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Clover stared down the floating SOUL of his final adversary. They had gone down disappointingly quickly. Well, a fitting fate of the fool who declared war on humanity he supposed. Five children put to the slaughter for what? All for a race of weaklings and cowards. A shame he had failed to wipe them out completely. To think that out of the dozens upon dozens of monsters that he had destroyed, only one of them had been worth his respect.
Martlet, a name he would not forget for as long as he lived. Even if her justice had been flawed, she staked her life on it. Not out of a petty desire for revenge, or some foolish self sacrifice to try and feel “cool”. No, because they had wished to stop Clover dead in his tracks, to save her world. A shame it wasn't a world worth saving.
Clover took a step forward. The SOUL responded in kind. Its voice cried out in protest, but he silenced it with a single thought. That wretch of a man deserved nothing but eternal oblivion.
"You will suffer for the five you claimed."
Clover didn't even bother to use the door. There wasn't much point, was there?
A never ending corridor of white stretched forward from the throne all the way to the barrier. This was the very end of his journey, what it had all been for. When he advanced, the ground opened up and from within rose the remains of the five fallen children; as well as a sixth jar that had no doubt been for his own SOUL. He felt bile begin to rise in his throat at the mere thought.
With a pulse of magic, the jars opened themselves. The SOUL's followed freely without any intervention from Clover himself, it had come time for him to lay them to rest. In silence they suffered, for years on end. It was only fitting that they got to see the sun one last time...
As Clover passed through the barrier, SOUL's in tow, he had to reminisce over his actions in the Underground. What a shame it had been that he hadn’t been able to wipe out the scourge of monsters in its entirety... But a thought occurred, What if he actually could? A single button appeared in Clover's vision.
RESET.
A chance to do it all again. To optimize, to slaughter even more. To take out his greatest adversary before they could become a true threat, to uphold his principles. To win his duel against North Star fairly, to just let Mo leave. Or better yet, to just wipe them off the face of the planet. They were a monster that deserved nothing less, no? All petty theft served to accomplish was to justify the monsters even further.
As Clover glanced side to side, he laid eyes upon each SOUL separately.
"I apologize, but m'fraid you'll have to wait just a little longer to truly enjoy your final hours." Clover sighed and tugged on his hat. It had long stopped being a source of comfort, but now he did it merely out of habit. His hand hovered just above the button... Yet he had one more piece to say.
"If any of you... Can hear me, can even understand me. I promise you'll all be free again. By day’s end I’ll have returned for you all, you have my word. And… If any of you remember...? I promise you this, you will see the sun before you die. And you will die in peace, away from the monsters that did this to all of you.”
Without any further hesitation, Clover pressed the button.
The world went black.
...
Clover woke in a bed of flowers. Very familiar flowers. Clover scowled, and with a simple gesture he obliterated the ground beneath him. A blast of magic absolutely annihilating the distasteful reminder. Clover trudged forward evenly, he remembered his first monster, and how it had only solidified his perception of their kind. Monsters were remorseless. At the first sight of a child, their reaction had been to try and murder them. Absolutely undeserving of any...
Why was he hesitating?
Clover stared down at his legs, he was trembling.
"What's going on?"
At last, the very monster that had kick-started his crusade hopped into view.
"Damnit, MOVE legs, now ain't the time for this!" Clover whacked his calves with as much force as he could muster, (which was way more then he had thought he’d have been capable of after his reset) and at last willed himself into movement. What the hell was that!? He didn't have the time for his own damn body to start ignoring him! He had monsters to... Slaughter...? His legs stopped responding again.
"What in tarnation...?"
The Froggit stared at him, but this time it didn't even start a battle. Clover had been expecting to take a hit or two cause of his damn legs before blasting the stupid thing into nothingness but... It just... Didn't attack. Was that fear he saw in its eyes...?
"Damnit, get back here!"
Clover cursed under his breath as the monster hopped away, he'd already missed one...
At last, his thoughts caught up to his consciousness and slammed into him like a ton of bricks.
"I... What the..."
Clover crumpled to his knees, and with herculean effort, he managed to raise his trembling arms.
"Why... Why am I... URP-"
Clover struggled to keep his stomach from rising, memories began to flood back into his mind. The monsters he'd slaughtered... Rended from this plane of existence. Had they... Truly all fought back? Were they all as murderous as he thought them to be? Had that Froggit not just ran aw-
"NO! Monsters are... They're... Monsters! Get your head in the game Clover!"
"My child?" A gentle voice called from across the room.
From their prior position on the floor, Clover’s eyes trained on Toriel, the one monster that Clover could say for certain had never attacked him before. Every other monster he'd killed had at least... Fought back... But... Had he not attacked most of them to begin with...?
Clover clutched at his own throat. It felt like two sides of him were ripping him apart, vying for control over his actions.
Shoot her dead and scatter the dust.
What if I'm not doing this the right way?
Monsters attack you on sight, you're just returning the favor.
Were they really even trying to hurt you?
Have you not been killed dozens of times by these monsters?
Could Flowey have just lied?
Wouldn't be the only wrong the bastard’s committed.
True. He still needs to die.
No monsters ever even tried to talk it out with you besides the one.
Did I ever bother to listen?
Regardless, they all stand guilty of violence.
Ultimately... Was it not one man who ordered the fallen children dead?
Asgore.
"My... Child?"
Clover felt a hand touch his shoulder, that was all the stimuli he needed to regain control of his body."
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he roared and swatted Toriel's hand away. With a flash of yellow he dashed back and stood to his full (short) height.
"M-my child! You-"
"I am NOT your child! You monsters have already claimed five other human children, you don't need to claim me as your own you mongrel!" Clover spat back with as much vitriol as he could manage in his frazzled state. Which was, quite a lot.
"I... So you are well aware of the crimes of the king." Toriel frowned and looked down sadly, she avoided eye contact with the child at all costs, their piercing yellow eyes far too filled with purpose, too determined to meet head on. "I am sorry, it was rude of me to simply call you my child. You just... Nevermind, it is a story you need not hear."
Clover's chest rose and fell with savage ferocity, his fingers trembled as he struggled to make the correct gestures for his abilities. It felt as if his very SOUL would rip itself in half from the conflict... Yet... Despite that, there were two points that the warring sides of himself rested upon. Flowey, and Asgore. Both bastards, both deserved to die. Ultimately, if it was the king whom delivered the order to destroy the humans, was it not he who deserved the punishment?
And by that extension... Had it truly been justice to obliterate the rest of monsterkind alongside the fool? Was the point of justice not to dole out fair punishment, to ensure growth through the pain? Clover had a rather upsetting realization.
He would not call what he had done justice. The more he had killed, the further he had detached himself from the world. Until all he had cared about was destroying any trace of monsterkind that he could find. Not even mere robots had been spared from his wrath... Perhaps that was when he had truly lost himself. Clover realized in that moment, he had mistaken vengeance for justice.
In reality… Perhaps what was needed was a change of perspective for the monsters. If they had been led astray by a false prophet, could he not attempt to lead them onto a better path? It couldn’t be called justice to simply purge indiscriminately, all that served to accomplish was the inflation of Clover’s own ego.
Despite that realization though, most monsters weren't in the clear by Clover’s books, far from it. By the time he was done in the Underground today, and the humans were once again freed, a trail of dust would be left in his wake, no doubt about it... But... Annihilating the monsters down to their very roots? That was blind rage, not justice. If he truly wished to deliver justice, he must ensure that the same crimes were not repeated ever again. Clover knew why his very body had refused his commands. Deep, deep in his SOUL... He knew what justice truly was. Perhaps, it was a blessing in disguise that he had reset so soon. Maybe he would've never come to this realization had he waited any longer.
What needed to happen was not a purge, no. The sick must be culled, and the worthy must be allowed to flourish. Clover would be the gardener. He would pull the weeds and cultivate the rest. He would be able to do it, he knew he would. His own sense of justice assured him of it. A burning passion reignited itself in his SOUL.
Clover's trembling finally stopped, it was good that he had reset, because he had failed himself. He had failed the humans, but most importantly... He had failed the monsters themselves. Perhaps Martlet had been somewhat correct in her actions.
Clover knew what needed to be done.
He would judge the wicked.
Justice would be served.
...
"In the ruins you will encounter many puzzles-"
For the most part, Clover tuned Toriel out. Out of all the monsters that Clover could remember, she was probably the monster in need of the least help in the entire Underground. Her entire demeanor already spoke of her remorse for the humans' deaths. She cared... At least she did, somewhat. Regardless, it wasn't as if she was attacking him, nor had she ever done so in the past.
Clover proceeded through the puzzles as normal, he didn't speak and he kept his hand on his gun out of habit. Though, eventually, he came to a familiar point.
Clover didn’t even wait for Toriel to explain the puzzle. He didn’t even bother to pull the first switch, and instead he went straight for the second.
The earth shattered.
Clover had been ready, he landed gracefully with a simple pulse of his magic. The dash carrying him to the ground beneath in an elegant display of mastery.
She called from above, for him to stay put, but Clover didn’t bother. His second biggest target should be just ahead.
Clover stomped forwards with a clear purpose. He would rip this flower from its very roots, burn it till it was but a pile of ash, and then he would scatter even that to the void beneath. By the time he entered the room, his hands were already glowing with power. A yellow light burning its very existence into the air around it.
But... Nobody came. Flowey was long gone.
"...Damnit."
The power slowly began to fade from his hands. Flowey didn't even show up this time. Had he somehow remembered what Clover had done in the previous timeline?
Clover scoffed, what a coward.
"If you can hear me, you will face justice for your crimes Flowey. You used me to try and get the SOUL's, and look where it got you. If I ever find you, if I so much as hear a whisper from you, a single peep of your existence, scorched earth will be an understatement for the things I'll do to ya, you weasel. Do you understand me you waste of space? Stay outta my sight."
At last, the bright yellow light in Clover's hands faded to nothingness. His power had certainly grown a little weaker from when he had used it against the goat, but it should be more than enough to obliterate that rat Flowey. Clover would make good on his threats if it ever came down to it.
…
"...Damnit!" Flowey cursed to himself as he peered in on Clover from a safe distance. It'd been a good choice not to show himself outright, cause Clover remembered. They remembered explicitly. It’d already been a far fetched hope given Flowey didn’t even have control over his save any longer but… He’d needed to test it out.
“Okay, okay… No, this can work out. The kid will tear his way through the Underground again, and all I need to do… I just need to snatch the SOUL’s from right under his nose! He’ll distract Asgore, it’ll all work out.” Flowey continued to ramble to himself as he slipped back into the ground beneath him.
For one reason or another, the kid had reset after getting what he’d wanted. But that was fine by Flowey, he’d just have to play around him a bit more carefully… This time though, no do overs. If he got caught, it was over. He’d need to be… Very careful…
…
A familiar path unwound itself before Clover. There had been no familiar save point for him to use, but that was fine… Clover himself had become the save point now. He didn’t think he’d need it anyways. Clover was confident in his own abilities.
Clover’s world went dark. His first real encounter.
And all it was, was just a weak little monster who’s name Clover didn’t even remember. From what he recalled, its attacks couldn’t even really be called attacks. It had basically just been floundering around him.
Clover took his turn. He closed his eyes for a moment and held his hand up in the style of a finger gun. He didn’t even need the toy gun, it would only hold him back at this point. Maybe if he had his actual gun it’d be worthwhile but… He had all the power he needed without it.
When Clover next opened his eyes, at the end of his fingers was a brightly glowing yellow orb. He fired it immediately. The moment the power left his finger tips, it rapidly expanded into a horrifyingly large blast of energy, and blotted out the line of sight between the two of them. It hadn’t even really taken Clover much of an effort to use it either. He figured he could do that a good hundred more times before he even had to catch his breath.
The monster couldn’t even blink before the blast whizzed past them. Fortunately for the monster, Clover had missed on purpose. They fluttered nervously in the air as they turned around… Only to see the wall scorched to hell and now partially melting.
“You get one chance, forfeit the battle this instant or I won’t miss again.” Clover stared the monster down with all the heat of the attack he had just launched moments earlier.
It just stared at him with dead eyes… Perhaps it was even a bit more listless than it had been a moment before.
Flier ran away…
Clover carried on unbothered. It didn’t matter if they had really wanted to harm him or not, the monster knew to leave well enough alone. They could learn to be better in the future.
For the most part, that’s how a lot of Clover’s encounters went. Monster encounters him, an overwhelming display of force, and they run away without even making a single attack. He made his way through the familiar puzzles with little to no issue, and soon he came upon another familiar sight.
“Hello… I’m happy to finally meet you face to face… How long has it been? I was w-”
“Stop ramblin to yourself, monster.”
“H-huh…? Who…? I… I must be seeing things…”
The monster turned and ran. Clover merely scoffed. Seeing what? It was him in the flesh. Regardless of that, he once again carried onwards unbothered. Confident in his own composure.
In the next room was a small field of corn. He’d maybe consider it to be pleasant deja vu if he hadn’t just torn through the place hours earlier. There would be no need for him to pass through this time however, his magic was more than sufficient enough to simply bypass the thing. With a simple use of his abilities, Clover leaped right over the spikes to his side. It was a bit of a difficult jump, but nothing he couldn’t manage.
Another wide open room. Clover was starting to grow somewhat tired of the dreary environment that was the ruins. Regardless, it wouldn’t take him long to escape out into the wider Underground.
“Is it wrong to hold doubt in my actions?”
Clover rolled his eyes, it was the same voice yet again.
“I enjoyed life before… I did…”
“Do you not have your own house?” Clover called to the monster from across the broken bridge, this was just sad at this point.
“Wh-I-”
“Focus, would ya? I didn’t come to the Underground to listen to some sad sack wallow about in his own misery. At least spare me the effort of having to listen to ya, would you?” Clover scoffed as he flipped the switch. The monster apparently didn’t see fit to grace him with a response, given they hurried off into the distance shortly after being quipped at.
Clover wondered for a moment if he could just leap across the ravine with his magic… But ultimately decided against it. Even if he could just bring himself back, falling to his death didn’t sound like a… particularly fun activity. He’d just follow the path he’d taken before. It wasn’t as if he needed to go as fast as possible to wipe out as many monsters as he could.
Once more, Clover kept an even stride throughout the ruins. If he wasn’t wrong… The air around him grew dark. His footsteps rung out against the quiet, and just as he thought… A bat like monster descended from the ceiling. With, now practiced, ease Clover raised his hand in the bats direction. He replicated the first action of all his other fights, and effortlessly launched a blazing ball of energy.
“You get one warning, leave me be or else.”
“Hush hush! Don’t move! Don’t make a sound!”
Clover scowled. It would seem this would be his first kill. The monster's magic rolled off in droves, blue magic… And… Only blue magic? Clover simply stood still and remained unharmed. It did tell him how to avoid its attack, Clover supposed… Maybe it could do with one more warning shot.
Clover attacked and purposefully missed again, this time searing the air next to the bat. Just an inch closer and it would’ve fried them…
“I won’t miss again. Leave, now.”
All the response the bat gave was a simple hiss. Clover frowned again. This monster had already spurned his kindness twice, he wouldn’t offer it again.
“Move in silence. Hush hush.”
This time, orange attacks. Clover was getting serious mixed signals from this monster, but his patience had already been worn thin.
“I warned you monster.”
Clover trained his aim on the flying monster. He held his arm steady, and a blinding yellow light quickly began to grow. Clover felt a little bit insulted by the monster's repeated attacks, so he made sure to put his all into this attack. If they insisted on attacking a human child, Clover would be sure to return the favor.
“Husss-”
In one moment, the monster had been there. In the next, it was gone. Completely removed from existence by a miniature sun moving faster than the bat could’ve ever hoped to avoid.
YOU WON!
You earned 7 exp and 4 gold.
Your LOVE increased.
Clover hadn’t even needed to dust himself off. Any remains of the monster had been utterly destroyed.
…
For the most part, it had been smooth sailing through the rest of the Ruins for Clover. There had been only one particularly… Disagreeable monster. Rather hyped up and what not, they hadn’t quite heeded Clover’s warning to run after seeing his overwhelming firepower… Instead, they’d gotten even more excited. So, Clover had been sporting a body count of two by the time he reached a house that he only vaguely cared to remember.
“Property of Dalv.” Clover mumbled to himself. “So, that’s the monster's name, hm?” Clover hadn’t ever recalled reading this sign before… Side effect of being lost in a murderous rage he assumed. Regardless, the way forward was clear.
It was actually a fairly nice house now that he stopped to appreciate it. The water surrounding the walkway up to the door was a nice aesthetic touch. Perhaps this monster wasn’t so terrible. Unlike all the other monsters around here, they also hadn’t specifically started a battle with Clover quite yet. Even if they’d done it on the previous timeline… Well, that was in another time Clover supposed.
Clover adjusted his hat and stepped up to the door.
Knock knock knock
“Please leave!” A voice called out from inside. Clover only frowned.
“No can do! I need to pass through and leave the Ruins.”
“Then please find another way through!”
Clover’s left eye twitched. Manners flew straight out of the window.
“You can either open this damn door, or I’ll bust through it and storm through your home myself! You have thirty seconds before I come crashing through pal!” Clover yelled right back and held his right hand to the door. He started charging up yet another blast, and at the same time, began to count. He would NOT let the fallen children spend another day in suffering just so this damn monster could have peace of mind!
“THIRTY! TWENTY NINE! TWENTY EIGHT! TWENTY SEVEN! TWENTY SIX! TWENTY FIVE!”
The light slowly grew in intensity, Clover was purposefully taking longer than normal to charge up a blast.
“TWENTY FOUR! TWENTY THERE! TWENTY TWO! TWENTY ONE!” TWENTY!”
Clover held onto the arm charging the blast with his other arm, even if manipulating this power was easy for him, he really didn’t want to find out what would happen if it went wrong. Plus, he actually hadn’t saved for a while now.
“NINETEEN! EIGHTEEN! SEVENTEEN! SIXTEEN! FIFTEEN!”
Clover’s eyes began to narrow. Was this monster really going to make him break in? Maybe they were more of an idiot then Clover thought…
“FOURTEEN! THIRTEEN! TWELVE! ELEVEN! TEN!”
At long last, Clover heard the door handle on the other side jiggle. A moment later, the door swung open with an irate monster on the other side.
“What!? What do you want from me?!”
“I already told you what I want, I just need to pass through.” Clover grunted through gritted teeth as he let his arm fall to his side. The concentrated power began fading away, though Dalv certainly hadn’t missed it. How could he have? Clover’s magic was so fierce that it basically left scars on the world around it for a good few minutes even just by being conjured. The air LITERALLY shimmered around Clover.
“You! You… I… It’s you.”
“Damn right it’s me! You couldn’t help yourself with the monologues in front of me! But, I ain’t here to judge. Not for that anyways. I’ll be right through and out of your hair.” Clover stepped inside right past Dalv, completely ignoring the shell shocked monster.
It wasn’t until Clover was already halfway to the door that Dalv called out for him to stop, but he didn’t bother to listen. As he took step after step towards the door, raw power began to coalesce at Clover’s fingertips. That same, world cracking power that he had thrown around so many times already.
Without any hesitation, he fired straight at the door. With an ear splitting CRCK the boards covering the door warped under the heat, they caught flame in an instant and began to burn. But that wasn’t quite enough. Clover frowned, and yet again, he charged up for a single instant, and fired.
BOOM!
The door burst outwards in an explosion of yellow, a smoldering crater of wood and nails being all that remained of it. The gate stood no longer, instead now only serving to invite the cold air inside.
“Wh-what did you!?”
But Clover simply ignored him. He had a mission to complete, and the qualms of a monster would not delay him. Not for now anyway. Besides, it was just a door. They’d be able to fix it.