A Shadow of the Past

Backstories

Papyrus teleported back to Dream and Ink. He had seen Error making his way toward Snowdin, but hadn't found Sans after they were separated. Hopefully, he was in Waterfall somewhere, and nowhere near this glitchy skeleton. 'Wherever you are, bro,' Papyrus thought. 'I hope you don't do anything stupid.'

Sans nearly panicked, but Error just stared at him, more confused than ever. "Oh my stars, I forgot about Dream and Ink, and Papyrus, and the trap, and-"

"WhAt TrAp?"

"...Uh..." Sans realized his mistake too late to stop himself. "N-nothing, it's none o-of your business! I-I mean, uh- oh, forget it. They set a trap for you. I thought they intended to just capture you, but after what Dream said, I'm not sure anymore." (that's whatcha get fer soundin' like a villain, Dream! >:(

Sans rubbed his arm guiltily, waiting for Error to get angry.

"WhAt DiD dReAm SaY?"

"He s-said they would stop you, and Ink wouldn't have to worry about you, anymore."

"Oh, ThAt ExPlAiNs A lOt. WhAt'D tHeY dO, eVaCuAtE eVeRyOnE?"

Sans nodded. "I think so..."

"ThAt MaKeS mY jOb A hElL oF a LoT eAsIeR. I dOn'T hAvE tO kIlL aNyOnE, aNd NoBoDy WiLl TrY tO kIlL mE. I gUeSs AlL tHaT's LeFt FoR mE tO dO iS bReAk ThIs WoRlD's CoDe DoWn AnD dEsTrOy It."

Sans smiled sadly. "If it saves countless other lives, then go ahead. I won't stop you. But, may I make a request?"

"SuRe, It'S tHe LeAsT i CaN dO fOr SoMeOnE wHo'S bEeN mOrE uNdErStAnDiNg ThAn MoSt PeOpLe."

"If you ever see my brother, please tell him... I love him and... that I'm sorry. Sorry... I couldn't do more to save our universe... our home."

Error was speechless. Silent tears streamed down both their faces, but Error wiped his away. Someone as kind, selfless, brave, and pure as this blueberry of a skeleton didn't deserve such a bitter and hopeless end.

"HoW aBoUt YoU tElL hIm ThAt YoUrSeLf?"

"W-what"?

"YoU hEaRd Me. I'm NoT mAkInG aNy PrOmIsEs, BuT yOu CaN cOmE wItH mE aNd We CaN tRy To FiNd HiM, tOgEtHeR."

Sans sniffed, wiping his tears away, and smiled. A genuinely hopeful smile.

"R-really? You'd do that for me? Wowie! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

Sans ran up to Error to hug him. Caught off guard, Error didn't have enough time to process what was going on, let alone warn Sans, before it was too late. He started glitching, badly, and Sans pulled away in surprise. He collapsed, errors clogging up his already impaired vision, his body jerking around as if he was having a seizure. Sans cried out in alarm as Error continued to crash, and knelt down beside him, grabbed his shoulders, and tried to shake him out of it.

"OH MY STARS, ARE YOU OK???!!!"
(Pfft, that is the worst question you could ask a person who is CLEARLY not ok, not to mention touching him is making things worse- yeah, I'd better stop giving explanations every two seconds.... Because plot demands it.... Meep.)

After a few moments, Error seemed to calm down, but his eyes had closed and he was unconscious. In fact, if not for the slow rise and fall of his chest, Sans would have expected him to dust right then and there. Sans himself was on the verge of a panic attack, the sight of Error's body glitching and jerking around branding itself in his mind.

'Oh boy, did I screw up big time,' he thought. 'All I did was hug him!'

A few minutes later....