Okay so, Salient likes both pink and teal, I guess?

Now for the question:

What is Salient's favorite toy?

a) Dream puppet
b) Nightmare's teddy

The right answer may be the wrong one.

---------------------------------

Okay, there's definitely something going on in this castle that Error doesn't know about, and it's pissing him off.

Killer stopped bothering Error and the kid, Horror is way too happy, Dust is nowhere to be found and Cross keeps giving Error some side glances.

Those creeps are planning something, and Error already knows that whatever it is he's not going to like it.

He mentioned it to Nightmare, but the bastard just grinned and said he has no idea what they're doing.

God-damned sadistic octopus.

Honestly, Error felt like he should just dip when he gets the chance, but he didn't know where else he should keep Salient.

Not counting the strange feeling he's been getting for the past few days. As if something scratching on the back of his skull, trying to tell him he's missing something important.

Well, it's probably nothing. He's got other things to worry about anyways.

Like the dumb squid that is trying to stop him from doing his job again.

Error's Gaster blaster shot towards Ink, but the short skeleton was quick to dodge and send some purple paint towards Error.

The glitching skeleton growled in annoyance. Ink shouldn't even be here! This is usually the time when him and Dream would hang out, so the squid being here didn't make any sense.

Yes, Error knows - more or lees - Ink's usual routine. Perks of being alive for so long.

"wHere'S yOUr DReamEr BOy, hUh? DiDn't waNt TO sEe yoU? DId YoU gOt intO A fIGht?" Error mocked Ink, with slight curiosity in his voice. While he didn't really care whether the two were actually fighting or not, he was curious as to why the two weren't together right now. It was unusual.

To Error's surprise, Ink's eyes flashed red at the remark in sudden anger.

Huh, maybe the two were fighting after all.

Or did something happen?

Error forcefully pushed the thought out of his head. No point in thinking about it.

Anyway, Error's in danger since whenever Ink's eyes were red, bad shit would happen to whoever they were aimed at. And right now they were looking straight at Error.

Wonderful.

Error already reached out a hand, in order to make a portal to the castle. He could deal with this AU some other day, it's not worth getting his bones broken.

But just as he was about to make a portal, a feeling of sudden dread stopped him.

And then the entire Multiverse started shaking.

Error stumbled forward, not prepared for something like that, and he could hear as Ink who was behind him sucked in a breath.

Just for a few seconds, and then it stopped.

Error stayed frozen in place.

Never in his entire life has something like that happened. Sure, the Multiverse had reacted to some things in the past, but it was very rare and never on that level.

He glanced behind him to see Ink, in a similar state as him.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Well, that concludes my vacation." Ink said in a joking matter, but Error had known the squid for far too long to be deceived.

Ink was clearly distressed by what happened, judging from his tense posture and how he was gripping the large broom he always carried around.

Error narrowed his eyes at Ink, yet he didn't say anything. He just got up and finally made that portal to the castle.

Whatever it is that made the Multiverse shake like that is none of his business. Besides- Ink said that his 'vacation' is over, which means that the squid was going to figure out what is the problem.

There's no reason for Error to get involved.

He stepped through the portal and arrived at the castle. The dark halls feeling more familiar with each passing day that he spent here.

He took a deep breath and closed the portal behind him.

He started to walk towards Salient's room in order to check on the child and make sure they were alright. Although he'd never admit, the thing with the Multiverse scared him quite a bit, so he's gonna feel better when he sees his kid safe and sound.

___________________________

Safe and sound. SAFE AND SOUND FOR GOD'S SAKE.

Today was not Error's day.

When he walked into the room, he expected to see Salient playing with some toys or napping on Error's hammock.

What he wasn't expecting to see was a room without a child.

Where the hell is he.

Error was prepared to destroy the whole damn castle in order to find the kid, but was stopped by the dark figure in the doorway.

"Error, we need to talk." Nightmare's tone held no room for argument, yet Error didn't really care about it right now.

"laTEr. I nEEd tO FInD SaLIe-" Error tried to walk past the guardian, but was stopped by a tentacle on his wrist.

"Your kid is fine, Error. But I need to ask about the whole ordeal with the Multiverse shaking."

Error paused and raised a bone brow at that. The first sentence indicated that Nightmare knew the whereabouts of Salient, and was assuring him that the child is safe.

The rest though...

"ThERe's nOTHinG to Ask ME ABouT. i fELt It as mUcH AS yOU dId, buT I DOn'T knOW wHat CAusEd iT."

Error wasn't lying. Since Nightmare and Dream were Guardians and Error and Ink were a part of the balance, all four of them could feel when something was happening within the Multiverse.

Core!Frisk could also tell when something was going on, despite them not really having a position in the Multiverse, as they preferred to remain neutral.

"Are you sure?" Nightmare narrowed his eyes at Error. "No hints or feelings at all?"

Error paused and looked down in thought.

Then he looked back at Nightmare with a shake of his head.

Nightmare sighed, clearly disappointed, but then let go of Error's wrist.

Both of them stood in silence for a few seconds.

"SooOo..." Error trailed off making Nightmare look at him with a raised bone brow. "WheRE's mY kId?"

_________________________

Error stood and stared, not quite believing what he was seeing was real.

Both him and Nightmare were standing on a balcony with a view of the garden. Hell, Error didn't even know there was a garden here in the first place!

The flowers and the plants there needed some clear care, although Error expected them to look worse.

But what was truly attracting his attention was his kid.

Who was sitting on Horror's lap.

....

What.

....

To his utter disbelief, Salient seemed to be eating something that Horror was giving him, at times even letting out giggles. The happy expression on Horror's face was shocking.

But that wasn't the only thing that was happening. Killer was sitting beside Horror and seemed to be cooing at the child.

One of his eye lights was visible, and the SOUL which was usually in the shape of a target, looked as if it was changing shape.

Finally, Salient finished whatever meal Horror got him and wriggled out of his lap and into the ground. The child started crawling into one specific direction, and soon enough Error realized why.

Dust took a few steps forward, now being in Error's line of sight. He kneeled in front of the kid and reached out to take their little hand in his own.

Salient giggled and gripped Dust's hand tightly.

Cross who seemed to be watching them all from the other side of the garden just let out a laugh at the amazed expression on Dust's face.

Error gripped the railing of the balcony, confusion written across his face.

They all look so... Happy.

Weren't they supposed to be a danger for the child? Why are they behaving this way?

Error flinched when Nightmare gripped him by the shoulder.

"Look at them Error. Did you know they always take Salient when you're not around? Playing with him, feeding him, taking care of him... Why do you try to keep them away?"

Nightmare's words made Error's mind go blank.

They were murderers. They had problems. They weren't safe to be around.

But so was he.

Error sighed and hid his face in his hands.

Idiot.

He looked back at the gang again, practically feeling how happy they were.

Okay, maybe he'll let have fun for once. Maybe even pretend to be normal.

All the while the scratching on his skull continued to grow.

-----------------------------

Jesus okay, my longest chapter yet.

Sooo, what do you all think?

Bit too much for one chapter I think.

Anyway- what's happening with the Multiverse? Who is the parent that's searching for Salient? Why is Error having such a bad feeling all the time?

Tell me your thoughts because I'd love to hear it!