Chapter Text
~-~Clover~-~
They recall long nights of hugging their knees to their chest, rocking themself back and forth. Trying to provide comfort for themself, because they knew there was nobody else to provide it. They recall closing their eyes, so they didn't ever have to know how alone they were as they hummed a familiar lullaby, wondering where they belonged. Wondering where that person who they could call a mother was. Wondering if anyone would ever love them, and care for them
And now they wonder where she is once again. They wonder where the monster they had come to think of as a mother was, as they crawl through the vents, following after Ceorba, who wanted them dead and didn't even bother to try to hide that fact. They had to take off their hat- it was too small to fit in the tunnel- so they carried it in their mouth instead. There was no way they were ever going to leave their hat behind.
Ceroba came to a halt, before climbing out of the vent, glancing back to see if Clover was still following. They were, unfortunately.
“Can’t say that was fun.” Ceroba commented as she took Clover’s hat, setting it on the ground as she lifted Clover out of the vents, setting them beside her. They snatched their hat off of the ground, glaring at her.
“Could’ve done it myself.” They snapped. “I don’t want your help, and I don’t need it.”
“Let’s just- let’s just be careful from now on, ok?” Ceroba sighed as she led Clover out of the building. Once again, the two of them stepped out of the building, onto a bridge that led over a large pink lake, glowing. Clover wasn’t sure what the pink liquid was, but they made sure not to touch it. As Ceroba dragged them along, a robot appeared. It’s body seemed to be a bucket, and it was holding a mop.
“Seriously? Another robot? Step back, Clover, I'll deal with this.”
Clover watched as Ceroba dodged the robot’s attacks, but she never struck the robot back. She tried to find a peaceful solution, to no avail, so Clover stepped in. They dodged all of the robot’s attacks, until they were close enough. The robot was absolutely disgusting, so they reached out and cleaned the robot. They proceeded to SPARE the foul robot, and collapse to the ground in exhaustion.
“Clover! That was very irresponsible of you… Although I am impressed. You could’ve gotten hurt, or worse.” Ceroba scolded them, offering them her hand. Offering to help them get up? What was her problem?
Clover waved her away, pushing themself off the ground. They didn’t. Want. Her help. Ceroba was their enemy. She kidnapped them, for Angel’s sake. Of course they weren’t accepting her help. “You obviously don’t know how to ACT during a fight. I didn’t expect anything more of *you.* And stop acting like you care about me. You want me dead, remember?”
They pushed past her, towards where the bridge cut off and met the lake. The pink liquid stretched on for what seemed like miles, but probably was a lot less than that. Ceroba came out to meet them, standing beside them. “That’s not true. I want Kanako alive, and this is the only way to get it.” Ceroba reached out to them, setting her hand on their shoulder.
They pushed her away, looking down. They couldn’t look Ceroba in the eye. It was too painful. “That’s where you’re wrong. The right path should never be unjust.” A small chunk of the ground was detached from the main bridge, small enough for Clover to pick it up and throw it, and they did. They watched as it soared through the air, over the lake. Clover watched as it hit the water with a splash, before continuing. “And I doubt a single thing you’ve done today can be considered ‘Just.’ Surely there’s another way? A way for both of us to get what we want?”
“Considering what you want is to live down here, in the Underground, with Martlet. Safely. I don’t think there is another way. Sooner or later, one of the more important monsters would find out you’re here, and Undyne would come marching down to the Wild East, dragging her dogs with her.”
“She’s tried before, and we got out alive. Surely she’s not that bad?” Clover hated how hopeful they sounded. They hated the pitying look Ceroba gave them. They hated it, they hated it, they hated it.
You alright, Clove?
What do you think? I’m just perfectly fine after this- this absolute hell I’ve been through today?
No, but I still wanted to hear it from you.
Whatever. The sooner I get out of here, the better.
“She's horrible. You'd die pretty much instantly.” Ceroba spoke.
Well that sure ain't encouraging.
“...what would happen to Mo- Martlet? If I was caught, I mean.”
“She’d probably be sent down to that prison down in Hotland- oh wait. Hasn't she already been there? And wasn't that all your fault?”
Clover flinched at her words. “Look, that was unjust, it wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for an unfair-”
“And she escaped too. All for you. Humans like you really have a talent for causing chaos and crime, don't they?”
“What do you mean?” They looked up at Ceroba with a skeptical look. She was probably going to make up some random false story to justify her actions or something along those lines.
“Well, hm. The last human to fall down here… they hurt my Kanako.” Her voice turned bitter. “Attacked the monster she was with. Nearly killed him. The vampire boy.” Clover gasped.
That sounds like Dalv…
I think she is talking about Dalv.
Wait a second- literally didn't spend any time with him whatsoever… I feel kinda guilty ‘bout that.
Eh, I doubt he minded.
“Traumatized my little girl. Chujin was furious. He buried himself in his work, and eventually worked himself to the point of death. You know, now that I think about it, that last human is the reason I must do all of this.”
“...how long ago was this? Was it shortly after another human came, or right before one?” They paused, before asking another question. “Were they wearing blue?”
“I think they were. That's what… that's what Kanako told me, at least.”
“...was it light blue, or dark blue?”
“Dark blue, I'm pretty sure. They came shortly after the light blue one.”
Clover couldn't believe what they were hearing. Their sibling. Melody… They hurt people. Innocent children. Families. They're the one who traumatized Dalv.
“...they wouldn't do that.” Clover whispered, but they already knew. “...what- what happened to them afterwards?”
“Nobody knows. Now, we should find a way to get going.”
*Don't start crying, don't start crying, don't start crying, don't- Melody… they aren't coming back, are they?*
You just coming to terms with that?
I already knew they were dead, but…
But it's hard to accept that they're truly gone?
I- I guess that's probably it.
Hey, you were lucky to ever have them at all, right?
“HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE COMFORTING???” They didn't realize they'd spoken aloud until Ceroba gave them a weird look. It made sense, they'd practically shouted.
“Clover? Hey, Clover, it's ok-”
“WHAT ABOUT THIS IS OK? YOU KIDNAPPED ME, YOU REVEALED MY SIBLING IS- was… a murderer. Every single time I find SOMETHING good- ANYTHING good… someone takes it all away.”
Ceroba sighed. “I wish I could comfort you, I really do, but as I am part of the problem, I don't believe I can. Let's just go."
"Well GOOD! I don't want your help anyways, or haven't I been clear?"
Clover could hear her murmur something under her breath, something that sounded like “Let's go save my child.”
~-~Martlet~-~
“Try the second code. Maybe that one will work.” Starlo instructed, causing Martlet to glare at him.
“That was the second code. Be patient, I’ve been working for 10 seconds, cut me some slack.” Martlet tried to put the third code in, but her wing slipped and she hit the wrong button. That was the problem with having wings instead of arms.
“Here, let me do it.” Starlo unceremoniously shoved her to the side, taking the list of codes away from her. He quickly punched in each of the codes, starting over from the first one, as though he expected Martlet to have done it wrong.
“Wow, so encouraging.” She sighed as she glared at the sheriff. He was acting like she was incompetent, and maybe she was, but it’s not like she did everything wrong. She just…
'Who am I kidding? I’m entirely incompetent. I’ve been on probation for so long at work, I’ll never be a royal guard. Actually- that's not even because I’m terrible at my job, that's because I abandoned my job entirely to look after Clover… NO. Clover was worth it. They’re my child… focus on the situation here, Martlet. Clover needs you.'
“...of the codes work. We must’ve missed something back at the creepy lab.” Was the first thing Martlet heard as she tuned back in to the conversation.
“Try the third one again. I think you did it wrong.” Ace instructed with a bored expression. Starlo rolled his eyes as he punched in the code a second time.
“I’m pretty sure I did… it... right.” He trailed off as the door swung open. “Well, that’s certainly surprising.” Martlet was sure she could see everyone else roll their eyes simultaneously- or, in Ace’s case, singular eye. Did he only have one eye, or was that just his hat blocking the other one? “Well, what are we waiting for? We have a Clover to save.”
Starlo led the way into the Steamworks, his posse (and Martlet), following closely behind.
“The lights are on. They must’ve already moved on.” Moray observed.
Mooch was staring at a bunch of small white plants, trying to find out what they were. Ed had to hold her back to keep her from touching them.
“I WANNA SEE WHAT THEY ARREEEEE-” The squirrel whined as Ed picked her off the ground, slung over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Martlet thought she might've seen him do that to Clover once or twice, but she couldn't think of any situation where that would've happened. If Clover had ever needed someone to carry them, for whatever reason, the job would've gone to Martlet.
“Mooch, you can't just touch every random thing you see.” Moray sighed. “You're gonna get yourself hurt.”
“But I have to find ouuuttt-” She huffed glaring down at Moray. “Actually wait, I like this. I'm tall.” She scrambled on top of Ed's shoulder, perching comfortably, looking down at the rest of them. Ed sighed, but made sure Mooch was comfortably situated before continuing to walk.
The group was silent for a moment. Not a comfortable silence, a tense silence. One where half the group was questioning what was up with Starlo, and the other half just wanted to save Clover.
“Why are we moving so slow?” Mooch asked impatiently. “We gotta save Clover, don't we? Not let them suffer while we take a nice leisurely walk.”
“She's right. We should hurry up.” Ace agreed. The group walked into a room with some weird piece of machinery in the center.
“I think they went this way.” Starlo went over to the far side of the room, by a door that led out to a hallway. “Although… there's tire marks or somethin’ leading down the central path. We should be careful.”
“What, think there might be robots or somethin’?” Mooch teased from her perch on Ed’s shoulder.
“All things considered, might be.” Ed pointed out.
Martlet sighed. “Let's go save Clover.”
‘...let's go save my child.’