CWDP

This must be a dream - it has to be. 

Gaster doesn’t trust his eyes at first, when he sees the garbed white figure in the darkness. But then he turns, and standing before him is none other than King Asgore Dreemur, Lord of all Monsters.

He smiles, and speaks. “Howdy, Wingding.”

Gaster stares, in shock. Asgore, here? And remembering him, no less?

As if reading Gaster’s thoughts, Asgore shakes his head. “I’m just as confused as you are.” He gives a soft chuckle. “I suppose the dead can go where they please.”

Then it hits Gaster. Of course. This version of Asgore is from the end of the timeline - and not the one where he lives. 

Gaster, overcome with emotion, reaches out to him. “Sire-“

“There’s no need for that now.” Asgore shakes his head gently. “I’m not king anymore. It’s just Asgore now.”

Asgore gazes up towards the sky.

“I finally get to see the surface.” He breaks into a smile. “The stars are so beautiful."

Gaster smiles back, wiping away his tears, and extends a hand.

“Will you walk with me, my friend?”

Asgore takes it with a warm smile.

“Lead the way.”

—-

The two monsters stroll along the lake, watching the moon reflect on the water. The night has a chill, but neither feel it overly much.

Gaster can’t tell which timeline this Asgore is from - but it doesn’t really matter. He dies in all but one, after all. At least Gaster gets to take comfort in knowing that there is one timeline where Asgore and everyone else gets to live happily on the surface.

Eventually, they come to stand at the edge of the lake, overlooking the rest of the grounds. It’s a pity Asgore can’t see this place when the flowers are in bloom.

“It’s so good to see you again,” Asgore says, after a moment of silence.

“And you. I’ve missed you terribly.” This won’t last, Gaster knows. He will wake eventually. So for now, he savors this closeness as much as he can.

“I’ve learned a lot of things, being like this,” Asgore muses. “Things make more sense. I’ve remembered so much.”

Asgore’s face falls. He turns, and takes Gaster’s hands into his paws.

“I’m so sorry I forgot you, Wingding.” 

“Oh, Asgore.” Gaster gives his paw a gentle squeeze. “Everyone did. It’s no fault of yours.”

Asgore reaches out, cupping the back of Gaster’s head.

“In the back of my mind,” he murmurs, “I always felt like something was missing. Like an empty space inside me.”

In a fit of boldness - this is a dream, after all - Gaster wraps his arms around Asgore, pulling him in close. He is the same as ever - warm, and soft, with a scent of flowers on his fur.

“I watched you in every timeline,” Gaster whispers. “I’m so sorry you had to face everything alone.”

The two of them are silent for a moment, holding one another.

“You know that I loved you,” Asgore finally says, very softly. “You know that, don’t you?”

Gaster sighs heavily, nodding against him. “Things were never quite in our favor. You were my superior, you were still married, we both had our own duties to attend to…”

He pulls away, meeting Asgore’s eyes.

“But I loved you, too.” He reaches up to cup Asgore’s face. “I still do.” 

Asgore leans into Gaster’s touch, and presses his own lips to Gaster’s hand.

Gaster is suddenly filled with a sense of certainty that he has not felt in a very long time.

“I will find my way back,” he says. “One day. I’ll find you again. In a timeline where you don’t die, and monster kind is freed.”

Asgore nods. He leans in, pressing his forehead to Gaster’s own.

“No matter where I may go now,” Asgore murmurs, “I promise, I will remember you."

—-

Gaster awakes in his bed, to morning sunlight upon his wet face.