Chapter Text
When Ceroba joined Clover on their journey, she thought her plan would proceed smoothly without a hitch. Well, turns out it was anything but. From Axis trying to stop them at every corner, to Starlo discovering her plan, and now...losing the fight to Clover, even though she threw everything she could at them.
In the end, all she has achieved is hurting her friends, destroying the last mementos of Chujin and Kanako, almost killing a child...
Just so she has a chance to save monsterkind, save her daughter, to make up for her own mistakes.
I don't deserve to live...not that I have any reason to keep on living anymore, she thought bitterly.
"Clover, you've won this battle. Do what needs to be done." Ceroba closed her eyes, waiting for Clover to deal the final blow.
...
And yet, she didn't hear the sound of a gunshot, nor did she feel the sweet release of death.
"What are you waiting for? Please, give me this."
"I...I can't." Clover's hand is shaking, refusing to even take their revolver off its holster.
She should have expected this, really. Clover is pure, uncorrupted...too kind for their own good.
"Why are you like this? Aren't you angry? Aren't you just? Pull the trigger already!"
"Killing you ain't justice!" Clover shouted. "I won't deny, what you've done is wrong, but you had good intentions."
"Does that even matter? I have done unforgivable things. I bet Starlo and Martlet hate me for what I've done."
"I forgive you, Ceroba. And I'm sure they will too." Clover gave Ceroba a small smile.
"..." Ceroba is still unconvinced.
"If I kill you right now, all I'll do is make Starlo lose his best friend. Do you really want him and everybody else in the Wild East to relive your pain of losing a loved one? Make them suffer like you did?"
"I-I never thought about it that way..." Ceroba is ashamed of herself for not thinking about the consequences of her actions. With that, Clover spared Ceroba and ended the battle.
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Starlo and Martlet woke up shortly after, and Ceroba promptly apologized to them and Clover. Of course, everybody forgave her. Clover even hugged Ceroba to show that they still love her, despite her betrayal.
Eventually, Martlet said with a bittersweet tone, "Clover, I think your journey is at its end. Asgore and the barrier await us."
"No! Already?" Starlo was hoping he could at least go on a few more missions with Clover and his posse before their departure.
"As sad as it is, Clover needs to go home." Martlet said.
"That won't work." Ceroba cuts in.
"What?" Martlet said, surprised.
Ceroba explained, "Sure, we know Clover for who they are but Asgore...He won't see Clover as we do. And he doesn't care to learn."
"But this is a unique situation!" Martlet reasoned, "The King has always been kind and understanding!"
"Yeah! Clover wouldn't hurt anyone!" Starlo joined in, hoping Martlet is right.
"You think that's ever mattered in the past?" Ceroba said. "The truth stings, but it is what it is."
"Y-You're right..." Martlet begrudgingly agreed. "And even if we manage to keep Clover safe and undetected...what about the next humans? Clover gets to live happily but they have to die?"
As Clover listens to their friends discuss about what to do with them, they couldn't help but think about how the previous humans must have felt. To be trapped in the Underground, thinking they might be able to escape if they befriend or attack the monsters, only to have their lives cut short, no matter what they did. They thought about the children's families, how much they would miss them.
But...this isn't just about the humans anymore, is it? Clover thought about their entire journey up until this point. They thought about monsterkind's struggles, losing so many of their kind to humans, living in such harsh conditions, being robbed of their freedom.
They thought about their friends, about Martlet willing to befriend them despite them being monsterkind's enemy, about Starlo doing his best to bring joy and hope to his friends, about Ceroba losing her family because of the actions of the humans...
At this moment, Clover knew exactly what they have to do.