"Why would you create free will when you knew how we would use it?" Gaster asked the Being in the void.
He had seen many timelines. Many, many timelines. There were some where free will was used to the best possible ends. There were too many others where it was used for the worst.
Gaster had seen enough. He wanted to influence a world where choice was not allowed, where the outcome was always for the best, where no one could decide otherwise.
Of course, Gaster could not do that without permission from the Timelines' Creator.
"I knew how these worlds could turn out if choice were allowed, but…" the Being paused and then continued with a sad smile in his voice. "I do not regret my choice."
"Why?" Gaster asked angrily. "Don't you see the pain it can cause?"
"Don't you see the joy it can bring?" the Being replied. "If you force someone to do the right thing because their actions cannot be otherwise, then do their actions really have any significance? They act as a machine acts when you flip its switch. It only follows a directive. It does not accomplish anything significant. It cannot think or choose."
"Those who always choose wrongly shouldn't be able to choose. They are only capable of hurting and causing pain."
"But they're also capable of changing and bringing happiness. You know that. Don't you, Gaster?"
Gaster pondered what the Being said and hesitated before he came up with his next reply.
"I see what you mean," Gaster finally replied. "I suppose if one cannot choose to do evil then they also cannot choose to do good."
"You are beginning to understand," the Being said.
"But what if I didn't stop choice completely? What if I only stopped its most negative consequences so no one would be hurt?"
"Do the choices still matter if at worst they can only help or hurt a little?"
"I think they do."
The Being sighed loudly and said, "You're a fool."
"And you're unwilling to compromise," Gaster retorted.
"You really think you can improve the world by limiting free will?" the Being asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Gaster replied confidently. "Yes, I do. I want to create a world that can only be happy."
The Being shook his head sadly before he said, "Alright, then. You have my permission to change this world and see if your plan for the world is more perfect than mine."
Gaster silently nodded and flew past him towards the world he was guarding.
"But I have one condition," the Being replied forcing Gaster to stop. "You will only have one day to influence the world as you see fit without interference. When that day is done, a challenger will come to oppose your design. If your world cannot withstand this challenger without any alteration from your original design, that challenger will be granted control instead of you. Do you accept these terms and conditions?"
Gaster turned around and said, "I do. I am confident that my design can stand up to this challenger."
"That's what they all think," the Being said before Gaster turned away to accomplish this mission.