Gaster sat silently at the edge of his bed contemplating his next move. There was much to consider.
'I'll rig the place to flood on a timer so I am able to remove her from the chamber and return to Snowdin safely. That should suffice'. He thought to himself. ' the king has called a meeting to discuss the surges that have been plaguing the core lately. I'll tell him the experiment has failed then. Bring him some fabricated results. Nothing too detailed. Just enough for him to believe and not question'.
The door to his bedroom creaked open slowly shaking him from his thoughts. In the doorway stood Papyrus clad in his usual bright orange onesie.
A sweet and chubby toddler, Papyrus was quite tall for his age and loud, very loud. Gaster was surprised he had not heard him coming.
“DADDY?” Papyrus said in his sweet and childish tone.
“Papyrus? What are you doing up so early?” Gaster asked as Papyrus toddled over to him, almost tripping over his own feet.
“NO WASTE THE DAY.” he replied.
Gaster scooped him up in his arms and held him close. Such a bright light, a rarity in this place. What would Papyrus think of him if he knew what he had done? He pushed the thoughts from his mind. It would not do to dwell on such things.
Gaster smiled. “Your right as always my sweet child. Come, let's get you dressed. There is someone I would like you to meet.”
*
Papyrus enjoyed his little adventures with his dad. There was always so much laughter and joy in them. Looking down from his fathers shoulders Papyrus could see the wide grin on his face. It had been so long since he had seen that smile, a genuine smile. Things had been different lately.
Papyrus knew his dad was trying his best to smile, to not worry him and his brother, but Papyrus knew. He could feel something had been wrong and no amount of nice words, or hugs, or bedtime stories would convince him otherwise.
But today, today was different. Today his father was back to his old self. Maybe things had gotten better on their own just like Sans said they would. He had just needed to give it time. And what made it even better was they were going to meet someone. A secret someone and not just any someone. When he had asked, his dad had told him they were someone very special. Better than a friend. Papyrus would just have to wait until they got to where they were going to find out who. A very special better than a friend someone, this adventure was very exciting indeed.
Rounding the corner they ducked behind one of the waterfalls. A giant metal door greeted them. Gaster placed his hand on the oddly shaped control panel and the door whooshed open.
“YAY!” Papyrus shouted in amazement clapping his hands.
“Shhhh” Gaster chuckled walking inside. The door closed automatically behind them.
Papyrus clambered down from his father's shoulders. With a smile Gaster knelt in front of him. “Now Papyrus, I need you to listen carefully. You must be very gentle and patient with her. She isn't as strong as you are and does not understand things as well as you yet, OK?”
“YES DADDY. BUT WHO IS SHE?” Papyrus asked, a confused expression on his face.
rounding the corner they came to a small room. It was filled with books, puzzles, toys and there sat on the bed in the corner of the room was a small skeleton.
“She is your new sister”
Papyrus's face lit up with excitement. “SISTER! IS SHE COMING HOME WITH US? CAN SHE SHARE MY BED?...Do I have to share my spaghetti?” he wasn't too keen to know the answer to the last question.
Gaster laughed. “Maybe you could teach her how to make it” he replied, sliding open the glass door.
“YEA!!!”
The small skeleton looked up from her flower plush with a start to see an overjoyed Papyrus bounding towards her. He jumped up onto the bed and gave her a crushing hug.
“Papyrus” Gaster scolded as he took a seat at the desk in the opposite corner of the room.
Papyrus backed away slightly and smiled sheepishly. “SORRY DADDY... HI, IM THE GREAT PAPYRUS. YOUR SUPER AWSOME AND AMAZING BIG BROTHER. DON'T WORRY I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?” the tiny turquoise haired skeleton didn't reply. “CAN YOU TALK?” she smiled and shook her head. Papyrus turned to Gaster. “DADDY WHATS HER NAME?”
Gaster considered the question for a moment. “I haven't really given her one yet. I've just been calling her blue.”
“THATS A COLOUR NOT A NAME” Papyrus scolded. He turned back to the little girl and took her hand. “NO WORRY I'LL THINK OF ONE FOR YOU LATER” he told her as he lead her towards the toys.
Gaster watched them silently. As they played It became abundantly clear that the girl was quite proficient at puzzle solving. This overjoyed Papyrus to no end. He handed her puzzle after puzzle cheering after they finished each one. Most were solved within the first hour before they became bored and moving on to other things. He would have to remember to purchase more challenging puzzles for them when they got home. Her favourite toy by far had been the small plush flower. she had it's pose-able body wound round her arm and carried it everywhere.
Quietly Gaster slipped away as the two played together. He was sure now that this was the right thing to do.
Walking to the back of the lab he pulled several explosives from the utility cupboard. Slowly he made his way down the staircase to the power room, setting up the explosives as he went. Once all were set he made his way back up to the Stasis room and began to reprogram the console. 'one hour should be more than enough to give us time to escape' he thought as he pressed the last key and returned to the children.
Upon his return he found Papyrus playing quietly next to his sleeping sister. With a smile Gaster scooped her up and returned her to the stasis chamber.
“DADDY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IS SHE OK? CAN WE JUST TAKE HER HOME NOW? PLEASE NO PUT HER IN THERE. I NO LIKE IT. IT MAKES ME FEEL FUNNY. AND NOT HAHA FUNNY.””
“ she is quite alright don't worry. I just have to run some more tests on my return before we take her home. I have to go fix the core tonight and it may take me a while. For now she is better off in here where all her needs can be catered to.”
“OK. BUT WHEN WILL SANS GET TO MEET HER?”
“Soon, soon. I was hoping you could help me with that. You know how Sans can be when it comes to meeting new people.” Papyrus nodded. “now lets head to Gerson's, I told Sans we would meet him there.” Gaster scooped up Papyrus and together they made their way out of the lab.
*
Sans sat outside Gerson's shop. The old man was late, he was always late. He bet the old man had gotten too entrenched in his work again.
Sans sighed and glanced around. 'There sure are allot of guards about today' he thought to himself as another group past him. 'wonder what's up'.
“SANS!” Papyrus's shouted cheerfully, trying to get Sans' attention over the noise of clanking armour.
Sans ran to him and hugged him tightly. “hey bro. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me.”
“I WOULD NEVER FORGET YOU BROTHER.” Papyrus replied with a smile.
Gaster smiled and hugged them both tightly. “now Sans, I must head to the capital. I have a very important meeting with the king. I need you to take care of your brother until I return. Go straight home, no playing in the forest.”
“OK dad” Sans said sarcastically.
“Promise me Sans. This is very important. I don't want you out after dark it isn't safe. Promise me you'll go straight home and take care of your brother.”
Sans looked up at his father with worry. The old man had never been this concerned about such things before. And if he was worried... “OK dad. I promise” Sans replied in a more serious tone.
“good. I love you both. Now, I must be off. I'll be back in a few hours. Don't stay up too late.” Gaster kissed them both on the forehead and left for the capital, Sans and Papyrus waving him off as he faded from sight.
*
The capital had changed since the last time he visited. The atmosphere had become more dark, fearful. The streets were almost empty and those that had been brave enough to venture out quickly ran for shelter when he approached. In the distance he could hear faint screams and maniacal laughter; The sounds only getting louder the closer he came to the castle.
All noise ceased as he reached the throne room doors. Gaster sighed deeply, 'And today had been going so well' he thought to himself as he swung the doors open.
Asgore sat sprawled across his throne. His legs over one arm of the chair and arms over the other. His purple cape draped behind him whipping up the dust of the monsters that had dared to cross him that day. His black armour, though covered in dust as it was, glinting in the candle light. He took a long drag from his cigarette and chuckled.
“Ah and there he is. Come to pick over the remains Raven?”
“no sir” Gaster replied trying his best to smile at the maddening king. “I am here to discuss the core and... other matters.”
Asgore chuckled to himself once more. “do you know why they call you Raven?” Gaster shook his head. “ they see you as an omen. Where ever you go sorrow and destruction are never far behind... The names a damn sight better than 'the maddening king' that's for sure... We are damned souls Raven. No matter how hard you try to help those weaker than us. No matter how hard you try to pretend otherwise.. We're too far gone.” Asgore rose from his position to consider Gaster more closely. “how is the 'other matter'?”
“I'm sorry to say sir that the experiment was a failure.” Gaster sighed handing Asgore the set of fabricated results. Asgore glanced at them and threw them aside. “Once out of stasis the souls were unable to maintain form and quickly deteriorated... The only thing left to discuss is the... Remains.”
Asgore waved a dismissive hand. “Throw them in the hole with the others. What do I care what you do with them.”
“Yes sir. As for the core-”
“Go do your thing Raven. I'm sure you'll figure it out.”
Gaster bowed and turned to leave.
“Oh, one final question Raven.” Gaster froze. He immediately felt the air in the room shift, Asgore's magic flaring up as it did so. He braced himself and turned to the maddening king.
“How stupid do you think I am?” Asgore shouted, his loud booming voice echoing through the halls closely followed by the sounds of running footsteps and fire blasts.
Gaster dodged the oncoming flames trying his best to keep on his feet, he had never been much of a fighter.
“I've had my people watching you Raven. I always knew you were soft. And now it's going to cost you dearly.”
Asgore lunged at Gaster with his trident. Gaster summoned a wall of bones in front of him knocking the king off balance. Gaster kept running.
How far would he chase him? For how long?
Asgore's laughter trailed after him as he burst through the doors to the core. “Do you think your sons can run and dodge as well as you?”
Fear filled Gaster's soul. A cold deep fear. Reaching the edge of the railing he turned to Asgore. The king loitered in the doorway, a cocky and arrogant look on his face.
“What have you done with them?” Gaster asked in a fearful tone.
“Nothing yet but don't worry. My men will find them soon enough.” another maniacal laugh escaped Asgore's maw.
Gaster glanced over the railing into the magic of the core. He was trapped. It was the end for him, he knew, but perhaps it didn't have to be that way for his children.
He knew the science. The theory anyway. The core's magic erasing the existence of anything unlucky enough to fall into it. It was a long shot but it was the only chance they had; and for them, he would do anything.
Gaster climbed up onto the railing and with one last look at Asgore, threw himself over the edge.
*
“Keep running Pap. It's going to be OK. Just keep running.” Sans said breathlessly as they ran through Waterfall.
The guards had ambushed them as they were returning home. Sans didn't know why but he knew he had to keep Pap safe. He had promised after all.
Quickly they ducked into the long grass and huddled together; Trying their best to keep quiet as the guards approached.
The guards swung their weapons through the tall grass narrowly missing Sans. Papyrus stifled a scream. Suddenly a huge gust of magic blew past them and all fell silent.
“how did we get here?” asked one of the guards. The others shook their heads and mumbled dismissively.
“lets head back” replied another. The sound of clanking footsteps faded into the distance leaving Sans and Papyrus alone once more.
“That was weird” said Sans as he helped Papyrus to his feet. Papyrus stumbled and fell to the ground unconscious. “PAP! PAP! CAN YOU HEAR ME? PAP!”
Comments (0)
See all