{Handplates chapter refrences: Sow the wind, ...reap the whirlwind}

"Let's see...o-okay, this elevator should take us into the upper part of the Core...then we can take the other elevator to New Home, find Asgore...", Alphys spoke, more to herself than anyone else around as the four of you carefully treaded across different walkways that connected the several levels and areas of the Core. 

Some of them had railings, while others didn't. They seemed to be in the middle of the process of making the construction safer.

The change in design surprised you. You remembered that you had suggested railings to Gaster before but he had deemed it as unnecessary. Something, or someone, probably changed his mind. 

2-P and 1-S trotted behind Alphys, holding hands. They were unbothered by the scorching heat, looking around curiously and taking in the bright and magical shimmer that came from the lava beneath you.

This wasn't even the entire Underground, but the size of this place was already overwhelming. It was bigger than any room they had ever seen before and the area was not sealed off by plain gray walls, seeming to stretch out indefinitely.

"T-this is fine, I can do this, it'll...it's okay, it's all okay, there's...t-there's a good explanation for all of this, there has to be.", the small lizard scientist continued to mumble to herself, her tail flicking anxiously from time to time as she rubbed her hands together. Her eyes were trained on the elevator straight ahead and so were yours. 

Is this really okay...? 

The bad feeling in your stomach still hadn't settled and it felt like the more distance you brought between yourselves and the laboratory, it got worse.

2-P looked around once more, his brows furrowed a little as he took in his surroundings with a hint of confusion: "THIS PART OF INSIDE LOOKS WEIRD. I WONDER WHY HE NEVER TOOK US HERE BEFORE?"

"uh...i'm starting to think that maybe...we're not there anymore, bro.", answered 1-S in a quietly. He gazed down at his feet, seeing the light of the lava seep through the creaks in the tiles of the walkway.

"YOU MEAN...THIS IS OUTSIDE?? ARE WE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW?? OH WOW!!", 2-P's confusion was immediately replaced by amazement and he stopped for a moment, stemming his hands on his hips. 

"THIS ISN'T WHAT I EXPECTED AT ALL!! WHERE'S ALL THE WHITE???", he stated, thinking about all the different visions he had where he saw this white stuff all around what seemed to be 'outside'. 

1-S's eyes darkened as 2-P referred to his visions, the memories of his own visions invading his mind: "well, it's kinda red, i guess...i wonder what that means..."

They finally reached the end of the walkway and Alphys pushed the button for the elevator. The doors immediately swung open, revealing a small room with checkered floor.

"O-okay, here's the elevator...cmon, cmon, we don't have much time.", Alphys pushed somewhat anxiously. You could sense her nervosity, small sweat beads still visible on her forehead.

All of you stepped inside and you couldn't help but fiddle with your hands nervously as you waited for Alphys to push the next button.

She adjusted her glasses as she scanned the different floor and level descriptions: "Let's see...which one was the bridge.."

You watched as 2-P stepped up next to her, slowly stretching out his hand towards the buttons.

You tried to get his attention by stepping in front of him and telling him no but Alphys reacted faster, grabbing his hand and pulling it away gently: "Oh don't- don't touch that one! Not R-66! Dr. Gaster- we, uh, I don't want to- uh, I want you to see Asgore first, before we talk to him...uh."

Alphys looked back into two dumbfounded skeletal faces as she continued to stutter, clearly frustrated by the language barrier that is between them. She brought her paw up to her head, thinking.

"Jeez, you can't understand me. Uh...Dr. Gaster, Dr. Gaster, like this?"

She clumsily scrunched up her face, shutting one of her eyes to mimic Gaster's face: "You know who I'm talking about?"

The expression on the two skeletons' faces immediately shifted to one of discomfort and genuine fear.

A reaction Alphys rather didn't see.

Those faces alone seemed to tell an endless story with no words. And the thought of it shook her.

What did Gaster do to them to get such a reaction when he is merely mentioned?

"Uhhh...don't...love that expression on your face, but I'm gonna hope that means you know who I'm talking about..."

She turned back to the elevator's buttons again: "B-but, he's on R-66, we're going to R-70, I'm p-pretty sure that'll take us to the other elevator..."

"I GUESS THAT MUST BE HIS BUTTON...? MAYBE THINGS AREN'T ALLOWED TO PRESS IT.", pondered 2-P out loud as they watched Alphys.

But 1-S barely registered his brother's words, his gaze trained towards the ground with empty eye sockets.

"uh huh?"

"THEY KNOW HIM THOUGH, SO THEY MUST WORK WITH HIM. I WONDER WHY WE NEVER SAW THEM BEFORE?"

"maybe."

You noticed 1-S's expression and crouched down to his level, grabbing his free hand to give him a reassuring squeeze. 

He was the calculated one of the bunch, the one who didn't trust chance or things that seem too good to be true and you understood his reasonings. That's why you wanted to try even harder to reassure him that Alphys would bring them somewhere safe. Where he and 2-P could be free. 

2-P's eyes landed on you as he watched your movement, and he finally looked at 1-S himself with a quirked eyebrow: "...ARE YOU OK? YOU LOOK THOUGHTFUL."

"i'm ok."

Your reassurance didn't seem to reach him and not even 2-P seemed to be able to pull him out of whatever was swirling through his mind. It worried you. It made that bad feeling stir up once again. 1-S pulled his hand out of your faint grasp and looked at his handplate in deep thought.

"It won't be long now...d-don't worry, everything will be fine, you two."

1-S's mind was running wild as he stared down at the handplate, replaying different conversations he had with Gaster.

"I will always find you, no matter how far you run, and no matter where you hide." 

Those plates are tracking devices. They can't outrun Gaster. He will know when they're gone, where to look. And he will bring them back. 1-S wouldn't let that happen.

"What matters more to you, his life or his ideals?"

It was still a difficult choice, but his brother mattered to 1-S the most. He didn't care if he had to get his hands dirty to keep him safe.

Surely 2-P would understand, forgive him if he did something that was going against his ideals.

And maybe even if he didn't - if 2-P ended up hating 1-S because of it - at least he was safe.

And that was more than enough for 1-S. That's all he wanted.

"You must know by now that you're the expandable one."

1-S knew that he was only alive to serve as leverage. Gaster could make 2-P do anything if it meant he wouldn't harm him.
1-S hated that thought. He wouldn't let Gaster get the chance to do that. He needs to put an end to this. No matter what.

And then he thought about what he said to Gaster: "you've got choices. you're just not strong enough to make them."

1-S had a choice now. And he would make it. He would not be like Gaster. He would be strong enough.

1-S opened his eyes, his left eye glowing in a subtle blue color and a determined look on his face. He will pull through this and nothing would stop him.

The elevator finally came to a stop and the doors opened once more.

"Alright, this should be it...come on...", said Alphys and stepped outside. She occasionally glanced over her shoulder to see if the two skeletons were following. 

2-P was the first to step out: "OH WE'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE! MAYBE THE BUTTONS ARE MAGIC? WEIRD..."

1-S watched quietly as his brother stepped out of the elevator, not making an effort to move himself.

You stayed behind with him, trying to nudge him into the right direction but instead he took a few steps backward, lifting his hand and placing his index finger on the button.

"What are you doing? You should join your brother.", you said with a hint of nervousness edged into your voice. 

1-S seemed to register your nervousness, his eyes flickering in your direction for a moment. 

What you saw when you looked back at him made a small shiver run down your spine.

He had a cold and calculated look in his eyes, his whole demeanor reflecting sheer determination.

1-S was dead-set on whatever was on his mind and without another moment of hesitation, he pressed the button.

R-66.

The doors opened quietly and 1-S peeked out to ensure Gaster was really there.

You already pushed out of the doors yourself, trying to get into 1-S's way and motion to him not to do whatever he was going to do.

1-S didn't even look at you, walking right through you, your silent pleas dismissed.

Gaster was too much in his own head to notice anything around him.

Lost in thought, he took a deep breath from the cigarette between his fingers and released the smoke again in a quiet sigh.
He was slumped over the railing, staring down at the lava, as always, and his head resting on his free hand.

The lab coat he usually wears was draped over the railing, the sleeves of his dark gray turtleneck rolled up.

1-S had almost reached Gaster as the elevator doors opened once more and both Alphys and 2-P stumbled outside.

"Where is he-", cried out Alphys, causing 1-S to sprint the rest of the distance towards Gaster so they couldn't sabotage his plan.

"Dr. Gaster!", Alphys exclaimed, alarmed as she saw 1-S sprint towards him and 2-P quickly ran after his brother as well as an attempt to stop him.

"ALPHYS!", Gaster cried in shock and he turned to see 1-S dart straight towards him. 

It happened so fast, he didn't know what to be first concerned about. The fact that 1-S and 2-P were set free. That Alphys was with them. Or that 1-S came at him with a murderous glint in his eyes.

He could not react in time as 1-S threw himself at him, tackling him down. Both tumbled down the ledge.

"NO!", both you and Alphys screamed.

Just in time, 2-P threw himself onto his stomach and grasped 1-S's robe, successfully catching him in the air and without thinking, he stretched out his other hand to summon blue magic.

But then, a distant memory tore through his mind and his hand cramped up almost instinctively.

"Should either of you ever even think of using blue magic on me, for any reason, there will be consequences."

The traumatic events that 2-P had suffered through because of Gaster's blue magic demonstration left him in a frozen state, his body starting to tremble as he stared down at Gaster falling with tears in his eyes.

"Dr. Gaster!"

"G!"

You didn't know what went through your mind when you jumped off that ledge, right after him but it was all you could think of doing in that moment. 

You had managed to influence the physical world a couple of times, maybe you could do it somehow now too. Just maybe. It was reason enough for you as you sent your body falling after him.

Gaster stared up at Alphys and the two skeletons, how their frames became smaller the further he fell. 

Is this the end..?, he thought to himself. 

His mind was eerily quiet as his heart thumped wildly in his chest, the wind howling in his ears as he fell. It seemed to go on forever.

Is this what I deserve..? After everything..?

He had hoped that somehow his life could turn around but deep inside he knew he would not be spared. 

Finally, life gave him the ultimate payback. 

He is going to die, through the hand of his own creations. 

What he had done to them...it was enough to turn to such drastic measures. He could understand it. He didn't deserve it any better. 

It was a fair punishment.

For a moment, Gaster thought about all the good times. The good things that he got to experience in his life. 

As bad as he was...he was grateful for the good that has been given to him. 

Even if it was just fleeting. 

He closed his eyes, tears slipped from the corners of his eyes and almost immediately disappeared into the air. A silent confession of all the feelings he had bottled up for so long. The pain, the guilt...how grateful he was for his friends...how awful he was to them and how he pushed them away. 

There was so much he wished he could have said to them. There was so much he wished he had done differently. 

But as always, he had realized these things too late.

Even until now, he had been a coward. He thought he had changed but he was still the same. And now he could never go back.

He slowly opened his eyes again and he almost gasped as he gazed up. 

Time seemed to momentarily slow down.

Gaster could see you clearly, your hand stretched out to him and a desperate, almost pleading look on your face. Your hair was fluttering gently in the air as you fell with him.

And for the first time in forever, 

it felt like he could finally see clearly again.

He teared up once more, a small, pained croak escaping his throat as he reached out for you. 

You were not more than a [s/c] silhouette, but he could see all your features so clearly.

And...

...You were so beautiful.

He felt his heart stop for a moment, just simply basking in the comfort of your presence.

"I won't leave you.", you cried out as tears formed in your eyes as well and you stretched out your arm even more.

As your fingertips grazed, you both could feel a faint tingle.

Gaster finally grasped your hand fully, holding onto it tightly. 

It felt so...natural. As if you were never gone. 

A small smile formed on his face and he closed his eyes, almost content. He felt...happy.

You are there.

You were always there.

And that was all the reassurance he needed.

Just once more he gazed up at you, committing your face to memory and he opened his mouth just slightly:

.

.

"...my [Y/N]."

Gaster felt his body collide with the lava and then, everything went dark.