I had been staying with - being held captive by - Ink for forty years at this point, and I was going to see Error today; I was excited for that. My feelings had been shifting often recently, just as the doctor said they would; I felt like everything that I thought immediately contradicted itself. Although I couldn't feel pain anymore, Ink still allowed the high ranks to break my bones, if only to appease them. Unfortunately, he also posed a few restrictions on those who saw me: they weren't allowed to try to stop or hinder the progression of my condition in any way; of course, Error could, since he wasn't under Ink's control. Ink didn't make me drink paint as often anymore as torture, since it really didn't do anything to me other than leave a bad taste, but he sometimes did it, just for fun. Instead of that, he opted for forms of mental torture; they were really..horrible. I was sure that Ink didn't mean to torture me - yes, he did! - really; he probably just wanted me to...I didn't know. Ink was nice to me sometimes and mean other times; I didn't understand it. I had just been woken up from my sleep, and Ink had a bright smile lighting up his expression; he would be nice - no, he wouldn't.

"Good morning, Dusty!" Ink greeted.

"Good morning!" I smiled, hugging my Hope.

"I bet you're excited for today!"

"I am!" I really wanted to see Error: he was family - he was the only one who could keep me sane.

"Did you have a nice rest?"

"Yep!"

"Do you love your brother?"

"Yes.."

"You know, it really makes me sad to hear you say that."

"Wh-why?" I didn't want Ink to feel sad - yes, I did!

"I just thought that maybe..you'd let him go?"

"Why w-would I.."

"Oh, Dusty, he doesn't care about you, so why should you care about him?"

"B-because he's my brother.."

"Perhaps. It's time for you to go see Error."

"Really?" That news made me happy.

"Indeed! The escorts are already here!" Ink patted my skull, receiving a giggle; I loved that. "I'll miss you until you return, but never fear! I will be waiting for you!"

"Okay!" 

"Now, go." Ink made me stand and faced me toward the door.

"Okay." 

I walked to the door and opened it, seeing a couple guards, who gave me nice smiles; they felt sorry for me, although I really didn't know why - Ink was torturing me. They started leading me to Error; I knew the path by soul. I didn't need to be handcuffed anymore, since Ink knew that I would never try to escape - I wanted to escape so much! - at this point. My soul felt a bit weird as the thoughts flew through my mind, but that was normal at this point. As we walked, the guards started a little conversation, asking how I was and if I was feeling all right; I felt great - I felt hopeless. The guards seemed happy when I said that I was okay, which was great; I liked making people feel happy, especially when there was so much sadness - Ink was the cause, of course - going around. The walk down the stairs was a bit boring, but I managed to get through it, just like all the other times. When we reached the bottom, the door was opened, and Error's expression lit up when he saw me; that was a nice feeling. I was quickly let into the cell and surrounded with a warm embrace; Error seemed to be really lonely - I wished that I could do more to help him.

"Hello again, Dust." Error hugged me tightly. 

"Hello, Error!" I returned. 

"It seems like the years just keep getting longer.."

"Yeah.."

"How have you been doing?"

"I'm okay! How are you?"

"Just lonely..I really missed you."

"I missed you, too.." I was weeping, but I wasn't quite sure why - I wanted to stay forever; I never wanted to see Ink again!

"Hey, it's okay! No need to cry!" 

"Error..I feel like I'm going to crumble into a million pieces every second I stay here.."

"I know..you'll get through it. We'll both get through it, right?"

"It isn't a matter of getting through it, Error." I was dead serious. "This is a matter of how long we'll last."

"You're right.." Error sighed. "How long can you last?"

"I don't know..maybe a few years. You?"

"I can last as long as I have to.."

"Before you lose it?"

"For all intents and purposes, I already have."

"I'm sorry.."

"It's not your fault."

"I know..but I'm still sorry.."

"Dust.."

"Error, I'm scared!"

"I know..try to stay strong."

"Error, promise me something.."

"Anything."

"When it happens.." I hugged him tighter. "Please, forgive me.."

"I already have, Dust. If-" Error was cut off.

"When."

"When it happens, it won't be you; you won't be in control.."

"I know.."

"Dust, don't dread it; it'll only make it worse. Just hold on as long as you can."

"I will..thank you."

"Of course."

We continued our hour comforting eachother; that really helped.

~~~~~

Hmmmm, what's the resistance up to?

Papyrus's point of view.

~~~~~

My brother had been held captive for four decades; I missed him so much! Rescue missions were too frequent to keep track of, our group was growing smaller, and I felt like it was hopeless. I was the worst brother ever; I couldn't even save him. I wished that I could see him, just for a moment, and assure him that everything would be okay in the end; I did not have that privilege, however. It felt as if I would never see my brother again. Everybody told me that it would simply take time or that I simply had to wait a bit longer, but I was tired of waiting! I wanted to see my brother! I couldn't, though, and that was the worst part. I hadn't seen him in person in over thirty-five years! In the past, we could rarely be separated; now, we couldn't even be in the same universe, let alone be together! In all honesty, I was at the end of my rope; I didn't know what to do next! The Outertale brothers had almost been captured on several occasions, and Classic was not too far behind; it was unfortunate, to say the least. I was currently sitting with them in the hospital: Outer had been wounded in a battle, and it was difficult for him to move; he would become well in time. That seemed to be what we lived by: time.

"Are you feeling okay?" Classic inquired. "Joints mobile?"

"I'll be fine, really!" Outer grinned sneakily. "No need to..worry abouter it!"

"He'll be fine." Starstruck assured. "No doubts."

"That is good." I smiled. "I wish you a quick recovery."

"Thanks, Spec." Outer preferred Chara's nickname for me, and his brother agreed with it; Classic simply called me 'Papyrus,' which was fine with me.

"Of course."

"Hey!" A certain ghost floated over.

"Hello, Chara." I waved; the others could not see Chara, but I had the ability. "Is something wrong?"

"Ink's attacking one of our bases! They can't hold out for long without help!"

"What is it?" Classic was ready.

"Attack." I simply stated. "Where is it, Chara?"

"Base 2c!" Chara yelled. "Hurry up, Spec!" 

"2c. Immediately." I opened a portal to the destination.

"I'm coming!" Classic declared.

"Then let us go."

Classic, Chara, and I entered the portal to a battleground, finding Ink leading his forces against our small base. The base was in a smaller universe, which was mostly abandoned, but a few escaped prisoners would occasionally end up there. We would pick them up, give them a proper place, and make them feel welcomed; Ink never treated a prisoner nicely unless it was profitable for him to do so, and it never was. The ones we rescued would also often join our cause, partly because if they went anywhere else, they would simply be arrested once more and sent right back to Ink's prison, where they would no doubt be treated worse than before. I hoped my brother was okay. Classic, Chara, and I were a good team in battle, and we could often make a difference in critical battles; this was one of those. We wasted no time in confronting Ink's forces and joining our friends, who were being overpowered; there were only twenty of our fighters against two hundred of Ink's specially trained soldiers, which was not a fair fight by any means. The battle eventually came to a calm point, and Ink decided to speak; in order to gain a bit of energy, we allowed him that - it wasn't as if he had anything good to say, anyway.

"Must you be in every fight?" Ink asked. "You overwork yourself, don't you? Well, I can understand that; you just want to be so tired out all the time, that when you eventually try to save your brother again, you get captured, am I right?"

"You are not worthy to speak of my brother." I gripped my weapon tighter.

"You're one to speak about worthiness. I bet you aren't worthy of anything. Of course, that's not my place; that's yours, Papyrus. Why don't you just give up? I mean, you and your friends could be inducted into my army, you wouldn't have to fight anymore, and you could be with your brother! What part of that doesn't sound nice?"

"The part where you are in control of the entire multiverse."

"I don't see what's so bad about that!"

"You would not."

"Well, I guess not. You know what I like to do? I like to make people feel horrible. I think I can do that to you right now." 

"You could not tell me anything that I do not already know."

"Oh, Papyrus! You're the worst brother I've ever seen!" Ink was laughing; I wasn't phased.

"Spec, maybe we should continue the fight before he says something else." Chara suggested.

"Did I mention that he's ill?" Ink's statement unsettled me, but I showed no outward emotion.

"Oh, no.." Classic knew that I would be quite out of it later. "Ink, go away!"

"What are you going to do about it?"

Classic began using some of his most powerful attacks, aiming them all at Ink; Ink wasn't ready for that. The battle soon escalated once more, and attacks came swift again; we were outnumbered, but our teamwork would hopefully prevail. It seemed as if the harder we fought, the more difficult it was to combat Ink's forces, but we were determined to do something to stop him, even if it was simply protecting a small base. As the battle raged, it seemed as if we were winning, but an unexpected turn of events decimated our chances of success; we were losing the base. Ink managed to surround us, which was a terrible position for us; we had the choices of surrender or retreat - we chose to retreat. It was quick and we lost nobody, but the base would be taken out of our possessions list; it was a sad day. As soon as we returned, I decided that it would be best to get some sleep; I had been up for over forty-eight hours caring for the sick, and if I didn't take care of myself, I would have ended up becoming ill myself. When I was lying in my bed, I thought of my brother; I hoped Ink wasn't being truthful when he said that my brother was ill. After a few minutes, Chara approached me.

"Hey, Spec.." Chara sighed. 

"Hello, Chara.." I didn't feel like talking at the moment, but I would.

"You know, I'm sure that Ink was just trying to get under your..bones. Dust is probably just fine!"

"Chara, when has a prisoner of Ink ever been fine?"

"There's a chance!"

"Chara, I hope with every ounce of my being that my brother is fine, but I simply cannot imagine it. Chara, for all we know, Ink is trying to mind control him!"

"Spec, your brother is strong. Very strong."

"Even the strongest fall, Chara."

"I know.."

"Spec!" Another voice shouted from across the room.

"Hm?" I wondered what was going on.

"We intercepted a document!" Starstruck proclaimed.

"What kind of document?"

"A newspaper!"

"A newspaper? How would that help?" 

"It isn't just any newspaper." Starstruck held it up. "This is the empire's newspaper." 

"How did we intercept that? He keeps everything that he produces within the borders of his empire!"

"A soldier had it on him, and one of our spies took it."

"What is it dated?"

"Today, last year."

"I see. May I look at it?"

"Of course." Starstruck handed me the newspaper.

As I looked across the headlines, something stood out; Ink played with children's toys? 

"Toys?" I didn't understand.

"Spec, I don't think that's what it means.." Chara seemed hesitant. "L-look at the bottom.."

"What's down-" My gaze landed on a small article. "N-no!"

I could hardly believe what I saw.

My brother was losing his mind.

~~~chapter end woot~~~

Dust bean and Paps bean uh oh.

Thanks for reading my newsworthy writing!

Bye!