Chapter 1: Ink's Downfall

INK'S *P.O.V*

Snow fell peacefully from the top of the caverns.

Laughter filled the air.

Snowballs flung through the air as children did a false battle against one another.

Sounds of joy and mirth flew into my ears and out of my mouth as I laughed along with the people of the Underswap AU. I used my brush to make some Christmas decorations for the town, making the people cheer with happiness. I laughed and began walking around the town, admiring the lights and other Christmas decorations, occasionally helping a Gyftrot get decorations off their antlers, the poor things.

"Thank you, sir!" A young Gyftrot called over his shoulder before trotting into the forests. I waved and began walking the opposite direction, towards the end of the timeline.

"Anytime!" I called back, walking towards the end of the timeline.

What a sweet creature.

I hummed to myself happily until I finally felt the edge if the timeline. I frowned in response. Despite all the Christmas cheer and the laughter or all the people in Underswap Snowdin, something felt oddly… off… about the edge of this timeline. I stepped closer and the uneasiness was even stronger. I noticed that some of the trees were turning a strange black color.

What on Earth?

I examined the substance and sighed before using my brush to wipe away the black muck covering the trees. When I used my paint on the substance it retreated back to wherever it came from in the first place and my uneasiness was replaced with relief as I walked away from it, furrowing my brows in thought.

"What could be infecting the timelines…?" I muttered to myself. This isn't the first time this has happened. I found the same black tar spreading over the hundreds of other AU's. I sighed in relief, knowing I had gotten to this world before whatever this was could overtake it. Satisfied with my work for the day, I began to make a portal so I could return to my home in the void.

Something went wrong.

The portal turned black and an eerie vibe seemed to radiate from it. I stepped back in surprise before the portal sucked me into whatever timeline this lead to. I gasped for breath and looked around, trying to figured out where I was. My eyed widened in shock and disbelief at seeing the same black tar I had found in Underswap.

Only this time, it had infected the entire timeline itself. It grew unbearably cold and I began to shiver, pulling my scarf over my mouth and cautiously walking through the timeline, using my brush in a desperate attempt to heal what was left of this broken world. I could feel myself growing weaker with every step I took, slowing down to a sluggish pace as I felt myself grow weaker with each step as I was engulfed into the corruptness of this broken world. I kneeled to the ground to catch my breath.

I felt like everything I had was being sucked out of my very being.

It was suffocating.

I attempted to stand back up to leave before black vines began to creep around my ankles. I gasped and tried to escape but to no avail. Instead, I felt myself fall onto the cold, hard ground as I felt my brush slip from my grasp. I struggled to get free but my breaths grew more and more shallow until my vision started growing dark. I could barely breathe and I struggled to the best of my ability to get free until I found myself going unconscious.

The last thing I heard before I conked out completely was the sounds of a large creature being attacked.

Darkness swallowed me whole and I tried to struggle but I felt so weak. I clenched my hand and squirmed around what was on me before I snapped my eyes open and looked down at myself with confusion.

"I-It was a dream…?" I asked myself, trying to sit up before letting out a yelp of pain, falling back onto my bed.

"N-Not a dream…" I panted, trying to calm myself down. I hesitantly raised a hand up to feel for any wounds. I gently traced my finger over my face and sighed in relief when I discovered it was all in one piece.

I couldn't say that about the rest of me.

My rib cage was covered in cracks, my left ankle was broken and everywhere else was covered in bruises. I groaned in pain and slowly looked around my room. Everything was where it was supposed to be, although there was a black paint splat on my latest design for an AU.

What a pity.

"How did I even get here. . .? I was in that broken-" I stopped myself short when I heard someone coming up the steps. I panicked slightly and did the only thing I could do at the moment.

I buried myself into the pillows and blankets, pretending to be asleep.

I heard the door creak open and someone walk up to my bed, drawing back to sheets and staring at my wounds. The stranger pull out my soul and I shivered slightly at the action. I felt the crack in my soul just from the one simple motion. I whimpered lightly and I felt my soul being pressed back into my chest. The stranger changed my bandages and stood there for a long while, most likely watching me to see if I were asleep or unconscious… or even dead.

"You'd better not do something so stupid as to get yourself nearly killed again, shortie…" A hauntingly familiar voice said before turning around and beginning to walk out. I opened my eyes just a peek and had to hold back a gasp. A glitching black skeleton walked out of my room and glanced back at me for a moment before walking out completely and shutting the door behind him. My eyes were as wide as saucers when I realized who he was.

No, it couldn't be him!

He hates me!

We fight almost all the time!

I struggled to find the reasons behind his actions but one thing was clear. There was only one skeleton who had the audacity to call me "shortie".

"E-Error?!"

Alright, this is my first attempt at an Unde tale fanfic so please give me a little leeway! Stay tuned for more! And don't be afraid to leave suggestions on what could happen next :)

Stay Wicked!