p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"uspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Chapter 26- The Omega Timeline/span/u/em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAny hope of retreating to the Doodle Sphere was quickly forgotten. Within a minute of Error's disappearance, a small, monochrome child appeared. From emthin air/em. It scared me half witless./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs their huge, void-like eyes landed on me, my soul nearly stopped from fright. But Ink and Dream didn't seem concerned. They introduced the human as "Core Frisk." I recognized their name and realized they were the famous guardian of the Omega Timeline, the haven for Multiverse refugees. It was a wonder we hadn't met sooner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe child begged us to come reason with Carrot, Blueberry's brother. The Papyrus had sensed Blue's dangerous decline, and had been fretting for days. But now, the human detected a radical shift in Carrot's state of mind. Due to their foresight, Core Frisk predicted he would soon do something drastic. If the Star Sanses didn't convince Carrot otherwise, he would recklessly hunt Error down alone and get dusted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere was no discussion. Ink and Dream exchanged a grim glance and nodded, and we followed the child back towards the Swap brothers' house. As we walked, I was told to imagine what the Omega Timeline would look like, then sent along after Ink and Dream. Puzzled by this vague instruction, I opened the front door. I expected to see nothing but the skelebro's living room, but as I stepped through, I suddenly landed beside my friends in a white world./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI glanced around, awed. Behind us, the ruins of UnderSwap disappeared in a swirl of light, as if we'd walked through a portal. Ink and Dream were off before I could take it all in. I scrambled to keep up while I scanned my new surroundings./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe Omega Timeline was just as Ink had described: a vast white dimension, similar to the Doodle Sphere. Instead of flocks of Wigglers and Windows, it was cluttered with groups of people. They stood about, talking and laughing, and calling out for the racing children to be careful./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI recognized many of the character types I had seen in the "Space Place," or True Void, that I'd fallen into months prior. Every monster and human ethnicity was represented, at least a hundred times over. Amazingly, everyone was getting along perfectly. No one was freaking out about their "copies," or even arguing, let alone fighting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"this place is amazing," I breathed, marveling at the diversity. Dream nodded, walking beside me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It truly is. Core Frisk has saved countless lives," he agreed simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMonsters and humans alike called out greetings to Ink as he passed. It seemed he was quite popular, here. But he replied with nothing more than mere grins or nods. He was too busy exchanging hushed words with Core Frisk ahead of us to do much else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"who are all these people?" I asked Dream. "where did they come from?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Most are survivors from abandoned genocide runs or Destroyer attacks," he explained absently, evidently preoccupied. "They shelter here until the Protectorate finds a safe world for them to live in, or until Ink builds them a new one. Some people just drop in to visit, though," he added, waving to a friend of his own. "No one can get here until Core Frisk personally tells them about it, so it's safe from the Destroyers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAhead, the Artist's and child's discussion seemed to turn into an argument. An inaudible protest from the human. A firm, abrupt insistence from the Artist. A pause. Then, with a reluctant nod, Core Frisk split from our group. Ink tucked something away and sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI frowned at the back of his scarf. It seemed like a strangely intense interaction. But I didn't feel up to asking what it was about. All I could think about was Error's taunt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI was beginning to realize how little I knew about Ink. Sure, he was an almost constant companion in the Doodle Sphere, and we talked frequently. He seemed to genuinely care about me, and Dream, and Blueberry, and the AUs. But why? /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI knew nothing of where he came from, or what drove him beyond his innate desire to create and inspire creativity. The colors of his paint sash's vials sustained his emotions; did that mean his feelings were artificial? What if his goals and morals were as erratic as his moods?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDream trusted him wholeheartedly, which was certainly an upstanding vote of character. But, the kind Protector also loved Ink devotedly, and I knew even the wisest people could be blinded by love. Of course, I still trusted Ink. Just… cautiously, now. Maybe that made me a faithless, lousy friend. I just wasn't sure what to believe, anymore. All I really wanted was to go home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"if people come from across the aus," I started casually, "does that mean you can em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"go/em to any of the aus from here?" I asked, secretly hoping to eventually slip away and use this place to return home. To my dismay, Ink—who was apparently listening to our conversation—shook his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No," he answered. "When we leave, the only place we can go is back to UnderSwap. It's a one-way trip to and from the door." Ink paused to acknowledge someone's salutation with a wave. "It's not designed to be compatible with regular portals," he finished. "It's supposedly 'safer' that way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"oh," I replied simply, struggling to keep the deep disappointment from my voice. I thought I heard Ink murmur something, though, after the phrase em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""'safer' that way." /emspan style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Once again, I decided not to ask. /spanJust as I was about to pepper Dream with more inquisitive comments—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, Hope."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"yeah, ink?" I answered. The Artist turned to me, puzzled. Then he snickered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, you respond to 'Hope,' now." He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "I was talking to Hope em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Dreemur."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I followed his line of sight to a human child, playing with two more of her kind. She appeared to be in her mid-teens, older than most humans I'd encountered in the Multiverse. Her short, choppy, chestnut hair swished across her face as she turned back to her young companions. Beneath her brown apron, which was adorned with a pink heart patch on the front, was a light mint shirt. She dug in the pockets of her cargo shorts and produced two candies for her friends./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stared, wondering what made the difference. Why were some humans abundantly merciful, while others were cold-blooded killers? And what caused some to suddenly turn on their friends and viciously betray them? Unfortunately, Hope noticed me watching her and waved. I snapped my attention forward, embarrassed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"how do you get used to it?" I whispered nervously. Ink tossed an inquisitive glance over his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"To what?" I smothered down a shudder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"humans," I murmured, feeling ready to leap skywards if anyone so much as poked me. "how can you ever emreally/em trust them?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Not all humans are evil, you know," Ink pointed out. "What about Sparrow, or Strawberry? You know them pretty well, by now. Aren't they proof that humans can be kind?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"i guess," I sighed tensely. "but, don't you find their strength and unpredictability a bit unsettling?" At this, oddly, Ink smiled softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just because someone is capable of betrayal doesn't mean it's inevitable. Dream, what's that one proverb?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Which one, Ink?" he asked patiently, still quite distracted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The tree and character and such."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"'A person will be known by their own conduct, for what bad tree can produce good fruit'?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That one!" Ink affirmed. "Thanks, Dream."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Um-hmm." Ink returned his attention to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, if someone has evil intentions, they can't hide them forever. You get to know who you can trust… just by getting to know the person!" Before I had a chance to evaluate the pang of guilt this statement brought, we came into sight of Swap Papyrus./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe was off by himself. He paced in a tight circle, staring at his orange sneakers as they scuffed at the ground. With the contrast created by his greenish-grey cargo pants and bright orange sweatshirt, I understood where he got the nickname "Carrot," now. He was tall, and looked rather athletic and nimble. But his face was unlike any Papyrus's I'd yet seen. His expression was incredibly wearied and despondent, as if he'd borne a heavy burden, alone, for a long time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDream's pace quickened at the sight of him, and his expression twisted in aching empathy. His reaction reminded me of the conversation I'd overheard months before: "emI almost wish he'd just blame me for all this." /emIt occurred to me Dream and Carrot had years of history together. Turns out, it wasn't Dream I should have been worried about./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hello, Carrot," Dream greeted as we neared. Carrot's posture visibly displayed his relief as he whirled towards the sound of Dream's voice—and his gaze landed on Ink. The two locked eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFast as a blink, Carrot pinged my soul and Dream's wrist and threw us in opposite directions, away from each other. We went tumbling. Without releasing us, he pinged Ink's entire body in a roiling orange magic. Ink's feet left the ground. Carrot's blazing fists were tightening around the Artist's scarf before Dream or I even knew what hit us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Carrot, stop!" Dream gasped in dismay, scrambling up to race for them. He was pinged and flattened once more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"STAY OUT OF THIS, DREAM," Carrot warned, eyes flaming a wrathful, dark amber. "THIS DOESN'T CONCERN YOU." Anticipating a fight, I stumbled to stand and threw my hand up; no blasters formed. "YOU CAN'T SUMMON ATTACKS IN HERE," Carrot scoffed, evidently noting my attempt to protect Ink. "BUT I CAN STILL DUST HIM WITH MY BARE HANDS." Carrot dragged his blazing gaze back to the Artist and growled— "SO GIVE ME emONE/em emGOOD/em emREASON/em WHY I SHOULDN'T."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor about a ten-foot radius, shocked silence reigned. All eyes were on the scuffle. No one dared to move. Before anyone could step in and break up the fray—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry, Carrot," Ink stated calmly, a heavy, remorseful resignation in his voice. "I know you believe I am to blame for Blueberry's capture."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"HECK RIGHT I DO!" Carrot exclaimed furiously. "HE'D BE SAFE IF YOU HADN'T CONVINCED HIM TO JOIN YOUR STUPID 'STAR SANSES' TEAM—OR IF YOU'D PROTECTED HIM, LIKE YOU emPROMISED/em." Ink was silent, meekly thinking this over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry," Ink tried again. "You're right. I started this. I put him in danger. He never should have been taken. But I'm going to make amends. I'm gonna fix this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"YOU'RE OUT OF TIME," Carrot spat bitterly. "BLUEBERRY'S em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"DYING/em, INK. I CAN FEEL IT. HE'S SLIPPING AWAY. HE'LL FALL DOWN SOON, IF HE HASN'T ALREADY. HE'S GONNA DUST AND IT'S emALL/em emYOUR FAULT!/em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"He still has time," Ink assured. "According to my calculations, he won't reach critical condition for another few days. If he's starting to lose consciousness, it might even preserve his life a bit longer. It's not too late. We can still rescue him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"HOW CAN YOU SPEAK SO CASUALLY OF THIS?" Carrot balked, somewhere between disgusted and heartbroken. "DOES THIS TRAGEDY HAVE NO EFFECT ON THOSE SOULLESS EMOTIONS OF YOURS?" he challenged, angry tears now welling in his eyes. Before Ink could answer, Carrot gave a cheerless chuckle. "OH, HOW SILLY OF ME. I NEARLY FORGOT; YOU'VE NEVER LOVED ANYONE BUT YOURSELF, HAVE YOU? WHY emWOULD /emYOU CARE IF BLUEBERRY DIED? HE'S JUST A PAWN TO YOU!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Carrot, that's enough!" Dream ordered fiercely. "emStop!" /emHe made another dash for Ink. He was flattened, again, and his demands went unheeded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""YOU DON'T HAVE A SCRAP OF EMPATHY IN YOU," Carrot accused, threateningly drawing the Artist closer. "DREAM AND BLUE MAY CALL YOU 'FRIEND,' BUT YOU'RE TOO SELFISH TO EVER COMPREHEND WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A BROTHER," he spat, glowing fists tightening around Ink's scarf. "YOU DON'T HAVE emANY/em FAMILY TO LOSE. YOU'VE GOT NOTHING BUT YOUR WORTHLESS WHIMS TO CHASE, SO YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF GRIEF."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAt these condemning words, the Artist's head lowered, his face cast in deep shadow. There was a long silence, during which I feared Ink had given up the defense, when—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes," Ink confessed quietly, defeatedly. "I know I have nothing to lose. Which is why, if I don't find Blue within three days… I'm gonna trade myself to save him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy breath caught. Ink would place his life in Error's hands to barter for Blueberry? It was suicide!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"ink, no…!" I breathed. He didn't heed me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Either way, you will have your brother back. Soon," he promised. "So, please; let me go. I must go look for him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter a moment's hesitation, Carrot released Ink—who dropped gracelessly onto the ground—and after a brief, glaring glance of grief, the Papyrus teleported away. Ink stood, patting apparent dust from his sleeves. He then turned and calmly started towards Dream and me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's go back," he said, not meeting our gazes. "There's one last thing I have to do before the final search."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAnd with that, he opened a portal and stepped through./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAny hope of retreating to the Doodle Sphere was quickly forgotten. Within a minute of Error's disappearance, a small, monochrome child appeared. From emthin air/em. It scared me half witless./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs their huge, void-like eyes landed on me, my soul nearly stopped from fright. But Ink and Dream didn't seem concerned. They introduced the human as "Core Frisk." I recognized their name and realized they were the famous guardian of the Omega Timeline, the haven for Multiverse refugees. It was a wonder we hadn't met sooner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe child begged us to come reason with Carrot, Blueberry's brother. The Papyrus had sensed Blue's dangerous decline, and had been fretting for days. But now, the human detected a radical shift in Carrot's state of mind. Due to their foresight, Core Frisk predicted he would soon do something drastic. If the Star Sanses didn't convince Carrot otherwise, he would recklessly hunt Error down alone and get dusted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere was no discussion. Ink and Dream exchanged a grim glance and nodded, and we followed the child back towards the Swap brothers' house. As we walked, I was told to imagine what the Omega Timeline would look like, then sent along after Ink and Dream. Puzzled by this vague instruction, I opened the front door. I expected to see nothing but the skelebro's living room, but as I stepped through, I suddenly landed beside my friends in a white world./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI glanced around, awed. Behind us, the ruins of UnderSwap disappeared in a swirl of light, as if we'd walked through a portal. Ink and Dream were off before I could take it all in. I scrambled to keep up while I scanned my new surroundings./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe Omega Timeline was just as Ink had described: a vast white dimension, similar to the Doodle Sphere. Instead of flocks of Wigglers and Windows, it was cluttered with groups of people. They stood about, talking and laughing, and calling out for the racing children to be careful./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI recognized many of the character types I had seen in the "Space Place," or True Void, that I'd fallen into months prior. Every monster and human ethnicity was represented, at least a hundred times over. Amazingly, everyone was getting along perfectly. No one was freaking out about their "copies," or even arguing, let alone fighting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"this place is amazing," I breathed, marveling at the diversity. Dream nodded, walking beside me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It truly is. Core Frisk has saved countless lives," he agreed simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMonsters and humans alike called out greetings to Ink as he passed. It seemed he was quite popular, here. But he replied with nothing more than mere grins or nods. He was too busy exchanging hushed words with Core Frisk ahead of us to do much else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"who are all these people?" I asked Dream. "where did they come from?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Most are survivors from abandoned genocide runs or Destroyer attacks," he explained absently, evidently preoccupied. "They shelter here until the Protectorate finds a safe world for them to live in, or until Ink builds them a new one. Some people just drop in to visit, though," he added, waving to a friend of his own. "No one can get here until Core Frisk personally tells them about it, so it's safe from the Destroyers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAhead, the Artist's and child's discussion seemed to turn into an argument. An inaudible protest from the human. A firm, abrupt insistence from the Artist. A pause. Then, with a reluctant nod, Core Frisk split from our group. Ink tucked something away and sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI frowned at the back of his scarf. It seemed like a strangely intense interaction. But I didn't feel up to asking what it was about. All I could think about was Error's taunt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI was beginning to realize how little I knew about Ink. Sure, he was an almost constant companion in the Doodle Sphere, and we talked frequently. He seemed to genuinely care about me, and Dream, and Blueberry, and the AUs. But why? /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI knew nothing of where he came from, or what drove him beyond his innate desire to create and inspire creativity. The colors of his paint sash's vials sustained his emotions; did that mean his feelings were artificial? What if his goals and morals were as erratic as his moods?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDream trusted him wholeheartedly, which was certainly an upstanding vote of character. But, the kind Protector also loved Ink devotedly, and I knew even the wisest people could be blinded by love. Of course, I still trusted Ink. Just… cautiously, now. Maybe that made me a faithless, lousy friend. I just wasn't sure what to believe, anymore. All I really wanted was to go home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"if people come from across the aus," I started casually, "does that mean you can em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"go/em to any of the aus from here?" I asked, secretly hoping to eventually slip away and use this place to return home. To my dismay, Ink—who was apparently listening to our conversation—shook his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No," he answered. "When we leave, the only place we can go is back to UnderSwap. It's a one-way trip to and from the door." Ink paused to acknowledge someone's salutation with a wave. "It's not designed to be compatible with regular portals," he finished. "It's supposedly 'safer' that way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"oh," I replied simply, struggling to keep the deep disappointment from my voice. I thought I heard Ink murmur something, though, after the phrase em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""'safer' that way." /emspan style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Once again, I decided not to ask. /spanJust as I was about to pepper Dream with more inquisitive comments—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, Hope."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"yeah, ink?" I answered. The Artist turned to me, puzzled. Then he snickered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, you respond to 'Hope,' now." He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "I was talking to Hope em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Dreemur."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I followed his line of sight to a human child, playing with two more of her kind. She appeared to be in her mid-teens, older than most humans I'd encountered in the Multiverse. Her short, choppy, chestnut hair swished across her face as she turned back to her young companions. Beneath her brown apron, which was adorned with a pink heart patch on the front, was a light mint shirt. She dug in the pockets of her cargo shorts and produced two candies for her friends./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stared, wondering what made the difference. Why were some humans abundantly merciful, while others were cold-blooded killers? And what caused some to suddenly turn on their friends and viciously betray them? Unfortunately, Hope noticed me watching her and waved. I snapped my attention forward, embarrassed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"how do you get used to it?" I whispered nervously. Ink tossed an inquisitive glance over his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"To what?" I smothered down a shudder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"humans," I murmured, feeling ready to leap skywards if anyone so much as poked me. "how can you ever emreally/em trust them?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Not all humans are evil, you know," Ink pointed out. "What about Sparrow, or Strawberry? You know them pretty well, by now. Aren't they proof that humans can be kind?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"i guess," I sighed tensely. "but, don't you find their strength and unpredictability a bit unsettling?" At this, oddly, Ink smiled softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just because someone is capable of betrayal doesn't mean it's inevitable. Dream, what's that one proverb?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Which one, Ink?" he asked patiently, still quite distracted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The tree and character and such."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"'A person will be known by their own conduct, for what bad tree can produce good fruit'?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That one!" Ink affirmed. "Thanks, Dream."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Um-hmm." Ink returned his attention to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, if someone has evil intentions, they can't hide them forever. You get to know who you can trust… just by getting to know the person!" Before I had a chance to evaluate the pang of guilt this statement brought, we came into sight of Swap Papyrus./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe was off by himself. He paced in a tight circle, staring at his orange sneakers as they scuffed at the ground. With the contrast created by his greenish-grey cargo pants and bright orange sweatshirt, I understood where he got the nickname "Carrot," now. He was tall, and looked rather athletic and nimble. But his face was unlike any Papyrus's I'd yet seen. His expression was incredibly wearied and despondent, as if he'd borne a heavy burden, alone, for a long time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDream's pace quickened at the sight of him, and his expression twisted in aching empathy. His reaction reminded me of the conversation I'd overheard months before: "emI almost wish he'd just blame me for all this." /emIt occurred to me Dream and Carrot had years of history together. Turns out, it wasn't Dream I should have been worried about./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hello, Carrot," Dream greeted as we neared. Carrot's posture visibly displayed his relief as he whirled towards the sound of Dream's voice—and his gaze landed on Ink. The two locked eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFast as a blink, Carrot pinged my soul and Dream's wrist and threw us in opposite directions, away from each other. We went tumbling. Without releasing us, he pinged Ink's entire body in a roiling orange magic. Ink's feet left the ground. Carrot's blazing fists were tightening around the Artist's scarf before Dream or I even knew what hit us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Carrot, stop!" Dream gasped in dismay, scrambling up to race for them. He was pinged and flattened once more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"STAY OUT OF THIS, DREAM," Carrot warned, eyes flaming a wrathful, dark amber. "THIS DOESN'T CONCERN YOU." Anticipating a fight, I stumbled to stand and threw my hand up; no blasters formed. "YOU CAN'T SUMMON ATTACKS IN HERE," Carrot scoffed, evidently noting my attempt to protect Ink. "BUT I CAN STILL DUST HIM WITH MY BARE HANDS." Carrot dragged his blazing gaze back to the Artist and growled— "SO GIVE ME emONE/em emGOOD/em emREASON/em WHY I SHOULDN'T."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor about a ten-foot radius, shocked silence reigned. All eyes were on the scuffle. No one dared to move. Before anyone could step in and break up the fray—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry, Carrot," Ink stated calmly, a heavy, remorseful resignation in his voice. "I know you believe I am to blame for Blueberry's capture."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"HECK RIGHT I DO!" Carrot exclaimed furiously. "HE'D BE SAFE IF YOU HADN'T CONVINCED HIM TO JOIN YOUR STUPID 'STAR SANSES' TEAM—OR IF YOU'D PROTECTED HIM, LIKE YOU emPROMISED/em." Ink was silent, meekly thinking this over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry," Ink tried again. "You're right. I started this. I put him in danger. He never should have been taken. But I'm going to make amends. I'm gonna fix this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"YOU'RE OUT OF TIME," Carrot spat bitterly. "BLUEBERRY'S em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"DYING/em, INK. I CAN FEEL IT. HE'S SLIPPING AWAY. HE'LL FALL DOWN SOON, IF HE HASN'T ALREADY. HE'S GONNA DUST AND IT'S emALL/em emYOUR FAULT!/em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"He still has time," Ink assured. "According to my calculations, he won't reach critical condition for another few days. If he's starting to lose consciousness, it might even preserve his life a bit longer. It's not too late. We can still rescue him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"HOW CAN YOU SPEAK SO CASUALLY OF THIS?" Carrot balked, somewhere between disgusted and heartbroken. "DOES THIS TRAGEDY HAVE NO EFFECT ON THOSE SOULLESS EMOTIONS OF YOURS?" he challenged, angry tears now welling in his eyes. Before Ink could answer, Carrot gave a cheerless chuckle. "OH, HOW SILLY OF ME. I NEARLY FORGOT; YOU'VE NEVER LOVED ANYONE BUT YOURSELF, HAVE YOU? WHY emWOULD /emYOU CARE IF BLUEBERRY DIED? HE'S JUST A PAWN TO YOU!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Carrot, that's enough!" Dream ordered fiercely. "emStop!" /emHe made another dash for Ink. He was flattened, again, and his demands went unheeded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""YOU DON'T HAVE A SCRAP OF EMPATHY IN YOU," Carrot accused, threateningly drawing the Artist closer. "DREAM AND BLUE MAY CALL YOU 'FRIEND,' BUT YOU'RE TOO SELFISH TO EVER COMPREHEND WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A BROTHER," he spat, glowing fists tightening around Ink's scarf. "YOU DON'T HAVE emANY/em FAMILY TO LOSE. YOU'VE GOT NOTHING BUT YOUR WORTHLESS WHIMS TO CHASE, SO YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF GRIEF."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAt these condemning words, the Artist's head lowered, his face cast in deep shadow. There was a long silence, during which I feared Ink had given up the defense, when—/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes," Ink confessed quietly, defeatedly. "I know I have nothing to lose. Which is why, if I don't find Blue within three days… I'm gonna trade myself to save him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy breath caught. Ink would place his life in Error's hands to barter for Blueberry? It was suicide!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"ink, no…!" I breathed. He didn't heed me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Either way, you will have your brother back. Soon," he promised. "So, please; let me go. I must go look for him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter a moment's hesitation, Carrot released Ink—who dropped gracelessly onto the ground—and after a brief, glaring glance of grief, the Papyrus teleported away. Ink stood, patting apparent dust from his sleeves. He then turned and calmly started towards Dream and me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's go back," he said, not meeting our gazes. "There's one last thing I have to do before the final search."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 182.05pt;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAnd with that, he opened a portal and stepped through./span/p