueless but Nightmare wasn't and no one was prepared for the explosion of negativity crashing over them in stifling waves jerking their attention to the skeleton who had largely gone unnoticed. A single trickle of black goop slid from his damaged left socket while his right eye light blazed a mixture of purple and cyan. "Hello the name is Nightmare prince of negativity and nightmares. If you ever want to sleep in peace again you will not make any advances ever again."
Error gave him a confused look, "nIgHT WhAT iS tHE MAtTeR?" He shifted Null and Void to one arm and put a hand on Nightmare's shoulder not bothered by negativity pulsing from him.
"That that... " Nightmare growled not really having an insult without knowing him. "Was flirting with you. Right in front of me without knowing if we have a relationship!"
Error just sighs used to Nightmare's strange outbursts about relationships. "nIgHT wE hAVe bEEn oVEr tHiS i DoN'T cARe wHAt oTHeRs tHInK wE haVE fOugHt fOr aND aGAinSt OnE aNoTHeR fOR oVEr a THouSaNd YeARs A fLirT Is NoTHinG."
Nightmare leaned against Error the heavy negative aura fading but not completely, enough remained to prevent him from fading into the background.
"Ahem!" Ink cleared his throat, throwing a glare at Echo, before going on. All the while sceaming in his head 'over a thousand years? Is that even possible?' "Underlust!Sans, he goes by Hearts." Error had no idea if he should start running now or just end it here and now. But at least this one, while wearing the same clothing, is not the original one, Lust. This one came up to his middle rib, Lust had come up to his chin. Shivering, Error could only think of what Lust had threatened him with, with a lustful expression on his face looking down on him. Error thanked all his luck that the other Sanses and Papyruses actually took pity on him and stopped Lust before he tried anything. That was the only Mercy he got that day.
Now, while his home was a lustful one, it was also a loving one. It was a way of life to show physical affection and attraction, one that Hearts and his brother, Compassion, had grown up with. Many think that with a name like Underlust, all there is, is sex happening. While that is a main part, Lust doesn't always mean sexual desire. It can also mean a strong desire for something. It's not like the kids do sexual stuff, they are just very affectionate. Showing love, hugging and giving innocent kisses to one another. Hearts SOUL went out to these broken monsters. Just by looking at them, Hearts knew that they didn't get a lot of positive affection, no wonder Nightmare would be jealous and protective. 'But, at least it seems like they can give it to some extent.' Hearts thought to himself, watching how Error held the two children close, still making room and time to sooth Nightmare, and Nightmare showed some affection to the children and didn't seem jealous of them. That means they aren't too lost or out of touch. "Hello~" Giving a kind smile made them both flinch back for some reason, Hearts made sure to keep his usual flirting out of it. Feeling sick at why a smile might scare hardened fighters like these to appear to be. "It is nice to have another pair of skeletons around~"
Ink hurried on when Error started to glitch more worried that he or Nightmare would have another breakdown. "And here is UnderFresh!Sans!" Error's mind halted, his glitching freezing in shock. "This is Fresh." Slowly, Error turns his head to look at Fresh. The Virus, after taking over a body, usually used magic to keep his height the same. That was usually around Error's own height, but this one came to his shoulders, had a different hat on - this one didn't have a spinny thing on top, it was a normal hat - and different bright colors that matched his clothing. The Virus sure didn't have his own AU from what he could remember, Inky didn't like him for possessing his creations. 'What the hell is going on here?!' Error's mind tried to come up with any logical conclusion as to why this is happening. He came up with nothing.
"Whut up my radical bruh!" Fresh chuckled, bouncing on his heels. Fresh noticed the way Error was watching him, like he was a snake about to strike at any moment. So Fresh made sure to make himself look unthreatening as possible. Giving his best goofy grin, making his body relaxed, and his movements slow. 'But it's weird....' Fresh thought confused. 'It's like he knows me, and he expects me to hurt him or something....' That worried him a bit.
"You know MobTale!Sans, Skull, and here is Underswap!Papyrus. Just call him Honey." Skull slipped into the line next to Honey trying to flirt with him hoping Nightmare would relax before someone got hurt.
"Sup'?" Honey gave a tired smile at the nervous look he got from the others. All he could think was, what if this had happened to his brother? What if this was Blueberry standing in front of him, hurt? What made them look at his face and flinch away like they expected to get hit right here, right now? Why did Error hunch a little like he wanted to shield Nightmare. 'Did there Papyruses ever help them? Is that why they looked at him like that? Did....did their brothers hurt them?' Honey could only hope their brothers were kind ones, if not then there was going to be some important discussions that needed to happen if you catch his drift. Honey gave a lazy finger gun. "Nice to meet ya."
Looking at the face of Honey, One who looked just like the original, Stretch, made Error tense up. After he, in a fit of loneliness and madness, partially destroyed the original Swap AU and kidnapped Cobalt, Stretch had had it out for him. All he and Cobalt did was knit and watch UnderNovela, he eventually gave back the human's SOUL to restart the whole AU. So Cobalt could get everything back so that Cobalt could live freely away from the Voices. In the end, after everything he did Stretch made sure to pay it back tenfold when he got his hands on him. Error knew he deserved it all, but he didn't regret it. It was nice having someone with him, to talk to him or just stand by him, even if it was a short time. Besides Cobalt had stayed his friend and eventually adopted brother, no he doesn't regret it no matter how many times Stretch cracked his skull, trying to make the tougher boned skeleton's skull cave in.
"Next we have SwapFell!Papyrus, just call him Maple." Ink glanced at Nightmare trying to include him but it was hard with the negativity fading it was like he could hide in plain sight.
Finally, a monster that never did much to him. Error looked at him curiously, he was like Honey in a way, looking just like Honey in a way, looking like the original. Slim, the original SwapFell!Papyrus had never really done much to him. In fact Razzberry - or just Razz - the SwapFell!Sans has done more to him than Slim has. Sure Slim had snapped his legs off a few times, but Error's been hurt in worse ways. In fact, one time Razz had been so close to breaking all of his bones when they caught him on a low day. Error was in the middle of having a major panic attack, that Virus had tried to touch him one to many times, glitching wildly and having trouble breathing. He wasn't looking where he was teleporting to get away from the colorful Virus. He had meant to go to the Anti-void, as he was in a copy of the original UnderSwap, but instead landed in SwapFell where the brothers found him. Razz laughed at getting one over one of the strongest out there. Error only got away when the panic faded by the intense pain he was getting from having his bones snapped in half. He had to drag himself into a portal after firing off his blasters to get them away from him. With his magic, and being a part of the balance, he always was able to get his legs back on. They may have hurt for a long time after, but Error had gotten used to it.
Maple had no idea what to think of these monsters. They were interesting to look at that was for sure, but it was telling that they were covered all the way from the neck down. He knew what it was like to be beaten and cover up the injuries. Before He and his brother Razz knew about the other AU's, Razz was not the nicest of brothers. After seeing all the different AU's, and how they were treated in theirs, Razz had lightened up. It made Maple wonder what kind of AU's these two came from, because they were not from the new AU. 'Was it kill or be killed? Or maybe theirs were something much more sinister?' Maple pushed his disturbing thoughts away, he had time to ask later. He just gave a nod in greeting.
Ink gave him a grateful glance just wanting to get through this safely having picked up on how tense Error and Nightmare are around some of them. "Then we have HorrorTale!Sans, we call him Hannibal for......obvious reasons." Ink glanced to the side at that, worried that Error or Nightmare would freak out. But to his shock they actually looked more at ease at that.
Seeing the Sans covered in blood, no matter that he was taller as he was to his neck while the original HorrorTale!Sans, Horror, was just under his hips. He knew where he stood with Horror. Horror has tried to kill him more times than he can count along with Dust, one time he even tried to eat him alive for giggles. It wasn't because he hated him for being destroyer, he just did it for fun. The only reason he and a few others weren't at the final fight was because they sided with Nightmare. Nightmare and his gang would never help Inky and Dream with anything even if they begged. That and Nightmare still had hope Error would join him one day, even if he still tries to kill him with the others. Looked down at Nightmare and admitting he had a weird relationship with them all, one he questions everyday and made even Inky stop and question from time to time.
How did Error know this? A long time ago, Inky once came to fight him after he destroyed a HorrorTale copy, but walked in on him cooking with the original HorrorTale!Papyrus, Scream, with Horror trying to chew off his leg. By that Error meant that Horror was clinging to his leg and chewing on it just because he wanted to. Not because he was angry that Error destroyed a copy of his AU, he never cared about those things, said it just made Error taste better. Error is still not sure what that means. All Inky could do was stare at him stirring a pot that was filled with blood and other things that Error did not want to know - Scream screeched out orders and whined that Horror should help more like Error was, asking why he couldn't be such a wonderful cook like Error was. That was the first time in a long time that his SOUL felt warmth in it. It wouldn't be until he felt Nightmare wrap around him as they fell, that he would feel it again, then they found two babybones and he felt it again. - and ignoring the pain as Horror went to town on his leg Error just ignored the stunned colorful skeleton. - Just mindlessly chewing on it, drooling down his leg. But Error noticed that he went to chew on a different part before any of his bones could break or bleed. - Inky slowly backed out and left, never bringing it up again. But Error could tell that he wanted to with the way he would look at him. The worst part of all of this? Error is still not sure how Scream got him to cook with him, or how after they cooked Horror decided to not try to chop his arm off like he usually does every time he sees Error. Then again, he never understood much of anything.
When Hannibal's name was mentioned, Hannibal waited for the freak out to start. Quite a few other Sanses and Papyruses had freaked out when they first saw him and his brother, Blood. To his shock, the dark one just gave a nod and his 'partner?' smiled at him. Not a lick of fear or anything in any of the new ones faces. The kids not caring as long as the adults don't. Just acceptance. Hannibal didn't know if he should be relieved, insulted, or even a bit worried. Because he was one of the violent ones, and was not a pretty sight to look at with the broken skull and blood staining him. So for these monsters to not be afraid, then that either meant they were fools - and by how they stand Hannibal did not think that was the case - or they have seen worse. Judging by their appearances, Hannibal is banking on the latter. Hannibal knew he would have to invite these guys over, Blood and him rarely get company in their own AU for obvious reasons. They also get stared at when they go visit others even now years later. If these guys don't care it would be a nice treat for his brother to make new friends. Hannibal just gave a nod back, he would have to keep a socket on them.
Ink decided it was probably best to get the more bloodthirsty ones out of the way, so he pointed to the next one that was stained with dust. "DustTale!Sans, it is not to far off to call him Murder." A tall DustTale!Sans, one that was the same height as Hannibal, gave a creepy grin to them. Error just gave a small smile back in response to the others shock.
Dust was actually the same height as Classic. Luckily there weren't too many other DustTales. Error and him also had a very unusual relationship, and Dust was on Nightmare's team. Dust wanted to well dust him for his EXP as Error had tons of it from being destroyer. But soon it became a twisted game to them. Dust seemed to get amusement and joy every time Error would bat him off or when he was able to break a bone or leave a mark on Error. Error never cared, it was just one more person trying to kill him, at least this wasn't personal. One time Inky had accidentally shown up in the middle of one of those games, soon trying to stop Error from hurting Dust when he saw the two fighting. Only Inky got one hurtful shock when Dust stabbed Inky for interrupting their game. Error could only watch in numb shock when Dust kicked Inky away and bent down to whisper something, knife pointing to Error. Soon Dust let Inky leave and turned back to Error to finish their game, he never mentioned what he said to him, neither did Inky later on, but Error didn't want to know. Dust was probably staking his claim to be the one to kill him.
Murder wanted to laugh at the smile he got, and not out of amusement. He could practically feel the other's EXP and LOVE, but it fluctuated. He had a lot of questions for this strange monster. Murder wasn't sure that he would get a lot of EXP from this monster if he actually dusted him, as he can feel the glitches - and wasn't that a whole other set of questions that needed to be asked? - and fluctuations in the stats. He can't see them, but boy could he feel them. It was more than all the monsters here combined, that much he could tell without looking. Once you start killing for things like EXP and LOVE, you started to get a sense for these things without looking at the others stats, but never for sure until you see them. Maybe he could kill the Demon for him? Although he doesn't like asking for help, he is not above it if it finally gets rid of the demon. Looking the other up and down, Murder could tell this was going to get interesting from here on out.
"Nightmare!Sans, but he likes to be called Misery." Error looked at the skeleton hard while pulling his Nightmare a little closer posture screaming protection. Misery came to Error's cheeks, and looked like a normal skeleton with purple eye lights. A black suit with white and gold like Dream's, but no cape or gloves, black boots and a gold circlet with a crescent moon on it. No gooey black skeleton or even glimmering moonlight bones, and that was freaking him a little, but confusion rained over that fear like a waterfall.
There was only one Nightmare, he was the yin to Dream, the yang, like how Error and Inky were. Error is still not sure why Inky made an AU like that, as he had to have a general idea of how it would form. Maybe he wanted to see if they would turn out like him and Error? Well it did. Nightmare was aware of the balance, more because Error told him about it one day after a poisoning attempt - what can he say? He was bored and in pain, also delirium from the poison helped too. - Nightmare could do what he wanted in a sense that Error could not even if they were alike. Nightmare knew this and kept trying to make Error join his group to kill off the others, but Error lost that anger that Nightmare has a long time ago. He is still not sure why he still asks for him to join even years later, or why he fell with him.
This skeleton, while the same height as Nightmare, and bearing a resemblance was like a watered down copy to Error. All Error thought was there better be a good explanation for all of this. Error had no idea what was going on anymore, and that was beginning to confuse the heck out of him. The last time he was actually this confused, just plain confused and not being confused about his pain or why it was always him, was so long ago that he forgot why he was confused in the first place.
"Hello." Misery couldn't take his eye lights off, the other Nightmare he looked so other with his chalky moonlight bones and broken with that shattered socket and all the chips and cracks. Misery could feel the misery coming off the other skeletons wrapping itself around them like a blanket. There is a reason he is called Misery, not because he likes to bring it but because he can feel it. He could feel the negative emotions pouring off them, crying out for help. It hurt just being near them, Misery could only think what it would feel like if one of their SOULS were out. Nightmares give fear, but also courage, a healthy does of humbling, and common sense. Misery can usually tell what one's fears are just by looking at them, or at least their SOUL. But looking at the other Nightmare, all he could see was the low level dream magic he was using to fade into the background and a broiling mass of terrors to shrouded in his magic to make out. Looking at Error by contrast, Misery for the first time can not see any fears but all the misery. 'Does he have no fears?' Misery narrowed his sockets in question. 'Or has he faced all his fears, therefore having nothing left to fear?'
"His brother Dream!Sans, but just call him Daze." Daze gave a cheerful smile, waving excitedly to the children and bigger monsters, but if you looked closely, you would be able to see the slight bittersweet edge to it. He saw the way Nightmare flinched back at even the mention of him. He could feel magic like his own all over him and feel the intent to harm. He could also feel the children's love and happiness, having their dreams come true with the monster holding them. He could also feel the tiredness, the apathy mixed with confusion and an edge of protectiveness from the one called Error. It made him want to bring out their hopes and dreams, but Daze feared that they may not hold too many happy memories if any at all. Daze feared what he would see in those dreams, and that has never happened before. There is also another problem, Daze has never seen these monsters dreams, never heard of Error or this Nightmare. 'Have I failed as the holder of dreams? Have I actually missed these monsters?' Daze breathed out a sigh, still keeping his smile in place. 'Or is there something else at play?'
Seeing a taller Dream made Error want to laugh, hysterically. Daze was only a few inches smaller than Misery, while Dream was the same size as Inky. The two brothers were standing close, closer than Nightmare and Dream would ever think of doing. In fact, they couldn't even be in the same AU without fighting, let alone breathing distance. Hell, Dream wouldn't be in Error's breathing distance unless it was to fight.
Dream has a rare hatred for him, and has told him many times during their fights that Error was devoid of dreams and happiness. Error just let him as he felt bad for partially destroying his AU, it was an original after all and had no copies, but the past needed to stay buried for both Nightmare and Dream's sake it had to be that way, till Nightmare healed. So he broke it up and hid it among the many he had destroyed when he was lost to the madness and anger inside of him. - Dream screamed at him that he was worse than Nightmare, that he was not even a monster as he couldn't feel and just destroyed. He was not a monster, but a demon. That he shouldn't exist. Error laughed in his face even after he was punched in the cheek for doing so, because there is no point in preaching to the quire. There is no point in screaming when the other person already knows it is true. - Being near Dream was supposed to make one happy, it just made Error more mad or just more tired as he couldn't feel such wonderful feelings. Error couldn't remember the last time he was truly happy. Maybe a spark of lightness or excitement while watching UnderNovela, but not true happiness.
Maybe he is a demon. Or maybe Fate formed him to be this way so that he will not get out of control like Inky. Error has no idea, only that he has lost the will to truly care about things like hopes and dreams a long time ago.
"Here is Genocide!Sans, we just call him Geno for short." Ah, someone Error has fought before his anger burned out. He can remember the red lasers from the blasters and his strings tangling everything up. Error knew he reminded Genocide of the human in his AU and what they have done to his AU, so therefore he wanted him gone. This monster was different. Same clothes, even same injury, but different look in his sockets and height. Genocide was to Error's chest, this Geno was to Error's neck. Geno did not look at him with disgust, only interest. In fact this Geno did not seem as sad or depressed as Genocide. While Error knows there is a Genocide!Papyrus, there is only one of them. 'Why is there more than one? Well, there are a lot of different AU's and copies....So it is only logical that there could be more than one Genocide!Sans....Right?'
Inky actually did not see Genocide coming, he broke the mold you could say. Soon after that, the Papyrus happened. For some reason Inky keeps them away from each other, maybe so they don't get any more ideas? Error never knows what was going through his head, nor did he want to understand.
All Geno wanted to know the minute the new monsters walked up to them was if they were like Geno. No blood was seeping out of them, so that was a positive. 'But then again, they are wearing black clothes.' Geno looked hard trying to see any stains before giving up. But those scars and marks on their skulls were telling, at least the kids were okay. No marks to see on them, only some fading bruises that would go away with some more monster food and rest. Error and Nightmare needed a whole lot more than that, and that's only going by what Geno can see. Questions bounced back and forth in his skull, so many things he wanted to ask and know. But he had to wait, only a little longer. Because to Geno it was like looking in a broken dirty mirror. He was seeing in Error what he himself could have become if he didn't have the others while he lost more and more HoPe as the genocide runs went on. He was looking at a monster that was hurt, broken, and so close to giving up. All Geno could do was smile and give a small wave.
Later Geno would realize that Error had given up a long time ago. Only he finally decided that enough was enough and to do something about it when he fell into the VOID.
"DanceTale!Sans, we just call him Hip-Hop, or just Hop for short," Ink smiled. "Hey" Hop made eye light contact and gave a tiny wave.
Error could see the differences between Hop and Dance. Hop had on a hat under his hood, his jacket slightly more open, and he stood to about where Error's mouth would be. Dance had no hat and his jacket zipped up as much as it could, and he stood about the Error's nasal cavity. Error took a deep breath. There had to be a logical explanation for all of this, he just had to come up with one. 'What has Inky done while I was gone?! This Ink has never seen another or heard of another Ink, so has Inky just stopped creating after a while?' Error lightly snorted at that thought. There was no way in any hell or heaven that Inky would stop creating.
Hop hid under his hat after the wave. Usually he was too shy even to do that, but after seeing how tense the other was, he wanted to try something to make him get a bit looser. Hop gulped feeling the others eyes search him, his face starting to turn blue. He hated being the center of attention, so why did he do that? 'Because he looks like he has never felt relaxed and safe before.' Hop realized, peeking up at Error's confused expression under the brim of his hat. 'And everyone should feel like that everyday.'
"Here is OuterTale!Sans, he picked Orbit to be his nickname." Error blinked down at Orbit, who came up to his lower stomach. It was the same as Outer. A Sans that never touched him. Oh, Outer helped the others take him down, but he never physically hurt him. Error supposed that Outer did that in thanks, as Error favored his AU and never touched it or any copies as of yet. Error wouldn't hesitate to destroy one of the copies if he had to, but he had others that were newer that he wanted gone before they grew. So Outer just helped Inky in the background, gathering information and telling Ink when he was in any OuterTale.
So in the end Error didn't have any problem with him, but he always knew that a metaphorical knife was pointed at his back whenever Outer was near or Error was in his AU. Eventually Error just stopped going, it always ended in a fight with Inky, but he really missed the stars.
You know the saying, if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. Outer was a problem for Error even if he never threw that punch that Error knew he wanted to.
Orbit gave a small smile with a light nod in greeting, watching the new skeletons fondly. Seeing those babybones brought memories of happy times with his father, Gaster. Not every AU had a nice Gaster like he had before he was scattered. He was happy that these two had found their new parent, their protector. And these ones wouldn't be scattered anytime soon as they were in no way a Gaster. Orbit glanced to all the injuries the taller one had, he may just be dusted by all his wounds if they fester any longer. He hoped these little ones had a better time than all the others with parents, but looking at how Error kept them close, Orbit knew he didn't have anything to worry about for them.
He just had to worry about Error and Nightmare themselves when everything is said and done.
"And finally we have the Quantum AU's and their different Timelines/Au's" Error's SOUL stilled when he followed Ink's pointing finger down and was met with the sight of children - practically babybones to him. Luckily Inky never found out he would never kill off an AU with children, or at least a whole lot of children in it. That was why he left KinderTale alone and never even glanced at it. If he did, Error could see Inky making a whole lot of kid AU's just to break Error's SOUL even further by making him dust them.
The point is, that this AU/Timeline does not exist from what Error could remember. There was even a little Fresh, which made Error clinch the kids tighter to his chest. He was sure he would have made a note of an AU filled with kiddie versions of everyone. Even if it was just to stay away from it. 'What is going on!? Maybe because I was gone Inky decided it was safe to make kid AU's?!' Fox, Error hoped that was the case....Then again he also hoped he was wrong so he didn't have to listen to the dying screams of children as he dusted them and their family and friends to make room for others. 'I'll make sure to get rid of others to make sure I don't have to do theirs....' Error hated Inky just a bit more for doing this to him.
"QuantumTale!Sans is T.K., QuantumFell!Sans is Cherry, QuantumFresh!Sans is Peace, QuantumEcho!Sans is Gaz, QuantumSpace!Sans is Cloud, QuantumSwap!Papyrus is Orange, QuantumScare!Sans is Tick." Error just watched blankly as he pointed to each child, he had no idea what was even going on any more.
All the kids just looked wide eyed up at the new monsters, - some thinking they looked scary, others thinking they looked cool - trying to get a peek at the new kids. Said babybones were hiding their heads in Error's chest. There were so many new faces they had no idea what to do! 'Don't worry Mama will protect us!' Null thought to himself as he gave a nervous gulp. 'Everything will be fine!'
"And that's all the AU's!" Ink turned and gave a grin, only for it to fall at the look he got in return. "Is....is something wrong?"
"tHis iS ALl tHE Au'S?" Error shook his head. "ThErE iS nO WAy tHAT iS tRauE." Who did this monster think he was playing? Error has seen way too many AU's to even consider that was true.
"It is." Ink slowly shook his head in disagreement. "Null and Void's AU is the newest one. The last ones we got before them, was when all the Quantum AU's, happened years ago."
Error felt his SOUL stop. He just wanted to lay down and scream, because this has reached a whole new level on 'What the HELL is this shit?!.' "BUt tHE lAsT TimE i KEpT cOUnT thERe WeRE tRilLiONs, AnD thAT wAS YEaRs AGO."
Ignoring the shocked and confused looks, Error closed his sockets tightly to fight off the tears that wanted to come.
He should have just torn up his SOUL and been done with it - Oh he forgot, he tried that once. His SOUL just came back together eventually. Maybe he should have broken all his bones - Scratch that he has done it. Error quickly went through the things he has done to try and his life throughout the years, accidentally or otherwise.
Drowning? He just floated in the water until he got bored and swam out. It took five days until he swam out by himself.
Starvation? He had no need to eat, hasn't eaten in years.
Hanging? Quite a few others have tried to choke him out throughout the many different fights and have snapped his neck before, it never killed him.
Electrocution? He has been stock with over a million volts, it had only burned his clothes and bones.
Bleeding out? He has been stabbed and cut many times, it isn't funny, and has never treated the wounds. If he was going to die from that, it would have happened years and years ago.
Hell! Even the Grim Reaper has failed to reap him and his SOUL no matter how many times he has tried to do it!
There were so many other methods that failed him, and now even being scattered across time and space has failed him. So what else was there?! He had no idea what was going on!
Error let himself be led to the outdoor table numbly by a very worried Nightmare, not hearing all the different mumbles and scattered feet following behind him.
Error was just so tired of everything. "nIgHT wHY dIDn'T tHE VOid WoRK?"
Nightmare just shrugs. "Because we are what we are I think. I am not sure I would survive it again but you would." 'So you are just going to have to heal.'