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AEJ - Epitaph/Epilogue

Fair warning, according to google docs this is 17,713 words long (although 11,975 words are from the "fun things" doc, which is list of what things mean or random shit from nearly all the chapters). This is a complete compilation of everything I have AEJ. Thoughts, notes, hidden/unpublished docs and drafts.

In October of 2022, I posted a passing thought of “If I don't pick AEJ back up by the end of the year, I'll release what the following 20ish chapters would've been and the plans after/the full unredacted fun things.” After several months wait, here is the Epitaph/Epilogue of An Error’s Journey.

To begin, this huge project started with the idea of Error reliving his past lives through dreams or reboots. It was planned to end after he remembered everything, and wouldn’t go further than the curiosity of how reliving the trauma of his past lives would affect him as Error. I didn’t plan for it to go much farther than that, but it quickly expanded to something more.

As it currently stands, the end goal of the series was for XGaster to return, kill essentially everyone aside from our main five and a few others, and for the lesson of the story to be about mortality and to be thankful for it. The mistake Error had made was to restart, over and over with overwrite. The only way for the cycle to stop was for Error and in turn, the main five to be happy with what they have, instead of wishing for what was.

The story of AEJ truly starts in UnderVerse. After Error destroys half the universe, Core takes Overwrite and begins experimenting to avoid the X-event all together, and eventually, starts to experiment for the perfect/best lives the multiverse could have. Over these trials and many timelines, Core grows more insane, however there is one staple that I have mentioned in series several times.

One experiment, Core switched the roles around. Creating Pale and Template as well as the other swapped personalities for Nightmare and Dream. While it was unsuccessful, Core does grow closer to Template, and Template through the timelines helps Core figure out better ways for everyone to live.

Core continues on from there to what we know as AEJ. Also, if you haven’t pieced it together, the old friend Core talks so highly of to Error and Chronic is Template.

Swerving off course of what I’ve been talking about so far, Chronic is actually the original story I had planned, a few details aside. Minus the fusion, Chronic Error is the original story, Error going through life and reliving old lives with no more than Ccino to call a friend. Originally, Error was going to die and Nightmare would give up one of his souls, hence the shadow figure. Also, Chronic was not meant to be a permanent character, and was meant to be future Error directing past Error, but that was scrapped for what we have now, which I argue is a far better plot, and Chronic’s plot allowed for me to bring our main five closer together and give a support as to why its the five of them out of all people.

For what the following chapters would be, Error would be able to go to the outsider as Error and Lapse would fade to simply a nickname, although Error would adopt Mode as his last name. Sci would come into the story more to openly spend time with Nightmare and build that parental relationship with Nightmare and to build relationships with Error, Dream, Ink, and Reaper. Then Heart’s and Blue’s wedding. Then problems with the AUs would arise, AUs going dark/dead and the main five would learn officially of the balance. The small group that I might’ve briefly mentioned when the peace treaty was happening–I honestly can’t remember–would return in uproar about the balance, but the star council would take care of them. Finishing off the rising action of the story.

The Climax starts with the balance beginning to feel off so the gods (main five and reapertale) agree to meet. Ink proposes that it could be XGaster, and the hunt begins. They return to the gang and explain things to Cross, who currently holds overwrite, and Killer joins as well. The chapters follow with them as a group searching for XGaster before splitting apart, Nightmare and Error together, Reaper and Ink, Dream with Cross and Killer. A chapter of each groups journeys. Nightmare and Error reinstate their bond, Reaper and Ink take some time to be vulnerable, and Dream can indirectly grow closer to Nightmare and Error by learning about them through Cross and Killer.

The following I’ve pulled directly from the plot doc: A sudden quake startles the whole multiverse, Xtale Gaster comes back. All the Gods meet again, and confirm that they all felt the quake. The small group interrupts the meeting, XGaster in shackles behind them. Two of them are holding Cross, Killer and Cobalt. They brag about killing Horror, Dust, Hearts, Blue and Ccino. They even kill off Sci. XGaster shatters all their souls–aside from Cobalt who merely falls into a glitching mess. He has overwrite once more. XGaster turns on the small group, and begins his terror, stealing from so many universes, rebuilding his perfect world. They (main five) fight XGaster and reaper takes his soul to the afterlife.

Then there’s a bittersweet conclusion of our five’s lives after the fact and how things have changed (Also pulled from doc): It also takes many weeks for them to heal. Ink and Death were the only ones to go undamaged by the war. Error nearly died on the field (not in doc, but plans were for Error to take one of Nightmares souls, and to live from then on as a semi-physical shadow) and Nightmare + Dreams arms were too shattered to repair. Ink makes himself another pair of arms to tend to the others. Error hands off the Cafe to Sydney, and closes the clothing business. Intent joins them, wanting to support Error. Dream and Ink step back from the Stars Sans’ and Star Council, leaving things in the hands of Cobalt. It becomes routine for them, all waking up together in a heap in Nightmare’s bed. Dream’s the first up, going around the mansions a few times for a morning workout. Error and Nightmare are next, Nightmare getting in the shower as Error gets started on coffee for all of them. Killer got Dream addicted and now he can’t function well in the morning without it. After Nightmare’s done in the shower, he cooks breakfast as Error get’s in. Reaper and Ink are the last awake, and both drink plenty of coffee.Intent stays with them, their unofficially adopted child. Error and Ink no longer fight, they do very much the opposite. Ink helps breakdown AUs sometimes and Error occasionally helps Ink with AU ideas. Nightmare and Dream don’t fight anymore either. They go out together to balance out AUs and try to keep as many of them as possible balanced. That way, aside from AUs whose story lines surround the fact that they're the best/worst place, they won't ever worry about tipping, and they’ll all prosper. Reaper still works the same, but still feels terribly guilty for taking the souls of his lovers friends. Everytime he gets home, he is always greeted with love, cuddles, and reassurance. So much time has passed since the Great War, it’s literally become history. Reaper, Dream, Nightmare, Ink, and Error are all seen as Legends. Bards tell the tale of the Great War and what happens when you question the Gods, they also tell of the days when Immortal and Mortal worked in harmony, it’s such a funny sight to see when they go out in disguise.

And finally, the very last chapter: On the 1,000 anniversary of the Great War, they return to the battlefield. They visit the many shrines in their honor. They visit the shrines to Horror’s, Dust’s, Killer’s, Cross’, Blue’s, Hearts’, Sci’s, and Ccino’s deaths. Core suddenly appears, and overwrite is in their hands, offering them the choice to do things over again. Nightmare, Ink, Dream, and Death are excited for the possibilities. Bring back the gang, all the lives lost... Bring back Cross. Error stops them. He is the only one of them that has lived a (nearly) full mortal life. Error gives the button back. To overwrite their lives is to overwrite mortality. They savored their time. Mortality is a blessing, and now they will live the cost of a happy end, the curse of immortality. They deny. Core smiles, “ Good, it took a lot of overwrites, but you didn’t make the same mistake.” Error asks what Core will do now that they fixed their mistake. "I can finally die. I can overwrite my code and my code alone to finally be mortal. To finally finish my long long life." Core turns, and with a happy smile they say, "After all, nearly a million is a good enough time to live. Isn't it?"

It’s very much bittersweet, but I feel it’s a fitting ending. However, it doesn’t quite end Core’s story, and so there were bare bone plans for Core.

In my oneshots/ideas doc for AEJ, I have two things listed out for Core. First was a bonus chapter of Core watching over the team with Chronic that had the following planned dialogue:

“Template would be proud.”

“...I know.”

“What to do now?”

“...That is what I can’t decide.”

“It’s time you lived for yourself, Core.”

“Then what of this multiverse?”

“There are five great leaders to keep an eye on things, rest, enjoy your last years. Be it with lovers or friends. Let me take over this.”

“...Yeah, I’ll… I’ll go do that.”

“I’ll keep a good eye on other me for ya, the least I could do.”

The second was the basic plot for “The Core of the journey”, which would go through core’s life, and finally give them their happy end: The first time Core rewrote the multiverse. The first time someone took overwrite from Core. The first time someone killed Core. Meeting Template. Meeting Chronic. After AEJ, Chronic directs them to a specific AU, and drops them off there. Chronic leads Core to a shack in the middle of the woods, a simple place that would serve well for living out their last years. Chronic directs them outside to see the garden, and Core opens the door to see Template. Template turns to them with a smile, and Core practically bursts into tears. Template cautiously comes over and holds their hands as Chronic explains: When Error was first getting his memories, Chronic was exploring the megaverse to find the abandoned timeline that held Template (since every time a overwrite happens, it in theory branches off of the previous multiverse, creating a new one and leaving behind the old.) Chronic explained who they were and what Core was doing, and that when it was all done and over, they wanted to give Core a happy end. Template happily agreed. Template’s multiverse had long since been all but desserted–most everyone died because of XGaster, with just a few left, Template included.

There was one last “planned” thing, a longer oneshot similar to “We know” for AEJ called “Temptation” that would slowly go through the innerworkings of each Chronic, starting off from a quote from Chapter 80. While I didn’t finish it, I did write 1K words for it. Enjoy the unfinished draft:

[FROM CHAPTER 80]

“...Why are you pulling away?” Error eventually spoke, just getting straight to the point. Chronic tensed, and for the first time, he watched as they stuttered through their thoughts.

“I… we… stars. Dear, we…” Chronic seemed to practically deflate.

We can’t. There’s too much temptation.

He manipulated their shadows, moving a wing rise from the darkness to embrace Error. We don’t have to. Why can’t we just be near them? Just be close to them?

No. We can’t. We can’t risk it. Not a second time.

…That was an accident. We didn’ know any better, ya know that.

But, what about our souls? It’ll hurt them… None of us would be able to stand it! We barely got along without them in the first few centuries!

Dear… I’m afraid I’ll have to agree. We would have eternity, and eternity means we will inevitably fall to temptation. We have already done too much and pushed too many things… we weren’t supposed to meet Error as early as we did.

Please, just a chance. Or at least explain it to them! Error’s been sitting there, waiting for us to say something!

—--

Oh, how eternity is cruel. His life has been long, the second longest in the multiverse, and the longer he lives the more he understands Core. The rest of the fusion still grasps at it, trying to hold the rivers of understanding that he’s learned.

Of course, Core has never gone into details with them, but over time they have heard of the important aspects. What shaped Core’s goal, what changed Core, what fastened their resolve and broke down the hope they had left for their own happy end. The small pieces were far from enough to tell Core’s full story, but it was enough to try to sympathize.

And in Chronic Error’s case, enough to empathize.

His small soul shard hurts double now. In the first moments of their fusion, it was still painful from losing Ccino. The hours, days, weeks and months even that he had confided in them. The long hours of baking, talking, and playing with the cats. At times, when he steps back and just relaxes in the recesses of their headspace, he can imagine being back behind the counter with him again. Stuffing their faces with marshmallows while the smell of medium roast drifts around, the heat from baking warming them, and the cats curled up at the foot of the oven.

At times, he wished he took the time to spend time with this new Ccino, but this wasn’t just his body anymore. Other times, he finds acceptance in not connecting with the Ccino, because the end would just hurt even more.

Sometimes, when everyone else is exhausted from caring for the balances or fronting to deal with whoever they need to, he’ll find himself in the shadows of the cafe. Not during the busy hours of the morning, but the late of the afternoon. The sunset casting the walk in front of the shop in pink and purple light. If Ccino ever noticed they were there, they didn’t mention it, but Chronic Error would never make a fuss over a marshmallow tossed their way–and Ccino being dramatic about accidentally dropping it.

For now, they just hoped that Ccino thought he was Nightmare and that this one didn’t have memories of the past.

His shared hurt being so close to Error too. A stark reminder of his past ignorance and self-hate. Perhaps a reminder that he hasn’t fully moved past all of that either.

Error acts as a constant reminder of his… their mistake and what they lost. Something they can never regain. They will never be whole again. No matter how close they are it’s never going to be enough, and the farther away the more they want to be closer.

He knows the moment they hold Error in their arms, the dam will break.

They cut it far too close when they let him go. Holding his hands in theirs, he just wanted to pull Error closer. Promise that things will turn out okay, hold them and cut off the world until Error was ready- but they had to follow Core’s plan. Error had to know of their mistake and who they were. Who they always have been.

He couldn’t imagine how Chronic Dream and Nightmare had felt, holding Dream close that night so long ago. It’s probably why their resolve to pull away is so strong. The temptation sitting in their arms, and the painful knowledge that they would have to let go.

He and the rest of the fusion find solace with Core. Knowing of the pain of their loss. That fateful Error OVERWRITEs upon OVERWRITEs ago. They never hear a distinct name, as he along with the rest of his cast had apparently gone through many over all the multiverses, but from the stories they think it to be an Error of some variation.

They hear about the variants good deeds, the hours they spent pouring over research with Core. How they were the one to help Core make leaps in figuring out how to end this. Finish off XGaster once and for all.

They can feel the pain and remorse Core holds when they talk of the variant. How much they must miss the soul. How much they must wish they could go back, even if it meant the multiverse ended in ruin.

They do their best to help, but even their mixed powers stand no match to the life times of pain they hold.

—--

He understands the others, he does, but he knows where this path leads. Pushing away the ones you love never works. They watched Error do it, and somehow Chronic Nightmare and Dream are convinced that this is the only way? It’s laughable. Not at them of course, he loves them to death–no pun intended.

The temptation is there, yes, of course, but it’s nothing to the paramount loss that would be his life, their life without their souls. Their poor souls. Thirsting their whole lives only to get a taste centuries in, to finally have Chronic by them–only to disappear. It’s pointless pain.

He doesn’t want to live life in regret like they’ve seen so many others. Even in Core. They see the small moments, where Core regrets everything they’ve done. The weight cracking them further. And they can’t do anything but sit and hold Core.

And now, the final documents I have that essentially hold all the secrets and inner workings of AEJ. The following excerpts are entirely in bold, if it is not bold it is a comment from as I write this rather than when it’s from.

AEJ Loose Ends

Cobalt never found his brother after the incident. His papyrus is missing and presumed dead, hence why Honey and Blue took him in and later Hearts took him in as a brother in-law.

Cobalt’s brother was left in the AU, and the AU slowly demolished until it became a part of the void. Cobalt’s brother was drifting in the void and was killed in there by XGaster. So yes, by story’s end, Cobalt’s Papyrus is dead-the void is funky about time so I don’t think it’d be appropriate to say exactly when Paps died.

Chronic also has a title, but because they run so many districts–having the powers of destruction (code), the emotional realm, the dream realm, creation, and death–they have less of a “God” title and more of a higher title as “The Gatekeeper”. They protect the multiverse from the surrounding megaverse and also protect the inside of the multiverse as well. They were the one to keep everything going while the main five were hardly taking care of their balance. The balance should’ve tipped far more than it actually did–but he let it go a little bit to grow connections between the others. Once it was clear they were ready to handle the responsibility they began to let go of the balances and see how well they could take it.

Pretty much every time Chronic and Error were together, I mentioned them being the same person. From Chronic’s bad jokes of “being two halves of a whole” to them being “twins” in chapter 65. The twins thing is actually really clever when you think about it, since twins came from the same egg and Chronic and Error came from the same soul, or, more accurately, Error came from one of Chronic’s souls. I’m surprised no one questioned it, but I mentioned it so much that I practically normalized the thought in the reader’s mind–that and I don’t think people expected Error to technically not be an Error but only part Error.

The reason I focused on intent so much throughout the AEJ is because of the POV. Error isn’t fully Error in AEJ. He has pieces of Chronic’s magic and it has made him far more sensitive to other’s intent. He reads it not only as code but the same way Nightmare and Dream read it. It’s actually a major hint of his ties to Chronic and it’s something no one has seemingly ever questioned. I’ve never in my works emphasized intent as much as I have in AEJ, every character interaction relates to it. Error’s power to reach out and feel the aura of their power, feel the intent they give off. It can be written off as God powers… if I wasn’t sticking as close to canon Error as I have been (for the most part). In the prequel to AEJ “The Core of the Journey” I will once again change the writing to style to change to how Core sees and feels the world. How they feel and see it, however, will be left to the “Loose Ends” of that story. (Sadly won’t happen)

Cobalt never fully explained what happened to the stars, at most he spoke of the antivoid and being stuck there. He never explained what caused him to be there–or that he was forcibly taken. The Stars only knew that Cobalt got stuck in the antivoid and had to deal with the voices for years before he managed to get out, and that Error had destroyed his world before that. While this was far after Error became the self proclaimed God of Destruction/ God of code, Cobalt is the first survivor of Error’s. From then on Error got much sloppier with destroying. The reason Omega/the Stars aren’t sure of this is because of Chronic and the amount of time Cobalt spent in the antivoid. Chronic left survivors in their wake often, and some caught glimpses of the shadow. When Error appeared and was seemingly the only one with world destroying capabilities people simply assumed it was always Error. Error of course doesn’t put this together, and Core stays silent on the matter.

The chess analogy:

This is not based on the names of the pieces, but rather how they move and their roles.

White pieces go to Xgaster, Xtale characters, as well as Core. This is because they move first. They were the people to start this megaverse and the conflict that keeps it going.

White King: Core, limited movement but also the second most free of all the pieces. It is not limited by direction but by how far. In this scenario, our White King is rebellious and acts against the queen. Yes, it could’ve killed immediately (don’t fight me on this, yes kings can kill pieces just not other kings, look it up.) But it didn’t, it hesitated and it gave the queen the chance to move impossibly far away and out of reach. Core could’ve stopped this all immediately, but they didn’t know the consequences of the hesitance and it cost the multiverse. Core has the same ability as XGaster, the same movement, but XGaster was clever and made sure no one would be able to use OVERWRITE against him, thus limiting Core’s movement.

White Queen: XGaster (XG), free movement as long as no one stands in the piece’s way. Sound familiar? That’s the long and short of why.

White Knight: Cross. Clever usage can make this piece unstoppable, although it is hard to plan with, moving in a small “L” shape but able to jump over other pieces. Much like Core’s White King, this White Knight is rebellious, and acts as an additional Black Knight. Cross is a major key in AEJ, he holds OVERWRITE while Error works through his shit and he has to have the right environment and be on Core’s side by the end otherwise its game over. Cross is a trained soldier from childhood and over the resets has lived for nearly just as long as Core. Some resets he has his memories, others he doesn’t.

White pieces (Bishops, Knights, Rooks, and pawns): The characters of XTALE + The idiots of the cult. Xtale are the Bishops, Knights, and Rooks, the idiots are the pawns.

Black pieces go to Error, his team, as well as the main recurring/supporting characters.

Black King: Chronic, limited movement but similar to the Queen. In the series Chronic is more powerful than Error, yes, however, while able to defeat XG, they die in the process–thus needing to restart the multiverse. Error was able to defeat XG without killing his whole team in the process, only taking a few of Nightmare’s souls and being able to live on to tell the tale. This is some fucked up logic yes and I can go in depth of why this isn’t exactly true, but it’s 2am and I’m not doing that. (I honestly can’t remember the thinking behind this)

Black Queen: Error, free movement as long as no one stands in his way. Error is by far the most powerful(Chronic aside) in his multiverse. He's not just a destroyer, but the god of Code. He has free reign to fix or dismantle whatever AU he choses. If Chronic and Core did not fill in the roles, Error would have the say of the barriers of his multiverse, AUs Creators or characters from other multiverses. His one draw back is his emotions, not in a oh don’t cry way. Because he is a split soul from a fusion his powers hold some properties of Nightmare, Dream, Death, and Ink. In this particular multiverse, he powers are closely resemble Nightmare and Dream–being able to feel out other souls and sense the intent from them as well as having his powers fueled by emotion. His drawback is that its not fueled by others emotion but his own. Nightmare’s and dreams emotions merely sway if their magic is more pure or corrupted, Error’s emotions mix with his determination, fueling his magic. When he is not determined or letting his emotions flow like his magic, it sputters and fails. Once that barrier is out of the way, he is unstoppable.

Black Bishops: Both of these go to Nightmare and Dream. They act together but opposite, because of the even spacing on the board despite being on either side of the king and queen they are on opposite colors of the board. Their moves cannot cross, and they are both stuck moving only diagonal. However, it doesn’t mean they’re not powerful. Even having one at the end of the game is highly useful, and both together can effectively result in a stalemate or checkmate. Nightmare and Dream are constantly considered completely opposites in the fandom–yet somehow still alike. In AEJ I took that many steps further, they embody the unexpected and expected. Dream with dark thoughts but a people pleaser–even at his own expense. Nightmare who secretly just wants everyone around him to be happy, but at heart and soul knows that his role is to spread negativity, and he will spread it in whatever way works best for the moment.

Black Knight: Death. In AEJ Reaper is unique. He is quiet and soft spoken, but his words leave impact. However, he hides this softer side behind a cocky and joking facade. He’s unexpected and quietly calculating and hard to plan where he will move. Core’s lost many a run due to the unpredictability of the mighty Grim Reaper.

Black Rook: Ink. The rook is also unique, unlimited reach like the queen but limited to only vertical and horizontal movements, and can be used like a queen except for certain situations. Ink is in a similar high status as Error, only limited due to Chronic and Error. He’s powerful with the drawback of unpredictable and unfocused raw creativity. Think of a paint gun, (I have no idea where I pulled this from either) it will shoot, but you have no idea if its a short range splash shot of chaos or the perfect long shot that will target and stay targeted on who you shot at. The rook is unpredictable because of the range of movement it has, it could move one space or across the board. Having this piece at the end of the game might as well be having a second queen.

Black Pawns: Killer, Horror, Dust, Hearts, Cobalt, and Blue. When you play chess, by the end of the game all of your pawns are usually gone. They will sacrifice themselves or die by your opponent's hand for the sake of progression. But, like Cobalt, sometimes one or two can survive, and they will watch the board from a distance.

AEJ “Rules”

In An Error’s Journey, by the end it's out in the open that Core has lived through a lot of overwrites. Even to the point of nearly being a million. Although I haven’t gotten to, and didn’t find a need to explain why, in detail that is, they had to live to a million. Some of it is explained in the fun facts, sure, but not truly explained.

AEJ, in technicality, is a Megaverse.

AEJ branches from Underverse, while it’s long since been disconnected in nearly every conceivable way possible, it is connected still. Core, after Error destroyed half the multiverse, took overwrite into their hands for a better end. This is hinted at in chapter 33 when Core said: “Well, my options were to live with only half the multiverse and attempt to make things good in a war-stricken world where everyone was insane or too naive to do much of any help… or change the multiverse for the better.”

Everytime Core overwrites the multiverse, it creates a new multiverse and pulls Core into it, leaving the old one behind. Since it’s a new multiverse in addition to the original multiverse, it does technically make AEJ as we know it a Megaverse.

The reason it took so many resets is because overwrite is somewhat unpredictable for Core. They didn’t make it, XGaster did. Each time Core uses it there is a small chance of a lot of things to happen. For example, there is a small chance of Nightmare being trans. If Nightmare is trans, it increases everyone else’s chances of being trans. Everyone has different variables and chances for it, with Nightmare Ink Cross Killer and Blue with the highest chances in that order.

Also, there is a chance of what Core personally dubs “Creators rules” in the multiverse. “Creators rules” are simply the Alternate Multiverses with “soulmate AUs” in place, the kinds where your soulmate’s or soulmates name shows up on your body. “Creators rules” can also be things like those Tik Tok skits, your eyes dictate your power level-or as Core mentioned in chapter 50 “if all my promises were a mark on my body, I wouldn’t have any skin left.” Core knows that because it-the Creator rule of all their promises showing up as a mark on their body-happened a dozen or so timelines ago.

Off track from the main premise of this, Core having a mark of each of their promises on their body-and the fact that they’d have so many marks it would cover their body, brings implications that I love that I don’t think anyone has bothered to think about. Even as the Creator of AEJ, I like to think that the implication ties heavily with a line Core said a little before in the same chapter: “At least, you will be able to live a happy life. A life far greater than you could’ve imagined for yourself.”. Core has promised previous versions of everyone a better life. Core promised themself a better life. Specifically, Core still promises Error a happy ending-while indirectly they have promised it. Telling Hearts to give Error hope, to tell him over and over he would get a happy ending. Core saying “hold him to his promises” isn’t holding Hearts to his promises, it’s asking Error to remind Core to keep striving for that happy end. It’s emphasized over and over Core is slowly but definitely surely going insane from all of this, they have to hold onto hope-just as they have told Error to. A lot of their promises are projecting themself onto Error.

Whoever rewrites the multiverse is no longer attached to it. Hence why Core can’t simply rewrite XGaster out. It pulls whoever is no longer connected to the timeline in addition to the rewriter everytime the multiverse is over written. Shadow,(This is from way back before Chronic was an official character in AEJ, and when I simply referred to them as Shadow) from the bonus chapter and Error’s dreams, is the only one aside from Core and XGaster to rewrite the timeline.

AEJ Fun Things (Unredacted and updated to chapter 77)

Chapter 10

If you didn’t figure it out, the flash of a memory of a younger Dream holding another skeleton is pre-apple incident, and the other skeleton was Nightmare.

Chapter 15

I’ve always had the headcanon that Ink has a magical Tome enchanted with Nim’s magic and coded with Error’s code and I finally got to place it here. I love Ink’s infinity tome, it also has a search option so Ink can look up a keyword or exact journal date if he needs.

Chapter 20

The memory Error kept having was of cuddling with Ink, with Nim laughing at the two being cute.

Core never meant to tell Error about his future partners, I didn’t either. But in the end it added more mystery and some joy/hesitation on Error’s part.

Error only refused to believe Ink was another one of the 4 for plot purposes lol

Chapter 25

I never intended to have Error’s middle name/study of religion to impact the story at all, while writing the chapter it came to me as the perfect motivation for the story and to set some canon things into place.

Error was never intended to befriend Ink or Dream as Lapse D. Mode.

I added Cobalt last minute into the equation to set up later events, and I wanted to have him involved before Error remembered him.

I never intended for Error to mess around with Dream as much as he did that chapter, but it allowed me to bring Dream more into the plot since-despite being a main character-he wasn’t supposed to be a main plot point until after chapter 50ish

“You pique my curiosity” is Dream for “I’m kinda crushing on you but I’m gonna pretend I'm just curious about your motives and want to learn more about you as my enemy.”

Error didn’t put together the Dream and Nightmare came from the same world because while Error and Ink have a shared balance and similar powers-they don’t come from the same world. Also Nightmare hid that part of his past because he’s tired of being in Dream’s shadow, and hid everything that even hinted that he was connected to Dream. Even though his accomplishments-however dark they may be-overshadow everything Dream does, he’s still fearful. Nightmare has also never said the name of the AU he came from.

That old professor at the college that wrote the book on Dream was Error’s religion professor. Error had to write a paper on the book and knows it cover to cover. It was his professor’s greatest accomplishment.

The hint of yellow on Dream’s cheekbones reminded Error of Nim, who had a mixed blush(Purple and yellow, with a slate-like color in the middle) like Error’s own(yellow with red and blue “freckles”).

Error didn’t have an answer because he doesn’t know how to explain it quite yet. He felt like he had to keep destroying, so he did. (This is the balance pushing him to do it, like a 6th sense in a way)

Chapter 30

Core’s office, Room 1510 is the numbers for the letters AEJ

“Cafes?”“Tick tok, Error” Core knew Error would eventually open his cafe, “The Outsider” and very subtly cemented the idea in his mind for when Ccino would bring it up in Chapter 45.

Error purposefully called Dream pretty boy again to try and get the same reaction-which he did. Dream didn’t pay it much mind because he has a lot of admirers, and while he didn’t expect it-he brushed it off like any other compliment he got.

In the meeting room the one who seemed to misplace their soul was Dest, the oldest Chara, who was keeping an eye on Intent and Error-the souls barely holding on are Error’s Papyrus and Gaster. Mercy is in there because he’s keeping an eye on Death, as Blue is keeping track of Ink and Dream-and Hearts keeps track of Error and Nightmare. Error is the main concern.

Sapphire avenue was named by Lust, who knew the library cafes and Universities were going to be built there-and wanted to name it after Sci, and the first thing Lust remembers about Sci is his glimmering Sapphire eyes. If they had lasted longer, Lust would’ve taken him there.

Ink’s office being 1504 is an easter egg to his birthday being on April 15.

The pebbles and rocks on the bracelet chain on Broomy Jr. are from Nim

Chapter 33

The one who made Dream’s scarf and the scones is Nightmare.

Dream only ever refers to Nightmare by name or they because Nightmare has made it clear he wants nothing to do with their shared past, and refuses to acknowledge any of it-even their shared birthday.

Nightmare is also fully transitioned and Dream is still having a little trouble with it.

Chapter 34

Cross’ blunt statement for the year had been calling Killer out for being an absolute hypocrite in monopoly(Killer had been complaining that someone had to have been stealing his money when he wasn’t looking-but he had been doing that to others when they left the room. Nightmare had been returning the stolen money when Killer wasn’t looking. Error had watched their game from the couch and just kept quiet when Killer asked if he knew who’d been stealing from him.)

Chapter 35

The nickname for Lapse, Eldeem, I thought up on the spot, but it’s terrible and such an Ink kinda nickname so into the canon it goes.

Dream and Nightmare are 506.

Ink is roughly 800, although he rounds it closer to 700 because that’s when he was added as leader of the Star council and the first ever record of his existence.

Error is ridiculously close to 1000, somewhere just under it.

Core outranks everyone in the multiverse being hundreds of thousands of years old due to the overwrites. They are nearly a million. (For an idea of how many overwrites they’ve been through, each overwrite at its shortest is about 300-400 years, and longest a little over 2,000 years.)

Chapter 37

The person Dream’s soul belongs to (“My soul will always belong to another… I would never even dare try with someone else until I talked to them first about it.”) Is Nightmare. Dream feels practically soul bound to him, since they never officially broke up. For the past centuries he thought Nightmare felt the same about the situation-hence why he was so upset over learning Error and Nightmare weren’t just together now, but also had been together in the past.

Chapter 38

I wanted to fill in the holes of Hearts’ story, and also bring up Cobalt again so Error is fully aware of him and can connect with Cobalt before remembering him.

Chapter 39

Core is 1000% up for validating Nightmare. It’s a very small chance of happening, but there have been multiple timeline’s that have happened previously of Nightmare being trans. Nightmare has the highest chance of being trans, and if he’s trans in the timeline it heightens the chance of others in the timeline being trans. Their current timeline has the most trans skeletons that have ever happened-not everyone that has the possibility of being trans is, but it’s the most by far.

Core has indirectly influenced Nightmare’s life twice, and directly talked to him(to influence his life) twice, the second time was telling Nightmare of Cross.

Core has also directed Cross’ life a good deal, which makes sense considering he’s the key piece to XG’s power, holding Over-write and all.

While a heartbreaking chapter and was difficult to write myself, I think Nightmare’s past and what he went through shows his character greatly. Yes he tends to hide things-even highly important things, but it's always for good reason.

I’ve headcannoned for some time that Nightmare is missing a good portion of his skull, thanks to Error’s help he later fully accepts what happened to him and stops hiding his shattered skull.

Sci went to Dreamtale because of Core, who told him he was needed and to simply trust Core on this. Nightmare is unaware that Sci was told to help him. Sci is the closest thing Nightmare has ever had to a Dad, and while Sci was certainly surprised the first time Nightmare referred to him as Dad, Sci was more than happy to accept the role. Nightmare is hesitant in actually calling Sci his Dad to other’s in fear for Sci’s life, and also because he knows Error would push him to tell Sci they’re together and he’s not quite ready to deal with that mess yet. (Sci would be very supportive to learn of their relationship, the mess I’m referring to is Sci going full Dad mode and asking why Nightmare didn’t say anything sooner-asking when they would get married/soul bound/if kids are an option. All the fun stuff parents typically ask when learning about their kid’s relationship.)

By Dream and Nightmare’s first battle, Nightmare had been fully transitioned-thanks to help from Sci-and Ink had long gotten used to Nightmare being well, Nightmare.

Nightmare is currently working in the background of the chapter to find a way to get his old aura back. Most of the books in the library he has are from Reapertale Alphys’ library, he spends a good portion of his time researching for any cure to his corruption-despite how much it helps him.

Nightmare has a familiar but I didn't get the chance to mention them :P

Nightmare doesn’t remember it, but the spell he cast on Dream happened right before he blacked out again. It was barrier magic, and being unpracticed at the time-he accidentally made a barrier of stone around Dream.

Chapter 41

“But something irked him wrong about that Gaster. Like they had old beef together,” That Gaster was XGaster, and sometimes people in the multiverse get deja vu because of faint memories of the previous timeline spilling over. Hence why Geno felt as if they had old beef- the previous timeline XGaster killed him during the Multi-War.

Chapter 42

When Error pulled back from the Antivoid, XGaster took the chance to get into the Antivoid and hid there from then on. Error forgot to tune back in and never visited the Antivoid after that so he never found out.

I’ve always headcanoned Dream to be vegan, and I love the idea that Blue runs a farm in his spare time and it’s completely free range and the animals all pass away as happy as they can be.

“Perhaps one day, if my partner’s could offer something similar, then I would leave.” The similar Dream is referring to isn’t the actual structure or the small cabin feel, but rather the memory’s and comforts he has in the cabin. He has no reason to leave it in his mind because nothing else gives him such comfort. To him, it doesn’t matter that he has to take his baths in the creek nearby or constantly buy ice for his icebox, or even that he has to painstakingly repair the house after each winter.

“And it seemed that their friendship blossomed into something bigger. Something of mutual understanding.” Error can understand not wanting to leave a place of stay, having clung onto what he considered the comforting absence of any stimulus that is the Antivoid. He understands what Dream’s feeling in that moment, even if Dream doesn’t know it. They can silently connect over that feeling and grow closer together, the simple sentence being a much bigger confession of weakness. Dream a war hardened God with next to no earthly possessions and no more close friendships then the fingers on one hand has this one weakness-his home in Dreamtale.

Chapter 43

Error’s realm was originally meant to be the Antivoid-as hinted at in Chapter 10, but I liked the idea of his own realm much more.

With the new context of realms being connected to the soul and mind-I’m surprised no one realized(or if they did, didn’t mention) that Grimm’s character is suddenly made much deeper than he once was. Since Chapter 10 of the series, I’ve told everyone that Death’s realm is a barren dark place. Everything is dead. He had to bring things(his crows and vultures) outside of the realm in order to fill in that empty void of a landscape. Now, Death subtly shows that since being with Dream and Ink, his realm has begun to show signs of life again. The grass is greener, plants are starting to grow, small animals have returned(think about what that could symbolize in terms of emotional and mental stability). Losing Geno/Error did affect him greatly. During his time with Geno it was a flourishing forest. Now it’s a dead wasteland with the only trees being dead twigs that would snap with the weight of a feather.

Chapter 44

“A simple few missing lines of code. Nothing unusual and something he had seen in worlds for years.” It used to be unusual, and that was before XGaster was even on the game board, Error will find out after XGaster’s defeat that worlds don’t typically randomly lose their code.

Ink’s clinginess was an early hint to their recent breakup. Death has his job and Ink wants to be strong for Grimm and doesn’t want to appear clingy, he feels comfortable with Lapse and isn’t too worried about losing them, so they happily cling to them to help cope with being near Dream after the breakup.

The flash of memory was of Cobalt, just before Cobalt became an error too.

Ink wearing the nightgown and switching to more feminine clothing is an early hint at them being Genderfluid.

I like the idea of Skeleton’s generally being Genderfluid/Gender neutral and wanted to bring it up as canon for the series :} (it also adds extra flesh and color, so to say, to the motives of Dream, Nightmare, and the village-along with how Dream treats Ink and why Killer wants to protect Cross from Dream. Nightmare is fully aware of skeleton history and despite technically not being one-he’s largely treated and seen as one so he wants to correct the delusional idiots out there. Nightmare is the one who taught Error and the gang the proper skeleton history. There’s very little mention of wingdings and nothing that teaches the language-so that’s why Nightmare doesn’t know it despite researching skeletons.)

Chapter 38 hinted at Killer liking Cross, and Cross somewhat returning-along with Horror and Dust’s background relationship, but I figured I would out right say it to make it clear, and also build stronger connections to Error and the gang.

Killer didn’t want to talk with Nightmare about it because it involved Dream.

I did not plan for Cross to also be trans in this too, but thinking about it Cross gives me serious nonbinary vibes, plus it adds more fuel to the plot and motivation between Killer and Cross. (Also I love the idea of Killer joking to Cross about Cross using xey/xem and then Cross actually wants to try it and enjoys using the pronouns. Also Cross does frequently internally and sometimes externally curse XGaster for being this close to detail when it comes to them-it actually wasn’t XGaster that programmed that in at all, and the multiverse has a slight chance of changing his programming to trans after he becomes an outcode.)

Error’s shit eating grin at Killer’s confession is because he knows if he pesters Killer enough, Killer will either accidentally reveal his lie or out right say the blunt truth of whatever answer he’s been dancing around.

Chapter 45

Error was making milk in hopes of going back to bed, but after seeing Dream awake he said fuck it guess I’m playing Main Character early today and made coffee instead.

Dream doesn’t think he deserves help, he wants to change, yes, and he wants to learn how-but he doesn’t think he deserves it. Every relationship he’s considered important he believes he’s/literally has ruined. First Nightmare, then Ink and Death which affected his relationship to Blue and he also assumes Lapse. (Error just accidentally muted Lapse’s phone again and has forgotten to check it, oops.)

With the new context of it having been 489-nearly 490 years since the incident, I alluded to the death of the village and Nightmare/Dream’s God birth(when they became Gods) being when they(Nightmare & Dream) were 17/nearly 17. Keep in mind Nightmare and Dream when they were created already had the mind equal to that of about a 16 year old and body of one as well, but actually counting from creation to incident is roughly 17 years. So that's how when Nightmare's abuser's are younger than him at the start but seemingly grow to be older than him(becoming adults when Night was technically 17)-since Nightmare's story is based on this technicality.

The village didn’t have a schooling system, and by the time they did Dream was much too old for it. Dream has seriously considered trying for schooling, but being a God and dealing with the multiverse heavily impedes that.

Error and Nightmare both have a lot of Degrees, Nightmare learned on his own over the years and after Error was brought back to sanity Nightmare helped him learn.

Error and Nightmare weren’t originally meant to teach Dream and build that connection with him.

Nightmare is about a head shorter than Error, but Nightmare doesn’t let it stop him at all.

I LOVE the headcanon of Error coming to own a cafe for general outsiders and unwanted. A place that anyone-even the annoying God of Creation and feared God of Death can enjoy, along with any Underlust monsters and “darker” AUs.

“There are plenty of moments of your immortality that you’ve forgotten,” Error has spent a good 800 years of his life immortal, and I specifically had to say moments because the memories that Error will relive from his immortality are just that. Moments. Completely unlike any of his other memories-only pieces of them are actually important and those pieces are spaced out across a good 500 year period.

Chapter 48

“Emotional radar” was supposed to be “Godly powers”, but saying godly powers aside didn’t make sense because it is a godly power to know that your side of the multiverse balance is out of whack.

Chapter 49

Reaper doesn’t know that the “new Gods” Nim made friends with were Ink and Error.

Death does know that Nightmare and Dream have a balance, but is unaware that they don’t know.

Chapter 50

The slip up Core was referring to was mentioning Error’s future partners. Error is oblivious to love even though Death does kiss him on the cheek at the end of the chapter.

“Death and Blue seemed to smile knowingly while Ink and Cobalt gave wide grins.” Death and Blue were smiling knowingly because Death just figured out why he recognised Lapse’s soul and Blue because he’s in on everything, and Error just realized he may be helping Core like Hearts has.

Completely honest, the cafe “The Outsider” is a personal headcanon I’ve had for ages, and I love the idea of VIP room for special guests and so Error can relax in his own cafe without having to hold up the disguise.

Sydney is also a headcanon, I love the idea of Error seeing this disabled mafia tale spider and going, yeah I’ll make them the manager for my cafe. They’re perfect.

Special drinks are also a headcanon. Grim beanery is easy, Grim/Reaper. Tasteful rainbow is Ink. Deception is Dream. Royal brightness is Nightmare. The dark chocolate mixed with white chocolate cocoa is Cross. The black coffee paired with raspberry syrup is Killer. The mixed berry handcrafted tea is Hearts. Finally, the minty green tea and cherry tea is Dust and Horror respectively. I would’ve done one for Ccino… but his name is literally short for Cappuccino.

“Death leaned in, giving him a kiss on the cheek-Lapse’s form flickering before returning.” Lapse’s form flickered because it literally killed the illusion. Whenever Death touches Error he kills him, but while Error’s body is mortal-and the leftover code of Sci that allows him to be Lapse is mortal, Error’s soul is now Immortal. (Also more background thing, the only reason Error can switch to Lapse is because the sprite of Sci/sans is still left in his code, so he can temporarily fix his code-aka changing the colors back to normal to look the way he’s supposed to.)

Chapter 51

Originally Core was supposed to make the portal for Geno and Geno would pass out as soon as he showed up in the antivoid, but Core’s little betrayal was too perfect so that’s what we ended up with. (Also was made much easier because we already established much earlier Core can change where portals go-changing Error’s portal from the antivoid to Core’s office in Chapter 33)

Chapter 52

The multiverse where Error helped Core try and find a way to give him a happy life through and through? That wasn’t technically Error. That was Template. Core wanted to see if changing how Error and also the others lifes by swapping them around would fix anything. Clearly it didn’t as Core gave up on it. Core’s thinking behind it was “Maybe the multiverse is going to shit because they aren’t in the right roles. This isn’t what they’re meant to do.” Since as we easily see from Error he can create and Ink can destroy.

Core talking about how long they spent looking for an answer was an early hint at their true age.

Core can’t use overwrite to get rid of XGaster because XGaster anticipated it would be used against him. Overwrite cannot get rid of him.

I’ve been meaning to bring up Nightmare’s familiar since I introduced him as a warlock. At first I considered Nightmare would make the manor his familiar, but that was complicated and it would bring up further headcanons I had for that-having to feed the house human souls/save stars to keep it as Nightmare familiar and so on. Second, I considered he saved a human soul that controls the house, living as a ghost in the attic with their little sibling that Nightmare also rescued as a condition for becoming his familiar. In the end I decided on his corruption as his familiar-although at first it was “Oh I found out my corruption was sentient and now it protects me.” but that gave a lot more implications and that would also need to bring up and idea of Nim not being the only guardian and pulling in the (I believe) canon of a previous guardian of negativity banished into the apples when I haven’t previously established that and would’ve needed to establish that when Reaper talked about her to Sans-so that’s why we have “I gave my corruption sentience” instead.

I don’t think anyone has realized it, but while this chapter was originally intended for Error to reconnect with Death-it instead showed a huge marker in Error and Nightmare’s relationship. Nightmare is countlessly showing and giving his weaknesses to Error. Error is the first to have ever visited Nightmare’s realm-which is full of personal items-even his crown and the camera Dream had bought for him. Error is the first-Sci aside-to see Nightmare in his shattered glory. Error is the first that Nightmare truly lets take care of him. Surrendering himself by holding his body together- not being able to move a limb at all to stop whatever he did, even not being able to see what the other was doing once again to Error. It also extends to the trust he has for the gang. He barely has enough magic to move, and he still tells and shows them anyways. Hearts is going to marry Blue. One of their main enemies. Nightmare trusts that Hearts won’t tell Blue his big bad secret.

Chapter 53

Some of Nightmare’s banned nicknames include: Noot, Noot-Noot, Noot-mare, Noot-hair, Octopus (Only Error is allowed), Squid (The gang refers to Ink as squid only to piss off Nightmare, unlucky for Nightmare it stuck), Cuttlefish (Only Error is allowed), Cuddle bear (Only Error is allowed), Tar, Horse-mare, Horsey, Bossy-wossy, and Kingy-wingy.

Cross calls Killer “Light shine” because of the light Killer’s soul radiates, it's a dim calm white then the bright eyesore of the Antivoid and the red is much more muted. It’s helped heal the trauma Cross has with those colors-white from the void and red from Chara.

Chapter 54

Core was, in a way, organizing Error’s dreams. “Bastard fucker”, much more professionally known as Chronic, was walking into Error’s dreams to try and non-verbally tell him “If you keep doing this, you’ll end up like this. You’ll end up like me. The people you care for will end up like this. They will die.”

Dream still lets Nightmare into his realm as a means of saying “I’m always here. I’ll wait until you’re ready to talk.” He still deeply cares for Nightmare and wants Nightmare to know that.

Chapter 55

Referencing the “darker” side of Lapse and “soft” side of Sydney was just a fun thing to connect the two. They 100% spend hours in the VIP loft talking about very specific ways to get away with crimes and also different cooking recipes. No there isn’t an inbetween. They also tend to have philosophical questions and conversations, “What if Death literally asked me to kill someone and help him out? Could I still be charged for a crime? Would it be a godly crime to ask that of a mortal? Would it be a mortal crime for a God to intervene like that? Is the Star Council a mortal offense because it’s ruled by two thirds Gods? Anyways yeah never over do vanilla. Always under do it. You’ll regret it I swear. That is more bitter than burnt spider goods, I swear Lapse.”

If it wasn’t clear from the warnings on that chapter, Dream-when the right memories are triggered, more specifically being stuck in stone/cramped spaces-struggles with depersonalization dissociation.

Dream went to talk to Nightmare, knowing of Nightmare’s knowledge and hoping to find an answer of what just happened from him-he does find the answer. Despite Nightmare still being his enemy, he knows that whatever has been happening is linked to his years in stone, and he trusts Nightmare to not use it against him. He holds nothing against Nightmare and still trusts him the same.

The level Core was speaking about was the common trait of having held Overwrite at some point. Hence why Core doesn’t wish to see Error on that level. If Core were to see Error on that level it’d mean Error made the same mistake again-choosing overwrite.

Chapter 55.5

Dream’s realm is an exact copy of Nightmare’s, their realms look like this because it's a reincarnation of Nim.

The realm was another way to show Dream’s mental state, to show how bad things had gotten over time. He and Error are far more similar than either would like to think.

Dream trusts Nightmare despite everything because he knows it wasn’t Nightmare’s fault. They didn’t choose to be guardians, although they did choose God-hood to protect themselves and others. Dream understands Nightmare better than he does himself. Dream had long since left an opening for Nightmare–his realm. Nightmare allowing Dream to be taught by Error and also helping to teach Dream in addition to teaching Dream at their base is a larger opening that Dream could’ve ever thought of.

Nightmare has all sorts of backup plans, this also includes knowing all of the Star Sans’ and Council’s phone numbers.

Nightmare isn’t ready to let Dream in his realm yet. He doesn’t know how Dream will react to having the remnants of the past. The camera sitting clean and cared for on a dainty pillow, his old outfit folded and carefully displayed, even his crown repaired and intact also on display.

It took way longer than I would like to admit to come up with “velvet sun”. I wanted something that you would associate with “soft light” since Nightmare’s nickname is “star light.” I had to look through the thesaurus a lot to get to “velvet sun”.

Dream has trouble with learning because he’s very oblivious–to put it as simply as possible. Most explanations don’t work for him. Nightmare is up front and forward with him. As blunt as needed. He doesn’t talk down to Dream for not going to school, he says things exactly as they are without the use of trying to imagine some scenario.

Nightmare also understands that Dream most of the time doesn’t have the words to explain how he’s feeling and has learned how to help out Dream with that as well.

Chapter 56

If it wasn’t clear the shadowy hands that sparked Error’s magic was Chronic.

I had to completely watch through and take notes on a movie version of the Error sans ask comic. There are 5 pages of notes from that. The second half of the chapter is pretty much cut and paste with some more detail from the comic.

God of Destruction is the self-given title, although it is acknowledged by Core. A more accurate title would be “The God of Code'' since his true calling is repairing or removing the code of the multiverse while Ink is in charge of creating code and letting worlds in. Unfortunately at the beginning he was more like a broken code–removing anything even if it could be repaired, although he did come to learn his lesson.

Chapter 57

The other Gods were completely unaware that Error and Ink had come into existence until after Nim’s death, since Nim was stuck in place she really had no way of telling or contacting them. By then Error and Ink were far from reachable so Reapertale mostly let them be and figure things out. It wasn’t until Nightmare’s rise to power that the Gods of Reapertale realized that Nim had been replaced.

Error didn’t want to tell them his name because he didn’t trust them. He barely understood the kindness they were showing him and didn’t know how to reciprocate it after the toxic environment the voices in the antivoid gave him.

This is the second time I’ve mentioned code just disappearing, I continued to stay surprised as no one thought to comment on it.

I’m surprised no one noticed why I paid so much special attention to XGaster, this chapter was the second time Error had an off feeling about that Gaster.

“Yes, I might as well have created them myself.” This line is begging for attention and is subtly spoiling everything. Although still no one commented on it.

Core told Ink to trust Error above everyone else, even Core. Ink completely trusts Error, and so he trusts Error’s judgment–although it was immediate–and Error proves his judgment correct.

Chapter 57.5

I actually messed up a small bit, earlier in the series I said there was only one book on Dream, and in this chapter I referenced a whole section dedicated to Dream. Although to fix the plot-hole: After the scandal of Dream breaking up with Ink and Death many books were written about the relationship and the sudden near disappearance of Dream. Not all are in the best view of him, some are from a perspective of pity and others of hate. This feeds into Dream’s overthinking.

Error–as Lapse–figured he could make a book on Nightmare since he knew the other so closely, and make some money off of that because there aren’t many books on the God of Negativity.

There is a single book between Dream and Nightmare’s sections, written by Sci from the Star Council. It’s the only book that records Nim’s existence. Death personally paid for it to be written and got the help of the other Gods to fill the book as much as they could.

Both Nightmare and Dream tend to deflect others' feelings towards them, even if they return. They got this habit from their harsh breakup between each other and the problems their relationship had prior. It’s why Nightmare doesn’t say “love” often, even as a nickname. It’s also why Dream tends to overthink things because the one time he wasn’t thinking straight(leaving Nightmare alone nearby to the people who Dream just witnessed abusing him)–he lost Nightmare.

I didn’t plan for this chapter to be as long as it is, I just planned to only write Nightmare’s POV, but switching around gave me the chance to write other characters' perspectives on things and have fun with their different thought processes, take a look into how they think and view the world. It also allowed me to show dynamics and come up with more nicknames. Cressy took far longer to come up with than I would like to admit.

Chapter 58

Error is a piece of Chronic, so Core telling Error to trust Chronic might as well be saying “trust yourself” which absolutely cracks up Chronic. It’s an inside joke that Chronic says often. Everytime they talk about plans and that Error doesn’t trust Chronic, Chronic slowly stars “So…” “Chronic, for the fourth time, no.” “I guess you could say-” “I wish I never let you live.” “He needs to trust himself more.” “I’m done.” Core smiles everytime because its so stupid and it makes them feel a little younger, less like the multiverse is on their shoulders.

Chronic’s form flickering as they entered the portal was a hint that their portals are made through Death’s powers but their body is Error’s. Since when Death touches Error as Lapse his form flickers.

While Chronic and Error’s timelines are back to back, they are not exact. Chronic is the initial timeline that I was supposed to write. The originally planned much more angsty with little comfort story. The story where Error spiraled down and his pain brought everyone together. Chronic is still recovering from it. Error is only different in the fact that while he is in pain and slowly pulling away, he’s pulling together everyone while he suffers. Chronic did not have that same net, he did not have a realm to escape to. He ran across worlds until the gang and Stars pulled him back. Even then, he never fully came back.

Chapter 59

“It’s going to take a lot to get me down.” Is an important sentence because it does take a lot to stop Error. Like an overpowered Gaster wielding the power of a Creator. It’s a common phrase for Error, and he’s said it many times to assure others that he’s okay in previous timelines. Including right before he’s died.

Chapter 60

Dream was originally going to confess to Error at the beginning, but I decided to hold it off and make the chapter more central around reconnecting and strengthening the connection between Error and Cross as well as the gang and Error learning–or starting to at least–to cope and work through his current problems.

I actually took a little break on this chapter to reread through the whole series, which at 59 chapters takes most people 2 days (from my experience and commenters)

Chapter 61

Ink wasn’t trying to start a fight, Ink was actually trying to get Error to stay still so they could talk.

“That in death, he found the stars” Is a reference from when Death took him to outertale in chapter 27

“A… different place to call “home” aside from the antivoid” Nim’s AU in this chapter ends up becoming a second safe place for Error, but Error’s not willing to admit that he considers it a safe place so we’re left with “different place” close enough.

Chapter 62

The question what happens when a God dies was major hints towards Nim’s death and foreshadowing for Error’s own “death” as well as Chronic’s past.

Chronic disappearing “Going rebellious” and having Deja vu was a hint at them being a fusion of Error Ink Dream Nightmare and Death. All of them have a hard time with Nim. Nightmare and Dream feel guilty because they “replaced” Nim, Error and Ink were close to Nim, and Death was very close to Nim as well. Nim helped him dramatically in his early years before Mercy was created.

“Thank you for your help, Nim, goodbye.” Was a hint at Nim’s soon demise, and it was actually Core thanking them for helping Error and Ink, not for their “help” in finding Chronic.

“That fuckin’ nickname” Was Kitten, which Ink had called Error the previous chapter.

Chapter 62.5

I didn’t expect to write this chapter, but I wanted to write what happened with Chronic and give the readers more insight to Core and Chronic’s relationship, as well as Chronic themself.

I refer to the different parts of Chronic a lot in this chapter. The realm of his dreams was for Error. The pillow nest was in reference to Death in the fusion, little bird loves his cuddles and making sure he--and in turn everyone in the fusion–is comfortable. The reading was in reference to Nightmare.

Dream–in the fusion–takes a bit of a back seat in this chapter, acting as a neutral. Checking in on Core and holding back more harsher words from others.

The original draft was only 200 words, a very short dialogue between Chronic and Core, but I wanted to make it at least 500, so I switched from using Core’s POV to Chronics.

This chapter pretty much explicitly told why Core was so weird in Chapter 62

The smoky true black wings and dripping “limbs” were hints to Nightmare and Grim being part of the fusion that is Chronic.

Ink is the only one to not talk out of the fusion. Ink took the hardest hit from losing Nim. Being with the fusion has given them better memory and overtime reliving through everything in the new multiverse has pretty much completely retained their memory.

Chapter 63

I actually pulled into my own experiences with pain for this chapter, a weird disorder in my family that shows up every few generations that makes it really hard for my nerves to recognize pain and I had to learn what pain felt like and what to do rather than just instinct–so pain is really disconnected for me, which, with Error’s glitched war hardened mortal body with the soul of a God in it, I think makes a lot of sense for him.

I flat out talked about the previous multiverse wars and previous timelines without actually saying anything about them… more lore under the radar

I hinted that Ink used to have to deal with the worst of the voices before they left to torture Error.

Hinted that Dream and Nightmare’s little hut was made by Ink for Error.

Life and Grim visited because Error was on the verge of dying, Grim recognized the soul and went to it–after getting Life. Nim didn’t recognize the name Geno, but explained about Error. Things connected in Life and Death’s minds, but they didn’t say anything. Just wishing Error well. Nim knew Error wasn’t born a God because of this, Ink didn’t put it together. Just figured Life and Death had heard about Error through Nim because the three were close.

Chapter 64

This was the first time I ever broke the rule of separating Error’s memories and present between chapters. I purposely made it extremely disorienting for both Error and the reader to simulate that, Core has to outright say what happened for Error and the reader to understand what just happened.

I hinted again that Death was apart of Chronic’s fusion. Error actually flat out seeing that Death was in the fusion without realizing it–in his desperation for comfort thinking Chronic’s wings were Deaths–since no one else has them, yet.

Chapter 65

In this chapter I mentioned it had been a year since the memories started for Error, which lines up in actual time with the anniversary of AEJ–although it’s a few days off (the chapter was posted on the 28, the anniversary is on the 22).

Cobalt crocheting and teaching Ink how to was set up for the coming chapters.

When writing the second half I was talking to a friend about the chapter and word for word summarized this part as “if it could be gay-er, it would be a stereotype.”

Reaper and Ink both realize that Error’s talking about Nim’s death. Ink also realizes about their and Error’s shared past–but still can’t really remember so they don’t mention it.

Chapter 66

The hating underfell sans thing? I accidentally made it make a lot of sense in AEJ. Because Cherry–from like chapter 4–was an asshole ex to Lust. Error specifically has a vendetta against Cherry, and Cherry alone is #13.

Chapter 67

I didn’t originally intend for the hut to have been Error’s/Ink’s and later become Dream and Nightmare’s. That was more or less the details filling in themselves as this story often did.

The books falling into Error’s path was Chronic’s doing.

Ink’s tome is a personal headcanon I’ve had for ages and I absolutely love the idea and was so happy I could implement it into AEJ. Specifically a tome made by Error to be infinite and often times I’ll add in the detail of how it can act like a fricken library computer and you can search up key words and dates bc holy fuck does Ink have centuries packed into that thing. Also love the idea of Ink being like “wait, since when were we friends Error??” Error sighs, “Page 483, date XXX5” “What??” “Your tome.” “Oh-” *opens tome and reads what he wrote for the date “OH! Yeah, silly me lol.” They are the definition of tired and energetic couple dynamic, romantic or platonic does not matter.

Transitioning to present between those memories helped several different things: I could connect the tome Ink currently has to the one Error made in the memories, I could bring up that Nightmare is opening up to people and actively letting Ink and Death be trusted alone with Error, and also show how Error was beginning to heal–before being promptly traumatized.

XGaster had promised Ink a soul. Which I honestly forgot about but tied up nicely for the end because Chronic filled that wish, so it took away any interest Ink had in X and took away any control X had over Ink.

Ink wanted the soul so they could be genuine for Error, understand the moral issues he was having over the guardians. After the apple incident Ink forgot about wanting a soul again, only randomly remembering it and getting into a funk until something else caught their attention. In the span of the story of AEJ (Error’s present, not the memories, I know it's confusing.) Ink mostly doesn’t remember wanting a soul. If there was any time that they did, it would be when Dream broke things off with Death and him, a moment that would make him want to be genuine in his partners sorrow and pain. Sometimes Lapse would invoke the feeling briefly, like wanting genuine happiness when seeing them about and especially when the cafe opened.

“He barely saw a glimpse of Ink’s truthful hurt,” it was truthful that time because of Error, soul or not they’ve spent the past centuries together. No matter who you are, spending centuries together creates a relationship, and knowing that you will not see that person anymore hurts. (this is following the idea of Ink chooses what he wants to feel about people, ex: enemies if he took some pink paint he wouldn’t go crazy and start loving them, but he would probably hug Dream if he took pink paint. Soulless or not he knows what he wants to feel and still has a set of morals, just not the stereotypical ones we see in most characters, AEJ Ink simply has problems with the grey range: XGaster helped him, and Ink helped X in return–but he’s bad? But he’s done good things. It’s a grey that’s confusing and leaves him with the morals he has, trust Error’s word or follow X for the soul he wants for Error, he tries to do both but fails as we know.)

Chapter 68

This was a chapter I was ridiculously excited for, and it’s a giant paragraph on my plot document. I don’t think when I was writing this that I wrote it as long as I wanted to, but I’m still happy with the end result.

If you can’t tell, I took a page of christianity for the humans in this chapter.

At first, Nightmare was quite weary of the cloak stranger (Error) just hearing stories from Dream and soul gripping with fear for what the stranger could be planning, but the moment of handing the spellbook over is extremely beneficial to the entire story, and there’s a reason Chronic had to make sure this landed in Error’s path. This is what helps create the bond between Dream and Nightmare, Nightmare becoming the “star light” we know. This is what opens the gate way to spells for Nightmare at a young age and what helps him be so much more magically focused in AEJ (Most interpretations leave him more academically or musically focused) Nightmares spells are used a lot in AEJ, his sleep spell as well as his “star light” are pretty much his trademarks, loved by Error and Dream.

What’s somewhat funny is Error thinks in this chapter that human religion never made sense to him… keep in mind in AEJ Error canonically had a degree in religion–which includes human. Remember how furious he was in his memories? Now imagine how much more angry he could be understanding the bs excuses and reasoning that the humans had. (which sadly also happens a lot in modern times world wide to this day)

Dream did attempt to ask about the bruises and dents in Night’s bones. Night just laughed it off or gave half hearted excuses, which Dream could tell were lies but didn’t want to make NM uncomfortable so he didn’t force NM to say anything. They 100% talk about this later in life and by the end of AEJ laugh at how stupid they both were.

Dream’s memory is extremely blurry around the time of the apple incident, barely remembering “Stranger” bringing NM to him and not remembering what he said, however– he does remember distinctly Stranger’s voice. It’s why Dream cares about Lapse so much, its nearly identical voices, (a little more ruff from being traumatized in the antivoid) he holds some hope that Lapse is a descendent of Stranger.

The altercation between Error and Ink in this chapter made Ink want a soul more than ever. He didn’t leave Dreamtale at all until well after the apple incident because of this. Just sitting in the tree working over everything in his mind trying their best to understand but failing. Ink doesn’t remember it, but he was there long enough that he did see Sci show up and take Nm away.

Chapter 69

There are many interpretations of how Error handled the trauma of the antivoid, and somehow I managed to fit both of the main interpretations into AEJ. This first time Error relentlessly fights against the memory loss, doing his best to remember everyone close to him. The second time he gives up, basically having a “flash of life” moment before he surrenders to the loss. It hurt far too much to handle, and losing those memories was an escape from it.

I pretty much summarize Error’s new life in the memories (aka, insane as the past Error has been nicknamed in my docs). In the philosophical moment Insane has, he thinks: “Maybe next time he would choose to live amongst mortals and enjoy the simple things in life.” He does eventually live alongst side mortals, eating and sleeping with them, even going as far as to live TWO mortal lives, going full out in the struggle of building up a business in the bustling city of Omega, because apparently being a royal scientist previously and a Code master of the multiverse/ self proclaimed God of Destruction wasn’t enough.

“Not the death that plagued him so. Watching over him like some over-protective guardian.” I played around with words here and I love what I did so enjoy reading it again.

“If he fought, however, there was Ink to think of. The chance that Purple and Yellow were still alive, that he could be close to them. Purple’s laugh was music, and Yellow was just as charming. Then honoring Nim’s memory. Finally teaching Purple and Yellow about Gods, about the amazing deity that came before them, the balance, tell them anything.” Because Error didn’t fight, none of that happend. None of them care for the balance. Error forgot what it was and so did Ink, then Nightmare and Dream never learned. Nightmare and Dream only know of Nim because of the few wives tales that the village told and hearing sometimes from Death. Most of the deities of Reapertale don’t know they even exist or if they do, don’t recognize they are the guardians after Nim. Reaper doesn’t have much of an excuse and not all of the Gods in Reapertale have balances to uphold, so he didn’t think to mention it to Error, Ink, Dream, and Night.

Something I regret not conveying properly is what Error felt after returning from the recovery. He’s so fucking grateful to have Ink back, to know that he’s repaired things with Death and found him again, and honestly, feeling like an idiot for pushing Nightmare and Dream away. In that moment, he doesn’t want to push them away or do anything that could make them go away. All he knows is to tell Nightmare he(nightmare) is alright(aka, saying that Nightmare is ok to come closer, that right now he wants him close), the communication that NM always rewarded him for, something safe that wouldn’t push away.

Plot hole is that Dream didn’t bring up thinking Lapse could maybe be a descendent of Stranger here, but it’s fine because that thought process is immediately just considered coincidence once Dream hears that Error was Stranger.

“still upset they didn’t die–but that might be post-memory haze talking.” Error has changed since then and acknowledges it. He only kills when needed, even the terrible terrible people.

“A smile tugged at his face. In the past, he would’ve never believed it, soul freezing at any inclination of attachment. Now, he was starting to believe they were there for him.” Find this finalizing line a little funny (in a dark humor kinda way) because it’s not long after this chapter I promptly traumatize the fuck out of Error to a point where any healing he’s done is forgotten and he completely regrets any thing he’s done in life(because he’s super guilty that he was even allowed to go on for so long not living with the weight of it when it must have tortured Cobalt for so long, so a lot of guilt crashing down at once, literally centuries worth)

Chapter 69.5

I wanted to include Chronic in this and give an inner eye to their and Core’s dynamic and some of their conversations.

It is an honor to meet Template, Core talks very highly of them and Template is the reason Core was able to get this point, they would’ve not only given up long ago but would have no idea where to go at all with the overwrites.

Error’s alright because for a moment he doesn’t have to be everything he is in his multiverse, he can just blend in and sit back, not be the main character he always has to be.

Templates comment on “the string and glitch situation” is far more accurate than you’d first think, because Glitch had really no clue how he got into String’s multiverse and I doubt I’ll ever give a clear explanation for it. If you want for the sake of narrative (because technically, I can connect all of my series together as a megaverse but that’s far too confusing) Let’s say that Glitch is from Core’s OG universe (which is easy bc they both stem from after the events of Underverse 0.4) and Core accidentally or purposefully dropped them off. That aside, Chronic also at the start had no clue what was going on and didn’t function well, the first centuries they skulked and lurked about until Core made a realm for them. They didn’t function well as a fusion and it took centuries to get as used to it as they are, to be so fluid and act together as one. Give up control of some aspects and take control in others. It took them time to coordinate like they have. They let the Error of the fusion take front seat for talking and body when working with Error, same for the other four during 1 on 1s. Then it depends on the situation. People often know others better than they know themself, there are many little things that you do that the people that love you probably pick up on that you don’t notice. You wouldn’t second guess that someone that half heartedly talks like you sometimes does the same weird things you do, we humans naturally mimic each other and pick up what others do.

The coin was a major hint to the whole fusion. The sentimental intent and taste of fake emotion was hints to Dream and Nightmare, the mention of recognized creation magic Ink, and flowers not dying under their touch was Death.

The blanket was a second hint to the fusion. Dream and Nightmare dying the fabric and collecting the dye–like they had done together for Dream’s scarf–then spinning it was actually Death, the rainbow hues Ink, and knitting/sewing it together was Error.

Chapter 70

The emotion Error was feeling was guilt, he’s guilty for everything. For the rampages he knows he used to do, now against the ideals Nim taught him and he agrees with now. For pushing himself away from Nightmare, feeling like he’s playing with Nights emotions when Error is just struggling with himself and having trouble maintaining the relationship. Error’s guilty for pushing away the gang especially now that he’s grown so close to Cross and that he knows he’s missed so much of their growth–the relations that had grown between them–and he can’t get that time back. He’s guilty for forgetting Ink and his old bond, being Grim’s soul, avoiding Life and Mercy, and for spending time on himself when he should be helping others. Having all these lives remembered back to back is tearing him apart, he could go back to Sci roots and follow the morals he had then, distance himself and take care of himself like he did as Geno, go rogue like the early days in the antivoid, care for the multiverse like he was taught to, or keep up the life he had now and ignore the inner turmoil. While he struggles to figure out who he is, he’s losing the life he has now–or at least thinks he is. Thinks that everyone around him is moving away when the opposite is happening. They’re all growing closer, and Error’s in the center, not the outskirts. Lapse has also slipped away, and because everyone’s worried over Error, they’re forgetting Lapse. So in a way, Error’s right, just not about the right identity.

Sydney–since she’s from a Mafia tale–knows strongly of loss, close or not. She’s one of the few that is unaware of Error’s turmoils and therefore focusing on Lapse and keeping his life’s work afloat when he is gone. He brought her up from the dust (pun not intended), now it’s her turn to help him. The other’s that focus on Lapse are Blue and Cobalt, Hearts more preoccupied with Error and Ink concerned over Lapse, but wanting to focus on Error too. Ccino and Death, the only two to know of Error’s second identity, are focused on him in general, whether Error is acting as Lapse or not.

Spots–and Blue’s cow, Cinnamon–were late additions, and far from important to the story, but I just love the idea of them being close to one animal or another at the farm. Cinnamon is an older, more brownish cow while Spots is the more typical black and white. Also I like the idea of Honey napping with chickens and Hearts being really good at horseback riding. Him and Blue go out into the mountains and trails with their horses for dates. Hearts also loves the sheep and with the help of Cobalt has gotten really good with anything to do with wool–shearing, dying and knitting.

Dream can’t say no to Cobalt because Dream knows of Cobalt’s past and trauma and was there when he was rejoining society and getting used to people again. Dream can’t say no to him in the same way Nightmare can’t say no to Horror.

Chronic does know. I don’t know if I have mentioned it, but Chronic rarely says I, and it’s highly important every time they do. When Chronic says “I know” to Error, it’s because they do. That’s an Error on Error conversation. The error of the Chronic fusion does know, he has gone through something extremely similar, and while their multiverse’s have differences, they are close. Chronic Error can relate to the guilt on a personal level, he knows.

Chapter 71

Error’s feelings, the way I described it, is very empathetic to myself. My nerves are very broken to feeling most things–thanks genetics–so my sense of touch is based on what my muscles can feel, so being cold or limbs falling asleep is very disorienting, which I applied to Error as at this point, he’s been alone in the cold antivoid, just trying to rest, for a while. Limbs cold and asleep, bean bag just as cold against his face.

Error’s used to feeling half dead, soul barely beating if at all but still alive and moving. Being alive is painful for Error and he’s not used to the warmth of life, it’s burning to him. For a bit perspective for normal bodied people (yes, my nerve damage extends to telling temps): You just came inside after walking in the cold and go to the bathroom and wash your hands, the water's hot and your hands cold and it feels burning at first but then you recognize that it's just warm. Prolong that burning, that’s what Error’s feeling.

Error is afraid, he’s terrified of the outside, it’s not controlled, not something he knows how to handle. He knows how to handle the antivoid–he’s not comfortable in it, but it’s familiar.

Leaving to the underground near immediately makes Error overwhelmed and tired, too much to handle and to deal with.

Often during the chapter I cut over to Error’s thoughts, the desperation that he feels, the accomplishment he’s trying to reach. The voices did well to manipulate them, and even when trying to prove them wrong, he still searches for their validation. “…Where are the voices? He did good, right? He was doing what they asked-”

For this chapter parts of it are pretty much word for word copied from the actual original ask error sans comic.

For AEJ, the moment of Error holding back, unable to kill papyrus is what cements to Cobalt that Error was simply hurt, and not fully in control of what he was doing. That he had a chance to be good and sometimes does good.

When Error “talks” about Cobalt’s soul in this chapter and the next, it’s constantly talked about the same way the voices talk to Error, although its a sad attempt at hiding Error’s jealousy. “...attaching to that pathetically kind soul…”

By this point in the chapter, Error while still manipulated by the voices, had grown tired and annoyed with them again, restarting the cycle he has with them. One party always desperate and another always tired and angry with the other.

The reason Cobalt is a “dirty liar” is the voices had brainwashed Error that he could never have friends, he didn’t deserve them. The only reason Error was able to later make friends is he became allies with Nightmare for his own benefits, and for a long time didn’t consider them friends. It was only once he started staying at the castle more often and out of range of the voices control that he became more open, he doesn’t remember much of this time.

In a way, Error is scared of Cobalt. He’s scared of the relationship and the commitment. His soul hurts even at the thought, afraid of being hurt again and the relationship torn apart.

Chapter 72

He was searching for Nim’s presence, which led him to the remains of Dreamtale.

The “odd creature” was Nightmare, who kept a close eye on Dreamtale between bouncing around AUs and trying to find a place to call his own.

Nightmare at this point knows well of the destroyer, and did well to both protect himself and Dream from Error. Although Error is in the back of his mind as a possible ally, at the moment there’s nothing he can offer the destroyer for that allyship.

The voices are very toxic as soon as he’s back, although I was careful to make it a more underlying toxicity. Cobalt wasn’t important, just a brat. Just like you called him. They didn’t call him a brat and leave him alone in the antivoid, Error did. The blame isn’t on them. No one else can hear them. It’s all on Error. How could he blame the voices? They didn’t do the action, Error did. Then less underlying but a normal line to Error “now he’s just as bad as you.” Then reminding Error that he deserves to be alone, taking away the little control he had–or at least, making Error think the control is out of his hands.

Chapter 73

Coming back, Error feels more broken than ever, he needs that validation he was seeking from the voices in the past. He needs those pieces of his soul back. Nothing feels right. Chronic is extremely helpful in helping relieve the need, and so is Dream and Nightmare.

Coming out of the memories, Error feels lost for any control, afraid to speak up to Chronic about anything he wants. Keep in mind, he spent centuries in that antivoid with those voices, all the progress he had made from the voices, taking back control, might as well be gone. He doesn’t want to burden anyone. That’s a safe thing to confess, because he doesn’t deserve to burden anyone, he’s expecting Chronic to reinforce that. That he doesn’t deserve to be able to “burden” people, but instead he’s told the opposite.

Chronic was very smart in the way he approached this, Error wants to please right now and then take the validation, just like he did with the voices. Chronic reminds him of what his lovers want, that they want to help him–but of course, without saying that they want to help. Rewording it. Error while distraught, is still Error. He doesn’t need help, but if it will make others happy–he will help others.

Error right now feels so small, out of control despite the main character he is.

Nightmare doesn’t quite understand the extent of the voices' torment, or that Error just underwent their torment again. Error wasn’t willing to explain it the first time, and even less so now.

Dream mentioning that keeping all of that to yourself is “bad” is referencing Nightmare’s corruption, that keeping all of the trauma to yourself leads you down a path of bottling it up and destroying yourself. Nightmare and Dream can both see the signs in Error, and both are determined to let him go down that path.

Error, while out of control, wants to remind Nightmare that he’s still here too, just like Nightmare used to say. He wants to come back to control and be the person they love, but the fresh revival of trauma has left him uncertain. Holding on to Nightmare’s hand was symbolic. Will Nightmare keep moving? Or truly be there like he’s said? Nightmare waits, and is patient. He doesn’t move, he lets Error take the control he wants and however much he wants. For all Nightmare could’ve cared in that moment, Error could’ve pulled him back down and just held him close. But Error’s not ready to just take that amount of control, a small piece of validation and love it all he can muster to allow himself right now, and even that’s pushing the limits.

Error doesn’t take the laugh as something taunting, but enjoys Nightmare’s joy. It’s a chuckle of positivity that Error loves. It’s the validation he was looking for.

Nightmare 100% kisses Dream as soon as that door closes.

As you all know now, Chronic did bring him back (I know, Chapter 5)

Error can open his arms for Ink because it’s not taking control, not to him. It’s pleasing Ink, giving the comfort that he knows thanks to Chronic they want.

I continue to have Error only say “safe” things, everything Error mentions is something that usually the voices would affirm and use against him. When he attempts to talk about the voices, he stops. That isn’t safe. He can’t talk back to them right now. He’s not fueled by rage like when he woke up with Reaper and Nightmare, he’s scared. He’s afraid.

Error doesn’t want to be reminded how bad he is, just like how the voices just did. He doesn’t want to be reminded of his guilt, but it’s what he expects Ink to do. He also expects Ink and everyone else to be disgusted, and he doesn’t want to lose Ink again. He doesn’t want to outright speak up about what he’d done.

It’s highly assuring that Ink isn’t going to force Error to say anything, and it gives more control back to Error.

Ink is really validating in this chapter. Contradicting what all the voices were telling Error. “You weren’t yourself back then, remember? Whatever the voices convinced you to do, it’s not your fault.” “I… I still-” “Either way. It’s not your fault. Whatever you did, I’m sure you can find forgiveness” Error wasn’t himself back then, but as the voices subtly reminded, he still did it. Not the voices. The voices didn’t force him to do anything. Ink reminded Error that he wasn’t really in control then, and it isn’t his fault–even if it was, he can find forgiveness.

Ink ruining the moment pulls Error away from being scared of the voices, it pulls him back to himself. Back to when he was in control. Distracting him with their jokes and the ruined moment distracted him from why the moment even happened in the first place.

I’ve had Ink’s coming out in my notes for ages and I’ve been waiting so long to write it.

For the moment, Error is distracted. He doesn’t have to think about being afraid of the voices, Ink in his arms and the souls of the people he cares about nearby.

Chapter 74

This chapter is mainly for two things: to cement the connection between Dream and Error–show that Dream understands far more than he lets on–and for Error’s inner dilemma, does he leave them? Then, why does he want to leave them? He does want to leave them, and doesn't want to hurt them anymore, so he’s going to make them as happy as possible before he leaves–forgetting that him leaving will hurt them again.

Dream is the most open in this chapter than he has been in the whole series. He’s constantly keeping a wall up about who he is, appearing to have walls of glass and managing to convince people that what they see in those walls are true when it’s a carefully crafted facade. Lapse saw a glimpse of the real Dream when Dream had the dissociation episode. The real Dream in AEJ is riddled with mental difficulties but full of selflessness. As much as it would make him happy to stay with Ink and Death at the beginning, he knew he was hurting Ink–even if he didn’t understand why. He knew staying around Ink would continue to hurt–even if Omega is his home. He knew that being around others and working with others makes him happy–but he pushed himself away and poured himself into his garden, but like Dream said in the chapter: “plants can’t fill that emptiness I have without people” he needs to be around people to be happy–but he completely locked himself away to ensure that others could be happy. This is the first real view the readers get of Dream, the Dream that’s uncertain and just doing his best, even when struggling just to get through the day.

Error spent ages pretending, he doesn’t really know who he is anymore through all the confusion, even when the answer is in front of his eyes. He spent so long being only one thing, he thinks he has to pick when he doesn’t have to.

Dream was going to say “Do you want to help me” but that’s more of a trigger for Error than anything else, so he reworded it.

Rose was something much older that I brought up from an AEJ nickname chart, so I figured I could wedge in there, solidify the relationship a little more.

Despite what Error says, Dream is still worried over Error. Just because Error wanted to, doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt him to do so–it’s clear as day in Dream’s eyes that Error is forcing himself to make this progress. Dream does not hold his concerns to himself, and that’s why Nightmare is careful but attentive with Error the next chapter.

Chapter 75

This chapter is highly constructed and a facade by Nightmare, the gang, and everyone else who now calls the castle home. Alerted by Dream, Nightmare made sure to tell everyone to keep eyes on Error. That Error would likely be forcing his progress to make others happy, but not to stop him. He needs to stumble and fall, to learn that forcing himself is not going to help. Nightmare also alerts them that he knows there is definitely some ulterior motive to forcing this progress as it was only a few days ago that Error was more than content to spend the rest of his immortal life in that library sipping on soup and nibbling on chocolate with his books and laptop. They’re all keeping an eye out for some sign or intent that could give them an idea of what that motive is.

Chapter 77

His soul and thoughts fogging was clever word choice, as I built that image of his soul raining and both rain and thoughts can be foggy.

His vision “dusting” wasn’t clever word choice. It was literal. For AEJ, I put far more emphasis to monster customs as well as word choice. The characters do not use human sayings–aside from those who were raised around humans. Word choice is the number one thing I want readers to pay attention to in AEJ, and with that information alone, the whole story can change. Some words are built on further fiction, world building, and scenarios or imagination. Some words are literal. I can’t easily say which is more, the literal or nonliteral words, but I can say both are equally important to the story.

And that’s it for AEJ.

Originally, this was going to be my last series. When it was done I was going to write a semi-long piece about myself and my journey with creation, as well as directing “secret-time-is-here” to my other persona, which for now I’ll leave unmentioned. Although some friends I have through that second persona are aware of “secret”.

But for now, I’m slowly creating, and I plan to keep creating.

My current plans are to rework The Lonely and The One because holy fuck does that story have more holes than swiss cheese, and to rewrite and put more detail into those chapters and that unscripted bittersweet story. I doubt it’ll be often, as most of my effort goes into the content creation (streaming, branding, video creation, editting, tiktok/youtube shorts, etc.) of my other persona, but honestly, I think about writing the next chapter and working on The Lonely and the One constantly. And, if you ever find my other persona, and you think it might be me, honestly? I would not mind you calling it out (ex ask on tumblr on this acc or comment on twitter, don't harrass small content creators people). But I’ll simply leave it as a mystery for now. (However, if you see this on Ao3 I recommend you go to my twitter or tumblr to try and find it, it’s pretty obvious in my eyes lmao. I’ve even liked or rebloged some stuff from my other persona XD).

And with that, I’ll leave this post. Have a great new year, and if you see this on tumblr, expect more reblogs and random shit.

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