Awkwardness doesn't even begin to describe the feeling that clogs the room. Dream doesn't even dare to breath loudly. This world's Papyrus seems to have calmed down significantly, and invited Reaper, Dream, Blue, and Cross into his home. It's the same building that the whole AU had been defending just moments before. Dream can't wrap his head around it.

He's currently sitting on the couch, both hands glowing with healing magic, tending to the worst of Reaper's wounds. He seems just as confused as Dream. Cross and Blue stand stiffly shoulder to shoulder at one end of the couch. Two native Monsters including the Papyrus are standing at the other. The other is an unhappy looking Undyne who still clutches one spear in her hand, watching Reaper warily. Blue, of course, tries to break the ice first.

"I believe that introductions are on order. I am the Magnificent Blue, and these are my companions Dream and Cross. It's nice to meet you, other Brother and other Undyne," Blue smiles brightly, eyes briefly shifting to stars.

"........... You can call me Scales. Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot. Reaper's appearance just got me awfully worried," the Papyrus says after a moment, looking a little bashful.

"Well I'm not sorry. Guy had it coming," Undyne huffs. She's protective for sure, but her manner doesn't seem nearly as aggressive or forceful as most Undynes.

"Like I said before, I'm sure we can talk this out like civil Monsters. Reaper never means any harm. He's not even sure if he has to reap any one, right." Dream makes the God nod with a stern look.

Scales nods. "Oh, I know he won't be able to reap anyone now that you've brought Alloy's soul home." Dream is shocked frozen. He stiffens with his hands still over Reaper's arm, magic fizzling out. Alloy's home? Did he hear correctly?

"Alloy....... has no AU......" Cross says slowly.

"Says who?" Scales chuckled, "Sure, our home's been glitched out and broken for a long time, but Alloy began to restore it when he returned some months ago. He kept telling me how excited he was to introduce me as a surprise."

"Error had an AU before he became an outcode. Was this his home?" Blue asks, confused.

"Error? I guess you could say this was Ink and Error's home at one point. Technically," Scales hums in thought, "I'll go grab Alloy if you wait here for a moment." Scales turns around and begins heading towards a flight of stairs that lead to a basement.

Dream is moving before he can think. He slides off the couch and to his feet to follow Scales. Undyne stares at him as Dream walks past, but she doesn't try to stop him. Does Scales find Dream that trustworthy? Now that he thinks back, Scales said his name before they were introduced. The questions keep piling up.

The basement is dimmer, but it's still well lit with a glowing ceiling light. It's fully furnished and looks like some sort of office space. One wall is taken up by several large monitors that rest on a counter at chest height. They're all on, but Dream doesn't care to study them. Part of the room is also dedicated to a small lounge. An 'L' shaped couch is shoved into a corner with a coffee table in front of it. This is what grabs his attention.

"Hey Alloy! Your friends are finally here. Took 'em long enough, right? And didn't I tell you to keep your shirt on?" Scales lectures, but he still smiles affectionately.

Dream has seen Ink emotionless before, but this is worse. Alloy is actually here. After all the searching, he's been in this AU the whole time. The God of Balance sits cross-legged on the couch, indeed shirtless. His shirt, coat, and scarf are discarded on the floor. Alloy only looks up for a moment when he hears his name, but says nothing. Both his eyes are dead and empty. It gives Dream chills. Alloy looks back down to what he's doing. He's running his fingers along a scar on one rib, right above where his soul should be. It's in the same spot where 404 grabbed him. Dream can see Ink's Spark there, in pieces and drifting very slowly in a circular motion. Another similar scar is just a inch to the right on the same bone.

"Is........ Is he okay? Why is Alloy down here in the basement?" Dream asks softly.

"I found him a few days ago outside of town, missing his soul. I knew he must have been killed. Alloy doesn't talk much at all, but he likes to watch the Multiverse monitors sometimes. I don't think he feels much of anything, but I like to think that he's been worried about all those falling AUs."

"You know about those?"

"Of course! Keeping the Multiverse functional is not meant to be a one man job. All of us here help where we can," Scales explains, "Now, come on, Alloy, it's rude to keep guests waiting."

Scales is not too terribly loud or demanding as most of his counterparts. Instead, he's calm and comforting while tending to Alloy. Scales picks up the clothing on the floor and helps Alloy put it back on. The god is hardly responsive. Scales has to ask multiple times for him to do anything even as simple as sticking his arm out. Dream feels uncomfortable to see him so vulnerable like this. Ink talks and responds and even can fight, some would even say better, when he's run out of paint. Alloy doesn't seem to know what to do with himself without a soul. Scales slowly guides him into getting his jacket on after the shirt. Scales just throws the scarf over his shoulder before leaning down to pick Alloy up. There's quite a bit of height difference, as with most.

Dream didn't realize it before, but it suddenly hits him that Scales is touching Alloy. He's always been terrified of touch in the past, but now Scales has his younger brother pressed completely against himself. Alloy doesn't react to it. It could just be his lack of a soul, but Dream still finds it odd. Alloy instinctually wraps his arms and legs around Scales like a child when he's picked up. Again, Dream follows back up the stairs. Alloy watches him expressionlessly, chin resting on Scale's shoulder. Dream shivers.

Blue and Cross both turn to look when the three emerge. They both gasp when they see Alloy, but it's immediately obvious that there's something very wrong with him. Alloy has always been so loud and full of life. He seems to find they joy in every moment of the day. Now, he might as well be comatose. His empty eyes focus on nothing. Alloy just lets Scales do whatever he wants. Reaper watches from the couch in fascination.

"Alloy?........" Blue whimpers. Cross says nothing, simply staring.

"How is the little guy?" Undyne asks softly, stepping closer to the brothers.

"He'll be fine once he's got his soul back," Scales nods.

Hearing the prompt, Blue steps forwards hesitantly with the soul still resting in his arms. He's uncomfortable seeing Alloy this way. As if sensing the piece of himself, the god snaps his head around to stare. Blue flinches but stays put. Scales shifts so that Alloy is only supported by one of his arms while the other is held out for the soul. Blue carefully scoops it up in one hand and dumps it into the other Monster's. The soul hovers slightly above their hands. It's an jumble of colors mostly consisting of black, yellow, and spots of blue. Ugly, dark splotches of green and brown are also present. Monster souls usually don't have any color. For Alloy, this strange mix seems just about perfect.

"See? I told you the others would bring you back," Scales smiles down at Alloy, "Nothing to worry about. Let's get you back, yeah? Here." Scales holds up the soul, and Alloy actually moves on his own to take it.

He spends a few long, quiet moments just staring at it. The entire audience holds their breath. Does he even know what to do with it in this state? Then, Alloy brings it closer to his body and cups it to his chest where it fazes right through his clothes. Alloy shivers violently and squeezes his eyes shut before looking up at Scales. Of his eyes is a purple question mark, and the other is a glitching red and yellow pupil. Alloy twists and glances around at the others before he shudders again. He shakes his head and rapidly blinks a few times, disoriented. His eyelights have changed again. The deep blue star from the dreamscape is back.

"Scales?" Alloy asks, looking to his brother. He's still a little confused and out of it.

"Hey! How are you feeling? You've been out of it for a while," Scales smilies.

"I have?......" Alloy trails off. He twists around again in his brother's arms to look. A great big, silly smile lights up his face when he sees the others. "Oh! Hey! When did you guys get here?" He wiggles to be put down, and Scales relents after a moment. "I-I was gonna introduce you to Scales, I swear it! I had so many plans! I was even gonna make some tacos the way Blue showed me!" Alloy seems a little upset now that the surprise is ruined. What shocks Dream, Cross, and Blue the most is that Alloy's voice isn't glitching. He's suddenly come back to life so quickly, and it'll take them a moment to process it.

"Tacos? You remember that? I made tacos in the Anti-Void once with Error," Blue mumbles the last part.

Alloy then does something shocking he lurches forwards and picks up Blue from underneath his arms, laughing. He's not scared of the physical contact. "Of course I remember! Why wouldn't I? That's when we became friends."

"You have Ink and Error's memories?" Cross asks shakily.

"Who are-"Alloy starts, but then he stops dead in his tracks. He sets Blue down quickly without a word and steps back. "Oh........." Alloy stumbles back into Scales and slides down to the floor.

"Do you remember now?" Scales asks gently, leaning down to put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

"I remember.......... everything"