Papyrus's Reflection

The Hell Happened to Pap?

Everyone helped Papyrus onto the couch, applying bandages where needed, and healing as much as he needed. He groaned and opened his eyes slowly.
"Pap?" asked Rue. "Are you okay?"
"You look rather peckish... and your hair is a bit of a mess." commented Glace.
"Pap, can I get you anything? Tea? A cold compress?" asked Ross, worriedly.
"I'm fine...thank you everyone." answered Papyrus groggily.
"FINE?! You tumble out of a magical portal into a lifeless heap and you're FINE?! Where have you BEEN?! What HAPPENED?!" yelled Rue.
"I was...in another world. I was attacked." calmly answered Papyrus.
"We saw Error in the portal." said Frisk angrily, her eyes burning red. "Was he the one who attacked you?"
"What? NO! Of course he didn't! He'd never...I mean..."
"Uh Pap? He'd never what?" asked Spice.
"Of course he would. He's a dick." said Korey.
"No he's not...not where I was." said Pap.
"WHAT? Pap what's going on?" asked Ross.
"I'd like to know that myself." commented Rue.
Papyrus sighed. "Some of you are aware of the machine I built that helps lead me to AUs when my powers are on the fritz, correct?"
Frisk, Brass, Spice, and Rue nod.
"The portal I fell out of earlier came from a different machine. A prototype, if you will. It leads to another world. I was...visiting...one of those worlds. A world so like our own, but so different. Error- now called "King Sans" in his world- is the ruler of that world, and there he is a kind and wonderful ruler of his people. Something has happened that is too closely binding our worlds together. His fight against evil is beginning to encroach on our world...on me."
"Then I will go into this other world and kill the enemy." boasted Rue. "I've been anxious for a fight for months."
"No." said Papyrus. "Rue, you and I CANNOT be involved in this." 
"WHAT? WHY? Perilous journeys are what I love most!" said Rue.
Papyrus looked out at the people around him. 
"I need you all to go through the portal and help Error. You may be the only hope for saving his world."
"Pap?" asked Ross. "Just what are we supposed to do?"
"You are to go to Error. You'll be able to help him lock away the evil that is threatening his subjects. They are villains of unimaginable power, but not infallible. I have every faith you all can accomplish this."
"And just WHY can you and I not do this ourselves? I know a thing or two about powerful malefactors." asked Rue.
"Rue, we cannot go because WE are the evil that is encroaching upon that land. We...we're the villains."
"Pft." remarks Korey. "Rue's been there, done that. What's the big deal?" 
Rue glared at Korey, before looking back at Papyrus.
"Not to quote Korey, but YES, I HAVE been there, done that. I will gladly take up the mantle and fight this battle...against me...and evil you. Actually the image of an evil you makes me quite giddy. I'd rather love to see it."
"Rue, I said NO. There's been a shift in both worlds that has linked us too closely. I dare not return so soon after this past visit and deepen that bond...and I think it best to keep you here as well."
"Very well..." said Rue.
"What difference are we going to have?" asked Glace. "Are we not bound to both worlds as well?"
"After much thought, I don't think so." answered Papyrus. "Our ohana does not seem to exist in this Error's universe. You should all be able to go and help without adding to the rift."
"Pap...you're asking us to fight YOU. I...I'm not sure I can do that. I don't think I could hurt you, good OR bad." said Ross.
"Heh." laughed Pap. "Ross, I'm not expecting you to hurt me, I'm expecting you to HELP me."
"Well that was needlessly cryptic." said Frisk.
"I'm afraid the time for talking is over. We MUST hurry. Do you all accept this task?"
"Of course." said Ross, nodding.
"Hell yeah I'm in!" exclaimed Spice.
"I'm all about the possibility of seeing how awesome I am in a parallel dimension. I'm in!" yelled Korey.
"Ugh are we going to HAVE to meet our other selves? That's very cliche." remarked Glace.
"I'm sure it won't come to that." answered Frisk.
"A fight to save two worlds that will come down to the defeat of an alternate evil version of a beloved character? Who WOULDN'T be all about this?! In!" cheered Fuku.
"Going through the portal by means of magic is much different than when you went via a random code you typed in." explained Papyrus, handing a sheet of paper to Ross. "You'll be able to return at any point via the spell on this page. Read it, remember it, don't forget it."
"I've already created a fun mnemonic device to remember it! There's no way I'll forget it." remarked Ross.
"Send me a message through Brass if you run into trouble. Error will be waiting for you in the castle on the other side of this portal." Papyrus said, immediately after a portal appeared beside him.
"Good luck." said Rue, just before the portal closed. He then turned and glared at Papyrus. "And now you and I are going to have a little chat about all of this."