As Delta stepped through the swirling, multicolored ink portal, he couldn't believe his eyes. A massive expanse of white space was laid out before him, extending in every direction as far as the eye could see. But that wasn't what had caught his eye. In every direction, there were hundreds, if not thousands of people. Most of them were milling around, talking in groups, looking like the most bizarre people Delta had ever seen. Many of them were versions of himself, some with glasses, some looking like demons, some multicolored, some wearing fedoras. But there were others as well. There were dozens of different versions of Alphys, Undyne, Asgore, Mettaton, even a few versions of Frisk. But what had caught his eye wasn't any of these. What caught his eye was the many variations of Papyrus. They were as diverse as the many versions of himself, but he couldn't help feeling astonished, tearful, and joyous at the same time. Then, out of the crowd, a child walked up the Delta.
The child was very small, yet Delta couldn't help feeling intimidated by the small human. They had large, empty, dark eyes, wore a loose fitting gray sweater and black shorts, and had a bob haircut. They simply stared and smiled at Delta. Ink, having just walked through the portal, reached both of arms out, as if expecting a hug from the child.
"Core!" Ink exclaimed happily, arms still stretched. "It's good to see you again. How's life? How's the timeline, how's the wife and kids?" He added jokingly.
The child didn't respond to his outstretched arms. Instead, they responded in a quiet, soft, monotone voice, "the Omega Timeline has been fairing as well as it always has been Ink." They turned to Delta. "Who is this you've brought with you? A refugee, I presume?"
"Spot on!" Ink said. "Core, this is Delta. He's come from a post-genocide timeline." Gesturing to the child, Ink then spoke to Delta. "This is Core Frisk. They're the one that runs this whole shebang. Say hi!" He exclaimed.
Delta looked back nervously to the child. "Um…what's up?" He said as he waved at Core.
They simply tilted their head and regarded Delta from his shoes to the top of his head. "You're different. You're not like the other Sanses that live here," they said in a quiet voice. "There is more than one consciousness inhabiting your body. I know they're there." Core gave him a ghostly smile. "Tell Ink how you've acquired so much power. I suspect he would be interested.
Ink looked at Delta. "Yeah, that is true…how have you gotten so powerful?" He said questioningly.
Delta looked down at the pure white surface of the floor. "Well, I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore." He looked up at them. "After Error killed—"he faltered. "Killed Papyrus…I broke into King Asgore's castle and absorbed the human soul of justice." He looked at the shocked expression on Ink's face, and spoke quickly. "The only reason I did it was to try and stop Error. He had killed everyone so…easily. I knew there was no way I could've face him on my own."
Ink paused, and nodded slowly. "It's true. Pretty much no one can stand up to Error, including me. And the ones who can…" he glanced at Core, who looked back, acknowledging his reference. "Won't. They're too lazy."
Delta looked between them, wide-eyed. "Who? Who would do that? Are they here, in the Omega Timeline? Why haven't we forced them to help?" He cried.
Ink sighed. "We haven't been able to get his help because—well, he's already decided he won't…amongst himself." Delta simply looked at him, face blank. "Look—"Ink said, exasperated, and stopped himself before saying something rash. "Look, you just survived the eradication of your entire species, and your universe," Ink reasoned. "What you should be focused on right now is getting to know everyone here. They're just like you. Socialize a little. I'll talk to you later, okay?" And with that, Ink turned away, side by side with Core, as they went off to talk about other things.
Slightly suspicious of this, but not willing to eavesdrop, Delta decided to take Ink's advice. Turning back to the massive crowd of inhabitants of the Omega Timeline, he waded through the crowd, looking for someone interesting to talk to. A few feet away, he spotted a small group of Sanses and a Papyrus, talking among themselves. Interested, Delta got a little closer, hoping to listen in on their conversation. There were a few different versions of himself in the group, which Delta would never get over. One of them had blue eyes, a blue scarf, blue shoes, and a battle body much like Papyrus's. Another one of them looked intimidating, with a glowing red eye, spiked teeth, a black coat, and a red undershirt. He seemed to be in an indefinite bad mood. The last Sans in the group was definitely the strangest—he wore the same body armor, cape, and crown that Asgore had worn, but smaller robes that were blue.
The Papyrus in the group looked and acted very much like a Sans. Wearing an orange jacket, dark pants, and smoking a cigarette, he didn't look like much. Still, Delta felt a pang of sadness when he laid eyes on him.
The Papyrus was the first to notice Delta, and called him over, saying, "hey, you! Orange-gloves! Come over here!" When Delta shuffled over, Papyrus looked him over. "Hm… don't think I've seen you around here before. How 'bout'cha tell us your name?"
Looking at the faces around him, Delta spoke rather softly. "I'm, uh, I'm Delta. Error Sans…" that name got some reaction from the group. "Error Sans destroyed my universe. I guess this 'Omega Timeline' is meant for people like me?"
The intimidating Sans spoke up. "Yup, that's right. Nice to meet'cha, people around here call me Edge…for some reason. I never understood it." He nodded his head in the blue Sans' direction. "That there is Blue. Or Blueberry. Doesn't really matter." Blueberry waved at Delta enthusiastically. "That there," he said, gesturing at the Sans in the cloak, "is Shift." He looked up from the floor, somber-eyed, and slowly nodded at Delta. "And that over there…" Edge pointed at Papyrus. "We just call him Papyrus.
Papyrus smirked. "Can't improve on perfection, I guess." He took the cigarette out of his mouth, held it at his side, and looked at Delta. "So, what's your story? Why do you look so…" he gestured at his body nonchalantly. "Weird? For lack of a better term."
Delta looked down at himself. "Well, after my Papyrus was…killed by Error, I broke into King Asgore's castle." Shift looked up at Delta. "I absorbed the Bravery soul, in hopes of being able to stop him. But, I never got the chance to try." He looked up at the group. "So, who exactly is this Error guy? Was the world of everyone here destroyed by him" He asked in an interrogating tone.
"Yeah, most of the universes of the people here have been destroyed by Error," Papyrus said, speaking first. "My world was also eradicated by the bastard. But…something different happened for us." Blue shifted his feet, looking uncomfortable, and Papyrus looked at him. "Error…took Sans, my bro, into the anti-void, his home. I'm not sure what happened in there, but one day, he showed up here." Papyrus clenched one of his fists, his left eye glowing a soft shade of orange. "But, if I know one thing, I know this. If Error shows one toe in here, ever, he'll regret he was ever born." His eye returned to normal, and he stuck his hands in his pockets. "But that's not today. For now, we're here, living safely, away from that monster."
Delta nodded slowly. Then, remembering something he wanted to ask them, suddenly spoke again. "Oh! By the way, I wanted to ask you something real quickly." Papyrus, looking confused, agreed. "Alright, this is going to sound really weird, but…" he looked around the group. "Have you heard seven words in your mind?"
Leaving Delta behind, Ink walked alongside Core. Most of the inhabitants of the Omega Timeline cleared a path for them to walk easily, and gradually, the crowd of refugees thinned until Core and Ink were a fair distance away from the massive crowd. Ink then noticed just how small and fragile Core really looked. They were just about ¾ the height of Ink himself, and just a child. But a deep sadness still lingered about them. Core was an omnipresent being, able to traverse all possible timelines and universes at any time they chose. Ink was always intimidated by this small child, and rightfully so. Though they weren't powerful in the most common form of the word, they were powerful in the sense that they were everywhere. Their eyes were so large compared to their head, so empty, dark, and sad. Though, being thrown into the Core by your best friend and scattering across the multiverse, gaining omnipresence, will do that kind of a thing to a person.
Core looked up at him. "Ink, I've got some disturbing news. I haven't told anyone else here yet, as I don't want to stir up trouble and fear. Do you want to hear it?" Fearing for the worst but hoping for the best, Ink nodded. "Alright. There has been a notable increase in the number of worlds being destroyed across the multiverse. I believe Error is trying to get our attention. That, or he has recruited another in his desire to obliterate every AU."
Ink was incredulous. "Wait a minute, so, you're thinking that Error might have an…ally? Who could possibly be crazy enough to help that psycho?" He said, unbelieving.
"I'm simply telling you what has been happening," Core responded, voice impossible soft and timid. "But, there is another matter I want to discuss with you. Have you heard of seven words in your mind?" Core asked.
Ink's eyes widened. He hadn't really given any thought to it, but now that Core had mentioned it, it became impossibly obvious. "Yeah, I…I have been hearing seven words in my head, but…I've forgotten what they are. I know for certain that there were seven." Confused, Ink questioned Core. "Do you know what's going on here?"
Core shook their head. "No, I don't. However, I do know what words have been repeated. And yes, Ink, they've been repeated. Over and over, in the minds of every creature in the multiverse." Core tilted their head. "The only reason I've been able to hear what is being said is because I can be everywhere at one—I have received the message for what might as well be an infinite amount of times." They shook their head. "And even for what I can do, and what I am…even I don't know what significance they have."
Ink questioned Core further. "What words? What are the seven words? I need to know."
Core frowned. "Alright, but these words are incomprehensibly important. More important and significant to the fate of the multiverse than you can fully understand," Core explained. "You can't tell anyone else these words, no matter what. Do you understand, Ink?"
He nodded. "I understand, I won't tell anyone else."
Core closed their eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Alright. The seven words are—"
They never got the chance to tell Ink. Suddenly, Core's eyes opened impossibly wide. "NO!" They cried, mouth opening.
Ink jumped, never hearing Core's voice never go above the volume of soft speaking. "What? What's happening what's wrong?" Ink questioned frantically. "Is it Error?"
Core nodded. "No, no, no, Error, you fool! Error is attempting to infiltrate Underfell, one of the core worlds of the multiverse. If it falls, which it undoubtedly will, if left alone for long enough, Error will have direct access to all of the other core universes." Core explained quickly. Ink tried to understand through how fast they were talking, and began to understand the crisis. "If Error gets to the core universes, like Underswap and Storyshift. Everything could fall. All AU's, including this timeline, and Error would win. We must stop him!" Core urged.
Ink looked grim, then he looked confused. "Wait, if he takes out the core universes, and all of the AU's are destroyed, wouldn't it destroy him, too?"
Core nodded. "But that isn't Error's task. He wants to wipe out every AU in the multiverse, which, of course, includes himself. He wishes to 'purify' the multiverse. But this cannot happen," Core said, sounding determined. "Now, you must go stop him. You're the only one who matches Error's power exactly, who will actually help in the effort. Now hurry!"
As Ink created a swirling portal of multicolored ink to the space outside the Underfell universe, Core decided to say one last thing. "Remember, Ink, you're the only one who can really defeat Error. Please, do your best."
Ink smiled kindly. "You can bet that I will, Core. And don't worry, I will stop Error. I'll see you later." He stepped through the portal, and it collapsed in on itself as he passed the borders.
He would never step foot in the Omega Timeline again.
