Chapter Text
Dream swings his legs through the air, him sitting on a sea-saw located in the Omega Timeline.
It was peaceful here. Peaceful, despite the amount of people victim to Error’s attacks.
He wants to do something about the destroyer. What he has been doing is uncalled for.
No, not uncalled for. More than that. It was downright horrific. Nobody should ever be put through what he did, and still does, to people like them.
Somehow, one way or another, a cool breeze passes him by. It’s odd, how does it get windy in a… void?
Not void. From what he’s heard, the void is much different than this. He’ll just call it white, he supposes.
Error… Error…
What do they do about him?
They can't kill him. That’d be immoral, and more importantly, impossible.
Like his friend, Ink, Error is a god. The God of Destruction.
Gods like them are some kind of powerful. More than powerful. Ink can literally create worlds if he has material to work with. Error can destroy an entire universe if he gets his hands on its core.
There might be a chance, like how Ink can create more than universes, Error can do the opposite in destroying more than universes.
That's a scary thought. It really begs the question, why doesn't Error use that power if he has it?
Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he’s just overthinking things. Error and Ink don't have to be a total yin and yang.
He doesn't like that comparison, actually. It implies that destruction is necessary, like how some negativity is.
Not all negativity, of course. He has some things he’d like to say to Ink about that, but he can't right now. Or tommorow. Or ever.
He just can't bring himself to talk to him about things like that…
Those are Ink’s creations, they're important to him! Plus, they all have Error and Nightmare to deal with.
And they don't know how they’re going to do that! Error, as he said before, is powerful. And Nightmare… They can't hurt him. He can't hurt him.
If things were better, they could all get the both of them to see the errors of their ways, but no. No apologies, no hugging it out, no anything like that.
Dream sighs.
“Having some issues?” A voice beside him asks.
“H- Huh?” Dream yelps, nearly falling off his swing.
On the seat next to him is Frisk. Not an ordinary Frisk, Core Frisk.
“It seems like something is on your mind.” They comment.
Dream quickly shakes his head, readjusting his focus. “I mean- Uh- Erm-”
“Take your time.” Frisk responds.
He nods. “Yeah, I was just thinking.”
“We all think. Most of us, at least.” They shake their head. “What specifically were you thinking about? As much as I wish I could, I can't read minds.”
Oh, right. Out of all the abilities he’s seen people express in this multiverse, not once has he seen anyone show off telepathy.
It’s weird, considering how much Ink mentions being influenced by stories and stuff. Surely it would exist somewhere on someone.
“I just was wondering about how we're going to solve all of…” He gestures at the space around him, people and monsters playing at the park they sit at. “...this.”
“What do you mean? They are happy, aren’t they?” Frisk responds.
Dream swings back and forth. “Yes, but some of them don't have homes to go back to anymore, right?”
Frisk’s expression sours. “Yes, that is true… Error is a threat we need to deal with.”
“But he can't die.” Dream bluntly states. “And he can teleport between universes, so it's not like we can trap him someplace until he stops.”
They look down. “That's exactly our issue, I know that. I am also struggling on what to do.”
The swing creaks as Dream moves. “Right…”
“Everyday I try to think of something. When I’m not busy I try to think of solutions.” Frisk shuts their hollow eyes. “But I can't come to any good conclusions.”
“How about Nightmare, then?” He asks. “Have you thought of what to do with him?”
“Dream, I understand you miss your brother, but-”
“No! I mean, he could help us a lot with Error!”
Frisk gives him a look, then sighs. “That is true, I suppose. His control over negativity could help us fight back against him. But…”
“But what? E- Error is so negative that Nightmare would be a huge help!” Dream exclaims.
“Nightmare wouldn't help us so easily.” They state. “I know you still think of him how he was, but the fact is he isn't like that anymore.”
Desperation fills his face. “But we can try-”
“No.” They interrupt. “Nightmare, whether you like it or not, has changed. He has changed into a person who only looks out for himself.”
“We can try to make it to where he’ll benefit from Error being defeated!” He argues.
“How? I am not very keen on causing more negativity, which is what he wants.” Frisk points at him. “I assumed you would feel the same way, considering you suffer from his desires.”
“B- But-” Dream stutters.
“We need a solution, one that will help us all.” They lower their hand. “We don't know what will happen if we try to get your brother on our side. He might turn on us once he gets what he wants, or worse.”
“Worse?”
Frisk gestures at everything around them. “He could possibly hurt the people finding safety in here! We are fortunate that he doesn't know of this place yet. And I prefer that ‘yet’ to never come.”
“I…” Dream looks down. “I miss him. I miss it when we used to play together, not a care in the world. All this responsibility that comes with taking care of the multiverse is too much.”
“Hey.” Frisk offers a hand for him to hold. “I feel the same way. Every time Error attacks, I’m left to pick up the pieces. I don't like being responsible either.”
“Frisk…” He takes their hand. “H- How long have you been doing this for? Surely you must've had a home before this.”
“...”
Dream sits still, looking down. “I- I mean, Ink doesn't know about you, and he’s the god of creation! Something must've happened for him to not know you exist!”
“That is true. Something did happen, but…” They look away. “It’s not something I like remembering. I wasn't the best person back then. I was too selfish.”
“Selfish?” He asks, looking back at Frisk. “You don't seem selfish now.”
A look of shame covers their face. “That's because I’ve learned. I can't make up for past mistakes, but I can change for the better.”
“What happened, though? I promise I won't judge.” Dream says.
They look back to Dream. “Promise me something, and I will tell you.”
“O- Okay. What's the promise?” He asks, tilting his head.
“Promise not to tell anybody else. ” They command. “I don't like people knowing about my past flaws, as I would rather keep them secret.”
“I promise.” Dream says, confident in his words.
“Alright.” They take their hand away, and close their eyes. “It’s a short story, but it bothers me nonetheless. I hope you will not judge me for it.”
“It takes a lot for me to judge a person.” He states.
“Still…” Frisk trails off, trying to figure out how to start.
It’s a hard story for them to tell, and not one that they like sharing. How do they tell him?
As if reading their mind, Dream pats their head comfortingly. “Hey, it’s alright. Start from the beginning.”
“Don't-” They move his hand away with their hand. “Okay. You do know the story of the original Undertale universe, correct? Most universes are based off of it, after all.”
Dream thinks. Ink did show him that universe, didn't he? He knows some of its story.
It’s a very different story compared to his old universe. His former world was one of the few exceptions that didn't follow its guidelines.
“I do, yes. I’m assuming your universe followed the same story?” He asks.
They nod. “More than that, but yes. My universe was one of the alternate timeline variants, being almost identical to the original.”
“Oh…” Dream says.
“I was the human of that AU .” Frisk states. “When I first fell, I did a pacifist run. It was nice, making all those friends. But, I did something unwise once we reached the surface.”
“Unwise?” He echoes.
“I reset, because I wanted to do it all over again. And I did…” Shame covers their face, even more than before. “So many times, I did.”
Dream stares at them. “Oh… What made you stop? Because you're different now. I- In more ways than one.”
A shadow covers their face, them tugging at their sweater. “I had to be forced to stop. My universe’s Sans… he pushed me into the Core. ”
“H- He what? I-”
“I deserved it.” They interrupt . “I- I go by Frisk nowadays, but I’m moreso a mix of a Frisk and Chara. That's because when I fell, both of us got pushed into one.”
“I…” He trails off. “I don't…”
Dream and Frisk sit in silence. Until Dream asks something.
“What happened to your universe then? A universe has to have a core, and the fallen human usually takes that role. Did it…” He covers his mouth, the implications reaching him.
“Die? Yes… It did shortly after.” Frisk sighs. “It died because of me. I feel horrible about it, so I can not understand why someone would destroy a universe on purpose. Let alone multiple!”
“I…” Dream kicks his legs through the dirt. “My universe died too, after mom died. I understand how you feel.”
“But that was not your fault. It was my fault that my universe died.” They state.
“But it wasn't.”
“It wa-”
“No.” He boldly says. “It’s not your fault your Sans did what he did. He could’ve talked to you, or anything else! But he chose to hurt you instead.”
Frisk looks down, thinking. His perspective of this…
They don't know. Sans wouldn't have been pushed to do what he did if they knew better. But Dream is right, in some regard.
They don't have control over others' actions.
If they did, that would help solve things easier.
But they don't, and that is fact.
“My universe is dead… Your universe is dead… We need to stop this.” They say. “But we’ve been talking, and haven't come to any conclusions.”
“...I know. I wish this was easier.” He says.
“Me too.” Frisk replies. “Maybe then we wouldn't have to worry so much. I am just… a bit scared, admittedly.”
“Me too.” Dream says. “We don't have many enemies, but the ones we do have are threatening beyond belief.”
“Yes… The thing that really scares me though, is the thought of either of them reaching this place.” They say.
He sucks in a breath. “Yeah… D- Do you have a plan in place if that ever happens?”
“I don't know. Anything I think of involves people here getting put in danger, and I don't want that.” They admit. “They deserve better.”
“You’re right.” Dream confirms.
It’s a bit confusing, though. They could just ask Ink and Blue for help, but…
Do they really not like Ink that much? They said they only got a bad feeling from him, and that's it. Surely it isn't that intense?
“You're making a face.” Frisk comments. “Do you have any ideas?”
“I do, but…” He trails off.
They stare at him intently. “Anything can help.”
“You aren't going to like it, though…” He sighs. “But if you insist.”
“What do you mean?” They ask.
“Ink.” He says, and their expression immediately sours. “I know that you don't like him, but he can help defend this place! Blue can too!”
“Blue is mortal. And Ink…” They shake their head. “I just can't shake the feeling that something's off with him… And I trust my intuition more than anything.”
“What if your intuition is wrong, though? What if it’s just holding you back? Holding us back?” He asks.
Frisk looks down, tugging at their sweater. “No. It has never been wrong before, so it will never be wrong now.”
Dream furrows his brows. He really doesn't understand this kid’s mistrust for Ink. Not wanting Blue to get caught in the crossfire he understands, but…
Ink is more than capable of helping.
“Is it really worth it though?” He questions. “If the day ever comes where Error or Nightmare gain access to this place, we’ll only have me for back-up. I don't know how I feel about that.”
They are silent. From what Dream can see, they look conflicted.
“I do not know if it is worth it. But… I don't want to end up doing something I regret.” They shake. “I don't want to make things worse than they already are.”
“So you're just going to do nothing?” He asserts.
They look offended. “No, not at all. I am strategizing, not doing nothing.”
“You're overthinking this, that's what.” He says, frustrated. “You don't need to ‘strategize’ about Ink. He’s safe, I promise.”
“Dream-”
“He saved me from my AU when it was collapsing, you know.” He shakes his head. “If it wasn't for him, I’d be dead.”
They look at him, head still down. “I do not want to put anybody in danger. Ink is reckless, and I don't know what would happen if I gave him access to this place.”
“Ink has more self control than you think.” He replies. “He wouldn't hurt this place or its people, I promise.”
“I’m worried about more than that.” Frisk looks away again.
Dream immediately picks up what they're hinting. “He wouldn't invite anyone here, either. Not Nightmare, not Error, not anybody. I don't get why you, of all people, are making these assumptions about him.”
“I have to keep this place safe.” They assert, tugging harder on their sweater.
Dream stands up. “And I have to stick up for my friend.”
“I’m sorry, but-” They try to say, but are interrupted.
“I don't want to hear it. Please…” He looks away, opening a portal in front of him. “...I just want to come to a conclusion. But the only options we have are being turned down, and I can't take it.
“Goodbye. I’ll… I’ll see you later, if you want to talk again.” The portal closes, and Dream is gone.