Chapter Text
One day, when Error was looking through the worlds, he came across an interesting AU.
This AU was called Aftertale and had three timelines. The first with a good ending, the second with a neutral one, and the third with a bad one. The interesting thing was that Sans in this AU was able to go beyond the world. Not just to another AU, a void or anti-void, but to the "main screen". The place where the player comes from.
Then Error decided that Aftertale Sans was surprisingly determined to break through the world's boundaries.
But at the same time, there was something strange about the timeline with the bad ending.
At first glance, everything seemed normal. It was even strange that this ending was bad, considering that everything ended the way of the pacifist, but unlike the other two timelines, there was only one Sans.
Where did the second one go?
For some reason this question tormented Error and before he knew it he was back in the code of this particular timeline.
Because he was distracted, several universes nearly collapsed. The voices were displeased and pestering him, worrying about whether he was okay and asking if he had finally decided to leave the survival of the multiverse to the responsibility of other gods.
Error then realized that he needed to deal with Aftertale before he got into more trouble because he was distracted.
He had already looked through the Aftertale code several times, and even compared the codes of its timelines, before he realized what had been bothering him so much all this time. In the bad ending timeline, there was no second Sans, Geno, as he was listed in the files of the other timelines. His code was simply missing. There was no residual code that remained after death, no code that would describe any of the actions Geno had taken before he disappeared. It was impossible.
It was impossible to delete the entire code of one being without affecting the universe. After all, nothing else was affected. All other codes were in order, identical to those in other timelines, that is, all the events that happened in the past in the other two timelines also happened in this one. Only the “main character” of these events was not there.
A shiver ran through Error's body and he broke into a smile. He had never felt such excitement before. For the first time since he could remember, he felt so alert and alive.
If examining the code yielded nothing, and the voices weren't much help, then Error's only option was to visit the timeline in person.
This is the first and only time Error was excited about traveling to the AU.
Error decided to first go to the timeline save screen with a happy ending. First, it was necessary to understand how everything should be before dealing with problems.
His feet stepped onto the black floor of the save screen and when the portal leading to the anti-void closed behind him, it became completely empty.
It was strange to be in such a dark and empty place after the anti-void.
The only thing that was there was a small island of grass, above which there seemed to be a light, buttons for returning or resetting which the player could use, and a screen through which Geno apparently watched what was happening in the timeline.
Quite simply. In fact, it's more than he had when he woke up in the anti-void, even though the voices quickly filled the void with their gifts.
This place seemed familiar to Error.
It was weird.
His bones shook just thinking about someone getting stuck on the save screen.
Was it because he knew what it was like to be locked in a similar place? Or was it something else?
The idea of visiting Aftertale didn't seem so good to him anymore, but Error sat down in front of the screen anyway, quickly figuring out the "controls" and switching to Papyrus, Sans and Geno, who seemed happy together. Error felt a warmth spreading through his body just watching them.
It was… unusual.
Having woken up from the sudden surge of feelings, Error began to study the code of the space from the inside. Although he could learn a lot about the AU in general just by reading the code while sitting in the anti-void, if he needed details, he needed to be in close proximity to the object, be in the AU itself, or at least have it in his field of vision.
The story unfolded before his eyes.
Error decided not to visit the timeline with the neutral ending. He didn't want to run into Geno, who was on the save screen, or Reaper, the god from Reapertale, who apparently often looked into this timeline. Therefore, immediately after this, he went to the timeline with the bad ending.
He found himself back at the empty home screen and headed towards the window. Wherever Geno was, he was definitely keeping an eye on his family just like the other two. The screen showed Papyrus and Sans, who were in their new home on the surface. It looked like they had been living in this house for a long time and here Error could see the differences from the first timeline he visited.
It seemed like Geno didn't have a chance to come to the surface here, because now, Error could see how much the Skeleton Brothers' house was different from what he had seen before.
The underground here was already empty, perhaps he could go and examine the old house with his own eyes?
“I feel like we’re no closer to solving the mystery”
"It seems to me, that Error already has some assumptions. He's just greedy and doesn't want to share with us"
“I think it will be difficult for Error to tell us anything”
"Ahahaha. As if that ever stopped us from understanding what he was thinking"
“He’s quite expressive despite everything”
"It looks like Error wants to visit Geno's old house"
"Error comes out to touch the grass!"
“Rather snow”
"You need to breathe fresh air more often Error"
“Is there air in the anti-void?”
“I think this is a good question to discuss”
Error snorted, laughing at the voices and their stupid statements. Who do they take him for? He sometimes comes out of the anti-void!
Error opened a portal right to the front door of an old two-story house. For some reason, the spruce door with a Christmas wreath on it made him feel nostalgic.
Was it because he was once Sans or because he was an alternate Sans? Is Sans always Sans or something? Today was the first time Error felt so nostalgic, despite the fact that he has been watching the AU for a long time and visited them several times.
He didn't like it.
The house was nothing special. Same as all the other houses in many AUs. The items could be traced back to Papyrus and Sans using them. There was no trace of Geno ever using anything in the house. Although there was a clear gap where there was no code for either Geno or Sans who came later. Whoever worked on this AU did a thorough job, even if it seemed almost impossible.
Error narrowed his eyes. What happened here was clearly impossible for any of the powers in the multiverse, no one could do this job so cleanly. Unless…
It felt like someone had knocked all the air out of him.
Only those who stood above the gods could do such a thing without consequences.
He never spoke about them to anyone, because the risks of something happening if he started collecting information in public or spreading it were too high. As soon as they interfered with his fate, they lost all respect in his eyes, but Error did not deny their power.
He couldn't stay here any longer. He had to move. He had to leave.
“And I was wondering who dared to enter the AU that is under my protection, and even to prowl around here.” An evil voice said behind Error, making him freeze in place.
“If you don’t want to deal with death, then you better tell me what you’re doing here.”
How stupid to think Reaper was only interested in one timeline. Error should have known Aftertale was in his care. He was so caught up in the whole disappearance mystery that he missed so much.
He turned around to meet Reaper's gaze and decide whether or not to run. But when Error saw the other skeleton, he couldn't help the sign that escaped him.
Reaper's eyes widened as well and he was caught in the act. His entire terrifying image with large black wings on his back and a scythe in his hands instantly crumbled.
"Geno-"
Error walked into the portal before the other god could finish and as soon as he found himself in the anti-void he crushed.