-time skippity thingity-

"What are we gonna do about them? Something is surely wrong. I've never seen this power before."I hear Dust say

"Me either."Blue, Dream and Nightmare say

"I've seen it in a nap, but that's about it."Swap!Pap says

"Wait! I called Error nice! I just realized that!"Ink!Pap yells

"And whAt iS wRoNg wItH tHat mR. oFf-toPiC?"I hear my brother ask in an annoyed tone

"N-Nothing..."Ink!Pap says

Wait! I can hear again! Yes!

"Well, it seems like they've come down with something severe. It could be one of the kid's tricks, or from the atmosphere of the lair, or just a mystery reason. I've used my magic to invent a secure place to isolate them-"I hear Science say

"ISOLATE? SCIENCE THEY ARE NOT SOME WILD ANIMAL OR PLAGUE! THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO THEY SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE ONE!"I heard everyone shout, even Nightmare, Dream, Swap!Pap and Ink!Pap who I could've sworn hated me or Ink

"Well, we don't know what's wrong with them, so until we do, we should be cautious. I made sure that their containment areas will keep them alive and safe. Plus I gave them the common stuff to live. A bed, some food and water, their stuff,  the common stuff. I don't know how they keep themselves entertained. I'll try to make sure they stay ok, you all figure out what caused this and stop the culprit that's causing it. It's currently the best course of action."Science states

"Can we at least enter to say goodbye?"my brother requests

"You can go to the visitor space. But you cannot go in."Science replies

"You're making this sound like a prison."Ink!Pap says

"Plus they're asleep so it's pointless."Dust adds

"Good thing I moved the Star Sans base out of Ink's house."Dream says

"Ya, I think he would like that anyway for privacy reasons."Blue says

"Let's just go!"Nightmare says, followed by the slams of doors

I open my eyes and feel around for my glasses, I put them on and gaze around. I could see! I was on some orange bed and had a folding table beside it. There were my puppets and random stuff on the floor. There was a single chair and some basket tucked under it filled with food and container of beverage. I see two doors that were very securely locked and blocked up, they were even boarded up for Asgoro's sake!(see what I did there?)  There was some kind of barrier around this room, a bright green dome-shaped one. There were two windows, one that shone light from outside and another that was opened to another room with only a few chairs. I guessed that was the visitor room. There was a chair in front of this window and a speaker on each side of the glass. Currently, only Science was there. He kept watching me and writing on some pad, as if I was an experimental test subject to examine.

I get up, turning away from him. I notice the other window and go straight to it. I found an opening in the barrier at that window, which was just some hole in the wall. I quickly go through it before Science could realize his mistake. I made it through and found that this room was high in the air. Man, he really didn't want us to affect the worlds even though it probably isn't even a contagious thing. I cling to the edge by the "window". I see a small path that was probably a hall inside in front of me. I decide to see where it goes. I do feel better. The pain is gone besides in my eye that was cracked, plus I got my senses back. I step onto it and walk across it. This was a new start to a new experience.

I look ahead to see another room that had an exterior similar to mine. I figured it was Inky's. That made me happily excited. My pace increased greatly. I reached the same window that I had escaped through with mine. I tried to climb through, but a barrier actually was shut around this one. I could see in, though. I sat at the windowsill, placing a hand on the barrier to peer in. I could see a similar set-up of the interior as mine had, except the walls were completely blank. Everything was white. I knew this wasn't good. Didn't Science know anything about Ink? I could see Ink sitting on the one chair in the room, staring at the wall. I don't know how long he's been up or if he's heard what I have, but Ink can't be staring at blankness in isolation! He'll hurt himself! I knock lightly on the barrier.

"InKy, I seE yoU."I say

Ink leapt up and turned to me in just a matter of seconds. I could see his face was dull and emotionless, his eye-light a white dot. But after a few moments, a smile came to his face and the light turned to a big bright yellow star, rainbow blush spreading across his face. He ran to the window and reaches up, placing his hand on the barrier, lining it with mine. I could almost feel it, but the silly barrier was dividing us.

"Glitchy! What are you doing here? I thought you were isolated by Science!"Ink exclaims, his eye light becoming a question mark

"HiM? iSoLaTE mE? UsIng sOme sIlLy mAgIc inVeNtIoN? Pfft, yoU'rE fUnNy. If I caN eScaPe aN IsoLatInG aNtI-VoId, I cAn gEt ouT oF hIs sTuFf. BeSidEs, He foRgOt tO lOcK mY wIndOw iF yA gEt wHaT I'M saYiNg."I explain

Then I realize that Science hasn't really done anything to find me or get me back into my isolation space. Was he planning it? Did he want me to get out? Was he hoping for this? What was Science planning?

"Ah, ok. It's good to see you, Error. And it's even better to see you okay!"Ink tells me

"SaMe aBoUt yA, InKy. I thInK eVeRyOne jUst lEft, bEsIdEs ScieNce, sO iT's rEaLly jUst Us."I say with a smile as I lean against the barrier

"You thinking what I'm thinking?"Ink asks

"I thInK I aM, bUt I dUnNo. WhaT dO-WOAH!"I say, then shout as the barrier drops and I fell through.

I fall towards Ink and realized we were gonna hit the ground because of this chain reaction that has been started. I reach out and wrap my arms around him protectively, placing a hand on his skull to protect it from the impact. I shut my eye and hold him tight. I felt us hit the ground and I open my eye again, I keep the cracked one closed due to the pain. I feel my face warm as I once again realize that I was on him. Man was this too familiar and recent. Well, at least he isn't chained or wearing that dress. I could see Ink's face brighten and I get off him, then turn to see the barrier close again. This was totally planned. I look around and sigh, relieved to have not seen Science. I look at Ink again, nervously rubbing my skull.

"S-sOrRy."I say

"Don't be, I think we both know who caused that. Now about that idea..."Ink tells me

"TrUe. HeH, wHaT wEre yA thInKiNG aNYwAy?"I ask

Ink got up quickly. He grabs his brush and something from the food basket under the chair.

"Here!"He says, tossing the item over his shoulder

I catch it to find it's a chocolate bar. He knows me well, that's for sure.

"ThanKs!"I say

Ink goes to the nearest wall to us, which was the one he was staring at. He paints a circle on it and a portal opens. It gave a perfect view of UnderNovela. I smile and we begin to watch it together. Man was this gonna be fun.

But only moments in, Science appears in the "visitor space" and saw I was there. He mutters something and snaps. I was lifted up by Blue magic away from Ink.

"HeY! WhAt tHe?!? PuT mE dOwn!"I yell

"It's called isolation for a reason."Science says

"IsolAtiOn My butT!"I snap at him

"That won't get you out of isolation."Science says

"InKy, I pRomIse I wIlL cOmE bAcK!"I tell Ink who was taken aback at Science's actions

I then found myself back in the isolated room. I will fulfill the promise. No matter what. I just sat and played with my strings to calm down from the boiling anger in me.

Soon, night had fallen as well as the barrier. I leap through the window and run across the path. I reach Ink's window just as the barrier dropped there as well. I enter smoothly to find Ink asleep on his bed. But I could tell he was having unpleasant dreams. He kept tossing and turning. He at one point turned over in his sleep, now facing me. His eyes were shut but his expression showed pure fear and pain. His crack was glowing red. I look up to see that the trail of the light made a shape. The classic Chara face =). Something was beginning to form beside it as well.

"No....Please...Nononono!"Ink cried in his sleep

I didn't like how things were looking. This was no ordinary nightmare. This was one influenced by the kid and was planning to do something in his sleep. I nudge Ink gently, trying to wake him up.

"No! Not again, please....No!"Ink cries out, quickly waking up as I nudged him

"InKy? YoU okAy? I'm here."I say

Tears fill Inky's eyes.

"G-Glitchy....Error!"He whispers, then broke into fearful tears

I pull him close, rubbing his back to comfort him. That must've been a very bad nightmare. I try to calm him. I will protect him. He doesn't deserve this. I look up to see the face fading, but beside it was the outline of a shiny red knife. It was aimed at Ink before it fades as well. I frown. I didn't like the thought of what might've happened if he didn't wake up or if I didn't come. That settles it.

I scoop him up and carry him out the window. He squeaks in surprise but was amazed to find the path leading between our rooms.

"You'Re SlEepInG wItH mE tOnIghT. I wAnT tO mAkE sUre yOu aRe Ok."I say, reaching my window and hopping through

The barrier quickly went up and I set Ink beside me. He looks at me as we both laid down. He smiles and wraps his arms around my arm, his head nuzzling it.

"Thank you, Glitchy...You're the best....."Ink sleepily tells me before dozing

I smile, my face lighting up. I doze off after nodding. I will be sure to protect him and nothing will stop me. My Inky. My friend. My protection is for him. Least to say, I had some nice dreams for once.