Start Of The End

Harrish6's Notes:

https://youtu.be/SDa5JS2cpeA

This song just makes me think of Error in some sad, twisted way. I can just hear him and his kids in this, that or few someones just thinking it for Error.

Here is what is going on in the Original Multiverse!

-- Chapter Start: --

After searching up and down for Error, Nightmare could only laugh when the first two AU's crumbled.

Two new AU's had been created too close to one another, literally no room for them to grow even a inch. Luckily they were nowhere near the bigger AU's, but Nightmare knew it was just a matter of time. It was horrible, but the funny part? Everyone was still trying to blame Error.

"He must have faked his death!"

"That son of a bitch must think it's a game!"

"We have to find him right now!"

Nightmare wanted to laugh at the fools, because he knew that Error was in no way faking his death or hiding out in a AU. After looking in all the AUs, and without tipping Dream or Inky off, Nightmare decided to ask another person who could go into the Anti-VOID, as he has trouble getting in. So he asked Chaos.

Chaos, having also heard the rumors, gave in easily to take his group into the Anti-VOID with them.

-When Nightmare saw the dust pile and the jacket, he felt his SOUL shudder. Could the Destroyer, the Forced God of Destruction really be dead? He wanted to scream, to cry that this was all a lie. Because in a way, Nightmare loved Error. Or loved as much as he could in the form he held, his SOUL was never the same when he turned into what he was now. He couldn't even be sure that he truly loved Error, maybe it was fondness or a obsession. But one thing was for sure, Nightmare respected Error's power, the way he handled himself even in the stories he had heard about Error's madness and insane days. When Error told him about the balance when he was poisoned, Nightmare was struck by how things could have been for himself, and how bad things truly are for Error. That's why he wanted Error to join them, to get him out of the Anti-VOID and in with them. Nightmare could have protected him from the others just fine as Error went about his job. That way he wouldn't have to take there abuse, Nightmare could have protected him. Error got along with his group, so why shouldn't he join? But he never did, just giving that sad smile as he shook his head.

Poisoning him was a way to protect him in a way. Nightmare has almost been poison by Inky and a few times by his own brother by their magic. And while he has a suspicion that Dream had no idea what he was doing, he doesn't want them to do the same thing to Error. Turns out it wasn't needed now, he failed. 'You should have picked me Error, I could have protected you!'

Chaos had screamed when they saw the dust pile, falling to their knees and crawling towards it in shock. Hand reaching out but stopping just short of touching the jacket. Their Duncle Error couldn't be gone! The only one who understood, who loved and protected all Charas. He taught them even when he was lost to madness, making them know that even if those hypocrites hated them, that he would always love them no matter what they had to do. He gave all Charas dolls, hugs, taught them how to fight for the more blood thirsty ones, watched Undernovela with them all, and laughed with them. Error told them while the others may live a lie, they did not. That lying to oneself would get them nowhere. 'So....Does that mean Duncle Error is really gone?!'

Dust felt numb, starring down at the dust covered jacket. He could remember when he first saw Error. It was when he was still lost in his madness, with him harshly fighting off Inky, taunting the creator as he killed off a AU. But when he met Error, it was when he lost all that anger and madness. It irked Dust that someone so powerful had become so peaceful. It was only when they started their little game that he realized something; Error never became peaceful, he has just lost the will to fight. Lost his reason for it.

After joining Nightmare, he learned the truth about the Multiverse and the balance, where Error and Inky fit into it. The last puzzle fit in. Dust then made it a game when he went to fight Error. It pissed off Dust when Inky had dared to come and try to protect him from Error. Inky had never done anything to protect his AU, so why is it different with Error. Never mind the fact that Inky had assumed that Error was taking him seriously, if Error wanted to he could have just immediately killed off him. So without hesitation, Dust stabbed Inky. With him down, Dust leaned down to whisper to him, pointing at Error with his weapon. "You have no place here Creator. Error is mine, ours, not yours. If I wish to fight him, that is on me you hypocrite. I am too much like him you see. Us villains must stick together, right? Now leave, before I show you just how much I am like the past Error then the now Error."

Dust wanted to help him find his reason, his will to live and fight once more. But it seems he is too late.

Slayer could feel the pain creeping up his SOUL. Error was the one to convince Nightmare to let him feel once more. To let his SOUL do what it wanted to. He had told Nightmare that feelings are what drives a person, makes them react. He motioned to himself, smiling sadly and telling Nightmare to just look at him as a example. Somehow he had made Nightmare agree, and now Slayer could feel just like any Monster. He remembered the first time they had ever talked after that, in fact he had never met Error officially until after Nightmare stopped taking away his emotions. Nightmare had just scoffed at him, telling him that he should thank Error for being so Merciful when he chooses to be.

It was when Color - Color!Sans - was fighting him. Slayer had been loosing, but then hands grabbed him. The next thing he knew he was in a different AU, Color gone, and Error was holding him in his arms. Before he could even think, Slayer had to ask why he did it. Why did he help him feel again? Error had just smiled sadly, finger going to to trace the tear marks on his face. "MOnStERs lIKe uS nEEd tO sTICK ToGETHeR...." Error then glanced down and chuckled at him. "iF We DOn't, THen WHO WiLL? INkY? DreAM? ColOR? No, THey DOn't UNdERstAnd uS anD WhaT We GO THRouGH. THey JUst WaNT uS TO CHANGE aND JoIN THeIr SidE. BuT SomEONE hAs To BE THE oThER hALF."

After that, Error sat him down in his lap as he sat down, much like one does with a child. He softly told him stories about myths long gone, about AU's that he had never heard of that he had to destroy or faded when Inky gave up on making them when he was first starting out. Slayer rubs his own tear tracks now, staring blankly at the dust. Who was by Error's side when he died? No one.

Horror had a fondness for Error, his brother did too. Error never balked at all the gore or horror, he treated it like it was a everyday thing. Even when he had bit him or chewed on him, all Error did was take it in stride. Chewing on Error had helped Horror's pangs, Error cooking with Scream had helped his brother become more like his old self a bit, for those things alone, Error had his fondness and loyalty for what it was worth. It only got bigger when Error had once came into HorrorTale with food for Scream after he had complained about hunger pains. Horror could only watch in shock when Error had also gotten him something. How someone so kind could kill off AU's he would never know, or at least not until Nightmare hired him.

The next time Horror had seen Inky, he had fought more harshly then ever before, wanting to be the one to break off a arm or leg first. Such light Monsters could never understand their ways, but they all have one thing in common. Loyalty and emotions for how twisted it is. How he was going to tell Scream about what had happened, he doesn't know. All he does know is that he wants to take his axe and fling it into Inky's skull.

How Cross had first met and talked to Error was embarrassing on his part. He was on the very first mission that Nightmare assigned to him; Spy on Inky and Dream to find out there next move. But he messed up, letting them see him. They all fought, but once they broke his arm, he accidentally called for help because his sword fell. Dream kicked it away, making it fling too far away for Cross to reach it or even jump for it. But before they could do more, someone answered his plea for help.

A swish, and then when Cross opened his eyes he saw the shocked faces of Inky and Dream. Then he felt a arm around his waist. Jolting, Cross looked up in shock to find Error the Destroyer holding him to his side, sword in his free hand. While obviously having never wielded a sword before, especially one so huge, Error didn't do a half bad job when he slammed it down upon the other two skeletons. They both jumped away, but Error didn't stop. Suddenly a portal was in front of them, and before anyone could do anything, Error ran into it with him and sword in hand. Cross had flushed brightly when he realized where Error had landed. It was Nightmare's hideout, and Error had landed on top of the meeting table. In the middle of a meeting with the other members.

Horror still teases him about Error being his knight in broken armor.

But that's not what drew Cross to Error, that made him want to be near him and get to know him. Error was a protector. Cross had seen it in his eyes when he briefly fought Inky and Dream to save him. It shined in his sockets, and he only relaxed when both were safe. In his mind, and he wouldn't lie he knew he had a crush on the Destroyer, he called him his Protector.

But there was no one to protect his Protector. The Protector has now been killed by the very ones he protected from unbalance.

Nightmare looked around blankly, at the strings, SOULS, and puppets. A few caught his eye. One doll hanging was of Swap, another of his little group. "I wonder if the others have shared their 'good news' with their brothers?"-

After that day, Chaos had dropped them off and went off to tell the other Charas. By the look on their face, things were going to get ugly fast and in a hurry. But in the end, did it matter? They were all going to die because there was no one else able to kill of AU's. Sure, Nightmare himself could kill off everything in a AU, but not the whole world itself to make room for another.

"Oh, Error...." Nightmare gave a twisted smile. "It seems you got your wish....You finally died. You get your rest....But you forgot something..." Nightmare glanced to his side, where a Cross was leaving through a portal with a dusty jacket as proof that Error is dead. "What about the people you left behind? The Charas? Me and my group?....What about your other little soft spot Swap?"

Nightmare sighed, putting his head in his hands. Closing his eye, he thought back to when he first saw Error truly smile. It was too one of the Charas, giving them a doll to play with. "It's not going to be the AU's hitting one another that is going to kill us, it's going to be us killing each other off." A dark chuckle escaped him. "Because if you think that I am going to let them get away with it, you got another thing coming!" Nightmare stands up, singling for the rest to follow him.

Dust stood, a blood thirsty grin on his face as he readied his own knife and sharpened bone. Horror was laughing, tapping his axe impatiently. Slayer grinned brightly, knives hidden in his jacket as he plays with the one in his hand.

"After all, they took something precious to us. It's only fair that they pay that price with their lives! Boys, let's show those others what happens when they mess with one of ours!"

Dark, broken laughter sounded out. Without Error, what was the point of holding back? Death was certain for them all now, might as well get revenge as they wait for the end.

-UnderSwap, With Swap-

Swap hummed as he washed the dishes, not knowing that anything was wrong. Stretch had been so happy the last few days, smiling much more easily then ever before. But something had made him very worried and mad, making him leave for a few days. Apparently him and a few others are going to have a meeting.

Giving a sigh, and putting the last dish away to dry, Swap once more thought of Error.

Sure, the Monster had kidnapped him, but Swap could tell the other just wanted some company. Error was stuck, alone with no body to talk to but those - Swap shivered just thinking about them - Voices. No matter what anyone says, Error was nice to him in a way. He made sure Swap was safe, gave him information that his brother would never tell him, and fed him. And as soon as the Anti-VOID started corrupting him, Error had made him leave with Chara's SOUL intact to RESET his AU.

A bright light behind him startled him out of his thoughts.

Jolting, Swap quickly turned and looked over the kitchen counter to see Cross coming out of a portal, hands behind his back.

"Cross!" Swap gave a delighted smile, coming out of the kitchen to greet his new guest. "I didn't know that you were coming over! If I did, I would have made some tacos....." Swap trailed off once he saw Cross's grim and serious face. "Is....Is something wrong?"

"Did your brother tell you?" Was all Cross asked, his voice soft but holding a very sharp edge.

"Tell me what?" Swap asked back, trying to understand just what is going on. "He has been in a very good mood lately.....But something had happened to make him leave for a few days, looking worried...." Swap frowned up at Cross, worried. "Has something happened?"

"Something has happened alright." Cross grumbled before taking in a deep breath. Slowly, he brought his hands from out behind his back, showing Swap a very familiar jacket. For a moment Swap wondered just why Cross was showing him, but then he noticed what was on the jacket.

Dust and blood.

"W-What.....No!" Swap shook his head, not wanting to believe it. "Error.....He can't!"

"He can." Cross grimly stated, holding Error's jacket out for the other to see better. "Chaos had taken us to the Anti-VOID. A dust pile greeted us in the middle of the jacket."

That was all Swap could take. Falling to he knees with a broken cry, denial in every whimper. He could still remember Error telling him everything, about the balance, about the AUs, and showing him all the wonders but also destroying his rose-tinted glasses. Swap never understood why Error never came to see him after he forced him to leave. No, wait he did. 'He most likely thought it was for the best.' Swap let loose a watery chuckle. 'Probably thought I was better off not seeing him again.....But that's not true!' Swap whimpered, finally looking up at a equally crying Cross. 'I miss you more then anything!'

"...W-What happened?" Swap finally croaked out. Questions swirling in his mind about how Error was killed off. "W-Who-How?!"

".....Your brother," Swap cried harder, giving out a shaky 'No!'. "and all the others that are in your brother's place in the AUs had decided to gang up on Error. I heard Inky and Dream talking about it. Apparently they all beat him for days until he finally made a portal into the Anti-VOID only to die there."

Trying to wipe away the tears did nothing as more just came down in their place. Swap softly shook his head. "H-H-he...Died a-alone!" Swap sobbed out, wanting his slap his brother for all he was worth. "N-Now.....The balance....?"

"Two AUs have already collided, that's why your brother left." Cross confirmed, wiping his own tears away. Cross paused for a moment, then held out the jacket. Swap raised a hand, stopping just a inch away from touching it. "...Why did you come to tell me?" Swap couldn't help but whisper out, not looking away from the jacket at all. Swap was in no way close to Nightmare's gang, barely even talked to them. Stretch made sure of that, especially after Error's kidnapping. So why come to tell him no matter how much he appropriated it and hated it at the same time?

Cross hesitated for a moment before answering. "You were Error's soft spot you know? If someone attacked UnderSwap he would have killed them in a instant. He saw you as one of his like he did with us and us him, he would have protected you from anything if asked." A bitter smile then grew on the taller one's face. "Nightmare saw a doll of you in Error's string when we found the dust pile, and he knew that Error wouldn't want you in the dark just in case."

Cross's sentence made Swap freeze. Not because of the fact that Error would do that for him - even if his SOUL shook at that admittance - no, it was because of the strings.

".....Error's strings are still up?" Swap asked blankly, mind racing. "They haven't faded away for even weakened?"

"No." Cross frowned at Swap's blank face. "They were still up and glowing like always.....Why?"

Swap remembered the time he asked Error about his magic while he was still held captive. - Error laughed at the question. "YoU DOn'T KNoW? MAgIC iS aLL AboUT intEnT; AS loNG aS i DON'T WaNT iT tO hURT YOu, THE sTRinGS Won'T." He then tugged at the strings, making Swap realize that the strings on his SOUL didn't even feel like anything. Like nothing was even on his SOUL. "bUT WiTHoUT InTenT, ThErE iS NO maGIc. IF i WeRE soMEhOW KIlLEd oFF," Error scoffed out, a gleam in his sockets at that thought. "tHEn THE sTRiNGS WOuLD fAdE, GO aWAY. It IS mY mAgIC aFTER ALL, WHiTHouT mE iT cAN NOt bE." Error then started laughing insanely, finding the whole thing hilarious. "BuT tHAt WOn'T BE hAPPEniNG anYTImE soOn!" - and if Error was dead, then that meant his strings were supposed to be gone by now.....But if they weren't-!

"Error's not died." Swap stated blankly, making Cross sadly shake his head. "Swap, he died no matter how you-"

"No!" Swap interrupted him, smile growing on his face. "If he was dead, then his strings would be gone as well!" Swap brightly grinned, turning to look at Cross, who's face was slowly turning to realization. "Magic is all about intent! But without the holder or caster of the magic, there is nothing! If Error was truly dead-"

"His strings would be gone too because it is his magic...." Cross slowly finished, hands clutching the jacket in his hold. "He's....alive?"

"Yes!" Swap laughed happily, bouncing up with joy. "Error is very much alive!"

"...But then were is he?" Cross muttered, but then was hit with a realization. "SHIT!" Cross suddenly yelled out, making a portal to go through. Swap stumbled after him, not understanding what was going on. "Nightmare and the others don't know! They're on their way to kill off the original council!"

Swap's eyes widened in shock. "They're what?!"

-DreamTale, Original Council Meeting-

"The Charas are going insane!" Edge grumbled in anger. "They are no longer playing by the usual rules!"

"Mine tried to off me all of a sudden in a pacifist run." Classic admitted to the others, shivering as he remembered the gleam in their red eyes.

"But what are we going to do about those two AUs destroying?!" Outer called out passionately. "If Error-!"

"Error is dead." Ink stated, shadows under his sockets. "I saw the dust pile myself."

"That must mean a new Destroyer has taken his place then...." Dream thought aloud. "But who can that be?"

"I still think Error is playing possum." Stretch muttered to Don G and G who sat at his sides who nodded in agreement.

"For now, we must gather all AU's into the Original AUs." Ink called out, looking more tired by the second. "Just in case we must make back up plans-"

Ink didn't get any further, because that was when a black tentacle suddenly shot out form behind him, wrapping around his throat tightly and choking him. The other Sanses and Papyrus barely had any time to react before the Nightmare's gang descended upon them, weapons drown and ready.

Mass chaos exploded, screams went out and blood flew into the air.

Ink clawed at the tentacle as it turned and moved, then suddenly Nightmare and him were face to face. Nightmare's face looked like it could have been set in stone, eyes promising death with a side of no mercy.

"Did you like watching Error struggle Balance Killer?" Ink froze, eyes widening in horror as he realized what was going on. "You have doomed us all now, without Error everything is going to go to hell." Seeing Ink's confusion, Nightmare couldn't help but laugh in shock. "Are you playing dumb?! We have already seen what is going to happen!" But then Nightmare chuckled darkly, tightening his hold on Ink's throat, making him cry out. "But that isn't what this is about Yang. You have killed off your Yin, one that I very much liked....No, loved." Ink's SOUL raced at that admittance, eyes shrinking in shock. "For that, we are going to show you what happens to those who mess with ours."

And with that, Nightmare slammed down his tentacle. A sickening crack sounded out, Ink hitting the table hard enough to break it.

But Ink couldn't feel anything. Nightmare loved Error. Ink had found out the following days after Error passed that he held a...fondness for Error. Maybe it could have grown into love one day, but the flower had never been watered. In the end, he wished they could have been friends and see where it would go. But what Nightmare called him also called him to attention. 'Balance Killer' and 'Yang' while calling Error 'Yin'.

Just what has Ink done? What has Error done?! Ink cried out as he was slammed down once more, thoughts racing. 'If I make it out of this.....' Ink tried to reach for his brush on his back. 'Then I will be paying a certain someone a visit!'

Dream wanted to laugh and scream. His unfeeling brother actually loved someone, and Dream helped kill them. Maybe if Error had lived, and they convened him to stop destroying, then Nightmare would have followed him. Dream could have gotten his brother back. But now wasn't the time to think on what ifs, it was time to act! Jumping out from under the table, Dream knocked Nightmare off of Ink.

When the tentacle loosened, Ink shoved it off and got out his paint brush. "Nightmare! Leave now or else! I don't want to hurt you."

Nightmare snorted as he shoved off Dream. "Doesn't matter. We're all going to die because of your stupidity anyway."

Ink flinched back in shock, wondering what Nightmare was getting at.

Meanwhile, Dust was laughing hysterically as he shot bones after bones at the other skeletons. Horror was grinning as he swiped his axe that way or this way, making Monsters dive away for cover only to get hit with Dust's magic. None of the Monsters knew what to do with the due, it was the first time they have tag teamed and worked so well together.

"Slayer! Please stop this!" Color cried out, reaching out a hand at said skeleton. "If you come with me, I can help you feel once more-!" He was cut off by a swipe of a knife, making him dodge to the side.

"Error already convinced Nightmare to stop messing with my SOUL." Color paled, eye widening at what Slayer was implying. "I choose to keep my SOUL like how it is." Slayer scoffed, snarling out. "Why would I go with you anyway? You would never understand, I like the way I am! Besides," Slayer twirled his knife, it shinning with blood and dust. "Monsters like our group needs to stick together. If we don't, then who will help us? You? Ink? Dream? No, you only want to change us to fit your ideals and images!" Color gasped at the anger radiating off Slayer, shaking his head in denial. "No-!" "Error understood better then anyone." Color's mouth clicked shut. "And you killed him. Slaughtered him! Error was there for me, saved my SOUL! AND YOU KILLED HIM!" With that scream of pure anger, Slayer dove with his knife pointing straighter at the other's SOUL. Going for the kill.

Nightmare was just about to use his magic when he felt another presence. Tilting his head to see Cross coming up behind him. "What is it?!" Nightmare growled out, only for Cross to lean over and whisper something into where his ear would be.

A battered Ink and Dream watched wearily as Nightmare's eye widened in what seemed to be shock. He harshly whispered something back, only for Cross to shake his head and whisper something back quickly. Then Nightmare jerked his head back to the front, making both Ink and Dream jolt up, getting ready for another fight, only to get another shock.

"BOYS!" Nightmare yelled out, making a portal. "WE'RE LEAVING RIGHT NOW! CODE ERRATUM!"

That made the other three quickly turn and run to Nightmare, all of them looking grim and determined yet confused at the same time. Before anyone had any time to react, they were through the portal and it closing up.

"W-What was that?!" G yelled out, rubbing his ribs in pain. "They came to fight only to leave before it ended?!"

"What was that all about Ink?" Dream softly questioned. Ink hummed, eyes narrowing. "I don't know....But there is someone that could know."

-ReaperTale-

"Chaos? What is it you need?" RT!Toriel asked gently as Chaos walked out of the shadows. "You never visit."

"Reaper has helped kill of the balance." Chaos stated blandly, eyes more redder then ever, tear tracks still on their face. "He has killed someone not on the list."

"WHAT?!"

She wasn't the only Toriel or other Monster in her place to scream that.

-Anti-VOID-

Blue strings shimmered in the white vastness. Dolls and puppets alike hung limply in their hold. Red SOULS pulsed in their strung up hold, tied up in the glowing blue strings.

A colorful portal opens up, a figure stepping out into the white. The colors of their clothing contrasting brightly with the white. The portal closes, footsteps echo across the whiteness.

The figure pauses in front of the boxes, knitting supplies, and strings. They open one of the boxes, grinning when they saw what was in it.

A whisper echoed in the Anti-VOID so much so it might as well been a yell.

"...Error..." A dark chuckle sounded out. "....I'll find ya...Promise....."

-Stable Multiverse-

Error shivered violently, glancing around wildly. Null and Void were playing with the other children, laughing all the while. It was only when Error caught sight of them did he relax a bit.

Both Death and Grim noticed the shaking. Death leaned forward worriedly. "Are you okay Error?"

"i'M FINE." Error waved off their concern, keeping the bad feeling to himself for now. Then he glanced to Death and Grim, frowning. "BY ThE WaY...WhEN aRE YoU tWo GoING To LEt ME Go?"

Error was trapped in between Grim and Death on the couch, both cuddled as close as they can be to him. Death practically in his lap as he curled around him while Grim was curled over top of him. Grim calmly grinning as he told the two about his day, Death shivering and flushed yet happily smiling as he cuddled closer to Error. How it came to this, Error will never know.

"Not for another ten minutes!" Grim scolded lightly. "You know you need your cuddle time! I read that cuddling and contact is a good healing method to use."

Error's eye twitched as he grumbled softly. Death just shivered and gave out a delighted sigh, leaning more onto Error.

"I love it when it's our time for cuddle time!" Death chuckled out loud. Grim nodded in agreement. Error just hung his head in response. 'Still can't believe they all set up a chart for 'cuddle time'.' Error his a growing smile. 'I still can't believe they all fought about who gets to go first too.'

Soon he forgot all about the bad feeling, basking in the good feelings that the other two gave him. Childish laughter filling the air.

-- Chapter End: Harrish6's Author Notes --

Here it is! It's a little shorter then I hoped, but this is just the start of them finding out the truth. It will take time for them to find out where Error is, how to get there, plan things through, and then the shocking truth. And I have to do that for all the groups as well, so it will take time for that to happen as I do not want to rush it all.

Nightmare loving Error is not a sweet love, it is a unhealthy one. Same goes with the whole group and Error, it is a twisted unhealthy relationship with them all that has some sweet moments mixing in with some horrible ones that they look on fondly. Besides, after Nightmare lost his last form - Think Misery's body - he lost the ability to feel all the way. He's not like Fresh, but it is close enough to where Nightmare can feel love, but not that strongly or get it confused with other emotions.

Swap doesn't hate Error for what he has done, he knows Error was just lonely and Error never hurt him. But Error did give him lessons and destroyed his rose-tinted glasses about his life, world view, brother, magic, and Multiverse. He gave these lessons while still insane though, so a lot of them may not have been the most gentle lessons or politely told.

I wanted to show that some Monsters do actually like or love Error, but he had no idea. After all, most of his memories - while twisted and in no way made up - were in his point of view mostly. That means we are missing the other part of the story, so we got some of it here.

Theories and studies have shown that positive touching - like cuddling - have a healing factor in them. It can help bring up their apatite and help them sleep better. It has many other benefits as well, the opposite of starving a person of touch if you want to think about it like that.