-Balance Castle outside the Greenhouse-

Blackberry frowned looking around the lush gardens and fields beyond that merged with the gardens in a very aesthetically pleasing manner. Before looking up at the massive greenhouse and the castle it was attached to. "Where exactly are we?"

"Dad's castle, more exactly the greenhouse to drop off the plants and seeds. We don't want to keep living things in our inventory longer than necessary." Fresh 404 takes out his phone and makes a call while opening the door and walking into the greenhouse heading for an area with workbenches shielded from sight by taller plants. "Milly we are in the greenhouse dropping off some mundane plants that we want to put in the potential crop program. Please bring Uncle Geno and Reaper to the kitchen. We will pick them up and grab lunch before we leave."

Blackberry starts organizing the plants and seeds as Fresh 404 pulls them out of his inventory listening to him talk. Thinking about the fact, Nightmare had a castle, a really nice one at that.

"No, don't bring them to the greenhouse. We don't want to lose plants here, and make Reaper feel bad about accidentally brushing against them. If we put him through the ringer it will be about something more serious." Fresh 404 relaxes after a moment. "Thank you Milly, we will text after the meeting once we know how the rest of the day will go. Alright see you later."

Blackberry smirks waiting till the kid hangs up. "Checking in with your girlfriend?"

"Who Milly no she is our executive assistant she runs the castle and makes sure we don't mess up the system in place that keeps everyone taken care of." Fresh 404 finishes pulling plants, seeds and rootstock out of his inventory and setting them on the workbenches.

Blackberry glances around the greenhouse again. "Your parents had very different lives than we imagined didn't they?"

"Yes in many ways they did this pocket AU stitched together from scraps of abandoned and forgotten unfinished AU is a refuge for equally abandoned and forgotten beings and their descendants." Fresh 404 leads the way to the castle doors only getting lost twice in the greenhouse. Before they make it to the door Fresh 404 stops. "We don't have time for this." Fresh 404 puts a hand on Blackberry's shoulder and teleports to the kitchen.

Geno was sitting at the counter watching Reaper and Sasin drinking coffee. "Hey kiddos, what's up Milly dropped us off here and had someone named Agnis pack a couple of baskets."

Fresh 404 lets go of Blackberry, "We are running a little late and still need to make two stops before the meeting. The baskets are lunch, we are sure Agnis is an amazing chef and kind of the grandmother figure of the castle."

Blackberry nods at Geno and Reaper. " Heard you are getting some healing finally."

"Yes, I wasn't expecting to be ambushed with a healer this morning. I was expecting to have more time to get to know Fresh 404 better." Geno shrugs, "not that I am complaining. Nice to be cared about."

Reaper chuckles, "I was just along for the coffee and Geno so I am more than happy we checked out the coffee bar while the kid was out."

"Okay Uncle Geno, why don't we send the baskets with you and Reaper to HQ. We will pick up Hatchet and his brother in HorrorTale #15 drop them off at MedicalTale #0 and pick up Medic. We can meet you at HQ to have lunch together before the meeting." Fresh 404 looks pleased with themselves for figuring out how to get back on schedule.

"Sure kid but I want to know what is going on with HorrorTale #15 that is keeping you so busy." Geno gives a laid back smile ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Blackberry looks down at the floor, uncomfortable realizing that breaking rules with the Fresh 404 and Chara wasn't something he wanted to talk about. When did the kid become a trusted partner?

"Just facilitating a reset so that Hatchet and his brother have a better baseline for treatment. We want to move them up to HorrorTale #0 to stabilize the AU chain, but in doing so they become ours and we won't leave them without medical treatment." Fresh 404 smiled that bright blue empty smile of his. While he talks, Fresh 404 sticks a fruit bowl into his inventory.

Reaper hands Geno a tissue so he can wipe the blood off his face. "That probably explains why the skeletons brothers from HorrorTale #15 were suddenly off both my and Grim's list last night."

Sasin frowns at his empty coffee mug. "I take it you are bringing them home? Are they good with bitties? Horror type bitties can be a bit feral though Moonlight has done a good job with the ones in the clan they still need to hunt."

Fresh 404 gently picks Sasin up and brings him up to socket level. "That is a good question Sasin and the answer is we don't know yet but there are plenty of deer in the woods around the castle we will make it clear what he can and can't hunt. We will make it as safe as we can." Opening a portal to council HQ he sets Sasin on Reaper's shoulder. "Switch to Decaf for the rest of the day Sasin and we won't tell Doc."

Geno laughs and pushes one of the baskets towards Reaper standing and picking up the smaller one. "I will hold you to having lunch with us."

Reaper hands Geno the second basket and picks him up princess style. "See you shortly." He nods to Fresh 404 and goes through the portal with Geno complaining about being carried.

After the portal closes Blackberry gives Fresh 404 a very odd look. "You are very tense around them."

"We are trying to, like uncle Geno we really are. We care about him. He is family and his kids will be treasured cousins, but it is hard to forget he rejected and attacked mom every time he tried to talk to him. Dream is easy to accept and like he was trapped by his codes but loved dad or at list how he remembered him." Fresh 404 opens a portal to HorrorTale #15.

Blackberry followed Fresh 404 through the portal thinking about what he said. The kid was making a real effort with everyone from Fell who he finally got to face his consequences. To those who he viewed as family. "You are showing more compassion and patients than we deserve."

"That is because it isn't about the council, it is about who I choose to be as a person." Having stepped out of the portal by the ruins door Fresh 404 led the way to Hatchets station only he wasn't there.

"Where is Hatchet?" Blackberry looks around worried that something went wrong with the reset.

"The accessible save point was shortly after his skull injury he could be anywhere but is likely at home. Papyrus is probably packing." Fresh 404 keeps walking dodging a trap or two along the wall.

Blackberry looks around as they walk, noticing a few monsters around this time but they all looked thin and a little feral. "It is more dangerous here now."

"Yes but only the most desperate would think of attacking us. We are healthy and at full strength they can't take Sans even starved and injured." Fresh 404 watches a dog monster scurry into hiding. "Don't let your guard down, they have nothing to lose."

Blackberry sidestepped a trap and nearly fell into one beside it, saved from falling into the spiked pit trap by rainbow strings yanking him away just in time. "Thanks, Fresh 404."

"No problem, maybe we should shortcut? The traps are kind of densely packed." Fresh 404 gives Blackberry a worried look.

Blackberry frowns, "I am not sure. It would be safer but if he is not home we might miss him."

"Safety first then we can branch out if needed." Fresh 404 shortcuts with Blackberry still in his strings.

Blackberry sighed used to Rus and other Sanses just shortcutting places, but this time it was for a good reason so he couldn't complain. "I hope they are here."

Fresh 404 knocked on the door glancing around. "Us too, the sooner we get them to MedicalTale the better."

Papyrus opens the door and waves them into the house. "Come in, Sans went to get the legendary item he should be back in a few minutes."

"Thank you Papyrus, while we wait for him do you have any questions about what is going on and why?" Fresh 404 smiles at Papyrus's closing the door after Blackberry comes in.

Blackberry looks around noticing how much less rundown things look as Papyrus sets down with a sigh.

Papyrus rests his hands on his knees. "I understand about the AUs. Sans used to talk about multiverse theory when he was younger. From what you said the multiverse is in trouble and you need us for something. I don't understand what and why. Sans doesn't care anymore so long as we can be healthy and relatively safe."

Fresh 404 set on the floor facing Papyrus. "Yours is a HorrorTale, the original of this chain was taken care of but my dad, he helped the original and as many as he could so conditions are better there." Fresh 404 sighs meeting Papyrus's eyelights. "An AU chain is only as stable as its original and an AU needs all it's codes to be stable. The skeleton brothers from the original left the multiverse leaving the original unstable. We can incorporate a new set in their place and stabilize the whole chain if they are from an AU that is similar enough. That is you and your brother if you agree. You would not have to stay there much agreeing comes with being adopted into our household. We are fourteen years old and have been for some time and will be for a long time so adoption in no way means anything romantic."

Blackberry sits down and watches while they wait for Hatchet. Thinking about the AU and if this chain was worth saving. Then dismissed the idea as the kid while kind didn't strike him as wasteful.

"Why bother aren't there too many AU?" Papyrus frowns eyelights shifting to stare at the floor.

"We know that the monsters in the AU chain suffer and a lot of beings would think just writing it off to focus on so-called better AU would be a good idea. What most don't realize is that HorrorTale is one of the first organic originals. The AU chain is heavily crossed with other AU chains. AU chains are more like a web and letting any chain fall destabilizes all of them. While it is possible to remove an AU chain it has to be done in a controlled way to not destabilize the multiverse." Fresh 404 sighs looking away. "Also to remove a whole AU chain it has to be so bad that ninety percent of those aware of resets in the AU must want it. No one outside an AU chain should judge its right to exist."

"Those are very good reasons for preserving it." Papyrus stands with a sign. "I should finish packing. You can call me Peace." He sighs, "Sans always wanted a little peace in his life. It doesn't look like we will get much but it is good to remember your goals."

Fresh 404 pulled the fruit bowl out of his inventory as he stood up. "Better idea, you look tired. How about you eat half of this and direct us while we do the packing?"

Peace takes the fruit bowl hesitating a little then starts to eat while leading the way upstairs. "There really isn't much we need just our clothes and some pictures, maybe Sans's books."

Blackberry nods thinking, "personal items that one or the other of you made. Like hand print castings from when you were little I have some of those hidden away from when Rus was a babybones. I bet Hatchet has something like that most Sanses do."

"Dad kept anything that belonged to Uncle Dream he could get his hands on even arrows he had to pull out of himself." Fresh 404 nods, "we should definitely find Hatchet's keepsakes."

Blackberry frowns at Fresh 404, "your parents were not very sane, how did you turn out so well?"

Peace frowned at Blackberry, "Rude. Sane or not they clearly did a good job raising him."

Fresh 404 laughs but it sounds sad. "Don't worry about it Peace he is not wrong my parents went through hell and back several times over especially mom. I know they were broken and am not offended by others knowing it too. They were saner than anyone had a right to expect but that doesn't mean they had good mental health."

Blackberry flinched slightly eyelights dropping to the floor. "Sorry I shouldn't have said that no one who has been through a few resets can claim to be completely sane."

Fresh 404 picks up Blackberry and hugs him like a teddy bear not bothering to put him down. Much to Blackberry's embarrassment and horror. "Put me down!"

Peace chuckles watching Blackberry get flustered by the inescapable caring gesture. "I can tell you are going to be fun to be around."

Sighing Fresh 404 let Blackberry go. "Peace eat Hatchet will not go hungry if you do. When we said you two become ours to care for when you agree to come with us, it is a promise."

Peace hesitates then sighs, "I know it is food and I want to eat. I just don't recognize most of it or know if I need to do anything to it before eating."

Blackberry's sockets widen, "haven't you ever been to the surface before?"

"It is okay Peace the small purple round thing are grapes you pull them off the stem and just eat them the stem is not food. The yellow tan things are pears, they have small seeds in the middle that are not really food but won't hurt you. The large fuzzy yellow pink things are peaches. They have a rock-like seed in the middle that is not edible." Fresh 404 puts a hand on Peace's shoulder. "Your AU was not designed to make it to the surface. Don't let it bother you Blackberry is just startled, most of the council have no experience with the AU who can't get to the surface."

Peace nods and starts eating slowly, "thank you for the food and explaining." Peace ignores Blackberry's question.

Blackberry stares at his hands, frowning at his sudden inability to say anything right. "Sorry Peace that was rude even if your AU has made it to the surface Papyrus don't always remember peaceful routes at least not until they have been through a few hundred resets."

Fresh 404 flashed that blue grin of his and patted Blackberry on the back. "Now that is sorted out. Blackberry, why don't you help Peace pack and I will go pack Hatchet's clothes and look for his keepsakes." He walked out of Peace's room before either of them could protest.

Peace and Blackberry look at each other for a long awkward moment before Blackberry looks away glancing around. "Do you have bags?"

"In the closet I already packed my clothes." Peace carefully set down the fruit bowl and opened the closet to show a half empty duffel bag.

"Do you have pictures or something?" Blackberry moved the bag to bed looking around again. "Or a photo album?"

Peace nods and starts gathering up framed photos mostly of Hatchet and their friends when they were younger. There is even one with the blurred out figure of Gaster in the background.

Blackberry unpacks the clothes, refolds them around the pictures and then repacks them. "Anything else you want to take with you?"

As soon as he was out of the room he opened a code panel to check on Hatchet. Relieved to find he was okay just struggling with the stuck door of the piano puzzle. Fresh 404 adjusts the codes to unstick the door then walks to Hatchet's room to start packing. It didn't take him long to find a stash of mugs, miss shaped bowl like things, and plates, made out of modeling clay. "Bingo Fresh, what do you want to bet Peace made these? It isn't rad to bet against a sure thing."

Fresh 404 looks at the extremely fragile pottery before flipping through the codes and making the keepsakes unbreakable. Before moving them to the bed along with Hatchet's clothes.

Hatchet sighs, opening the door exhausted from the trip to WaterFall and back. It was worth it though Chara had saved them with that reset. As soon as he closed the door Papyrus leaned out his door. "Hatchet good your back, we are just packing. Fresh 404 is in your room."

Fresh 404 strides out of Hatchet's room. "Hatchet! Fox you look exhausted, why don't you come lay down while we pack up so we can get you two, to MedicalTale in time for lunch."

Peace disappears into his room and comes back with most of the bowl of fruit. Passing it to Hatchet when he makes it to the top of the stairs. "Fresh 404 is right, Hatchet the reset may have restored us a lot but now you are just starting to recover from your skull injury."

Hatchet smiles for Peace after climbing the stairs huffing slightly. "Sure Paps, when else would you tell me to be lazy."

Fresh 404 watches them assessing Hatchet's movements and energy level with a slight frown. "We will go to MedicalTale soon and you both can rest."

Hatchet nods, "sooner we get Paps taken care of the better." He looked down at the fruit bowl puzzled.

Fresh 404 nods to Peace. "Thank you Peace, we will be leaving soon. If you need anything before then please let us know."

Peace watched Fresh 404 gently herd his brother into his room before turning back to Blackberry and his packed bag. "I think I may have been replaced as my brother's primary care provider."

Blackberry looked up from putting a photo album in Peace's bag. "Medic and Vita did say that his parents were both mother hens, and he takes after them. I expect you are both going to find yourself on the receiving end of some protective care from the kid."

Peace smiles slightly, "Hatchet isn't going to know what to do about that as much as I try he has always thought he had to look out for me."

Hatchet froze when he spotted the pottery on the bed. "Kid do you have any idea how fragile those are."

"Yes we do, that is why we changed the codes to make them unbreakable." Fresh 404 gently nudged Hatchet over to sit on the bed. "Eat the fruit and tell me what else you want to bring."

Hatchet looks around and shrugs while trying a grape. "Papyrus has all the pictures, so just clothes and the potty. There is a box of Papyrus's baby things on the top shelf of the closet."

Fresh 404 nods and gets the box. "Do you have a suitcase or should we get one?"

Hatchet shakes his head, eating more grapes one by one. "Never had one Papyrus, has his duffel bag but I never needed one."

Fresh 404 gives Hatchet a mischievous grin and opens a portal reaching through he grabs a large wheeled suitcase and pulls it through closing the portal. "Let's get you packed."

Blackberry knocks on the open door. "Peace is finished packing. Is there anything else we need to do while you finish up?"

Hatchet blinks, "is that what Papyrus decided on for a name, Peace?" He held the fruit bowl tighter watching Blackberry.

"Yes he said something about you wanting some peace and that it is good to remember your goals." Fresh 404 smiled at Hatchet, opening the suitcase and started packing. "Maybe Peace has a favorite wooden spoon or something. The things one misses aren't always big or obvious."

"Okay I will check with Peace." Blackberry just stands there watching like he wants to say something but doesn't know how.

Hatchet watches slowly relaxing as Blackberry focuses on Fresh 404 and not the fruit.

"What is on your mind?" Fresh 404 zips the suitcase closed glancing up at Blackberry, they waited for him to put his thoughts into words.

"You are a better leader than Queen Toriel is. I am sorry I didn't know Nightmare if he was half the leader you are." Blackberry turns away and rushes back to Peace's room.

Hatchet looks down at the fruit bowl. "Huh he isn't wrong. Didn't think he would say it though."

Fresh 404 sighs, picking up the suitcase, "let's get your bro to the doctor." Flashing an empty blue smile.

"You're not happy that he respects you?" Hatchet struggles to his feet without letting go of the fruit bowl.

Fresh 404 uses his strings to help him up. "We are not that good of a leader or even a leader at all we barely know what we are doing. As for being sorry he didn't know my father who was an amazing person and leader. He could have if he had wanted to.  Now it is too late for anyone in this multiverse to know him. We can only hope and pray he survived with Mom. So his saying it now feels like salt in the wound. I know he doesn't mean it that way. We just need time before we can smile and find the right words."

"Maybe that is the right thing to say. You have a right to grieve and be angry. You don't have to smile just because he means what he says." Hatchet looks Fresh 404 in the eyelights. "You are wrong about not being a leader though. You have protected our choices at every turn. You prioritize our well being. You put up with people you are really angry with and hurt by. All so that those in your care can be just that cared for. If that isn't a leader then I don't know what is."

Peace claps from where he is standing just outside the door. "Well said brother! I could not have put it better myself. Now if you are packed we should get going. We don't want to make them late to their meeting."

Fresh 404 flushes rainbow but waves Hatchet out of the room. "No rush, they can't start the meeting without us and you two come first."

When they get out of Hatchet's room Blackberry is downstairs with Peace's duffel waiting for them and fidgeting with his gloves clearly having made himself almost as uncomfortable as he had Fresh 404.

Hatchet hugs Peace before they head down stares. "You ready for this bro?"

Peace nods, hugging Hatchet back. "Don't worry, Sans we are going to be okay, we are not alone anymore."

Fresh 404 smiled a real smile watching them and opens a portal to MedicalTale #0 in the secure ward. "Peace is right you two never have to carry your burdens alone. You are joining a community."

"The council may suck at community but no matter how different AU are. You will always have someone to talk about stuff like resets." Blackberry glances at them then away.

Hatchet lets Peace go and nods to them walking into the portal followed by Peace a moment later.

Fresh 404 looks at Blackberry for an awkward moment. "We are not half the leader dad was, we barely know what we are doing. We will be lucky not to ruin what he built. Hearing anyone on the council say they wish they had known him like that is like salt in an open wound. Because you all could have if the council ever tried." Turning he walked through the portal with Hatchet's suitcase leaving it open for Blackberry.

It took all Blackberry had not to flinch knowing Fresh 404 was right; he had avoided council activities that didn't feel right but he had never tried to look for the other side of the story. Taking a deep breath he stepped into the portal.