Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Things had settled down... somehow.

Clover had won the battle against Ceroba, with a lot of aid from his flowery companion. Yet, despite the 4 phases of the fox attempting to kill the human... he forgave her, an act complete with a tight hug. And now, after her and Starlo and Martlet started arguing what to do, he deeply considered giving up his SOUL. They'd only be one more SOUL away from shattering the Barrier, and he knew, against everything else, that it was the just thing to do.

"Clover!"

"Clover, what are you doing?!"

His soul shone a brilliant yellow as he looked up to address Martlet's query, taking into account how terrified the bird's expression was. The sight made his impending words harder to speak than ever, the words catching in his throat as his vocal cords refused to cooperate... until he forced them to. Despite how much he didn't want to scare, Martlet... Clover knew she deserved an answer.

"It's time."

"W-What does that mean?!"

"It's time to go." Finally, Clover managed to get his point across, though even he was surprised at the restrained, almost regretful tone he had taken. This... was what he wanted. This is what had to be done. This... had to happen. His being, what that golden SOUL represented, shone with a desire... for JUSTICE.

"No... no no no no no-we'll think of a plan! We have options!" Martlet bargained, immediately realizing that if she didn't act... she'd be making a horrible mistake. Clover... helped her more than she could imagine.

Martlet remembered walking with them through the Dunes after their fall. They'd bought some questionable retail from Mo, three teas to be exact. They'd pocketed them in their bag (how didn't they spill??), before turning to Martlet, looking up at them with a slightly determined expression and a growing smile.

"Martlet, which tea do you want? It might help you cool down." Clover gruffly queried, their patience waiting as Martlet responded with "Clover, you don't have to- I'm a Royal Guard, not a fragile ball of feathers! Well... I may be a ball of feathers, but still that's besides the point and I'm rambling again aren't I? Uhh... can I have the Ice Tea? Please?"

Clover only nodded, before taking out the Ice Tea, along with some Ice Pellets (how didn't they melt???), before dropping them in the tea, and swishing the rapidly-cooling liquid around with a gentle mix. After a few seconds, he'd looked up at her, offering the tea cup with a outstretched hand. Wordlessly, she'd taken it and took a exploratory sip, immediately downing all of it as soon as the lack of warmth reached her tongue. It was a bit awkward, considering she'd had a beak, but she'd settled for just pouring the tea into her mouth directly. She was also fairly certain tea was meant to be drank warm (or at least the tea she knew of).

When the cup was completely empty, Clover didn't seem to be off-put by her unorthodox method of consuming liquids, and only casually remarked that "Look, I like packing peanuts, I won't judge you."

She should probably still talk to him about that. But in hindsight, the tea wasn't even that good in terms of flavour and taste. A sweet tea, for sure, but not the best, especially considering who had sold it. But... Clover made it cooler for her. Clover had taken the time to make sure she would be okay through her journey.

Clover... cared about her. Chujin did as well, but everyone else around her... not so much. Her parents wanted her out of the home, and pushed her for a job. She'd had no other friends since everyone dismissed her as a scatterbrain that had to get her life together. And granted... she was, deeply so. And she'd relegated herself to thinking the majority of people she'd meet would think that.

But Clover never did.

"Thank you, Clover! Really, that helped me more than you know! I'm not sweating immensely anymore!"

"Don't thank me, Martlet. It's simply the right thing to do to help a... friend in need."

"WAIT- Clo- Clover Clover wait! Wait, please! I have a- a plan!!" Clover looked up at Martlet with a determined expression, though with a flicker of hope in his eyes. Even he knew Martlet wasn't the best at plans, considering how she'd wrecked Ava and gotten arrested. Granted, he'd easily forgive both as circumstantial events that neither of them could have predicted. Martlet, meanwhile, seemed to be on the edge of tears, but-

"Listen- Look... you don't have to go RIGHT NOW, Clover. Like... can we not just... wait for another human to fall? Then you can both... can... together..." Martlet's voice choked, her body refusing to say the obvious: Clover and this other human... will die. 

"That's... actually a pretty good idea. We'll get more time to spend with Clover, all of us." Ceroba chimed in, actually looking hopeful as she refined Martlet's ideas in her mind. "What if this other human isn't as... virtuous as Clover? There's al-"

"Then we'll stop them. I've survived all three of you, I have good odds taking on a human... especially if all three of you are alongside me." Clover answered, looking up at Ceroba, Starlo, and Martlet with a gleaming smile, one that spoke volumes along with his words. The group was stunned by his words, rendered speechless completely. They'd all tried their best to hurt Clover previously... and he still trusted them enough to want to fight alongside them if the unthinkable happened.

"Partner... I don't think I'll ever receive a greater honor than to fight alongside my deputy. I'd promote you to sheriff 'cause lord knows you've earned it. But you aren't sheriff material - you're much more." Starlo knelt down alongside Clover, looking at the young cowboy with teary eyes, one which he acknowledged with a fist-bump and a gleaming smile.

"Clover... I... I don't know if I could ever put you in harm's way." Martlet answered, also kneeling down to Clover's level. "You've done so much, survived so much, including me..."

"But who's going to protect you, Martlet? Humans are... powerful. I'd like to imagine I'm proof of that." Clover responded, unconsciously cupping Martlet's face with one of his hands, before bringing her in for a tight hug, one which she quickly reciprocated, throwing her wings around him, pulling Clover tighter into her embrace. Clover's arms wrapped around as much of Martlet's back as he could muster, pulling her in as well. Truth be told, Martlet was truly an excellent fighter to Clover; he had to have died at least 20 times to her, way more than Ceroba's 11, Starlo's 3, and Dalv's 1 time. He wasn't sure how Ceroba, with four phases and with attacks so powerful Clover had to use his soul-shooter thing and DASHing, killed him less than Martlet with her sharp feathers, feathers he now leaned into happily.

"Well... who's Clover going to live with? Me and Starlo live decently close in the Dunes, but you're all the way in Snowdin." Ceroba piped up, still mulling over the finer arrangements of Clover staying alive.

"What about a shared-custody kinda thing? One week in the Dunes with Ceroba and Star, one week in Snowdin with Martlet and Dalv. Ooh, I should introduce him to you all at some point..." Clover mused, though his idea was clearly the best option. Everyone got to spend time with Clover, and Clover got to spend time with everyone. "Who knows, maybe I'll even take a trip to the Steamworks to talk with Axis every once in a while!"

"Huh... I might know Dalv, actually..."

"Same here... did he know a fox named Kanako?"

"Yeah, actually, how'd you know?"

...And the group spent quite a bit putting the pieces together. 

It was an enjoyable bit of time, though.

Chapter Text

He'd done it. Clover had pulled it off.

From a distance, it looked like the quartet were having a random discussion, not life-and-death matters. But Flowey was just behind the wall, and could easily listen in. This whole timeline had been odd - first Dalv followed Clover out of the Ruins and accompanied him up to the resort, and then continued after the bridge puzzle (HOW did Martlet not see Clover there?). He and Clover even fought Martlet together, though the former wasn't of much use. But the whole time, Clover constantly took Dalv everywhere, constantly talking to him every chance he got - it felt like Clover was intentionally trying to make him suffer.

Then, after the raft hit the rock, Martlet... stayed with Clover. Martlet was supposed to fly off to get help and then feel bad, Clover was supposed to traverse the Dunes on their own! But no, her simply tagging along with Clover made their journey SO MUCH LONGER, since the kid stopped in EVERY ROOM just to talk to Martlet! Hell, he even backtracked ALL THE WAY BACK ACROSS THE DUNES just to hear Martlet's opinion on the room containing the wreckage of her raft. It was starting to feel like a sick joke, how long Clover spun this timeline out like a neverending ball of yarn! Her presence even made the El Bailador fight longer, Clover making the luchador dance slower so Martlet could keep up.

The Wild East was still mostly normal (except for what happened at the very start), up until Clover was about to enter the Steamworks. Flowey had hoped to mess around in there a bit... but then Clover checked his mail. The whale came down, and just HAD to tell him about shipping.

"Can you take me to lower Snowdin, please? I'm in the mood for a deep freeze!" Clover requested, making the Mail Whale stutter a bit as Clover seamlessly rhymed like them.

"What a lovely rhyme! This is the best... use of my time?" They'd responded, making Clover chuckle at the awkward way the rhyme presented itself. "Are you aspiring to join the Underground Postal Service? I promise, you won't be nervous!"

"I'd love to, but I can't fly. I lack wings, so I can't even try!" Clover responded, hopping into the basket and popping his head out in a (to Flowey) sickeningly heartwarming image of egg Clover being carried off. And so, much to the frustration of Flowey, Clover was BACK. IN. SNOWDIN!

"That ride was positively exquisite! I'll be sure to ring the bell if I want to visit!" They still rhymed as they fell out of the basket, barely avoiding faceplanting in the snow again.

"Thank you, I try to impress whenever I hear the bell! For now, I must be off, so farewell!" The whale finally left off, and Clover instantly sprinted across Snowdin, talking to EVERY MONSTER they came across, examining Martlet's sentry station, before going off to... build a birdhouse with Martlet. Again, Clover hadn't done any of this before, this whole run seemed to be packed with more and more distractions from Clover's mission, distractions he actively ran toward!

After a hug that Flowey was tempted to spear them both through, Clover ran back towards the UGPS sign... before running right past it.

"WHERE IN THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING?!?!" Flowey distinctly remembered himself shouting with fury when Clover got out of earshot. Clover had just bolted past the sign, talking to even more of Monsterkind before waiting at the dilapidated cabin. Only then did Flowey realize he was also going to hangout with the vampire as well, a realization that pissed him off to no end. But even if it angered him, it was still something NEW... so he let it slide.

Indeed, Clover ran all the way back to the Dark Ruins, and Flowey didn't even care to learn what the two morons did in there. Either way, they both soon emerged with luggage, which Dalv lugged to the cabin he planned to rebuild. After another sickeningly sweet moment, Clover FINALLY got back to the UGPS station.

"Hello there tr- Oh me, oh my! Is that Clover, the apple of my eye? You've become a sensation in our office, with rhymes that are absolutely flawless!"

"It is indeed me, and I'm glad to make your acquaintance! For hearing rhymes and talking to you, I've got endless patience!"

"What can I do for you, Clover Gun-Hat? I'm glad to take some time for a chat!"

"I'd like to ship myself to the Wild East, specifically the Sunnyside Farm! I hope that location brings you no... harm? I... probably could have worded that differently!"

"It still counts, don't worry! Now you best get in, even if I'm not in a hurry!"

And then, Clover was back in the Wild East. Flowey's happiness at the plan being back on track was quickly dashed when Clover, like with Dalv and Martlet, talked with Ceroba EVERYWHERE THEY WENT in the Steamworks. Clover usually did this though, so it wasn't that big of a loss. Things had progressed rather quickly after that, with only a secondary detour to deliver Axis a videotape. After that and another round of incessant rhyming with the Mail Whale, Clover met Martlet on the roof, and they hugged.

That was another thing that had stuck out to Flowey - Martlet always gave Clover a fist-bump. All the other times, it was a fist bump. But this time, Martlet smiled, and pulled Clover into a bear hug, which he reciprocated to the best of his ability. The Ceroba battle followed soon after, and now...

NOW...

Martlet had once again messed up his plans. All the times she offered Clover to live with her paled in comparison to this. She'd, for once, had a good idea, which just so happened to mean Clover wasn't going to Asgore's for a long time. Before, he'd gotten used to the bird's eternal kindness, and a simple stab with a vine was all that was needed to showdown with Clover again. And again. And again.

But now, she'd somehow interfered with Clover giving up their soul! 

And the worst part was, Flowey was tempted to accept her offer, even if he wasn't the recipient.

Even if he had full timeline control, these events were like blips, needles in the haystack that was the terrain of Flowey-corpses Clover always saw when he tried to absorb their SOUL. And when the last human DID fall... he would have two humans to manipulate. Two different stories to derail in whatever way he chose. All he would have to do is wait, and lull Clover into getting a false sense of security with their happy ending. Besides, it gave him more time to reflect.

Clover... he died to Martlet 20 times. Shockingly high, especially compared to his other runs. Dalv's 1 time was par for the course at this point, and his deaths to Starlo also were reasonable. But... he died to Ceroba 11 times. Clover died to Ceroba LESS than Martlet. It seemed to be fundamentally incorrect, an impossible truth! How could Martlet's very-dodgeable attacks be harder than the literal walls of fire Ceroba threw at him? Additionally, Clover seemed... much less stoic around Martlet. Dalv, Starlo, and Ceroba? He was business as usual, even at Dalv's house (again, why did he do that in this attempt but not the thousands of others?!)

But Martlet... Clover had some sort of energy reserved just for his time with her alone. His interactions with her just looked... different from what Flowey could tell. Clover never made her Ice Tea with actual ice in it. Hell, those ice pellets were a WEAPON, a AMMO for him! But... he had had enough. Clover's exhausted his combined patience across thousands of timelines, and probably even more.

"Well, golly Clover! You've somehow bested me!" Flowey imitated a one-sided conversation, as if Clover was the small lamp he was facing. "You've pissed me off to no end, and now you've actually changed something! I'm supposed to be the god of this world! How are you manipulating timelines for your own benefit?"

Flowey curled a vine around the post, in some imitation of a hug... before violently pulling and tightening, uprooting and snapping the lamp in half with a loud bang. "You may have won the battle, but I will win the war. I am the god of this world, and as soon as that other human falls down... you will face a hell greater than mine!"

It was time for him to plan.

Chapter Text

ding-ding-ding!

"Clover! I can't wait for you to see my house! As in, the insides this time! I promise I have my hou-"

"Hello, hello, hello there! If it isn't Clover, word extraordinaire!" The Mail Whale promptly interrupted Martlet, who seemed more than a bit surprised, her beak hanging open in a display of shock that made Clover chuckle. He wasn't sure if it was just how friendly the two were with each other, or his ease of rhyming on the spot, or how he was-

"What's the problem, Martlet of the Royal Guard? I think your shock and surprise are two emotions you should discard!" Clover heard the Mail Whale laugh hard behind him as Martlet's eyes widened, before she sputtered, heavily confused.

"How are you THIS... familiar with the mail service? You can't- Are you training to be a UGPS member?" Martlet's face lit up with joy at the prospect of Clover actually getting a job with the UGPS, and Clover and/or the Mail Whale didn't even have enough time to correct Martlet before she went on a tangent. It wasn't surprising to Clover at this point, but it certainly shocked the Mail Whale. "Ohmygod that's actually so cool! You see I thought about joining the UGPS but I realized I liked carpentry and I wouldn't be able to do that which is why I join..."

Clover silently looked to the Mail Whale with a look of 'please be patient for a minute', before getting an idea. "Well... I'd like to check if I've got any mail! All I seek in the letter are some wild tales!"

"... the new technique for joining wood together is- ...I was rambling again, wasn't I?" Martlet finally came out of her rant, to which Clover simply approached her, and looked up at her with a reassuring and comforting smile, gently tugging on her wing to ground her slightly. "Don't worry, I love hearing you talk."

"Clover Gun-hat, I harbour no mail for you! But since I'm here, I'll ship you too!"

"To Lower Snowdin, please! I'm in the mood for a cool breeze!" Martlet had long-since gotten over the incessant rhyming, instead cooing as she saw Clover enter the basket, his head barely popping out to look at her. Martlet took off as well, flying alongside the Mail Whale as the ambient temperature in the air fell dramatically. Finally, the three of them arrived in Lower Snowdin, Clover popping out as farewells were exchanged. After Martlet landed alongside (nearly on) Clover, she brushed off some mild snow from her wings, shaking it off as she looked back at Clover.

"Come on, I want to see your humble abode!" Clover joked, running and pulling Martlet by the wing, though not with any harmful force.

"AaAAaAaaaAAA-" Martlet responded, caught a bit off guard as she struggled to keep pace with the now-sprinting cowboy. "You didn't run like this back in the Dunes?!"

"You said you wanted to take it slow back there, didn't you?" Clover responded, slowing his running to a calm walk, the same style he used in the Dunes. "I ran through the Steamworks with Ceroba so much, she had to sit down."

"I... never meant that literally! I mean you could have run if you wanted to... but thanks for not doing so, actually! That's... really kind of you!" Martlet's expression shifted to one of gentle contentment, then to happiness as a familiar wooden sign came into view, along with the big building behind it. "Is that... Oh yeah, it's totally the resort! WAIT- ohmygod have you tried the pancakes they're actually so good- come on, it'll be my treat!!!"

Clover was now the one struggling to keep up as Martlet dashed to the resort entrance, no doubt using her wings and magic to aid her extreme speed. Either way, she burst in and decelerated, calmly walking to the counter with Clover in tow (who was now brushing snow off his outfit), still a bit shocked from the sheer distance traversed in the small amount of time. "Two Honeydew Pancakes, please!"

"That'll be 36G!" The shopkeeper responded, to which Martlet fished around in her pockets, pulling out the amount of G, and making the exchange, with two pancakes lathered in syrup with a butter square on the top of each of them being presented, complete with plates with a fork, knife, and napkin. Clover had already gone and gotten a booth seat, beckoning Martlet to sit next to him, a request she obliged as she presented Clover with his own pancake, his eyes lighting up with a rare moment of joy as he unwrapped the utensils. Speaking of, she realized she should probably ask him about his stoicism. "Hey, Clover? It's... I... Look, you seem kinda... emotionless, at times? I'm not sure how to word it so this doesn't sound mean, but... why?"

"It's... just the shock of being down here is still there. It's just not what you expect, and if you see me let my guard down, then I... probably feel safe around you." Clover responded, mouth half-full of pancake bites before he chewed and swallowed completely. The flavour was rich enough to make him forget basic table manners, the only excuse he had for the breach of unwritten rule. "Apologies, that was improp-"

"That... means more to me than you know. Thank you, truly, Clover!" Martlet's eyes shone with mirth as she pulled Clover into a half-hug, not wanting to disturb his eating, but instead draping a wing around his left shoulder "I haven't seen you angry before, though. Even when my boat crashed or I left you after Star-"

"You have, Martlet. Remember when we JUST met the Feisty Five?" Clover responded, making her think back to the memory. Indeed, she had...

"Ed, fetch me that kid!"

"Sure thing, boss." Ed responded, trodding over and stopping at Martlet, his imposing form looming over her as his shadow obscured her own. "Feathers, please move before I make you move." Clover watched as Martlet grew with a mix of fear and stubborn determination, as she shook her head and stood her ground. This wasn't just, Martlet was just trying to protect them she couldn't be harmed-

"You can't take Clover, I won't let you-" Martlet had started to rebuke before Ed moved to grab her, and she prepared to dodge and ready a feather attack pattern as Starlo grinned slightl-

Click.

All eyes turned to Clover.

His face was obscured by a shadow Martlet could have sworn wasn't there before - she couldn't even see his eyes or neutral expression, just the figure of him standing there, completely silent.

He was holding a gun.

The gun was aimed at Ed.

And he had just clicked the safety off.

"Leave. Her. Alone."

The silence blanketed the area, as everyone froze at Clover's order. Martlet was shocked herself - Clover's tone had changed completely, and it sounded way more authoritative than anything she'd heard before (barring Captain Undyne). His voice was clear as day, not boisterously loud, but loud enough to convey that Clover wasn't JUST serious - he was deadly so.

"WOAHWOAHWOAHWOAH UHHH there's no need for violence, I promise you kid-" North Star began trying to defuse the situation before Clover spoke again, cutting him off completely. "-And there's no reason to harm someone who's just trying to protect me. That's not just, is it?"

For Starlo, he was immediately blown away by Clover's words. This kid spoke of justice so clearly, and it was clear they were not going to compromise on any front of their demand. As such, he tipped his hat and nodded gently. "Ed... do not fetch that kid."

"Sure thing, boss." Ed stepped back, without missing a beat, as everyone let out a sigh of relief as Clover holstered their toy gun, clicking the safety it apparently had back on. "Martlet, please don't go telling anyone about this, okay? I don't want anyone to get hurt either. Apologies for the confrontation, I'm Clover."

"I still can't believe your toy gun has a safety!" Martlet nodded as the pair finished reminiscing, Clover having finished his pancake and was leaning on Martlet's side.. "Also, you shouldn't threaten people like that, Clover! It's really mean-"

"Oh, and Ed about to grab you wasn't? He looked like he could throw you to the Steamworks door, Martlet!" Clover rebuked, gently batting her on the back as he looked at her with a quizzical expression, an expression that also conveyed shock, and a hint of fear. "Besides, you helped me out a lot in the Dunes! I'm not letting you go just like that!"

Martlet only gently blushed as she smiled (as much as she could with a hard beak), pulling Clover into a feathery embrace as she nuzzled into the side of Clover's neck, the cowboy leaning into her touch as they wrapped their arms around her likewise. "Clover... that means the world to me. It means way too much for me to express... so... thank you for being my friend."

"Haven't I told you to not thank me, Martlet? It's just the right thing to do."

Chapter Text

"Welcome to my humble abode... again!" Martlet triumphantly announced, making a show of the house Clover had already seen before a few hours ago. It was still impressive... but Clover simply ran past Martlet, turning a hard right and stopping right in front of the workbench. On it rested the birdhouse Clover and Martlet had built, the decrepit quality offset by the sticker on it:

'Built with love by Martlet and Clover!' - Martlet's name was surrounded by a exorbitant quantity of feathers and hearts, and Clover's had a more restrained amount of four-leaf clovers surrounded by hearts.

"Apologies for brushing you off like that... I just wanted to see our birdhouse again." Clover explained, turning it around on the bench to examine every side, including where he shot the opening into. He reached inside, fingers brushing the rough wood. The uneven planks scratched his skin, but he nodded with light approval. He then examined the sticker, touching it almost reverently with how light his touch actually was. "I said before that we tried our best with it... but it's actually growing on me with the sticker."

Martlet moved beside him, kneeling down to also admire the birdhouse, taking in the imperfections. "Clover, it has nails sticking out every way possible-" 

"And we aren't pulling them out, Martlet. This is how it was when we signed it, and that's how it'll be." Clover interrupted, gently turning Martlet's head to face him, Clover looking right at her as he cupped her head, fingers gently stroking Martlet's cheek, commiting the feeling to memory. "Don't beat yourself up, Martlet. It's perfect because we built it together." 

Clover wasn't expecting to be yanked into a bear hug with Martlet, her wings trapping him in her embrace as he was shoved into her feathery body - not that he complained, pulling her closer as well as he leaned into her. "Clover... how do you... how are you always so... how do you always know what to say? Gosh... I'm so glad I met you, you know that?"

Clover only smiled as he gently extricated himself from Martlet's hug, the latter releasing it entirely to help the process. Clover did miss the warmth and feel of Martlet's feathers against his cheek, but he did need to build up her confidence even more. "You're the one doing so much for me, I've gotta repay it somehow."

"You've helped plenty, Martlet!"

"That time doesn't count, does it?"

"Hello? Clover? Are you okay? Don't worry, I'll try and help you!"

Clover awoke with a sudden jump, eyes snapping open as he instinctively tried to stand, before falling when his right leg erupted in a blast of pain, the nerve signals rushing through his spine at lightning speed. "OWWWWW!!"

Expecting to fall into the slight puddle he was in, he was surprised to be caught by Martlet's wings, one of them holding his back while the other experimentally moved further down his legs before stopping when Clover winced again. "Sorry-sorry I'm so sorry hold on!! Just- lie down here?!"

Martlet laid him down on solid, dry ground as she rolled up his pant legs, wincing when she saw that Clover's leg was red near the midsection, between the knee and the hip, the obscene bend indicating a break. She pulled out and skimmed her handbook, before realizing it only detailed harming humans. "Ohno-ohno-ohno I don't know how to help a human and I need to figure out oh my gosh- I can't let Clover down!! Think, think, think-"

Martlet's rambling was cut short when she saw Clover's face - it was fine physically, but it was contorted into a expression of pain as his eyes fluttered, red and puffy and trying to hold back tears. Upon seeing the sight, she immediately focused, locking on as she reassessed Clover's injury. If Clover's leg was bent like that and it hurt... she had to put it back to how it was, right?

"Clover, look, I- listen- Please, I'm going to try and fix your leg now- please trust me? Just... hold on, okay?" Martlet begged, her wing grabbing both parts of Clover's leg as she concentrated, tightened, willed her body to move with more precision than ever before, and-

Crack.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Clover let out a deafening shriek of agonized pain as his whole body shook, never quite settling down as he held himself with his arms. His scream eventually subsided into tears, which were now streaming down his face. Martlet rushed to hold Clover in her shaking wings once more, cradling him as if he was fragile - to her, he definitely was. "CLOVER!! CLOVER, please, i'm so sorry I don't know what I'm doing please help me I don't know how to heal a human-"

And finally, it hit her. Healing. She had to use healing magic. She hadn't ever conjured a healing attack before, but all she knew was that it was supposed to be green. Her bullets had to be green. Either way, she concentrated as she summoned a single feather attack - a simple grid of 25 feathers - probably excessive, but not to her. Most magic attacks usually hit the SOUL, so she had to aim at Clover's leg... or so she guessed. Either way, she focused once more, trying to put all of her mind onto the single thought of healing Clover as much as she-

Ding!

In a instant, a bright green washed over the feathers, and Martlet finally let them fly into Clover's leg, a bit shocked when all signs of pain instantly vanished from Clover's face. "What just... it... feels better?"

Martlet lent a wing out for Clover to grab and pull himself up, experimentally putting his weight on what used to be his broken leg to find it was, in fact, no longer broken. "It's... fine? Was... was that healing magic? I..."

"...Yeah, I couldn't think of anything better after breaking your leg again-"

"What? Breaking... No, you set my leg back in the right position. That's... something you're supposed to do." Clover reassured, looking up at Martlet with a rare smile, brushing away some hair from his face. Martlet, meanwhile, looked more than a bit confused, kneeling down to Clover's level. "What..? But you screamed in pain, isn't that... not helping? Or is that a human thing?"

"It's... yeah it's a human thing. Look... I- sorry, I'm still a bit shocked. But... you did help me, Martlet."

"Wait, really? I... actually did it? I healed a human!! Oh my gosh everyone's going to be so impressed I gotta tell everyone about it but maybe this isn't the time?" Martlet cut her own rambling off, before sweeping Clover off his feet, carrying him how you would carry a baby - one wing supporting the butt, and one holding the back of Clover, who started squirming. "MARTLET- I can walk on my own, you know! Put me down-"

"But I don't know if you're fully healed yet-" Martlet started to counter before thinking a bit... and realizing Clover COULD, in fact, walk. "Uhh, you know what, sure! But if you feel any pain, I'll carry you again, okay?"

"And I haven't had to be carried since." Clover announced, his grin quickly evaporating when Martlet placed her wings on both sides of his form, and lifted, launching him a few feet into the air, as Clover looked down in shock. "AAAAAAAAAAA-"

Thankfully, as Clover went down, Martlet easily caught him in her wings, cradling him as she looked down with a smirk on her face. "What, did you think I'd ever let you fall? Now come on, I want you to see inside my place!"

"I- well- No, I just don't expect to be launched into the air like that!!" Clover protested, squirming in Martlet's grasp, though in no meaningful attempt to escape from her. Eventually, she stopped at her front door, and realized trying to get her keys while holding Clover would be... an interesting task. "Clover..? Can you... get down now?"

"What, and let you think you've won?" Only then did Martlet realize what she'd gotten herself into, as Clover wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling himself up as he laid his head on her shoulder, sporting a smirk of his own. She thought she had won, but there was Clover, turning the tables against her. "There, use your other wing to get the key."

Martlet, utterly defeated by Clover's genius, had no choice but to relent, her other wing shuffling in her pocket to get the key. Clover was still a bit confused how finer dexterity worked with wings rather than hands, but wasn't put off too much by it as Martlet unlocked and opened her door, the sound making Clover jump down to the ground as he turned to face it. 

"Ready?"

"Of course. After you, Martlet!"

Chapter Text

Martlet, after years of living in her house, often thought it was underwhelming. At best... a generic home. Sure it had two levels and was built with the help of Chujin, but overall, it was still a humble house that she loved in her own way - for it was built partly with her own hands, and that made it perfect despite the flaws. She'd remembered hammering, cutting and installing the windows, putting in the planks for the flooring with nails, even installing the perch on the side she never used.

Clover had other opinions of the house, however. As was evidenced by him almost immediately running around as soon as he had left his snow-covered shoes by the door. Martlet didn't dwell on the thought that he needed boots before running after him, watching as he inspected the area. Martlet's home had a open floor plan for the ground level, the living room and kitchen only separated by patterned pillars used to hold up the upper level of the home. As such, no obstacles existed for Clover to run into the kitchen, examining the contents of every cabinet... only to find it contained bowls and birdseed.

Inside the fridge, however... was a completely different brand of birdseed. "Wh- Are there birdseed brands in the Underground that taste better frozen? HUH?!"

"Uh, Clover... sorry, I wasn't really expecting anyone else to come here... I'll be sure to get some non-bird relat-" Martlet's apology was quickly tempered as Clover swiped a bowl from the cabinet, put it on the floor, before grabbing a bag of birdseed, and carefully filling the bowl up. "Clover, you don't need to eat birdseed! I can get you oth-"

"I’ve eaten packing peanuts, grassy fries, mossy stew, and gunpowder before, Martlet. I’ll promise you I'll be okay." Clover climbed onto the chair, set the bowl on the table, and immediately began scooping birdseed into his mouth. 

"WHAT?! NO-" Martlet yelled, instantly sitting down next to him, pulling up a chair quickly. "You- No- Eating gunpowder?! No!! How much HP did that even restore?! You're too young?!"

"It was a superfood, actually." Martlet froze at his words, beak agape with shock. "You can't be serious!"

"You can try gunpowder, if you want. I'm not lying." Clover offered with a grin on his face. "Also, 11 is a perfectly fine age to be eating gunpowder."

"NO?!?!?!"

Martlet’s eyes widened in sheer astoundment at how casually Clover had eaten gunpowder. And that was ignoring the other questionable items on that list. Grass and moss were TECHNICALLY edible, but packing peanuts, to her, simply were not. Speaking of, Clover was chowing down on birdseed... and apparently liked it enough to keep eating it. Martlet soon got her own bowl, absentmindedly setting it on the table. As she spun around to get a bag of birdseed herself, Clover stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

Clover wordlessly moved his own bowl, placing it between the pair. "Take from mine, Martlet. It's quicker. Just don't eat from the bowl directly like a real bird, okay?"

The pair lightly chuckled at the image of Martlet beak-deep in the bowl, before Martlet simply scooped a bit of birdseed out with her wing... before diving beak-deep into the small pile, making Clover howl with laughter, nearly falling out of his seat. "Martlet!! I was joking! Hahaha!"

"Well, I wasn't!" Martlet responded, as the pair burned through the bowl relatively quickly. After nothing remained of the birdseed inside, Martlet simply threw it over her shoulder and into the sink, it landing with a clattering. "Good to see I've still got it!"

"...was that aided by magic?"

"Completely."

"..."

"...So uh... We should probably figure out living arrangements, I think? You're going to be here for the whole week, right?" Martlet finally suggested, giving Clover a hopeful smile as the cowboy gestured to the couch, gently throwing his hat on the armrest as he leapt onto it, landing on his back with a gentle bounce. "Well, I can sleep on the couch, and-"

"Nope! You're only... well, a child, I guess. But still, you don't deserve to sleep on the couch! I'm the adult, you... can take my bed upstairs, and I'll take the couch!" Martlet suggested, shaking her head and gesturing to the stairs at the end of the open area with a open wing, before moving over and picking up Clover off the couch, setting him down on his feet. Clover's expression was stoic enough that Martlet immediately knew he wouldn't budge.

"What? That's unreasonable, I don't get to kick you out of your own bed simply because I'm here! I'm the guest, I'll take the couch!" Clover refuted, shaking their head as they reassumed their position on the furniture piece. "It's not THAT bad."

"But still, I don't like the idea of it! You deserve better, and-" Clover sensed Martlet was about to go off on a tangent, and seized the opportunity to interrupt her, thinking out loud. "Okay, no, wait... how big IS your bed?"

"A king-size, actually." Martlet responded thoughtfully, before her eyes widened with the implication as she shook her head once more. "Well- no- children and adults aren't supposed to be sleeping in the same beds together! I-"

"Well, from how I see it, the only way we get what we both want... is if we share the bed. We can divide it into sides, or something like that. It won't be weird, I promise you!" Clover planned, starting to walk with Martlet upstairs. "Besides, we can even cuddle together. I get the feeling you'd be nice to snuggle with."

NOW Martlet could tell Clover was messing with her - the smirk on his face proved he was intentionally flustering her. "What's wrong? Was it something I said?"

She wasn't going to let this stand, of course.

"I... No, challenge accepted! I WILL cuddle with you in bed tonight, and I won't complain about it!" Martlet triumphantly declared, puffing out her chest as Clover's bravado collapsed into shock. "Wait, actually? I was just joking, you act-"

"Nope! We will! In fact, it's pretty late in the Underground! Come on!" Clover only now realized what he'd gotten himself into as he followed Martlet up the stairs, also not willing to back down from the challenge. Martlet kicked open her bedroom door, and Clover audibly gasped in a mix of shock and awe.

It was, indeed, a bedroom, but one that shone with a purely Martlet touch. The (unmade) bed was front and center against the back wall, the window on the front of the house letting light inside. The walls were adorned with shelves containing lots of games, books, manuals, and small wooden creations. The whole place had feathers everywhere, though it didn't really matter to Clover. The light was warm, bright, and it genuinely looked- "It's beautiful, Martlet."

"...You really think so?" Martlet asked, her voice quiet as she looked at Clover with a mix of hope and surprise. "I thought it would have been too... me."

"That's what makes it beautiful, Martlet." Clover answered softly, pulling the bird closer to him as he leaned into her side. In turn, Martlet draped her wing on Clover's shoulder, enjoying the texture of the cowboy's outfit as well as the feeling of their skin. Clover quickly removed their holster and placed it on the nightstand, before brushing themselves off and gently climbing onto Martlet's bed. The bird did the same, stretching out as Clover shuffled closer to her, him looking up at her with a contented smile as he shifted so he and Martlet's head were at eye-level.

Clover's breath hitched as Martlet slid her wing under his arm, her version of a arm reaching to hold Clover's back as she pulled him closer to her. Clover, for his part, didn't resist, only looking into Martlet's eyes as their bodies finally met. The cowboy instinctively threw their free arm around Martlet, gently feeling the bird's back as best they could. "Martlet... you're so soft, oh my god..."

"Thanks..." Martlet sighed out, moving to nuzzle into Clover's neck, her beak letting out gentle coos as Clover buried their own face into Martlet's neck plumage, nestling into her feathers. "...blanket, please..."

Martlet instantly grabbed and threw the blanket over her and Clover, the latter pulling it so only their heads stuck out from the large fabric piece. Both of them settled in, enjoying the warmth they provided, before Clover whispered one last thing. "Goodnight, Martlet..."

"Sweet dreams, Clover..."

And then... they slept.

Chapter Text

Clover's arrangements in the Wild East took only a blip of time to setup - Ceroba, Starlo, and the posse all had used the week he was at Martlet's to sort everything related to Clover out. He stayed with Ceroba, and went out with them to do various missions, often ending each day with a visit to Dina's, where they'd all chowed down on some sliders. And now, the posse was with Clover, all of the former drinking except him (though not to the point of drunkenness). Ceroba was also present, keeping a level head with some tea.

"I still can't believe I nearly got shot AND hit by a train in a single day!" Ed laughed, along with the rest of the table in varying degrees. Clover only grinned, before Dina came over with one last refill of drinks for the table. "Alright, last drinks for you lot. Would you like any beer, Ceroba?"

"I'm alright, thank you." Ceroba politely refused, sparking Clover to raise his hand, before Dina instantly turned to him and shut it down, her snakes all collectively hissing at Clover as she stared him down with a disapproving stare. "Absolutely not, Clover. You're too young, I don't know how well you can handle your liquor."

"Not even a little bit?"

"No, this is the 7th- No!"

"Dina, Clover's a full-on deputy now! He's earned at least a pint of 'yer rum!" Starlo interjected, clearly a bit tipsy as he asked Dina to reconsider, which she did. After all, it would make Clover stop asking, even if she didn't want to reward constant pressure. "ONE PINT. That's it and no more for tonight!"

"Dina, I don't think this is in Clover's best interest-" Ceroba started to speak, glaring daggers at Starlo with a mix of surprise and anger. Dina, however, had already procured a shot glass, and filled it a bit from the top, before placing it gingerly at Clover's table. "Don't think you can pester me again, Clover! I-"

"Thank you, Dina!" Clover interrupted her, giving her a smile before gently putting the glass to his lips and drinking down the liquid. Instantly, he started sputtering, not expecting it to burn as it traveled down his throat. "OH-"

Ceroba instantly moved to pat his back, Clover coughing a few more times before adjusting to the feeling. "It... this... feels weird. I don't... huh? There's... this warmth spreading through my chest, and... I feel kinda dreamy... is this what being drunk is?"

"No, but if you drink enough, you'll stay at this point for longer." Mooch and Ed laughed gently, as Starlo, Ceroba, and Moray all chuckled gently. Ace's expression remained completely unchanged, though he seemed to have a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "... wow... Hey, Starlo?"

"Whaddup, Clover?" Starlo tipped his hat, the movement a bit uncoordinated due to minor inebriation, though the ajar smile showed Clover how it all still came through.

"...Do you feel drunk around people you're close to?" Clover innocently asked, stunning Ceroba, but barely fazing the rest of the group. "We'll, assumin' you're drinkin' with them, yeah?"

"But they haven't... uh... you know what, it's fine, I'll ask about it later. A-anyway..." Clover started to talk again with the posse, not noticing Ceroba staring at them with a questioning look. It didn't take long for Ceroba to put some pieces together, and get Clover to start walking home with her. As they exited the Saloon, Clover stumbled lightly from their consumed alcohol, though they were in no way incapable of moving.

"So, Clover... it sounds to me like you... 'get drunk around close friends'. I... I'm assuming they don't serve you alcohol, right?" Ceroba probed, looking at him with a inquisitive expression, hiding the growing smile beneath her muzzle.

"No, she doesn't. It's... I thought it was normal when you get really close to someone. You don't wanna be away from them, you want to do... everything with them? That's just being drunk, right?" Clover answered, gently holding their kimono as they walked through the sleeping Oasis Valley. Ceroba now had a solid idea of what was going on with Clover, but decided to ask one more thing.

"Where's this person you... feel drunk when you think of them..?"

"She lives in Lower Snowdin."

"I see... well... do you know what love is, Clover?" Ceroba asked. Even she was mildly confused - 11 was a bit late for Clover to be learning about love of all things. Clover, meanwhile, shook his head in agreement, giving her a odd stare. "Yeah, of course. It's what someone feels when they really like someone. But I'm not on that level yet, I don't think so at least."

"Well, Clover... I think you are. Everything you mentioned is the feelings you get when you have a crush on someone - when you love someone but haven't told them."

Martlet was having a great day.

She'd started cleaning more, working harder, and showing up on time to her job, because now she had 'shared custody' (as Ceroba called it during the planning of this) of Clover. And she couldn't let Clover down again - not after Ava. So as she worked at her post, she decided to swing by the UGPS sign to see if she had any official letters. "Come on, come on, please tell me nobody noticed Clover..."

Ding-ding-ding!

"Hello, hello, hey! Is it not a great day? What can I do for you? Mail, shipping, or something new?" As usual, the trademark rhyming signalled that the Mail Whale had returned, and Martlet quickly answered with "Mail, please!"

"It appears... that you have a letter! Specifically from one Ceroba Ketsukane... how do I rhyme with that? ANYWAY- I hope this news has made your day better!"

Of course, Martlet lit up with joy about potentially hearing about Clover. After all, the letter could be something as simple as Clover writing to tell her he missed her, or that he was bringing a gift back for her, or that he was coming back early! The possibilities were nearly endless - and who else would it be about then Clover himself? Either way, she beamed as she held out her wing, grinning when a letter was placed right on it. "It definitely has!"

Once again, finer dexterity challenges proved to be trivial for the bird as she simply used a magic feather to cut open the seal, stuffing the envelope in her pocket as she opened the letter to be met with intricate calligraphy - probably something to be expected from Ceroba. Either way, it wasn't trivial to interpret.  "Oh, it's about Clover! What's... oh. I..."

"I refuse to intrude, but you seem to be in quite a pickle this interlude!" The Mail Whale looked at Martlet - they usually didn't stay THIS long, did they? "Oh, it's just that Clover, the kid I'm taking care of... apparently has a crush that lives here. I wonder who... it is. I've gotta find out! I'm... just surprised, I guess?"

"...So why aren't you jumping for joy? This is a major step for your boy!"

". . . I don't know."

"Ceroba... I... really? I'm... I mean, I think you're right. Sorry about this, I just... I've never really had a crush before." Clover asked, sitting down at the kotatsu across from Ceroba, who was looking back at him with a comforting smile.

"It's a natural thing to feel growing up. It's okay, Clover." Ceroba reached over, gently patting Clover on the shoulder, even if she had to lean over the kotatsu to do so. "So... you have to decide what to do now. After all, if they don't know you're human... that could get dangerous for you."

"Oh of course, but I already met them through my initial trip through the Underground. I'm absolutely certain they know I'm human, and... I doubt they'd ever tell anyone." Clover reassured, earning a small eyebrow from Ceroba. That narrowed down Clover's crush significantly - he had to have met them before he met her, so it was... still anyone in Lower Snowdin, but a smaller subsection of anyone nonetheless. "Well, if you're safe... then maybe you should confess your feelings."

"I guess that would be a good idea... but I'm not sure if they'll feel the same way." Clover looked down, deep in contemplation, his fingers absentmindedly drumming against the floor as he thought increasingly depressing scenarios. "Like, what if I get rejected and-"

"Then, that's just what happens. Would you rather never try, Clover?" Ceroba asked, looking down at him with a hint of disappointment. "Come on, Clover! You're the cowboy, aren't you known for taking obscenely insane risks?"

"...You're right about that second part."

"Then take the chance!"

"I will!"

Chapter Text

"I wish I could stop and relax, but the mail service is always taxed!" The Mail Whale departed, leaving Clover happily in Lower Snowdin. Only one thing was on his mind - or rather, one person.

Martlet.

He HAD to tell her now, or else his feelings may just end up consuming him from the inside out. And yet, he still had a flurry of questions about this whole thing, especially how to... actually do it. As such, Clover decided to seek help from his only other ally in Lower Snowdin.

"Clover... I might not be the best person to ask... for advice about confessing love." Dalv looked him over with a patient smile as Clover sat across from him in his new cabin. Clover, meanwhile, looked up at him with a pouting expression. "Yeah, but you're the only one I can really ask..."

"Why not ask Martlet?" Dalv innocently asked. Clover had a feeling Dalv would change his tune VERY quickly if he learned WHO Clover was crushing on.

"Because- I... well..." Clover started, trying to deflect from the real reason. "She... might... uh... try and set me up with her?"

"...That's fair." Dalv answered after a long pause, adjusting his cloak. "Well... look, Clover. I personally think... it doesn't matter the location or time or atmosphere. You just need to speak with your heart!"

"Really? What about... gifts, or something?" Clover suggested, about to start thinking of potential gifts before Dalv shook his head disapprovingly. "From the books I've read, the best confessions don't involve gifts or any physical goods! You just need to speak from your SOUL, Clover."

"Speak from... my SOUL? That... how do I do that?"

"Well... just say what you want to say, Clover!" Dalv smiled, patting Clover reassuringly on the shoulder. "Just... be confident! Not like me, of course!"

"I... I can do that, I think! I can do this!" Clover grinned, feeling determination as he started to get up. "I'll... I'll do it now! I- Thanks, Dalv!"

Before Dalv could respond, Clover jumped on his table (to get to eye-level with him), and eagerly shook his hand, maintaining boundaries (even Clover could tell Dalv liked his space still, even if he was beginning to open up). "No, thank YOU, Clover. I'm glad to see you again! Please, do visit again when you can!"

Clover only nodded with a grin as he started to walk out. "Of course! I'd love to come by with Martlet some time!"

Dalv couldn't respond before Clover dashed off, no doubt to confess to his crush. It warmed Dalv's heart to see Clover like this. Last time he left him with Martlet, he seemed scarily stoic, like he was laser-focused on one objective. What it was... he still wasn't clear on that, as well as other major aspects of Clover's journey through the Underground. Even then, he mus-

"Hey, Dalv, can you come look at these new blueprints!" Penilla had shouted, snapping him out of his train of thought. "Of course, Penilla! I'll be right there!"

Martlet... was having a hard time concentrating, to say the least.

She was currently sprucing up one of her puzzles, the one that seemed to jam every now and then. She'd flown up here 4 hours ago, intending to implement a fix that should have been done in a few minutes. But no matter what, her mind kept drifting to... Clover.

Clover and her had grown very close over the week, to the point they were comfortable snuggling with each other. They'd shared a lot together, and Martlet valued their time to no end.  So why did she feel disheartened when Clover told her about a crush? By all accounts, she should be scrambling to setup a date between Clover and the one in his sights, and inevitably crash it with her own antics. But right now, she had to focus...

...

"Aaaagh! I got sand in my eyes!!" Martlet had yelled as they had gotten sent back by the off-and-on sandstorm. She didn't even move a inch, and they were back at the start, somehow! "Same here! I- I have a plan! Just... follow my lead!"

"But what if we get seperated?" Martlet protested, making Clover look back at her, before reaching his hand behind him, and holding her wing. "You won't."

And so, the pair began a cycle - move forward while the sandstorm was off, and stand on the conveniently marked dark patches of sand. The whole time, Clover held Martlet tightly, and she found herself wrapping the tip of her wing around Clover's hand in return. 

He'd, while focusing on dodging, also found the headspace to admire how soft her feathers felt in his hand, how warm her wing was, his hand now trapped in a prison it never wanted to escape. Clover, by this point, knew monsters were made of magic, which was why the feeling of her wing in his hand surprised him - it felt real, tangible, and-

"Clover? You... you've kinda been standing here for the past 3 minutes. The sandstorm's been gone for a bit. Do you want to... move?" Martlet questioned, looking down at him with a confused look.

"I- uh, sorry! Yeah, we should go-" Clover hid his faint blush as they both ran across to the other side, grinning slightly. "Sorry, was thinking about a few things."

"It's okay, I imagine you've got lots to think about since you came down here! But it's alright, I'll be sure to get you home in time for a dinner, like I said earlier!"

Martlet did technically succeed in that regard - Clover lived in the Underground with her, Ceroba, and Starlo, and he'd had dinner with all 3 of them at some point... so mission accomplished. A-

"Martlet? Where are you? I... really gotta talk to you please?"

Immediately, the bird's face lit up - regardless of her feelings on Clover finding a crush, she would still be happy to see him anyways. As such, she jumped into flight, gently gliding down to where Clover was - right in front of her puzzle. "MARTLET!"

Her surprise was quickly tempered when Clover jumped into her arms, immediately pulling her into a tight hug, which she gladly reciprocated. What she didn't expect was for Clover to bury their head into the side of their neck, though... she didn't at all mind. "Hey, Clover! I... I heard you've found... a special someone down here! I'm really... happy... for you!"

Martlet's tone was... strained, like her feelings were being propped up... like she was hiding something. And even if Clover was a bit naive to love... he had more than a bit experience with everything of the opposite. So... why did she sound so unhappy? "...Martlet...?"

"Yeah?" She squeaked out, caught off-guard by his change in tone, as evidenced by his assertion that "...You're lying."

Martlet knew goofy Clover - he wasn't serious with friends. Martlet knew the stoic Clover that barely spoke during their first round trip in the Underground. She also knew he switched between the two frequently often, as evidenced by his mild mood swings in her house. Martlet still couldn't tell how the human could go from 'accepting a challenge' to 'gentle cuddling', but that begat the point - this side of Clover... was new. It wasn't angry, but it was... assertive. And it- "Tell me the truth, Martlet. Why... wouldn't you be happy if I found love?"

NOW she was really backed into a corner. She couldn't just... tell Clover her true feelings, they couldn't ever... "I... don't think I can. It wouldn't be..."

This, time, it was Clover's turn to think. WHAT would it not be? Kind? Truthful? None of the words that came up fit, and his previous feelings were getting in the way and...

"Martlet... how much do you like me..?" Clover probed, deciding to test one possibility - he even put on a more gentle disposition for her.

"..."

"..."

"More than I should..."

"..."

"..."

"Martlet... I feel the same way."

Chapter Text

"Wait, what? Clover... I'm not going insane, right? I mean, I'm known to drift off at times but this is next level!" Martlet exclaimed, shaking Clover slightly, face crossed between panic and happiness. "I'm an adult, Clover!"

"Martlet, do you honestly think I'll ever find love in the Underground like this? I'm a human, the chances of finding someone who won't get me killed is practically zero!" Clover rebuked, holding Martlet so she was looking right at him. "Look, I realized I had feelings back at the Wild East. I never told anyone... it was you. Martlet, I... you don't understand how valuable my time with you has been, okay?"

"Clover, you're 11!" Martlet countered, shaking her head even as she held Clover up at eye-level. "You... we can't, it's too big of a gap! It's bonkers, I'll get-"

"Martlet, please, just... I... wait and listen, okay! I'm probably never going to find love down here again, and even if I did..."

"...our hearts are already set on eachother?" Martlet finished, looking down dejectedly as she seated herself, Clover hopping in her lap to look at her. He seemed to finally be happy, looking up at her with an emotional smile. "Martlet... I've survived this long in the Underground. Shouldn't I get a chance with you, at the very least?"

"..."

"...Martlet... do you want to know what I like... no, what I love about you so much?" Clover finally responded, cupping her cheek as he forced her to meet his gaze.

"...What?" Martlet breathed out, eyes looking into Clover's as she began listening to the cowboy.

"You're strong, Martlet. Even if you disagree, you're one of the strongest people down here I know. Plus, you're determined, kind, driven, dedicated, and so many other words I'd name right here for you! I don't care that you can be a birdbrain or a klutz-" Clover began rambling, almost mirroring Martlet as he went on a tangent and poured out his heart, his SOUL to her, before she cut him off, looking up at him with a deep blush. "I can't believe I'm letting myself get flattered by an 11-year old. Granted, you're more mature than your age lets on... Also, when was I ever a klutz?"

"...I might be misremembering, but it was at that shop with the glass. No, yeah! You got the glass for me because I was too short, and then you dropped it and it broke! I... didn't really need it, so I can forgive you." Martlet let out a light chirp as Clover reminisced about the time, eliciting a laugh from him as well. "Clover..."

"Martlet... I... I'm just... Look, I love you, Martlet. And I know you don't deserve a child for your partner, but... I really needed to get this off my chest." Clover finished, looking up at Martlet, staring right into her eyes. Martlet took a second to comprehend that Clover - Clover, the cowboy that survived everything despite being just a child - confessed to HER. And-

"Hey! Wait, I won't let you put yourself down like that!" Martlet suddenly exclaimed, standing Clover up as she pointed her wingtip accusingly at him. "Clover, you survived Ceroba, Starlo, and my own attempts to capture/kill you! You're one of the most determined individuals I know! You do all these nice things for me such as make me Ice Tea in the desert, guide me through fake sandstorms, build birdhouses with me, I can't even tell you-"

She was cutoff when Clover launched himself at her in a hug, holding her close to him. "Martlet... you... those are just the right things to do, are-"

"No! No, they're not JUST right things to do, they're the kindest things that have ever been done for me in so long! You're like an anchor to me, Clover! You keep me grounded, and... I..." Martlet trailed off, breathing in and out gently as she willed herself to look right into Clover's eyes. "I... I love you too, Clover. And-and not just as a guardian, but... as a partner. If you'll want to be mine-"

"I want to, Martlet. I want to keep living with you, doing fun construction projects, leaning new things about birds, having new experiences, and... I... Martlet, can... can I ask you something..?" Clover's words came out in a rush, though the question still got across. Martlet leaned in a bit closer, intent on hearing Clover clearer. "Of course, Clover..."

"..."

"..."

"Martlet... I... can we kiss?" Clover breathed out, looking up at her (now shocked expression) with hope. "It's... how you start a romantic relationship, right?"

"I... Clover... I'm not sure how to kiss a human!" Martlet blurted out suddenly, the pair staying silent before cackling in laughter in unison. It would be a feat of logistics trying to kiss someone with a beak, though it wasn't like that could truly stop them. "Well... I have an idea. Can you just..."

Clover quickly trailed off, angling Martlet's head slightly away from him, before gently leaning closer. His eyes were transfixed on her beak, how uniform the yellow parts looked when the maxilla and mandible of her beak were closed, how soft it looked despite the fact beaks were obviously supposed to be rigid and-

Martlet squeaked suddenly as Clover's lips met the side of her beak, pressing firmly in their version of a kiss. Her beak exploded in warmth as it fluttered open and closed when her breath hitched. Though, all she could do was look into Clover's eyes, and see the love and determination looking back at her. Clover's lips felt amazing against her beak, the heat coming from them comforting to her in the Snowdin air.

Clover himself was stunned - Martlet's beak felt so much more warm than he expected, and he couldn't help but lean closer, pressing his lips more firmly against her beak. He gently placed an arm on her far shoulder, pulling her even closer as he broke the kiss, panting gently as he looked into Martlet's eyes. "Martlet..."

In return, Martlet held Clover's cheek in her left wing, her right coming to pull Clover close to her as she looked down at him with a glowing, brilliant smile. "Clover... that was... amazing..."

"You know what else is going to be amazing?"

"What?"

"The next few years of our lives."

"When did you become such a sweet-talker?"

"Are you complaining?"

"Nope!"

Chapter Text

Dalv was having, by his accounts, an extraordinary day. First off, he met ANOTHER human - a feat he thought impossible, though his proximity to the Ruins almost made it inevitable. And this human, Clover, was the kindest individual Dalv had ever met. His forgiveness for Dalv attacking him with lightning was only the start - he'd explored as much of Dalv's home as he wanted (not opening the wardrobe and Dalv's bedroom door), before leading him back into Lower Snowdin.

Clover hadn't used the toy gun he'd gotten a single time, though he did seem keen on accumulating ammunition. Either way, he'd cleared puzzles, and was quietly content, accepting Dalv's choice to wait at the Honeydew Resort for Martlet. 

Of course, that didn't last long, as was confirmed when he and Clover were mistaken for being human (or well, he was, at least), and he was drawn into battle as Martlet decided to focus on Clover first.

"CLOVER! Look, I... I'll heal you a little, okay!" Dalv shouted, before Martlet ordered Clover to make the first attack. "Protocol 1: let your opponent make the first move!"

"...That's a horrible idea. Like, what if I was evil and wanted to hurt you? You'd just be letting me get a free hit on you!" Clover protested, though even he found himself questioning why he was now the one critiquing Martlet. Dalv was more than a bit surprised as well, but let it slide since it seemed to stun Martlet completely. "W... well, it's what the manual says... but when you put it like that, maybe it's... not the best? But it was written by Undyne, so it has to be the best, right? Oh wait, my attack!"

Only then did Martlet make her first attack, Clover effortlessly dodging the bird's magic feathers. She'd ramble on about some concept, and Clover repeatedly either enlisted Dalv to try and calm down Martlet (which always failed), or to try and spare her, which only chipped away at her resolve slowly. Either way, the fight seemed to enter a stalemate, and even the bird realized so after a rant about a mistaken apprehension. "Could you be more mean like her, please?"

Clover, somehow, seemed heavily conflicted. He remained deep in contemplation, even as Martlet, through her growing confusion, told Clover that "Sticks and stones can break my bones.. but words can... only make me sad?"

Only then, did Clover get an idea, grinning slightly as he stepped forward, Dalv watching him and pre-emptively readying a heal as Clover spoke.

"Your feathers are soft."

Martlet froze, comprehending Clover's 'insult'. Even Dalv knew that even though it could be interpreted as an insult... Clover was secretly complimenting Martlet. The bird, who seemed to finish short-circuiting, finally managed to come up with a retort. "No- No! My feathers are really sharp, Undyne said so! But... I guess it's kinda working? Can you... do that again?"

"Uhh, Clover, this battle... doesn't seem to be-"

"You're... better at carpentry than being a Royal Guard!" Clover blurted out, Martlet freezing as a look of hurt flashed quickly across her face. "I'm trying to improv-"

"You're too kind to be trying to kill a human." The cowboy finished as he looked up at Martlet, who seemed to finally grasp just what Clover was doing, a light blush appearing as her feathers shuffled, her looking at Clover with a bit of shock. "You... you've been... complimenting me. Look, I... I don't... usually get compliments..? Usually it's just people complaining I'm apprehending them or monsters informing me that my puzzles broke. I've never..."

"Well... I think you deserve more compliments." Clover guided the conversation, forming a plan as he saw a non-violent solution to the fight. "Look, I don't want to fight you. It's not in my nature and... I feel like I... honestly, I think you remind me of someone. I just... can't remember."

"Look, you... I kinda also now don't want to kill you anymore? Look- wait, I have a plan- I GOT IT!"

Soon after Clover left with Martlet... he came back. To visit him, help draw up the final page of his children's book, and even heard him play the organ for some time. The cowboy, the whole time, was exceedingly patient, even if Dalv felt he shouldn't be so. Not to mention his kindness and pacifism once again, Dalv admired his resolve and determination to no end. He'd heard from Martlet beforehand there was a major battle, but Clover was convinced to live for some more time until the situation changed. And now, Clover's living in Snowdin half the time, and-

"Dalv, Dalv! Clover's back! He's at the snow castle with that bird girl you mentioned!" Flier derailed Dalv's train of thought, descending from the sky like a Mail Whale. "Cmon, it's not far, we can go say hi!"

"I'd love to! I could make a portrait for Clover and Martlet- ohmygod where's my easel!!" Penila shouted, scrambling around Dalv's half-built cabin to find her drawing kit. Dalv himself walked out, surveying the scene quickly. "I agree, this could be fun! I'd love to see what Clover's up to with that castle! I... I wonder who built it, actually."

He had little time to waste, instantly adjusting his cloak as he set out with Flier and Penilla, the latter holding their signature pencil with both hands as they rounded the corner, and...

"What a view..." Clover stared out in awe, hand-in-wing with Martlet, who's heart bloomed with joy seeing her Clover enchanted by the view from the snow castle's walls. "Martlet... this is beautiful..."

"I've gotten used to it before... but it feels like I'm seeing the view for the first time all over again! I think that's cause... you're here with me..." Martlet admitted, sitting on the edge of the castle wall, her legs dangling over the edge as Clover came up beside her, tilting his cowboy hat. "Martlet... can I kiss you again..? I... have an idea. Just... bear with me, okay?"

"Sure! I'd love to hear it! I know kissing with a beak can be really hard, and I hope we can make it work and-" Martlet's descent into rambling was cutoff as Clover tugged on her wing gently, his thumb gently rubbing her feathered equivalent of an arm. "Uhh... open your beak? As wide as it can go?"

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!" Martlet did as requested, her maxilla and mandible parting, opening gently to what Clover guessed would be a 135* angle. Either way, he tilted his head, and gently moved forward, lips gently interlocking with the edges of Martlet's beak. The feeling between them was electric, and Clover instinctively moved closer as Martlet leaned toward him, before finally pulling back, need for air overtaking her. "Clover... that... that was amazing... A bit sloppy, but... gosh, I really, really want to do that again..."

"Martlet..." Clover was breathless as he gently pushed Martlet against a tower wall, her letting out a small "Eep!" in response as Clover stood on the wall crenellations, now at eye level with her. "Martlet, you cute, loving, beautiful blue bird... please kiss me. I love you so much, it feels insane-"

But he was cutoff as the bird lifted him up, gently cradling him as she kissed him, parting her beak as Clover's lips crashed against her, her eyes fluttering closed as Clover wrapped his arms around her neck. His hands roamed her back, gently straightening the plumage on her back, feather by feather. "Clover... I never... gosh, you're the greatest thing that's happened to me, you know that? I can't believe I got to meet someone as kind as you, as loving as you..."

"Martlet, I... can't tell you how much I-"

"Clover! Martlet- CLOVER?! MARTLET?! ARE YOU TWO-"

Chapter Text

Dalv's great day had become... interesting. Especially since he had just looked up, and saw Clover and Martlet making out. Ignoring his surprise at how they'd gotten the mechanics to click, two pairs of boots landed on the ground, accompanied by blushing and lightly panicked faces.

"DALV! I... uh, we can explain..?" Martlet squeaked out, Clover still blushing heavily as he managed to look up at the three shocked faces of Dalv, Penilla, and Flier. "Hey guys... nice seeing you again?"

"Hey..?" Flier trailed off, Martlet and Dalv and Clover all still making some very uncomfortable eye contact. "Clover, Martlet... why were you two... kissing?"

"Well... we're kinda... in a relationship now?" Martlet tried to explain, sounding a bit unconfident as Clover himself decided to take over. "Look, Dalv, Penilla, Flier... Just... hold your judgements for a second, alright?"

Penilla gently held her pencil, Flier coming to rest on it as Dalv calmed down, and nodded, calmly sitting down on the icy ground. "Okay."

And so, Clover cleared his throat, sat down in the snow with Martlet, and began to speak.

"Look, when I resolved to stay down here, I knew making friendships would be hard. Impossible even. But I knew I had you all for support, some of the kindest people I've ever met. I've never been happier in my life, but I thought I'd never find that... special monster I'd want to spend the rest of my life with." Clover started, looking down as Martlet's face frowned with sadness, her wings instinctively wrapping around Clover in a tight hug. Dalv also felt a bit of pity, understanding Clover's situation intimately, in a way. "Clover... I've dealt with loneliness after what happened in Snowdin. I... that's why I went to the Ruins and never talked to anyone. But... I guess I just... didn't expect it to be with Martlet. The age difference, I mean."

"Well... Clover... honestly, I'm so glad I met him. I guess you could say he's captured my SOUL, in a way. He's been there for me since I met him, and I... want to return his love. I never want Clover to feel alone like that again, or-or feel like he can't find love." Martlet finally found her voice, her words touching Clover's heart and making Dalv's concerns evaporate completely. Clover popped out of her embrace, a massive smile on his face as he blinked back tears. "Martlet... I... that's the kindest thing I've ever heard. I don't think I could ever... Martlet, oh my god..."

And he then pulled Martlet back into a intimate, loving kiss, allowing Dalv to look back to his other companions. Penilla looked to be in deep contemplation, as Flier looked a bit guilty. Dalv himself, meanwhile, found himself beaming seeing the pair's love for eachother so clearly and strongly. 

"Look... I... haven't been in the greater Underground for some time... so I... guess it's fine. Things have probably gotten more progressive, anyway." Dalv finally made a judgement, gently moving toward Clover and Martlet as they both gave him their attention. "Look, I'm sorry if I made you both uncomfortable. I'm really happy you two found love in eachother. I... haven't felt that in a while, so I may have underestimated it. But honestly, considering Clover's situation... I really am truly happy for you."

"Clover, I was going to ask if I could draw a portrait of you... but now, I want Martlet in it too! It'll be like a photo you can put up on your wall!" Penilla suddenly shouted with glee, already swarming the pair to put them in various positions - slow dancing, Martlet carrying Clover in her wings and vice-versa, and a whole lot of other poses that all blended together. "Penilla- Slow down-"

"Well, I... I guess I'm happy for the pair of you!" Flier eventually relented, flying over to Martlet and Clover and circling them. "You two may as well have been made for eachother, honestly."

"I agree, honestly."

"..."

"..."

"So, what now?"

Undyne was having a great day. Suplexing boulders, cooking with Papyrus, and overall doing captain stuff. Right now, the fish was at home, relaxing b-

clunk!

Her thought process was interested as a letter came out from her door's mail slot, falling to the floor gently. Undyne's letters usually consisted of admirers and potential applicants, and that's what she expected as she got up, strode over, and picked up the envelope. "Well, let's see who's applied this time..."

The letter was almost immediately ripped open, the paper inside somehow only mildly crumpled as Undyne took out the letter itself, reading the words contained on the paper.

Dear Captain of the Royal Guard,

"Well, at least they got the addressee right! Can't say that about half of the other letters, haha!"

I'm Clover a friend romantic partner of one of your Royal Guards in lower Snowdin.

"...I think only Martlet patrols down there. Are they talking about the rookie?" Her eyes gently squinted as she moved on to the next lines of the letter.

It's incredibly hard for me to write this, and I do believe Martlet's fit for a Royal Guard position. But... how do you deal with it? The dread that your partner may never come home again if they're struck down by a evil human. The... the panic in your mind if they're even a little bit late to coming back home. Look, I shouldn't vent too much like this, but this has been secretly eating away at me from the inside out. I don't think I could ever let Martlet patrol on her own again.

Not when there's a chance it might be the last time I see her.

I know you can't just magically make me feel better with a few words, but... I need SOMETHING from you.

Please.

...

...

It had been years since this had last happened, but it was happening again as Undyne dropped the suddenly heavy letter, quietly walking back to her couch, looking at the words from a distance with reddened and glistening eyes.

Undyne was crying. Quietly so, the type when you're crying on someone else's behalf. 

...

But after a few minutes, Undyne cleared her tears, calmed down, grabbed a piece of paper, her standard-issued pen, and put the latter against the former. She'd write this letter if it was the last thing she did, she owed this Clover a response as the Captain of the Royal Guard, she couldn't let anyone else down. She couldn't let Martlet down. And she certainly wouldn't let Clover down.

... So why can't she think of the right words?

Chapter Text

It was supposed to be a normal day.

At least, that's what Martlet thought. Dalv had departed to the Wild East to visit Ceroba, and have a long overdue conversation about her daughter. Which gave her even more time to spend with her newfound love, who seemed slightly clingy, always joining her on her patrols around Lower Snowdin.

Not that she complained, she did deeply enjoy Clover's presence, as did Clover with her. Still, it was an odd change, one that, despite her comfortability with it... was still a little bit concerning to her. But she quickly cast the thought out of her scatterbrained mind, seeing one of her puzzles again, the gate having been jammed.

"Have you ever tried metalworking, Martlet?" Clover queried, gently kicking the gate to see if it could be freed with a simple action. "Your puzzles might be more durable if you put some metal parts into them. And they might even look cooler as well!"

"I have, but nobody in Snowdin has fire magic, and I can't just summon Ceroba over here to blast metal with her own fire magic." Martlet responded, whipping out her mallet to tap the gate back onto the tracks. "Besides, wood would still work... the problem is I'm bad at puzzle designing."

"Incorrect. Honestly, a little sanding might allow everything to move more smoothly. And maybe some guides and wheels?" Clover had moved to the puzzle console, navigating the ball through what was like a marble course with ease. As it melted the ice cube, he and the bird cheered as the gate moved out of the way this time. The kid jumped down, and quickly gave Martlet a big hug, her returning the favour with her wings. "Ohmygosh it worked! Thank you, Clover!"

"No problem, love..." Clover gently replied, stepping back with Martlet as they gazed back up at the puzzle. "Y'know... now that me giving up my soul has been delayed, it feels like... a weight's been lifted off my shoulder. I'm not omnifocused on that anymore, I can... just take it all in."

When Martlet turned her head, she saw Clover with a dreamy look on his face, and a rare but brilliant smile. "Hey, have... you ever watched those human shows about love? Everything seems perfect, right, complete, and you wish this could go on forever?"

"I... can't say I have! Lower Snowdin usually doesn't get many human trinkets down here. But... I think I might get what you mean? It's... like you get this warm cute little feeling in your SOUL, and you want to stay like this... forever..." Martlet's voice trailed off, her wing draped over Clover's shoulder as she pulled him closer, him leaning into her feathers as she walked them both over to a overturned tree trunk. With a quick swipe and some magic, the pair were now seated on the impromptu bench.

"Martlet... I've fallen for you so hard, you know that? Everything about you is just amazing. Your personality, your talents, even your drawbacks, they're all what makes you... you." Clover whispered, leaning his head against her side, Martlet gently sighing in contentment as her wing came on the other side of the cowboy's head. "You've got a heart of gold, Clover. A... beautiful, kind heart. You've... inspired me to be better. For you."

"..."

"..."

"...did you know that on the Surface... Martlets are apparently a mythical bird?" Clover queried, looking up at her with curiosity.

"I'm a myth on the Surface? Ohmygosh that's so cool I can't wait-" Martlet's squeal and incoming rant were silenced as Clover gently squeezed her wing, holding it gently afterward. "No, as in a different bird entirely. You just... share the same name as them?"

"Well, what's so special about these... mythical non-copies of me anyway?" The bluebird's curiosity overtook her, leaning down slightly.

"They apparently don't have legs, so they just fly eternally. It... kinda suits you, in a way."

"It does?"

"Yeah. Because I want to see you fly forever, Martlet." In a instant, a warmth bloomed in Martlet's chest, brighter than even the heater she'd built. The love and dedication and care and kindness in Clover's eyes was radiant, and her body acted for her. In a instant, Clover was pulled into a tight embrace with Martlet, her wings like a comforting weighted blanket against Clover's form, who simply nuzzled into her neck plumage. "I love you, Martlet... so, so, so much..."

"I love you too, Clover. More than I can express with my words." Martlet whispered, moving into Clover's neck, her beak gently poking his skin. "There's-"

"NGAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"What the... who is that?" Clover instantly looked beyond frightened, surprising even him - why was that scream always so terrifying to him? He hasn't met... whoever this is before, right?

"Oh hey it's Captain Undyne! She's the head of the Royal Guard and- OHMYGODCLOVERHIDE!!" Martlet squawked, pointing to a nearby bush frantically as Clover darted towards it, outright tumbling into it, half-surprised when he didn't get instantly pricked by the hundreds of branches inside. He found himself covered in snow, leaves, and branches, which made for a perfect disguise.

He'd have to wash out the grass stains this would leave on his outfit, though.

"OKAYUH-" Martlet turned to see a very obvious Clover-shaped hole in the bush, making it more than a bit obvious someone was hiding there, counteracting the snow and leaves Clover'd gotten in himself. "Good... enough? Just stay quiet and I'll-"

"MARTLET!" yelled out a voice as Undyne charged her with a spear, stopping short of the now-terrified bird. Though, the look in the eyes of Martlet gave her pause - it didn't seem like she was terrified of her charge, or even her specifically. "I- uh- surveyed your puzzles! They're looking much more sturdy now! They could EASILY stop the toughest humans!"

Martlet immediately knew Undyne was wrong - Clover got through them, after all. "Uh-"

"SPEAKING OF... where's your partner at?" Undyne seemed to calm down, a sense of dread washing over her, a feeling that even Martlet didn't expect. Much more concerning was the fact Undyne somehow knew she was dating Clover. Sure, she only said partner, but that had to be a misdirection tactic since she didn't want to crush Martlet's feelings.

Killing Clover would do more than just that, though.

"Wh- Wha?" Martlet's face paled, fully realizing she NEEDED to think this through carefully - Undyne COULDN'T know about Clover. At all costs. "Huh?"

"I gotta talk to them about... something." Undyne's voice was uncharacteristically quiet, scaring Martlet further, as she looked for any way to misdirect or steer the conversation to the polar opposite of Clover. "They're... away? Down in... uh... Hotland? Visiting... family?"

"...Ah! Okay!! Well... I NEED YOU TO TALK TO THEM FOR ME!" Undyne's voice rang out as it grew in volume again, Martlet wishing she could shrink away at this point. If Undyne was trying to scare her into revealing Clover... it was starting to work. Even if it was a secret she'd never divulge until she dusted.

"TELL THEM. . . uh..." Undyne trailed off, looking absolutely crushed as she struggled to find the words to express herself clearly. "...Tell them... that... they gotta believe in you."

Martlet felt her brain crash on the spot, expectations completely shattered as Undyne's voice fell further. She was just left wondering what Undyne meant.

"...Do you know why I trained all of you so hard? Why I wanted you to be the best Royal Guards the underground could ever see?" Undyne's voice sounded on the edge of fracturing, her not even able to look up at Martlet.

"..."

"It's because... even if we do put our lives on the line if a human shows up... those around you will still want you to come back. The voids left in your SOUL by fallen monsters never... fully go away."

"..."

"Martlet, your partner... wrote me a letter. I have to say, you've struck gold with them. They... poured their heart out to me, you know? They cared about you so damn much and so deeply..."

"They... they did..?" Martlet squeaked out, now on the edge of crying herself. "Oh, Clover..."

"Well, Clover... they're worried about you, Martlet. Out of everything they could have asked me... they just wanted you to come back home every day. They just want to see you safe, and I..." Undyne's spear fell to the snow, along with her gauntlets as she wiped away the forming tears in her eyes. "Out of all the things I've been able to do for monsterkind... that's one of the few things I can't do."

"Clover..." Martlet herself was now crying, on the verge of fully breaking down as she realized just how much Clover truly loved her... and how much she may have accidentally terrified him. "Undyne, I... I... ohmygod... I-"

But they were interrupted as a snowball flew past Undyne, narrowly missing her but landing on the other side of the clearing. "WHO THREW THAT?! Hold on rookie, I gotta check this out!"

And, as Undyne ran off in the opposite direction, out from the bush came a teary-eyed Clover, clearly having overheard the conversation. "Martlet... Look, I should have just talked to you about-"

"CLOVER!" Martlet bolted toward him, scooping the cowboy up into a tight hug as she cried into his shoulder. "I'm... I'm never leaving you, okay? I promise you, I couldn't..."

"Love... Undyne was right..."

"I just need to believe in you..."

Chapter Text

The Wild East.

Dalv hadn't explored this part of the Underground yet - it was decently off-course from the main path to New Home, which meant a lack of tourism - and not for lack of trying. For Dalv felt incredibly out of place seeing Starlo and his posse run missions. 

Though, that wasn't who he was looking for. He was more interested in a small brown kitsune monster, one he'd known very well, and hadn't seen after the massacre in Snowdin. He'd understood at the time; the incident surely had to be traumatizing for her. But... why'd he get the feeling he wouldn't see her again for some time?

The vampire was also surveying the area for a taller fox monster with flowing orange hair, along with a white and red kimono. She was also nowhere to be found, and Dalv considered flagging down the sheriff he saw Clover adore, and-

"Hey."

Dalv nearly jumped out of his cloak, skin, and SOUL, in that order, as he jumped back to see Ceroba standing right there with a warm smile on her muzzle. "Watching Star and his friends do their sheriff thing?"

"I... was looking for you. To have that talk... the one we talked about back at the tree?" Dalv iced his nerves, realizing no threat was present (except the potential for another scare). "Of course. Come, we can come to my estate to... discuss. Apologies, it hasn't... been lived in for a while."

"It's quite alright. Losing someone close to you can be very challenging." The pair walked through Oasis Valley, taking a sharp detour up as Dalv was lead through some ornate steel gates. "Oh... my... this is beautiful."

The Ketsukane estate had come into full view now, the craftsmanship flowing out of every dowel and interlocking joint, from the perfection of every shingle and beam, from the uniformity and tone of every color the house was painted in. "I see where Martlet got her skills from. I think she met your husband, Chujin."

"She did. He was... the best. In a hundred ways, but carpentry was his strong suit." Ceroba acknowledged, opening the door for Dalv to walk inside, her following behind him as she unlocked the door to the... room.

Her expectations of a normal rug with the kotatsu were shattered when said kotatsu was overturned, the rug thrown aside to reveal the open trapdoor leading into Chujin's basement. The one where he did his experiments, the one Clover and Martlet delved into, the one she... made her greatest mistake in. "Ceroba..? What... is this?"

But she didn't answer, for the color had drained from her face, going pale as she realized just what Dalv COULD see if he went down there. Chujin's tapes, her near-betrayal of Clover, his experiments with the one behind Kanako's near-death... she wasn't ready yet. She was a step closer to coming clean more fully about what happened with Kanako, but... to her, it felt way too-

"Look... I... get the feeling... you really don't want to talk about this... and... I get it? In a way, at least. But... I can also tell that whatever's... down there, it's slowly eating away at you. So... I do think you shou-"

"You wouldn't forgive me. Nobody would." Ceroba cut him off, the fox looking down at the ground with a half-guilty and half-anguished expression on her face. "I... made a horrible mistake down there. It's why Kanako hasn't come down to greet you yet. It's why I nearly killed Clover. It's... it does feel like it's eroding me, every time I think of it. And... I want to tell everyone, but I don't think they'd ever forgive me if they truly found-"

"Ceroba... if I'm worried about you now, how do you think they feel? They all must be seriously concerned for you, right? That cowboy, I don't know him, but... he seems kind. Surely, you owe it to him to let him know you're okay-" Dalv's voice was calm and slightly detached, the vampire moving closer to gently hold Ceroba's paw. 

"I... I..."

"..."

"..."

"... I'm not okay, Dalv. Not by a long margin." Ceroba's voice was small and on the edge of shattering, her gaze locked toward the trapdoor as she turned to face it. "But... maybe I should... face my fears head on, right?"

"It's the only way. I only came out of the Ruins because I was forced to fight Clover. If it worked for me... maybe you should."

"...Dalv, do you have... an hour? I... want you to watch some stuff. It's... all down there. Please, just... keep an open mind, okay..?"

Flowey was metaphorically beating himself up.

Because HOLY SHIT, what a fucking timeline! He'd always reset after either killing Martlet or after Clover gave up his soul. But just this once, things were different enough that he decided to let the timeline spin out more. And by god, the results were fruitful!

For one, Clover was still alive, and potentially able to do his bidding. The bad news was that he was not only living with Martlet, but now a romantic interest. Scratch interest, they were outright kissing! Multiple times!

And now, as Flowey popped up just beyond the Ketsukane estate, he had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Golly... what a run this is! First Clover runs off to be lovebirds with that damn birdbrain, and now the fox's showing that shut-in... the tapes." He mused, a vine coming up from the ground to violently stamp out a growing tumbleweed, turning it into a pile of thorny branches in seconds.

Like him.

The worst part about this attempt was how... out of hand it had gotten. Martlet, Clover, Ceroba, now even Dalv and Undyne and Starlo, there were too many variables to fine-tune all at once. Too many permutations, and while he'd normally test them all out, something else was bugging him.

"This run's all sorts of messed up, now. But... Clover. He's starting... to remember way too much. He's nearly a expert at Martlet's puzzles, and general navigation and item acquisition. Gosh, I thought I'd reset his ability to talk away, but he's like a chatterbox at full volume! Especially with that fucking bird!"

Flowey felt an anger boil over in him, as once again, Clover had (unintentionally?) managed to best him. And worse, he was getting even better at it. "He's so much kinder to that bird, more carefree with that human cosplayer, more patient with the shut-in... and he's even more cautious around the fox. I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. First Clover becomes better at moving around the Underground... then the items... and he's anticipating dialogue now from the others."

"And... after that OTHER run... all the other times, he's always gone back to Martlet just before the Steamworks. All for a fucking birdhouse which would get resetted away. THAT run should have been the clue he's remembering too much!"

"I... actually can't reset now. Fuck, I CAN'T RESET NOW! He might remember even more, and there's no way I can steer him away from those... memories, or whatever they are! Any more resets... and he may outright distrust me from the start! Even before THE run... he always managed to best me when I tried to take what's rightfully mine."

Flowey's vines unconsciously curled around the gate of the Ketsukane estate, vines gripping tighter and tighter, just like the string of his sanity. "The universe has to be fucking with me! And now, it's getting tired of my shenanigans. Crap, I CAN'T let Clover get away from me this time. I HAVE to play it safe..."

"..."

"... Fuck, LOADs also contribute to persistent memories, don't they? Gosh, I have to do EVERYTHING right this time. There's gotta be a way to send him to King Asgore. There HAS to be! He's getting too untenable, too... knowledgeable."

"..."

"..."

"... Damnit, Clover, you just had to pull that trick in that specific run, didn't you? Just had to taunt me like THAT, and not only did you get away with it in that timeline... but you're about to get away with it here as well!"

"No... no, I'm not letting you win that! I don't care if it was in a different timeline, I'M GOING TO PROVE YOU WRONG."

Crunch!

And the gate had been crumpled into a ball of random metal beams. "...Wonder if that fish can help me?"

"Clovy?" Martlet chirped, looking down at Clover with a serious look. Not exactly what the cowboy expected from their movie night eating birdseed and watching Mettaton's show. "Yeah, love?"

"Can... I show you something later? It's... not something I like to think about, now that you're here. But... I think it might really help us both if you know about it, okay?" Martlet spoke gently, her wing holding Clover closer as she leaned her head against his own. "Of course. Look, I'm really sorry I didn't talk about it with you before writing to Undyne-"

"It's okay, love. I can tell you just... didn't have the words, I guess? But... I have something that I think will make you feel millions of times better!" Martlet's voice was... odd. She spoke with cheerful words, yet there was a odd undercurrent of dread and fear. 

"...Can I see it right now..?"

"...Sure! It'll make me feel better getting this off my chest, anyway!"

Chapter Text

Ceroba was crying.

Dalv was shell-shocked. Not only from the tapes before, but an extra one that even Ceroba didn't know about. 

Chujin... wasn't just good at craftsmanship. He'd apparently made a robot called Axis, and after the massacre, he'd siced it on the human that attacked him and Kanako, and...

...

And then, he took their soul and ran his own, royal-unsanctioned experiments on it. He made the serum that sent Kanako to the lab. And then... there was Ceroba. She only broke down when Chujin mentioned that he didn't want Kanako involved in his work, and the implications were too clear. Chujin may have laid the groundwork... but Ceroba took the final steps. Speaking of, the vampire had a choice, looking at the utterly broken kitsune before him. Granted, there was a part of him fully enraged by what Ceroba's done. She's the reason he'd never get to see Kanako again, and partially the reason why he turned to the Ruins instead of Snowdin.

Yet...

Ceroba simply put too much trust in Chujin. Not that he thought trusting Chujin was a bad idea, but... well, it doesn't matter now.

It's already happened, and now...

Dalv only stepped forward, and pulled Ceroba into a hug, one that grew more tighter and comforting by the second. Her fur felt not too dissimilar to Kanako's, her breaths shaky and irregular as her own arms came around Dalv's cape. "W... why, Dalv?"

"I... I killed my own child, Dalv... and I nearly killed Clover as well... how can you forgive me after all that?" Ceroba sobbed, her tears dampening Dalv's shoulder, her whole body shaking with each new breath. "I..."

"Ceroba, look. I... I won't lie, I'm not... happy with you, but... something isn't adding up. Why... why would you do... why, even after Chujin said not to-"

"She asked me, Dalv! She begged me to do it!! She... oh god, she blamed herself for Chujin's dusting... and she wanted me to do it so his... he wasn't... but..." Ceroba didn't continue, her voice cracking as she fell into another fit of crying, soothed only slightly by Dalv's tight hug. For him, this gave him a good explanation to a lot of things.

"Ceroba... look, you... trusted your family. You just trusted your daughter and your husband, there's... no shame in that. If anything, really... it shows me just how much you loved them. Ceroba, you loved your family so deeply you went along with them at every turn. You loved Chujin enough to continue her work, you loved Kanako enough to even let her sacrifice herself for a chance at a new future. And... even if I disapprove of that when it went to the point you tried to kill Clover... that's still... admirable in a way."

". . . but if I stopped Kanako, she'd still be here. . ."

"Ooookay, I believe it's in that toolbox over there..." Martlet stumbled slightly as she got off the couch, Clover following behind her, a bit nervous. If this was supposed to help Martlet... why was he so apprehensive about it? "It's... something I got from the Royal Scientist... I used to work for her earlier during my time as a Royal Guard. And-"

BANG!!!!

Martlet's front door may as well have phased out of existence, as a overeager Undyne burst in, scaring the everloving shit out of the pair of lovebirds. "ROOKIE!!! WHOEVER YOU ARE?!? LISTEN UP... I... want to talk to you... about something?"

Clover... he had felt fear before when seeing Undyne, but this was different, just like the captain's demeanour. Her bravado had fizzled into something closer to quiet fury, though she also seemed to be heavily cautious. "Let's... sit down, shall we?"

"Sure?" Martlet squeaked out, sitting opposite of Undyne as Clover took up a chair right beside her, much to Undyne's surprise. "Okay, wait, hold on, who even are you?"

"He's... a friend? Yeah, just a friend that I like watching movies with..?" Martlet answered for Clover, him looking up at her, making sure his cowboy hat obscured Undyne's view of his face. "...Yeah?"

"...Oookay. Look, well... I got a... rather concerning report from... someone? It was just a letter at my doorstep." Undyne started, her voice now clearly more threatening as Clover and Martlet instinctively leaned against each other, the latter shaking slightly. "Are you... hiding anything?"

Martlet looked like she wanted to either deflate into nothing or grab Clover and fly out the nonexistent window behind her. But her internal freaking out was tempered when Clover turned slightly, grabbing and gently squeezing her wing. The bird, of course, squeezed Clover's hand in return, feeling a wealth of confidence build up in her. "What are you implying, Captain..?"

Undyne, internally, was taken aback by just how determined the bird seemed now - She's known Martlet to be a bit of a pushover at times, but... whoever her friend was, they brought out the best in her. Such a shame it had to be at the most questionable time, though. "Well... someone... or something? I'm not sure, but the point is... I got... a report. One that claims..."

And Undyne leaned over the table, almost threateningly glaring at Martlet. "You're hiding a human. In fact, I know you are because that disguise isn't fooling me, cowboy!"

Clover had a feeling his hat couldn't fully protect him, but that didn't stop his surprise when he was grabbed by the head, lifted up and over the table, and placed on the floor in the open living room. "HUMAN! Listen here, you may be able to fool Martlet, but you can't fool me!"

"Wait, hold-" Clover tried to explain, before Undyne grabbed him once again, throwing him out the door with surprising accuracy. The cowboy landed roughly in the snow, wind knocked out of him as he stood up and tried to regain his breath and brush off the snow that now clung to his body. "Undyne, please, just-"

"NOPE! I'm not letting you trick me! I can't believe you managed to trick one of my rookies... even if they're really bad at their job. ANYWAY, it doesn't matter! HERE I COME!!" Undyne yelled, materializing a spear in her arms as she charged Clover instantly. The kid, meanwhile, instantly braced his body and SOUL for the inevitable hit of Undyne's spear-

CRASH

"STOP!!!"

"OW! DID YOU JUST THROW A TOOLBOX AT ME?!"

When Clover opened his eyes, be was more than a bit surprised to see Undyne at the side, looking furious with rage at Martlet, who herself seemed shocked by what she'd just done, wings slightly shaking even with a determined glint in her eyes. She'd braced her leg back, and looked like she was on the verge of charging Undyne herself. Either way, Clover instantly ran to her side, Martlet glaring at Undyne. "You aren't hurting him, Undyne! I'm not gonna let you!"

Clover had a brilliant smile on his face, pride booming in his SOUL as Martlet finally stood up for herself... and him. He knew she was strong before this, but it warmed his heart to see her finally spread her wings. "Martlet..."

"MARTLET!" Undyne yelled, brushing snow off herself as she stood up once again, summoning another blue spear in her hands, which were slightly shaking from barely-contained rage. "THIS IS TREASON AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS! WE NEED THIS HUMAN'S SOUL TO SHATTER THE BARRIER-"

"UNDYNE, HE'S WAITING!!!" Martlet squawked with anger, getting in front of Clover protectively, wings already grabbing her mallet tightly. Her face was one of determination, though there was also a hint of despair in her eyes. "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM YET!"

"WHAT... WHAT?!" Undyne's voice transitioned fury to half-confusion, her grip on the spear loosening. "What do you mean?! What's he waiting for?!"

"He's... he's waiting for another human to fall... and he's... when that human dies, he's... going..." Martlet's anger also faded, her voice growing quieter and more distant Her breath became shaky, her voice emotional, and she couldn't even look anywhere else but the ground. "I... just wanted more time with him..."

"Martlet..." Clover stepped out from behind her, gently tugging on the bird's wing to get her attention, not exactly heeding the (now-tempered) death glare from Undyne. "Martlet... I..."

"YOU!" Undyne yelled, having a inquisitive look on her face as she commanded the attention of Clover specifically. She seemed to have a knowing look on her face, like she had a theory that she was putting to the test. "What's... your name?"

"Clover, ma'am."

"..."

"..."

"...you're the one that wrote the letter, aren't you?"

Chapter Text

"Kid... no, Clover... I... may have misjudged the situation slightly. 'Cause... I don't think you could have written that letter without being sincere." Undyne relented, looking down as she was defeated without a single hit on Clover's end. "You... really care that much about Martlet, don't you?"

"That's why you came to her back at that puzzle, right?" Clover asked, stepping toward Undyne, Martlet's own caution evaporating as the tensions coalesced into reflective contemplation. "I... asked a hard question, didn't I?"

"First time I've cried in years was when I read that letter. You... asked the questions nobody else wanted to." Undyne breathed out, looking up at Clover with a half-smile. "Look, now that I'm here... you saw Martlet whack me with a toolbox, right? You gotta trust in the rookie - I trained her, after all, right?!"

"Yes, ma'am!! Your training was... VERY... in-depth. And exhausting, but... Clover, I... I wish I knew just how much you worried about me..." Martlet found her voice, the bird using wind magic to dash to Clover's side, before sweeping him off his feet and pulling him into a tight hug, her wings like a feathery cocoon around his own form. Her breath grew emotional, her eyes growing wet with love as she held him tighter. "Oh, Clover... what'd I do to deserve someone like you? I'm so sorry I made you worry for me like this..."

"..."

"..."

"...No... Undyne's right. I just have to... trust you. You're the most amazing Royal Guard I've ever met, Martlet. I... can't keep going beside you forever, can I? Especially not... with the plan." Clover was crying, holding Martlet close as she in turn sobbed into Clover's shoulder. The bird was heartbroken by the fear she unintentionally caused Clover, but... if she tried her hardest, she might always be able to come back to Clover... until the time came.

"What? Sorry to interrupt the moment, but... what plan?" Undyne's voice cut through the silence, taking on a gentler but still harsh tone as she looked up at the pair. Clover motioned for Martlet to let him go, and he landed on the snowy ground, turning to face the captain, the one that nearly killed him.

"Well... I'm the 6th human to fall down here. My plan with Martlet and some other friends was to wait until the 7th human fell down... made sure they got to King Asgore and didn't run off on a killing spree... then I'd go and... let the King take my soul to break the Barrier. I just... wanted more time with Martlet, and I can't bear to let the monsters be trapped down here longer than need be."

Martlet looked like she was about to burst into another round of both sad and happy tears at Clover's repeating of the plan, the fear of losing her partner warring with the gratitude and admiration of Clover's plan. Undyne, meanwhile, looked entirely grateful, a hint of admiration in her eyes as she knelt down and gingerly tilted Clover's cowboy hat up. "Clover... Kid, if you weren't a human... I think you would have earned yourself a spot on the Royal Guard right then and there. I don't see much of that serious commitment and dedication in many monsters... and I somehow know you mean every bit of it."

"But... There's something... I think you should know. Have you... read the plaques in Waterfall?" Undyne perked up slightly, grimacing as Clover shook his head, Martlet responding for him. "We just sailed through, that's the closest we've ever been to it... the gems were really nice, and-"

"Kid... King Asgore, I imagine you know about him. The human SOULs aren't JUST meant to break the Barrier. What you don't know is that... after it's broken, he'll absorb the 7 human souls... and turn into a GOD. He's fated to wage war against humanity again, and with that power... it's likely he could win." Undyne explained, Clover's face paling slightly with each word, though his look remained solemn. Martlet's beak dropped open in shock, only letting out a strangled squawk before regaining her voice. "WHAT?! B-but surely every human doesn't deserve to die!"

"...Do... do you want to know why that ACTUALLY scares me? Because it's... not for the reason you think."

"Umm... go on?"

"I don't completely disagree."

It had been a long while, before Ceroba finished crying, letting go of Dalv as she knelt at the (now re-righted) kotatsu. Starlo had also shown up halfway, sitting opposite to Dalv as they both looked at her. "Well... there you go. That's my life story, complete with the list of mistakes I've made."

"You never realize how much you have until you no longer have it..." Dalv mused, his expression downcast as he thought about Kanako. Starlo also seemed to be in deep contemplation, though for a different reason. "Hol' up a second. Kanako's apparently laid up in that Royal Lab, with other monsters that have fallen down? And... the Royal Scientist hasn't responded to any queries?"

"Completely silent. Pleas, bribes, death threats, they've all gone unanswered." Ceroba responded quietly, Dalv looking up at that last item on the list of letter she's sent. "To be fair to the royal scientist... maybe death threats aren't very productive?"

"Aren't productive my ass! NOTHING ELSE has been productive! She hasn't said a peep since that PSA for fallen monsters was sent out!!" Ceroba suddenly yelled, her paws shaking in anguished exhaustion, as she gently slammed the kotatsu. Both the vampire and sheriff jumped slightly, but the latter felt a slight plan hatching. "You know... what if we just-"

"Star, this is the Royal Scientist, they've probably got some odd laser technology that'll dust us in seconds." Ceroba shot the idea down instantly, looking up at him. "Besides, we're only three, we couldn't do this alone."

"Then let's recruit Clover and Feathers! Martlet was her name, right? But the point is, we'll have a human, a Royal Guard, and YOU on the same team!" Starlo explained, hands moving like he was gesturing to a great plan laid on the kotatsu. Dalv perked up, thinking about it. "From what I've heard from Clover... you're quite proficient in magic. I'd also consider myself skilled... and Starlo and Clover both have physical weapons. Martlet's probably got some skill as a Royal Guard. So... it just might be possible."

"But... after everything I've done... you'd all willingly do this for me?" Ceroba questioned, even though she felt a spark of determination building up in her, growing exponentially. Dalv and Starlo nodded, eyes flickering with a growing sense of bravery and pride. "Of course I would, Ceroba. You haven't been wrong about a lot of things, and you've owned up to when you have made mistakes. If you say Kanako's in the lab... then she's in the lab."

"If Kanako's in the Lab... the rest of the fallen monsters probably are as well. We could set them all free, and also get answers from the Royal Scientist. If Clover helps... maybe he won't have to hide from the King." Dalv mused, eyes widening as realization hit all three of them. "I'll mail myself to Snowdin, we gotta grab Clover and Feathers for this!!"

"Wait up, Star! Hold on, we gotta plan more!" Ceroba yelled, zooming past the door as Dalv sprinted to keep up with them. "Slow down, it's really hard to run in a cloak!"

"Clover... HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT!"

"Golly, he really wants justice for Monsterkind, doesn't he..? I can't believe he's 'not opposed' to the idea of waging war against the Surface!"

"Honestly, a few more tweaks, and I might be able to get him to see... it's kill or be killed."

"That cowboy must really hate humans that much if he's half-okay with letting dad fluffybuns take his soul a..."

"... huh... that's what... no, wait..."

"... it's..."

". . . I t   c a n ' t   b e ."

Chapter Text

And in the dining room of Martlet's house sat Undyne, the bird herself, and Clover, the latter two sharing a bowl of birdseed happily, having offered to have 'lunch' with the Royal Guard Captain.

...She just settled for some water.

"Sho Clover-" Martlet started to speak, forgetting her beak was packed with birdseed, which she instantly swallowed before continuing. "So... Look, you're obviously entitled to your own opinions, but... I don't think humans usually advocate for the destruction of their own kind?"

"Kid... I get the feeling we're going to hear some terrible things about humanity. But... how can they get worse after locking us down here for centuries?" Undyne looked up, morbid curiosity warring with fear as she fidgeted with her spear, leaning onto the table. Clover, for his part, had THAT expression - shadow obscuring his eyes, and a generally downcast demeanour as he cleared his throat before speaking. "Oh believe me, humans always find a way to make things worse."

"Well, surely they can't be that-" Martlet's cheerful demeanour was instantly cut off the second Clover looked at her.

"Love... and Undyne, sorry, but... do you know what nuclear weapons are?" Clover's voice was threatening, his jaw clenched as he gripped the table hard enough that his knuckles turn white. "Because fun fact, humans can't coexist with each other peacefully! They form these complicated tribes called nations, and some of them have weapons capable of decimating the Surface hundreds of times over! We could have used the material in nuclear weapons for clean electricity or other technological advancements... but no, we have to aim those weapons at eachother..."

Martlet's face had paled, and Undyne's eyes had widened with a mix of fury and disbelief. "Wait, wait... so even if these humans had these nuclear weapons, why hasn't one nation destroyed another."

"Something called Mutually Assured Destruction. The enemy may also have nukes as well, and even if you destroy them, they can still destroy you in return." Clover's teeth ground hard together, his whole body slightly trembling with rage. "OH, and these nations hoard things for themselves! Half the Surface lives in poverty so the other half can prosper! And that's not even considering how human activity is rapidly destroying the natural beauty of the Surface! Or the cherry-picked rules, or the continental divides, or even the World Wars! I don't think I can emphasize enough how much humanity-"

"Clover!"

"Do you have any idea how many times humans have murdered each other mercilessly in history? How many problems remain unsolved because those far away would rather ignore them than fix them? The sheer greed-"

"Clover..."

"AND THE MOST IRRITATING PART OF IT ALL... HUMANS... can very easily delude themselves, disregarding facts and reason for emotions. That's not always a bad thing, but it is when you weaponize it to enforce your beliefs on others, and that's happened so many times before I came down here that-"

"C l o v e r . . ."

Clover's tirade was cutoff when he heard Martlet's strangled call of his name, looking up to see her crying into her wing, fear overtaking her as she thought about everything Clover had described in way too great detail. "Ohmygod Martlet!"

In a instant, Clover had pulled Martlet into a tight hug, her wrapping his wings around him as she buried her face into his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably as Clover soothed her with circles on her back plumage. His own anger and rage had evaporated, as he lent Martlet his shoulder to cry on, as he held her close. "Martlet, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have scared you like that, I should have stopped when you asked me to the first time... it'll be okay, they won't be able to hurt us."

"Kid... holy hell. I've... I'd call you out for lying, but... Alphys did mention something called World War II as being a vital moment of human history. You're telling the truth, I can see it in your eyes. Honestly, humans sound like they're going to build their own end. Hell, they've done so already, according to you." Undyne groaned into her arms, thinking. "Even if... King Asgore absorbs the 7 human souls... would he even be able to beat humanity?"

"I'm more worried that humanity will destroy the Surface trying to stop him. "

"Damnit, I should have heeded your warning about grabbing a coat. But then the cowboy hat wouldnt've fit!" Starlo yelled upon picking himself up from the snow and brushing his poncho off. Ceroba seemed much more comfortable, as was Dalv as he helped Starlo up. Ceroba, meanwhile, looked at the cowboy with a smirk on her muzzle. "Well, if you DID heed my warning, you wouldn't be freezing right now!"

"Well... either way, we should hurry! Martlet's home should be just past the checkpoint, and she and Clover might be out!" Dalv yelled, as Starlo and Ceroba picked up their pace as they sighted Martlet's sentry station, completely empty. "Oh, they're out alright. She's probably either out on patrol with Clover or at home with him."

"Huh? She takes Clover out on patrol? I mean, I doubt Clover would be happy being cooped up at her place, but... what if another Royal Guard sees him?" Ceroba's concern was outweighed by the glee on Starlo's face, as he laughed loudly. "Well, I'll be damned! Even with a Royal Guard, he's an excellent deputy! Besides, I'm sure Feathers can hold her own."

"Well, the two have been inseparable recently. Too bad Clover's due to stay with you two in a few days. Two weeks away from Martlet, it'll probably drive him mad." Dalv continued walking past Martlet's sentry station, gesturing to the river a bit ahead. "That's the farthest I've gone from the Ruins. But I think her house should be... across a bridge."

"So, let's go! Recruit him and Feathers, and we'll swing by Hotland and break into the lab! I hope we won't need to hurt Alphys, Clover'd probably object to that!" Starlo joked, as Ceroba gave him a look of mild disapproval. "Easier said than done. We'll have to discuss more with Clover and Martlet, but... I believe in us."

"The pair are pretty good partners, honestly. I think they could take anything on together." Dalv thought out loud, sighting the bridge, as well as the roof of Martlet's house. "Over there, that should be it!"

"Honestly, sounds like they're pretty wrapped up in eachother. Hope my deputy doesn't miss her too much." Starlo could now see the house itself, and eagerly ran up to the door, giving it a few hard knocks. After a bit, the door was opened... and Dalv and Ceroba were shocked to see Undyne.

"Hey! Who are you three?"

"Where. Is. Clover?" Ceroba asked, glaring at Undyne with a enraged expression. For the first time in a while, Undyne felt real fear upon seeing the fox look like she was about to murder her on the spot. In fact, Ceroba instantly summoned her staff, pointing it right at Undyne. After all, not only was the captain of the Royal Guard the biggest threat to Clover's life aside from Asgore... but Undyne's also a Royal Guard not in the fold - she was probably as bad as the king himself.

"TELL ME BEFORE I INCINERATE YOU, AND THEN INCINERATE YOUR DUST!"

Chapter Text

Out of all the things Clover and Martlet thought could occur... having Dalv, Ceroba, and Starlo all show up at their home wasn't one of them. Especially not having to intervene to make sure Undyne or Ceroba didn't hurt or dust eachother. The cowboy had moved to hop down, but Martlet was already one step ahead with magic, quite literally. "OHMYGOD- Ceroba! Undyne!! Calm down! I- Undyne's okay with Clover being alive!!"

"Wait, what?" Ceroba froze up, looking over Undyne's shoulder to Martlet. "She's the captain of the Royal Guard. Isn't it her job to murder every human they find?"

"NO??? My job is to protect the Underground?? Besides, the kid told me about the plan already. For Martlet... we can put his death on hold. He's also pretty virtuous, honestly. Giving up his soul? That's the kind of dedication and commitment I want in the Royal Guard." Undyne's incredulity shifted along with Ceroba's anger, which had slowly simmered. "Alright. I apologize... I'm not exactly... fond of anything relating to the royals."

"That reminds me... can we come in? Don't worry, we're friends of Clover as well. We have something big to discuss." Dalv stepped forward, as Undyne yielded, letting the three in. "What happened to the door?"

"Undyne... kicked it out of existence? I think?" answered a voice that made all three of the entering monsters perk up with glee.

"Clover..? Clover!"

"Deputy!"

"Hey, Clover."

"I... don't have the chairs for this... hold on, I..." Martlet trailed off, trying to lift her couch using raw strength before seeking assistance in the form of magic and Clover. "Uhhh... can someone help-"

"Hold on-" Clover cut himself off as with their combined strength, they awkwardly maneuvered the couch right next to the dining room table. Not exactly an easy movement, but still... now everyone had a place to sit. As such, Ceroba, Dalv, and Starlo took the couch, Undyne took the right side, and Clover and Martlet sat together on one of the short ends. "So... I get the feeling you three didn't just drop in together. I mean, I'm overjoyed to see you all again, but..."

"Well, you ain't wrong about that one. Y'see... Ceroba's confessed some stuff... and we think Kanako may be in the Lab." Starlo explained, Ceroba gaining a look of pure guilt on her face as Undyne leaned in, intrigued. "Wait, the Royal Lab? Why'd she be there?"

"It's... a very long story. Basically, my husband got his hands on a human soul, and made some serum with it before he dusted. He asked me to continue his work, and... I... made a horrible mistake. I just trusted her judgement too much. My child, Kanako, ended up falling down, and I sent her to the Lab when this came out." Ceroba explained, looking away as she placed a opened letter on the table, the PSA the Royal Lab had sent out for fallen-down monsters. "Wait... Actually, I remember seeing this! Yeah, Alphys gave it to me personally! But... what's the issue, EXACTLY?"

"Alphys has gone radio silent about it. She's stonewalled all communications about the monsters in the lab. Ceroba's mailed letter after letter, and there's been no response." Dalv answered, examining the PSA. "This was sent out quite a long time ago, and Ceroba deserves to know the status of Kanako. Even if she dusted, their families should know, should they not?"

Martlet, meanwhile, seemed to pale, her eyes widening as she commanded the attention of the table, and began recalling...

"Woah... this place gives me the creeps!" The bird's eyes roamed over every tile of the lab floor, more than a bit freaked out as she stayed close to the back wall, slowly delving deeper into the labyrinth. "Humans... there's gotta be something in here..."

Blip!

"AAAAAAAHHH!!" Martlet squawked, jumping slightly as the screen on the wall flicked on, green text drawing her attention as the flickering monitor shone brighter. "You... what do you say... it's probably important if you're going to scare me about it..."

"..."

"...huh?"

"...SOUL experiments..? This is a lab, but... this... doesn't feel right..." The bird's face paled, looking sufficiently unnerved as she trudged forward, more screens lighting up, all of which dictated various experiment logs and other information she couldn't make sense of. That, and... "...Why is the writing style so inconsistent in these..?"

Martlet stopped, looking around as she'd come into a sort of foyer, with a large door in the center, a vending machine to the side, and two branching paths. "Uhh... what... do you sell?"

"..."

"Oh sweet, Poptato Chisps!!" Martlet squealed, being easily distracted as she snagged a few, stuffing them aside as she turned to the path on the left. The hallways seemed to get narrower, more claustrophobic as she delved deeper, and deeper, eventually coming into a room with three surgery tables, three sinks, two regular tables, and a door to somewhere deeper into the lab. The whole place was covered in a thin layer of dust, and the bird cringed to think about whether it was natural or...

...

"There's gotta be... something here, right?" Martlet searched the dozens of rows of test tubes, not noticing the three sinks turning on slowly, their handles silent as drips of water became silent streams going down the drain. But for one, the 'water' was a pure white, and flowed much, much, much slower. The substance filled the sink and-

"Huh..?" Martlet gasped, her beak dropping open as a smile formed on the amalgamation, before it rapidly reformed into... something. A white mass, smiles all over it, as it started to approach the now freaking out bird. "OHMYGOD WHO ARE YOU?!?!"

"WAIT, WE CAN TALK-" Martlet screamed, backing herself into a corner as her cell phone started ringing. "NONONONO NOW'S NOT THE-"

"Hey! Hey! Wait! I brought you all food, okay?!?!" A familiar voice cut through, the amalgamate turning and racing past the now-present Dr. Alphys, who looked at Martlet with a horrified expression. "Martlet! Ohmygosh are you okay?! You didn't let them make physical contact, right-"

"Alphys... who... was that?" Martlet cut through with a simple question, as she quickly corrected herself. "Who... were THEY?"

Alphys, for his part, looked dejected beyond all belief, staring down at the floor. "I've made a horrible mistake, Martlet. Too many. I'm trying to fix them, but... look, I don't want you getting involved for your own safety, okay?"

"Why'd you even come down here?"

"I... was looking for something. I didn't think I'd have it in me to take out a human, and... I just wanted something."

"..."

"..."

"...I... might have something you could use..."

"...What..?" Undyne breathed out, leaning over the table with a pale look of horror, one that mirrored the five others at the table, who were completely speechless. "That... that can't be..."

"I... believe Martlet." Clover spoke up, looking up at his partner as he held her wing. "Plus... monster food doesn't actually go through you, so... why would you need a bathroom?"

"That's... a good point." Starlo groaned into his hands, holding his head as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of what he just heard. "But... what attacked Martlet down there? Coming out of the sink?"

"...There's only one way to find out, and prove or disprove Martlet's story." Ceroba looked up, her eyes glossed over with determination as she leaned over the table. Dalv got the hint as well, feeling a similar burst of courage rise in him. "I'm in. We need to uncover the truth behind this. Quickly. But still... how are we actually going to get in?"

"Do you all actually plan to hurt Alphys or... anyone else there?" Undyne's voice cut through, authority ringing out as everyone addressed her. There were a lot of answers to that question, and everyone else undoubtedly had varying opinions. Dalv and Starlo looked at Ceroba, as Martlet and Clover shared a glance as well. Eventually, Clover cleared his throat, looking up at Undyne with determination.

"As long as she doesn't threaten us."

Undyne looked at the cowboy, a slight grin growing on her face before disappearing, replaced by a contemplative expression. Alphys was her dear friend, and as much as Undyne didn't want to invade her privacy or the lab... she was still concerned about the lizard. 

"I'm in."

Chapter Text

Clover... felt deja-vu.

He hadn't been in Waterfall before (the raft ride didn't count), but he still felt a sense of familiarity with the area. The perpetually soggy ground, the mine shafts, the shining rocks above mimicking real stars, and the sound of Undyne walking behind him.

...Along with Martlet, Starlo, Ceroba, and Dalv, following behind eachother like a conga line. Though, the tension definitely didn't fit the concept. As Clover glanced behind him to let everyone catch up, he saw Dalv strolling back to his position, Ceroba looking like she could circumnavigate the Underground with Undyne, and a half-tired Starlo and Martlet. "Hey, are you two okay?"

"The lab's more important." Martlet dodged the question, though her exhausted posture told Clover everything he needed to know. "No, your well-being is just as important."

"Rookie, come on! I thought I taught you better than this!" Undyne yelled, scaring Martlet to attention as Clover gave the fish a mildly disapproving look. Ceroba stepped between the two, taking Martlet's place as the mediator. "Well... I bet she was used to flying everywhere."

"I am, yeah. I'm only walking because I don't want to abandon Clover. That and it's better if we stick together." Martlet confided, as Starlo and Dalv moved a few paces ahead, examining an ancient plaque on the wall. Clover moved to get a better look, staying near everyone as he beg-

Woshua shuffles up.

Clover felt his SOUL be yanked out of his body - he hadn't actually been engaged in a battle for quite a while, the closest one being Undyne trying to kill him. Speaking of-

"CLOVER!"

"Clover?!"

"Clover!"

"Huh?"

"HEY!"

The rest of the group gathered behind him, Martlet, Dalv, and Ceroba leading the charge as they lent their magic to aid Clover, Starlo and Undyne trying to do the same. The battle music was a standard area, and Clover had a feeling he'd be hearing it a LOT more. Either way, he was still a true pacifist and paragon of justice, so he looked into ACTing:

* Check

* Touch

* Joke

* M-Action

* D-Action

* C-Action

* S-Action

* U-Action

For the first time, Clover had to actually look down at the options, half of them being asking the others to act. And the cowboy realized the opportunity he had, both to see what the others would do, and to better understand this monster's attack patterns. So, he began down the list, eager to encourage his friends.

* M-Action

"Hey! It's okay, being clean is a... nice thing! But I think we're already good, can we go please..?" Martlet started, the volume of her voice linked to her now rapidly-dropping confidence as Woshua seemed to not be receptive to her words. Clover braces himself and prepared to dodge bullets an-

Snap! Crackle!

Swoosh!

Ding!

Bang!

Dash!

Clover'd nearly forgotten that Martlet, Dalv, and Ceroba could aid his SOUL with magic, but all three together quickly became complex as Clover was showered with temporary invincibility, speed, and a slight heal at the end of every turn. He wasn't sure what Starlo and Undyne aided him with, but the latter's became clear when a bullet aimed right for his SOUL was destroyed by a random spear that came out of nowhere, flying right past his soul and nullifying the dangerous object with a burst of magic. Of course, that didn't stop another from passing through him from Ceroba's invincibility, and one other bullet put him at 18/20 HP.

"CLOVER!!" He heard someone shout from behind him, fairly certain it was Martlet. But right now, he had to focus on dodging.

Starlo's ability became very clear when a small sheriff's badge appeared in the bullet box, giving him a visual cue as to where to move. It wasn't perfect, and while Clover didn't need it considering the four other buffs from his allies, he still appreciated it. Either way, the turn ended with no incident, leaving Clover with... quite a few options, as Dalv's heal brought him up to 19/20.

* D-Action

"Me? Uh... Hey, it's okay to be a LITTLE dirty from time to time! I've lived in the Ruins for a long while, and my cloak's still purple!" Dalv joked with a smile, watching as Woshua stared at him... before running away.

And after Clover got his usual gold and lack of EXP, he was tackled by a overly concerned Martlet, who looked him over quickly, unintentionally shoving him into her abdomen as she tried to check his back. "Heyareyouokaydoyouneedtobehealed?!"

"AAaaa- L- Martlet! I promise you, I'm okay!" Clover's voice was muffled from having his face buried in Martlet's plumage, but that didn't stop the chuckles from the others reaching his ears as Martlet eventually released him. "Sorry- It's just that I really don't wanna see you get hurt now, okay?"

"I know, and I really appreciate you for that. But I promise, I've been closer to death, okay?" Clover gently held her wing, rubbing his thumb along the feathers, and was filled with love when Martlet squeezed his hand in return.

"What I'm more worried about is why monsters are attackin' Clover. Don't they know a deputy when they see one? Plus, we're all here as well!" Starlo questioned, his words sending Clover into contemplation as Ceroba spoke up as well. "This happened to me in the Steamworks as well, actually... but I think that was just because they were robots."

"No, it happened to me as well in the Dunes. Monsters just kept encountering Clover and it got really worrying at some points." Martlet added on, Undyne looking up at her with a mix of curiosity and disapproval. "Wait, you didn't report Clover to me? Rookie, that's literally the core directive of y-"

"Yeah, well, I'd be crying in bed if I did! Would you have believed Clover was a good person?!" Martlet shouted back, her sudden defensiveness and courage not going unnoticed. "Oh by the way, what the hell, Undyne! You lied to us! You lied to ALL of the Royal Guard!"

To say Undyne was taken aback was a understatement - never had she seen Martlet so worked up in her life, showing such dedication and integrity. And while she liked it, she also didn't like being accused of lying as well. Plus, she didn't even know what Martlet was referring to. "Rookie, what do you mean? What have I lied about?"

"That ALL humans are dangerous. Clover hasn't hurt a soul since he came down here! He's one of the kindest people I've ever met! And yet, you paint them all out to be evil, like they'd go on a killing spree! There's probably been kind humans even before Clover!" Martlet explained, rage building in her at the idea of Clover being struck down simply because he was human.

Everyone who wasn't Undyne looked on in shock at Martlet's outburst, watching as the Captain's expression fell, along with Clover's, for some reason. "Martlet..."

The silence was cut off by Dalv, who stepped forward between the two, as Clover watched him clear his throat. "Can I... tell you a story? I think it might be better if you hear it."

"Uh... sure, Dalv! Go ahead!" Martlet stepped back, the group watching him as he began to recite his tale. "This didn't happen... too too long ago. Me and this fox named Kanako were in Snowdin when..."

"Oh. My. God."

"That's... a human! And they're... with the Captain! And a bird! And a kitsune! And a vampire! And... whoever that is?"

"I... gotta tell King Asgore, surely they're escorting him to New Home."

"A-at least he seems peaceful..."

"He... seems peaceful..."

"..."

"..."

"...Wait... Oh my god, I need to check on them, I can't believe I lost track of time!!!"

"..."

"...why can't I fix my mistake..?"

Chapter Text

The room was silent. Undyne and Star were standing there in complete shock, mouths agape as they struggled to process what Dalv just told them. Speaking of, Dalv looked downcast, along with Ceroba as they couldn't meet Martlet's look, who seemed to just be in deep contemplation.

"I... told this again because... Martlet, SOME humans are still dangerous. The Snowdin Massacre still... happened. And don't get me wrong, Clover taught me not ALL humans are dangerous. But... they're a spectrum."

"You can't assume one thing about all of them."

"I... Dalv... I might've... made that mistake. I was a bit too quick to let humanity off the hook completely. But the point still sorta stands, it's wrong to judge humanity as a whole, like you said!" Martlet relented, refocusing her point as she looked at Undyne, who now seemed to be thinking. When the bird approached the fish, they were surprised to see her looking deeply... guilty. "Rookie... Dalv... when I trained the Royal Guard to kill all humans, I promise you from the bottom of my SOUL, it wasn't because of malice. As much as I hated humanity... even I knew there HAD to be a few kind ones out there."

"The only reason that policy's in place is because... we need human SOULs to break the barrier." Undyne finished, a look of guilt flashing on all the monsters faces as they thought of that shimmering wall that trapped them down here. Starlo slightly scared Clover as he showed up from behind, placing a comforting hand on Undyne's shoulder. "Look, Captain, I'm a sheriff in the Dunes. Even if it isn't the most serious job, there's hard decisions you need to make, and you'll have to live with them forever. Eventually... I don't think you can ever be faulted for making an impossible choice."

"Star, you put Clover into the Trolley Problem." Ceroba bluntly added, eliciting a small laugh from the whole group as a smile grew on her muzzle. "Undyne... Don't get me wrong, I still hate the one you work for and his Royal Scientist... but you might be alright in my opinion."

Clover, meanwhile, looked up at the group, a massive grin on his face as he drew their attention.

"Guys... there's one last person I think we should ask about humans."

"Let's go save 'em."

"Well... the Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap isn't on this side. Guess we'll have to go the long way around." Undyne explained, gesturing to a path back and to the right.

"Why can't we just call it over?" Clover asked aloud, staring at the Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap on the other side of the disproportionately small gap.

"It's mean to make them make unnecessary trips." Ceroba cut in, already leading with Martlet as they crossed the bridge into the wetter parts of Waterfall, glowing blue rivers surrounding them. Glowing grass sprawled out in front of the group as a network or bridges laid before them. Of course, Star and Martlet got distracted admiring the gems, leaving Dalv and Clover to pave the way forward... and to the right.

"Huh, this is a long path forward... where..." Dalv trailed off, walking forward with Clover as Ceroba and Undyne were ran point between the determined pair and the distracted monsters. The vampire and cowboy came up to a patch of grass surrounded by four mushrooms, and a Echo Flower in the back corner. "Hang on, I see something pink poking out of the grass-"

Clover moved in, parting the grass to see... ballet shoes. Pink ballet shoes covered in... dust. From where Dalv was, he couldn't see what the cowboy had found, and only saw Clover crouch as he stared at the shoes disapprovingly. "Clover?"

"..."

"Clover? Hello?"

"..."

"..."

"Hey... who... what human came down here in a ballerina outfit..?" Clover asked, their voice restrained as if they were trying to hold their entire being back. Dalv froze, horrific memories flooding back of a girl in a tutu dusting monsters that ran across her. A girl in a pink tutu... in pink ballerina shoes. "...Clover..?"

"...How'd these end up here?" Clover asked, voice low and more of a growl as Dalv finally moved to his side, and nearly crumbled seeing the dusty ballet shoes. "What...? That happened in Lower Snowdin... and this is Waterfall? How could they..?"

"I... I don't get it. Did she not even try SPARing? Why didn't it occur to her that you didn't need to kill down here?" Clover asked, his voice starting to grow in volume and rage. "This... this is why I said... this was why I..."

"Clover? Why are you yelling?" Ceroba asked, having caught up with them along with Undyne. "Kid, what's... oh. I see."

Undyne's face paled as she studied the ballet shoes Clover was nearly crushing in his grip, Ceroba's eyes widening in realization. "This was... the one behind what happened in Snowdin, wasn't it? Their SOUL color was... Integrity, if I remember correctly."

"Yep. Clearly, she believed in slaughter until the end." Clover seemed uncompromising as he shook the shoe, watching dust fall from it, his growing rage falling into a low, restrained growl. "This... this dust used to be monsters. With families and livelihoods and communities. I... don't think I could ever forgive them. I... just can't see why they'd do something so horrible to so many people. Am... I missing something?"

"Check that Echo Flower, it might shed some light." Ceroba suggested, Dalv walking to the Echo Flower, gently poking it to incite it's innate ability to record the past:

"Check that Echo Flower, it might shed some light." The flower replayed Ceroba's voice perfectly, much to the group's dismay. Clover's eyes flickered with recognition, being reminded of a certain OTHER talking flower. Starlo and Martlet had come up now, Martlet looking horrified seeing the ballet shoes, as Starlo knelt down to get a better look. "What'cha find, deputy? Those are some neat shoes! But why are you lookin' so pissed off? I-"

Clover didn't hesitate to sidestep Starlo, aim toward the water, and throw the ballet shoes as far as he could, watching them soar off into the distance, either landing in some unseen corner or in the bottom of the river. Starlo was the only one who seemed completely surprised, the others showing varying levels of disapproval mixed with understanding. "Deputy, why'd ya-"

"Star. Don't. It's... not a light topic." Ceroba cut him off, giving him a look that basically ordered him to remain silent. Starlo complied, tilting his hat as he noticed the Echo Flower. "Ooh, what's this?"

"Ooh, what's this?" This time, the flower repeated his voice without prompt, making the sheriff gleam with pride. "Cool! I really gotta go farther into the Underground more often..."

"Well... I'd rather not remain here longer than need be. We should continue forward." Dalv suggested, his voice surprisingly angry as they all started walking back the way they came, eager to continue the mission.

"..."

"..."

"Finally!" Flowey quietly shouted as the group finally turned away and was a safe distance from the sea grass and flower. "Those morons... like they're gonna be able to do anything at the Lab. But that's not why I'm here..."

Flowey turned his attention to the Echo Flower, summoning a thorned vine to come up and puncture it at just the right place, angle, depth, and curve. He'd done this trick a hundred times, a way to get the Echo Flower to repeat a past message. One wrong move, though, and that's a dead Echo Flower. "Come on... what'd you actually say..?"

"Check that Echo Flower, it might shed some light."

"Nope..."

"Clover?"

"Earlier..."

"..."

"...Huh. That's as far back as I can go. Alright, spill your secrets, weed." Flowey decided, hitting the Echo Flower hard as it began to recite the contained message.

"Someone... please, help me... I don't wanna die down here..." A unfamiliar voice begged, one that sounded very fearful, but was still distinctly that of "a human's voice?"

"HUMAN. YOU HAVE MURDERED SEVERAL MONSTERS. PLEASE STAND STILL." A robotic voice ordered, one Flowey instantly recognized as Axis, his eyes widening with intrigue - the secret tape Clover didn't find this run wasn't nearly as in-depth as this.

"NO!! Please, I'm sorry, I was scared!! I didn't know what I was doing, I just want to go back!!" The human voice pled, the sound being drowned out by the charging of a ball of pure energy - probably one of Axis's attacks, if Flowey had to guess. "What... what's that?"

Bang!

"OW! STOP!!"

"NO."

Bang!

"WAIT!!!"

"NO."

Bang!

"Help... someone..."

Bang!

"..."

Bang!

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"AXIS!!! AXIS, ABORT! STOP, END COMMAND, TERMINATE, END..." A panicked voice trailed off, one Flowey recognized as... Chujin.

"YES, CREATOR. THE JOB IS DONE."

". . .O h   m y   g o d . . ."

"CREATOR?"

". . .W h a t   h a v e   I   d o n e ?"