Gaster's with Robyn in Sowndin with the boys

First Nightmare About The War And Memoryhead

 He was dreaming again. He knew it. He always knew when he was dreaming and when he wasn't. Generations of experience taught him what the differences were between what was real and what was a dream.

But he very much preferred to stay in reality. He hated dreaming, and for a very good reason. And this was one of those many examples that reminded him why he hated dreams. 

Because something bad was always bound to happen. Whatever would be pleasant and soothing would eventually turn into a nightmare. 

At first, everything was fine. He was back on the Surface, back in his old village, before it had been overrun by the humans. He was with his friends, his family, Alphys, Robyn.... Somehow, Sans and Papyrus were there, but that made things all the more enjoyable. Everyone was happy and alive.

Everyone -- including his father, Arboris -- greeted him with a warm and welcoming smile. The sun was shining, birds were singing, flowers were blooming.... It was the perfect day for a stroll. It was the kind of day that told him nothing could possibly go wrong. 

But, unfortunately... everything did go wrong. In one moment, it all went to hell. 

Suddenly, the sun was gone. The sky went from blue to blood-red. Screams from innocent men, women and children rang out. The village was burning; everything was on fire. Then he wasn't in the village; he was back on the battlefield, near Mount Ebott. Then he saw the war playing out before him, all over again -- humans against monsters. Bodies fell and turned to dust. Souls shattered. Blood splashed onto his face and hands and clothes; it was all over him....

Then he saw them. Sans, Papyrus, Alphys, Robyn, the King and Queen, his best friends from boyhood. Then Memoryhead was towering over them. He was there, right behind them, staring at him with a malicious grin -- before he devoured them all in one single movement.

Memoryhead killed them. Once again, his family was taken from him.

NO! No, no, please, no--!!!

"WING!! Wing, wake up, please!! You're having a nightmare!!"

With a scream, Gaster's eyes flashed open, flaring a bright purple as he lurched upright and clutched his chest. Then he sat there, panting and shaking, a cold sweat dampening his brow and pajamas. 

He was back in his room.... in his house, in Snowdin.... Memoryhead wasn't here....

A pair of smooth, familiar hands grabbed his wrists. A pair of frightened aquamarine eyes met his gaze.

"Wing," Robyn gasped. "Wing, talk to me. Say something!"

The doctor regained some of his focus. His pants and gasps for air quieted down. The purple in his eyes dimmed.

Robyn was here. But how? How did she...? What...?

"Robyn?" he whispered. "Wh-What happened? How did--?"

"You were having a nightmare," Robyn answered. "We heard you screaming...."

"... 'We'?"

Robyn's eyes flickered over to the doorway. Gaster followed her gaze.... Both Sans and Papyrus were standing there, in their blue and orange pajamas, respectively. Their eyes were glowing in the light of the bedside lamp Robyn had turned on. Their expressions were ones of fear and concern. Robyn's was the same.

Gaster stared at all three of them for a moment, a part of him struggling to process this.

"What happened?" he asked.

"well, uh... we heard you screamin'," Sans explained. "pap and i heard it, and right as we started to check it out, we saw robyn runnin' in here."

"YEAH," added Papyrus. "YOU WERE KICKING AND SCREAMING IN YOUR SLEEP, YOUR EYES WERE TURNING INTO ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT COLORS...."