Chapter 6: Shocking Revelation

Hannah was taking a nap in the room River Person had given her and she suddenly sat up in alarm, gasping for breath as if she had been running. The cloaked monster came in at once. "Hannah? What is it, little one?" He asked, moving to sit beside her on the bed.

She didn't reply right away as she was still trying to get her breath back, but she was also trembling. Getting up, the monster left, but came back with a glass of water and also a cool washcloth, gently brushing it over Hannah's face and she gasped a bit, but closed her eyes as the cool water on her face felt wonderful. River Person placed his hand gently on the young mage's forehead, doing a CHECK on her. "No fever, but you are a bit cold," he said. "Are you alright, Hannah?"

She nodded before looking at him. "I...I had the weirdest dream but...I saw something," she said.

"What did you see?" He asked, handing her the glass of water, which she took gratefully and drank it, the water helping to soothe her throat.

"I...I saw the monster the evil mages have," she said. "It was free and it came up to me, but just as I went to try and stop it, I saw something that puzzled me."

"What was it?" River Person asked.

Hannah bit her lip before looking at him. "It was an upside-down heart," she said. "Pure white, but it looked really cracked, like a plate that has been dropped too many times and is ready to shatter."

The cloaked being froze at that. "My dear, did you say...an upside-down white heart?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, which I thought was odd," she admitted. "I have never seen something like it before."

He looked at her. "My dear, you saw the very core of the monster," he said, raising a hand and a heart colored purple and yellow appeared in his hand. "This heart is your very core and bears the colors of your main traits, perseverence and justice."

Hannah looked at him. "What does white represent then?"

"It can mean purity, but mostly, it's for us monsters," he said, taking a chance and revealing his own upside-down white heart to her. "A monster's core. It can take on the color of our magic when we're using it."

She looked shocked. "That's exactly what I saw, but it was all cracked," she said.

"If it is cracked, that means the monster has been in battle and has taken much damage and not been healed, so much so that if it is hit just right with the right attack and the right force, it can shatter and cause a monster to fall down."

From the grave tone of his voice, she knew that meant trouble. "If a monster falls down...," she trailed off.

River Person nodded. "It means they die," he said sadly.

She was quiet a bit. "Could this mean their monster isn't working with them willingly?" She asked. "Could it be someone from here?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "It shouldn't be. We monsters have been down here for a little over two centuries."

Hannah nodded. "I've got to talk to Rebecca," she said. "Do you know where she is?"

"Most likely with her husband and children at their home," River Person said. "Come. I'll take you there."

When they arrived at the house, the door was answered by Papyrus, who welcomed them warmly and even gave Hannah a hug, to her surprise, but she hugged him back. "I'm truly sorry about your father," he said. "My wife told me about him and he sounds like he was a great man."

"He was," she said softly with a nod before giving him a grateful look. "Thank you."

He nodded and guided them to the living room where Kano was watching over the twins and Rebecca was looking over some books, writing something down on a notepad she had with her. She glanced up to see them come in and she put the books aside and stood up, going over to hug her best friend, who sniffled as she hugged her back. "How are you holding up?" The dark-haired mage asked.

"I'm alright, for the most part," she said. "Though, I had to meet with you. I saw something in a dream."

Rebecca gestured to the couch and they all sat down with Kano bringing the twins over. Ida at once reached up for River Person, who accepted her while Hope reached up for Hannah, who accepted her, smiling at the child before looking at her friend. "The monster I saw with the evil mages had an upside-down white heart."

Rebecca froze at that, as did Sans and Gaster, who had both arrived with their wives and children. It was quiet for a bit. "Hannah? Can you repeat that?" Sans asked.

She nodded. "The evil mages' monster has an upside-down white heart," she said.

"What?" Alessia said. "But then that means...,"

"It's one of the monsters from the Underground?" Sierra finished. "But how? We were told monsters can't cross the barrier on their own."

"They can't," Gaster said. "It would destroy them."

Rebecca looked at her friend. "Are you absolutely sure?" She asked.

"Positive," Hannah said.

Kano looked worried. "But how?" He asked. "If the barrier has been up for over two centuries, how could they have a monster from the Underground with them?"

Papyrus, who had come into the living room to hear the conversation, looked very worried. "Perhaps we should talk to Asgore," he said.

"We have to," Rebecca said, standing up. "Because if those evil mages have one of our own, we have to find out how, when, and why."

"I'll go with you," Gaster said, kissing his wife and handing Alina to her, gently kissing the baby's forehead. "Daddy will be back soon, baby bones."

"I'll go with you guys as well," Hannah said, handing Hope to River Person, who accepted her and was holding both twins in his lap.

"Let us know what you find out," Sans said.

Nodding, the three vanished, thanks to Gaster's teleporting, and they landed in the castle, where they hurried to go see Asgore.

The king was watching his children doing a baking lesson with Toriel when he heard footsteps and saw the scientist and two good mages appear before him. "Rebecca, Gaster, Hannah," he said, looking surprised before noticing their faces. "What is it? You look like you just learned something horrible."

"We may have, Your Majesty," Hannah said. "I saw something in a recent dream. The monster Rebecca and I face has an upside-down white heart."

Toriel gasped in horror and Chara and Asriel froze, as did the other children. "You mean...it may be one of our own?" The goat mother asked, horrified.

"It may very well be," Rebecca said. "But how is that possible? Monsters can't cross the barrier."

"No, they can't," Asgore said before looking sorrowful. "But...it is possible that before the barrier was put up, the evil mages kidnapped one of the young monsters and have been holding it captive all this time, even when the barrier went up."

"But that would mean they would have had to take the monster when it was very little," Gaster said. "It would have had to have been a baby."

Hannah gasped. "They kidnapped a baby?!" She exclaimed.

"But wouldn't the baby be all grown up now?" Rebecca asked.

"Yes and no," Asgore said softly. "It has perhaps grown faster on the surface, but is still just a child."

"Is there a way to find out what it is?" Carmen asked curiously.

Rebecca took a deep breath. "Asgore, we may need to speak with the Royal Guard to see about missing children or family members after the war," she said. "Though I would hate to open old wounds."

He nodded. "I will speak with the families and Royal Guard both," he said, going to do so at once.

Hannah looked at Rebecca. "Becca, what do we do?" She asked.

"Either hope that the dream is not completely true, or find a way to get that monster away from the evil mages," the dark-haired mage said. "One or the other."

Hmm. A new twist? Stay tuned. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418