Chapter Text
The three of them discussed on and on about his fate, about if it was or not possible for him to stay in the Underground. Clover knew Ceroba was right, the Royal Guard won't just leave him alone, the other Monsters might not leave him alone too. He didn't like this, didn't like that this was the truth, that there was nothing he could do to change that. The Underground despite being quite dangerous was one the best places he had ever stayed, he had met so many nice folks here.The shy but polite Dalv, his friend. The Powerful and Just Starlo, his sheriff. The kind and courageous(and scatterbrained) Martlet, his frien- No. She meant more to him than just a friend. The serious and down to earth fox, Ceroba, had also meant more to him too. But them she-... It hurt.. It had hurt for someone who meant so much attack him. When she did it was as if his heart shattered, he just wanted to curl up and cry but was instead forced to defend himself.
All these nice folks... didn't deserve to be stuck down here. They should be able to enjoy the sun too. See all the joys of nature in the Surface. But the barrier smothered all those hopes and dreams. He, just by virture of being human, stood in their way. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair. He wasn't able to stay... But he didn't want to go either. He may have felt it was his only option, to just let go of everything and offer his Soul. By all rights it would be just, everyone would be one step closer to freedom, from the injustice cast upon them.
...But he didn't want to abandon them, he didn't want to leave Martlet most of all. But what could he do? What? Just what could he possibly do?!!? He wanted to scream in frustration, wanted to rage against fate, wanted to call the king the coward he was- wait.. he remembered something...
"King Asgore is a coward", Clover heard a Monster say, he didn't know who it was, he was hiding behind a pillar in the ruins when he heard it and was surprised a Monster would say this about their king, "He is a coward, when the first Soul fell he could have taken it and then have gone to the surface and taken the other six", His eyes widened at that, the Kind could have done that?? But why didn't he- "But he didn't, and instead of calling off the hunt he continued it, cruelly taking the lives of 4 more children... He is the worst of cowards"
'Taken the Soul' 'Gone to the Surface' 'Taken the other six'
...He remembered having heard a unknown Monster say interesting things about the King and Souls
...
...
...
... Clover had an idea...... Just thinking about it made him feel a little ill... But... It would end the Injustice that was done to Monsters... and he wouldn't have to leave them...
He gripped his gun, and started walking away from the balcony unbeknownst to the three who wore stuck discussing with each other.
He was going to commit a horrible crime, he was going to become an Outlaw... But it would be for their sake.
As he walked in direction of Asgore's Castle, a ceirtain acquaintance suddenly erupted from the ground.
"So, it seems my Best Friend is finally going to King Fluffybuns Castle", Flowey made a winking gesture, although it looked strained and forced, "About time really! I don't know why you even decided to engage with that murderous fox, I told you what would happen didn-", Flowey gave a forced smile as he ranted but got interrupted.
"Flowey...I need your help..", Clover said, a very serious look on his face, "Flowey... I don't want to fight Asgore-"
"What. Do. You. Mean. By. That?", Flowey's smile strained to such a point it had became ugly and disturbing.
"I.. want to get to the Souls.. I don't care about fighting Asgore.. I want your help to get them", Clover said, voice just as serious and affected.
Flowey's smile morphed from the scary and angry grin into something almost resembling excitement, "Oh? Is what I'm hearing right? You want to get the Souls?... Hehe... Hehehehehe.. What a naughty little thief you are.. But fine, your best friend will lend you a hand", Flowey's smile and excitement had only grew, after all this was something completely NEW, he didn't know where it was going, but oh boy did Flowey want to find out.
Clover then continued his somber march to the Castle now that he had enlisted Flowey's help, he tried to avoid making contact with other Monsters as much as possible, best not to risk alerting anyone. It took some two hours of hiding and walking but he had finally reached an elevator that would take him there. He took it. The wait in there only made him feel more nervous. But eventually the doors opened and he walked through a passage he arrived in a long decorated corridor. Something about this place really creeped him out, in fact, he felt like he was being watched. He constantly turned his head as he walked to the end of the corridor, the omnious feeling only increased the further he went. When he was near the exit he thought he was going to die, his plan wouldn't work, but then, suddenly, it stopped. He looked back, there wasn't anyone there.
When he arrived at the King's room his heartbeat was still accelerated, thankfully the King himself didn't notice him, too occupied watering his garden and with his back turned to the entrance. From the ground, near the king, Flowey appeared and then promptly winked at him. He nodded and silently tried to go forward, slowly but surely he sneaked to the throne, just a few steps away from the King Asgore.
"Howdy!", Shouted Flowey, suddenly.
Clover nearly jumped in surprise, but was able to hold it in. He quickly hid behind the throne. After politely asking for Flowey to wait for him to finish watering the flowers Asgore had turned around to talk with this visitor. This was the perfect opportunity. He did the same thing from before and sneaked past the distracted Asgore. And just as his heart was going to give out, he made it. He still walked slowly, too wary of making any sound, but as he passed the arch, there they were. The Barrier. The Human Souls.
Not willing to gamble his chances he quickly started to open all 5 of the containers, unfortunely he may have underestimated how much noise the process would make.
In the throne room, a sound of screeching metal made itself known, "I'm sorry little one, but there is something I need to check urgently", Asgore said in a rush as the went to barrier, when he reached there he saw the Human he had received many reports about and stared in shock at how he was able to sneak past him. The five human Souls floated near, out of the containers. Clover panicked at seeing Asgore... Then grabbed all five Souls, dragged them to his mouth and swallowed them. Pain flourished from his chest. Now he just needed...!
Just in the nick of time he dodged a fireball and without looking back ran in the direction of the barrier. Many other fireballs grazed past him and, unbeknowst to him, Asgore prepared to thrown his trident. Clover was nearly at the barrier when the fireballs stopped and he looked back as to why. Asgore aimed his weapon at him, and Clover's heart stopped... and then started to beat even faster than it was in the Judgement Hall, he sprinted as fast as he could. Asgore's weapon loosed from his hand, breezing through the air faster than any fireball... And just it was close to hitting Clover, it hit the barrier instead.
Asgore was too late, the Human had stolen all 5 Souls and somehow gone through the Barrier. He had failed. Failed his people. Failed his family. He got on his knees, and just as he was going to lament his own actions, the same flower he had talked to appeared, with it's back turned.
"You have to be kidding me, right? RIGHT?!?!, Flowey shouted, never having been so angry, "He ate them and crossed the barrier?! THAT was his plan?!, Flowey made a sinister smile, that was almost eclipsed by the sheer rage that coursed through him, "You Cowardly DANMED Cowboy, out of all times, decides to use his brain NOW and disrupt everything?!", But the anger soon dissapeared from Flowey's face, "Oh but don't you think are escaping from me that easily..."
[LOAD FAILED]
"What!!", Frustration immediatly sinked, "Why did it fail?! If anything I should be more powerful now that there is no human!"
[LOAD FAILED]
[SAVE CORRUPTED]
"You...! Hehe.. Fine.. If I can't have fun with you Cowardly Soul Thief... I'll make sure all your precious friends suffer! And when I regain my powers...", That wicked smile once again appeared, "I'll torture EVERYONE for years on end! HAahAHAhaHAHAHHAAH-", But the laughter ceased as Flowey was completely skewered by Asgore.
_
The Surface, Mount Ebott
He did, by a hair of his breadth, but he did, he crossed the Barrier... To the Surface... ... As he looked up little, the intense sphere of heat and light beared down upon him. Clover thought that he would be happy to see true sunlight again, but instead it just made him feel more on edge. As he descended the mountain, each tree, each unique plant, just made him feel more and more fear. He knew why he felt so much fear. He knew that the pain in his chest that occasionaly flared could only keep him from thinking of it so much...
His father painfully dragged him by his hair, angrilly stepping to the shed at the back of his house, his father opened the door and threw him inside, "You fuckin' piece of shit!", he shouted, "I waste my god's fuckin' money on you for years and this shit is how you repay me!!", He took out his belt, "You don't go around messing with my gun you hear!! MY FUCKIN' GUN!!", the belt whipped and hit his body, "Aaargh!", he could see stars and blood started to fell, but then he was hit again, and again, and-, "P-ple- Aaargh - Sto-p", Clover slurred through pain, "I'll stop when I danm please you useless shit!"
Once he had pleaded his mother for help, but all she did was look at him, cigar in her mouth, shrugged, and went back to watching the Television. He should have expect that, she only ever talked to him if it was absolutely necessary and the times he tried to talk to her, she would shoo him away. When he was younger he used to cry because of that, but stopped because everytime he did it would be his mother who hit him.
... He lost his mind to thought... So much in fact that he already could see the familiar trail into the forest, he took it. Out of all plots of land, his family was the one who lived the nearest to the mountain. He walked the trail and the fear made him want to turn back, give up this plan and return to the Underground, maybe they could figu- No, this was the only way. The only way he could live in peace with the people he cherished. He must continue.
The trail reaches its end, an open field with a large two floored house and shed near it. He walked forward, his hand on his gun, trembling. No amount of effort could get him to remember a single good memory about this place. He was at the front door, tense with every negative emotion possible, but he must push forward. He ringed the bell. No one responded at first. Time seemed to stretch for every second that passed, pain blossoned inside of him. And then the door opened.
His father, looked at him, that same face full of anger, like everytime, "Now you've done it boy", He started to take out his belt, Clover was paralysed by fear, no, he can't- he must continue- he must- for the sake of everyone- Everyone in the Underground was, even if they didn't know, relying on him for their hopes and dreams- Everyone's freedom! Dalv, Starlo, M-Martlet, C-Ceroba, they all were- they all were-!!
The sound of a gunshot painfully rang upon his ear, his trembling hand holding his gun, smoking from the shot, blood stained his clothing, even his hat. His father, bleeding profusely from the bullet lodged inside his chest, "U-Urrkh", he grunted painfully and, despite holding onto the door frame, still partially toppled to the ground, he breathed heavily, grunting in pain, "Y-Y-You-!! I'll k-k-kill you!!", He then coughed blood and attempted to get up, hands attempting to grab him but failling as the toppled fully to the ground, wet gurgling sounds came from him.
Clover still trembled as he shot- he shot- he-, "Brandon!!!", his mother screamed as she looked from inside the house at her spouse laying in a pool of blood, she saw him. Rage filled her face. But before she could even do anything a gunshot hit her square in the head, her body sttagered backwards and fell to the ground motionless.
...
Clover had shot her too, he- He looked away from her. Instead he pulled on that warm feeling inside of him. A Soul came out of his father's chest, he ate it. He did the same for his mother. And began the trail back to the mountain.
_
He felt hollow, no tear came from his eyes. He felt no satisfaction, no grief, nothing. He had k-killed them both and couldn't even summon a decent enough feeling to feel sorry or even feel glad. He really was a scum, a criminal. But it was going to be worth it, right? Everyone would be free their prison, All his- Pain radiated from his chest, but this time it was so much worse. His chest felt constricted, he felt the need to retch..! But he held himself, he must continue! The feeling passed for a second only for him to cough violently, blood coming out of his mouth.
He could'nt give in now, he needed to get to the Barrier! He needed to see his friends! He tried to quicken his pace, but fatigue ate away at him, he was close, he only needed a hour and he would get there. Pain gripped him again, his insides felt like they were melting, blood leaked from his mouth.
His trek up the mountain was the most pain-filled moment he had ever gone through, every few minutes he staggered in pain, but then forced himself to continued on.
When he felt like he was going to collapse, he reached it, the Barrier. He ignored all the pain for a moment, he focused on the warm feeling inside him, summoned all his strength he still had, and hit the barrier with his fist. The moment he did something in his arm snapped, "AAAARRRGGHH!!", the pain was indescribable, he collapsed to the floor. N-No, he was so close!. But then as his vision darkened he saw cracks in the Barrier, getting bigger and bigger and bigger until- It cracked upon like a pane of glass. The sound of it breaking only added to his pain. But he did... he did.. he could... rest..
_
Asgore stared in disbelief as the reason his people had lost their hope, shattered completely. They were free. They were- A body was in the ground, blood in the floor. The same Human who had stole the Souls. Guilt from his actions compelled him, he took the Human in his hands, heartbeat still present-! He ran as fast as he could, he couldn't let another die, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"Please, Human, you must stay Determined!"