Sickness
- You are terribly slow, grandpa! - mocked Killer while standing atop a tired Flowerfell Sans, defeated on the ground
- My thing ain’t hand to hand combat - complained the other, sweating profusely
Killer was a hyperactive individual, he needed constant feedback, especially when one of his murderous attacks were triggered. Dadster had trusted Fell and Flamey to keep them at bay, to entertain and make sure that the group didn’t cause much trouble. Not that they could stand a chance against Melody’s programming, but extra precaution was nice. Frisk and Rookie started visiting them later as well, providing aid.
- Try not to break my husband please - joked Flowerfell Frisk while changing Dust’s bandages
- Try not to break the entire house, Melody doesn’t come often here if it isn’t work related - argued Flamey, helping Horror to make dinner
Killer was going to protest, but was interrupted and knocked out by a flying Flare.
- This is fun! Bring it on, punks! - exclaimed a very hyped up Rookie, not apologizing for nearly breaking all the furniture when she threw the skeleton
- Could you not?! - screamed Flamey, being obviously ignored
- I can get used to this - murmured Dust, watching his family shenanigans with a small smile on his face
Frisk tried not to laugh at the mess that was the living room, she liked the energy of these monsters. It had been a while since “Home” hosted new inhabitants, Melody had brought more remains than souls.
- Excuse my curiosity, but how the fuck can you see? - question Dust
Frisk’s eyes were covered with golden flowers, yet she seemed unfazed by it, managing to assist Dust almost perfectly while being able to react to the mess that was now a fight between Killer and Rookie.
- She can sort of see through my eyes - said Fell while rubbing his arm and limping his way to the sofa - My vision gives her vision, it does need constant magic, so it’s a bit tiring
- Heh, most of us also use constant magic
- I can feel that - mustered Frisk - That must be why your recovery is taking so long
- Can’t help it
A sudden crash was heard. With their calming conversation Dust had lost sight of the three battle buddies, the living room being empty.
- I AM GOING TO RIP YOU APART - a loud scream coming probably from Flamey was heard and three figures passed running through the front entrance - COME BACK HERE
A drenched Flamey chased the troublemakers with a Horror following suit with a small towel in his hands.
- Fell, honey, call Dadster, I have a feeling that we might need him - the smell of something burning suddenly filled the room - Right now!
Someone was in pain.
Not that it was an unfamiliar feeling to Dream, with how vast the Multiverse was, there had to be some constant suffering. This one was different though, he couldn’t recognize the owner. The Prince of positive feelings always kept track of every single living being, even the ones that were in the making or soon to be made.
This monster’s pain, however, seemed fresh and new. It wasn’t physical either, leaning more to a mental or sentimental kind. He could sense it growing every second, it was driving him mad, he wanted to help.
- It’s rare to see you with a frown - exclaimed Blue
Dream remembered where he was suddenly. It was going to be this Underswap Papyrus birthday in a few days, Blue had asked the Star Sans to help him prepare a surprise party. Ink had to decline, something about a new universe being drafted, so Blue could invite Error without the need of a huge fight ruining everything. Dream had brought Cross along too, hoping that the Knight could socialize a bit.
- Is it someone out there? - wondered Classic, already familiar with Dream’s absence of mind
- Indeed, there seems to be a new source to me that is in a lot of pain
- A new source? That’s weird coming from you, there’s no one who can escape your gaze - murmured Red
- It must be an outcode - Blue gasped with excitement - Perhaps another friend?!
Error stiffened. This whole situation already had him pretty nervous, too many people for his liking, but now that they were talking about someone unknown being in pain, he remembered Melody. The last time he saw him was a few weeks ago, the Programmer seemed tired and his voice was sore, he brushed it off, blaming it on the efforts put in to making a space for the Bad Sans. When he didn’t appear for their weekly “doing nothing together alone time” however, Error entered full worried parent mode.
Melody never missed their gatherings, not even when the Multiverse was falling apart, not even when they fought, not even when one of them already had company, not even when desperation ripped them apart, he never failed to assist. Error immediately contacted Ovelia, the Virus denied knowing anything about her sibling. In fact, Error’s panic made Ovelia panic as well. Now there was a virus and a glitch searching all over the Multiverse, none of them could find him. Reaper joined them soon after. More worried about his job rather than the well-being of his friend.
- It does feel like an outcode, but it is strange - mention Dream - Their presence is unknown to me, yet, they feel oddly familiar. Like they had always been there
Fuck subtlety and fuck Melody’s shitty rule of remaining unseen, Error wasn’t going to deal with this bullshit anymore.
- Can you track it? - The room felt quiet after Error spoke. Almost surprised at the desperation of his tone.
- I… - Dream stuttered - Their presence is foggy but I can try to track them down as accurate as I can
- Do it - Threaten Error all of the sudden, pulling his strings and making everyone in the room, except Dream, incapable of combat
The Prince summoned his bow, ready to attack.
- You say “please” and “thank you” when asking for a favor, Melody didn’t teach you that, Error? - mocked Cross
Confusion filled the room
- This doesn’t concern you, anomaly
- Perhaps not, but I cannot stand your tone of voice directed to the Prince - A dark blush covered Dream’s cheeks and a choir of “Ohhhhhh” could be heard in the background
- Damn you feeling individuals - cursed Error - I don’t have the patience for this. Dream, could you take me to the unknown source of pain… please?… thank you?…
…
- You are supposed to say “thank you” after the favor is done… but I will take your… politeness? - mention Dream, doubtful of his words and of the entire situation - Follow me
Before anyone could protest, both disappeared in a bright yellow light.
Four sulking figures were sitting in a corner, looking at the wall.
- Your penalty is of two hours - growled Dadster while commanding his floating hands to clean the living room, filled with ashes and burned furniture - And be thankful that Melody finds your presence amusing enough to protect you
- It’s been a while since we’ve had this much disorder - commented Frisk while carrying the leftovers of what was supposed to be their dinner - I kinda like it
Dadster could somewhat agree with the blind human. Things had been a little bit boring lately and that was a relief, a boring life is a peaceful life. But the majority of them came from AU’s that needed their characters to fight in order to survive, they missed action sometimes.
- Horror will eat that - said the cracked skull skeleton
- We know you will - mustered Fell while helping Dust settle on a not-so-destroyed single chair
A soft rumbling was suddenly felt throughout the entire universe. Flamey made a motion to stand up but a floating hand grasped him by the collar of his sweater and lifted him up off the ground, almost face to face with the Caretaker. Dadster’s gaze suddenly turned dark while he barked orders towards the young one.
- Find Melody immediately and bring his ass back. Now
A portal then was opened in the middle of the room and Dadster hurriedly but gently pushed Flamey inside, not listening to complaints.
- What 's going on?! - mustered Flare, trying to maintain his balance now that the entire AU was shaking violently.
- Nothing good! - exclaimed Frisk, holding Dust in place
- The Code is changing, if Melody doesn’t come back soon, it will discover this place - groaned Rookie
They were in the Doodle Sphere. The Destroyer of Universes was in the Doodle Sphere with him. He knew the path. Why wasn’t Ink aware of this?!
- Don’t worry, if I haven’t destroyed everything yet, it means that I don’t plan to… for now - claimed Error, when Dream was still losing his mind
The source was somewhere inside one of the more negative charged universes. Dream tried to locate the general area, Error following in a creepily calm manner, the Prince had never seen the Destroyer like this, besides the few moments that Blue managed to catch his attention.
- It’s around here
Error looked around. There were no ripples, meaning that Melody wasn’t in the Matrix, a good sign. All of the AUs in this corner of the Doodle Sphere were quite distressing. A few genocide routes and neutral ones. But now that Error focused his attention solely on this place, it was apparent that there was something missing.
- That intelligent bastard - murmured Error - Of course we weren’t able to locate him, he fucking locked himself and the AU!
- H-Huh?
Error focused his gaze on a particular empty spot. Anxietytale, of course the Programmer would go to an almost neutral universe to hide. It would have been impossible to find him if it weren’t for the empathic skeleton at his side.
- Ink is not going to like this - mention the Destroyer with a smirk, knowing how apprehensive the Creator was with his space - Too bad for him I guess
With a swift motion of his hand, Error managed to cover the invisible AU with cobwebs of his strings, breaking the programming that Melody put in order to stay hidden. The Creator had probably felt this change however, they had limited time.
- Come with me, let’s see what bullshit the piano tiles is pulling this time
Dream couldn’t even protest before he was forced with blue strings to tag along.
Anxietytale could pass as a terribly normal AU, if it were not for the fact that it moved constantly between good and bad energy. This was a rare feature in creations, most of the universes were evenly distributed in order to maintain balance. Depending on the emotions when created, it will lean on positive or negative, then they would naturally gravitate towards different sides of the Doodle sphere. Which created a positive corner, a neutral one and a negative.
Even if a positive AU experiences a genocide route, it will not move from it’s corner. The pacifist energy surrounding the universe is powerful enough to sustain multiple rounds of negative feelings. The same could be applied with the negative AUs. Unless a devastating force causes a disaster (like Nightmare’s or Dream’s influence), the universe will always regulate itself.
But Anxietytale managed to move around the Doodle sphere. One of Melody’s favorite universes was this one, precisely because of that. The Programmer will always adore the abnormalities in the multiverse, even if his job was to eliminate them. He also used it as camouflage, if the AU was always moving, it would keep his emotions partially hidden. However, even if this universe was Melody’s favorite, he rarely visited it. In fact, Melody rarely visited any AU, if he wasn’t annoying Error in the Anti-void, he was attending business in the Matrix or investigating at “Home”.
The moment they set foot in the AU, Dream felt a throbbing headache. The emotions that he had felt, back at Blue’s place, weren’t physical, so why had it escalated this quickly?
- Whoever you want to find, he is really beginning to suffering right now - Dream manage to muster through the empath pain
Error groaned and began to walk at a fast pace towards Snowdin. It was unusually quiet and empty.
- He has started to affect this place
- Eh? - Dream honestly didn’t expect any explanation from the Destroyer, however it seemed that his worriedness made him really talkative
- There is no one around because he is keeping them, the less characters and assets are, less is his pain…But it isn’t working anymore
Error was now almost running towards this Sans house.
- Who is the one you are looking for?
- …A, emm…A friend. His name is Melody and he is just as intelligent as he is stupid. Thinks that he can solve everyone’s troubles and insist on working himself to death in order to achieve this
- How come I never heard of him?
- Because he is a motherfucking antisocial, like me
When they arrived at the house, Error didn’t even bother to knock, he immediately obliterated the door and ran upstairs. Dream saw a figure sitting on the corner of a worn sofa, the moment Error entered, the figure hid under a table.
- P-please s-s-stop breaking my doors! - it squeaked
The Prince decided to follow Error, mostly out of curiosity, so he shouted an apology before heading upstairs as well.
He almost regretted doing that.
The air was heavy, hot, suffocating and an incredible aura of negative feelings surrounded the narrow hall. No, it wasn’t negative feelings, Dream found himself disoriented, not exactly knowing what this emotion was or even if it was an emotion at all. Through the fog now covering his vision, he saw Error using his strings and Blasters to destroy a simple door. But it didn’t budge.
- STOP HIDING YOU MONOCHROME CLOWN! OVELIA ALREADY KNOWS THAT YOU DISAPPEARED AND WILL NOT BE HAPPY TO SEE YOUR PITIFUL CONDITION!
No one answered.
- YOU CLAIM TO BE MY FRIEND YET YOU DARE PULL THIS SHIT?!
Though his haze, Dream could tell that the Destroyer was now venting, it almost felt wrong to see a side like this. Dream had never seen him… vulnerable.
- I WAITED FOR YOU, I WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED. WHEN YOU DIDN’T SHOW YOUR STUPID SMUG FACE, I DESPERATELY SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR YOU. I EVEN FUCKING ATTENDED BLUE’S CRAP GATHERING AND FORCED MYSELF TO BE NICE WITH THE PRINCEY
He was near a panic attack.
- YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD TELL ME EVERYTHING. YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T HIDE ANYTHING AGAIN AND I BELIEVED YOU
All of the sudden, the attacks stopped, eerie silence settled then. Dream could now only hear Error’s ragged breathing. And a soft weeping sound, muffled by a door.
- …I still idiotly believe you, you stupid ox, motherfuckin’ dumbass, shitty friend. Open the door or I will destroy Anx’s house already
A soft click sounded and the door opened slowly, only a few inches. Error finally averted his gaze to acknowledge Dream, giving a silent indication to enter the room. The heavy atmosphere became more manageable once Error managed to make the other open the door, so Dream was capable of tagging along behind Error.
The room was dark. Error rudely flipped the switch to turn on the lights and strode towards a bundle in the bed.
- I’m going to remove the blankets - announced the Destroyer, his tone of voice now extremely considerate and his movements delicate
A total of seven fluffy blankets were removed before Dream could see the skeleton, at least he now knew that it was a tall Sans.
- I brought princey, can he touch you?
The curled skeleton gave a small nod. Error gave a silent indication and Dream reached to the skeleton’s hand, it trembled when they made contact and a small sense of fleeing filled Dream, it wasn’t his emotions however, they were Melody’s. The hand had sharp claws and it was burned and scarred in some places. In less than a minute, the Prince learned his name and general situation through his empath link and the information that Melody was willing to share.
- It appears that he is sick
The destroyer sighed heavily but wasn’t fully surprised.
- Strange…His emotional distress comes from within, but his physical pain comes from somewhere else…like…the being who was supposed to be hurt diverted his suffering into Melody
- …Then that means that the Code is about to re-order the Multiverse