Protocol [Undertale Yellow]

Protocol

A/N: Just wanted to write a quick Martlet fic. Post pacifist run. I was thinking about how silly Martlet is in neutral/pacifist compared to her in the genocide run. Idk if Undyne herself actually decides who gets in the guard but just go with it lol

...

Dear Captain Undyne,

I'm afraid due to personal reasons, I will no longer be able to...

Martlet shook her head. No, it seemed too vague.

To the most esteemed Captain,

I regret to inform you that I will be departing from our Underground's most sacred and im... imper...

How do you spell this?! Martlet fumed. Besides, the letter wasn't going how she wanted; it was way too formal. Who in the Underground even spoke like that? Certainly not Undyne.

Hey Undyne,

I quit. Uh, sorry, I just can't be in the guard anymore. You know, after the whole human thing. Thanks for everything, though! ^v^

And that was way too casual. Undyne would throw that resignation back in her face! Why was she struggling to write such a simple letter?

She sighed. Maybe she needed a break.

...

Martlet swallowed. In her wing, she held her resignation. She had taken a coffee break at the Honeydew Resort by having one of their signature lattes, as well as a quick dip in the hot springs. She had finally managed to get her feelings sorted out and successfully wrote her resignation. Whoohoo! After finishing it, she had flown straight to Waterfall.

Bad news, she knew her mom would give her an earful, but this was how it had to be. After what had happened with Clover, she couldn't stomach being a Royal Guard for another moment. Worse news, Undyne kind of scared her. A lot.

Ahead of her, said monster was on patrol, looking around. Now that Clover was, well... Martlet doubted there would be any action for the Royal Guard for a while. On the positive side, that meant Undyne wouldn't be too busy. Unfortunately, knowing Undyne's temperament... Well, Martlet hoped she wouldn't get a spear in her face.

Just give her the letter, Martlet told herself, pacing around. Follow the guidebook one last time. Give her the letter...

Other monsters were giving her strange looks. She turned away, flustered.

"Sorry," she apologised, "just nerves! You know how it is."

"Martlet?" Undyne asked. "What are you doing here?"

Martlet suddenly and conveniently forgot how to talk.

"Oh, uh, wow, Undyne!" she laughed. "You come here often?"

Undyne just stared at her.

"Ok, ok, that was dumb, can we start again?" Martlet waved her wings; feathers fell around her. "Look, I'm just gonna cut right to the chase." She held out her letter. "I'm... I'm quitting the Guard."

Undyne said nothing. She quickly glanced over the letter, before looking back at Martlet.

"Look, I'm sorry to quit out of nowhere like this," Martlet told her, "but... I just realised this job isn't right for me, you know?"

"Martlet," Undyne said.

"I mean the pay is great and I promise it's nothing personal," Martlet went on, "and having Ava was fantastic too, don't get me wrong!"

"Martlet," Undyne repeated.

"I learned a lot about puzzle making," Martlet fretted, "I mean, what I'm trying to say is-"

"SHUT UP!" Undyne interrupted.

Martlet went quiet.

Undyne paused. "You know, Martlet, the reason why I let you into the Royal Guard... it wasn't because of your puzzles, or your tinkering, or anything like that."

"Oh..." Martlet replied, looking down. She just felt embarrassed, honestly. So much for puzzles...

"It's because I knew that when the time came," Undyne said, "you'd do the right thing."

Martlet felt cold; not literally cold like in Snowdin, but cold, chilly dread. Had she done the right thing? She'd essentially tried to help a human escape the Underground. And a selfish part of her almost wished they had escaped. She knew it was terrible to think such a thought, not just for Monsterkind but also Clover themself. They had willingly given up their life for monsters.

But they were just a child. They'd deserved to have a full, happy life. It wasn't fair. It wasn't just.

"Look, if you really wanna quit, then I won't stop you," Undyne sighed. "But you're good, Martlet. The Guard needs monsters like you."

Martlet looked down. She had only ever joined the guard because needed a job, and so she had an excuse to make puzzles and develop her tinkering skills. She supposed Chujin had warned her about humans, but...

She then wondered if instead of being kind, Clover had been dangerous, intent on wiping out Monsterkind. What would she have done in that case? For some reason or another, the thought of that gave her deja vu. She thought about the lab, that determination she'd taken... what if...

She shook herself out of it. She turned back to the captain, giving her a smile.

"Thanks, Undyne," Martlet replied, "but, yeah. I'm definitely quitting."