Fading Ink

Chapter 27

In all honesty, Blue probably would have done exactly the same thing.

But when Ink yelped and backed away, Blue couldn't help but feel a little hurt.

Ink...

Ink was alive.

So even though the other seemed apprehensive of him, Blue jumped forward and pulled Ink into a hug.

“ink, YoU’RE aLivE, YoU... YoU’RE okaY!”

“Um, yeah? Always been alive.”

Blue felt himself tearing up, and he pulled away, wiping at his eyes.

“i’m soRRY, i jUst can't-”

“Stars, Blue.” Ink breathed.

Blue looked up at the artist, who was gazing at him, taking in every detail of his errored appearance.

“Stars, what happened to you?”

For a moment, Blue froze, his soul quivering. He sounded as if he’d never seen Blue like this before, but he had, he had.

“what? YoU know what happEnEd.” His voice held a playful edge to it, maybe Ink was just joking with him. Yeah, he had to be.

“... Did Error have something to do with this? I bet he did, the bastard. You look almost exactly like him.”

Blue stared at Ink, shocked. He couldn't help but tear up again.

“YoU don’t REmEmBER.”

“Um, Blue?”

“YoU don't REmEmBER? YoU don’t REmEmBER all thREE of Us going to sUgaRswap, or UndERtonE, or UndERfELL? showing Us thE doodLE sphERE? how YoU savEd EvERYonE?” His voice started to waver, and his tears escaped, falling slowly down the blackened bone.

Ink now looked concerned, and he reached out, recoiling when Blue started to shake.

“Blue, I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you feeling okay?”

“i’m finE, BUt YoU aREn’t! YoU don't...” Blue sobbed, burying his face into his gloves. He felt Ink's hand on his shoulder, and he gave another loud sob.

“Blue, what's going on?”

Blue raised his face to look up at Ink, an idea rising through his scattered thoughts. He could help! He could help Ink regain his memories, and then Ink would be okay!

“i’LL show YoU!” He shouted gleefully.

~~~~

What was Blue talking about, not remembering?

If this even was Blue.

But it was, he looked and acted like Blue, this was his universe, and something told him that this was his friend. He still felt uneasy though, with just how much he looked like Error.

Error had done something to him.

How had he missed that?

Some protector he was.

Shaken from his thoughts by a pull on his hand, Ink watched Blue open a universal portal, pulling him through it. Since when could Blue do that?

Their surroundings hadn't changed much, but Ink could feel that they were definitely in another universe.

“Is this Sugarswap, Blue?”

“YEs! REmEmBER? aftER i... accidEntaLLY dEstRoYEd mY UnivERsE, wE camE hERE! YoU, mYsELf, and ERRoR tOO!”

Ink made a noise of confusion, frowning. If what Blue was saying was true, why in the Multiverse had they come here? With Error, of all monsters?

“YoU wERE UnconscioUs, so ERRoR BRokE into aLtERnatE mE and aLtERnatE papYRUs’s hoUsE. it was his idEa, BEcausE YoU wERE appaREntLY in a Lot of pain and that’s whY YoU wERE UnconscioUs. hE said YoU nEEdEd REst.”

“... Error did that?”

Blue hummed in confirmation, waving to two monsters some distance away. One of them charged, throwing his arms around Ink in a hug.

“INK! YOU’RE OKAY! I KNEW YOU WOULD BE!” Sugarswap Sans shouted, laughing his signature laugh.

Ink untangled himself from Sugarberry’s arms, giving him a confused half smile.

“Yes? I'm fine.”

Sugarswap Papyrus wasn't far behind. In fact, Ink didn't even notice he was standing there until he cleared his nonexistent throat.

“looks like you’re okay. most of us thought you’d died, buddy. glad to see you’re doing fine.” Honey spoke, pulling the candy cane out of his mouth and holding it between two fingers. Sugarberry gasped, his eyes changing into stars.

“PAPY YOU WENT A WHOLE THREE SENTENCES WITHOUT A SINGLE PUN I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!”

He then wrapped his brother in a hug, the taller skeleton giving a little chuckle and patting the top of the other’s head.

“it was nicE to sEE YoU Both again, BUt ink and i havE to go! wE’RE on anothER mission!”

Sugarberry turned, his eyes filled with awe.

“REALLY?!” He gasped, jumping up and down.

“YEp! pRomisE i’LL tELL YoU aBoUt it nExt timE!”

Sugarberry then hugged Blue, then hugged Ink one last time for good measure.

“BYE! BE SUPER SAFE AND GOOD LUCK!”

Sugarberry then rushed away, shouting for Honey to follow. The taller skeleton began to follow, but he stopped for a moment, looking back at Ink and Blue.

“he really looks up to you both. good luck on your mission.”

Honey gave them a lazy smile, turning fully to follow his brother this time. With a small whooshing noise, he was gone.

Blue glanced over at Ink, the next portal open and ready.

“to UndERtonE!”