Chapter 5: Safe

Destiny had a hard decision to make once it let Error go. Where would they lead him too once the Void gave in?

To get help, they first must admit that they need help to heal. For that to happen the person would need a reason to get better or to find help. And so Destiny must lead to where Error could find his reason. A reason to live. Error needs all this and more Destiny knew. It could cry at what Fate has done to him.

But what kind of reason? Romance would not happen at this point, he does not believe that he has the right to that. And an enemy or rival would not end so well, not when he has no will to live any longer. But maybe something to fight for? But what? So Destiny must go with a different option...But what left is there?

And then it struck Destiny on where to lead him to after thinking back on how Error acted back in the other Multiverse. After that, it would be up to him as to what happens after they put him there, but after watching him so long Destiny knew that it would be the best choice. So finally for the first time for their chosen child, Destiny started to weave the many paths of destiny for the one known as Error as the Void finally gave way.

Destiny watched happily as Error fell to the snow below, not too far away from the ones she is hoping will find him, hoping and praying that they had not led him astray.

-With Error-

When Error felt the cold and pain, he thought it was just how being scattered across time and space felt like. He figured being broken apart can't feel all too great after all and it's not like he could ask anyone how it felt. The muffled noise and the crunching of snow quickly clued him in that this was not the case.

After a few moments of silence, Error almost could fool himself that this was all a hallucination caused from dying, that or some sort of twisted purgatory for all the deaths he has caused. Death never did like him, he can still see him carving new scars on his bones with that scythe of his and only grinning when he didn't die immediately like other humans or Monsters would, then pushing down harder-

And then when a cold small bony hand poked his check softly, that clued him in that this was not the Void or this being a hallucination, but it could still be purgatory so that was still in the running. And if he was wrong then he wanted to know why the hell little Monsters were in the Void and if this was the afterlife he hopes that he wasn't the one to have killed them. Or if this wasn't the Void or afterlife then he wanted to know where the hell he was and/or what AU he was in.

'But I'm still hoping for afterlife....' Error mentally facepalmed. 'But knowing my luck it isn't...I never get what I want! So why should this be any different?'

So he slowly opened his sockets, pushing past the pain to face what he has fallen into. He could only pray that this wasn't a trick by Fate or Ink for giving up.

-A Few Minutes Before-

Project One, a little skeleton Monster, had no idea where he was going. All he knew was that he had to keep his baby bones little brother, Project Two, safe. He had no idea where he was going, only that he had to get away from H I M. shivering in his striped rags, One willed his feet to go fast through the freezing snow.

He would hide and run until his legs were gone, as long as there was no more pain! All those tests and experiments were too much for him to handle, let alone his new brother. So he waited until the moment was right then struck. When his back was turned, One grabbed Two and ran for it. But He had connections, more than One thought he did. One ran past the Hotlands, past Waterfall, and somehow ended up in the cold Snowdin. Cuddling a shivering Two closer, One took in a deep breath only to freeze up in terror.

From the sounds of metal, One realized that the royal guard was looking for them and close by.

Hearing the guards that may or may not be looking for them, One ducked down and around to hide behind one of the unused houses in Snowdin. Looking around the building One froze when the sound of static reached his ears. Taking a gulp, One turned around only to flinch back in shock.

Another Skeleton Monster was laying down in the snow. And after taking a hesitant step forward, One could see that it was a very hurt skeleton Monster by the marrow turning the snow red. Watching wearily, One got closer to only have his sockets widen in awe and horror.

He had never seen a Monster like this one before, not that he has seen many close up, and one that was an adult yet so hurt. Scratches and scars littered his arms, legs, and skull from what he can see. And seeing how some lead up and down his shirt, scarf, and shorts One could safely bet they were all over his body. Add in the dark coloring of black and bright red and yellow with words on him, One almost thought that this was another escaped experiment.

Figuring that the Monster could do him and Two no harm, One took in a deep breath a lightly poked the others cheek. There was no way he could leave one who has been through worse than him alone and weak. One better warn him about the guards before he has to run. The next thing One knew was that he was looking into multicolored eyes, ones he has never seen before and couldn't help but admire. 'What kind of Monster is this guy?'

When Error saw the little Sans and Papyrus, one a baby and the other looking no older than three but Error knew that he couldn't base height on age especially for a Sans, he wanted to curse out loud but held it back. He must have landed in a young AU. The reason it was Young was because of how far developed it was. Newer ones began when the barrier was first out up. And if it was one above ground it began after the war stopped. After that, it was up to what the choices and decisions they make that will form the AU.

Error went after newer ones because he had no intention to kill children and babies. He rather them develop further and fight a grown Sans or Papyrus then kill off some children. It was bad enough that he had to kill off the usual kids and human child, he didn't want to add others to the screaming list and his nightmares. And when he did have to kill off the children, he fired his blasters above the whole town so he doesn't have to hear or see their SOUL's shatter.

And taking in the ragged and dirty clothing, he could tell it was one of the AU's were either Gaster is not very nice, or it was one where Gaster has yet to take them in. No one knows for sure what Gaster's role was in Undertale, not even the universe itself, so Ink made up a bunch of different theories and let his creativity take its course. And while he could not force them to take a role, he could play with the code to make each one a little different than the other. Some Gaster's were nice fathers or brothers, others were evil, some even were lovers to Sans instead of being related.

In the end, it just made Error hate Ink all the more.

"HeY KiD....." Big eyes blinked down at him that only got wider once he started speaking. "WhAT aRE YoU dOInG HErE?"

One was not expecting the voice that did to come out of the other's mouth. But he pushed his shock away as the cold swept through him. "I...I saw you.....Guards...." Was all the little one could get out before both baby bones shivered harshly with a cough.

"UWWAH~" The little baby cried out, orange tears starting to form, bones shaking from the cold and hunger. The other child started quickly rocking the smaller one, holding him tight trying to hush him. All Error could do was watch them both numbly, not really believing that this was happening to him.

'Royal guards are here? Well, I think I know what kind of AU I'm in now.....But I can't let them see me. An unusual Monster they have never seen or heard from would cause more problems then I need right now. It may get back to Ink or the others that I am here.' Watching them both just stand there shivering, Error finally heaved a sigh. 'My life would be so much easier if I was just the evil insane destroyer of worlds that Ink made me out to be.....'

One flinched back as the taller Monster shifted up, bones creaking and cracking making more marrow run down as wounds reopened. Finally sitting up, the Monster undid his scarf. One could only blink in shock when the fluffy looking scarf was draped around him and Two. The soft fabric brought forth a warmth One had never felt before. A shaking, scared black hand slowly fixed the long scarf around the both of them, making Two quiet down and tears stop.

"ThERe YoU GO.....iT LOokS BeTTeR ON YoU TWo tHEn iT diD mE." One looked up at the injured Monster in disbelief. What reason did this Monster give this to them? What did he want in return? Before he could question the other, the taller Monster shifted so that he was leaning on a nearby tree to stay up. "YOU sHOuLD lEaVE KId...FiND sOMEwHErE sAFE tO sTAy. YOU doN'T wAnT tO bE WItH ThIS OlD BAg oF bRokEn BoNES."

'Safe?' One had never been safe before, not in the labs and not with Him. But looking at the taller one, the one who gave him and his brother something to keep warm, his SOUL pulsed with warmth The only time it had done that was when he was with Two alone. He knows the definition of the word, but never experienced it. But looking up and into those different eyes surrounded by cracks and chips, One knew this Monster was safe no matter what he said.

He had given him and Two soft warmth, something they have never had before and has yet to hurt them. But what also made him trust this weird colored Monster was that he was the same as him. He has been hurt worse than him, broken and left for dead by the looks of it. The only difference is that he is alone while One has Two. If this Monster was a normal citizen, One would have never trusted him. But now.....could he?

Hearing the crunching of snow and talking not too far away, One made his choice.

Error glitched and sockets widened when all of a sudden the little Sans shot up and under his shirt with Papyrus still in his hold. 'What is this little brat doing!?' Pain flared up his bone as they shifted under his shirt, accidentally hitting some of the more tender wounds. Taking in a deep breath, Error lifted his shirt a bit to look down inside. The little one was now curled up inside his ribs, not touching the ones that were broken luckily, cuddling the scarf and the baby for warmth. "WhAt aRE YoU dOInG KId?" Error had no energy to get mad right now, he just wanted to know what kind of fever dream he was having right now. "i TOLd YoU tO gO SomEWhErE sAFe-"

Error stilled when a little hand grabbed onto his least damaged rib. Big eyes looked up at him under the red scarf, gleaming with determination and something Error had never seen before. He then said something that made Error's SOUL freeze. "Safe."

He wanted to laugh at how wrong this baby bones were. Error, killer of many worlds and universes, was not at all safe! His hands and SOUL was forever stained and dusty, he should not be touching something so innocent. Sooner or later they would get hurt because of him. Error tried to calm his shaking and glitching as his gaze went blank. "HeH, KiD I'M NOt sAFE...."

"Safe!" Error groaned at that admittedly adorable glare and pout directed up at him before letting the matter drop. He was too tired to deal with this right now. He would deal with it after some sleep. Maybe by the time he wakes up, the two would be gone having finally gotten tired of him. "fINe! YOU cAn stAy ThERe...."

One gave the taller one a big smile, like the ones he saw the doctors give one another when something went their way before settling back into the ribs. As he listened to the slow pulsing of the other's magic and SOUL, his sockets slowly slide shut as Two finally fell into sleep. Before he went to sleep, One felt arms wrapping around the two if them, keeping them secure. 'So this is what being safe is like?.... I like it.'

'What am I to do now?' Error closed his sockets, letting a little bit of his magic swirl around all three to keep them warm. He had to admit it was nice to hold something that wasn't trying to kill him, but he knew he had to leave this AU eventually. Once this AU is older, Ink is for sure to check it out as he does with the others to see how it formed. Then it wouldn't matter if they all thought Error was dead, Ink would feel Error's magic and presence. holding back a yawn, Error pushed those matters to the corner of his mind, he would think about it in the morning.

Unknown to Error, Destiny laughed and nudged the magic swirling around them. Destiny's strings for Error glowed and broke off into many different parts. While Destiny can't interfere too much as Fate can, they can push and prodded to get the effect they want.

Now, all Destiny can do for now is sit back and watch what choices Error would make now that he was finally free from Fate.

Notes From Author - Harrish6

I was reading the story "Bandages" and "Butterscotch and Bones" by Kaliawai512 on Archiveofourown, it is based off of Zarla's "Handplates". This little Sans and Papyrus are based off that background but not completely.

Sans is young but still very much hurt. If he ran into a normal adult, like Grillby or Toriel, he would not trust them at all. But he found Error, who is bleeding and covered in scars, chips, and scratches. He feels like they are similar for that as both have been hurt, so Sans chooses to cling to the only one he deems 'Safe'. Error is just at the point where he doesn't care but is still so broken on the inside and outside. Don't worry, we'll get more baby Papyrus in the next chapter.

Error has a weakness for children in this story, especially broken children because he thinks himself as broken as well. Right now Error doesn't know he is in a new Multiverse, just thinks he is in a new young AU that he hasn't touched for the reason of being young. Too many children running about at this time for him. And while he hates being touched, he is just at the pint he doesn't care. It also helps that they are children and not adults touching him.

The reason I did not give so much detail of when Error was beaten by the others is because I wanted Error to have flashbacks of characters he runs into or remembers it like I did with Reaper!Sans in this chapter, or tell them later on what 'they' did to him, much to their horror.

Some AU's, later on, will have never been touched by Error, and it will be explained why he has never destroyed one. For example, Error never destroyed any Undernovela universe or Timeline because he likes watching them. I have no idea if I will use this AU, but it is just an example I am using.