-UnderSwap #0 Skeletons house-

Fresh 404 opened his sockets a bit when Cerulean and Stretch came in and smiled slightly as they moved to the kitchen in companionable silence.  Closing them again they let themselves drift off for a much needed nap.

A few hours later Frisk drifts in walking right through the door and startling Stretch into dropping his coffee mug.  Fresh 404's sockets snapped open and suddenly everyone in the house including Frisk was cocooned in rainbow strings.

"Wow buddy it's okay, everything is okay.  Didn't mean to startle ya."  Stretch watches them with wide sockets as Fresh 404 looks around sleepily.

The strings let go of everyone but Inky just as quickly as they had struck.  "We're up what happened?"

"Sorry Chara stopped for chocolate nice cream and I decided not to wait for him.  I didn't mean to startle anyone!" Frisk looked at them teary eyed.

Fresh 404 sighed and stands laying a still cocooned and sleeping Inky down and tucking him in.  "It is okay Frisk.  It is not your fault you can't knock.  It was time we woke up anyway."  He walked over and knelt hugging the ghost child.  "We are sorry if we started you some of our magic is still a little jumpy after our recent merger."

Cerulean who was now standing in the kitchen door gave them a disbelieving look but changed it to a friendly smile before Frisk could see.  "He is right Princess you can't help it that you can't knock."

Stretch just nods watching with wide sockets.  Seeing right through their bullcrap magic at that level was an extension of the SOUL just like the blasters.  For anyone to pull magic like that while coming out of sleep spoke of either heavy nightmares or being startled awake by danger before a lot.  "Hey bud do you want some tea?"

Cerulean laughs and gets a dish towel throwing it at Stretch. "Clean up your coffee I will make the tea."

Stretch catches it and starts to clean up with a faint smile.  "Sure Cerulean I am on it.  Tea kettle is on top of the fridge."

"See no one is upset." They let Frisk go smiling at her.  "Are you okay now cousin?  We truly did not mean to scare you."

Frisk sniffles wiping her eye.  "Ya I'm okay sorry to interrupt your nap." She smiles at him.

"It's okay we needed to wake up to do a little code surgery before Inky wakes anyway.  We know it makes him uncomfortable when we change things."  Fresh 404 stands and stretches with a yawn keeping a reassuring smile on.

Cerulean comes out of the kitchen and passes them a tea before trading Stretch a damp washcloth for his coffee soaked kitchen towel and coffee mug.  "Code surgery hmm time to change my AU link?"

Taking the hot tea Fresh 404 sipped it carefully. "We are afraid so, if you are still sure about this.  We could probably find someone else if you are not comfortable.  We won't push anyone into taking a role they truly don't want."

Cerulean actually laughs at that.  "No you won't force anyone into your design but you will tempt, persuade, and bribe, won't you.  It's alright kid I am okay with this.  It is probably the best outcome given the circumstances."

Stretch finishes cleaning up the spilled coffee while watching the relaxed easy way they talk, thinking about how the prospective swap Sans was so comfortable with the kiddos willingness to possibly do some shady stuff to get the job done.

"What can we say when protecting the balances there isn't a lot of moral high ground to go around, but we do have standards."  They frowned looking off at nothing.  "Letting that delusion of moral high ground stand brought the multiverse to its knees once we can't afford the same mistakes."

"Fresh 404, kiddos no need to get defensive about doing your best.  I happen to agree with you.  Plus I am pretty sure if I can see how dicy thinks still are with my limited knowledge of the multiverse then everyone else probably does too.  You're not coded in as the destroyer after all your Amendment.  You are just picking up the task because someone has to and there isn't anyone else left who can.  Right?"  Cerulean gives him a serious look letting the smile drop.

"Right!  We are sorry Cerulean we did not mean to get defensive with you we are just concerned about doing something as permanent as changing an AU link.  Just because we can and it needs to be done doesn't mean it should be done lightly."  Fresh 404 look away then glance up to the railing along the second floor hallway when they heird shuffling footsteps only to meet the eyelights of Dream and Razz.

Stretch blinks and takes the dish towel and mug from Cerulean.  "It's okay kiddo we all appreciate your being careful and not jerking us around."

Looking away Fresh 404 tuck Inky in again.  "If you are really sure then come set down we don't want you falling and getting hurt."

Cerulean walked over to sit down on the floor and leaned back against the couch.  "I am ready, Fresh 404. I accept the responsibility for my choice to do this."

Fresh 404 knelt facing Cerulean.  "Try to stay relaxed, this may make you dizzy, or hurt being tense can only make it worse."  They opened a code panel studying the codes carefully.  They worked slowly locating the AU link and started to edit it pausing whenever Cerulean flinched.  "Just a little more."  With a quick flick of their wrist dozens of their threads shot into the codes.  A few minutes later it was done and they closed the code panel.

"Stretch broskie put ya new broitochip ta bed he done, passed out."  Fresh took out his glasses and put them on before looking up at them.

Dream gasped and rushed down stairs followed by Razz, "Fresh what happened to 404?"

Stretch gently picked up Cerulean.  "Is he okay, why did he pass out?" Stretch looked down at the small Sans in his arms worried.

"404 bru is doing his zen, commune with the codes thing."  Fresh absently pats Dream on the head watching Stretch.  "Swap bru just passed out AU link is deep code must ta hurt like Inky's acid paint."  Fresh kind of abruptly sat down on the couch.  "Huh dis sharen thing not so rad when I have ta manage da body by ma self."

Razz tucked the couch blanket around Fresh, "Dream why don't you go check on Cerulean and help Stretch to tuck him in.  Princess Frisk and I will keep Fresh company while 404 is busy."

Frisk nods and moves to sit on the couch by Fresh... well hover setting just above the couch but closes enough.  "Fresh do you want to play or cuddle? You haven't been by the support system to hangout in a long long time!"

"Sorry bout that ma fine bruitochip.  Didn't feel like be'n round people afta what when down with glitchy bru." Fresh put an arm around her completely relaxed looking.

She sighed and snuggled against his side. "A lot of us felt that way, but it hurt more when we were alone so most of us started staying in the system rather than being alone.  I am glad you don't have to be alone anymore."

Razz sat on the arm of the couch watching him.  "I didn't know you had met Fresh before today?"

Dream quickly used his healing magic to check Cerulean on the way upstairs relaxing at what he found.  "Quickly fading pain but no injuries.  He is exhausted as well but nothing a good rest won't fix."

It only took a few minutes to tuck Cerulean in and head back downstairs but Stretch lingered watching him for a moment.  "I didn't know it would hurt. What more am I letting slip past me?"

"Stretch don't he knew it would hurt and made his choice.  Fresh 404 gave him every opportunity to change his mind." Dream takes Stretch by the arm and pulls him out of the room in time to hear Razz's comment.

Fresh let's his glasses slide down and looked at Razz over the top.  "Why wouldn't I hangout with the most radical first fallen?"

Frisk snuggles into Fresh.  "Aww Fresh you're pretty rad too."  She turns calm eyes on Razz.  "Of course he hangs out with us.  We are not scared of him.  Unlike the so-called judges."

"Aww can you blame us? He is a predator that specializes in Sanses.  Of course that is going to be changing now that he and 404 are partners.  He won't be needing a new host."  Razz shrugs not having a problem admitting to avoiding Fresh.

Fresh puts an arm around Frisk.  "It's sokay brosuph they just aint rad like you."

"Fresh, what did I tell you about dropping the lingo?"  Fresh 404 takes off the sunglasses and stuff them in a pocket keeping an arm around Frisk.

Dream hurries down stairs almost tripping only to have Stretch catch him and walk the rest of the way down with Dream under his arm.

"Why should I?" Fresh pouted clearly not agreeing with the issue of his lingo.

"Because we are going to have enough trouble with them trying to control us because of our age without them mistaking you amusing yourself and irritating others for lack of intelligence." There was a long pause then a grumble.  "We don't have to give it up completely just not so much all at once."

"404 are you okay you went away all the sudden?  Fresh wasn't great at explaining what was going on."  Stretch set Dream down so he could go check on Fresh 404.

They picked up Inky while Dream checked them.  "You can stop faking Inky we know you are awake.  We are okay. The Multiverse just noticed we could relocate Sanses and highlighted every AU that needs a replacement all at once.   Just because the multiverse is kind of alive and aware on some levels don't make it smart.  Fortunately Fresh can keep us functioning while I handle the influx of information."

Inky yawned, opening his sockets. "You are all too noisy.  How was I supposed to sleep through all that?"

"Chara will be here soon anyway Inky."  Fresh 404 hugged him a little tighter.  "We know this has been hard on you Inky.  We are trying to think of how to make a new normal that will be good for both of us."

"About that could you let empty AU fall and just contain it so it doesn't cause problems.  You wouldn't be destroying just, well something like Reaper does; he doesn't kill, he just supervises and escorts those who are passing."  Razz gestures trying to convey his meaning.

"That is definitely an option for some AU, and maybe our main option once the balance is stable.  It will likely be the only way to handle miniverse collapses mom could only keep a big buffer zone around them they tend to create a lot of collateral damage."  Fresh 404 nods thinking about it.

Frisk fidgets, "The support system could let you know when there is a genocide run if we know what AU have to go."

"That is a very helpful idea Frisk, thank you we would really appreciate that if the other first fallen agree we will see about building a list.  We would like to spare the team we plan to build as much as possible." Fresh 404 smiled and gave her a little squeeze.

There was a soft knock at the door when Stretch opened the door a slightly dusty Chara slipped in.  "Sorry I am late."

Stretch looked away and sighed.  "Chara... you didn't get all the dust off."  He glanced back at Chara frowning slightly.  "Come on kiddo I know you can't always help it but please don't track dust in."

He blushed, "I am sorry Papyrus I will go wash."  Chara bolted up the stairs, grabbed a bag from Papyrus's room then ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.

"Papyrus do we need to hurt you for something that involves our underage cousin and why he has a change of clothes in your room?"  They looked at Stretch with their rainbow eyelight flaring.

"Funk no I just keep a change for his neutral runs so Sans wouldn't see him all dusty."  Papyrus blushed bright orange.

A giggle sounded from upstairs as Chara hangs over the railing.  "Oh that is adorable you do know I am older than you right cousin?"

"Doesn't matter family, look out for their own bru."  They look up at Chara completely seriously.

"Relax already the beanpole won't let me climb him and even on a genocide run no means no."  Chara valts the rail landing on his feet with a soft thump bending his knees and rolling to absorb the kinetic energy of the fall springing easily to his feet.  "Speaking of when can we get moving? I either need to do the run or reset soon.  I am keeping it neutral so far."

"With everyone who is coming awake and Cerulean's code surgery done."  Razz looks at Fresh 404.  "We can go when they are ready I guess."

"Cerulean made snacks, they are all packed up in the kitchen."  Stretch reaches for his smokes, then let's his hand drop with a sigh.

They sigh and let Frisk go standing while still holding Inky.  "Okay we can get to work.  The day is only going to get longer if we wait."

Dream nods, "Come on Razz let's take care of the snacks so Fresh 404 and Inky can concentrate on repairs."

Chara watches as Razz and Dream head into the kitchen.  "I couldn't ask, with dad around but what is with the council idiots following you around?"

"You could have asked, he would have agreed but found it rude.  Part of our contract with the council they wanted us to have a companion so that there are fewer problems.  Inky has a council member with him too."  They shrug, readjusting their hold on Inky.

Razz walks out of the kitchen, "Not going to argue the idiots part?" Razz stuffs the pack of snacks for Inky in his inventory.

"You are looking at the wrong skeleton if you are expecting us to defend the council's choices."  Fresh 404 shrugs but he looks at them with blank empty sockets.  "We have more reasons to be angry with the council than anyone left awake in this Multiverse.  As far as we know.  Of course there is always the possibility someone out there has more reasons than us..."

Dream, who followed Razz, looks slightly ill at the idea of someone having more reasons to be angry at the council.  "Let us sincerely hope we have not been even more foolish than we already know about."

There was a grim silence while they all contemplated the possibility of someone with a bigger grudge or just someone with less motivation to work through their problems.

"Let's get to work. We still have four relocations to do before we can go home, and we have to pick an actual room and stop camping in random living rooms before Milly figures out how to make us."  Fresh 404 looks around for Inky's brush.

Razz gets the brush from where it is leaning in a corner. "When you put it like that I can't really argue with it either, our actions with Error and Nightmare were indefensible."

Chara watched the long awkward moments while they got ready to leave.  He was surprised at the turn things had taken.  He was really excited to see Fresh 404 again sure but he had started a neutral run to ease the pressure to do a run.  He was not prepared for Stretch to be just so... disappointed as soon as he came in.  He was even less prepared for Fresh 404 to get all suspicious of Stretch and protective of him. When was the last time anyone was genuinely protective of him?

Dream gave Stretch a hug.  "Thank you for helping me through the last few months. I don't think I could have made it without you."

"Na bro no need to thank me.  Like Dust said it is better to concentrate on what we still have.  I don't know that I, would have made it without you either."  Stretch gave Dream a tight hug.

Razz glances at the stairs.  "Hey Stretch tell Cerulean thanks for the snacks for us and that we should have a get together when Glitter is out of their AU."

Stretch glances at the stairs too, "Sure Razz I can't be sure yet but I get the feeling he will be pleased with that."

Fresh 404 glanced upstairs as well feeling that Cerulean is awake when they turn their attention to his codes.  "It takes more than this Multiverse has to fully break a family bond.  It couldn't change how dad felt about uncle Dream or make uncle Cobalt not love his brothers no matter how twisted that relationship got.  We do not imagine Cerulean will love his sibling less."

Razz looks down feeling shame wash over him for how he used to treat Slim before they got out into the multiverse.  "Not necessarily a good thing especially with fell monsters."

"Do we need to call your brother Razz?  You can check on him, maybe chat a bit while we work with Inky?"  Fresh 404 turns a concerned look on Razz.

Razz nods and takes his phone out.  "Your right I should check on him."  He dialed Slim's number while following Dream to the door.

Fresh 404 gives Stretch a nod following Razz with Inky in his arms.  "We will see you and Cerulean at the next meeting uncle Stretch.  We hope to find things are going well then."

Stretch blinks at the lightly valid order to behave then grins.  "You know you remind me of Cobalt when he was your age and dealing with anyone he thought might be a bully.  He never threatened or fought; he just gave a valid warning like that.  I am not sure he ever carried through until he kicked Inky's tailbone.  I get the feeling you won't hold back like he did will you kid?  I really don't have much room to mess this up?"

"We plan to have Glitter in our care.  Everyone knows that to bring one into your care is to bring the other.  We take care of our own.  You may be an uncle technically but  we have no reason to consider you ours.  So no you don't have a great deal of room to mess up, but there is room for honest mistakes.  We know there will be adjustments and growing pains."  Fresh 404 smiles and carry Inky out after Dream and Razz.  Frisk and Chara dashing the keep up leaving a rather shaken Stretch alone in the living room to contemplate how threatened he should feel.

-UnderSwap Entrance to Hotlands-

Razz closes his phone, putting it in his pocket, he smiles a little watching as Inky does his thing with Fresh 404 strolling along behind only occasionally stopping to open a code panel for a few minutes.

"How is Slim doing?"  Dream walked beside him trying really hard to ignore that they don't know where Chara is at the moment.

"Awake, fed, and at Muffet's.  She may be mercenary but she makes a good setter with all her spyders and he willingly stays there for hours."  He uncomfortably scratches the back of his neck glancing at Dream.  "He is not doing great but at least he is safe with her watching out for him."

"You should take Inky home with you to do repairs after we are done here.  We could stop by in the next few days to take care of our side of repairs, and you could pull Slim out of the AU after a reset for a little break at council HQ.  We think fell AU councilors should be required to take a rest regularly so they can learn to leave the violence in their AU's."  Fresh 404 closes the code panel glancing at them.

"Should I be worried about where Chara and Frisk are?" Dream glances around nervously.

"Neutral run they have been stalling for over a year so the AU wouldn't glitch.  They have to do one now that there is a Sans.  We will see them later."  Fresh 404 gently urge Dream on to Hotlands.

Dream nodded looking down at his hands.  "I hate neutral runs, they create so much pain and sadness."

"Huh guess you and Horror could have agreed on something after all." Fresh 404 stopped at Stretch's station and buying every hotdog he has, packing them into their inventory just like they had cleaned out the Nice Cream guy.

"Kiddos I thought you hated junk food?" Razz frowns puzzled watching Fresh 404 lode his inventory.

"We are divided on the issue.  Fresh likes greasy food and sugar a lot, 404 likes healthier choices.  We agreed on cookies, chocolate, and most desserts."  They shrug smiling slightly.

"So which of you is stocking up on hotdogs?"  Razz puts an arm around a distressed looking Dream as they keep moving.

"They are not for us we have to stabilize HorrorTale #0 next.  We will stop by an AU on the surface to make more perches first but having something to feed them immediately is safest."  Fresh 404 uses his strings to grab Inky before he gets to fare ahead of them.

"Why bother aren't those AU that would be better off deleted?" Razz watches Inky kick and struggles not liking being stopped.

"Inky Razz wants to know why we don't let HorrorTale crash?" Fresh 404 let Inky go in front of Razz.

Inky looked at Razz with wide sockets.  "How could you do that to innocent AUs?  What did they ever do to you that you would want them dead?!"

Fresh 404 picks up Inky hugging him.  "Shhh it is okay no one is hurting the AU right now we are fixing AU."  Once Inky is a little calmer they put him down and let him get back to repairs.

Dream frowns as Inky runs off.  "I know he really means it and he loves all of the AU but Razz is right some of them are worse than death."

"Of course they are, but Inky only thinks in terms of the AU and not the people in them.  Still he isn't wrong they are alive they have feelings, wishes, dreams, nightmares.  To kill them and their AU just because life is easier somewhere else isn't right.  The dark AU have to have a place on the council and the same rights as everyone else."  They pat Razz on the head.  "We get where you are coming from.  End their pain, make some room.  Razz we want you to think about your AU and the president that would be set.  Even beyond setting a bad president many of the bad AU are old and tangled with the other AU chains to form a network removing them would make things less stable."

Razz wasn't stupid he didn't have to think about it more than a second.  The fell AU were not nice safe places. "Point taken.  I just don't like the idea of all those monsters starving to death over and over."

Dream shivers not liking the dark turn the conversion had taken.  "Didn't you say something about Nightmare taking care of some of the HorrorTale AU?"

"Yes dad bought produce from some of the FarmTale AU took some of what his kingdom produced after enough was put away to support his own if there was a crop failure and give it to HorrorTale #0, #1, and #2.  In exchange the AU provided extra workers when needed and safe access any time they hit the surface so his people could go to a city if they wanted without worry of being attacked.  Mom loved the silk yarn he could only get from HorrorTale #2 when it was on the surface."  Fresh 404 picks up his pace a little to keep Inky in sight.

"Silk? I didn't know there was anything special about the silk from any of the AU.  Isn't silk just silk?" Razz questioned watching as Inky stopped to play in an updraft.

"Every AU has something special.  I am not sure the silk from HorrorTale #2 is any better than any other but it had the benefit of him being able to pick it out himself and not have to worry about being attacked while shopping."  They shrug while working in a code panel.

Dream winces looking down at his hands memories of finding discarded shopping bags after some of the battles with Error and Inky being upset that Error dusted some poor shopper before they got there.  Why did he never stop to ask if Error was just out shopping?

Razz nudges Dream, "Come on looks like we are moving again."  He gave Dream a worried look.  "Are you going to be okay staying with them? You seem to be taking every new bit of information hard."

Dream nods, "It hurts realizing what I've done.  It hurts, but I want to know I want to face the truth even when it hurts.  Otherwise I will make the same mistakes."

"You are going to spend tomorrow in HavenTale #0 uncle Dream.  Facing the past and learning from it may be needed but it does no good if you become ill.  Besides I want to spend some time reinforcing uncle Geno's code patch and see if I can close the wound on his chest."  Fresh 404 lightly pats Dream on the shoulder.

Inky walks over munching on a cookie.  "Are we almost done, I am bored."

Finishing with the code panel Fresh 404 closed it.  "On our side we just have a glitch in the rests and the judgement hall left.  You Inky have some work in the core and NTT's stages."  They glance at Razz.  "We could split up here and meet at the judgement hall."

Razz nods, "Come on Inky the slowpokes are going to stop to shop let's see who gets there first."

Dream gave a soft laugh as they ran off.  "Razz is good with him.  I bet he is as good with children."

"Well Inky is good practice for having kids.  He is an immortal child so everything will be fine."  They smirk slightly, "Does his parent potential matter uncle Dream?"

Dream shakes his head as they take the elevator to NTT resort.  "No and yes potential always matters but as far as I know he doesn't have a partner at this time."

"You wouldn't happen to be thinking of changing that would you?"  Fresh 404 glanced at Dream while heading to the elevator to NewHome.

Dream blushed golden shaking his head.  "I like him but I am not in any way ready to start something.  I don't think I should even think about it till my balance is more stable."

"You know the new tree is likely to give you a younger brother when it is mature enough."  Fresh 404 watched Dream on the slow elevator ride.

"I know that is part of why I need to concentrate on getting myself to a healthier place mentally and emotionally.  I don't want to make the same mistakes or not be able to take care of him when the time comes."  Dream steps out of the elevator not really paying attention to where he is going and almost trips.

Fresh 404 catches him and carries him down the hall.  "We understand we will just have to find someone else to ship."

"Why would you ship anyone!" Dream looks at them sockets wide with alarm.

"Because it is fun and we won't get to date for a few centuries at least while we grow up."  They glance down at him while getting on the last elevator.

"Centuries?  What do you mean it will take centuries?" Dream looks at him puzzled as he is set back on his feet.

"I am aging slower than normal by a lot. I don't know if I got it from Mom, dad, or Inky's imagination."  They walk into the judgement hall and nod to Stretch.

"Hi again Stretch, Inky and Razz took the long way and Chara is somewhere behind them."  Dream waves with a grin.

Stretch nods and pinches out his cigarillo.  "So we got a bit of time to wait for them."

Fresh 404 nods and sets down in one of the pools of light from the windows opening a code panel to get to work on the last two glitches that he needs to fix.  "Is there a betting pool on whether or not Mob and Alter are going to get hitched?"

Stretch chokes then laughs.  "I have no idea but if anyone is making book on it, it would be Don G."

"Really you guys bet on that kind of stuff?" Dream looks up at Stretch shocked.  "I really don't know what goes on do I?"

"You spent a lot of time fighting, recovering, or hanging out with Inky.  You actually didn't socialize with most of the council much."  Stretch shrugged, "We like you but most didn't want to bother you when you always seemed busy."

Closing the code panel Fresh 404 lays back in the artificial sunlight with a sigh.  "I want to do something fun after work."

"What do you want to do? I don't think I know what Fresh liked and I never heard of 404 before Cobalt mentioned him and you are both so what is fun to you?"  Dream walks over to sit next to them.

"We don't know yet we haven't had time to explore to find out what has changed and what is new to us."  They glanced over, "Fresh liked video games, dad told 404 about movie nights, and books, mom knit and crocheted, Inky made 404, color and paint.  We don't like coloring or painting at all.  We just don't know what we like."

Stretch walked over and set down leaning on a column.  "Well at least you know what you probably don't like.  Figuring out who you are, what you like, what you dislike, and who you want to be in life is a lot of the growing part of growing up.  Not that I have any room to talk.  I tried to shut every change down after the resets started."

"We don't know how much the rest of your AU will remember about resets and the multiverse but you don't have to deal with it alone.  Asgore remembers, so do Chara, Frisk, Temmies, and Cerulean.  You can all change and grow together."  Fresh 404 rests their wrist over their sockets.

Dream looks towards the entrance at the sound of running footsteps.  "That is probably Inky and Razz."

A moment later they rushed in and skidded to a stop finding them relaxing. "How did you get here first?" Inky put his hands on his hips and pouted.

"Glitter and glue are not food so we didn't stop at NTT."  They smile slightly.  "Inky what do you think of adjusting the reboot button so one of us has to push it with them? It would eliminate the risk of them getting access on their own."

Inky set down thinking about it.  "The harder we make it for unauthorized individuals to mess with the AU as a whole the better.  What if it takes me, you, and both Frisk, and Chara?"

Razz sat next to Dream.  "That might delay repairs if you both aren't available.  What about making it take three out of the four of you.  That way if there is an emergency it can still be done but it can't be done without someone from your balance."

Fresh 404 lifts his wrist off his sockets and looks at Razz.  "That is not a bad compromise."  They glanced at Inky.  "What do you think?"

Inky just nods. "I will have to help with HorrorTale, there is no Frisk available there."  He didn't look up from sketching.

"DustTale to the Frisk there can't be trusted to cooperate.  Or we could wait till tomorrow to make the reboot harder to use.  Either way works but you are not popular in either AU for obvious reasons." They roll to their side to face the small group.

"I am not sure I could keep both Inky and Dream safe in those places.  I know I couldn't keep you safe and them too."  Razz frowns, "I don't like the idea of you going there without a bodyguard kiddos."

Dream shakes his head. "You don't have to worry about protecting me. I have been fighting my brother's gang for years."

"Uncle Dream it is one thing to fight against those under orders not to do permanent damage.  Quite another thing to fight those who have no reason to spare you and are fighting for survival.  I am only willing to take you along because you can't die.  The only other council member safe to take to darker places is Reaper.  I am very tempted to switch you out but I need them alive to give consent to move them."  They tap on the floor thinking.

"Who are you thinking of moving up for DustTale?" Inky frowning a little, "I don't think DustTale has any main line copies that are unstable."

"They will all become unstable if the original is not repaired."  They watched as Inky struggled with that.  "We hadn't actually chosen who to move in the DustTale line yet.  Maybe Powder if he and Rose are willing."

Hearing footsteps Razz stands and offers Dream a hand up. "That is Chara most likely we should get ready to go."

Inky sighs, putting his sketchbook back in his inventory.  "Make reboots take two for now and we can upgrade security to three once things are balanced and we have time to work together more."

Fresh 404 rolls to his feet and offers Inky and Stretch a hand up.  "That sounds like a plan."

Inky hops up without help ignoring their offer. "Come on Razz let's go check your AU."

Stretch let Fresh 404 pull him to his feet and gave a nod in thanks as Razz and Inky leave.  "Thanks for fixing my AU first I get the feeling you don't really care for me or my AU.  Like more than the others, and I get why.  It was kind of you to fix this one first."

"You're right but Inky needed to see we could work together and I needed to retrieve Dream as he is my only direct relative not in stasis.  Skeleton monsters do not stay sane when alone.  Chosen family works but I am not taking chances with it not being enough for someone my age."  They let Stretch's hand go and open a code panel to make final adjustments.

Chare walks into the judgement hall with Frisk trailing after looking tired and sad.  "I know it is a neutral run but couldn't you have gone easier in Waterfall? Happie looked so sad."

"I know Frisk, I am sorry and doing my best to keep it neutral."  He frowns looking away.

Stretch steps up to his place waiting as Fresh 404 and Dream move out of the way.  To watch as they do through their routine.  Once Chara stepped past Stretch, Fresh 404 stepped out in front of him. "Ready to reset?"

"More than ready.  I will probably have to do a genocide run after this."  Chare glances at Stretch and grimaces. "Sorry."

Stretch looks away, folding his arms.  "I know you can't always control what run it is, you did good holding on this long.  Thanks for keeping things together this long."

"Uncle Dream please open a portal to BittyTale #4.  Chara we need you to open the Reset Menu but don't press the button."  Fresh 404 smiles at them.  "Stretch is right you two did good."

Chara opens the reset menu while Dream opens the portal he was asked for.  "Now what?"

"Now we enter a code that turns it into a reboot button and we push it together that starts a timer counting down.  Anyone who doesn't belong here has to get out before that is done.  That is why uncle Dream has a portal waiting." Fresh 404 opens a code panel while talking and starts entering a really long string of code.

The reset button flashes once and turns into a reboot button.  Chara holds his hand over it and waits.

Fresh 404 nods and pushes the button with them starting a two minute countdown.  "See you on the flip side, cous."  Grinning he backs up and grabs Dream's wrist pulling him through the waiting portal.