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When the barrier was broken, Martlet had been putting together a planter box.
To put it bluntly, quitting the Royal Guard had put her in some rather dire financial straits. (The Royal Guard's benefits package included Dental. DENTAL! Now, Martlet didn’t actually have teeth and therefore couldn’t take advantage, but her coworkers who did said that was big, and who was she to argue?!) And, try as she might, Martlet couldn’t just ghost her landlord into forgetting that she’d missed rent payments three months in a row. After all, the man knew where she lived.
So, after she’d been unceremoniously evicted, she went to the Dunes. Ceroba was kind enough to let the bluebird crash on her couch for a couple weeks, just until she got back on her feet.
Of course, a couple weeks turned into a month, and that became two months, which became four months, then eight, and eventually a year. And after around seventeen months with absolutely zero pressure to find her own place, Martlet started to wonder if Ceroba was actually just lonely and didn’t want to admit it. (Not that it was her place to judge.)
Of course, Martlet wasn’t content to be a total freeloader. She picked up odd jobs around the Dunes. There was always a broken something-or-another that needed fixing, or a delivery from the Mines, or an overcrowded night at the saloon where Dina needed some extra help.
It was during one of these odd jobs that the sound of an ethereal tearing echoed through the entire underground. And in an instant, Martlet knew.
The barrier had finally been broken.
The next few months could be best described as complete and utter pandemonium.
There was shocking news story after shocking news story. The long-lost Queen of the Underground had returned as well (though sources said that she and the King were still very much divorced). The Royal Scientist was found to have been covering up horrific experiments into the nature of Determination (saying that Ceroba was angry could be charitably described as the understatement of the millennium). There were multiple unconfirmed sightings of the long-dead Prince Asriel. Hundreds moved to the Surface, including King Asgore (who peacefully abdicated the throne) and anyone who anyone could really see replacing him. A new constitution was drawn up, and the first Council was formed. Martlet found herself pulled into Starlo’s haphazard campaign to represent the Dunes in said Council, and watched him almost lose to some random dog. Humanity recognized the Mt. Ebbot Underground as a sovereign nation. The human nation of Sweden was the first to give Monsters equal rights, and a vast majority followed suit.
Ceroba moves to the surface. The Underground has too many memories, she says. And with that, Martlet finally has her own place again, for what it's worth.
And throughout all the change, Martlet…stayed roughly the same. Sure, she slept on a bed now instead of a couch, but that was really it. She still survived off of odd jobs and the kindness of others (though now that kindness usually came from Star-oh, excuse her, Councilman North Star, instead of Ceroba). She still found herself getting lost in daydreams.
And she still had never been to the surface. Even as the other monsters who could fly told her of an endless blue sky, and fluffy white clouds, and the warmth of the Sun's glowing gaze, something kept Martlet down in the caves. Something stopped her from leaving.
It was around the same time that the first wave of humans moved into the Underground (imagine that?) that Martlet met Frisk. The young ambassador had come back as a vacationer, with Undyne as their escort to see all the parts of the Underground they’d never been to before. And Star had decided Martlet should be part of the Dunes’ welcoming party. And though that meant very likely coming face to face with Undyne again (AKA Her Former Boss AKA The Very Same Former Boss That Put Her On Probation At Least Four Separate Times AKA The Single Person In The Entire Underground That She Really Would Least Like To Have To Come Face To Face With Again), Martlet couldn’t bring herself to say no.
There was something about Frisk that just made a hole open up in Martlet’s stomach as soon as she met them. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. The way they courteously greeted everyone while barely saying a word, and the adoration that Undyne seemed to have towards them felt painfully familiar in a way that just made her feel completely empty inside.
Nevertheless, she tried to put on a smile. Even if something about the kid just sat wrong with her, that wasn't any reason to hold it against them, right?
"Well, well! Didn't expect to see you 'round these parts. You just went from freezing cold to burning hot, didn't you?"
Oh, shit. She forgot about who was accompanying said kid. "Uh...U-Undyne! Ma'am!" Martlet sprang into a shaky salute out of habit, and Undyne just laughed.
"At ease." Undyne took a sip from the massive water bottle hanging at her hip. "This is Martlet. Used to be a Royal Guard down in Snowdin. Probably one of the spaciest people I've ever met, but she did put together good puzzles, so I guess I can't complain too much!"
Martlet laughed awkwardly. "I mean...yeah. I...the job wasn't a good fit for me."
Undyne chuckled. "Yeah. I...honestly, I’m kinda glad you quit, I don't like firing people. I think it was around the time that the sixth human fell?"
"Clover." The words are out before Martlet can stop herself. "Their name was Clover."
Undyne blinked. "Oh. Right. You...knew them. Crap. Sorry, I forgot."
"No, no, it's okay. I just...you're good."
Frisk doesn't say anything for a moment, before reaching into their backpack. They pull out a worn brown hat with a wide brim, and Martlet realizes just where that hole in her chest came from.
She feels the hat be lightly pushed into her wings in a way that's far too familiar, and her vision begins to blur with tears and memories alike.
...she excuses herself.
Martlet felt guilty.
She'd only known Clover for a few days, if even. But those few days had changed her life in a profound way unmatched by any other set of a few days she'd ever known.
And even though their time together was short, Martlet truly felt like they had come to care for each other, as friends.
As a friend that she'd allowed to throw their life away.
Martlet felt guilty, because of course she fucking did. They'd been a child! With hopes and dreams of their own, and probably a family somewhere out there! And she'd just let them hand their SOUL over to Asgore! Sure, she'd pleaded them not to. She'd offered to let them stay with her. And yet they'd just shaken their head, holstered their pistol, and told her it was time.
She and Star left the room, because they were cowards. And Ceroba walked out with a glowing yellow SOUL in a jar.
Justice. Looking back, it almost made her laugh.
There was no justice in the barrier. In humanity's vengeance for that war so long ago. But where was the justice in making Clover bear the weight of those sins?! Where was the justice in making children sacrifice themselves for an entire species?! Where was the justice in Asgore just deciding to spare Frisk, and somehow being able to break the barrier anyway?!
...where was the justice in her still being here, and getting the chance to see the surface, while Clover had to die?
The kid had made their choice. And on some level, she had to respect that. But dammit, it shouldn't have been a choice they had to make in the first place. And even though there was absolutely nothing she could do about it, she felt at fault. Martlet felt guilty.
And try as she might to go back to her everyday life, the hole didn’t go away. It ate at her from the inside. It tried to fill itself with rage and grief, only to consume those feelings all the same.
The hat hung on a coat rack she didn't really use, in a corner of a house she couldn't make herself leave, berating her for not having done more.
After a day or two of not seeing her rushing around on her various errands, Star came to visit her.
She tried to lock him out. It took Star five minutes to fetch Mooch to pick the lock for him. Martlet quietly decided to invest in a deadbolt when she next got the chance.
"Yer not okay." Star said it like it was a fact.
Martlet nodded slowly. "I'm not."
His eyes darted over to the hat hanging in the corner. "Is it about Clover?"
Martlet let out a half-hearted laugh. "That obvious, huh?"
A moment of silence. "I mean...you knew 'em best of all of us." Martlet nodded silently. Star at down next to her on the couch. "And I guess...I guess we never really talked about 'em. Is there...is there anything you wanna get off your chest?"
And before she can stop herself, it all comes tumbling out. The guilt, the anger, the grief, the self-hatred, the blatant injustice of it all. Star listens to her ramble, then listens to her cry. He holds her, and lets her angst soak into his shoulder.
After a few minutes, Star speaks. "Why don't you take 'em back home?"
"...what?"
"Ya said it yerself. Clover had a life 'fore us. A life on the surface. Why don't you go try and figure out what that was? Find their folks. Tell 'em what happened." Star's voice cracks. "Give 'em somethin' to bury."
"Why...why would I do that?"
"...I dunno. I guess...guess I thought it might help ya. It's like...closure, 'n all that."
"What if they hate me? What if...they're also mad that I couldn't stop them?"
Star ruffles the feathers on top of her head. "Nobody could ever hate ya, Martlet."
And with that, he walks out, and leaves her to her thoughts.
When Martlet finally arrives on the surface, it doesn't take her long to figure out where she's going. She just has to ask around about missing kids and do a bit of research on a library computer in order to find the address of Silas Patch; grandfather, and only living relative of one Clover Patch.
It's a small, brown house in the middle of a grassy field, with a simple dust path leading up to the front patio. Martlet walks up the path, taking deep breaths as she approaches the front door. She rings the doorbell, and hears no response.
She waits for a bit, eyes wandering around the patio. There's a simple wooden rocking chair that looks like it has seen better days, next to a small planter box underneath the windowsill.
The box is full of clovers.
...she can't do this. Oh, Angel above, she can't do this.
Martlet turns back, and begins to leave, just as the door opens. She freezes.
The door is answered by a short, elderly human, with tufts of wispy gray hair decorating his balding head. He's hunched over, leaning on a gnarled walking stick of carved dark wood for support. He wears a spring green button up shirt, and wrinkled brown pants. His eyes are kind, yet tired. He seems to size her up for a moment.
"Well, howdy. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meetin' before."
Martlet is struck dumb. His voice...it's so much older, no doubt, but it sounds just like them.
"Is there...is there somethin' I can do for you?"
Martlet finds her voice. "Sorry, I...my name's...M-Martlet. And uh...I...I hope...I was hoping...Ihavesomethingforyou!"
He looks curious, until she pulls out the hat from her bag. And then, his gaze turns solemn. "...ah. Guessing...you're from up in Mt. Ebbot?"
Martlet nods. Silas sighs. "Any...any word on...where the kid that's supposed to be wearin' that went?"
Martlet takes a shuddering breath. "I...I'm so sorry."
"Well. I...I can't pretend I didn't expect this." He takes a deep breath. "Why don'tcha come inside? I'll put on some coffee."
The old man bustles around a tiny kitchen, as she takes in the interior of a house she does not feel like she has the right to be in.
Her eyes are drawn to an old TV, with a cardboard box full of old VHS tapes next to it.
Silas chuckles. "Oh, yeah. Those old Westerns were all the rage when I was a kid. Clover loved 'em. Would watch 'em over and over again! Broke their li'l heart when my 'ol piece of crap tape player chewed up their favorite."
Martlet laughed despite herself. "I guess you and Clover were close, then?"
"Close? I raised the kid." Silas set a steaming cup of coffee in front of Martlet. "Cream or Sugar?"
"Oh, yes and yes."
The coffee is lighter now. Martlet gives it a soft stir. Silas sits down with his own cup. "Never met Clover's Daddy. Prolly for the best...for both of us." He mutters darkly. "And my daughter wasn't long for this world after they were born."
"...I'm sorry to hear that."
A few moments of silence, and a couple sips of coffee, before Silas speaks again. "Clover was always gettin' into fights at school. Guess all those Westerns rubbed off on the kid. Took it on themselves to try and fight bullies for all the others."
Martlet smiles. "That sounds like something they'd do."
"Guess that means you knew 'em pretty well." Silas takes another sip. "You know, that cowboy getup of theirs; I got it for 'em as a birthday present. Then I couldn't get 'em to take it off!" He laughs, but the laughter fades. He takes another sip. "They were wearin' it when they heard about all the missin' kids up on Mt. Ebbot. I told 'em it wasn't their problem, but they wouldn't listen to me. I wake up the next morning...they're gone."
Silas looks down. "And I guess that's where their story as I know it ended." Silas sighs. "How'd you get to know 'em?"
Martlet tells him everything. She tells him about what Dalv had told her, about herself, about Snowdin and the Mines and the Dunes. She tells him about Starlo and the Feisty Five. She tells him about Ceroba. She tells him about the lives that Clover touched, and about the justice that Clover sought.
...about the final choice they made.
Silas finishes his coffee. "...huh."
"I know, it's...a lot." Martlet says. "But I guess...I wanted you to know that...a lot of people cared about them. Before they were gone. And I guess...we monsters...we'll never be able to repay what they did for us."
Silas nods slowly. "If you don't mind me asking...where are all these other monsters?"
Martlet looks away. "They're all...out there, living their lives. Because of what Clover did."
"And what about you?"
Martlet can't bring herself to look the old man in the eye. "...I don't know," she whispers.
Silas stands up, leaning into his walking stick. "Hey. Come with me for a moment."
Martlet stands, and begins to follow him out of the door. "Bring the hat."
He picks up a shovel along the way. Martlet briefly tenses up, wondering if he's going to get revenge for what she's done. But he hands it to her, and she's left simply confused.
They walk up a grassy hill, with patches of Clovers and Dandelions dotted throughout. At the very top is an old oak tree, with a swing made of a single wood plank and a couple fraying ropes hanging off a branch.
"This was their favorite place."
Martlet takes a deep breath, feeling once again like she shouldn't be here. "Mr. Patch...sorry, but...are you mad at me?"
He looks confused. "Why would I be mad at you?"
Martlet looks at him like he's grown another head. "I...I just let them walk to their death. Don't...don't you think...I should've done something?"
Silas chuckles. "Knowing Clover? There's no way you coulda talked 'em out of it. Kid was stubborn as all hell once they put their mind to something." He shakes his head. "And besides. If I blamed you...would I not also bear that blame too?"
Martlet can't answer. Silas takes a deep breath. "They always came here for peace and quiet. They were a sensitive kid. Didn't like seeing others suffer. I figured...if there was anywhere they'd like to rest, it'd be here.
Martlet nodded slowly. Silas looks at her expectantly. "Well? Get digging!"
"Oh, I-"
"What, did you expect these old bones to use that shovel?"
Martlet stared at him. "I...I mean..."
"I've got arthritis, dammit! Get a move on!"
"R-right away!"
Martlet finds a spot at the base of the tree, and digs a hole. She digs until there's enough room to stack three of Clover's hat in there, then takes a step back. Silas gently places the hat into the hole, and helps her cover it back up in the soil.
The two look down at the pile of torn grass and dirt. "Was there anything you wanted to say?"
Martlet shakes her head. The old man waits expectantly for a moment before nodding. "I guess that's that, then."
Martlet looks down at the grave. "How are you so..."
Silas shook his head. "I've had two years to mourn the kid. And I don't think they'd want me gettin' all weepy anyway. They'd want me to take the time I've got left and make the most of it, you know?"
Martlet looks down. "...right." She reaches into her bag, pulls out a pocketknife, and crouches down at the base of the old oak tree. "Excuse me."
It's not her finest work. Wood carving was never her strong suit, and a knife was not the ideal tool. But after a few moments, she's stripped the bark from a portion of the tree, and carved their name, alongside the signature five-pointed star of a Sheriff's Badge.
She takes a step back to admire her handiwork. It's rough around the edges, but it's the most beautiful thing she's ever made. "Goodbye, Clover. Th-thank...thank you for everything."
Silas wraps his arms around her in a hug, and Martlet is taken off guard. For the first time in her entire visit, the old man is crying. "Hey...Martlet, was it? Thanks for bringin' Clover back to me. I...I'm glad they had a friend like you."
The bluebird pulls him in to match his warm embrace, and feels lighter than she has in years.
They let go, and Silas gives her a kind smile. "Come back anytime, alright?"
He leaves her at the top of the hill. Martlet sits on the swing, and closes her eyes. The air feels different up here. She feels the breeze on her feathers, and for the first time in a long time, she truly breathes.
Martlet opens her eyes, looks out at the sky, and knows there's only one thing left to do. She takes a running start down the hill, spreads her wings, and flies.
Martlet feels the fresh surface air flow through her feathers as she soars higher and higher, higher off the ground than she's ever been before.
The sun shines upon her back as she glides through the open skies, with nobody telling her where she can't go next. Martlet dives, feeling weightless for a moment as she pulls out of it just in time, and swiftly soars, spinning back upwards to the clouds.
She comes to rest in the air, slowly flapping her wings to keep herself aloft. The wide expanse of the surface stretches out beneath her, beckoning her to explore all it has to offer now that she's finally free of her cage.
Maybe she'll start by visiting Ceroba.