Chapter Text
Zett returned home with an uncharacteristically pensive look on his face.
“Ace nii-san?” he tugged on his godfather’s apron to get his attention.
Turning away from the pot of stew he was stirring, Ace acknowledged him.
“Yes, Z?” he asked.
“What’s it like to have a host?” Zett asked curiously.
Memories flashed through Ace’s mind. Close comrades who have long since grown old, adventures experienced and battles fought with two hearts in one body; a fragment of his own heart missing, having long since entrusted it to one half of his host while another fragment was cradled in the ring that adorned the wrinkling finger of another……
“-nii-san, the stew’s bubbling!” Zett yelped.
Snapping out of his maudlin musings, Ace hurriedly adjusted the temperature and closed the pot.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Zett persisted.
Ace huffed. His godson could be quite obstinate once a subject catches his rare interest.
“It’s…….changing.” Ace tried to explain. “You’re still you, at the same time, you’re seeing things and feeling the emotions of someone else. Someone who, despite being their own person, is now a part of yourself.
“You’re still an ultra warrior, at the same time, you’re just another person in the crowd. You experience many wonderful things and no matter how dark or how bright things get, you’re never alone through it all.”
Zett tilted his head. “Is it like having a pet?”
“No. It’s like having a very dear friend.” Ace said.
“Ace nii-san, what kinda host did you have?” Zett asked.
Ace’s heart squeezed with longing as he remembered Seiji and Yuuko.
(In the far distance, a fragment of his heart squeezed just as melancholically from the ethereal glow of the moon.)
“Hosts.” Ace corrected. “I had two of them once.”
“Whoa, two?! That’s one more! Ultra-cool!” Zett gaped.
“It was.” Ace smiled.
Zett hummed in thought while Ace took out bowls to serve the stew.
“Do you miss em?” he asked.
Ace slowly set the bowls down. Though he’s long since moved on from crying at the mere mention of his hosts’ absence, the hole they left behind never truly closed.
“I do.” He confessed.
Zett was clearly bursting with more questions but restrained himself. Ace nii-san seemed sad when talking about his hosts. It wouldn’t do to upset him more just to satisfy his own curiosity.
They ate their meal in silence. It wasn’t until the dishes were cleared that Ace broke it.
“Would you like to hear a story, Z?” Ace asked.
Zett perked up. Ace nii-san’s stories were always ultra cool! Even though he was too old for bedtime stories (or so he insists), he’d never pass up a chance to hear his godfather regale one of his past adventures.
And so Ace told him of a brave truck driver and a kind princess; of two people who held courage and compassion hand-in-hand like the rings he bestowed upon them. How the princess would eventually have to return to the distant moon in order to aid her people. How the bond between the three of them remained strong, despite one fraying with old age and the other strained from distance.
“She’s still here.” Ace patted his chest. “But….I miss having her here.” He tapped his head.
“She can read your mind?” Zett asked.
“No, no, not like that, Z. She understands my heart. Trust me when I say that’s more powerful than mind reading.” Ace said wryly.
“If you miss her, why don’t you visit her?” Zett asked.
After all, Ultras travel to all kinds of distant planets and stars. Sometimes, distant galaxies and nebulas altogether.
“I could see her but she still wouldn’t be a part of me.” Ace sighed. “And that’s okay. She’s grown to be a leader that even Father of Ultra would be proud of. Her people need her, not me.”
“….having a host sounds ultra-sad. You can’t keep them forever, can you?” Zett mused.
Ace patted his crest, smile bittersweet.
“We’re not their masters, Z. We’re their partners. Even if she’s not here, the memories that I shared with her is forever.”
That night, as Zett lied in bed, the young Ultra realized just how brave his godfather truly was, to be willing to open his heart to not just one but two hosts.
He realized how strong he must be to be willing to endure double the loneliness.
“Zett, we’re going out tonight.” Ace declared the next day.
Zett blinked the lingering drowsiness out of his eyes.
“Huh?” he said dazedly.
“Tonight, we’re going tsukimi.” Ace said, taking out familiar bowls and measuring cups to begin baking.
“Tsukimi?” Zett repeated the unfamiliar phrase.
Ace nodded.
“What for?” he asked, hurriedly scarfing down the rest of his breakfast so he can help his godfather.
“To see an old friend.” Ace smiled, mysterious and melancholic in equal measures.
An old friend? He couldn’t mean one of the Ultra Brothers could he? Or was it some seijin he once helped save? An off-world ally that aided him in battle?
So many questions but so much to do.
He helped roll round rice dumplings called tsukimi dango while Ace shaped mochi into rabbits. Apparently, these ‘rabbits’ would use a giant wooden mallet to pound mochi on the moon, creating craters.
(Zett must say, these ‘rabbits’ sound like ultra-strong animals!)
Sweet potatoes were also prepared. Water was boiled to prepare soba and packages padded to protect eggs.
As they were packing the last of the items, Zett noticed Ace nii-san wrap up a small bundle of thin reedy plants to add into the bag.
“Come.” Ace gestured.
As they flew, it was then Zett noticed the upturn corner on Ace’s mouth. Though he flew with obvious familiarity, there was also excitement in his eyes.
The excitement was contagious for the young Ultra.
They arrived at one of the smaller planets near M-78, one oftentimes used for school trips and comet viewing.
Ace arranged fifteen tsukimi dango into a neat pyramid on one plate and a plate of sweet potatoes in the other. Unwrapping the bundle, he placed ten susuki into a vase.
“What’re those for?” Zett asked.
“They’re an offering.” Ace explained.
“Oh.” Zett said, slightly disappointed he wouldn’t get to eat the dango. Oh well, at least they had soba.
“Z, look.” Ace whispered.
Soba dangling from his mouth, Zett glanced up and his eyes widened in awe at the bright disc in the sky.
No wonder Ace nii-san loves to wax poetry about the moon.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Ace smiled, nursing a cup of tea.
“’U-ma utifu’!” Zett mumbled. He swallowed his soba properly and repeated himself. “Ultra-beautiful!” he agreed.
Then he paused as the pieces fell into place.
The moon.
Ace’s ‘old friend’.
Oh.
OH.
“Is the princess up there?” he asked softly. After all, one doesn’t shout in the presence of royalty, right?
Ace chuckled. “Yes, Z……she’s there.”
“Can she see us? Why won’t she come here and join us? Isn’t she hungry?” Zett asked.
“She’s busy leading her people.” Ace explained.
“So busy she can’t miss you?” Zett asked.
It didn’t seem fair in his opinion. Ace nii-san clearly missed her. And if she really was as close to him as he says, shouldn’t she come see him?
“Zett, it’s not that simple.” Ace sighed. “Just because you were part of someone’s life, that doesn’t mean it revolves around you. Someday, they’ll have to live their own life and you have to live yours.
“The thing about friendship is that it’s a bond that anchors you to love and compassion, not a shackle of debts and entitlement. If your friend leaves, you will respect their decision. If your friend cares, they will return in your time of need.”
Then he smiled wryly. “And trust me when I say Yuko has returned many times to save me and Seiji’s hides.”
Ace sipped his tea serenely, giving his godson time to process his words…..
“YUKO-SAMA!” Zett hollered at the top of his lungs.
Ace startled, spluttering as his tea went down the wrong way.
“THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ACE NII-SAN! SORRY IF I THOUGHT YOU DIDN’T CARE! YOU’RE ULTRA-COOL AND STRONG! I HOPE YOU CAN VISIT ACE NII-SAN ONE DAY! HE MISSES YOU!” Zett relayed to the moon in hopes its princess will hear his message.
He nodded, confident that he was loud enough for Yuko to hear. If she didn’t hear him. He’ll just have to yell louder next time. Or maybe he can send her an Ultra sign? He should learn how to do that.
“Uh…..that was very……nice.” Ace said, having cleared his airway of wayward tea. “Thank you, Z. But next time, you don’t have to shout.”
“But if I don’t, how will she hear me?” Zett asked, dumbfounded.
“She’ll know.” Ace smiled enigmatically. “She didn’t have to be here.” He tapped his head. “To have a good head on her shoulders.”
He gazed at the moon longingly.
“……..do you wanna live there?” Zett asked.
Ace hummed. “Maybe someday, when I retire….yes.”
“But what about the Plasma Spark? The Ultra Brothers?” Zett asked. He can’t picture the Ultra Brothers without the Master of Beams.
“Oh Z……” his eyes soften. “I pray that I’ll live to see a time where the universe has no need for the Ultra Brothers. A universe where everyone can coexist in peace. A world where people don’t need a hero to feel safe.”
“Is that why you want me to be the last hero?” Zett asked quietly, suddenly aware of the weight his name holds.
“Z…..I named you that because I also want you to be the last person who has to suffer what you did.” Ace’s eyes turned distant. “I’ve seen so many people die, so many people suffer senselessly…..but I’ve also met great people with amazing hearts.”
He clapped Zett on shoulders that seem to grow broader with each passing day.
“Zett. A hero’s duty isn’t just to end suffering. It’s also a hero’s duty to maintain compassion during the darkest times. More often than not, that’s much harder than the former.” Ace said, knowing all too well how easy it is to hate.
“Now, enough about boring adult duties. We came here to admire the moon.” Ace smiled.
Zett grinned, still youthful enough to focus on the present.
“….I hope you can see Yuko-sama soon.” Zett mused, leaning against Ace.
Ace wrapped an arm around him.
“Me too.”
But for now, this simple peaceful moment was enough.
The glow of the moon hummed in agreement and in the distant, Ace swears he can see a white robed woman smile.