Unrequited LOVE

•Chapter 39•

Back in Gaster's domain, a flash of light illuminates the space, hot and blinding. The tall skeleton turns to look at the source, baffled.

Ping.

A familiar ping rings in his ribcage, and for the first time in his ever-elongating life, Gaster feels true fear.

...He really shouldn't have messed with you.

***

He will pay.

Indescribable amounts of fury flowed through your system when you arrived at Gaster's void. The tentacles holding your friends down were the same color as your previous magic, heightening your displeasure.

Summoning a burst of magic, you appeared before Gaster, a barrier between him and the others. Behind you, you could hear their shocked gasps, as well as what sounded like Blue yelling your name.

"And here I thought you were dusted," Gaster drawled. "You are more like Frisk than I originally predicted.

"Shut up," you growled. "I wasn't them then, and I certainly aren't now."

"Oh? I take it you know now," Gaster's smile deepened, sending a shiver down your spine. "Tell me, did it hurt knowing how many innocents you've slaughtered? Lives you've ruined over and over again? Or does that simply not bother you anymore, Frisk?"

He's trying to get to you, you take a deep breath, fists clenching. Don't let him win.

The air behind you is thick with confusion, and you can practically see the confuzzled looks on their faces.

...I have a lot of explaining to do once this clusterfuck is over.

"WATCH OUT!"

You were pulled out of your thoughts when Gaster shot a laser beam your way. Dodging the attack, you summoned a ball of energy in your palm, sending it careening at the tall skeleton.

BOOM!

The ball connects with a loud booming noise. Gaster grunts as his form fizzles momentarily. "It seems I have underestimated you."

Damn right, prick.

More balls form around you. You lift a hand and they all shoot at Gaster, who braces himself against the raw power.

The shadowy remnant of INTENT clings to the space; yours, a strongly-protective INTENT, and Gasters, a mere sliver clouded with the sour taste of POWER and HATE.

Suddenly, a green and red barrier forms between Gaster and your attack, deflecting them.

You freeze, eyes drifting to the tall skeleton's ribcage. Floating there is a black, drippy SOUL with a dash of green and red in the center.

It all makes sense. That tiny dash is the reason you survived, however unwilling it may be.

...He stole it.

Rage courses through your new SOUL, blisteringly bright. How dare he - using your own SOUL against you.

He's gone too far.

A quick glance at the other skeletons proves your theory correct. Every single one of their sockets are dark, so much so that you would have assumed them dead.

"Surprised?" Gaster questions with a cruel smirk. "You weren't completely useless, after all."

You're just about to respond when Blue's voice rings through the void, louder than you've ever heard it. "DON'T TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT, YOU GIANT PRICK! YOU'RE THE USELESS ONE!!"