Ink took a closer look at the stranger. The light of the moon allowed him to get a better look at the guy, and he noticed those eyelights looked... familiar. After a moment, the stranger spoke again.

"No, you can't be Encre," The stranger lowered his head. "Encre is probably long gone, by now."

Ink lowered his paintbrush and allowed the chains to dissolve. He then held a hand out for the stranger. "What's your name?"

"Fallacy. And you?"

"Name's Ink. I'm looking for someone. Goes by the name Error."

Fallacy raised a brow. "That's... a strange name."

"Yeah?" Ink retorted. "Well, I didn't ask for your opinion. All I wanna know is if you've seen or heard of him."

Fallacy rolled his eyelights. Damn, this guy. He sounded like Encre, and he couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not. He held no advantage, as Ink was the same height as him, so he couldn't intimidate the creator if he tried. Not only that, but it seems this Ink fellow is in possession of some crazy magical abilities. Not even the king of vampires was foolish enough to mess with strange magic.

Ink groaned in annoyance. "Well, since you're no help, I'm leaving. Error should've been here. Maybe Classic's device couldn't pinpoint Error's location." He walked away, examining the watch on his wrist and leaving Fallacy quite confused. At length, Fallacy remembered something.

"Damn it...."

Ink stopped and turned around. "What is it?"

"That dog's missing. He belongs to Encre, someone who looks like you. In fact, it's strange that you share his appearance so... uncannily."

Ink raised a brow. "Riiiiiight. What does this dog look like? I can help you find it."

Fallacy thought a moment. "It's small, black with tan markings, and... very unique eyes."

"What kind of eyes?"

"They reminded me of my own. Might've been my imagination, but they were unlike any I'd ever seen in an animal."

Ink studied Fallacy's eyelights again, getting closer to the king than Fallacy felt was appropriate. He averted his eyelights slightly, and Ink suddenly gasped.

"N-no way...."

Fallacy looked back at him, confused. "What?"

Ink was frozen in shock. Those eyelights.... They were Error's! Except, they weren't. Not quite. Instead of the spark of madness that used to be easy to see, there was an air of authority and entitlement in them. There was a slight sadness to them, too. It wasn't the same as Error's, but Ink's expression softened upon seeing it. Another thought occurred to him. If Fallacy's eyelights resembled Error's, and this missing dog's eyes looked like his....

"I need to find him."

A tiny bark made Ink whirl around. There, standing as tall as his little form allowed, tail wagging a mile a minute, was Cinnamon. But Ink knew him by another name.

"ERROR!!!" Ink went over and dropped to his knees, holding his arms out for the tiny dog. Cinnamon ran up to him and buried his face in Ink's chest, his soul crying for joy. Ink hugged him back, tearing up with happiness. The reunion was cut short by Fallacy clearing his nonexistent throat. Ink turned to look at him, a displeased frown working its way onto his face.

"What exactly is that dog to you?"

Ink looked down and stood up, Cinnamon tucked safely in his arms. "He's- er, he was my boyfriend. Until that bastard Fresh decided to take revenge and try to murder him. That parasite had his death coming for centuries. I am so, so sorry, Error. Can you ever forgive me?"

Cinnamon looked up into Ink's eyelights, watching contentedly as they changed from purple and blue teardrops, to blue and dull pink question marks. A small smile decorated his face, making some stubborn tears roll down his cheekbones. Cinnamon tilted his head and sighed, then nodded. Ink's smile widened, and he hugged the little dog closer. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Fallacy almost smiled at how lovely the scene was, and averted his eyelights. He thought about what it'd be like to do that with Encre, and he frowned. He had to find the artist. He could feel the ring calling to him. And he was willing to follow it wherever it went.

Suddenly, they heard a scream. Ink set Cinnamon down, and exchanged a glance with Fallacy. They nodded to each other, then raced off in the direction from which the scream came. Fallacy just hoped it wasn't someone he cared about.

... ... ...

Nightmare groaned as he woke up. He was lying face down in a pile of leaves, and he blew a few away to get them away from his face. He sat up and brushed himself off, taking a good look around to see he was in a forest.

At night.

Alone.

'Damn flashbacks,' he thought, growling and standing up. He scanned the edge of the clearing he was in, tuning into the sets of emotions close to him. Two where closing in on him, so he slide behind a tree opposite to the people he felt. He held his breath as two people walked by his hiding spot.

"That mortal is such a pain in the ass," Jasper scowled as he and Suave walked through the woods. Suave laughed softly at Jasper's tantrum, deciding it was sort of amusing that the prince would be so worked up over someone so inferior to himself. Well, whatever kept Jasper occupied was good enough for Suave. The prince would get really aggressive with his flirting, and Suave would like to maintain his dignity, thank you very much. He wondered if Fallacy was the same way, but his thought were interrupted as they were both pinned to the ground. Suave gasped in terror as he recognized the thick, slimy, black tendrils as those belonging to a corrupted Encre, but their assailant didn't look like the creature who had attacked Fallacy.

"You!" Jasper snarled, glaring at Nightmare. "Let us go, you filthy mortal!"

Nightmare smirked at the prince's audacity. Him? A mortal? He had to be joking. "Dude, I'm probably older than you."

Jasper was caught by surprise as Nightmare grinned maliciously. The prince scowled and struggled to escape. Suave had been observing the person before them closely, then spoke.

"Y-you are not actually Encre, a-are you?"

Nightmare raised a brow, bringing Suave closer to him and noting with a smirk how Jasper's anger and annoyance rose to blind rage. "Aw, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not who you're looking for. I myself am looking for someone, but I doubt you simpletons are willing you help me. No matter. I'll just bring you with me."

Jasper finally snapped, and turned into a swarm of bats. Nightmare tried to swat at them, but they pushed him into a tree. He still held onto Suave, and in an effort to gain the upper hand, he wrapped a tendril around the poor butler's throat.

"Come any closer, and I'll snap his neck!" he shouted, causing the swarm of bats to slow down and hover before him. The form of a very pissed off Jasper materialized, and he glared hard and cold at the king of nightmares.

"Let. Him. Go."

Nightmare's amused smile grew wider, and he pulled Suave closer, choking him slightly. "Help me find who I'm looking for, then you can have your precious toy~"

Jasper's expression darkened considerably, but he nodded. He met Suave's eyelights, noticing his butler was shaking. A few tears pricked at the corners of his eyesockets, but his expression was one of forced calm. He was grateful that Suave could remain calm in such a harrowing situation, and he resolved to make it up to his butler when they finally put this mess behind them.

Nightmare huffed and started walking. Jasper stomped after him, matching his pace. After a few minutes, he groaned.

"Ugh, how do you even know where you're going? I've never seen you around here, so there's no way you know this area."

"I can sense emotions," Nightmare said simply, trying to keep his own temper under control. If Classic's device thing had worked correctly, he, Ink, and Error would already be home. And yet here he was, threatening the inhabitants of this multiverse with death if they didn't do what he wanted.

"Oh yeah?! Why do you need us, then?"

Nightmare glared at the prince. "Because, you ignorant child, the last time I tried to talk sense into the guy I'm looking for, I got stabbed in the back, literally. I'll need someone to take the hit in case Error is still an edgy manbaby."

"I could easily kill you if I wanted to," Jasper said cockily, earning a smirk from Nightmare.

"Tch, have you forgotten I still have your toy? One wrong move, and he dies. Got it?"

Jasper growled lowly, stealing a glance at his butler. Suave was trying to shake his head no, even as the tendril snaked up his form, positioning the end to strike through his skull, killing him instantly. Even Jasper could see this, so he chose to be mature and not ask Nightmare any more questions.

They heard a scream, and Nightmare could feel fear directly in front of them. He could something else pulling him towards it, something dark and deadly.

And familiar.

He and Jasper ran as fast as they could towards the sounds of fighting, emerging in a clearing to find something that looked just like him trying to skewer a cat monster, a fish monster, and a skeleton monster who suspiciously looked a lot like Blueberry.

Ink gasped as he and Fallacy arrived on the scene. A fish monster who looked a lot like an Undyne had an old-fashioned pistol drawn, and a cat monster with a robotic arm was trying to slice off the tendrils of a creature who looked very much like Nightmare. Ink pulled out his paintbrush, readying some purple paint.

"Hey you!"

The creature turned, and its expression turned shocked. It held its hands to its head, roaring in pain, and collapsed to its knees. Apparently, seeing Ink sent it into an existential crisis, because some of the tar-like substance melted off. Fallacy ran over and knelt in front of the half corrupted Encre, putting his hands on either side of the creature's face.

"Encre? Encre, can you hear me? I'm here to help."

Azure approached them, a spark of hope and concern in his eyelights. "E-Encre?!"

Encre, or what was left of his sanity, looked up at Azure with a wide, fearful eyesocket. He shook as the corruption began to take hold again.

"H-help m-me...." The darkness crawled up his skull again, and Fallacy tried to grab the ring. It was too late, for a tendril violently ripped his wrist away from it, and slammed his body into a tree. It then wrapped around his throat, beginning to choke the life out of the vampire.

Azure drew his sword and lunged for the tendril, slicing it in two and freeing Fallacy. Eterna was busy with the other tendril, as it had had a mind of its own while Encre had a mental break down. Ink swiped purple paint at the creature, but the paint couldn't hold the liquidy body of Encre. It seemed that the creature liked Ink's weapon, for it summoned one of its own. A large, inky black paintbrush was created from an extension of the creature's tendril, and it swiped its own pink paint Ink. He dodged, a little irritated by the creature's lack of originality.

Nightmare and Jasper made their way across the battlefield to where Fallacy was trying to figure out an angle to catch the creature off guard. The vampire king looked to his left and nearly flinched as Nightmare came into view.

"Uh, Jasper? Who is this?"

"This, Father, is the bastard who captured Suave. And now I have to help him or else he'll kill him."

"Right. I don't suppose you could help us out?"

Nightmare was about to say no, but a tug at his shoelace made him look down. He almost burst out laughing as none other than Cinnamon glared up at him. The little dog pawed at his leg, then looked in Ink's direction. Nightmare sighed in relief, realizing Error had been turned into a dog again, then nodded. "Welp, I found who I was looking for, so I may as well compensate you by helping. What exactly do you want me to do?"

Fallacy took another look at the situation, and gasped. The creature had knocked out Neil and Eterna, caught Azure in pink paint, and had Ink in a death grip. The creature then turned its attention to them, and he froze.

Nightmare stood his ground. This creature reminded him of the day when he ate those black apples. It had been so long since that day, he almost forgot what it felt like to have all that power rush to his head. If only Dream had come. Perhaps that light magic of his could have stood a chance. Without him, Nightmare would have to resort to his own tactics.

Fallacy and Jasper prepared to attack, but before they could, Nightmare spoke. "What is this guy's weakness? You seem to know him, so how do we beat him?"

Fallacy hesitated, then answered. "The only way to stop him is if his ring is removed. But it can't be removed by just anyone. It's cursed."

Nightmare scowled. "Then who can get it off?!"

"I can. Just pin him down, and I'll take the ring."

That was all Nightmare needed. He swiped a tendril at the creature, but it dodged. It twirled its paintbrush, spraying a torrent of a dark orange paint at them. They moved out of the way, and Nightmare lunged at the creature. He caught hold of its throat, sending them both on the ground. The creature struggled to free itself, but Nightmare was stronger with all the fear and anger he was absorbing. He smiled menacingly as he choked the creature, but a tendril shot through his back made him gasp and let go.

The creature threw Nightmare off of it, then swiped its paintbrush at Fallacy. He had tried to get closer to get the ring, but backed away as the creature stalked towards him. Jasper tried to attack, but a tendril to the skull left him unconscious and helpless. Suave crawled over and held Jasper to him as Fallacy circled the creature, bravely holding his ground. The creature shot a tendril at him, then slammed its paintbrush where he stood. He dodged both blows, but was swept off his feet by another hit from the paintbrush. The creature held him by the throat once more, laughing and gloating over its victory. It tightened its grip on him, watching in sadistic satisfaction as he tried to free himself.

Cinnamon quietly made his way up to Ink, who was still alive and conscious. Ink looked down to see the tiny dog, and smiled slightly.

"E-Error," he choked out, barely able to speak as the creature's tendril got tighter. "I need y-you to do something. S-see my *hck* belt? Th-there's a potion. Drink it. Hurry!"

With that, Ink unbuckled the strap keeping the potion there, and the potion fell. The glass shattered on impact, and Cinnamon went to go lick it up. Before he did, though, he hesitated. He looked over at Fallacy, and his eyes widened. The vampire was limp, dying at the hands - tendrils, in this case - of a creature who used to be like Ink. Impulsively, he ran over and bit the creature in the leg.

The creature roared in pain, letting Fallacy go. The vampire fell to the ground, coughing and gasping to get some air, and saw his chance. He tackled the creature, and finally removed the ring. After a bit of struggling, the darkness receded, leaving an unconscious Encre. Fallacy panted with exhaustion, and looked at the ring. He threw it away, and collapsed next to the artist. Finally. It was over.

Ink coughed a bit from being nearly choked to death, then knelt down. Cinnamon padded up to him, and Ink sighed. "At least we're alive, Error. But, the potion...."

They both looked to where is had been, and the potion had been soaked into the earth. Poor Cinnamon was stuck like this, now.

Ink teared up when he realized this. He could never hold Error in his arms, kiss him, do the things they loved to do together, never again. He hiccuped, scooping Cinnamon into his arms. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Error."

Cinnamon buried his head into Ink's chest, tearing up himself. This was it. There was no hope, now. Sci was dead, so no antidote can be made. How he wished he could be a skeleton again! How he wanted to wrap Ink in a hug and tell him he loved him. How he wanted Ink to kiss him like it was their last, how he wish he could feel Ink run his hands up and down his arms endlessly as he did that night. Let him go back! Please let him go back!

A light caught both their attention. Ink looked up, setting Cinnamon on his lap. It almost seemed like a star was falling down towards them, but they both recognized the light of a deity. Except this time, it was two.

"Hello, you two," Fate said gently.

"It's nice to see you again," Destiny said jovially.

"I know it's been hard to be away from each other."

"And I'm sure you are eager to enjoy each other's company, again."

"But there is no rush."

"Stay awhile."

"No need to be impatient."

"Slow down."

"Mustn't rush into things."

"You will both be returned as you were."

"We owe that to both of you."

"Just relax."

"I love you, Inky."

"I'm proud of you, Error."

"Enjoy your lives, together."

"We will always watch over you."

With that, the lights faded to mere flames, and the golden flames swirled around Ink and Cinnamon. In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

Ink opened his eyesockets. He was holding onto something. Actually, he was holding onto someone. He looked down, and gasped in joy.

Error was back to normal.

"Oh, my god," he squeaked, tearing up as he held the glitchy skeleton to his chest. Error opened his eyesockets, then sat up. He looked down at his hands, smiling and tearing up. Ink turned his head to face him, and pressed his lips to Error's. The glitchy skeleton sighed as they parted, and wrapped his arms around Ink. The creator laughed softly, but looked away when he noticed something.

"Uhm, Error?"

"Hm?"

"Y-you, uh, you don't have any clothes on. Again."

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Yo, 'nother cliffhanger, let's go-

Soooooo, y'all know Asylum Sans, riiiiight? Ya know how he's crazy, riiiiiiiiiiiight? Well, let's just say, I feel really bad for Asy's Frisk, now. Just think of all the temper tantrums he probably has.

Damn.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter. I did have inspiration to write this chapter for a long while now, but as I stated in the previous chapter, *sigh* personal stuff got in the way. It has settled down enough that I could do this, but this might be the last thing I do for this year. I just couldn't resist doing this chapter XD