Marcan was dead.

He knew that. He was certain of it. And it was his fault.

Gaster grasped at his head, tears trickling down his cheekbones. [Oh GOD… I….. I killed him…. he's….] Unbidden, an image of Asgore appeared in the skeleton's mind. And he had to fight from throwing up.

The King would be furious.

He'd been so kind (irritating, but kind), and let him into his castle, at the protest of his Guard Captain and Scientist, and what had he gone and done? MURDERED ONE OF THEM. If he didn't just set Vaden onto him, Asgore could snap him in half himself.

And he'd be well within his right to.

Gaster let out a defeated wail. He didn't want to die again! But he couldn't just not own up to this… he couldn't not turn himself in!

"Professor Marcan, are you in here?" Called a voice from the door. "I heard shouti-..."

Gaster gasped shakily, turning around, spotting a monster he didn't recognise standing in the doorway, staring at him.

The skeleton could only sit there as the monster's eyes took in the magic still glowing off his eyes and hands, and the pile of dust on the floor on the other side of the room, with Marcan's coat nestled in it.

"Y….you….!" He stumbled backwards, and then, sprinted down the hall as fast as he can, screaming, "GUARDS! GUARDS! MURDER! MURDER IN THE CASTLE!"

Gaster didn't remember standing up, he didn't remember staggering out of the Lab, and he didn't remember legging it as fast as he could go. But, he found himself running blind through the halls of the castle, and he couldn't make himself stop.

The news got to Vaden quickly. And, his fur and feathers puffed on end as he listened to the report from the underling before him.

"We have four units sweeping the castle now, Captain…" He was saying. "From the frantic words of the science wing apprentice that discovered the act, the culprit is a… skeleton monster?"

Vaden growled. "GASTER! I knew it! I knew that bonehead freak show was bad news!"

The underling shrank back.

"Get all available guards on the search for this asshole!" The Captain barked. "Move in pairs! I don't want a single person alone with him!"

"King Asgore should be informed…." The underling told him in a small voice.

The noise that Vaden made sent shudders down the other Guard's back.

"Oh don't worry….. I will be telling him." Vaden clenched his fists, and then yelled at the top of his lungs, "I WANT HIM ALIVE! NO ONE IS TO KILL HIM BUT ME!"

The other Guard didn't even stop to salute the Captain. He just went off at a sprint to pass on the orders.

Vaden was furious. Marcan… his best friend… had gone dust at the hands of this…. this…. aberration… normal Monsters didn't have white souls… NORMAL Monsters could not touch their soul and live! So he was clearly some sort of human in disguise! They could have coloured souls, and their souls were so much stronger! That HAD to be it! They had lots of abilities….. so maybe that was one of them!

He stomped down the halls of the castle as he pondered this, the shouts from his guards as they searched for Gaster echoing around him. He had over a hundred guards looking through what was, in the scheme of things not a huge castle… he must have been very cunning to stay away from them.

The avian canine was so angry he wasn't even going to be smug to Asgore. There was not going to be any I-TOLD-YOU-SOs.

He didn't have to go the whole way to the study to find his King. Asgore had heard the shouting, and, leaving Toriel there with Helei as protection, he had gone out to see what was going on, ending up meeting Vaden half way.

"Vaden! What on earth is going on? Why is the whole guard running about in a panic?!" He exclaimed.

Vaden just looked at him. "Marcan is dead." Oh he wished he was in the mood to enjoy the look on their idiot king's face. "...By Gaster's hand."

"Wh….no… that… can't be right." Asgore breathed.

"Believe what you want, Asgore!" Vaden snapped, and Asgore blinked, realising that Vaden was deathly serious. "Marcan is DEAD. We have a witness who came across his dust, with a monster that fits that White Soul creature without a doubt!"

Asgore frowned, and was about to respond, when another Guard ran up to them. "Captain! Captain we found him! He's in the gardens! All units are heading there!"

"That bastard is MINE!" Vaden declared, a spear in hand, making a break for the gardens. "He won't escape me!"

"Vaden! VADEN!" Asgore exclaimed, making after him.

When they arrived at the gardens, most of the Guard was still to arrive. The eight units that were here, though, were quite clearly forcing someone against the wall.

Gaster looked for all the world like he had been hiding in a bush. His eyes and hands were still glowing brightly, and he was terrified. [No...no no no! no no no!]

Vaden growled and stomped towards him, Asgore not far behind.