-Council HQ Lounge-

Fresh 404 sighs as he steps through his portal looking around the lounge for someone that looks likely to be ready to go.

It didn't take long for those that were around earlier to notice he was back without Geno and Reaper.  Alter was the one to stand up and walk over to them.  "Kid is everything alright."

"Yes, Alter uncle Geno is fine just recovering from a healing session with Lady Vita.  Reaper is fussing over him.  I need to pick up a council member, preferably one of the sturdier ones."  Fresh 404 smiled at Alter.

Alter chuckles, waving him over to a table in the corner with a lot of half asleep skeletons.  "Are you ever going to keep a companion for more than an hour or two?"

"Eventually mostly we are picking the ones that are convenient.  We will likely eventually have a schedule."  Fresh 404 frowns lightly.  "Stay out of your AU, it is due to reset."

Alter gives them a thoughtful look then nods.  "Thanks for the warning.  Blackberry is the most likely to be awake and have eaten."

Fresh 404 scans the room and finds the FellSwap Sans setting in a corner wearing half circle glasses with gold frames and reading a book about trap theory.  "We will have to introduce him to Rose."  They pat Alter on the back before heading over to Blackberry.

Alter sighs and heads to the kitchen to make tomato pie.  "The kid is right, some risks are just not worth it."

Fresh 404 slid into the seat across from Blackberry, "hello FellSwap Sans #0 also known as Blackberry."

Sighing Blackberry put a bookmark in his book and closed it looking at Fresh 404 over the tops of his glasses.  "I take it you have yet again managed to somehow lose your council companion?"

Fresh 404 shrugs, "we repaired some of his code and got him the first healing session of many with Lady Vita.  He is resting.  We can't claim to be benign. We very much do feel malice towards many on the council but at the same time we have been given the responsibility for a multiverse that we very much care about.  So we will take care of the council when we can.  We are not obligated to make it comfortable."

"You are very frank about your feelings and intentions?"  Blackberry puts his book in his inventory taking off his glasses.

"Would anyone believe us if we tried to obfuscate?  We don't see the point in hiding the truth you all already know." Fresh 404 shrugs watching him.

"True but your methods are remarkably calm; it makes you terrifying especially to the over thinking types."  Putting away his glasses, Blackberry stands.  "Let's get this over with."

Standing with a stretch Fresh 404 opens a portal.  "At our age would anyone take us seriously if we couldn't remain calm? What we have to do is hard enough without being treated like we are too young and emotional to know what is happening." No more was said as they walked through the portal and it snapped closed leaving those who had watched uneasy.

-MedicalTale #0-

Blackberry looked around when they stepped out in a hospital waiting room surprised, but trying not to show it.

Fresh 404 doesn't even pause as he steps through the portal instead heading straight to the nurses station.  "Hello, can you please direct us to the room of the HorrorTale brothers? We got a call that Papyrus woke up."

The nurse, a rather cute dog monster, laid his ears back.  "You would be looking for the high security ward."  He points to the left.  "Down that hall first right down one floor check in at the security desk."

Fresh 404 sighs and nods.  "Thank you very much, and don't worry so much about where they are from. When we checked them in, Papyrus was comatose and Hatchet, had bones like wet tissue paper.  The only real threat they pose is to themselves if they get agitated."

Blackberry was shaken out of his thoughts by their conversation having never even heard of a skeleton that depleted.

The nurse visibly relaxed, then looked up at Fresh 404 with sad eyes.  "I am sorry I don't mean to be prejudiced but you hear stories about places like HorrorTale."

Fresh 404 gave a gentle smile, "we understand and sadly many are true but there are also many stories that never make it to other AU.  Stories about regular monsters not even close to boss level sharing what little they have or even sacrificing to make sure their loved ones make it a little longer.  In our opinion, given a chance to heal and be accepted, HorrorTale monsters would prove to be among the best of us."

Blackberry's sockets wided watching the nurse deflate in shame before gathering themselves and smiling up at Fresh 404.  "Thank you, it is good to be reminded not to make judgments on half the truth."

Fresh 404 nods, "it is okay to be afraid you know it is part of our survival instincts.  You should be proud that you are open to learning more in spite of your fear.  Courage is not a lack of fear, it is moving forward in spite of it."

After tearing down the nurse and building him back up. Fresh 404 headed for the security ward, Blackberry trailing behind feeling uncomfortable with what he had just witnessed.  Sure the nurse's obvious fear of someone who was currently helpless was embarrassing, but seeing the kid effectively reprimand him for it without saying one thing directly.  Then motivate him to change by praising him for being willing to do so.  Blackberry had never seen such leadership skills, and from a kid.  At the same time he couldn't help remembering Fell getting plastered last night and crying in his rum about being a terrible brother who had no standards and was weaker than a Bitty.  "Hey kid what did you do to Fell?"

"We told him the truth and let him face his consequences without Edge to shield him.  We also made it clear what he is losing with his behavior.  Edge is well worth saving before he ends up like UnderFell Sanses # 78, 62, 38, 94, 126, and more than I can count.  Mom had to remove a lot of UnderFell copies before they collapsed because their Sans left their AU to commit suicide and not get reset."  Fresh 404 glances back at Blackberry.  "Swapfell and FellSwap don't have that problem nearly as often.  The mix of Papyrus and Sans codes makes for a clearer view on your brothers."

Blackberry nearly tripped at that, he hadn't even heard anything about UnderFell Sanses being suicidal.  Sure the resets get to everyone sooner or later but even the most depressed Sans knows there was no point in killing themselves when there was always a reset.  "I had not heard that was a particular problem for UnderFell."

"The council probably didn't notice after all mom was always there to clean up the mess."  Fresh 404 takes the stairs.

Blackberry frowns,  "I wonder what other problems have slipped through the cracks because no one was paying enough attention."

"Someone was paying attention, there are just limits to what one small kingdom can do even with dad working more than any sane demigod should." Fresh 404 held the door at the bottom of the stairs for Blackberry.

Blackberry walked through the door and headed for the security desk.  "All this fuss over a pair of skeletons in bad enough shape to end up here is nonsense."

"Maybe to you but to monsters and humans in a completely pacifist AU even the idea of someplace like HorrorTale is terrifying.  MedicalTale is extremely different; it has no resets, and only one route in its codes."  Fresh 404 steps up to the security desk.  "We are here to see the HorrorTale brothers.  We were called about the Papyrus waking up."

The guard looked spooked and checked a list behind the desk.  "Umm c-can I h-have you n-names please."

Blackberry steps forward not wanting to waste time on the kid mincing someone else's ego.  "Councilor Blackberry from FellSwap #0, and Fresh 404 heir of destruction."

"Technically while we are taking over mom's job as much as possible we are Amendment and not destruction."  Fresh 404 flashes a bright blue grin at the now thoroughly unnerved guard.

"P-p-please s-sign in." The guard puts a clipboard on the counter looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there.  After they signed in he buzzed open the door to let them into the ward.

"What do you mean you are Amendment and not Destruction?"  Blackberry watches Fresh 404 as they walk worried about what this could mean.

"We were not created or formed to be Destruction, we are the demigod of Amendment the multiverse's antivirus and repair, as such we can delete but not on a mass scale.  Razz gave us an idea on how to deal with it."  Fresh 404 shrugs saying no more about it.

The nurses station in this ward has none other than the Toriel of MedicalTale.  She looked up at them with a smile, the first being they had met that didn't seem the least bit nervous.  "Hello you must be here about the HorrorTale brothers!"

Blackberry glances at Fresh 404 nervous about how he would treat her only to be surprised.

Fresh 404 gave her a real warm smile, "thank you Doctor Dreamer for taking care of them for us.  We noticed how nervous everyone was on our way here."

"How could I not, HorrorTale monsters may be a little dangerous but it is only because they are suffering so much!"  She looked sad but determined.

Blackberry smiled slightly at her, already liking this version of Queen Toriel a lot better than the one in his AU.  "You have a kind soul to see that."

Fresh 404 glances around trying to figure out what room they are in. "Can we see
them now? We are worried about how Papyrus is adjusting; he was not conscious when we brought him in."

"Of course dear how silly of me to keep you standing here." Toriel came out from behind the counter.  "Just down this hall we put them in a double room so they could stay together.

Fresh 404 walks with Toriel to the room.  "Thank you for having such compassion for the strain they are under."

Blackberry is actually shocked by how pleased and flustered Toriel acted over a genuine compliment and acknowledgment of her efforts.

"I do my best but it is so hard to get trained staff on this ward.  I just don't understand it."  Toriel opens the door to a windowless hospital room with soft peach colored walls.

Fresh 404 nods to her and steps into the room giving Lady Vita and Papyrus a bright blue smile and glancing at the sleeping Hatchet.  "Good morning again Lady Vita.  Good morning Papyrus you have no idea how glad we are that you woke up."

Vita beamed at them and waved to her counterpart.  "I know, isn't it wonderful? I was expecting it to take another day at least."

Blackberry looks around then pulls a chair from by the wall over to next to Papyrus's bed.  "Good morning Lady Vita, I didn't know we would have the pleasure of meeting you this morning."

Fresh 404 leans against the wall.  "So Papyrus do you know what is going on?"

Papyrus's dim eyelights turn in Fresh 404's direction and he gives a tiny head shake, it being almost too much effort.

Fresh 404 sighs, "We are Fresh 404. We want to move you and your brother to a better place as such you will be adopted into our household.  You will have to visit a place like your old home very rarely.  Our household is mostly made up of skeleton monsters and bitties at the moment. As you know there are no other skeletons in your underground.  We come from different AU or alternate universes.  Some will be outcodes like us. We have no universe of origin meaning we came into existence either in an AU that doesn't exist anymore or someplace that technically is not an AU.  To make moving you possible we need to get you and your brother in better health.  Your brother has chosen to change his name to Hatchet.  Please consider a new name for yourself."  They nod to Vita, "Lady Vita is an adopted member of the household and fills the role of aunt as our parents are no longer with us."

Blackberry looked down at his gloved hands feeling shamed by the mention of the kids parents not being there anymore.

Vita shakes her head.  "Fresh 404 child you are going to overwhelm him remember he just woke up."

Fresh 404 just smiles at her.  "We don't expect him to process it all now but Papyrus are actually very good at retaining anything they hear."

There was a soft grunt as Hatchet turned onto his side facing them.  "He is right, Papyrus's is the smart one."

Vita shakes her head and smiles, "you are fooling no one Hatchet.  Crazy, and chaotic I would believe but not stupid."

Blackberry chuckles, "you know when the kid picked a fell monster as an escort I thought we were going somewhere dangerous."

"We don't know if we will need to stop by HorrorTale # 15 after this."  Fresh 404 looks at the ceiling.  "We really don't have a plan other than the meeting today.  We just know what we need to accomplish."

"Do not exhaust yourself again today Fresh 404 you are still a growing boy."  Vita gives him a gentle frown.

Hatchet tried to set up but nearly fell out of bed caught at the last second but a soft web of rainbow strings.

"Careful there buddy, we are not sure you could survive that fall right now."  Fresh 404 eased Hatchet back into the bed with his strings.

There was a soft knock and Medic walked in with a clipboard.  "Good morning.  How are we feeling this morning?"

Vita gets up and tucks Hatchet in firmly.  She avoided looking at Medic while doing so.  "Hatchet be careful."

Blackberry looks from Vita to Medic a little confused by her not acknowledging the doctor when she was so friendly a moment ago.

Fresh 404 sighs watching them.  "We see you two are not in agreement about possible treatments.  We will make this clear now you are free to disagree and present your views to Hatchet and Papyrus but not to pressure them, the choice is always theirs.  We will tolerate nothing less for them."

Both Vita and Medic froze for a moment then reluctantly nodded, not looking happy about being called out on whatever was going on.

Hatchet chuckled, "Never did get around to finding out what you are past able to get my bro to a better place."

Fresh 404 chuckles softly, "what is actually fairly accurate for that question.  We are actually two beings.  Fresh, a SOUL parasite that amplifies his hosts magic, and Error 404, a young teen made in the image of the Destroyer of Universes with some of the demigod of emotions, King of Nightmares, and Guardian of negativity's codes.  We are the demigod of Amendment, and the council pinned mom's job on us so we have to keep the Multiverse from killing itself."

Blackberry flinched at the mention of the multiverse killing itself or maybe it was the part where they stuck a child with the job of keeping the multiverse from imploding.

"Then what are you doing bothering with us? If you have a whole multiverse to take care of?" Hatchet turns his head to watch Fresh 404.

"Part of stabilizing things is to repair original AU that includes HorrorTale #0.  We have the privilege of helping because of this."  Fresh 404 moved to Hatchet's side and used the controls to raise the head of the bed so Hatchet was setting up.  "Besides you and Papyrus's health is a much higher priority for us than pleasing the council. Most of them showed less empathy to my family than a slug.  Right up until it was their necks on the line.  Now that we have them under contract they are cooperative enough but we doubt that will last once things are stable."

Hatchet laughs until he coughs, getting worried looks from Vita and Fresh 404.  "Kid are you trying to force a pacifist run through the council? It'll never work. Most Sans types are depressed ashholes under the jokes and permanent grin."

Vita frowns, not liking that Hatchet tried to curse but reluctantly nods.  "He has a point they may suck at it but it is in their codes to judge and you have Error's job."

Blackberry sighs, "normally would agree but right now with our sins marching so heavily.  He just might pull it off."

Fresh 404 sighed, "it is not that simple none of it is.  My parents were not innocent monsters, they made their mistakes just like everyone else.  If we chose to judge them fairly we have to do the same for the council.  Whether we like it or not as Amendment we are a healer of a type and can't pick sides much."

Vita looks away taking a deep breath, "you don't view yourself as destruction.  Or even a judge.  You think you are the multiverse's healer?"

Hatchet grumbles and looks over at Papyrus.  "You sure you can trigger a reset?"

"As long as Chara remains in the underground we can help them reset, but Hatchet we won't take that option unless Papyrus wants it to."  Fresh 404 looks, Hatchet in the eyelights and holds the look until Hatchet looks away.

"Good thing no one is asking you to pick sides then kid.  There are no sides anymore just you, the council who want you to save the multiverse, and the multiverse."  Medic walks over to Papyrus to check on him.

Blackberry and Vita look at Medic startled before Vita speaks up.  "You're right I guess we have all been thinking in terms of an adversarial relationship for so long that we automatically think of the council as being, opposition."

Fresh 404 focuses leans back against the wall and opens a code panel checking on something.  "Medic we would like you to join the meeting of the council in a few hours.  Some of what we intended to discuss has medical applications even if you don't rejoin the council you should be informed."

Vita looks at Fresh 404, "you are going to talk to them about the cave in DustTale #3?"

"I will clear my afternoon schedule. I will need someone to open a portal for me when it is time not being welcome outside my AU I never learned." Medic tucks Papyrus in after finishing.

Blackberry glances from Medic to Vita.  "What is the difference of opinion between Lady Vita and Medic about treatment?"

"Medic believes a reset then immediate treatment will spare them years of suffering and some permanent damage especially Papyrus.  Vita is completely against Papyrus going back to their AU for a reset because Papyrus is likely to dust before reset and reset or not she is the goddess of life."  Fresh 404 watched Papyrus while talking to Blackberry.

Papyrus's eyelights flicked from Fresh 404's to Vita and Medic clearly taking in the information.  His eyelights flick out for a moment, "reset."  The one word was raspy and barely audible, clearly taking a supreme effort on his part.

Hatchet slowly set up with a sickening grinding and crunching of joints with too little magic to move smoothly.  "Okay bro reset it is."

Fresh 404 quickly moved to Hatchet's side, helping him sit on the edge of his hospital bed.  "Wow bru not so fast let's get a wheelchair to move ya bro first."

Blackberry gets up and heads for the door.  "I will ask Doctor Toriel about a wheelchair."

Vita sighed then moved to help Hatchet to his feet.  "I can't say I approve but if you are going to do it best to do it quickly so no one actually dusts."

Medic gets a mobile IV stand from the corner and moves Hatchet's drip to it.  "Take it nice and slow. Let's just get you to a chair until we get Papyrus into a wheelchair."

Fresh 404 stood by while Medic and Vita eased Hatchet into a chair ready to catch him with a web of rainbow strings if needed.

When Blackberry walked in pushing a wheelchair Fresh 404 was standing behind the chair Hatchet was in with the oddest expression like Hatchet might disappear at any moment and Fresh 404 was furious about it and wanted to hug him at the same time.  "So how long have you known Hatchet?"

"Yesterday."  Fresh 404 shrugs, "we can't explain it, he agreed to come with us.  He is ours to take care of now."

"Fox help us how did Inky, who was wrong about Error and Nightmare ninety percent of the time make a perfect combination of their personalities?" Medic facepalms, "you are going to be a pain in the ash mother hen just like them aren't you."

Blackberry looks surprised at Error and Nightmare being accused of being mother hens. He almost chuckles at the censored curse word.  "So the kid is likely the nurturing kind isn't that normal for healers?"

Vita shakes her head as Blackberry positions the wheelchair and they move the IV bag to the attached stand.  "No mother hens are more protective."

"We do not think Inky had much influence on our personality."  Fresh 404 shrugs and gently shoos Vita out of the way so he can pick up Papyrus in a princess hold and ease him into the wheelchair.

Medic watches Fresh 404 fuss settling a blanket around Papyrus.  "I always liked working with Nightmare more than the council he took care of, his people.  The council's not really that invested in each other's well being."

Blackberry frowns, "I can't really argue with that. We all have our own problems and AU to deal with and other than meetings we don't socialize as much as one might think."

Hatchet watched them tuck a blanket around Papyrus, noting the gentle multicolored hands fluttering around his brother and the rainbow web that secured the blanket and Papyrus in the wheelchair safely.  Brotherly love and protective fussing didn't sound bad to him.

Fresh 404 opened one of his rainbow portals.  "Blackberry, we opened the portal directly into their living room. Please take Papyrus, we will bring Hatchet.  Medic we will bring them back and pick you up for the meeting.  Vita thank you for keeping them company this morning."

"Of course child I am sorry you have to take care of so much on your own."  Vita gives Fresh 404 a quick hug.

Pushing the wheelchair over to the portal Blackberry watches waiting for Fresh 404.  He was slightly surprised when instead of helping Hatchet up.  Fresh 404 picked him up in a princess hold and used his strings to lift the IV stand.

"Come on Blackberry, the sooner we do this the better."  Without hesitation Fresh 404 leads the way through the portal.