Young Gaster had his arms folded on the edge of the ship; staring out into the sunlit open ocean. He didn't bother sleeping last night, he wasn't tired. He was busy wondering about how things were in America. What the monsters were like, and if the humans were nice over there. He didn't want to leave his home in Europe, but his parents worked for the king as researchers and they received a letter stating that they were needed in the capital city. A few weeks at sea later and here they were, not too far from shore.

"Is everything alright? You've been out here since yesterday evening."

It was his father, Corbel, checking up on him. He stood proud and tall; he wanted to be like him one day. If only his parents weren't so into their work...

Gaster didn't avert his gaze and just simply nodded.

"I know that it's hard leaving everyone behind, but sometimes you have to look at the greater scope of things and understand what is most important." His father said; putting a hand on his child's shoulder.

"I don't understand why we have to move. Why couldn't you and Mum just visit the king and come home?"

"Because, son, it's our job under the king of monsters to help ensure everyone's safety. We've been summoned for something more serious and we must be available to report. I couldn't leave my family behind, now could I?"

"No..."

"Of course not. I'm sure you'll really like the capital city. You should find lots of new friends there."

"HeheheheheheheHAHAHA" A muffled chorus of laughter could be heard from the chambers of the ship, and a window slammed open to reveal an angry Snowdrake.

"Skeleton! If you don't come get your demon spawn skeleton dogs I swear to the gods...!"

Gaster and his father chuckled at what the bird monster called them.

"I'm on my way, don't get your feathers in a bunch."

The young skeleton was fond of his family's blasters; even if they were a nuisance to bystanders. They were common companions to skeletons where he came from; it's just that they had so many. 5 in fact. 5 giant skeleton dogs galloping around the ship and wreaking havoc. The captain would've locked them down in the hold if his father hadn't refused.

When the ship finally docked, the skeleton family was practically thrown off the ship. They made their way from the port and, just as they did, Verdana and Calibri sped away and galloped off into the city.

"Curse those hounds, they can never seem to stay put. Gaster, would you be a dear and fetch them? The last thing we need is for our first impression to be ruined." Gaster's mother, Candara, asked.

"Yes Ma'am." He said before running off after them. They left large prints in the dirt, so they wouldn't be hard to find. The prints led into a residential part of the city where their prints were lost in cobblestone paths. His attention was drawn towards telltale cackling and chuckles that said they were close. He rounded the corner and found them eating away at something with stray papers strewn here and there across the street. Another young monster around his age was standing nearby with a defeated look. They were a fire monster with the fire barely flickering about as they usually do.

Okay; first the problem. Questions later.

"Verdana! Calibri! Cut it out! What are you eating?" He shouted; pushing their skulls until he saw some crumbs and a stray piece of lettuce fall from their mouths. Uh oh.

"Ah geez, that was yours wasn't it? I'm sorry, they're just so greedy..." He said to the fire monster.

Well, there was no getting that lunch back now. He couldn't just leave it at that and go home, it was rude!

"Uh...sorry about my dogs. I could get you something else to eat if you..wanted...to..."

Gaster trailed off as the kid just looked at him. He wasn't saying anything and this was getting awkward fast. Then, the fire monster shook their head.

"It's fine, I wasn't that hungry anyway. I was just waiting for you to finish; you apologize a lot."

He did? He only did it twice. Was the kid not used to hearing them?

"You said those are dogs?"

"Well, sort of. They're blasters-since they fire lasers from their mouths-but they're like dogs, so they might as well be."

"Sounds...dangerous."

"Says the kid made of fire."

"I guess that's fair."

"I'm Gaster, I just moved here. What about you?" He said, extending an arm for a hand shake.

Wait wait wait the kid's made of fire, abort abort abortabort.

Oh.

It doesn't burn.

"My name's Grillby."