"Fate, your chosen is going to destroy the Multiverse!"

"I know, and I'm working on a solution to that."

"What is it, Fate?"

"I'm getting us a Destroyer, to balance out the Creator."

"Oh. Are you going to ruin someone's life?"

"Yes."

"I know I can't change your mind... but please, be kind to them?"

"Hmph. I'll make it so he can create portals. Is that good enough for you, Destiny?"

Well, at least he can get away if he's in grave danger... Destiny thought to herself. Poor Destroyer, he'll rarely have time to rest.

"What is the Destroyer's name, by the way?"

"His name is ****** but it cannot remain that way anymore. He needs a new name. Destiny, what should we call him?"

'Why would Fate use him? She knows I care about that little one... why use him, of all the people in the Multiverse?'

"Let's call him... Error."

"Yes, Error. That is a good name. I approve."

'I know that Fate won't, so I will give my little glitch a way out. Make it so that someday he will find a family. Someday he will find his home again. I'm not as powerful as Fate though- or at least not yet- so he will have to change his own Destiny... I can only nudge it so that he will have a happy ending someday,' Destiny thought to herself.

"Someday, Error, you will find your own family."

"Someday."

Thanks harrish6 for the idea of Fate and Destiny.

┈┉❄︎╳❄︎┉┈

Error's POV
'Why?! Why am I the one cursed with this job? Stuck destroying AUs, keeping the Multiverse in balance, so it won't come crashing down. Why does Ink ignore the balance? Does he not know?! He must know!'

MISTAKE! WHY ARE YOU NOT DESTROYING?! INK MADE ANOTHER AU WHILE YOU WERE SITTING AROUND, FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF!

'Stupid voices, always telling me what to do... but it is true. Ink made another AU, so now I have to go destroy it. And I was hoping to go talk to Blue, I haven't visited him in quite a while.'

"Aᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ, ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs? ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴠɪsɪᴛ Bʟᴜᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ɪ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏ ᴛʜɪs ᴀᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴍᴇ!" said Error. "ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs ᴡɪʟʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛ, ʜᴇʜ!"

* Do it, glitchy! Have fun, and try not to die!

"Tʜᴀɴᴋs, ᴋɪɴᴅ-sᴀssʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ."

GET MOVING, YOU USELESS MONSTER!

Error ripped open a glitchy tear into the one of the newest AUs he could sense. He stepped through, and found himself in an Outertale. The stars in the sky twinkled and glowed brightly, although not as much as the original Outertale's stars.

'Ugh... I hate having to destroy copies of Outertale. It's so beautiful, so I understand why Ink would want more, but aren't the variants enough? With Outerswap, Outerfell, and... huh. I feel like there should be more, but I can't quite remember?'

'Ah, whatever. My crappy memory doesn't matter right now. This AU has got to go before it causes any messes.'

***

'Welp, time to head to Underswap. Maybe I should try using that phone Blue gave me to call or text him first? So that he knows I'm coming?'

'Yeah, that's probably a good idea. I don't want to deal with Stretch, for although he can't kill me, he can hurt me badly enough that I'm unable to do my job.'

Error pulled out his phone to text Blue.

...
Error - Hey Blue, do you want to come watch Undernovela and eat chocolate with me?
Blue - YEAH!!! We should do that!
Blue - Put your portal in the kitchen, Papy is at Muffet's drinking honey and probably smoking... ugh.
Error - Okay! I'll portal over now!
Blue is typing...
Blue - ERROR DON'T COME!!! My bro just got back!!!
...

'Oh shoot. I just saw Blue's text... and I can't portal away now that I'm here, my portals are kinda loud. Blue is my only friend, I don't want to hurt his bro, I might lose him as a friend if I do that,' thought Error.

'Oh no... this is bad,' thought Blue. 'Papy doesn't like Error, not after he kidnapped me all those hundreds of resets ago. I hope Error has enough sense to stay hidden. If worst comes to worst I can protect him, but I would prefer that it not come to fighting.'

"Papy!!! I'm going to make tacos for dinner! I looked, but we don't have any taco shells... could you go get some? Please??? Also, can I have a friend over for dinner? You have to promise not to hurt them," Blue said.

"Okay bro. I'll get you your taco shells. And I guess your friend can have dinner with us. I promise not to hurt them, as long as they don't hurt you. If they hurt you they will have a BAD TIME. I'll go get the taco shells now (and maybe some honey)."

Papy lazily walked out of the door and Blue heard the sound that meant he teleported.

"Error, you can come out now!"

"Tʜᴀɴᴋ ɢᴏᴏᴅɴᴇss, ɪ ᴡᴀs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʙᴏʀᴇᴅ."

"Seems like you're staying for dinner tonight Error! You can help me cook! I can't reach some of the shelves, normally Papy helps me, so can you use your strings to get down the taco seasoning?"

"Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴀᴄᴏs? Wʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛᴀᴄᴏ sᴇᴀsᴏɴɪɴɢ? Aʟsᴏ, ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴏ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴛʀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴍᴇ."

"You'll see what tacos are. And the taco seasoning is the red jar up there, above the stove."

Error quickly snagged it with a string and handed it to Blue.

"Tʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏ."

"Thank you Error! I'm sure Papy won't try to kill you, and if he does, I, the Magnificent Sans, will protect you!"

Papy walked into the house and heard Error's voice, with its distinctive glitches, and panicked . He ran to the kitchen, Gaster Blasters ready to strike and eye glowing a fiery orange that faded to yellow.

"Hi Papy!!! I'm sure you know Error, he's helping me cook!"

"He's DANGEROUS Blue!"

"So is Alphys, and I take cooking lessons with her all the time!"

"But she never KIDNAPPED you!"

"Papy, Error is my friend, okay? I invited him to stay for dinner, and after that the two of us were planning to go and watch Undernovela while eating chocolate."

Error stood awkwardly, looking like he wanted to just open up a portal and flee, but he didn't want to insult Blue.

"Hmm... let me check you, Error."

"Oᴋᴀʏ," said Error. 'Please don't hurt me... I don't want to hurt you...'

【🗡Fight】【♡Act】【💰Item】【🛡Defend】【✽Mercy】
♡ Check ∗ Talk
∗ Pun ∗ Question
Error.exe
LV: N/A EXP: N/A
HP: 𝅙/O
ATK: Ęʀȑ0Ṝ
DEF: ƐȓṞŎṟ
* gLɪTcH iN tHe SyStEm.
* Forced God of Destruction.
* Error was alone in the Anti-Void for a very long time, and Blue is his only close friend. He wouldn't hurt Blue, ever, he cares about him more than he cares about himself.
* He is terrified of you. Please, be kind to him?

'He... he has no HoPe. How is he even alive?!'

"Error, why does it say that you the are 'Forced God of Destruction'?"

"Bᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴀᴍ. Dᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ? ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ, ᴜɴʟᴇss ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴇ. Iɴᴋ ᴋᴇᴇᴘs ᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀᴍ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏɪɴɢ."

'Oh, you poor thing,' thought Stretch. 'I still don't trust you, but I understand why Blue cares about you, and I feel kinda bad for you.'

"Error, you can stay for dinner. I don't trust you to take Blue to your 'Void' again, as neither I nor Blue can make portals, so that's not happening. But if you want to come and visit here more often, I'll be okay with it."

"t-Tʜᴀɴᴋs, Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ. Tʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ."

"I have one request, though. Could you tell me about the Multiverse? I don't know much about it, other than it exists and that Ink is supposedly the creator of it."

"Tʜᴀᴛ sᴇʟғ-ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ? Hᴀʜ! Hᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇʟʏ ɴᴇᴡ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsᴇs. Aʟʟ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏ ɪs ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴄᴏᴘɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇxɪsᴛ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ, sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍɪɴᴏʀ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇs."

"Bᴜᴛ ʏᴇs, ɪ'ʟʟ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. I'ᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀɴ Iɴᴋʏ's ᴇɢᴏᴛɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴘʀᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ... sɪʟʟʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ɪɴᴋʙʟᴏᴛ," said Error, almost affectionately.

"SO YOU DO CARE ABOUT INK! I KNEW IT!" Blue squealed.

Error sighed, before carefully grabbing Blue's shoulder and looking him straight in the eyelights.

"I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴅᴏ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴇʀʀʏ. I'ᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅɪᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟᴇ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴍʏ ɴᴏɴᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ. Bᴜᴛ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ, sᴛᴏᴘ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sʜɪᴘ Iɴᴋʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ. Iᴛ's ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴɴᴏʏɪɴɢ."

"Nyehehe, good luck with that. I'm pretty sure that Undyne still ships me and Muffet... and Muffet is like a MOTHER to me, she raised Blue and I after our dad disappeared. Blue was trained in the art of shipping by Alphys and 'Dyne, so he's just as unmovable when it comes to his ships as they are," said Stretch.

"COME ON!!! I WANT YOU TO HELP ME MAKE THE TACOS, ERROR!"

"Oh, yeah. Error, don't try to convince him that the tacos don't need glitter. We've all been trying to convince him of that for years, I doubt that you can convince him."

"Hᴜʜ? Wʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ?"

"Nevermind, it doesn't matter."

'He knows next to nothing about normal things in life... poor dude. He needs our help. He may not be one of my favorite people, but Blue truly cares about him, so I'll try to help the best I can,' thought Stretch.

"Come on Error, I want to start cooking!!!" Blue yelled excitedly.

Error hurried to join Blue, who had gotten all of the other things they needed to make the tacos.

* I'm lazy, so tem skip to after making tacos.

"Sᴏ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ᴛᴀᴄᴏ?"

"Yup! I know you'll love it! Oh wait, can you... uh... look away while you eat it?"

"Why do you want him to look away Blue?"

"Oh, his tongue is nasty."

"Oᴋᴀʏ. Aɴᴅ ɪ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛʀᴜᴇ."

Blue giggled at Error agreeing about his tongue being nasty.

"..."

"Oᴏʜ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ Bʟᴜᴇ. I ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴀᴄᴏ ᴛʜɪɴɢ."

After they had finished eating, Error winced slightly, feeling a disruption in the Multiverse.

"Error, are you okay?"

"Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ʟᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ sᴛᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛᴀᴄᴏs. I ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ, Iɴᴋ ɪs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ."

"Bye Error! Be safe, try not to get hurt too badly if Ink attacks you. And remember, if you have to retreat, it's safe for you to come here, I'll heal you!!!"

"Good luck, Error. Try not to die, please. That would make Blue sad, and I'd prefer for the Multiverse to not fall apart," said Stretch.

"Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ, Iɴᴋ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴍᴇ. Hᴇ's ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇʜᴏᴡ, ʜᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀsɴ'ᴛ ʟᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ... sᴛᴜᴘɪᴅ sǫᴜɪᴅ."

---SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.---

Error leaped through one of his glitchy portals into Underswap. He immediately saw Stretch chilling at his station, sipping honey. He was probably keeping an eye out for the kid, because according to the code, which Error had checked before coming, Chara was nearing the end of the Ruins and was about to battle with Asgore.

"Oh, hey Error. Looking for Blue?"

"Nᴏ, ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɪ ᴡᴀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ. Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ, ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ. I'ʟʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ Bʟᴜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.

"I'm pretty sure Blue is training with Alphys, but he should be back any time now. Chara should be here soon though, so you might need to hide for a bit.

"I'ʟʟ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪᴅ, ɪғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴏᴋᴀʏ."

"That's fine. I need to get ready to greet Chara... where is my whoopie cushion..? Oh, and just hide in my station for a bit if you need to. It's probably better that the kid doesn't know about you."

"Oʜ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ Fʀɪsᴋ. Tʜᴇʏ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴛᴏʟᴅ Cʜᴀʀᴀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇ, sᴏ ɪ'ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ, ʜᴇʜ.

"Frisk?! That demon child?!"

"Nᴀʜ, Fʀɪsᴋ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ. Jᴜsᴛ ᴀ ʀᴇsᴛʟᴇss sᴏᴜʟ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴏɴ. Tʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ Cʜᴀʀᴀ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴀ sᴏᴜʟ ᴏғ Dᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʏᴘᴇ Fʀɪsᴋ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʜᴀᴅ. Tʜᴇʏ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ sᴄᴀᴘᴇɢᴏᴀᴛ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ Cʟᴀssɪᴄ Sᴀɴs' Cʜᴀʀᴀ."

"So it was Chara who killed so many, not Frisk?!"

"Tʜᴀᴛ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ɪᴛ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ. Tʜᴇ ɢᴇɴᴏᴄɪᴅᴇ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. Sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʟᴀᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ. Aʟʟ Fʀɪsᴋ ᴅᴏᴇs ɪs ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴀɴᴅ Rᴇsᴇᴛ ᴀs sᴏᴏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ Cʜᴀʀᴀ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇs ʟᴠ 2ο. Yᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ Fʀɪsᴋ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏ ᴀ sɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ᴊᴏʙ- sᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟs Cʜᴀʀᴀ."

"Huh... I guess I should thank them and apologize, shouldn't I?"

"Tʜᴇʏ'ᴅ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ɪᴛ."

"You know what? I'll do that."

***

"Human... Don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand."

Pbbtttttt...

"Nyeheheh... The old whoopie cushion in the hand trick. It's always funny."

Chara looked amused, despite how many times they'd probably heard it before.

"Wait a sec... have you heard it before or something? You turned around before I said to... weird."

Chara snorted quietly, and Stretch gave them a look, begging them to keep playing along.

"...Whatever. You're a human, right? I'm Papyrus, Papyrus the skeleton. I'm actually supposed to be on watch for humans right now."

Chara began to giggle slightly, unable to keep up their emotionless mask any longer.

"But... y'know... I don't really care about capturing anybody."

"Well, duh," muttered Chara.

"Now my brother, Sans... He's a human-hunting FANATIC."

"Well, he tries his best," whispered Chara.

"Hey, actually, I think that's him over there."

Blue was hiding behind a tree, out of view, but Error could sense the cheerful skeleton's powerful SOUL.

"I have an idea. Go through this gate thingy."

Chara looked at him, but they continued rolling with the script.

"Yeah, go right through. My bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone."

Stretch led Chara over to his station, where they hid behind a conveniently human-shaped tree. A few seconds later, Blue ran in, winking cheerfully at the tree.

"Sup, bro?"

"YOU KNOW WHAT'S UP, BROTHER! IT'S BEEN EIGHT DAYS AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T RECALIBRATED YOUR PUZZLES! YOU JUST HANG AROUND OUTSIDE YOUR STATION! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!?"

"Staring at this tree, it's really cool. Do you wanna look?"

"NO!! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!! WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES THROUGH HERE!?! I WANT TO BE READY!!! I WILL BE THE ONE! I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN! THEN, I, THE MAGNIFICENT SANS, WILL GET ALL THE THINGS I UTTERLY DESERVE! RESPECT... RECOGNITION... I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD!"

"Hmm... maybe this tree will help you."

"PAPY!! YOU ARE NOT HELPING, YOU LAZYBONES!! ALL YOU DO IS SIT AND BOONDOGGLE! YOU GET LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERY DAY!!!"

"Hey, take it easy. I've gotten a ton of work done today... a skele-ton."

"PAPY!!!"

"Come on, you're smiling."

"I AM AND I HATE IT! WHY DOES SOMEONE AS COOL AS ME HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION..."

"Wow, bro. It sounds like you're really working yourself... down to the bone."

"PAPY, WHY?!?! I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES... AS FOR YOUR WORK? PUT A LITTLE MORE BACKBONE INTO IT!!!! MWEHEHEHEH!!!"

Blue ran off, but not without a parting "MWEH!"

"Ok, you can come out now."

Error poked his head over the edge of the sentry station.

"No, not you Error! I was talking to Chara!"

"Hᴇʜ! I'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴅ Bʟᴜᴇ, sᴇᴇ ʏᴀ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ."

"Okay, he shouldn't be far. Chara and I will have our talk, we'll meet you and Blue up ahead."

"Gᴏᴛ ɪᴛ."

***

"So, Chara. About Frisk..."

Chara shifted nervously. The last time they had discussed Frisk, Stretch had gotten the wrong idea entirely, and had nearly killed them.

"It's nothing bad, I assure you."

"Last time you said that, Temmie nearly killed you while possessing Blue."

"Ugh... I didn't want to ever remember that timeline."

"Yeah, it sucked."

"So... Error talked to me about Frisk. He explained that they aren't the one behind the genocide."

"Yay! I could never quite figure out how to explain that it wasn't their fault."

"Do you think I could talk to them?"

"Frisk is mute. They use sign language to communicate, so if you understand ASL, then yeah."

"Lucky for you, my dad's font was a cipher so I had to learn hands to understand him. So, bring it on."

"I have the nagging feeling that you just made a pun, and somewhere, someone is laughing at it," grumbled Chara.

Chara closed their eyes, and a second later something about them just... shifted. Stretch instantly knew that Chara was no longer the one in control. The music had changed as well, becoming an sharper, more vicious song that made him think of revenge... and protection, oddly enough. (the song is either Bring It On, from Glitchtale, or Determination Stabs Back, by Wulf.  Your choice, they both fit.)

"Hello, Frisk."

[Hi, Papyrus. It's nice to finally meet you on good terms.]

"I'm glad that we can agree on that," said Stretch. "So, I heard you know Error. How'd you meet him?"

[The original fallen children, like me, all know Error. He brings the Charas chocolate and makes us all dolls.]

"Cool."

[Yes, he is very cool. Your brother is the coolest, though.]

"Yeah, he is."

[You should probably go rejoin the others. Chara and I will come and meet you up ahead, as is ordained by the script.]

"Well, it was nice talking to you Frisk. I'll see you and Chara later."

Chara opened their eyes, ran over, and hugged Stretch before scampering off. Stretch then took a shortcut over to join Blue and Error.

***

"Hᴇʏ Bʟᴜᴇ, ʜᴏᴡsɪᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ?"

"Error! Hi!"

"Yᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴏ ɪs ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ Cʜᴀʀᴀ ᴀɴᴅ Fʀɪsᴋ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, sᴏ ʜᴇ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ. Hᴏᴡ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴇɴ sɪɴᴄᴇ ɪ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴠɪsɪᴛᴇᴅ?"

"It's been great! I learned a new trick from Alphys, and we blew up her kitchen again!"

"I'ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ sᴜʀᴇ ɪғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ. I'ᴍ ɢʟᴀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ғᴜɴ."

"I wonder when Papy will get here... hopefully his talk with Chara is... wait, you said he was talking to FRISK and Chara?!"

"Fʀɪsᴋ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠɪʟ, ᴅᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋs."

"Oh. Okay."

"Yᴏᴜ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʟᴇss ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴛʜᴀɴ Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇ... ɪᴛ's ɴɪᴄᴇ."

"Thanks...? I think?"

"I ᴡᴀs ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴠɪsɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ Aɴᴛɪ-Vᴏɪᴅ. Wʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ, Bʟᴜᴇ?"

"Well, we need to talk about it someday... why not today!"

"Bʟᴜᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏʟᴇsᴛ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ?"

"Thanks, Error. I'm glad you think that," said Blue.

"He's right. Blue, you are the coolest. Even Frisk agrees that you are the coolest," said Stretch, popping into existence beside them.

"Meh... I'm just me though... what is it that makes me so cool?"

"Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴇʀʀʏ. Dᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴜʀɪᴇs ᴏғ Mᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅɴᴇss, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ sᴏ ᴋɪɴᴅ, sᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀғᴜʟ," said Error, hugging Blue for a second before letting go.

"Error... your haphephobia?!"

"Fᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ, ɪ'ᴍ ᴀssᴜᴍɪɴɢ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʟᴇss sᴇɴsɪᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ sᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. Yᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏʟᴇsᴛ."

"So, Papy... we were thinking about maybe going to the Anti-Void today?"

"Eh, as long as I can come and we finish up with Chara first, it's fine."

"I'ᴍ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ."

"If there's anything I've learned over the last couple of months about you, Error, it is that you're a good guy, put into a really bad situation."

"I'ʟʟ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ. Sᴇᴇʏᴀ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ Cʜᴀʀᴀ."

***

"Sᴏ, ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ Aɴᴛɪ-Vᴏɪᴅ?"

"Okie!!!" Blue chirped.

"Hmm... alright. Just let me grab some honey from Muffet's."

Stretch shortcutted to Muffet's and was back in seconds, with a few bottles of honey in his hands.

"I'ʟʟ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴀ ᴘᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ɴᴏᴡ, ɪғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴏᴋᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ."

Stretch nodded, and Blue was bouncing up and down with excitement.

With a lot of staticky noises, a glitchy tear in the world opened, leading into a mostly empty white void. Error had added a bit to it after Blue had stayed with him, so it now had a rather glitchy hammock made of his strings and a red blanket he had stolen from, of course, Underfell. He quickly opened a small portal and snagged some of Red's chocolate, before opening a window into Undernovela so they could watch.

"Wᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ, Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ. Tʜɪs ɪs ᴛʜᴇ Aɴᴛɪ-Vᴏɪᴅ. Fᴇᴇʟ ғʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴀɴᴋᴇᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ sɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴀ ʜᴀᴍᴍᴏᴄᴋ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀsᴋ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴇ. Bʟᴜᴇ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ?"

'It's so empty... how could he live in a place like this without going mad?' Stretch thought.

***

"Oooooh Error!!! Are you home?"

"Gᴏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ Iɴᴋ!!!"

"Nope! I'm here to pay you a visit, so visit you I will!"

"Oʜ, sʜᴀʀᴅs. Wʜʏ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs, Iɴᴋ?!"

"Because there's never a good time for you, and I honestly don't care."

"Oh! Hi Ink!" Blue chirped cheerfully from where he was perched on one of Error's thread hammocks.

The second Ink saw Blue, he came to the conclusion that Error kidnapped him again. So he attacked.

"Oʜ, sʜᴏᴏᴛ. Sᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜ, ɢᴇᴛ Bʟᴜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜE ᴡᴀʏ. I'ᴍ ᴀBᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍʏ ʙʟᴀSᴛᴇʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅOɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʜɪᴍ tO ɢᴇᴛ ʜɪT," Error said, glitching even more than usual due to the extra magic rushing through him in his panicked state.

"Blue, come here. I'll get you out of the line of fire. And Error, don't worry about us, okay bud? You know that we're both a lot tougher than we look. And even if we do die, we'll just come back next time the timeline in Underswap resets."

Blue ran over to Stretch, who picked him up and teleported to the far end of Error's domain. When he got there, Blue stubbornly refused to release him.

"Blue, you need to let go. I have to go back and help Error."

"Papy, you KNOW that I am more than capable of taking care of myself. Let me help, I might be able to talk some sense into Ink."

"Ugh... your logic is something that I can't argue with. Fine. But if you get hurt, you WILL retreat. Or else I'll get Error to make you a leash out of those threads of his, so that I can always keep an eyesocket out for you."

"Got it Papy. Now let's do this!"

The Swap bros returned to find Error partially trapped in magic-blocking chains made of paint, which didn't bode well for him.

"Error! Try and get us a portal away from here!" Stretch yelled. "Blue, help him with the chains. I'll handle Ink," he said, much quieter.

"Ink! Why are you doing this?!"

"Why are you here Stretch? I thought you hated Error, why are you protecting him?!"

"Because he needs someone to care about him!!! Ink, if you want to hurt Error, you'll have to get through me, and I'm not afraid to give you a ＢＡＤ ＴＩＭＥ."

"ME TOO!!!" Blue yelled.

Error continued to squirm free of the chains, and he had finally gotten one of his arms free, so it was going much faster now.

"Hey, Error, let me help you," Blue whispered.

"Yᴇs ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ. Gᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴏғғ ᴏғ ᴍᴇ."

"Mmmkay," Blue grabbed a piece of the chain and summoned a teeny blaster. "Error, stay as still as you can, okay? If you move, I might hit you by accident, and that would be bad."

Error stood very still- he really didn't want to get hit with the blaster. Although it was an adorable little blaster, small and rounded with bright blue star-shaped eyelights, like Blue's.

"Oᴋᴀʏ, Bʟᴜᴇ, ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴘᴏʀᴛᴀʟ. Gᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ's ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ, sᴏ ʜᴇ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ɴᴇᴀʀʙʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ɪᴛ."

As soon as Error opened the portal, the trio leapt through it, wanting to get away before Ink, in his rage, hurt someone badly.

"Uʜ-ᴏʜ. I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ sᴘᴇᴄɪғɪᴄ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ..."

***

Error found himself in a strange dark area when he left the portal. Blue and Stretch appeared a second later, and he closed the portal immediately to prevent Ink from following them.

He noticed that the darkness seemed to be shifting all around them, but at the same time, you could see perfectly (or at least once he bothered to put on his glasses he could).

"Error, Papy, are you two okay?" Blue asked, worry evident in his voice.

"Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇ. I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴅɪᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ."

"I'm fine Blue."

"Bʟᴜᴇ, ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴋᴀʏ?"

"Yup! I'm fine! Also, I think someone's coming towards us from over there- see?"

"Yᴜᴘ."

As the mysterious person approached, they could see that it looked like a Frisk, but grayscale with eerie black eyes like bottomless pits.

"Hᴇʏ Cᴏʀᴇ. Aʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴄᴀʀғ?

"Yes, Forced Destroyer. It's wonderful, thank you for making it."

Dogsong begins to play...

"This is my fellow Guardian. He will probably choose not to share his true name, unless he does you may simply call him the Annoying Dog."

[I'll take them to the center of the Void, they can get directions to a safe place from there.]

"He says that he will lead you to the center of the Void, from where you can receive directions to a safe place."

[Frisk, I can speak to them myself you know!]

"Yes, my friend, but can they understand you?"

"Core Frisk, we can understand him. We don't need a translator, thank you," said Blue.

"Well, if you are able to understand him, I can leave," said Core Frisk, before disappearing without a sound.

"Maybe you can Blue, but I can't."

"I ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀʀ ʜɪᴍ ғɪɴᴇ."

"Maybe it's a Sans thing?" Blue said.

[Kinda, it's due to you both having a particular type of SOUL. The combination of Integrity and Patience is particularly rare, and it's only been seen in Sanses.]

"I have no idea what that means!"

"Cᴏᴏʟ."

[Now, let's go.]

"Come on, Papy! We need to follow him!" Blue chirped.

"I'm coming Blue."

They all quickly followed the Dog through the Void to a spot with a large sphere of light that seemed to be constantly changing forms.

[This is the Heart of the Void. I must leave you now, but don't worry- if you need me, just call my name.]

"Uh, you never told us your name."

[Oh, yeah! I didn't tell you my name. Welp, I guess I should do that. The name's Toby. Don't wear it out, okay?]

"Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ, ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ," said Error, but Toby had already disappeared.

"Where'd he go?" Stretch asked.

"He said that this is where we need to wait, and that someone will come and tell us where to go soon. I have absolutely no idea where he went though."

They waited there for what felt like minutes, but was in fact hours outside of the Void. The Void tends to mess with space-time, so a few minutes in it can be a few hours outside of it, or the other way around.

Eventually, they saw a strange dark figure approaching from the shadows. As he came closer, they could see that he was a tall skeleton with cracks on his face and- were those HOLES in his hands?! He appeared to be crocheting something out of the shadows of the void- maybe a scarf, they couldn't tell.

Stretch worked up the courage to call out to him, "Hey, dude. Are you the one who the dog said would tell us where to go?"

❝Perhaps I am. It is uncertain, in this place.❞

"Hᴇʏ Gᴀsᴛᴇʀ, ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ?"

❝Yes, I can, my dear child. I know where you need to go, and I will take you there. I can also give you a few tips about where you are going.❞

"I ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴘs, ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ.

✂💣✡ 👎︎✌︎🕆︎☝︎☟︎❄︎☜︎☼︎ 👎︎⚐︎☜︎💧︎ ☠︎⚐︎❄︎ ☼︎☜︎💣︎☜︎💣︎👌︎☜︎☼︎ ✡︎⚐︎🕆︎📪 👌🕆❄ 💧︎☟︎☜︎ 🕈✋☹☹ 👌☜ ☝☹✌👎 ❄⚐ 💧☜☜ ✡⚐🕆 ☠☜✞☜☼❄☟☜☹☜💧💧📬 💣✡ ☹︎✋︎❄︎❄︎☹︎☜︎ ☠︎☜︎☜︎👎︎☹︎☜︎📬📬📬✂

"ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ..?"

❝Try not to antagonize the people of this AU. It has several very powerful guardians who might actually be able to defeat you if they worked together. And they're good friends, so they do work together. So... yeah, just don't make them mad.❞

"Gᴏᴛ ɪᴛ. Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴍᴀᴅ."

✂💣︎✡︎ 👍︎☟︎✋︎☹︎👎︎📪 ✋︎❄︎ ✋︎💧︎ ☠︎✋︎👍︎☜︎ ❄︎⚐︎ 💧︎☜︎☜︎ ✡︎⚐︎🕆︎ ✌︎☝︎✌︎✋︎☠︎📬

👎︎⚐︎ ✡︎⚐︎🕆︎ ☼︎☜︎💣︎☜︎💣︎👌︎☜︎☼︎ 💣︎☜︎✍︎

☠⚐📪 ✡⚐🕆 🕈⚐🕆☹👎☠🕯❄📬 ☞✌❄☜ ❄⚐⚐😐 ✡⚐🕆☼ 💣☜💣⚐☼✋☜💧📬✂

'Gasters... why must they speak in Wingdings.'

They walked for a while, seeing nothing more than the unending darkness and the occasional Gaster, before reaching their destination.

❝Well, here we are, my child. This is the entrance to the Voidpool, and the AU beyond it. You would've been brought here immediately if you hadn't been a guardian.❞

As soon as they got within a couple of feet, Error crashed.

❝What is that horrible sound, Sans?❞

"Error crashed. Don't worry about him, he'll be fine."

❝Crashed?❞

"What do you mean, crashed?"

"Just look at him, you can see it," Blue said.

"Oh. Well that's new."

"He does it sometimes, mainly when something overwhelms him or if someone touches him. I'll just go ahead and hit the 'yes' button now to speed up the reboot," Blue said calmly, completely unfazed by Error being basically unconscious.

"Error, are you okay?"

"ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴅᴇ. I ᴛʜɪɴᴋ I ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇ ɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ. Iᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴍe ғᴇᴇʟ... safe."

'He's barely glitching at all!' Blue thought to himself, and smiled.

"C'mon Error, Papy! Let's go through the rift!" Blue said, bouncing with excitement.

**
Published on Christmas of 2018