You'd think being protector of the multiverse would mean you wouldn't get lonely. That people flock to you like birds seeing a worm. But unfortunately it's never the way it seems. It was lonely, and overwhelming. Struggling to maintain a balance that truly never was.

Creators lost interest in their projects that he had inspired them with, finding them to be either unworthy of anyone's time or not enough.

It's already been done.

No one really likes my Au.

Why bother any more?

Most creators thought the same thing, and while they were still constantly in a battle to be re-inspired it never worked for some. Ink didn't fear a lot, even if he had the vial for the emotion he didn't have very much to fear really. But he feared being forgotten, that the world would cease to remember he exists and never hear him call out.

He craves the attention, to have others remember him even if one day that could be in a bad way and they'd all resent him. He's afraid of being alone. Though really, he's always been lonely.

A breath escapes his teeth as he stares up at the sky of the original universe, breathing in a pacifist time line where monsters were now on the surface enjoying life. He enjoyed seeing the blues that painted the sky, with the cream white clouds that occasionally drifted by. It was nice to just sit and breath even though he should be doing his normal rounds in the doodlesphere. Or maybe checking up and seeing what Error was up to.

Even if Error didn't like him, ink always sort of found some interest in him. He's different, that was one way to put it, maybe unique was better. But they were enemies, creation and destruction; Yin and Yang. Error's intense hate for him was amusing, he always got so easily agitated even if he wanted to ask a simple question.

Lately it's been difficult, creating new Au's and watching them thrive and become full of life, he's resorted to trying to create hand written stories rather than drawings. But he fears that may not work out so well for him, he's not exactly a writer and he wasn't sure what to suggest sometimes. Day by day he was loosing Au's and not because they were being destroyed by Error but because creators decided it was what was best. Which wasn't true. One day, all the multiverses would die out leaving only the original as a sweet memory.

"Ink!" A shrill and panic voice called and ink sat up off the deep green grass that rustled with the wind looking around frantically wondering if he was just hearing things. Huffing he readjusted his paintbrush on his back, which was named broomie, before attempting to lay down once more.

"Ink!"

The voice shouted again and this time ink, didn't attempt to lay down, sitting up right fully looked around bewildered. Where is that coming from?

"Ink!" The voice drew out his name as the keeper of it suddenly crashed into his side making ink topple over with a gasped and shocked whoa!

He quickly stood up helping who ever it was who ran into him only to see a familiar face.

"Dream?" Ink smiled amused but confusion was in his eyes, sure ink was the protector of the Au's and a master of creation. But he's rather dense when he wants to be.

"I'm so glad I found you! It's blue! His Au!" Dream was talking a bit fast his words jumbling together as he frantically looks up at ink.

"I've never seen him so upset!"

Ink blinked once, then twice, then three times until the sentences seemed to, finally,click in his head.

"Wait..." ink paused.

"What happened?" His eyes looked down at Dream, trying to reassure the worried skeleton that it was all probably fine but dream seemed more on edge when Ink asked.

"That's the thing, I didn't have time to know I rushed over as soon as I even caught feelings that blue was distraught! Nightmare could-" dream didn't want to even finish that thought. The amount of negative emotions in underswap were a bit overwhelming.

Everyone in one timeline that seemed to be the newest in the pacifist Route was suffering in immense sadness like they're mourning. Not just over something but someone and dream could feel that.

"Wait-What? But nothing should be out of the ordinary?" Ink scratched at his head in confusion. He thought that blue, as he and dream refer to him, was happy with his new friend. Ink had this amazing idea for a story at last, and not long ago eagerly sought out a writer to create this new time line for his friend. He never thought in a million years this was how it could end up.

"I know that," dream seemed exasperated as he clasped his hands together in front of him in a worried motion, "but things are! The people of that Au, they're all sad and worried and upset as if someone close to them has died."

Ink stared at Dream in a deep thought seeming to wonder what could of possibly gone wrong. Unfortunately when ink tried to think, he could be rather slow, never quite piecing the puzzle together unless someone finished it for him or spelt it out enough to where he'd understand.

"I should go take a look, if it's so bad maybe nightmare could try something. We can't let that happen." Ink whipped broomie from his back twirling the abnormally large brush in his hand before allowing its end to rest upon the ground brush facing the sky.

"Right!" Dream took his hands away from where they were clasped together to clench them into fist looking determined as he nodded.

"I'll keep an eye on him and see if he had any plans with underswap! I'll keep you updated!" And with that dream left in an instant. Leaving ink alone to stare after his friend's vacant area where he had once stood.

With a sigh ink splashed some paint against the ground with the intent to going to underswap, jumping through. It was a short journey but when he arrived he was met with rain making him cringe at the feeling.

"Really?" He shouted at the sky for no particular reason other than to maybe let the author who was illustrating this timeline be aware of his current state. But upon receiving no change to the weather he trudged on uncaring. It added depth, he thought anyway.

He did get some strange looks as he walked along the street passing by buildings and admiring the surface for what it had to offer, momentarily wondering what it must be like living in the original universe in a pacifist time line. But then he thought it must get boring and he was a man of action! Though he does enjoy naps.

Stopping upon seeing the street he had desired to reach, ink hummed as he quickly made haste to get to his old friend's home. Seeing the lights were on, glowing a warm orange that would of brought comfort had this situation not been so serious. Unable to help himself, ink peeked through the window seeing blue patting the back of Chara with worried eyes.

"Do not worry human, I know a friend who can help us retrieve the older human!" Blue was trying his hardest to be enthusiastic but it was clear he was straining. Chara seemed to sign and blue had looked away pensive. Ink decided it best to intervene now. Quickly he approached the door and made a face wondering if he should just knock or just teleport in. He found it more reasonable to knock.

Waiting a moment ink heard blue say something to Chara he couldn't quite hear, then he heard the sound of someone shuffling to get the door. It opened with blue on the other end staring down at his feet attempting to muster up courage to look at who ever was there.

"I'm sorry queen Toriel we haven't-" blue had looked up as he spoke trying to force a smile then it became genuine when he saw just who it was at the door.

"Ink!" Blue seemed so pleased as he bounced the light coming back to his eyes like stars as he turned to look back into his shared home.

"Brother! Human! Look!" Blue was attempting to draw the attention of his friends and family but neither Chara or papyrus could really give too much attention caught up with worry on what might be happening to you.

"Come on in friend!" Blue parted from the door frame, motioning his arm for ink to step forward watching as he walked in a bit awkwardly. Ink smiled as he looked at all three people in the room. He didn't have to have special powers to know that they're all upset even if blue was now in hopeful spirits.

"Um," ink cleared his throat a bit deciding that he should get right down to business, "I heard from Dream that you guys aren't doing to great. Did something happen?"

Ink looked between everyone and watched as papyrus took a longer drag of his cigarette. He also took note that Chara had something cuddled to their chest unwilling to make eye contact with the colored skeleton.

"Something terrible if you must know!" Blue gasped out a bit looking up at his slightly taller friend, it was difficult being just about 3 feet after all.

"Like what?" Ink blinked finding his mind unable to connect the dots. Though really he should of guessed by now.

"The eldest human, (Y/N), was taken away by Error! He wanted to destroy our Au again and she was trying to be brave! She sacrificed her self so that we may be safe but-" blue seemed to tear up half way through his explanation and ink felt his eyes widen.

Wait isn't (Y/N) the newest addition to this timeline?

His thoughts ran a bit wild as he stared at blue with rising worry. Though really now he was kicking himself for not checking up on error like he had originally intended.

"You mean he took her?" Ink looked between everyone watching as Chara sniffled nodding their head only to look up signing to him.

"Please bring her back." If Chara could speak and wasn't signing as they tried to get their thoughts across, ink would of heard a crack to their voice from all the crying. But alas he couldn't and only read what was translated from Chara's head to their hands leaving him to wonder how the latest addition could mean so much to everyone. She must be important to the story, maybe that's why error wanted to take her so bad as bait for him he's sure.

"You've got it! I'll bring her back pal!" Ink smiled as he tried to ease the room reaching for broomie, yet again, the day's not quite over.

"She'll be back here and safe in no time!" He sounded so sure of himself.

Ink was boasting now enjoying the approval of his friends as he even caught the attention of papyrus, who seemed to be more at ease hearing ink's deceleration. Blue had stars in his eyes yet again while he eyed his friend smiling widely for the first time in a few hours seeming to thoroughly believe in ink.

"Thank you greatly friend!" Blue seemed to gush and ink just smiled rubbing the nape of his spine, which peeked our from under his scarf.

"Don't mention it!" He laughed a little as he removed his hand readying himself to leave and confront error. To be the hero of the story and leave error to be the villain unaware this story wasn't going to end in such a way.

"Wait." Chara signed as they stood sniffling wrapping what seemed to be a woman's jacket around their shoulders walking towards ink with tearful eyes.

"If she's hurt please make sure that you can take care of her. My sister means the world to me and I don't want to loose her too."

Ink watched the hand motions pass him by as he stared down at Chara who seemed passionate about the safe return of their sister. Leaving ink to just watch wondering what it's like to feel so much so greatly. That's part of what he envied most about his creations. How much they can feel, the love they all share with one another is always something he greatly wants.

He wants to feel that without needing these vials, he wants a soul more than anything. To feel things like anger and sadness, happiness and love. Sure he can feel happiness and anger and sadness and humor. But it's not the same as say having a full soul. It's like having only a fraction of what everyone else has a 100% of.

He was jealous of it, jealous of the love that Chara had for you. They had no idea you don't exist in any other timeline but this one, and maybe a genocide one, but regardless the love they feel for you is so great. And if you're what's making everyone so sad after your sacrifice he's envious of them all.

Ink must of been quite for far too long since blue seemed to peer from his left side looking up in worry at him.

"Ink?" He called and ink guessed this must of been the second time he's called out to him, because normally blue refers to ink often as friend. (Though ink does think of blue as a friend, the real him with no emotion may believe otherwise.)

"Oh, sorry! I lost focus, what were we talking about?" Ink smiled as he looked around finding that his normal lack of attention had struck him again. Ah he wish he had more attention sometimes! He always found himself not paying attention when he needed to most. But that's how it goes for him.

"The human has asked you to take care of the eldest human! And return them home safely out of harms way! Since she means so much to everyone!" Blue seemed chipper used to ink's forgetfulness as the color clad wearing skeleton nodded now back on track.

"Right! I'll make sure she's okay and bring back peace! Don't you guys worry a bit!" Ink places his hands on his hip and smiled enjoying the praise blue gave him. Blue was gushing happily about how much of a hero ink really is and how much he admired him so greatly for ink was nearly as magnificent as he was.

"Daw, blue." Ink waved his hand a bit, acting like he was embarrassed at such encouragement.

Ink's embarrassment soon turned to amused laughter as blue seemed to puff out his ribs in a pouting manner. If he could puff out his cheeks, which he actually could and was sort of doing it right now, he would definitely be pouting.

"But it's true!" Blue protested and ink just waved it off nodding his head.

"Yeah, yeah." He grinned feeling much better about all the praise, blue would never forget him. That ink was sure of.

"Right! I'm off! I'll be back with your sister! See ya!" Ink removed broomie from his back in a swift motion and quickly made a paint puddle on the floor slipping through using the access point to reach the anti void where error resides leaving everyone staring after him as he left.

"He'll bring her back!" Blue smiled as he stared down at the rippling paint. Everyone seemed to stare at it for a while, like maybe he'd burst right on through again and have you back with your friends and family again. But nothing happened.

"Who's gonna clean this up?" Papyrus, breaking everyone's the silent staring contest with the paint, sighed through his nose making smoke leave his nostrils from his cigaret.

Both blue and Chara looked at one another with equally upset sighs knowing that this wouldn't magically go away. And that it would take time for ink to retrieve you from error.

Everyone just hoped desperately that ink would come through, unaware this one time he'd loose.