Three years ago...

A blizzard had hit the kingdom of Atlas pretty hard, which isn't really all that uncommon. Clover trudges through the knee deep snow and howling winds, heading towards the academy so he can hunker down in his quarters. On the ground near the side of the academy, there was a small black thing in the snow. Curious, Clover goes over to see what it is.

"*gasp* Oh no." Clover said when he realized it was a bird.

"Please don't be dead, please don't be dead, please don't be dead." he mumbled gently scooping up the bird.

The bird was ice-cold and limp in his hands. Tenderly, Clover places two fingers on the bird's chest to check for a heartbeat.

"Phew...it's alive." Clover sighed when he felt a faint pulse.

Clover went straight to his quarters so he could get the poor creature out of this unforgiving blizzard.

"Come on little fella, lets get you warmed up." Clover said entering his quarters.

He grabs the throw blanket off the back of the couch and wraps the bird in it. Then he sits cross-legged on the couch and cradles the bird in his arms. The Ace Op has always had a soft spot for animals, ever since he was a kid. A few minutes later, the bird begins to wake up.

"Hi there, little guy, how are you feeling?" Clover asked, scratching the bird's chin.

The bird's feathers puff up and it starts shaking...probably scared.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, don't be afraid. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna help." Clover assured the bird, speaking softly.

The bird calmed down a little, bit still looked pretty nervous. Clover unwraps the bird, letting it spread its wings. Though, one of its wings couldn't spread and bird squeaked painfully when it tried to spread it. Frowning, Clover touches the wing, causing the bird to screech and bite his finger.

"Sorry, pretty bird. Don't worry, I'll take you to a friend of mine. I'm sure he'll be able to fix up your wing." Clover told the bird.

Suddenly the bird jumps off of Clover's lap and hops around the room trying to take flight. After the fifth time the bird had fallen back onto the floor, it just lays down, huffing in defeat.

"Clam down, pretty bird. You're hurt and it's snowing hard out there, you can't leave just yet." Clover said kneeling on the floor, reaching for the bird.

Before Clover could touch it, the bird sqwaks and screeches loudly. It frantically flaps its uninjured wing, and pecks and swipes its claws at Clover. The soldier quickly retracts his hands and holds them up in surrender.

"Woah woah, hey! Shh, shhhh, it's okay. You're safe here, I promise. You poor thing, you must be in so much pain. Please just let me help you." Clover begged.

Calming down, the bird stops making a fuss and stills.

"Alright...I'm gonna pick you up now." Clover said slowly reaching for the bird.

When Clover picked up the small creature, it trembled anxiously in his hands. He pets its head hoping it would relieve some of its anxiety.

"Come on, lets get that wing looked at." Clover said.

Clover carries the bird to Pietro's lab.

"Hey, Dr. Polendina, I know it's probably not within your qualifications, but do you think you could take a look at this injured bird I found outside?" Clover asked him.

"Sure, bring the little guy over." Pietro replied.

Pietro examines the bird, which he points out is a male crow.

"Yeah, that wing's broken pretty bad. It should be all healed up in about six weeks." Pietro said.

"Hold him still and keep him calm so I can put a splint on the wing and bandage it." he instructed Clover.

"Okay." Clover nodded.

He holds the crow and strokes his back with his knuckles.

"It's going to be alright, pretty bird. You're gonna be okay." Clover told the crow in a soothing tone.

After the crow's wing was bandaged, Clover thanks Pietro then scoops up the crow and leaves the lab. While walking back to his quarters, Clover runs into his boss, General Ironwood.

"Hello, Commander Ebi." Ironwood greeted.

"Hello, sir." Clover replied.

Ironwood then notices the little black bird tucked in Clover's arms.

"What...do you got there, Commander Ebi?" Ironwood asked.

"Oh, this little guy? Well, I found him out in the snow injured. So, I brought him inside so he wouldn't freeze to death. Poor thing won't be able to fly home for about six weeks, so...I'm gonna take care of him until then." Clover answered.

"Ya know, it's strange. How did a crow end up in Solitas? Aren't crows indigenous to Anima?" he said, petting the crow.

"Yes....that's....quite strange, indeed." Ironwood replied awkwardly, staring at the crow in the Ace Ops leader's arms.

Clover quirks an eyebrow at his boss's...odd behavior.

"General, is everything alright? You're acting...weird." Clover asked confused.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not acting weird." Ironwood nervously argued.

"Sir, I have to respectfully disagree. Your clearly nervous about something...and your nervousness is making Pretty Bird nervous." Clover said.

"I'm fine, I...wait...what? Pretty Bird?" Ironwood asked him.

"Yeah, uh, that's what I decided to call it. Cause, well....well just look at it, it's so darn pretty!" Clover said, smiling.

"Clover...I don't think it's wise to name him. You'll get attached." Ironwood warned him.

"Don't worry, I won't get...too attached." Clover replied, waving off Ironwood's warning.

"Hey, how was that meeting with that associate of yours, whose identity you stated was "classified"?" he asked.

"It went well, I sent him on his way afterwards." Ironwood answered.

"Really? You sent him out in that blizzard? Sir, that's completely unsafe." Clover said shocked at how nonchalantly he said that.

"It's okay, he's definitely in good hands." Ironwood chuckled.

"Well, I'm off, hope your new little friend gets better soon." he said patting Clover's shoulder.

Ironwood leaves and Clover is just standing there extremely confused.

"That was the strangest conversation I've ever had with the general. What do you think that was all about?" Clover said, talking to the crow, who he held in front of his face.

When they return to Clover's quarters, Clover feeds the bird some bread and fruit. Clover looks at the clock and realizes that it was around the time he usually went to bed.

"Let's head to bed. We both had a long day." Clover said picking up the crow.

Clover grabs an extra pillow and sets it next to his, then he lays the crow onto the pillow. He gets changed into his pajamas then settles into bed next to the crow.

"Goodnight, Pretty Bird." Clover said sweetly.

He kisses the bird's head, causing a surprised chirp to escape his beak. In the morning, Clover woke up to the crow still asleep beside him. Clover takes a picture of the crow and sends it to his mother, along with the story of what happened. The crow wakes up then stretches his neck, uninjured wing, and legs.

"Good morning, Pretty Bird. How'd you sleep?" Clover said petting the crow's back.

His answer came in the form of a happy sounding chirp. For breakfast, Clover gives the crow some more bread and fruit while he had toaster waffles and bacon.

"Sorry, Pretty Bird, I have to go to work. I set out food and water for you, do you think you'll be okay by yourself here for a while?" Clover told the crow.

After scratching the crow's chin, Clover leaves for work. When he got back he sat on the couch with the crow in his lap, telling the bird about his day. This became a routine during the time Clover took care of the crow. He told the bird everything about himself, and cuddled him a lot. Clover grew very attached to the crow, in fact, he loves the bird very much. So, when the crow's wing was all healed up, Clover became sad knowing he would soon have to say goodbye. On the morning he was going to release the crow, Clover woke up with the bird curled up on his chest.

"Hey, Pretty Bird." Clover sighed petting him.

He carries the crow to the window, opens it, then sets the crow on the windowsill.

"I guess this is...goodbye." Clover said, getting choked up.

Stroking the crow's chest, Clover thinks about the short time they spent together.

"It was nice having you around. You've been a real friend, more so than anyone here. To everyone else in this academy, I'm just a soldier and a coworker, no one considers me their friend." Clover confessed.

A few tears run down his cheeks without his permission.

"Ya know, you don't have to leave. Y-you could stay here, where I can take care of you. You'll be safe from predators, you'll have plenty of food, and I'll give you so much love and affection." Clover said with a pleading look in his eyes.

The crow looks outside then back to Clover then back outside.

"*sigh*....You're right. It's best for you to go. Besides, you probably have a family that misses you. If they love you as much as I do, I know for a fact they're missing you...like how I'm gonna miss you." Clover said smiling sadly as more tears came down his face.

The crow jumps up onto Clover's shoulder and rubs his head against his cheek to wipe away the tears. Then he jumps onto the other shoulder and rubs the tears off of Clover's other cheek. Clover kisses the crow's head and sets him back on the windowsill.

"Don't go yet, I wanna give you something." Clover said walking towards his desk.

He returns with a piece of string and a small four-leaf clover charm. Next, he tries the charm to the crow's ankle.

"There ya go, a little parting gift from me. Also, it's a way for me to know you're you if you ever decide to come back and visit me." Clover told him.

Clover gives the crow one last kiss to his head before he flew away into the distance. He sat at that windowsill until the crow had disappeared from sight.

"I hope I see you again soon...Pretty Bird." Clover whispered to himself.

He closes the window, changes into his uniform, and goes about his day, trying not to think about how much he missed his little bird.