#ouphre

Word Count: 2,313

Asgore shook Gaster awake, making the skeleton jump and blink at him. Asgore looked purely panicked, confusing Gaster a bit more. What could have gone so wrong at this point?

“What’s going on?” Gaster asks confused as he tries to help his friend take more calming breaths, which in the end did help.

“The blue patience soul is cracking!” He says quickly in between his panicked breathing. Gaster blinks before quickly shooting up out of his chair and rushing over to the jars. Asgore quickly followed him over, and when Gaster kneeled down to look, he looked over his friend’s shoulder.

Asgore was definitely right, as the cyan one was even worse than when Gaster last checked everything. The crack had widened and spread while the soul’s color looked dimmer since when Asgore saw it.

“Sh-shit!” Gaster quickly opens it up as Asgore watches frantically behind him. Gaster holds it in his hand and frantically tries to think, only to put it in his ribcage after a few moments and takes a breath to relax. He suddenly puts a hand to his head and grunts, slowly managing to put his hand down.

Asgore hesitantly speaks up after a while. “Is… everything okay now…?” Gaster nods slowly and sighs out in relief.

“The soul was depleting the magic it usually keeps in itself to be alive because of how humans work, so I connected it to my own. It’s working off my magic now.” Gaster explains and checks the orange one. It seemed fine unlike it’s brother.

“Wait… why was it losing its magic so fast then…? Is the brother okay too?” Asgore sounded worried as he looked at it with Gaster.

“This one is fine… making me come to the belief that this one was giving up and trying to move on early.” Gaster says and looks up at Asgore, who let out a gasp.

“Why would it though?!” He asks, obviously tearing up a bit. Gaster shook his head a bit and looked down, rubbing his forehead.

“I wouldn’t stain your fur over it.” Gaster says and sighs. “He probably just didn’t believe his soul still needed to be here, since his whole family is dead.” Asgore nods slowly as Gaster looks back up.

“I feel bad for them even more now…” Asgore mumbles, with his gaze venturing down to the ground, and Gaster just nods in response. Gaster suddenly starts checking on some things before teleporting off and then back in around two minutes time.

“We should head home.” Gaster says right after to Asgore. “Ouphre will be mad if we stay any longer.” He seems to be slightly acting like nothing’s really wrong or had gone wrong at that moment. His voice seemed calm compared to Asgore’s panicked tone.

Asgore takes a moment to nod and then frowns, taking a glance at the bravery soul. Gaster notices and let out a sigh. “We’ll check on it tomorrow or well… tonight.” Asgore blinks in surprise but then nods, seeming a bit reassured now.

Gaster teleported them out, gaining a bit of fatigue from the magic usage, before starting to just walk and enduring through whatever pain or sickness feeling he had from the side effects of connecting souls. Asgore would occasionally glanced worriedly at Gaster. Gaster tended not to notice. He just tried to make sure he didn’t show any signs of the magic link taking a toll on him, like Asgore was waiting for and expecting.

After those events, Gaster would occasionally visit the lab at night with Asgore wanting to come along with to check on the other soul and Rocksan. The process was going smooth so far, with little issues to none, but Gaster kept checking up anyways just in case. Asgore would occasionally try to get Gaster to joke or play around like before, which worked sometimes, but usually didn’t work out.

During their usual visits to the lab, Gaster would end up passing out usually while writing something and would end up drooling on the desk, to his embarrassment. Asgore would chuckle at this and go to check on the bravery soul as he let his friend get sleep, since Gaster was practically up every night and would only get back to camp at midnight. At least he could also sleep in as long as the camp wasn’t moving that morning. Asgore would usually wake Gaster before they should really leave too.

Gaster would also sometimes vaguely vent to Anton at camp now whenever too much seemed to build up, like many other monsters also did occasionally with some being friends of his. They considered him that trustworthy and kind, as he was also willing to let them and try to help those who need it. Though Gaster didn’t say much on the subject, Anton still seemed to understand and try to help Gaster with his stress and slight paranoia, even giving tips to help with it.

After a month, Gaster was now waiting for Asgore to meet him at their usual meeting place, which was slightly off in the forest near the camp, as he leaned against a tree. Asgore did appear eventually, with a slight smile on his face. Gaster shrugged it off but his face quickly went confused when he saw Toriel appear behind Asgore. She looked between the two just as confused looking as Gaster. Asgore noticed Gaster’s face quickly and looked behind him, blinking at Toriel.

“T-Tori…?” He breathed out in confusion. Toriel took one glance at the two before speaking up herself.

“What are you guys doing out here…? Shouldn’t you be back at camp right now…? It’s getting dark out, you know.” Toriel almost sounded like a mother as she said the last sentence and even puts her hands on her hips and gives a scolding look at the two, finally feeling like she realized they seem to be planning on staying up.

Asgore flashed a glance at Gaster, clearly ready to back down to the other teenage goat. Gaster rolled his eyes and groaned, knowing he will have go speak up for him.

“Look,” Gaster starts and stops leaning. “We’re just going to talk for a bit and head back. I wouldn’t worry. You should be getting rest as well, should you not?”

Toriel took a minute to take in his words, but kept her ground. “Talking about what? What’s so important you can’t wait another eight hours of sleep? Or even just talk about it in your tent?”

“Look, it’s just important to do now.” Gaster says, determined to not say anything about the lab at all. “If we don’t, it may cause issues later. We’ll be in bed in time for enough sleep. I wouldn’t worry about us.”

Toriel takes a moment to think before sighing. She relaxes and looks at them with slight worry, even if told not to. “Fine… but as long as you get enough sleep, especially at this period of time, that’ll do…” She mumbled quietly and hugged herself with her gaze traveling down, before walking away slowly.

Gaster let out a quick sigh once she was out of sight finally and looked up at the stars. Asgore meanwhile starred a bit longer at where Toriel disappeared to before looking at Gaster. Asgore took a moment to actually speak up though.

“Maybe… maybe we should have told her…? That way she might not need to be so worried-” He was eventually cut off by Gaster.

“We are not telling her. No matter what, she doesn’t and won’t know.” His voice was stern as he said it, but didn’t look at Asgore.

“But why not?” Asgore asks confused. “We shouldn’t just let her worry! She should know, so she knows we’re just trying to help fix a problem.”

“And then she knows exactly what I did. Let’s just spread it to the whole camp why don’t we!” Gaster said with a tone of sarcasm. “This isn’t about her worrying, she doesn’t even need to in the first place, it’s mainly about what people will think about me killing a whole family of humans! Totally helps the situation!” He lets out a huff and falls silent as a sign he’s done speaking.

“B-but maybe if we just ease into the explanation so-” He was just cut off again.

“And how do you plan to explain a mother and her two kids were murdered by the odd one out of the entire camp of monsters that is completely shut in to everyone and expect Tori not to freak out and not be upset?!” He lets out a soft hiss as he says it, seeming mad more at the thought of it than what Asgore suggested. “No matter what she’ll be mad at me. Not that I blame her…” He just lets out a sigh.

Asgore quickly looks down. “I just… don’t want Tori to have to worry… I know she will and…” He trails off when Gaster speaks up.

“I know… you like her a lot and just want her safe… I can understand that somewhat at least…” He states while he rubs his forehead, hoping to get rid of the progressing headache coming in. “but you can possibly make up something, if you tell it convincing enough, and get her to stop worrying… it’s your only chance to…”

“Yeah… I know…” Asgore mumbles and looks away. “But we’re burning time now discussing this… we should head to the lab…” Now that was something Gaster could agree on, even if Asgore didn’t seem completely up with the idea…

The day after Toriel almost found out, Gaster had already worn himself out before training with Ouphre, mostly the cyan soul draining him. This was normal, but as time progressed, it felt worse. It felt hard to really do much, not that he did much to begin with. He knew it was giving up more and more, but had little idea what to do. For now, he left it be. Maybe his magic capacity would expand more anyways.

As Gaster staggered and almost fell over in exhaustion, though, Ouphre took notice of his draining condition. They only clashed for this session really once anyways. “You alright there kiddo…?” She seemed perplexed at his actions, having never seem him this bad before. Sure, training wore him out naturally, but only enough to need a sit down break.

Gaster only mumbled a ‘yeah’ as he sat down and rested against a tree. Ouphre walked over and sat down next him.

“Ya don’t seem that way.” She states with a quick observation. Gaster just sighed and rubbed his forehead. “What’s wrong? You’re not being an insomniac nowadays, are ya? I’m hoping not.”

Gaster shook his head slowly. “No… just… a migraine is all.” He mumbled. Ouphre didn’t really believe that, but went with it. She wasn’t too wrong on the not getting sleep part, but it was his own fault for doing it on purpose.

“Alright… we’ll stop then. Get some rest, it’ll help.” She suggests and pats his back. Can’t sadly.

“A-alright…” As Gaster said that and got up, a rustle of the bushes sounded off. Ouphre got up quickly and summoned a magic spear, looking around cautiously.

“Who-” As Ouphre went to speak, a human jumped out of the bushes and seemed surprised to see the skeleton and fish monster. It took him a moment before he prepared to actually attack.

Gaster went to summon a bone but only got blocked off and moved back a bit as Ouphre jumped in front of him. “Gaster, go! I’ll take care of this!” Gaster was perplexed at first, but then gave a stern look.

“I’m not leaving with you to deal by yourself. More could be around. Ouphre at first seemed angry for him to disobey a command, but let it go.

“Fine! But be careful!” She yelled back at Gaster before launching herself at the human, who clashed his blade to her spear. The two kept up a good strong stance before hopping back and glaring.

The human kept making swings at Ouphre while she instead summoned and launched spears at him. Gaster summoned a few bones to attack the human when he was distracted too, getting a bit frustrated when he couldn’t seem to hit him.

It went on like this for a while, before more bushes started to rustle and another human showed himself. Gaster heard and knew without even looking. By now it was twilight, so no monster plans to come out right now. At least he’s smart enough to not come alone…

Gaster went to turn around to face him, but by the time he did, he was pierced right in the backbone by a blade. Gaster let out a gasp of air as he staggered forward. He looked at the human again to see a smirk across his face.

“I got him!” He shouted to his partner in this battle as Gaster fell face first into the ground. He looked up slightly to see Ouphre looking at him in shock. It quickly turned to anger as she looked at the one who did it.

He fell onto the ground and let out a gasp for air. He put a protective hand to his chest where the soul would be, only to feel something shatter inside him. He knew it wasn’t his soul, which made him instantly know what it was.

The cyan soul he wanted to protect had been hit as well and shattered. Gaster stared, at nothing specific, in shock with his mouth hanging open. Quickly, his eyelights started wavering until they faded completely and he just closed his eyes.

“You’ll pay for this!” That was the last thing he heard come from Ouphre besides blades and spears clashing. He closed his mouth and let cold, sweet yet drowning darkness take him away…

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,149

The day after Gaster got to camp, he was watching as light rain fell outside from inside his tent with Asgore. Asgore, however, wasn't really watching and more writing with glances upwards. He was ‘sorting out his mind’ according to himself, trying to figure out what he can do and what he wants, or something.

Gaster then notices a scaly figure heading over and soon into the tent, taking shelter from the rain as Gaster looked at Ouphre a bit confused. She sat down and made herself at home in the small tent, facing Gaster.

“I have a question to ask, that I probably shoulda asked yesterday.” She states, making Gaster blink. Ouphre looked back at Asgore, who wasn't really paying attention, and then turned back to Gaster. She dropped her voice to almost a whisper. “You remember our training.” Gaster nods slowly. “I was wondering if you wanted to continue with that, and you'll have an excuse to do it during the day, getting sleep at night which will be good at this time.” Gaster thinks for a moment before speaking up.

“I guess we could… wouldn't be so bad an idea…” Gaster answers in a whisper as well, making Ouphre smile a bit.

“Alright!” She says a bit loudly, starting to speak normally again. “Just like old times! Dunno if you've been training yourself so I wanna see how you do now anyways. I'm curious to know.”

To be honest… Gaster hadn't trained or fought in quite some time… Besides kind of the month Gaster left the lab and wandered in search of the town again, only to find this place at the end of it two days ago. Even if he passed out the night of ‘finding’ it and woke up to actually know of it only yesterday, Gaster guessed it would count.

“Then when the rain stops, or tomorrow if it takes a while.” Gaster says, and Ouphre nods in response.

“I'll head back to Aella and my tent. See ya later Gaster!” She started heading out as Gaster waved by, sighing as he sunk down into a laying position on his sleeping bag.

“So you can actually socialize on a not angry level with certain people…?” Asgore asks, sounding a bit confused. Gaster rolls to face away from him, not wanting to bother looking at him.

“Certain people I can't be all that mean or don't want to socialize with since I've already got myself stuck knowing and talking with them before.” Gaster replies sternly. Asgore blinks, a bit confused, but goes with it. The fact he used the word stuck got him the most, but he just went back to writing.

Gaster, meanwhile, got himself stuck in his own mind, thinking up things to pass the time. Random facts, theories, his opinions on that, and occasional, but mostly science based, puns. Yes, puns. He uses them to cope and keep him from being down and an angry most of the time jerk. Coping method and just a keep himself happy as best he can during all this...

Days, weeks, months pass. Soon adding up to over another two years of war, over three being the total. Moving every once and awhile the camp, and trying to survive in this wilderness made time seem meaningless. The same schedule seemed to ensue. Wake up, eat, sitting around, chat if you weren't Gaster, eat more, do some work around the camp, eat again, sleep and then repeat. Gaster trains to fill his ‘sit and chat’ time instead, but that didn't offer much to really make his day seem any more exciting or entertaining after a while.

Meanwhile, humans were running low on people for the war. It went from men, then to the women, only to sadly go to the stay at home moms with kids of various ages. In one home was a four year old and two year old, both boys, and their mother, who was upsettingly talking with some people outside her door.

“I can't leave my kids! This is just crazy! Over three years of war only to start pulling mothers away from their children?!” She thought she was losing her mind obviously, the six year old could tell by the tone in his mother’s voice. He stared at the door instead of coloring like his younger brother, wondering what was happening. That's just how this four year old was, always curious and smart from wanting to learn all he can.

“We'll have someone pick them up and take care of them like many other mothers had to do.” Another woman's voice said. The arguing just continued for a while, but then the mother finally complied and walked back into her house, sighing when she sees her oldest son looking at her curiously.

The kid knew that sigh well, it was a sigh of no matter how curious, I won't tell. She did that very same sigh when the people had come over to say her husband died, and the kid overheard that time too. Though that was maybe a year or two ago, so it's very vague of a memory but he understood.

The mother came over and kneeled down in front of him, beginning to speak. “Mommy has to go for a while… and I'm not sure how long. Someone will come pick you and your brother up soon, just please be good until then?”

The four year old had to think for a moment, then spoke up. “You're leaving now…?” He seemed a bit upset over the possibly sudden leaving of his mother, and only grew more upset when she nodded her head.

“I'm sorry. I wish I could stay longer but I can't. Times are tough now and we have to now go with what we can, and this is the only choice they’ve given me.” She explains as best she can in hopes he understands. “Make sure your brother doesn't get into any trouble until the caretaker comes over.” She gets up, looking at her two year old before sighing, this time a sigh of sadness, and heads out the door.

The oldest stared at the door a while after in wait, hoping she would be back, but when nothing happened he went back to coloring, listening as it began to rain...

It was pouring down hard with rain as Gaster was meant to collect some firewood. At least it made the day feel like something. The weather tending to change things up at least. Gaster didn't mind the rain though. He just stood and collected more wood for a while, even if soaked to the bone literally, before noticing something.

He started walking its way, only to see it's a house. This made Gaster panic internally, but even if it was a human house… It could be useful… Gaster looked around, then set down his firewood in a memorable place.

One thing Gaster did mind and was hoping not to happen was lightning. The rain only started recently and now the lightning has finally decided to show its wrath. Gaster sighed. Either run back to camp or possibly… he voted the latter. He walked up to the back of the house, peeking around its corner to see it's a small village and he was at the edge of it, and probably easiest house to sneak to.

He turned back around and walked to a nearby window in the back of the house, seeing if it was unlocked. It wasn't, but seemed stuck and hard to get up. Gaster managed to get a bit up, slowly after a while more and more. It took a few minutes, no reason they didn't care to lock it. Even after those minutes though he only managed to get up a fourth of the window.

Gaster thought for a moment and looked around, before summoning a bone and wedging it between, using it to force up the window. It made it a bit easier at least. Soon he got it all the way up and hopped in…

The four year old had passed out, only to wake up a few minutes later to a crash and glass breaking. He jumps up, thinking it was his brother, only to see him still drawing next to him. He shrugs it off for a second but then blinks in realization as he also notices his brother staring at the kitchen. He gets up, then starts walking towards the crash in the kitchen…

Gaster rubbed his head and picked himself up. He had misjudged the fact there may be dishes under the window and ended up falling to the floor, getting cuts and bruises in all different places of his body. It even scratching holes in his clothes. Once he was standing he looked around. Coast clear-

The four year old rounded the corner into the kitchen. He didn't seem scared, but instead stared, and Gaster stared back. When the two year old followed his brother that's when things went downhill.

The two year old walked over in attempts to talk, or more babble, to Gaster but he reacted by jumping back and throwing his arm up. “Back up. Now.” He said sternly, not understanding this kid’s age or how children really work thought process wise. Instead the toddler kept approaching until his brother pulled him back.

“Papyrus be careful!” The older brother said, glaring at Gaster now. Gaster didn't really mean harm at this point. It wasn't an adult, and they didn't seem as selfish as the kinds he knew…

They were young. Innocently young. Gaster wanted to leave but he felt like one movement would mean bad things. The toddler was already tearing up a bit too. This was a bad idea.

“Don't- Don't call anyone and I'll leave without harm.” Gaster asks, trying to find his best method out. The four year old didn't seem to hesitate on this and just nodded, slowly backing his brother away.

It was too late though… the little brother started crying loudly, beyond known reasons why. Gaster had immediate panic as his brain went in auto pilot. It wasn't long for there to be banging at the doors. It was a war after all. Any scream and you had to make sure for safety of anyone living there.

Everything went fast after that. Even Gaster didn't know what happened all in that moment. Gaster held his breath through it all.

The older brother picked up something. Something Gaster saw as a weapon. Then… Then red and white clouded most of Gaster’s vision as he feels something jab into his side hard. He wasn't bleeding… was he? No… he couldn't be…

He watched the older brother fall, mumbling something to his little brother before closing his eyes. The younger brother started screaming as he cried. Then there was more red it seemed as Gaster started to black out a bit. The banging grew louder, making Gaster notice it. Gaster finally let his breath go but started to hyperventilate. Everything grew dizzy. Only one word made sense to Gaster now. Run.

Gaster did some hand movement upwards. He climbed onto the kitchen counter and out the window he went. He heard the door open the moment he left, but he kept running, eventually collapsing over.

He laid there for a while, panting heavily. Two strangely colored lights came into vision. He sat up, looking at what it was. Two bright souls captured by magic were there. Gaster instantly knew what they were and felt a bit of disbelief. I… no I couldn't have…

He shakingly got up onto his legs, leading himself around without aim and dragging the souls with him. He eventually found a small lake, falling to his knees next to it.

Blood. All that red was blood. Did I really do that…? The thought made him shiver. He sat criss cross and stared into the lake, until he notices the souls near him again. He hadn't let them go yet. Right… Then again, it can't be that bad…? He brought one soul in front of him, taking it in his cupped hands as he examined it.

It was a soul of patience. He looked at the other before bringing it over to join its brother’s in his hands. This one was bravery. They seemed small to him for souls, making him guess because of how young they were. They had so much life left in front of them…

Gaster looked at his reflection in the water this time, staring at it before looking back at the souls. He felt like he had to do something, but the fact he didn't know what to do for them to fix any part of this. He felt useless and rightfully guilty...

A sudden movement in the bushes caught Gaster off guard, turning around towards them to see a figure come out.

“Gaster…?”

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,682

War Arc Start

It was night, and Asgore sat next to a fire as it crackled and burned. A few other monsters sat near, including the recognizable ones of Ouphre, Aella, Toriel, Asgore’s mother, and other citizens of the capital. Each one had a gloom look on their face, even the physically brightest blue fire monster who had to have a cape and hood to hide during the dark night. It would be dangerous otherwise.

Alsa, Asgore’s mother, eventually came over and put a hand on Asgore’s shoulder, making him look over at her. In her eyes she looked full of sorrow, but either way she gave a small smile of possibly hope. Asgore couldn’t help but smile back, until it fades when Alsa hands him something. He takes it to examine, only to find out it’s a journal. He looks back up at his mother, and she begins to speak.

“I thought you might like one, to record your thoughts and feelings if you ever need to, and if your friend comes back it’ll help you explain most of what’s happening probably.” She explains. “Might also be a nice thing to do while we wait out this war.” After a while of processing it and thinking, Asgore nods and smiles again. Alsa smiles a bit more before kissing Asgore on the forehead and keeping an arm around him.

He stares at the journal for a while before looking around for something write with. He reaches in one if his pockets to find one of his supposedly lost a long time ago ones, smiling in victory before beginning to write. His mother kept him comfort while doing so of course.

“It’s been a year since we fled the capital. Mom gave me a journal to write in. She wanted to a long time ago, but she couldn’t for a while. She told me so. I’m still worried about where Gaster went, even after so long, but if he ever shows up at least I can review the past year and give him this journal instead of trying to remember on the spot.

A fire was started by some human apparently who visited the capital. Nomeus and the Royal Guard had to try controlling the fire and escorting us to flee. Ouphre came with me, mom, Tori and a few others to make our own hidden camp for now. Nomeus was left behind to fight back and stop the fire from causing too much damage. Sadly this put Ouphre and her daughter Aella in a bad mood. Ouphre is worried for her husband, and so am I…”

Asgore continued writing for a while until someone spoke up and broke his thoughts. He looks up to see one of the citizens were talking. “Anton said the fire is starting to die. We need someone to get some more firewood.” The monster looks around for a volunteer. Asgore quickly breaks away from his mother’s arm and jumps up raising a hand.

“I’ll offer to do it!” He gives a genuine smile before looking at his mom for approval. She nods and he nods back before putting his journal down next to Alsa and walking off into the woods.

He walks a bit before just scavenging for sticks and other burnable materials on the ground. He breaks some branches off every other tree at times. He starts breaking one but stops when he hears something shuffling. He looked around, a little bit frightened that he may have attracted someone to the camp. He stays silent and stays put until he sees a skeleton appear and fall to the ground. Asgore perks up, his fear fading, as he runs over.

“Gaster?!” He kneels down and examines for what caused Gaster to fall over. He saw no wounds, but instead he looked exhausted. “Thank goodness…”

Gaster blinks his eyes open, looking up at Asgore with shaky and fading eye lights, before closing them again without a word. Asgore panics a bit internally, before sighing and picking up Gaster and putting him over his shoulder. “Where have you been to come back like this…?” Asgore mumbles before picking up any dropped wood and continuing back to the camp.

Once Asgore gets back, many of the monsters look up at him. Ouphre was extremely surprised to see Asgore carrying Gaster over his shoulder. She jumps up, startling a few of the monsters around her. She fast walks over, looking very surprised to see the skeleton.

“Do we have somewhere he can rest? I think he wore himself on the coincidental way here.” Asgore states, and Ouphre nods in response.

“Just set him in your bed for now. We’ll get him his own before he wakes up.” She explains. Asgore nods, carrying Gaster off to his tent. He places Gaster down in the bed carefully, examining again to make sure he didn’t overlook anything before. He sighs when he doesn’t find anything and heads out.

He sits back near the fire, next to Anton but looking down. He takes the fire fuel items he grabbed and threw them in the fire, watching the things burn slowly. After a while the flame monster tapped him on the shoulder lightly, making him look up. Luckily monsters like them could control who they do and don’t burn. Anton starts writing out fire letters with his flames.

“Why do you look so down?” Anton asks via the flames. He could only really write in flames without needing paper and pencil instead most of the time, and not just because he may burn it out of anger or something. He wrote sentence by sentence to conserve his flames to his body. “Your friend is back, no? The skeleton you told me about?” Asgore sighs and looks down.

“Yeah he is but he came back at such a bad time, and left before at one too. I know how when you offered to listen to what’s wrong at the start of all this, which was very kind of you, I told you I want him to show himself again but… now that he’s here I'd… rather him not at this gloomy camp of people who have to move every once and awhile. I wish no one had to be here!” He grumbles and hides his face with his palms. “Last I knew Gaster he’s easily upset so it won’t help him to be here and in all this. Even Tori knows and probably thinks the same. This may hurt him a lot, and I don’t want to see my friend like that… I probably make no sense or just seem too wishful of a person.” Anton shakes his head and waits for Asgore to look at him.

“He’s your friend, it’s alright to wish for the better. Wishers normally may become better and hold on to a chance for what they want. It’s best to keep hope that the mess will be over soon. We have yet to see the actual effect, and he may take it better than you think.” Anton explains. Asgore takes a second to think, then sighs.

“Maybe so… all we can do now is try our best.” Asgore replies, and Anton nods. “Thanks for at least listening.” He nods again and smiles.

“It’s no problem.” Anton then goes and starts watching the fire again to keep it maintained. It was his job for the camp to start the campfires and all. Asgore smiles back before beginning to watch the fire too, listening to the music the animals of the forest have to offer as well as murmurs of other monsters here.

Soon he heard footsteps and looked up, seeing Ouphre. She sits down next to Asgore with a sigh. “Gaster seems to have just over exhausted himself. He hasn’t encountered anything dangerous thankfully that we know of or can tell, and wherever he’s been is apparently a safe place unless he was just pointless wandering and found us on accident or maybe even purpose.” She explains the best she can. Asgore thinks over it for a moment.

“When he’s up we should explain and ask. Only he can clarify anyways.” Asgore recommends, and Ouphre nods in response.

Gaster woke up the next morning with a hand to his head. Over exerting his magic left a minor headache, a nuisance. He growled a bit, making Asgore who was currently writing, look up and at Gaster. Gaster sits up, only to look over when Asgore speaks.

“Gaster! You’re awake!” He was smiling wide, the first in who knows how long. Gaster just looked down, staring at his hand in slight hesitation.

“So what…?” Gaster finally said, shocking Asgore, only making the goat monster give out a confused and stuttered answer.

“W-well me, Tori and Ouphre were worried when you ran off! Nomeus too but he… We’re glad to see you back and so far seeming alright.” Gaster only pushed the sheets off of him to get up, almost falling over but he catches himself. He ends up letting out a hiss of frustration. Asgore gets up from his new bed, which was just a sleeping bag like everyone else’s here, and walks over to give Gaster some support. Gaster pushes Asgore away, letting out a low growl.

“I don’t need your help…” He says while growling. A year of isolation does a number, especially when you promise to stop being ‘too nice’. Gaster stands there, eventually speaking up again. “I just don’t want the help… I don’t mean to be a complete jerk over something so small, but I’m saying this now. I’m not as nice as I use to be.” Of course, the isolation didn’t make him completely mean, yet. Asgore takes a moment, looking down.

In that time, Gaster walks out, looking around at the camp. Asgore walks out behind, just in time to hear Gaster sigh. “I guess I wouldn’t have found you if I had headed to town like I planned. Guess they did follow through… After a year, for a year?” He both states and asks Asgore, looking back at the goat monster. Asgore slowly nods with a melancholy look.

“In my journal I wrote down most of what happened that I feel like you should know… “ Asgore states, handing the book to Gaster. He takes it, flipping through and skimming for the basics of what happened. His guilt started to hit him again. He slowly closes the journal and hands it back. “Gaster… where have you been for the past year…?” Gaster hesitated.

“Roaming…” he finally answered. It was a lie. Gaster has been living in the lab for a long while. A safe but dreaded place that corrupted his mind the more he stayed there, making it full if self hate. He had been going through the computer and writing down important things he found.

Asgore stared at him for a few seconds, looking for signs on Gaster’s face of anything. He sighed when he didn’t find anything and just looked straight ahead. “Alright…” He mumbles. “Glad you’re back.” Gaster stays silent.

As the area around became awkward from the lack of a reply, Asgore muttered something about needing to talk to someone before walking off. Gaster glanced at Asgore, and when he was at the other side of the camp talking to his mother, Gaster sighed.

It wasn’t long before Ouphre walked up and stood beside him, at first saying nothing. After a minute of silence, she spoke up. “I’ve been worried ya know. Lots of us were.” She looks at Gaster, but he doesn’t dare to meet her gaze. Ouphre sighed and shuffled her feet. “Enough beatin’ around the bush I guess.” She pauses for a second. “Where have ya been?”

“Roaming.” Gaster repeated, a bit more confident in his lie this time. Ouphre, too, tried to look on Gaster’s face to see if he was lying, but couldn’t seem to find anything.

“Alright. Glad you’re back.” She states, just like Asgore. She looks at the ground and kicks up some dirt with her feet, before speaking up again. “I should go patrol like I’m assigned to do. Can’t let humans get too close without knowing at least.” She walks off, and Gaster watches her go from the corner of his eye socket. He glanced back at the center of camp, noticing the slowly dying fire that was still being attended by Anton.

He hesitated a moment before walking over and sitting by the fire, legs criss crossed and across from Anton. He watched the fire slowly die until he felt a strange heat source on his shoulder. He looked up surprised to see Anton had sat next to him.

Anton waved and smiled, but Gaster really didn’t do anything as a response back, he looked down instead. How many people were going to bug him and say hi to him? He was rescued from the woods and all but it started to bug Gaster to be constantly bugged every few minutes by someone new.

Anton only tapped on Gaster’s shoulder again, making him look up again. “Hello.” Anton wrote out in flames. Gaster blinked in surprise. If Anton could chuckle he would have. “Did I surprise you?”

“A… bit…” Gaster blinks again, looking confused as to why he wasn’t speaking normally. After a minute of thought he wondered if Anton was one of those people Vedran called ‘mute’. This would be the first time he’s actually found someone who’s mute too.

“Sorry. I’m Anton. I can’t talk due to birth defects I had, so I use my flames instead.” Anton smiles at Gaster. “Something went wrong when my parents made me as a little flame. My voice box was never developed for some reason. My parents never found out either sadly, so I’m not even sure.”

“Does it get a bit annoying to have to write sentence by sentence what you want to say…?” To be honest, Gaster was curious since he’s never seen anyone like him. A flame monster or mute person.

“A bit, but I’m use to it so I don’t mind, and a lot of people find it cool too.” Anton replies, smile not faltering one bit. Gaster looked back at the dying fire.

“Say, how does your kind work? You don’t seem like a normal monster type honestly. You don’t even look like you could dust since your body isn’t really, solid.” Gaster asks and then looks back at Anton for an answer.

“Well, as you said with a nice observation, we don’t dust like you say. We live as long as our flames happen to last. We can’t touch what would put us out, and need things like fuel to keep us lit.” Anton explains, seeming pretty happen to have someone curious in his species. He was also curious about Gaster’s species, but he seen how reserved he was, and decided not to bother.

Gaster just watched as he explained. His curiosity shown a bit in his face. “If you’re just flames, then how are you created exactly. Must be different than most.”

“For us, you actually only need one parent, but if you have someone with a strong bond help you, the child can be stronger and easier to make. And how they are made? Simply just taking a bit of your magic and flames to create a separate being.” Gaster blinked in surprise.

“How do you do that…?” He asks, a bit confused on the subject.

“It… more comes as a instinct in our species that not even I know how to explain honestly… But it’s a spell we use. I can explain that much.” Gaster nodded.

“You have a pretty interesting species, Anton.” Gaster says with a small smile.

“To be honest, I bet you do. Never even heard of your kind.” Anton says with a bright smile. Gaster just shook his head and looked back at the fire. Anton tried tapping his shoulder but Gaster didn’t seem to want to speak anymore, only looking up for a second before looking back down. That’s when Anton’s smile faltered completely…

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,393

It’s been a week since the accusing and requesting for the experiment, and Gaster was currently writing in his journal while sitting on his bed. He played with the pen when he wasn’t writing and instead thinking. He wrote down important events to him or drew in it randomly, mainly because he felt like it and it gave him something to do in replacement of the calendars. He also wanted to give the journal purpose, for it was a gift to him. It was the least he could do with it.

Gaster was thinking back on today, mainly on how nice Toriel and Asgore were being to him when he broke down, and he smiled at the memory. Soon after his smile became a frown as he noticed how attached he was getting. He sighed and just continued writing until he had nothing left to say, putting the journal to the side.

It was getting pretty late, and the family should be asleep by now, well besides Ouphre to help him. He was sneaking his way outside, only to hear voices from the living room. He stopped in the hallway to listen.

“So that’s where he’s from.” It was Ouphre speaking. “Explains a lotta things.” Gaster peaked a bit, luckily the two not looking his way, and saw Nomeus nod. He had a bad feeling.

“Means we also need to keep an eye on him. We’ll help him in anyway we can. The king doesn’t know exactly but I explained we’ll take care of him.” Nomeus explains to Ouphre and she nods.

“I’ll try to help in anyway I can.” She states. “I’d recommend ya be gentle with him though, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is emotionally fragile right now.”

Nomeus thinks for a moment before slowly nodding. “Just thinkin’ ‘bout it he’s been through a lo…”

The voices began to fade as Gaster sneaked back to the room, assuming what was happening already. It scared him a bit, no lie there. Climbing back in bed, he decides to wait a long while, maybe an hour, before going out to train with Ouhpre.

Later, Gaster successfully snuck out of the house and went to the normal training spot, only to start hearing a strange, but calming, instrumental noise. He goes to the training spot only see Ouphre sitting in the grass, playing a flute. He took a minute from shock before actually walking over and sitting down next to her. She stops playing and smiles at him.

“What were you doing…?” He asks, tilting his head a bit. She chuckles. He had actually grown to like Ouphre, getting close where he didn’t mind so many things like at first. He felt more comfortable now compared to over a week ago.

“Just playin’ my flute.” She replies, and continues playing. To Gaster, she played pretty nicely, and it helped him relax a bit actually. He let out a sigh, making her stop again. “Y’know, we may be a bit crazy,” She pauses. “Okay a lot crazy.” Gaster chuckled a little, nodding in agreement, making her chuckle too. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t like doin’ things that are peaceful like this, and it’s kinda a family thing.”

“Really? So Aella and Nomeus do play flute too?” Gaster asked. She smiled and patted him on the head before answering. Gaster didn’t seem to mind her doing this anymore, as he would just let her without complaint.

“Nah, but we all do play some calmin’ instrument. Sometimes we all like to play together, and take time to play a certain way so we sync when we do.” Ouhpre explains. “Nomeus plays the triangle.” She chuckles before continuing. “Sometimes he tries wakin’ us with it!” Gaster chuckled hearing it. It explained the ringing sound from the other rooms. “He just doesn’t do it to ya because he doesn’t want a bad reaction or somethin’. Manners and all.” She smiles.

“He can if he wants, as long as it’s a school wake up or something.” Gaster says and chuckles. Ouphre chuckles as well and noogies him, making him laugh more and try to break free, eventually doing so.

“I’ll let him know if ya don’t mind after all then.” Ouhpre says, messing with her flute a bit. “And lastly Aella plays the Xylophone, she likes to just mess around with it sometimes, especially if she gets mad. Helps calm her, and maybe all of us to our own instruments and others’ instruments in the family. We can help each other in that way kinda.” Gaster thinks for a moment, before responding.

“If I played it I guess you’d have to call it an xyloBONE!” He says, chuckling and finger gunning at Ouphre. She just noogies him again, chuckling herself.

After a while, Ouphre begins playing the flute again. It made Gaster realize just how tired he was. He tried to keep his eye socket open, but it was no use. It was only a matter of time before he passed out and was leaning on Ouphre. She looks down and notices, chuckling. The flute had helped make him fall asleep along with his already tired body. She sighs, picking him up.

“Kid passed out… Guess we’ll have to see if we will tomorrow.” She begins to walk back to the house.

The next morning, Gaster woke to the sound of dings. He rolled over, half tired, but knew it wasn’t a school day. “It’s not a school day!” He groans and pulls a pillow over his head.

“Come on Gaster! I need you to get up still!” Nomeus replies, dinging the triangle a few more times.

“Alright! Alright! Give me a few minutes!” Gaster replies. He yawns as Nomeus leaves, but instead of doing what he promised, he passes out from still laying there.

He jolted awake later when Nomeus picked him up and carried him out of the room, into the kitchen to eat. By that time, Gaster was pretty awake, and just ate the breakfast they had already in front of him. While he ate he thought of last night, and felt a bit of dread, calling him and Ouphre too close. He didn’t want such a strong bond, but he couldn’t seem to help making one, especially when you live with them.

Soon Nomeus was explaining something to Gaster on taking him somewhere today, and the whole why he got up early thing, but he wasn’t paying attention so he didn’t remember or hear some of it. He just went with where ever Nomeus was taking him at this point, and he walked out the door with Nomeus not too long after breakfast.

It wasn’t long before they were taking to a clearing with lots of people there, making Gaster halt, staring at the crowd. Once Nomeus noticed, he looked back for a moment of confusion, then headed over to Gaster. “I told you about this… We were going to a funeral of someone’s, and all these people are here to mourn him.” He explained, again, to Gaster.

“R-right…” He replied, but he didn’t really remember him saying that. Probably was earlier today…

After Nomeus began to walk off, probably to deal with the main part of the funeral, Gaster looked around. He recognized quite a few monsters, surprisingly. One being the yellow scaled lizard, making him assume whose funeral it could be now. He had a small urge to go and talk to her, having a slight feeling who it was, but he held himself back.

He instead sat at one area away from the people and watched them as they said goodbye and gave offerings for the dead. He had his main focus on the yellow lizard, who looked maybe a bit older than him. From the looks of it she seemed to have no aim as she wandered around, following what others seem to guide her to do. Gaster felt bad over this, eventually dropping his head as he hugged his knees.

“What are you doing over here…? Don’t you want to say goodbye or something…?” A sweet voice suddenly said after a while. Gaster looked up, seeing the yellow lizard right there in front of him. He stared at her for a moment, a bit shocked she was here or noticed him.

“I-I u-uh, don’t need to- it’s fine.” Gaster replied. She suddenly sat down next to him, surprising him again. He eventually started looking straight forward to focus on the other monsters here, spotting Nomeus every once and awhile. Eventually the lizard monster spoke up again.

“My name is Aksinya, what’s yours?” She asks, and Gaster looks her way. Out of a habit he’s recently gained for when he doesn’t want to talk about himself, he ducks his head down a bit so his scarf hides his mouth.

“T-the name’s Gaster.” He mumbles, avoiding any eye contact. He messed with and repositioned his scarf just a bit from on his neck and shoulders.

“Is that so…?” She pauses, thinking for a moment. Gaster was kind of glad for the silence. “So how do you know my father? I haven’t seen or heard him hang with you like I have most of the people here.” That’s what made it a bit more clear who she was, and whose funeral this was too. He tried answering vaguely since he wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but this all also made him wonder why Nomeus brought him here out of all places.

“J-just a friend. Taught me things and chatted with me. I-I’d- say we were close to each other. Almost like child and parent…” he replied, looking at the ground. He began resting his head and arms on his knees as he looked down. Aksinya didn’t say anything for a moment, making Gaster a bit worried.

“Sounds like him…” She says, making a weak smile that looks like it could fade with anything negative, even the smallest thing. She let out a sigh, looking at the crowd of people for the funeral. “At least I got to see him be happy achieving his goal being the Royal Scientist…” That made Gaster perk up and look over at her with wonder.

“Royal Scientist…?” He repeated, giving a questioning and confused stare. She looked at him, a bit confused herself.

“You don’t know? The king and queen’s personal scientist and the highest rank for them? Only the most approved by royalty to get the position? To be able to serve the kingdom as a scientist for all?” She explains in question, looking back at him, making Gaster surprised Vedran had achieved something so big.

“O-oh. I just didn’t know he was it-.” He replied, not wanting to look like someone who doesn’t know how the kingdom he’s under runs, even for a teen. She looks a bit surprised, but then drops the look after a while and looks back at the crowd.

“Right… he was never one to flaunt or talk too much about himself unless someone asked.” Aksinya explained, which did explain a lot. Vedran didn’t talk too much on himself in the lab unless Gaster was curious, which he did ask for if he had any family once. Vedran never gave any names but said he had a daughter. So this is who he was talking about… “He always had been so busy since he got a new job 5 years ago… He would even buy things he really didn’t need, saying, ‘this isn’t for me, but someone else who needs it!’ He was always kind like that, and I assumed it was part of his work since he’d take the stuff with him…” Gaster just listened, he didn’t have much to say. “I kinda… Wish I could have helped or… Hanged out with him a bit more before all this but… He was so busy and… This experiment stuff was apparently what he couldn’t tell me, but it was probably the project he mentioned before.” She pauses, then perks up, looking at Gaster. She takes a good look at him before saying something. “That scarf… that was one of the things he brought with him before!”

Gaster’s look grew scared and shocked almost instantly. “I-I- u-uh-” He didn’t have an excuse. He had really no way to back out of this.

“You’re the experiment, aren’t you? You’re who dad worked with almost everyday for the past 5 years?” She asks, giving a suspicious look.

“Shhh! D-dont-” He looks around worriedly, then lowers his voice before speaking again. “Don’t tell a-anyone o-okay…? I don’t want people to know-.” She stays quiet for a moment before speaking up.

“It’s okay- I won’t I just- wanted to know if you were the one he took care of those past 5 years.” She replies, making Gaster calmed down a bit more. “So that’s how you really know him…”

“H-hey I didn’t lie at least! I j-just-” he looks down in front of him. “I’m scared of people knowing… And I don’t want it to define me e-either.” He starts playing with the grass nervously.

“I would say that’s understandable.” She says, then sighs. “I won’t tell anyone, alright? I’m not one to go against someone’s wishes, it’s not how Vedran taught me.” She gives a kind smile to Gaster.

“T-thanks.” After saying that, silence pretty much engulfed the two for a while. Gaster didn’t mind it though. He was playing with the grass and guessed she was thinking this over anyways. It was big news to her after all.

The funeral continued and Gaster tried to get a bit more involved with it, and Aksinya tried to help make him more comfortable in the crowd. It kind of helped, but he still wanted to avoid most of them.

Aksinya also eventually got Gaster to meet her brother, Arthur. He kinda reminded Gaster of Vedran, the olive color scales and having glasses wise at least. Like father like son. Aksinya talked and explained him a bit, like how he works currently part time at a library and spends his time reading most of the day.

By the time it was getting dark, people started to leave, and Nomeus took Gaster home as well. He noticed Gaster sticking to Aksinya’s side most of the time, but didn’t make a comment. It was probably best left alone anyways…

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,419

The funeral had just ended minutes ago, and Gaster was following behind Nomeus. It was planned to be a quiet walk, but it ended when Nomeus turns around and begins walking backwards to talk to Gaster.

“Ya have any clue why I brought ya there?” Nomeus asks, making Gaster look up. He had an idea, but just shook his head, not wanting to sound dumb or think of the possible topic anymore. There’s a pause before Nomeus speaks again. “Do you know who it was for?” Gaster pauses before answering.

“Someone’s…?” Gaster answers and Nomeus gets a chuckle out of it.

“Well… you’re not wrong.” He gives a smile before speaking up again. “It was for a monster name Vedran. The father of the one ya were talking to most of the time. Ya know him?” Gaster looked surprised for a moment, before trying to hide it and act like nothing really happened, looking down and all. “So… ya do?” He assumes, making Gaster look back at Nomeus.

“We’ve met a few times okay?!” Gaster blurts out. “So we are friends that way.” Nomeus gives a questioning look.

“I’d call your meetings way more than a few times.” Nomeus replies, making Gaster a bit anxious. “And maybe not even meetings at all. More… Hangouts.” Gaster ended up stopping in place, Nomeus doing the same. Gaster ends up teleporting behind Nomeus, and continues walking.

“Let’s just get going…” He mumbles. Nomeus took a minute to realize, but turns around and puts a hand on Gaster’s shoulder. He glances up at Nomeus.

“Kid, we need to talk, whether you want to or not.” Nomeus’s look and tone has gone almost completely serious. Gaster hesitates before turning around to face Nomeus properly. The Royal Guardsmen sighs, then continues to speak. “For the past five years, where exactly have you been?” Gaster tensed up, trying avoid eye contact. The serious voice didn’t help anyways, for it made it a bit more scary for Gaster. “And don’t lie to me. I need to know. It’s for your safety.”

“I-I w-was-” He didn’t want to continue and ended up hesitating to say the next part.

“In a lab?” When Nomeus questions, Gaster looks up at him, shocked looking and speechless. “How?” Nomeus assumes with Gaster’s look. “I’m the head of the Royal Guard. It’s one of the things the king entrusted me to know and keep secret, just in case. With that, he also wanted me to find you.”

“W-why…?” Gaster asks, finally able to say something in reaction. Nomeus gives a smile, in hopes to comfort the skeleton in front of him.

“We won’t take you back, we won’t hurt you in any way. As you know, the humans want you. When I had a sub it was to check out the lab, and we have a feeling it’s all a set up. Giving you back makes you their experiment. There’s no telling what they are planning after that.” Nomeus explains.

Gaster stays silent, shaking a bit. Nomeus notices and hugs him, but Gaster doesn’t hug back. “Look…” Nomeus begins. “I know it must be hard being a runaway experiment and all. That’s why we’re here for you, especially with what happened.” Nomeus stops hugging, but has his hands on Gaster’s shoulders. “Assigned or not as a duty of the Royal Guard’s leader, I will keep you safe. I’ve pretty much adopted you anyways.” He chuckles a bit. Gaster just looked down, nodding his head slowly. Nomeus sighed and let go. “Let’s get home, we can discuss more there and Ouphre would like to discuss with us anyways.” All Nomeus got was a nod, and then they continued walking back.

When they get back Ouphre was waiting, only to ask how it went and then explain their plan for Gaster’s safety, which he mostly knew. Things have gotten heated, but he didn’t really have to hide that much. Before they knew it a year passed, and Gaster was nineteen. They didn’t celebrate his birthday or revival day like Vedran though. Gaster never told and after a while they realized how the time had flown and asked when it was. He told them he didn’t mind, that he would’ve said if he cared enough. Not like he really had a excitement for birthdays like most normally have, not anymore at least.

It took Gaster a few months since the warning to believe the humans wouldn’t really attack like they said, but have a low chance of actually be just preparing. Six months later he tended to not worry or care, sometimes even forgetting for a while until it’s mentioned again. Even with Gaster thinking this way, monsters of all ages tended to gossip about it, questioning if humans would and what would monsters do to defend themselves. Gaster also usually ignored them, but did over here a few, thinking they were ‘too worried’.

A year later Gaster still had his pretty same routine, maybe changing depending on what the day had planned, or just what the Gronovii family had planned, that is. Not having a much to do in general made him not really mind of course. After a year, one thing came back that he didn’t expect, or want even. Ruining his routine completely for the rest of his life.

Gaster sat where he normally does at the magic school outside, writing in his journal. Toriel and Asgore were hanging out, and comparing each other’s magical abilities. Gaster didn’t really pay attention like usual, well, until everyone started leaving. He assumed Nomeus was taking them back inside, getting up and following behind as he properly closes his journal.

While following he found out it was more a commotion happening and a crowd has formed. He pushes his way though, standing in the middle of the C shaped crowd, finding Asgore and Toriel by his side. He gives a questioning look at them, only to follow their gaze and see Chatch, just like last time. Gorin was even just across from Chatch. Gaster’s face becomes a scowl, not liking the possibilities for the future right now.

“Still haven’t found him after so long?” Chatch sneers at Gorin and has wide smirk on his face of mockery. Gaster hissed under his breath, glaring.

“It is almost impossible to find him, especially after a year like this. You can always start a new one. There’s no reason to argue with this.” Gorin states in a surprisingly calmly manner. Asgore and Toriel notice Gaster from the hiss, giving a worried look at him, then look at each other.

“As I said way before, it’s more on how you did it to take him from us. I can’t help but want to protect my people from your hostile ways.” Chatch argues. Gaster grits his teeth and clenched his fist, purely pissed this was still happening after so long. Asgore puts a hand on Gaster’s shoulder, making him lose the look and turn to look at Asgore, who was still having a worried look.

“We told you we didn’t take him, and even have yet to be hostile to you unlike your people have been to us. Some of our Royal Guard was injured by humans on purpose. Even so, we can’t say you’re in the wrong since the people do as they please in no means to represent a system of government, but when it comes to how you’re acting too it does mean a lot.” Gorin replies and narrows his eyes. Chatch just chuckles. Gaster ignores Asgore’s worried look, knowing what it was for, and looks back at Chatch.

“But as you said, they don’t represent our system of government. If they are caught though, you can punish as pleased, for they did attack a living being.” Chatch replies. He’s just playing ‘nice’! He probably did send them, or just doesn’t care. Gaster starts growling again out of reaction as protests even rang from the crowd, mostly from other previously attacked monsters or their family, friends, and even witnesses. Chatch puts his arms somewhat up, palms open and facing up, before gesturing around the crowd. “And look at this. I don’t say I’ve done anything wrong yet.” His eyes narrow as his smirk grows. “I’m sure you remember what I promised before, about a year ago. I’m tired of waiting, so if my people attack, it’s not some court case anymore. I’m doing what I said I would.”

Many were shocked and talk started to circle in the crowd, mostly filled with panic. Chatch makes a victory glare Gaster’s way before turning around and walking out of the crowd. Gaster took a small step back, both out of fear and anger, before starting to turn around to flee. Asgore turns to him, worry growing. “Gaster? Where are you-” Asgore questioned but cut himself off, making Toriel turn around quickly and panic a bit too.

Gaster didn’t say anything, he just ran out of the crowd and ended up bumping into Nomeus. He stumbled back and looked up at Nomeus, who gave a confused expression but then shook his head. He started looking serious and goes to grab Gaster’s arm.

“Come on, we need to go.” Gaster only flinched and backed out of the way. Nomeus looked shocked, taking a moment before speaking up again. “Gaster, we *need* to go. Come with me.” Gaster only shook his head. Nomeus was starting to be both confused, and slightly upset by the way Gaster was acting. “Gaster Wingdin, let’s go!” Gaster froze for a moment. Right… Gaster asked to switch his name around so he didn’t look too out of place with a ‘missing’ last name. Not like anyone but Vedran called him Wingdin or even Gaster.

“No…” He whispered out, almost looking scared. He took a few more steps back, looking behind him. The crowd had dispersed, but the noise still stayed a bit. Asgore noticed Gaster and called out for him again, a worried Toriel just behind as well. “Asgore, Tori-”

“Gaster! Is something wrong?” Asgore stopped just behind Gaster. Gaster was sent into a mild panic, his mind lost to the new events. If I had never reacted or stayed put this wouldn’t have happened, right? If I hadn’t done anything in reaction and just stayed, this wouldn’t be happening! If I hadn’t- Mid thoughts he took a look at Nomeus, only to look down and put his hands on his head. I shouldn’t have-

“Gaster what’s wrong?!” Toriel asked, taking a step to see if she can comfort him, reaching for his arm. He just pushed her away, giving a look of fear at her.

“I-I’m sorry-!” He says quickly before suddenly disappearing. The three are then left there in shock. Ouphre came up behind them, seeming panicked herself.

“He- disappeared-” Nomeus says and looks up at his wife, seeming very concerned. Her eye widened in shock, a bit speechless.

“Damn it! He must’ve teleported! Get the guard to go find him!” Ouphre commands, running off to start her search immediately. Nomeus takes a breath, looking at Toriel and Asgore.

“You guys go home, especially you, prince Asgore. I’ll take you myself and tell the guard on the way. Can you take care of yourself Toriel?” He explains and asks, Toriel replying with a nod. Nomeus nods himself, picking up Asgore, who makes a small bleat, and heads off. Toriel then began running off to her own home.

Meanwhile, Gaster was catching his breath before looking around. He was on the side of a mountain, the sides looking somewhat steep from here. He shook his head, climbing down wouldn’t be the best idea right now, not this tired. He can teleport when his magic level is higher. He instead turns around and notices a cave entrance. With little hesitation, he goes and walks on in, looking around. So far it was just a tunnel. He kept walking in, his eyes starting to glow purple in reaction to it getting darker.

Sometime later the tunnel began to widen, and quickly at that. A big cave that stretched for who knows how far stood in front of him. He kept walking, unsure how far he’s managed to go in here. Getting too far wouldn’t be wise either. At first, he was planning on turning back, but then spots a metal building. He goes up to a door, only to find it won’t open, and without hesitation he teleports inside. The short distance wouldn’t take much magic anyways.

It didn’t even take long for Gaster to notice where he was. He looked around the lab with shock, a little frightened to be here. He looked up and sees a big monitor, but different than the one he destroyed, in front of him. It was the only source of light current in the lab as well.

He looked down at the control system just below, finding a sticky note on it. A few numbers were written out, but didn’t seem to belong to anything. He presses something random on the controls, making the computer start to boot up.

He waited a impatient minute, before it started asking for a password. He let out a small, low growl of frustration. He looks back at the numbers, thinking for a moment before typing them in. Surprisingly, it was right. He rolled his eyes, and continues with whatever this was going to do.

It wasn’t long before the computer logged in and a bunch of files appeared, all named based on the information they hold. Gaster was a bit surprised by this, scanning over the files. Some wasn’t even on him, but on other things the scientists also researched while also researching him. He was honestly interested in the other experiments now, his grip tightening on his journal a bit. His mind wandered a bit to the people he just left with nothing but a sorry.

They are probably worried for me… But shouldn’t I be for them…? He started feeling a bit of some negative emotion he couldn’t exactly place. Guilt? Sadness? Anger? He just growled at himself, clenching his journal tighter in his hand. No, I’m done being nice. He finally decided. I’m sorry Vedran but I can’t be as nice as you’d like me to be anymore. I don’t want to be hurt from these connections I make with people. Being nice and caring for others won’t help. Not like I am nice after what I did… I’ve killed, and I can’t reverse that…

Freedom Arc End

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,633

Two figures with serious faces walked through the lab slowly as they examined the rooms. They halted in the room of Vedran’s death, standing just above his dust and looking down at it.

“What do you believe happened, your highness?” One asks as the other’s, or the king’s, gaze does not change. He looks around at the fatalities. The souls of the humans were shattered long ago, making soul collecting impossible even if wanted to.

“I do not understand completely what happened Nomeus, but from what I was told, Vedran had a strong bond with Aster, or Wingdin as he calls him.” The king looks back down at the dust, kneeling to begin collecting it in a medium sized glass vial.

“Aster is his human name, no? He probably didn’t want it to cause anything confusing or bad. We did bring back a dead person, and maybe with loved ones.” Nomeus replies, putting his own thoughts in. The king stops and stares for a moment.

“Most likely.” He finally stated, then soon continues on with what he was saying and doing. “With Vedran’s dust here… I can’t say it was Aster’s fault for this.” He continues, finishing up cleaning the dust and putting a lid on the container. “The possibility of him being a rabid experiment seems too low for all this.” For a minute, things are silent.

“It does indeed, your highness.” Nomeus says after some thought. “Do you believe the humans have something to do with this? It may explain their strange behavior recently.” The king thinks for a moment.

“Maybe…” He picks up the dagger where Vedran’s dust use to be, getting up and turning to Nomeus. “Some kind of magic seems to have been used to kill the humans here but…”

“But all that killed Vedran seems to be that dagger.” Nomeus continues for him. “I think we can kind of guess what could have happened now.” The king nods, thinking for a moment.

“I… Doubt he would cause anyone harm, at least from what Vedran told me. He might as well be hiding amongst monsters, maybe even scared for his life.” He states, putting the dagger back down. “Nomeus, get the guard to clean this up. Then I need you to try to find Aster’s location. I feel the humans are up to something so I’m hoping you will protect him if anything happens?” Nomeus nods.

“Yes, your highness.” He pauses. “I… have a feeling I know where and who he is. He’s already in great care, but I’ll keep him from any humans. I’ll try to get him to admit who he is, but I’ll need something as a test he wouldn’t expect to be one.” The king thinks for a moment, staring at the vial of dust in his hand.

“If that is so, try bringing him to Vedran’s dust ceremony.” The king begins to recommend, handing the vial of dust to Nomeus, who takes it. “See if you can get a reaction out of him from it. Their bond should show as well then. Maybe you also just need to mention the name to get some reaction.” He takes one last look around, and Nomeus nods.

“Shall I tell Aksinya of her father’s death, or would you like me to send someone else?” Nomeus asks, looking at the dust vial.

“Whatever works for you. She probably already knows anyways. He pretty much disappeared till now. She probably made the guess. Confirmation is all she needs now.” The king explains, and Nomeus nods in response. After a few moments of silence, the two decide to leave…

Meanwhile, Gaster sat outside of the school, watching everyone train. Nomeus had been called away from the school the moment they got there. Gaster was told to leave them be, and a large, brown and white goat monster with some crown on his head too talked to Nomeus.

It wasn’t too long till they started to leave and the class had a substitute that Gaster didn’t really pay attention to. The goat, who Gaster had guessed was the king, had left another, and presumably his son, white goat monster who seemed to like talking to Toriel a lot. Gaster was completely distracted by writing in his journal to not notice the new kid was walking up him a bit later after talking to Toriel for a while.

“Heya! What are you doing all the way over here?” The voice made Gaster jump, looking up at the kid while he held the open journal tightly. The goat monster didn’t seem to notice him jump, and just smiled and offered a hand. “I’m Asgore! Asgore Dreemurr!”

Toriel walks up behind Asgore. When she speaks, both the boys look her way. “That’s Gaster. He doesn’t talk much, but he’s new, so you really can’t blame him.” Asgore pulls his hand back a bit. Gaster growls inaudibly, not liking being talked about like this, even with good intentions.

“Is that so? I don’t see any reason to be shy though! No one means any harm here!” He turns back to Gaster, offering his hand again. Gaster hesitates, but then slowly goes to shake his hand with his bandaged one, quickly pulling away after. Asgore stares for a moment, surprised. “You're… hurt?”

Gaster just sits there and nods, really wanting to go back to his journal. He fidgets with his hand, not liking the way this is going. “I’ll be fine. It was just… An a-accident. I can take care of myself.” Asgore seems a bit surprised as Gaster makes a face to show he’s not too pleased with the topic and stops making eye contact by looking at his journal again. Asgore was going to say something, but was cut off.

“Are ya making friends, young prince?” Nomeus said walking up with the king behind. Gaster looked up and then at Asgore. Prince…?

“Trying to! He’s shy according to Tori though! A challenge for me then!” The prince seemed enthusiastic about all this, making Gaster shrink a bit more into a ball he already kind of was with his knees up to write on without looking straight down. The king came over and kneeled down to talk to Gaster better, offering a hand.

“King Gorin, as you probably know. If he is trying to be friends with you, then so shall I.” Gaster wanted to hide. Disappear from the world for a small time. Be forgot by others for a short while. Be unknown to the world until he feels a bit more comfortable. He shakingly shakes Gorin’s hand, and the king smiles at him. He shoots his hand back as quick as he can.

The conversation would have lasted longer if Ouphre hadn’t showed up to say something to Gorin. “There’s commotion at the front of the town, your highness.” She kneels and bows her head. Gaster notices she’s wearing some kind of armor as well instead of her normal everyday clothes of jeans and some top. “The human leader wishes to speak with you.” Gorin’s face went serious as she said it. He gets up, facing her, and then speaks.

“Where the commotion is?” She nods her head. “Alright.” He begins to walk off around the school building, heading to where the commotion is. Both Nomeus and Ouphre follow, Nomeus explaining to the substitute before actually leaving the school grounds.

The two goats and even the skeleton watch curiously before Asgore perks up. “Let’s go check it out!” He suggests, turning to the group. Gaster tenses up, while Toriel seems to take a moment to think.

“It would be nice to know what’s happening, especially you as prince…” Toriel thinks out loud, only to nod her head a bit later. “I’ll go with you Gorey.” She gives a smile saying so, only for the pressure to go on Gaster as they turned to him, giving curious looks. He shrunk back a bit as reaction, but eventually nodded as he fiddled with his scarf to cover his mouth.

Asgore smiles yet again, and as Gaster gets up, they head off to find out what’s happening. Asgore has a skip in his step, while Toriel calmly follows behind, and Gaster doing so as well but a bit sheepishly and unsure.

The three found a crowd at the entrance of the town. Asgore looked around for his dad, and without hesitation disappeared in the crowd with Toriel somewhat behind. Gaster, however, hesitated but eventually made his way in, squeezing past all the monsters to the middle of the giant ‘C’ shaped group. At one end stood Gorin, most of the monsters huddle behind as Nomeus and Ouphre stood beside him, magic spears in hand to defend anyone if needed.

At the open and opposite end of the crowd stood Chatch, a smirk on his face just like before. He seemed confident for coming all the way with only one or two of his own guards that stood by his side to the main capital of the kingdom of monsters, bearers of magic that most humans feared. Gaster saw him look his way, seeming to chuckle but it was covered by the murmur and whispers of the crowd.

“What are you doing here Chatch?” Gorin soon asks with a stern look. Chatch’s own look doesn’t seem to falter even with the powerful looking monster in front of him.

“Business is all.” Chatch replies, and Gorin gives him a hard, questioning stare. Gaster shrinks back into the crowd a bit, only to find Asgore behind him. Asgore smiles at him and stays at Gaster’s side, Toriel coming up and stays next to Asgore. Gaster looks at them for a minute before looking back at the two leaders like everyone else here.

“What kind of business do you need? What is so important that you cause commotion here?” Gorin asks and gestures around to the crowd with his trident.

“You already should know what I want.” Chatch says, making Gorin give a confused look. “The experiment. It’s location. We feel like there was someone that did something to make him either disappear or escape, and even killed off the humans left in the lab so there was no witnesses from possible opposers. And we have evidence to point towards your side of the experiment.” Gasps set out across the crowd as Gaster began to feel uncomfortable as he shuffled around in place.

“Are you accusing foul play on me and my people?” Gorin’s face was a scowl as he growled, but even with this, Chatch’s face grows more happy it seems.

“In a way.” Was his only reply. “A monster named Vedran was told to have close ties with the experiment. They also happened to have both disappeared at the same time. We also saw only human deaths in the lab, showing a threat as us. We believe the experiment could even being hiding among you, as it wouldn’t be hard with the way the scientist thought he was, species wise.”

Gaster looked at the crowd to see a bright, yellow scaled lizard who looked upset, and almost in tears. He had his guess to who, and if it was he felt bad over it, slumping his shoulders in shame.

“We do not have a clue what happened to the experiment, but we do know Vedran was killed by what I saw at the lab earlier.“ While Gorin said that, Gaster looked at the lizard again, only to see her gasp and begin to cry.

A sudden guilt rushed over Gaster as he watched her hear the news for the first time. Some monsters around comforted her, mostly the ones who noticed. By now the crowd was more quiet for her cries to be heard. Everyone seem just as affected by the death as her, as some even cried with her. *Everyone cares for everyone here it seems…* “We do not have the experiment currently in known possession either way. Your accusation is false.” Chatch finally changed his look by his face going to a more neutral but slightly upset one.

“Right now you have no way to show what you have of him being supposedly killed true, so that also says yours can be instead.” He says, and Gorin squints a bit at Chatch. “We’ll make a deal. You give the experiment back, we’ll leave you alone and continue the experiment properly. You don’t… “ He looks at his own guards, smiling. “We’ll have to take it down the road of war I guess.” Everyone was shocked, even the king himself. Gaster held his chest and took a step back, his face horrified.

“That’s too much for some experiment that can be simply replicated!” Gorin argues, practically baffled by the route Chatch wanted.

“I see it more as a way for monsters to attack us, ruining our experiments with them and taking them for their own. It’s a personal and concerning attack to us.” Chatch explains. “Makes you all a threat.” Everyone was dumbstruck by Chatch’s view. The crowd took a few minutes to actually start murmuring again to each other, and for even Gorin to think of a reply.

That was the point Gaster had to leave. He ended up turning around and heading back to the school. He hid behind the back where practice happens, and pulled out his journal. He was going to write, but after a few moments he ended up tearing up to make his vision too blurry. Over the fact war might happen because he ran away, because he killed over someone who was like a father’s death, because he felt too emotional to control his anger he never really felt too much before. It felt like his fault, and upset him for those reasons.

He tried wiping away the tears but they kept flowing, and he just grew worse with the emotions. He never had a time he actually cried properly before. Vedran’s death was upsetting but it made him more numb than anything. He was passed out the day of it mostly so he couldn’t really mourn until he was at Nomeus’s place and already accepted the fact.

“Gaster, are you alright…?” a voice says while he tries to wipe the tears away. He looks up, not really wanting anyone to see him as a mess like that, but it’s obviously too late now. Asgore had said it and was standing just in front of him, looking concerned. Toriel looked upset as well, and came to Gaster’s side and kneeled down.

Gaster stays silent for a bit, trying and kind of succeeding at wiping his tears away. “Y-yeah I’m just fine…”

“If something is wrong we’re here to help you know.” Toriel says with a sad look. He takes a minute to think of and say something.

“I don’t- really want to burden anyone with what’s wrong if something is. I just- would like it to be left alone- just to not have anyone worry.” Gaster mumbles, making it almost not that audible.

“We… Understand…” Toriel says, looking down a bit. “If that is what you wish, we shall accept it, but just know we are here for you.” Asgore nods in agreement.

“T-thanks Toriel- and you too Asgore…” Gaster replies and the other two reply with a smile.

“Call me Tori if you want, it’s what my friends do.” Toriel says with a smile, and Gaster nods. He wasn’t sure if he would actually use it though.

After that, Asgore sat down by Gaster’s side and Toriel too, but it was silent until Nomeus showed up, who was clueless of what happened. The day continued somewhat normally, but Gaster wasn’t in a very great mood from it. The warning was stuck in his mind all day from then on…

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,142

When Gaster got to Nomeus’s place after the big run there, he was introduced to Nomeus’s wife and kid. The skeleton honestly didn’t expect too much like this out of him and was a bit surprised, but after seeing their personalities first-hand it began to make sense.

Ouphre was his wife, and was very kind to Gaster both after and before everything was explained, but might as well be just as crazy as her husband at times. Most noticeable thing in her appearance was a long scar that went across what would be her right eye to her, which was also covered by an eye patch but the scar was too long to cover with it too. The eye patch would probably need to be three times as long to cover that, but it would look weird.

Aella was their daughter, and most likely gained a bit of craziness from her parents, but mainly looked like her mom, especially with the red hair. Both were like a deep sea blue in scale color, but Aella was a bit darker in color than her mother. Most likely thanks to her dad. She didn’t have really any scars like her parents though.

After the couple discussed Gaster’s situation, they set him up a sleeping area in an extra room they had luckily. Both Ouphre and Aella took an instant liking to the skeleton, why they let him stay with little hesitation to Gaster’s surprise, but he accepted it and considered himself lucky. Even if they are accepting people when it comes to this, it wasn’t anything but that to him and he didn’t spend that much time on it.

The next morning before Nomeus and Gaster left for the school, Nomeus handed a journal with a pen to Gaster as a gift for the first day of living at his house. Gaster took it, but wasn’t sure he could really use it too well, but it may help him either way.

“What do Aella and Ouphre do when at home and you’re gone…?” The skeleton asks Nomeus, looking back at the house as they leave. Nomeus keeps going when he replies, Gaster looking back at him.

“They hang out pretty much. Train to use magic, chat, do what mother and daughter do. When I’m home and not working, I hang out and sometimes train with her too normally.” Nomeus answers. “Sometimes Ouphre is called into Royal Guard duties, sometimes even myself being the captain, so Aella takes care of herself then.” Gaster was a bit confused since he doesn’t know some names of things around, but stares off into space a bit instead being lost in thought, then starts staring at the journal after a while. Maybe he’ll use it today? He took it with him since he wasn’t sure when he’ll need it. It’s silent as they make their way to the school, Gaster mostly thinking on the way anyways.

Gaster tried his best to stay out of the way of the class, not wanting to be noticed or to interact with anyone really. He sat in the back of the classroom, and when outside he’d watch Nomeus train the other kids near the building rather than out there with the other monsters. The kids wear the same robes while at the school just different colors. Inside Nomeus explained and taught things, and outside showed them how to use magic and discover their abilities. It was the basic routine, going out when it was cool in the morning times and staying in during the heated times. Gaster was only mostly interested in the inside portion of it, when he actually paid attention.

Gaster didn’t care to train with the others or Nomeus either while outside, and during that time he began his own semi-complicated alphabet and writing symbols ‘language’ of different, strange symbols that matched up to other different letters and symbols from the only language he understands. It was complicated sounding for his own reasons and benefits, but basically a secret ‘language’ is all it even was. He had a key written just inside the cover just in case and took a few days to make it and remember, but got the hang of it eventually and used it instead to write in the journal, mainly documenting what he’s seen and faced in his small life so far after leaving the lab.

His reasons for not training with Nomeus and the other kids mainly because he wanted to train himself instead. To get stronger by himself. He didn’t want anyone’s help with it, so he stayed out of the way and glanced up from his journal every once and awhile only. It was his way, and he decided to train at night when everyone in the house was asleep so no one interrupted or bothered.

Of course, throwing himself off his schedule he had for five years took it’s toll. He would normally go to sleep while in the lab whenever the scientists turned off the lights and wake up when they came on. Vedran told him when this was, so Gaster tried to stay on it unless he had to flex it to fit what Nomeus and his family had plans with, since they pretty much “dragged” him places in Gaster’s opinion, but he didn’t mind.

One night while Gaster was training, even when he never really expected it, he was pretty much the equivalent of caught. It wasn’t even Nomeus either, as he would expect.

“Whatcha doin’ up this late?” A voice said that Gaster had recognized as Ouphre. “Trainin’?” He was in the middle of a bone attack, planning on wearing himself out to hopefully boost his magic limit. After fully summoning bones out of the ground, he whips around her direction, arm still up and clearly showed he was shaking a bit.

He didn’t respond. He kept quiet as he slowly lowered his arm as he carefully watched any movements, eventually looking down a bit. She sighed, walking over and pats his head, making him flinch downwards more. “Loosen up kid. I’m not gonna yell at ya, get your ass bed or stop or anythin’.” She states as she pulls her hand away, making Gaster look up at her. “Actually more curious to why you’re trainin’ so late yet durin’ your free daytime quiet and hidin’ off instead.”

Gaster didn’t reply and looks down, again. Ouphre waits a bit, looking around, before sighing again and walking over to the bones Gaster had summoned. “You’re not too bad at this, ya know.” She states, making Gaster look behind him to see she had picked up one of the bones and was examining it. Even with the mild shock, he still didn’t say anything to her. She puts it back down in the ground and uses it to lean forward on while looking Gaster’s way, crossing her arms as she rests them on the bone and her chin on her arms. The bone was probably a three-fourths of her height. “Show me what ya can do.”

He hesitates for a long while, before taking a deep breath and turning away from her so he doesn’t hit her by accident. He shakingly raises his arm and summons bones out of the ground seconds later. A little bit later, Ouphre got up and walked over, indicated by the noise of grass getting crushed, putting a hand on top of Gaster’s skull. He looked up from this at Ouphre, a bit wanting to slink away from her hand, but expecting bad, probably never going to happen possibilities from doing it. His head did go back despite this, and Ouphre noticed and pulls the hand away. “No touchin’, got it.”

Gaster is a bit surprised, but doesn’t spend too much time on it and just pulls up his scarf to at least cover his mouth. “Say, where did ya get that from? The only time ya really wear it is here, never in public, but seem to like it a lot even so. Special memories or somethin’?”

At first, Gaster wasn’t sure how he should answer. “A friend…” he says after a while, looking away.

“Ya spoke! That’s some improvement! To be honest, surprised you’re speaking since all you ever did before around me was maybe some based on you getting scared and jumping, mainly just noises!” Ouphre says and lets out a small chuckle. “Also a bit surprised ya really had a friend the way you’re so quiet to literally everyone, never wanting to even speak or make noise, but then again it’s possible even for those quiet as ya, right?” Ouphre bends down a bit to talk to Gaster a bit better, or at least attempt to. Gaster doesn’t respond, making Ouphre stand up straight again. By her next response, she seems to purposely change the subject. “Hmm… How bout I help train ya? I’ll do it at night if ya like, and maybe tomorrow I can see all of what ya can do.”

Gaster looks back at her for a few seconds, but then looks down, suddenly teleporting to a tree and sitting down under it with his back against it and hugging his knees. Ouphre was shocked and looked around, instantly spotting him and walking over with a chuckle. “Ya shoulda said somethin’ kid. Ya scared me for a second!” Even if it was a joke, Gaster didn’t seem all to happy about it.

“S-sorry…” Gaster said, surprising Ouphre, but she just smiled and sighed, sitting down next to him. Gaster kept his gaze focused on the ground.

“No need to be sorry.” Ouphre was trying her best to conversate with him obviously, but found it hard with how much he wasn’t willing to speak. She thinks for a moment, but didn’t really have to as she noticed Gaster was now looking at her, gaze focused on the scar.

“What happened…?” He eventually asked, sounding curious of the story that could come from it. Ouphre was confused at first, but then smiles in realization, looking a bit proud.

“Me and Aella were training like usual, but then randomly a human appears and goes to attack us, probably trying to get to the castle. I showed him what for and made him run, but during it he got my eye!” She points at her eye patch. “Blinded me in it! Nomeus was also there at the time and got some scars himself. Someday I’ll get him to stop blocking with his arms as a last second defense.” She lets out a hearty laugh. “You can blind me all you want but I’m not giving up a fight! No siree! I’ll protect blind even if needed to! A Royal Guardsmen never backs down when protecting their kingdom!” She continues to mostly ramble on and eventually tell some other fight and protecting stories.

Can’t say Gaster wasn’t amazed by her determination and bravery, but he didn’t say anything. He only looked surprised, but also tired by now. It was probably around midnight anyways. Ouphre pauses one of them after a while when she notices Gaster dosing off, curling into a tighter ball as well.. She smiles kindly for a few seconds, then continues her stories but doesn’t do anything too loud or sudden, hoping to make Gaster sleep soon, and it worked. It wasn’t too long before he was passed out with his head laying on his knees.

Ouphre sighs, getting up after a bit and going over to pick up the sleeping skeleton. “Ya wore yourself out kid…” He looked surprisingly peaceful for a constantly on edge person. Holding him with an arm under his knees and one under his back, she carried him inside and to bed without making too much noise. After a few seconds of thought, Ouphre decided to take off the scarf and lay it on him over the blanket, only to sigh and walk out a bit later, heading to bed herself.

Gaster didn’t expect for him to wake up in his bed after that, and had to think for a few minutes to realize what happened, pretty much guessing most of it. He asked Ouphre on it later when she wasn’t around the others, trying to keep the night training secretive of course. He even asked Ouphre to help him a bit after some hesitation if she promises to say nothing, which she agreed to, giving a seeming approving smile. After, he felt a bit upset he wasn’t following his own, original plan anymore but had shrugged it off as Nomeus was making him get ready for magic school, deciding it didn’t matter at that point.

To be honest, he didn’t expect all that much to happen today, expecting the normal daily routine. Not even something to change the course of his fate…

First | Previous | Next

Word Count: 2,233

“What is happening over there? What reset is this now?” A human asked five others, staring them all down intensely.

“It's the skeleton, sir!” One of the five spoke up, surprisingly with confidence. “He seems to know what's going on. He's predicting us to change. He's not reacting like he should!”

One of the other humans started mumbling to another. “I told you Chatch should have just let us kill him… it's the only reason we failed in the first place.” Chatch sadly over heard and growled at this.

“You will not kill him! That is my job only!” He yells quickly. “Your job is to make him suffer so his death is more satisfying.” He glared at them all, making the one who said anything shrink back.

“Y-yes sir!” They said as loud as his cracking, fear-filled voice could. Chatch paid no mind to it and just moved on with what he was saying.

“I will take care of him when the time comes, but you have one last shot. I'm not using my power as your leader to keep you guys alive forever. It's just an advantage for this. Don't fail me again, or it's the last thing you do.” Chatch turned around after that and walked off, eyes still in a glare, as he mumbled. “He'll pay even if he doesn't remember. I'll get back at Aster one way, and unknown reasons of pain and karma make the revenge all the sweeter for me.”

The humans looked at each other before slowly moving to get their weapons and running off, preparing for another fight to the death. At this point they weren’t even sure about their leader anymore…

Gaster woke up in pure panic. He threw his hands over his head and curled up tight, breathing harshly as he mumbled words to himself. He felt the memory repeating, the people still there in his vision as they stood in shock. It was so real seeming, to the point that when Asgore put a hand on his shoulder and spoke his name, Gaster jumped and looked at him in fear. He seemed like he was expecting blame, as if he killed Ouphre. Asgore only looked at him confused to Gaster’s surprise.

“Are you alright…?” Asgore asked quietly, trying not to scare him more. “Just breathe calmly… it was probably a nightmare…” Gaster took a few breaths before gaining his sense of place. Once he realized where he was, he was able to relax. He quickly realized he got what he wanted, a reset.

Asgore soon pulled away once he noticed Gaster was finally calm. Gaster just let him and let out a sigh. He didn't plan on or want to explain to Asgore what that was about. He wouldn't know how to anyways. He took the moment to think. He had to think quickly. Asgore stayed silent at least, probably waiting for him to speak up first, still with the guess it was a nightmare that was sadly a worse reaction than the other times Gaster woke up panicked that Asgore doesn’t remember.

Eventually, he thought of something to change the pace of the way things were to go. "I'm going to take a walk…” Gaster mumbles. He gets up and brushes himself off. Asgore looks at him perplexed before starting to search for something.

“O-oh! May I go with you? My cape should be… around here…” He started to seem more unsure and confused as he looks around. Gaster paid no mind to it really as he kept to what he was doing. “I… must have left it at the lab…”

“We'll get it later.” Gaster says, a bit stern sounding, and just walks out without another word. Asgore blinks in surprise, but just sighs.

“Someone help him…” Asgore ends up mumbling under his breath. He watches Gaster wander away before going back to what he was doing.

Gaster wandered out into the clearing where they normally trained and looked around. Even with it full of beauty, flowers, trees and some things crawling around among it all, all Gaster could seem to see is the bloodstained and dusted ground. Flowers crushed, leaves stained red, and trees with markings and cuts in them from attacks. He shivered at it all, the thought of it becoming a bloodstained battlefield again scaring him.

Still, either way, something reassured him this time. If they pulled a retreat on me last time, even if clearly standing, then they won't dare to kill me. He relaxed a bit and looked around. Ouphre shouldn’t expect me to be here, not even with a walk. She won’t come here if i don’t meet her to train first. The humans don’t know where the camp is either. With things added up, he just had to stop them now.

“This time, you need to relax, Gaster.” He mumbles to himself, trying his best to do what he says. “Ouphre isn't going to be here, so no need to keep up with her. No need for someone to judge or know it was more than a scratch. No one will know… as much as I rather not have this happen… know one will know at least.” He took a deep, shaky breath and waited.

They showed up on time but seemed surprised to not see Ouphre like before. Gaster only took their confusion and added it to his finally unused magic to trap as many as he could in a circle of bones around them. Two decided to escape, yelling at the others to get out.

“We can’t do anything here! We should just leave! Chatch won’t let us go back this time!” With that comment from them, Gaster seems to glare at the two. So that’s who’s behind this. Should have guessed. He lets out an almost angry sounding sigh.

He kept cutting off the people, making them try turning around to run away, but Gaster felt they were almost helpless. He eventually trapped them all, slowly getting bored and wanting it finally finished. He could tell some were trying to get out, but paid no mind as he watched a few angrily.

“Lets make this quick…” He mutters, shooting bones through all the circle traps, trying to cut of the noise they made as well. “Anticlimactic, but who could care at this point…?” As calm as he spoke, it quickly dropped once the bones dispersed. Maybe not as anticlimactic as it could be.

He held a hand to his head, shaking slightly. He felt slightly numb to this now. How dare he though? How many has he killed now? My hands are stained with the blood of those scientists that thought they could control me, and now eight humans in this war… I can't go back… With each kill, the level of violence I can do just increases… I'll soon not feel guilty no matter who or where... I don't want this. He started to shake more with all the thoughts that showed no hope. Damn it… I can’t go back like them...

He felt so sick, but he knew at this point there was nothing to get rid of it. He finally knew what it was like to have enough guilt that you could feel something wanting to come up from the pain of it. He hated it, how much it piled up over time, but now he had to live with it and hoped it numbed out. This time it was definitely all his fault.

He heard the quick noise of someone’s footsteps, turning around in reaction, only to find another human. Gaster quickly moved out of the way, and then turned back. He counted the bodies, only to find all five. He looked at the alive human confused, only to realize this one looked a lot different. It was a new one, as a backup probably, and it seemed to be acting more aggressive than the others who tended to avoid Gaster.

He seemed to launch attack after attack, not really letting up as much as Gaster backed up and hoped to gain more concentration. As Gaster ended up losing energy, he started to feel slower and more sluggish, but he had to keep moving. The human definitely had more energy and feel to kill than even Gaster had. He couldn’t stop now.

After almost thirty minutes or less of Gaster dodging and hoping to land a hit, things started to get to the point of exhausting, even for the human. This just aggravated Gaster, for he wanted them gone, and he was getting sick of this. In desperation and frustration to end this quickly, Gaster went to launch himself at the human in hopes to find a way to restrain them. It worked, at least to start.

The moment Gaster moved closer, the human swung at him but his sword got caught in something. It was the scarf around Gaster’s neck, the one Vedran gave, and he could hear it start to tear as Gaster moved out of the way. Panic fueled him, making him shove the human down. They went down with a thud, shocked slightly. Gaster took the moment to pierce them with bones.

Once they stopped their cries of pain and fell limp, Gaster let out a shaky breath. Nine humans… He was trembling a bit, but forced himself to move and walk to where the part of the torn away fabric was, sliding off the other part of his scarf from his neck where it hanged. He picked up the torn part, letting tears well up.

Vedran gave this to him, and it’s the last he had of him. How could he be so stupid and careless? He wanted a way to remember that was close, just in case of the resets messing up in out of paranoia, but didn’t expect anyone to get close enough to destroy it. He expected people stronger than him, but not to face them head on alone.

To add to it, the person obviously had different intentions compared to the rest of the group. They seemed like a rogue monster hater, probably not following Chatch as much, and there could be more of them anywhere. They mostly seemed to want them all dead.

His thoughts began to feel like too much while standing there, almost making him feel sick again. He had to get somewhere to rest, to cool down, and clean up even his mind. He stumbled a bit, but began to walk away slowly even so. He hugged himself a bit as he walked, hoping to calm his trembling…

Gaster came back eventually, a hand to his head due to a headache, and was instantly met up by Asgore. He felt a bit glad nothing was obvious, but he was still trembling. He knew he couldn’t stay out as much as he wanted to hide it, because then they’d ask and worry too much.

“Gaster! There you are!” Asgore says as he quickly walks up. “You’ve been gone all day that you almost missed Ouphre leaving!” Gaster blinked surprised, staring at Asgore in disbelief.

“What do you mean? Where is she going?” He asked it quickly, almost tumbling over his words. He hoped it wasn’t a permanent leave, since that might end up another death put on his mind as his fault.

“Her a few others are going to fight in the war…” He mumbles, a frown growing. “They needed more people to help us, and they were the best they could muster…”

“Has it really gotten that bad…?” Gaster asks quietly, only to receive a sorrow nod. “How is this group supposed to protect itself with its main defender gone…?” Asgore shrugged slowly.

“I’m not sure… We may have to learn to fight for themselves, including me.” Asgore kept his voice quiet as his gaze trailed away. Gaster couldn’t, or didn’t at least, want to believe any of this. Maybe it’s another nightmare, and he’ll wake up soon. He hoped so at least. Everyone here seemed to kind to try fighting at least, especially Asgore, so it didn’t seem real. It frustrated Gaster.

“This is all so stupid.” Gaster mutters sternly, slightly glaring. “All these humans had to be so petty to us just because we’re different!” Asgore seemed to grow worried for him, so decided to speak up.

“Yes… It really is, but not even dad can do anything to stop it. We just have to keep trying and hope it ends soon.” Asgore mumbles, trying to be reassuring. “Maybe the humans will realize their mistakes.”

Gaster shot a glare at Asgore. “They’ll never realize. There’s no hope for them!” Asgore shrunk back, scared slightly at the sight of this new side of his friend.

“But-!” The moment Asgore tried to argue his side, Gaster cut him off.

“You don’t even know what they truly are. You haven’t lived with them for years.” Gaster glared for a bit, but then started to walk off. “I’ll be at the lab. I’m not sticking around for this.” Asgore blinked, surprised by the comment, before looking down. He always had a feeling there was something Gaster wasn’t saying, but now he definitely knew. He just would have to guess himself, because knowing Gaster personally, he’s not going to just say it honestly and straight forward. He’s barricaded himself too much for that.

First | Previous | Next