Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

IT ALL STARTED WHEN FATE GOT BORED.

In a moment of cosmic discontent, Fate had an idea—one that would change everything. They would create their own universe. And not just one, but an entire multiverse.

Driven by purpose, they brought their vision to life, crafting each universe one by one… until the GreyVerse was born.

It was unstable, of course. But with time and effort, it evolved into a beautiful utopia.

The peace didn’t last.

✦

“River, there’s a glitch in DustTale. Are you coming to fix it?” Splash asked.

I nodded, though hesitation crept into my voice. “Yeah. I’ll be there to mend it. Just… never mind.”

Splash gave me a puzzled look. “What’s wrong, Riv? Do you sense something off?”

I sighed, eyes distant. “I have a feeling Destiny needs a favor. But I’m not sure.”

Splash’s tone sharpened. “You think Fate’s tampering again?”

Once, long ago, Splash had been close to Fate—back when they still had noble intentions, back when we were allies. But eventually, Fate’s hunger for more outgrew us. They left, abandoning everything they’d created.

We were the ones left behind, patching broken code and holding the multiverse together with willpower and duct tape. Splash had seen Fate as a mentor. A friend. Their betrayal still lingered like a scar.

Destiny had done their best to repair what was left, offering everything within their reach. But even they couldn’t stop the anomalies. The glitches kept coming.

I glanced down at my watch, frowning. “Maybe Fate has interfered again. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Then I looked up, toward the stars. Cold, distant. If Fate could still feel anything, they’d sense my glare for what it was—a silent accusation.

“When has Fate ever stayed out of things?”

Chapter Text

RIVER HARBORED A DISTINCT AVERSION TO PATCHING.

Mending glitches and repairing broken code was a grueling, tedious task—not only time-consuming, but often disruptive to the surrounding AU. The work was thankless, dangerous, and relentless.

Still, River and Splash tackled it dutifully. Injuries were common, but they endured. Luckily, Rika—who constantly reminded them he was a scientist, not a doctor—would always end up healing them anyway.

Phantom and Fantasy often scolded them about being more careful, but worry was a constant companion, no matter how cautious they tried to be.

"River, I need your help over here!" Splash’s voice cut through the air—urgent, sharp.

River turned and spotted him surrounded by glitch creatures. Codas.

Without hesitation, he sprinted to his friend’s side. The Codas were unpredictable, vicious things that corrupted the code wherever they went. No one truly knew where they came from. But River and Splash had their theories.

The multiverse they lived in was an unfinished creation—an open-ended experiment abandoned by Fate. With no safeguards in place, viruses and anomalies had always found a way in.

River suspected the Codas were just that—aberrations in the code, mutating and evolving within the cracks Fate left behind.

"That was a swarm," Splash muttered, catching his breath. "Is it just me, or are they showing up more often lately?"

River gave a thoughtful hum, eyes drifting to the shifting code.

"It’s not just you. I’ve noticed it too. But... I doubt it’ll last. Probably just a flare-up. Things should settle within a month."

He wasn’t sure if he believed it. Or if he was just trying to comfort Splash.

"I hope you’re right," Splash sighed.

"We should patch this fast. No reason to stay longer than we have to."

Splash nodded, and they got to work.

✦

THEY DIDN’T LINGER ONCE THE JOB WAS DONE.

Exhausted and sore, they returned to the Balance—an anti-void they called home—hoping for a moment’s peace. The day had been long, marked by endless attacks and glitch after glitch. All they wanted now was rest.

"Welcome back, you two," Muffin greeted them warmly.

River smiled at the shorter skeleton.

Unlike Splash, whose height was average, Muffin was notably small. Where Splash leaned toward dark neutrals—gray, black, brown, with hints of sea blue—Muffin dressed brighter.

Splash’s outfit was simple: a light gray undershirt, black jacket, dark gray pants, and brown shoes. A white scarf, fading to black, was one of River’s own stitchwork. His eye lights held one steady white pupil, while the other shifted with his emotions.

Muffin, in contrast, wore armor—sleek gray with light blue shoulder guards and dark blue knee plates. Golden gloves and sky-blue boots added a striking contrast. His armor was both regal and practical.

His eyes, glowing a reassuring blue, were windows to his soul. When happiness filled him, they sparkled. But in moments of sorrow, they darkened—deep and telling.

"Hey, Muffin. Where is everyone?" Splash asked.

"Some are in the backyard. Others are in their rooms. Everyone except Fatal and Vier—they went to check on the other anti-voids," Muffin replied, heading toward the kitchen.

Splash and River nodded and made their way to their rooms.

They technically lived in an anti-void—but rarely called it that anymore.

Once, before Fate abandoned them, she had created this space for River and Splash, since neither of them came from an AU. Over time, they transformed it: ever-blooming flowers, grass underfoot, a changeable sky above, and a home that had grown from a simple house to a mansion.

Their first friends had been Phantom and Fantasy from DreamTale. Then came Muffin, Carnage, Ravenous, Cutthroat, Traverse, and more. Comic—born of the very first AU—came later, after Ro. Not intentionally. It just hadn’t occurred to them at the time.

Before Fate's fall into selfishness and obsession, River and Splash had been reckless. Naïve. They caused chaos without understanding the damage.

But they grew. They changed.

And when Fate vanished, they picked up the pieces.

Their unnamed team became the multiverse’s quiet protectors—travelers, patchers, defenders. They offered aid to the inhabitants of HorrorTale, created sanctuaries for the displaced, and tried to be the support Fate never was.

They worked tirelessly. Gave everything they had.

But no matter how much they did, one question still lingered in the back of River’s mind:

Was it enough?

Chapter Text

AS ERROR STUMBLED INTO HIS ANTI-VOID, THE FIRST THING HE FELT WAS EXCRUCIATING PAIN.

Every bone in his body throbbed in unison, a relentless reminder of the brutal fight he’d just endured with Ink. Their battles had become routine—Ink, ever the self-proclaimed protector of the multiverse, always ready to confront him.

The fight had dragged on longer than usual. Error barely escaped, drained of most of his magic, retreating to the cold, quiet void he called home.

He had caused enough damage in the AU. But the voices didn’t care.

They never did.

Inside his mind, they stirred—harsh, cruel things that knew exactly where to stab. Their insults echoed endlessly, clawing at him: You’re worthless. You destroy everything. You hurt everyone. Each word dug deeper, dragging his already broken thoughts further down.

He was used to it. He believed it.

Most days, their venom was constant. But now and then, another voice would cut through—softer, kinder. Rare. When those voices spoke, the others fell strangely silent, like even they respected the calm. Maybe those voices held some strange power over the rest. Maybe they were figments of a sanity he hadn’t entirely lost.

He didn’t know.

He was just… tired. So, so tired.

And for once, the voices gave him peace.

They still whispered in the background, but they didn’t attack. Not tonight. Maybe they knew something he didn’t. Error didn’t question it. He welcomed the silence.

His mind drifted to Ink—always creating, always pushing. He didn’t see it, but his unchecked creation was just as dangerous as destruction. The balance of the multiverse was delicate. And Ink… Ink tipped it more with every AU he made.

But Ink wasn’t alone in the fight. Dream, too, had taken up arms against Error. Unlike Ink, though, Dream sometimes hesitated. His eyes betrayed something else—pity, maybe even guilt. It was hard to tell. Their history was a mess, tangled in old battles and unspoken words.

Error’s thoughts scattered.

Swap avoided Ink and Dream, which made him the closest thing Error had to a friend. Nightmare wasn’t a friend either, but he was reliable—he fought alongside Error when it mattered. Killer wasn’t much for emotion, but he left food, supplies, sometimes stood guard after rough fights. Dust was a chaotic mess, but there was a mutual respect there. Horror, weirdly enough, was kind.

Cross was quiet. Fresh… confusing.

He didn’t know what to call them—friends? Enemies? He had long stopped trying to define them.

But Ink… Ink hated him. And Dream followed behind, sometimes soft, sometimes sharp.

Then came the voice.

“Ink created another universe,” it whispered gently, slicing through Error’s hazy consciousness.

Error flinched.

“He… DiD..?” he croaked. His voice cracked and dry, barely louder than a breath.

A low, sympathetic hum answered him.

Error groaned. His limbs refused to move. He tried to push himself up and collapsed, body trembling, too weak to even sit.

"Calm down," the voice soothed. "You’ve destroyed enough today. Ink creating one won’t undo that."

Kind. That voice was kind.

Not mocking. Not cruel.

For a long moment, Error didn’t speak. He just breathed. The voice stayed with him, grounding him, keeping the darker thoughts at bay.

“WhY aRe YoU bEiNg NiCe To Me?” he mumbled.

“You’re more hurt than usual. We’ve never seen you this bad. You've had enough—for today. Some of us do have hearts, you know.”

Error hummed softly in response, eyes drifting shut. He didn’t know who the voice belonged to. He didn’t care. He’d figure it out later.

For now, he let himself rest.

✦

INK ENTERED THE DOODLESPHERE, SEETHING.

His eyelights burned red, flashing with intensity even when he wasn’t blinking. Rage rolled off him in waves.

Another fight with Error.

Another AU in ruins.

He’d tried again—tried to reason with him, tried to make him stop. But Error never listened. He never cared. All he did was destroy.

Ink’s mind spiraled. Frustration. Grief. Fury. The cycle never ended.

And this time, he’d had enough.

He needed to do something—anything—to take the edge off. He needed a win. A moment of control. An act of defiance.

Then, the idea hit him.

He’d rebuild.

He’d recreate one of the AUs Error destroyed—not just as a way to cope, but as a way to spit in Error’s face. Proof that destruction didn’t win. That creation still mattered.

That he still mattered.

“Fuck you, Error,” Ink muttered as he started to sketch, magic flaring around him. “Fuck you and your stupid games.”

This time, he would make something stronger. This time, it would last.

Chapter Text

THE DEITIES OBSERVED ERROR'S RESTLESS SLUMBER WITH GROWING CONCERN, THEIR VOICES INTERWEAVING IN HUSHED DEBATE.

“We need to wake him,” Karma urged, worry sharp in her tone.

“He has to rest. He’s far too weak,” Light countered, sympathy softening her words.

“Fate will find him if he doesn’t destroy something soon!” Karma snapped back, urgency bleeding through every syllable.

“Karma’s right,” Destiny interjected. “And I can’t keep Fate’s voices suppressed for much longer. The anons need to wake him. Now.”

“But… he’s so, so tired…” Light whispered, hesitation thick in her voice.

“I know, Light. I feel it too. But it has to be done. Dark, tell the anons it’s time.”

“…Alright, Destiny.”

✦

THE ANONS STOOD WITHIN THE VAST, SHIFTING DARKNESS OF THE ANTI-VOID, FACED WITH A DILEMMA.

Error was curled up, twitching in his sleep, his body betraying the stress and pain he endured even in rest. The anons exchanged glances.

“Error, wake up!” one of them called out, their voice gentle but firm.

Error stirred.

“Oh good, you’re up. We hate to do this, really… but if you don’t destroy soon, Fate’s going to notice,” the same voice added, now edged with warning.

With a groan, Error’s sockets blinked open. He slowly pushed himself up, joints popping in protest. A sharp spike of pain shot through his leg, but he gritted his teeth and ignored it. Just another ache to add to the collection.

He stretched, trying to loosen his stiff limbs, and squinted toward the two anons, a tired understanding flickering in his expression.

The feeling in his soul told him to stop—to stay. A whisper of instinct warned him that moving now would start something irreversible.

But Error didn’t listen.

He dismissed the feeling and opened a portal, stepping through it with quiet resolve, unaware of what his choice would set in motion.

✦

RIVER WALKED ALONGSIDE SPLASH, A WEIGHT SETTLING IN HIS GUT.

The unease was sharp and sudden, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts like teeth on cloth.

Splash noticed the shift in River's expression. “Riv...? We need to get to UnderSwap,” he reminded him gently.

The call from Muffin echoed in their shared minds, drawing River back to the present. He gave a small nod and pushed forward, trying to shake the tension clinging to him.

When they arrived, Muffin was mid-battle with the Codas. Without hesitation, River and Splash jumped in to help, dispatching the creatures with quick, practiced teamwork.

But once the chaos faded, River fell back into that heavy silence. His gaze unfocused.

'What is this feeling...?' he wondered. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones.

✦

AFTER OBLITERATING HIS FOURTH AU, ERROR LET OUT A SIGH THAT SEEMED TO DRAIN HIS ENTIRE BODY.

He hadn’t run into Ink or Dream, which was a blessing in disguise. His leg ached, but he hardly noticed anymore. In a world of constant war, a wounded limb wasn’t worth complaining about.

But then… he felt it.

A strange pull in his soul. Urgent. Unfamiliar. Unignorable.

Without thinking, he opened a portal and stepped through—just as Ink and Dream arrived at the ruined universe.

Back in the anti-void, Error blinked around, expecting something—anything—but everything seemed normal. He sighed and shook his head. Probably just paranoia.

He prepared to leave again.

Unseen from her realm in the VoidVerse, Destiny watched with quiet worry. To hir, Error was like a child—fractured, hurting, lost. Shi didn’t know how to help him, not fully. But Destiny could still try.

Shi would act in small ways for now. Carefully. Quietly. Fate couldn’t suspect anything yet.

But shi had a greater plan—a way to end Error’s endless cycle. A future where he could rest. Be safe. Be free.

That’s when Karma arrived.

“Destiny,” Karma said softly, her voice steady but warm. “I think I know where little Eraro can go.”

Destiny turned, hope flickering in hir eyes. “Where, dearest Karma?”

Karma’s smile was small, but sure. “BalanceVerse.”

A spark of possibility lit Destiny’s chest. Maybe, just maybe, they could give Error the peace he deserved.

✦

SPLASH WATCHED RIVER WITH A BLEND OF PATIENCE AND CONCERN.

River was pacing again. Thinking too hard. Feeling too much.

“River, sit down already. You’ve been pacing for twenty minutes.”

River finally dropped into a seat, brow furrowed, fingers twitching on the table. Splash reached out and took his hand, grounding him.

“Sorry,” River muttered. “I just… have this feeling. Something’s off. I think it’s paranoia.”

Splash squeezed his hand. “About what?”

“I’m not sure. But… I think it’s tied to Destiny. Maybe Fate. Or even… someone else. Another deity?”

Splash frowned, eyes narrowing in thought. “If it’s about the deities, Rivvy, I don’t think it’s paranoia.”

He paused, then added, “Maybe Destiny is just planning a visit. Try not to worry too much.”

Their hands stayed clasped.

River didn’t respond. He just let the quiet sit between them, comforted by the one constant he had—Splash.

Their bond wasn’t just friendship. It was something deeper. Something softer.

It was love.

Chapter Text

INK CONVENED A MEETING.

A rare event—one that only occurred when the need to eliminate the so-called “Bad Sanses” became too urgent to ignore. Nightmare, Cross, Killer, Horror, Dust, Fresh, and most critically, Error. Countless strategies had been proposed, tested, and failed. Yet, they never stopped trying.

Dream took his place at Ink’s right, Classic at his left. Around them, AU representatives filled in the remaining seats, though not all were present. Only the most prominent figures had come: Ink, Dream, Classic, Fell, Dance, Color, and Outer—each with seniority in the multiverse. Notably absent was UnderSwap’s Papyrus—Swap—who had ceased attending meetings altogether. He had blocked his brother, Stretch, and distanced himself from everyone. Most assumed it was trauma. In truth, it was resentment—for their ignorance. For how little they had seen.

Ink raised his voice to command the room, his temper increasingly short thanks to Error’s unrelenting destruction—something Dream had noticed but didn’t confront him about.

“Everyone, please quiet down!”

The chatter cut off, all eyes turning to him.

Fell scoffed, irritated. “Why are we here, Ink?”

Ink sighed, eyes sweeping the room, tension thick in the air.

He got straight to the point: Error’s rampage was growing worse. More frequent. More aggressive. They needed a plan—and fast.

“We need ideas,” Ink said. “We can’t keep letting him destroy. It's escalating.”

Outer hesitantly raised a hand. “We’d have to distract Nightmare and his gang first. They always help him fight us. For some reason...” He trailed off, voice fading to a mumble.

“Fresh too,” Dance added, having overheard. “He helps when he’s around and in the mood.”

Ink nodded. That was crucial. Without isolating Error, they didn’t stand a chance.

Fell leaned forward, his voice hard. “We should just fucking kill his dumb ass.”

Dream flinched. He didn’t want Error dead. He believed there was still hope—a chance to show Error a better path.

“I’m not su—”

“I agree with you, Fell.”

Dream’s words were cut off by Ink’s agreement. Sharp. Cold.

Dream stared at him, stunned.

“But Ink, what if we can help him?” he asked, desperate. “Maybe he just needs... a friend.”

Ink looked away, voice heavy. “We tried that, remember? He doesn’t want help, Dream. He doesn’t want to stop.”

A whisper slithered into Ink’s mind: Foolish.

He flinched.

‘What was that?’ he thought. But he brushed it off.

Dream bowed his head, pain flickering behind his eyes. “Alright... we’ll stop him. For good.”

✦

THE PLAN WAS SIMPLE—AT LEAST IN THEORY.

It required precision. Timing. Coordination.

They split into three units: Group One, Group Two, and Group Three.

Group Three, led by Dance, would distract Fresh. Incapacitate him if necessary. But mostly, draw his attention away.

Group Two, under Color, would focus on Nightmare and his allies—taking out minions if they had to. Larger than Group Three, but still not the main force.

That role belonged to Group One.

Thousands strong, Group One would hide in a newly created blank AU—Ink’s doing. Blank universes attracted Error like moths to flame. Easy to destroy. Undetectable. Perfect bait.

When Error arrived, they’d give him one final chance to surrender.

And if he didn’t?

They were prepared to eliminate him—no matter the cost.

✦

THE DEITIES LIFE AND DEATH WATCHED INK WITH GROWING UNEASE.

“What is that bastard doing?” Life muttered, eyes narrowed.

Dark joined them, followed by Light and Karma.

“He created a blank AU? Why are there so many AUs inside it?” Light asked, confused.

Karma’s eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped back.

Destiny appeared then, face shadowed by tension. Shi watched the growing scene with dread.

“This is odd…” Destiny murmured.

But Karma’s voice cut through the haze.

“It’s a trap.”

And suddenly, they all understood.

✦

ERROR’S PUPILS ROLLED WITH IRRITATION AS HE HEARD THE VOICES IN THE ANTI-VOID.

He had been focused on his puppet, carefully knitting it, when the voices rose around him.

“Error,” one called. The rest fell silent.

He looked up, brow twitching in annoyance.

“YeAh?”

“You must stay here. Don’t destroy today.”

His sockets blinked. “WhAt ThE fUcK aRe YoU tAlKiNg AbOuT?”

Their insistence only made him angrier.

“Listen, something is go—”

“ShUt ThE fUcK uP.”

He flung the puppet aside and stood, seething. Were they trying to trap him? Make it easier for Fate to torment him?

“Error. Don’t leave. Please.”

He didn’t listen. Without another word, he opened a portal and left them behind.

✦

THE MULTIVERSE SHIFTED AROUND HIM AS HE MOVED FROM AU TO AU.

Then—he paused.

A nearly blank AU.

Suspicion prickled at the edges of his soul. One of Ink’s jokes? Or another annoyance to slow him down?

He sighed, exasperated, and opened a portal.

Whatever it was, he’d find out.