The stars shine beautifully, like little reflections on an ocean, but above. Error always comes to Outertale. The reason rarely matters for Error. He loves to watch the stars. But today, he's thinking. Thinking about his place in the multiverse.

Ink and Dream hate his guts, call him a soulless destroyer, say he enjoys his job. They don't even seem to know or care about the balance.

Error looks down, shadows covering his eyesockets.

It makes his blood boil that he has to play by someone else's rules and follow someone else's orders, and yet Ink and Dream both get off scot-free. He just hates the blatant favoritism from Fate.

Error sighs, looking back up at the stars.

Every single star is important. There isn't a bad or wrong star in the entire sky. Every star is wanted, loved, or necessary, even if the star itself never knows.

Error wants to laugh.

People aren't like stars. There can be unwanted, unloved, or unnecessary people. And the victors of the fight write the narrative of who is unwanted, unloved, or unnecessary.

Error sighs, looking down towards the Void.

How he wants to just jump right now. To take the leap and see what happens. The desire almost overwhelms Error.

The only thing stopping Error from jumping is that he doesn't know what's on the other side, and he doesn't really want to die. He just wants the Star Sluts to suffer the consequences of him no longer balancing them.

He hums softly, pulling some of his strings out and knitting them.

It'd be fascinating to watch them break down as the multiverse begins ripping itself apart. Or maybe it'd just fizzle into nothingness.

He'd be lying if he wasn't curious what happens when he doesn't do his job. But alas. He's such an obedient little pet of Fate. And that will never change.

Error releases a breath he was holding, the breath sounding like a sigh.

He's so tired of his job. And he's starting to doubt why he's even doing this. He doesn't have anyone to fight for. He's just fighting for the multiverse, but he, like other Sanses, rarely handle fighting for big things well.

Error looks down at the scarf he was absentmindedly working on, the blue reminding him of the one friend he has to lose if the multiverse goes kaploot.

Error growls, throwing the scarf over the ledge and into the Void.

"Wh0 giv35 4 fuck if h3 di35? It'5 n0t 1ik3 w3 3v3n t41k th4t 0ft3n." (Who gives a fuck if he dies? It's not like we even talk that often.) Error places his head in his hands, sighing softly.

"I giv3 4 fuck...But I wi5h I didn't." (I give a fuck...But I wish I didn't.) A portal rips open behind him, and he sighs, standing up and facing the portal. Three figures jump through, landing more than ten feet away from Error. Blue is the furthest from Error, and he is looking around the AU, trying to wander off. Dream is the next furthest, his focus on Error, his gaze hesitant yet determined. Ink is the closest to Error, his brush already unsheathed and in his hands. Ink's gaze are two red targets.

"ERROR! YOU WILL NOT DESTROY THIS AU!" Error slowly rolls his eyelights, sighing as Ink begins his ramble.

"I do not know why you're here, but no matter what, this AU will not fall by your hand, Error! For the Star Sanses will STOP You!" Error yawns wide, humming softly as he slowly removes some strings from his tear lines.

"0k4y." (Okay.) Dream tilts his head slightly, confused at Error's weirdly nonchalant response to what is pretty much a threat. Dream doesn't have time to think as Ink jumps forward and splashes a lot of purple paint toward Error, who just dodges the attack, looking very bored. Dream sighs, summoning his bow and shooting an arrow at Error. Error dodges that too, taking several steps closer to the edge. Dream frowns.

Sure he wants Error to stop destroying, but this fight is too close to ending in someone falling into the Void, and even if he doesn't like Error, he doesn't wish death or the Void upon him.

"Ink-"

"Let's push him over the edge." Ink's tone is malicious and joyful, a weird combination that only Ink has ever managed to pull off. Dream turns his gaze toward Ink, unsure of the emotion he's feeling. Once again, Ink acts without Dream's input, flinging red paint at the Destroyer. Error dodges back again, and simply looks between the two Star Sanses, before keeping his gaze on Dream. Bad mistake. Ink lunges forward, trying to smack Error's skull with the hard-capped end of the paintbrush. Error quickly dodges back, but stumbles over the edge, barely catching himself on the ledge, holding on for dear life. Dream can hear Error muttering softly to himself, but about what, he can't be sure. All he knows is he has to-

(834 words.

Well.

That was a literal cliffhanger wasn't it? Lol.