Reborn as Error

39 - Rescue

I ignored their words and walked towards to star sans side. I was only looking at Gradient. Dream suddenly stepped in my way blocking my direct path.

"I won't let you-" 

I shortcutted around him and ended up directly in front of.... I'll just say dark Blue. He was startled by my sudden appearance but held his ground. Brave... or incredibly stupid. 

"Give me Gradient."

"Why would I do such a thing! You obviously are not-"

"Let me make this clear. I don't care who you are. If you don't release the kid I will find your au. Find your friends, your brother, your human, everyone.... and I will drag them by their souls right to you and kill them one by one. Or better yet I'll force you to fight them before destroying your au and leaving you to die in a collapsing mess that you won't be able to save yourself from."

The area went dead silent but I didn't care. I will say or do whatever it takes for Gradient to be safe.

"Hey buddy no need to be so cold," I heard Sans say from behind towards my right. "It's snowy here and that's enough cold for me." He was trying, it just wasn't enough. My other hand reached behind me and I felt my strings grab someone. Then I heard gasps. 

"Sans!" Oh hey, right target.

"Error you don't need to do this," I heard from Ink but it was quiet. Not loud like the others. It felt weird hearing it, he sounded unsure.

I heard footsteps behind me and glanced back briefly seeing Cross walk closer to the center with Frisk. 

"My friend over there will let the human go and I'll let Sans go once Gradient is safe."

"....."

"Your choice."

I could see this Sans in front of me was shaking a bit. We have never met, he has probably only heard stories about me but here I was. Threatening him. I could see him look at the others behind me unsure before pushing Gradient to me. 

He stumbled a bit but I caught him. He was trembling and my heart broke a bit. 

"Come on," I muttered to my kid before turning away and walking back to the group releasing Sans from the strings. I nodded to Cross and he released the human. Frisk ran to return to Fell Sans's side.

But once she past my form, it went downhill.

I looked up for a moment and saw the others relaxing seeing me and Gradient approach. Then I saw Dust's gaze change to look past me. His eyes widened and he stepped forward.

"Error watch out!"

One moment I was fine. Next thing I knew there was a bone through my arm since I pushed Gradient away.

"Ha! Never turn your back to your opponent!" I heard from the dark Blue. 

I heard the others scolding him and even the ones on Nightmare's side started to threaten him. But it was very muffled. The others were being muffled out by a ringing sound. A ringing that was growing increasingly louder. I stared at the bone that wasn't my own and noticed what I could only assume to be my blood. 

That could've hit Gradient. That could've killed Gradient.

Suddenly it was like I heard a snap sound, then hell broke loose. I turned suddenly and stomped the ground causing a bone to shoot up and hit my attacker. He was struck and crashed into a tree. 

I felt two presences coming at me. I grabbed one with my strings and swung him into the other causing two bodies to crash into the snow. The others tried to attack but I was too angry. Plus I had help. The others joined in and we had one goal in mind.

Get Gradient out.

Cross came up and kicked away someone behind me, I didn't care who it was. But it gave me time to bring Gradient close again and hurry away from the fight. I just needed the space to open a portal and get him out.

Though that was proving to be difficult since I was shielding him from stray attacks. At one point the gaster blasters came out and I couldnt lift my hand to summon to counter it.

To my luck a wall went up blocking us from the others. Ink was on top of the wall and looked down at us, mostly Gradient. He seemed conflicted about something before gesturing to us. 

"Get him out of here! While you still can!" 

I could see Gradient look up at Ink with curiosity and knew there was something I'm going to have to talk about with him. Once this was all over.

I nodded to Ink before running towards the trees. I was going to go with the portal idea but if someone found him then my guilt would be immeasurable. So, idea two it is. I saw Fresh just hiding in the trees and hurried over with my kid. 

Fresh saw and approached. I could tell Gradient looked really uneasy about the new skeleton but I was running out of time. 

"Gradient, this is Fresh. He's going to get you out of here."

"What's up little man!"

"B-But what about you?" 

"I need to stay and help the others."

"But you're injured," his hand barely grazed at my arm and it took all of my willpower to not flinch. 

"I'll be ok, go with Fresh. Please." Gradient really didnt look sure but he did nod and grabbed Fresh's extended hand.

"Fresh if-"

"I know brah, I know. I promise he'll be ok. Catch ya on the flip side!" With that and a burst of color the two were gone. He was safer with Fresh than here, a sentence I never thought I'd even think about.

My rage started to bubble up again as I thought about the scene going on behind me. I started to head back and for some reason my anger wasn't going down, just increasing. Upon arriving I notice someone, dark Blue, heading my way to attack again most likely.

Time to end this.

In my less then stellar state I reached out with my non injured hand and grabbed every presence I felt and tied them up with with my strings. Yes even the people on my side. The less people moving around the better.

I heard groans of pain but I didn't care.

"Error did-" I heard Ink start but I cut him off.

"He's fine. Now.... Dream. Want to explain how the hell or even why you had Gradient." 

Dream was struggling a bit in his restraint but stopped to address what was said to him. "It doesn't matter. I wasn't going to let you brainwash children to being on your side!" 

Poor choice of words. I tightened my hold on him, which also tightened my hold on everyone else.

"That was my child. I had them safe, away from us, away from you. How. Did. You. Get. Them." I heard some trying to struggle while others were in pain.

"I-I didn't know," I heard a voice squeaked out and looked over seeing it was Blue. "I was in Outertale. H-He seemed scared and your name slipped out. I-I thought he was in trouble."

I felt split in two. On one hand I wanted to pull on my strings until something broke. On the other hand it seems like a misunderstanding happened. With Ink and myself dissappearing not making anything better to start with.

But.... breaking sounds much better.

My hand twitched at the thought and I heard several groans in pain.

"E-Error," I heard weakly behind me but I didn't care. I was so angry. I didn't realize what I was going to do. Or was about to do, until something stopped me.

I felt a sudden coldness on my arms, torso, and around my neck. I felt my negativity start trickling away and only now noticed how heavy I was breathing. I glitched slightly but didn't seem to do much past that. It felt weird. 

I struggling a bit to free myself but froze when I heard a voice behind me.

"That's enough."

Nightmare.