The Broken Resets

Chapter 7: Heart Examination

I had hardly slept that night. The nightmares wouldn't stop, even with Gaster with me, and unfortunately I had kept him awake too. He usually woke me before the kids started screaming, but at about 6 am, I was finally too tired to stay awake, and if I did dream, I honestly couldn't remember. Something about witches playing dodgeball maybe? I don't know. It was a lot more normal this time. Still, as I finally managed to peel my eyes open, I felt so weak and to be honest sick. Had my restless night truly caused such a turmoil from within me? I sat up, my muscles screaming for me to go back down. I glanced over at the clock and was surprised with what I found.

"Eleven!? I'm Late!!" I shot out of bed and walked out. What I saw was a relatively empty house, and I was faced with a dressed Gaster, and it looked like he was cooking something.

"Gaster?" I spoke softly, and he jumped a bit at my voice.

"Oh, my dear I wasn't expecting you awake so soon." His kind voice soothes my frantic heart, but still...

"Why didn't you wake me? I have to work today." She said softly.

"I called Toriel and told her you weren't well, which I'm guessing you're not, and that I intended to ensure you rested, relaxed, and that I examine the cause of your illness. I did not inform her of your constant night terrors. I also sent the children off to a babysitter for the day, as I need to examine why your soul took damage from your dreams." He explained. "However, I had no intentions of waking you, for monsters, our spirits, our emotions, our positivity and negativity, it all ties to our soul, and it's well-being. You were very stressed and upset last night, so I figured this morning you would feel unwell. Was I correct?" I nodded and moved over to him, hugging him.

I spent so much time either alone or taking care of Frisk, that no one had ever taken care of me. Not since my parents passed away. When I was on my own, if I got sick, I was always one to keep going, despite how I felt. I had to. I had no one else to pay the bills or do the shopping. But now... I had someone... Someone who wanted to help. I hugged him tighter as sobs racked my frame. I felt him stiffen in my grasp and thought I had done something wrong, until I heard him speak.

"O-Oh! Did I upset you? S-Should I have asked first before calling Toriel, o-or sending the kids off for the day? I mean I can call-"

"Gaster..." I was laughing now. Rambling Gaster was probably the cutest thing I had seen. "I'm crying because I'm happy." My flanges wiped the magic tears from below my eye sockets. It was still weird, but I was more used to it now. "I was alone until I had Frisk. When my parents died, any time I was sick I had to handle things on my own. I just... I was so happy to have someone care for me, I got a little emotional..." My lilac blush graced my cheeks, and I saw him smile.

"Of course, I will always care for you, and for that reason I need to take a look at your soul, and see why it damaged from the nightmare..." He said. "I have dinner cooking slowly on the stove, so you don't have to worry about a thing. Today you can just relax." He said kindly.

He led me back to the bedroom, and had me sit on the bed.

"I figured for this you should be comfortable, while this isn't something horribly intimate, it is somewhat stressful to have one's soul exposed. I want you to be comfortable." He said. I understood what he meant, the idea that my soul could exit my body and be exposed for the world to see. It may not be that intimate in monster culture, but it was still intimate to me. Even so, I trusted Gaster, and I really cared about him. With him sure I was okay with all of this, he continued. My little violet heart exited my body, the crack still evident.

As he examined my heart, I could tell something was upsetting him.

"Is everything alright?" My voice was shaky, this whole thing had made me so nervous.

"Well, I'm not seeing anything that out of the ordinary." He said. "Besides the fact that your soul is still human. However, unless you fight Chara I don't see them finding out about that. I'm more concerned about the day that Asgore desires finding seven human souls and killing the owners..." His thought wandered off, before his white pupils returned to me.

I could tell he was worried about me but was trying to not show it.

"Anywho, this issue is, from my minimal experience with human souls, there is nothing wrong with yours. Perhaps if you told me what the dream was about?" He asked. My breath caught in my throat, was I ready to share that yet, share the times that would be going on right then, had I not existed as a skeleton instead.

"I... I lived in an orphanage for a while... Between my parents dying and taking in Frisk... It wasn't a good place... I dreamed of my memories there, but... I also dreamed of loosing everyone. That Chara and Flowey were killing everyone. I watched you die, you turned to dust in my hand, and Papyrus... Oh god Papyrus." I was vibrating, my eyes a glow with magical tears, my breathing fast as even just remembering the dream was giving me a panic attack. It broke my heart...

Crack!

I winced in pain as my hand flew to my cloth covered ribcage. Gaster grabbed my soul gently, examining the new mark on it.

"Now I understand. While your soul is human, it's taken on some of the fragile parts of a monster soul. The term heartbreak used by humans, it seems your heart literally breaks. We'll have to be careful about that. Until then..." I watched as his green magic went over my purple soul, and the cracks faded until there was nothing but the smooth surface of the heart remaining. I felt relief.

"Try to avoid letting yourself get too emotional. With your permission, I'd like to check on it again in the future." He said calmly, and I nodded. He gently placed my soul back in my chest, and then pulled me into a gentle hug, soothing my stress and helping me feel better.

Finally things felt okay.

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There! That chapter done! On vacation right now. Most it would be that there's less time to write, but for me it's more since I can't work on my art portfolio. Anyways, hope you liked it, now, onto the question of the day. Hmm...

What's one thing that always makes you feel better when you're upset?

For me it's videos of cute bunnies, chocolate, and hugs :)

If you guys have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to comment down below.

And I hope you guys have a glitch free day! :)