Chapter Text
It all began with the cries of an infant.
Wrapped in linen, cradled in gentle arms. The infant skeleton monster cried.
And cried.
And cried.
Until they could no longer.
And so, they slept.
Papyrus gently held his infant brother in his arms, watching as their chest rose and fell.
Papyrus did not know why they cried. Or why they now closed their eyes.
All he knew was that once, his arms we're empty. Now they were not.
The black lines that built him, and other's around him, we're often busy. They danced in the air to create shapes and silhouettes galore, but mostly left papyrus alone after his creation.
Then they approached, and swirled in his arms till they dropped this skeleton infant in his arms. Such a small thing.
And then once again—though this time within Papyrus's own mind— something that had not been there before, suddenly formed into being.
The bundle in his arms was his brother, and that was something very special
He was meant to take care of his small, tiny brother, and that was very important.
An upside down heart appeared at that realization. Outlined but not filled. Not yet. It hovered in front of Papyrus's chest, emitting a steady hum.
The others did not have this, only he did. Only he felt warmth against and within his chest. He did not know what to do with it, he remained blank and empty, but the warmth remained and held onto the small skeleton in his arms.
For a moment, Papyrus wondered. That wonder led him to tap at the infants chest. He wanted to see, and see he did.
The infant did not wake, but in a flurry of white and black emerged another upside down heart.
It was full.
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This blank and incomplete world, was one of many. A minuscule corner in this ever expanding reality.
But where others ticked forward, this one remained free of that decaying force. Time did not exist here, eternally stuck in a place before the very concept could be formed.
Stuck as this expanse of white reshaped itself over and over again. Invisible hands weaving together buildings, nature, and living beings—and just as quickly wiped it all away as if it were nothing more than dust.
Papyrus held the infant with him for what would have felt like an eternity, had he the capability to feel impatience. He did not.
The infant on the other hand, did.
Whenever they woke from their naps, it was a gamble on how they would react.
Sometimes they would look up at Papyrus and smile. Then the sliver of purpose within him would ignite. They would laugh, attempt to speak, reach up for him, and all Papyrus would feel was warmth. Even in his blank, empty and expressionless existence. He was warm.
Sometimes they would cry, and that fire in him burned. Papyrus could do nothing but hold them closer and tilt his head curiously. The purpose in him did not like it when they cried, but he could not stop it.
There was so much that this infant did that Papyrus did not understand, he could only watch blankly and tilt his head as laughter wracked their chest, as they rolled around in his arms, as they kicked their little legs, as tears dripped down their face, as they reached up for Papyrus and he let them hold onto his finger before closing their eyes once again and falling asleep.
Papyrus looked up from the infant to the eternal expanse of white. He watched lines fade and return, then fade once again. He watched as the world reshaped itself around him over and over again but remaining as white as ever. He and the infant we're the only ones unchanging.
Forever.
Papyrus did not have the capacity to dislike something. He did not fuss like his brother did whenever Papyrus set him down. Yet the purpose in him did not like forever, It knew there was something more. Papyrus knew there was meant to be something more here. Something more for his little brother.
But it never came.
Until it did.
When the lines and shapes began to fade. When Papyrus began to think his forever might be over. A silhouette appeared in the white.
Papyrus had never seen colors before, yet he knew their names when this being flickered into existence; stepping into view like they tore through reality itself.
Lines Papyrus had never seen before, flickered around the shape of a person. Where the sketches of his world were black and sharp, this being had lines with a wider array of colors then he could define.
They stood, in front of Papyrus. A white silhouette shaped by colorful lines. Faceless. Still. Yet flickering.
"Hello." They spoke. Their voice multilayered and echoed around the empty expanse of unfinished sketches.
When they spoke, more figures with the same shape as them flickered around the white world. Small, floating in the air, and all with different colors, while the white, rainbow outlined one in front of Papyrus remained still.
"Wow this place is so empty!" A blue flicker noted, inspecting the area with their hands on their hips.
"Echooooo~!" A yellow flicker yelled into the empty white.
"These poor characters." A green flicker sobbed.
"They are empty, and the ones that are not will have another chance." a purple flicker comforted.
"Will this even work?" A yellow flicker huffed.
"Maybe? It's not our place to determine." A cyan flicker affirmed before a red flicker leaped from behind them
"Where's the baby?!"
The main silhouette sighed "Apologies, they can cause quite the disturbance."
Papyrus did not reply, he was too focused on the bundle in his arm's attempting to move. Fascinated by the new colors flickering around him like a swarm of bugs. Papyrus moved the cloth away from his little brothers head, revealing their face to this new being.
"AW" Multiple flickers suddenly surrounded Papyrus and the infant, but he did not flinch. He did not have the capacity to fear for himself, yet the purpose in him guided his arms to pull his brother closer to his chest.
"He's just a baby~" A cyan flicker cooed.
"Look at how tiny he is" A green flicker said.
"He's gonna be amazing!" A Yellow flicker chuckled
"But why is he here? Like this?" A purple flicker hummed.
"How will—?"
The snap of fingers echoed through the air and suddenly the voices and flickers ceased to be. The one silhouette remained still, with their hand raised by their shoulder. Their lines morphed and colors shifted until there was only one. One color in the lines that shaped them.
Pink.
Then the lines stretched, they trailed up the beings blank face and and shaped into blinking eyes.
"Again, I'm sorry. They can be a lot, like a swarm of bugs" They winked, then lowered themselves to sit on the ground "But I hope the silence helps."
Papyrus followed their action, and sat as well.
They sat in silence. Papyrus did not mind. He had lived in the silence for so long, only rarely interrupted by his little brother's voice, that the empty silence was a welcome friend.
"I'm sorry." The pink figure said, their round scribbled eyes met Papyrus's.
They did not need to say what they were sorry for, Papyrus already knew. Yet he could not find it in himself to care. Not even as the lines that made him began to waver.
His brother cooed while his little hand reached out towards his big brother. The purpose within Papyrus stirred.
"I do not have the capacity to feel. yet…" Papyrus's voice was rough, yet sturdy "I cannot help but be disappointed, that I could not be more then an empty husk of a brother." Papyrus held his brother closer to his chest, wrapping him in a hug.
"An empty husk does not hold his brother so lovingly, does not care for his baby brother even when he does not know why he cries. An empty husk, does not know love. You do."
What little existed of Papyrus's soul, stirred. For the first time, that warmth that guided him to care for his brother spread through him and curled his features into a soft and gentle smile.
Papyrus gave his brother one more gentle squeeze before pulling him away. To look at the little one, who stared back wide white eye lights and a precious smile.
For once he could meet that smile with his own. That smile that gave his life, his entire blank existence. meaning.
"What will happen to me?" Papyrus asked, allowing his curious baby brother to reach up and poke at his face.
"Well, you are about to move on from this life. So i suppose there's no harm in telling you" The white and pink figured shrugged "I hope it brings you even a shred of comfort"
The figure remained on the ground and straightened their posture before continuing. Yet their eyes remained on the brothers.
"With this world, you will die. Then you will return to you're roots where all souls hail from. The Tree of Life is where all originate, and it is where you all return until your next"
Papyrus did not look up from his brother. "Will I remember this one?"
"You will not."
Papyrus raised his head "Then tell me, please, even with how little I had to offer. Did i fulfill my purpose? Was I a good brother?"
The silhouettes eyes curled, if they had a mouth they would be smiling.
"The greatest."
What little Papyrus had, even as he could feel his lines begin to fade, was satisfied. That purpose in him hummed steadily, and that fully encompassing warmth remained.
The white silhouette held out their hands, and Papyrus knew what he had to do.
"May I have one more request?" Papyrus asked, black lines fading to gray.
"You may" The being nodded, brushing their fingers over the infants head.
They giggled and looked up at Papyrus, smiling brightly before their eyes fluttered closed.
"May I name him?"
The flicker paused. Blinking at the infant for only a moment before their eyes softened. "Yes.">
Papyrus looked down at his baby brother, sleeping peacefully. He pulled the infant to him and leaned close to pressed their foreheads together. With what little black remained in the lines of his fingertips, Papyrus let the warmth in him grow while he rubbed his thumb against his brother's cheek.
As it did, Papyrus's fading black smeared onto their cheek.
The white being reached out for the infant, their hands buzzing with color. The black on the infants cheek suddenly shifted, before turning into a small black heart underneath their right eye.
"…Ink. Let his name be Ink"
"and so it shall be." The being said. Watching in silence as Papyrus smiled at Ink with bright glimmering eyes. His lines nearly gone.
"Goodbye Ink…I love you."
The white and pink being caught Ink in their hands as the last of this world's Papyrus's form faded into nothing. They pulled the infant close to their chest and watched the outline of his soul shatter and it's magic return to the Tree of Life in a flurry of white and black magic.
Ink did not stir in the pink and white being's arms. He slept peacefully, a reminder of his brothers love permanently imprinted onto his cheek.
"I'm sorry you have to experience loss like this at such a young age. Despite my nature, I truly am sorry." The being said, rubbing their hand over the back of Ink's head. The pink in their outlines flickered as other colors tried to break through, but they couldn't, and the mysterious being remained pink and white.
"But I promise you"
The being held out their hand towards the empty expanse of white.
"That in this life, You will gain more then you could ever dream off."
A vertical rainbow oval appeared in front of the pink being, and without hesitation they stepped through.
Their feet landed on tall and luscious green grass. The field speckled with an array of colorful flowers. From sight alone the field went on for miles, the only building ahead was a mansion and a circus tent.
The being wondered if they should wait here or go to the tent. Perhaps they should have portaled straight to the tent itself instead of within the field.
The being did not have to wait and wonder for long. Within moments two Gaster's appeared before them. One wore a black cloak over a yellow sweater with brown pants and his black feathered wings shivered. He looked at the being with worry but when his eyes landed on the obvious baby bundle in their arms that worry softened.
The taller Gaster, wore a white button up with a blue V neck sweater over it and black pants. He appeared more enthusiastic then the Gaster holding onto his arm but when his eyes landed on the infant, his expression shifted into hesitant worry.
Most would be wary of this being, appearing out of thin air beside your usually quiet and locked home. There is only one portal where people should be able to get into the world known as Zephyrtop, and it was not in the middle of the grassy fields.
Aster and Top were not most.
And this being, was no stranger to them.
"I bring another gift!" The being said, their voice wavering as their colors flickered before returning to pink.
Top glanced over the pink being, hesitantly considering them "You…are not the one that gave us this world. Are you?"
"You Gaster's are far too smart sometimes." The being chuckled before their colors shifted through the rainbow and then once again returned to pink "But maybe I am, you'll never know.~"
The feathered Gaster let go of the blue Gaster's arm and fully faced the being, his wings fluttering "Is that a…baby?"
"It is!" The being beamed. "Would you like to see him?"
The two Gaster's looked at each other before approaching the being. Any worries eased as the pink being pulled Ink from their chest and cradled him, allowing the Gaster's to fully see the infants face.
The being titled their head at the sight of the infant. A black splotch appeared on his left cheek, his little hands clenched by his chest turned black but left his fingers white, the black spread down to his forearms and stopped before his elbow. The only other visible bit of black they could see was on Ink's little baby toes.
"where…" Aster breathed, his wings fluttering at the sight of Ink, his eyes sparkled in awe yet pinched in worry.
"He comes from a blank and soulless world." The being said, keeping their gaze on Ink as his eyes began to flutter ope. "The closet thing to another being with a soul was his older brother, who only had his love for this little one. Nothing more, nothing less. He is gone now, and so is his world."
Ink cooed in delight as he reached his hands up, but this time he did not reach out for anyone. His eye lights grew at the sight of the bright blue and clear sky above him.
The pink being leaned their head up to the sky.
"This is the first time he has ever seen color, or felt the wind on his bones. or heard a voice other then his brothers, mine, and his own."
The being lowered their head just as a pink butterfly approached, rising from the green grass beneath them. "He needs a home, He needs a family." The butterfly approached without fear and landed atop Ink's nose bridge, "if you are willing."
Aster and Top looked at each other once again. Their expressions remained soft yet an entire conversation ran through their locked eye contact. Their hands locked together tightly before they turned to the being and Top nodded.
"Do they have a name?" Aster asked, his hand shaking as he reached out.
"Yes, his brother gave it to him before he died." The being said, watching as Ink tried to grab the butterfly that flapped it's wings, yet the movement scared away the gentle creature and they flew away.
"Then we will honor that name." Top stated, his hand holding onto Aster's tighter by the second.
The being looked at Aster's outreached hand then looked down at Ink. Wide little fascinated eyes scanned everywhere he could. Fascinated by the new colors, experiences and sounds.
The being kept their eyes on Ink as they reached out their arms and handed Ink to Aster. Thier arms almost shaking, as if offering something too precious to let go.
Top raised his hand and helped Ink into Aster's arm. The infant skeleton was so small, that he fit snugly into Aster's single arm while Top hovered his hand nearby to keep the infant steady.
"Ink…His name is Ink."
Aster and Top raised their heads to look at the mysterious unnamed being. Yet instead they were met with grassy fields and blue sky.
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Year's were spent in peaceful bliss.
Years that Ink grew into a healthy, energetic young monster child.
At seven monster years, Ink sat in his room, colorful and vibrant. Filled with trinkets of every color and decorated with his art. Drawings of paint, pencil and crayon. Sparkling with glitter, adorned with ribbons and buttons. Anything the young one could get ahold of, He turned into an abstract piece of art to decorate wherever he pleased.
Currently, he laid on the ground on his stomach, scribbling a pink butterfly themed costume onto a piece of paper with crayon. covered in glue, glitter and ribbons galore. He drew with a bright smile, eye-lights vibrantly pink and shimmering with light as he kicked his legs in the air and a golden necklace, with a pink peony charm, hanging from his neck and reflecting the summer sunlight peaking through the window.
When Ink was done, he set the crayon down beside him and then sat up. He held the drawing in front of him proudly and then bolted out of his bedroom.
Running through the halls of his home, he passed Undyne and Mettaton practicing their routines, Toriel sowing together her outfit, Frisk and Flowey practicing juggling with plastic balls, and then finally—after Ink had lost focus on his direction while waving to Frisk and Flowey— ran straight into a tall boney figure wearing a yellow suit with dark red stripes and a rainbow scarf.
"Hello young Ink!" Papyrus beamed before he crouched down and picked Ink up.
"Hi Papyrus, look what I made!" Ink chirped, shoving the paper into Papyrus's face.
With the paper pressed entirely against his face, his movements slightly crinkled the paper "Wowie! I love it! I think I'd love it even more if I could see it!"
Ink giggled and pulled the paper away to a reasonable distance.
Papyrus gasped in delight, light shimmering in his eye-lights "Wowie! Do you want to be an acrobatist my little friend?"
Ink rapidly nodded at Papyrus "Muffet said she'd teach me, but I have to show Poppy first!"
Papyrus shoved Ink onto his side and beneath his arm "Correct! Then we shall find Ringmaster Top and show him your extrrravagent costume! You'll be a circus member in no time." he encouraged with a wink.
Ink nodded and wrapped his arms around Papyrus's torso, then as if on cue Papyrus bolted through the long halls of the mansion. Dashing left and right to find their target.
For a moment, they found no one. The castle was nearly as quiet as a library. Until they located voices.
Papyrus practically kicked down the doors to the kitchen in his arrival, "The extravagant clown Papyrus has arrived!" then held Ink up to the kitchens residents "With our newest acrobatic-in training by his side!
Ink waved to Sans and Muffet, who sat at the kitchen island with a batch of freshly baked muffins.
"Hey Pap," Sans greeted with a wave and a muffin half shoved in his face.
"Hello dearies.~" Muffet smiled, then pointed at the paper in Ink's hand. "Is that your uniform?"
Ink wriggled in Papyrus's hold until the latter finally set him down. He then ran over to Muffets side and held the paper out to her and Sans who peaked over Muffets shoulder.
"oh, well. It's just perfect," Muffet approved with a pat on Ink's head.
"it's…" Sans finally swallowed his muffin and punched his chest as he struggled to go down. Muffet finally sent a swift jab to his chest, allowing him to breathe once again.
"Gr-Great!" He coughed "It's amazing buddy, the best costume I've seen yet."
"isn't it?" Papyrus added as he strode over "I might dare to say it could be better then even my costume. Which is saying alot because mine is the greatest of course."
Ink giggled as he held his drawing close to his chest "We're looking for Poppy, I need to show him."
"Yes, where is Ringmaster Top?" Papyrus asked with a hand under his chin.
Muffet and Sans looked at each other, shrugged, then faced the other two "We don't know bro, haven't seen him all day, but Aster might. He should be in his observatory" Sans explained.
"Perfect!" Papyrus picked Ink up once again and placed him on his shoulders, "Then we'll be off! Things to do and performances to practice, you two understand."
Muffet and Sans chuckled at Papyrus's behavior, then Muffet waved "Remember little dear, practice begins tomorrow.~"
Ink tapped his heels against the elders shoulders in excitement, eyes practically blazing in delight "Okay! I can't wait!" He giggled.
"and we're off once again!" Papyrus declared as he turned on his heel and jumped out of the kitchen. This time, Papyrus kept a slower pace as he jogged through the decorated halls. Allowing Ink to trace the mold of the walls with his eyes, to note every room and their purpose, and to lean against Papyrus's head and hug him close.
Papyrus stopped in front of tall black double door's framed and decorated with golden curves. It's height reached nearly double Papyrus's, but despite their size, when Papyrus reached out to grab the handles they opened as if weighing nothing at all.
Opening the doors revealed a massive circular room, lined with bookshelves. To the left was the giant telescope and it's platform, pointed up to the skies revealed by the open roof. On the right was an elevated platform where a bed sat with other bedroom furnishings. Scattered about were other cozy things such as a couch and single chairs, an old worn crib sitting in the corner with a pink butterfly mobile, a desk scattered with notes, teacups and pens, and Ink's art plastered randomly around the room.
Papyrus pulled Ink off of his shoulders as the young one practically vibrated in excitement, his legs kicking back and forth, ready to bolt the second they touched the floor; and bolt he did.
"Poppa!" Ink squealed as he rushed over to the telescopes platform where Aster stood. His feathers puffed at the noise and he turned with a smile as Ink jumped over the steps to get to him.
"What is it my Starlight?" Aster greeted as he knelt down to Ink's height.
"I finished my costume! Look! Look!" Ink chirped, holding his drawing up.
Aster's smile widened with adoration sparkling in his eyes. "Now isn't that just stunning, we have to show your father as soon as he gets back."
Ink pulled the drawing back "Where's Poppy?"
Aster placed a gentle hand on Ink's head. "Helping out other's with his gift, but he should be home very soon my precious one."
Ink jumped on his heels "When? Soon? Very very soon?"
Aster giggled at Ink's excitement as Papyrus approached and looked down at Ink ."Very soon young trainee! So we must be patient until he arrives!"
"I can be patient!" Ink beamed "I can be so patient! The most patient ever, and then Poppy will see my costume, and he'll make it, and then I can train, And I can join the circus—!" As Ink listed down everything he was to do, and how his performances would be the best anyone would ever see Aster's feather's ruffled.
Papyrus watched Ink start to run around the platform in circles, his arms spread out as if he were flying.
Aster stood up as his wings twitched and looked to the sky. Star's glittered across the vast expanse of space, constellations traced the beauty of the night sky, as nebula's blossomed across the dark like flowers abloom in a garden. An array of majesty only visible here, as this pocket of sky was created by Aster's husband, Top. A tear for Aster to open the roof and see the star's whenever he pleased.
Orange, green and blue nebula shimmered across the dark sky, glittering in delight. purple and pink blossomed in another corner.
Aster's feather's ruffled, Ink and Papyrus's exited conversation muffled in his ears.
Just as something sharp and warning pricked his soul, red nebula burst across this tear and the star's went out as if they had been extinguished before his very eyes.
Aster practically spun on his heel to face Papyrus and Ink, holding each other as they looked up at the sky with worry.
Papyrus met Aster's eye's and quickly scooped up Ink and placed him into Aster's arms.
"Whats wrong?" Ink asked, his voice like a thorn through Aster's soul.
Aster hesitated, holding Ink close to his chest as Papyrus stepped in front of Aster defensively.
Aster's eye lights flashed yellow as his jet black wings stretched out and tail snapped at the air. He stretched his wings around Ink and Papyrus, as he watched the red nebula fade away and the last of the stars flicker out.
"Teleport now Papyrus, get everyone out." Aster commanded.
"But the shields—?"
"Are shattered, get them out now." Aster insisted as he handed Ink to Papyrus.
"Poppa?" Ink whimpered, tear's pricking his sockets as he held his drawing close and tight.
Aster gave Ink a gentle smile, and brushed his finger's over Ink's cheek. "Everything will be alright Starlight, but I need you to stay with Papyrus okay?" Something flashed in Aster's eyes, concerned, but resolute "I need to get your father."
"Poppy's back?"
"…He will be."
Ink didn't have time to question what that meant, when in the blink of an eye he was no longer in the observatory. He was in the kitchen where Sans, Muffet, Frisk, Flowey, Toriel and Undyne all stood, looking to Papyrus as if he had some sort of answer.
"Defenses are down, where are the others?" He asked, holding Ink securely as he hid himself in Papyrus's chest.
Everyone gave their respective expressions of both shock, and fear, then Toriel stepped up. "Zephyr and Topaz are getting the blasters, Asgore, Asriel and Alphys are helping the village evacuate to the Omega Timeline, what can we do to help?"
"Aster said to leave"
"Leave?!" Undyne exploded "We can't just tuck tail and run, isn't our home important!?"
Papyrus smiled "It is, but there will be no home without everyone."
Undyne's eye twitched as she left out a huff "I'll help Asgore, Asriel, and Alphys, who's coming?"
San's, Muffet and Toriel nodded to her. Frisk and Flowey did as well but Papyrus placed a hand on their shoulder.
"You should come with us, Ink will need a buddy to help them feel okay." Papyrus noted.
Frisk nodded, determined to help Ink. Flowey glanced between Papyrus and the others, then nodded.
"Be safe," Papyrus smiled to the other's as they began to group around Sans in preparation to teleport, while Papyrus prepared his bracelet to open a portal.
"Only if you will be too bro," Sans waved.
Papyrus nodded and watched them teleport as he pressed a button on his bracelet.
…except they didn't teleport. A portal did not open.
"Papyrus…you said defenses were down?" Undyne asked.
Papyrus looked up at Undyne as his hands shook. "yes…" he breathed.
Ink pushed his head away from Papyrus as he felt a tug at his soul. Something shifting in the nothingness as the ground began to shake.
The last thing he remembered, was the roof tearing open. Splitting from the walls to reveal an obscure mix of day and night, as two forces—one of blue crystalline light and the other a bright yellow star burning the black feather's beneath it's light—crashed into each other, sending waves of energy across the sky as if it were an ocean of galaxies.
as beautiful as it was, something deep within Ink stirred. Something, innately pulling at his senses, warning him of the pressure building in the very air around him that threatened to tear everything apart.