Chapter Text
Ace knows their part and plays it well.
This involves hindering those who would challenge the family. So when four Trainers show up to Mosswater, they do just that.
It’s mostly just for distraction and show— something they themselves are an expert at— as the data is wiped. This facility isn’t really needed, anymore. But they must stand firm. To instantly give in to or run from a foe would be folly. So the grunts fight, and Ace taunts, the two Trainers that run through the main area. A girl with long, dark brown hair, and a boy with darkish green hair.
They’re actually not half bad! Ace ends up offering them both a job after trapping them in the elevator, although they both refuse, banging on the walls and demanding to be let out.
Oh well, Ace tried! And they were being sincere. The result may have been expected, but you never know— the offer to join, a hand extended, can be just what someone needs.
It was for them, after all.
The debacle ends in a victory for the family, more or less. Sure, they lose Mosswater, but as said, it isn’t really needed anymore. The little heroes do not get their hands on any useful data, but the family now knows who to keep a better eye on. Two Gym Leaders, Julia and Florinia, one of said Leaders’ younger brother, Fern, and the other girl, Carly.
Ace is a bit curious about her, honestly. They’ve never seen her before, that they can remember. If she keeps showing up, they will probably be asked to look into and do something about her. If she doesn’t… well, she will probably be better off for it! Those who pit themselves against the family tend to get hurt at the very best, and at worst…
…well, best not to think about that until they must.
— — —
Ace plays the field agent.
Specifically, they, Zero, Eve, and Lumi guard one of the PULSE Tangrowths, as well as the girl Borealis took captive, Victoria, in Rhodochrine. Various others are scattered about the area.
More people show up over time. Taka comes with the news that a Trainer took down the Jasper PULSE, and Borealis shows up from whatever he was up to. Victoria, on the other hand, is eventually taken away by Solaris.
They all wait. Mostly likely for the nearby, “hiding” Water Leader, Amaria, to do something, but perhaps for something else; there are apparently some other little heroes running around.
And eventually, one of them does run right into their midst. Carly, specifically.
And how brash! How unexpected! How unique, her problem solving method is! After all, she is severely outnumbered! And she doesn’t seem the slightest bit worried!
Maybe it is hubris? Taka and Zero identify her as the one who took down the other two PULSE Tangrowth, so perhaps Carly has become cocky?
Or maybe it’s because she’s not so outnumbered after all. Amaria comes to join when Borealis reveals they all know she’s there, wearing a pair of Bracelets that catch Ace’s eye. A purple haired boy joins as well soon after, an appearance clearly planned by himself and Carly, and Fern jumps down from the rocks to the north.
“We’re not about to go down easily!” Amaria exclaims. “Tell us where you’re keeping Victoria, and we can make this quick!”
Ace clicks their tongue. “Ah, but it’s the same show; second act! Had you been sooner, the story might have been different— but the curtain’s closed, the ship’s sailed, and all those other alliterative expressions— sorry, little Leader, but she’s long gone!”
“Uh, yeah, we know that already,” Carly says. “We know one of yours took her somewhere else. So tell us where that is, so we can save our friend!”
That would be nice, but it’s not exactly feasible! Not when it’s Solaris who has the girl.
“That information is not yours to know,” Borealis says. “And like her, we cannot abide by you all simply strolling in here as you please. No matter your rank or numbers, you cannot hope to face us. The only choice before you is to accept the situation you’ve allowed yourself to be trapped in, and capitulate.”
“As if we’d do something like that!” Amaria says.
“Your heroism is mere vainglory. Allow me to remind you of the futility of your reality,” Borealis says.
Carly brings a hand up over her mouth, and lets out a small, stifled sound like… laughter?
Borealis looks to her. “…and what, may I ask, is so funny about this situation?”
“Probably because you’re so edgy,” Amaria says.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s just… pffft!” Carly says. “‘The situation you’ve allowed yourself to be trapped in?’ ‘Mere vainglory?’ ‘The futility of your reality?’ Do you really think we ran in here thinking it would be easy? Of course not! But we did it anyway. Maybe you all have no qualms about hurting people, but not everyone is like that! We came even though we knew the risks, because we weren’t just going to let you hurt people!”
Huh. Perhaps it is more than mere brashness after all.
Amaria agrees with her, and soon a battle begins between her and Borealis.
And then a bright pink haired girl comes flying down on an actual Salamence. Meaning, with the nearby Lin, and accounting for the fact that Zero, Eve, and Lumi are counted as one unit, the numbers are not out on either side, but even.
Bright green eyes fix on Ace, and Carly moves to prepare to fight them.
“Well, we’ve suddenly got quite the crowd, hm? But you and I can work our own magic trick here, little heroine, and the trick—” Ace says, taking Zorua’s Poké Ball in hand. “…is that I make you disappear!”
“I think you’ll find that I don’t just disappear so easily,” Carly says, hand going to her belt, but not picking out any one Poké Ball yet. She’s got a full team, Ace can’t help but notice.
Maybe this means Tangrowth will be taken out. And maybe that would be for the best. After all, the PULSE is causing havoc and killing people, actions most would call “bad.” Perhaps even “awful” or “atrocious.”
Maybe Ace is one of said people… not that they’re going to go down with no fight at all.
They send out Zorua who, as they’ve instructed her to, takes the guise of the PULSE Tangrowth.
Carly’s eyes widen in obvious shock as she grabs a Premier Ball and sends out a Pancham. She has it use Work Up, and then… Arm Thrust. A move that is super effective against the PULSE Tangrowth and Zorua both.
Zorua’s illusion fades. She faints pretty quickly, and it occurs to Ace that next time they should at least have her disguise as a Pokémon she doesn’t share a weakness with. Oh, well.
Ace sends out Roselia, and Carly sends out a Swablu that they try not to look at for too long. And because they are looking away, they don’t notice when Carly also looks away until she shouts.
“Holy shit, duck!”
Ace’s head snaps to Carly, then into the direction she’s looking in, just in time to see Taka and Fern duck to avoid an attack that most likely came from Zero’s Umbreon.
“Please stay seated! The main act is yet to come!” Ace says, drawing Carly’s attention back to them.
She must be observant, to have noticed that in the midst of battle. It’s a good quality to have, especially in a place like Reborn— Ace knows that their own observantness has helped them more times than they can count. And they find themselves grateful that Carly was able to warn Taka, even if she was surely doing it for Fern’s sake.
The battle continues. Carly is a skilled battler indeed, utilizing offense, defense, and evasion, and quicker than Ace expected, even the true PULSE Tangrowth goes down. Its eyes close for a final time, and then it crumbles to dust.
“…ah. So that’s the show?” Ace mumbles as they stare at where the Tangrowth was, both surprised at Carly’s strength and unnerved over what happened to the Pokémon.
They have heard that that’s what happens to a defeated PULSE Pokémon. The way they’ve been altered means they’re simply too unstable to take it. But it’s more than a bit disturbing to witness.
They don’t get to dwell on it for too long, though, because the pink haired girl gets launched by Lin up against the now empty machine.
It obviously shocks everyone who is still around to see it. Borealis in particular freaks out, having his Crobat fly the girl away before he tries to question Lin.
“Just what part of your orders included harming a young child?” he demands.
“What part forbade it?” Lin asks, as cold as she always is.
Ace can’t help but think that that’s a horrible way to think about harming a child.
Lin turns the questioning back around on Borealis, and even Ace admits their confusion at his actions— even if they don’t really mind them, considering the circumstances, the bosses probably will.
But even when Ace tries to give Borealis a chance to explain, Lin is quick to interrupt and condemn. And they really aren’t a fan of that, to be honest— the family is supposed to be built on loyalty.
Amaria ends up standing in front of Borealis, arms outstretched in defense of him— compassion, she calls it— and Ace’s eyes once again catch onto the Bracelets she wears as Carly grabs Borealis’ hand and the two run off. Are those…?
Ace watches as Amaria faces off against Lin, and loses almost as quickly as the battle begins… and, like with the last battle, Lin hits her fallen opponent so hard she’s launched back into the PULSE machine. Lin berates Amaria, and continues to attack her.
And then Lin demands Amaria surrender her Bracelets, much to the latter’s confusion, though it confirms Ace correctly identified them after all.
When Amaria refuses, Lin assaults her further, to the point Ace sees it fit to step in.
“That’s enough,” they say, standing between attacker and victim and grabbing the former’s wrist.
Lin stares at them with that gaze that Ace finds so unnerving. “Just moments ago, you chastised another for protecting an enemy. Are a few stray seconds all it takes to break your spirit?”
Surely she jests. If anything, the swiftness with which she is able to commit such acts is the whole cause for concern.
“I expect loyalty to the family, not needless cruelty,” Ace says firmly. “You’ve taken it too far already. For now we capture her without harming her. As your superior, that’s an order.”
It’s silent for a few long moments, Lin just… staring.
She’s an intensely unsettling woman, Ace thinks.
Seemingly showing up out of nowhere, Lin quickly established herself as incredibly effective, to the point it’s even caught Solaris’ eye. But she just seems so… empty. Her voice lacking passion, and her eyes lifeless.
Not that that stopped Ace from trying to get to know her. They try to be friendly to every member of the family, ranked low or high. But Lin had brushed off every attempt— in fact, this might be the most she’s ever spoken to them.
“…understood,” Lin eventually says. “As the superior officer, that order… will be your last.”
She wrenches her wrist out of Ace’s grip and stalks off.
They watch her go, then scoff. How presumptuous! Even disregarding the difference in rank, Ace has given many years of loyal service to the family, whereas Lin is a relatively recent addition. They’ve heard talk that she’s been trying to get some new programmer hired— some even saying in Ace’s place— but there is no doubt in their mind that they will be just fine.
So they turn to Amaria, helping her up and getting her to lean on them— Lin really did a number on her.
“Sorry about her. Though as stated, I do still need to take you in,” Ace says.
Amaria swallows and nods, clearly too shaken up and weak to say anything or attempt escape, and allows Ace to take her away.
— — —
Ace plays the traitor.
Their act of saving Amaria from Lin at Rhodochrine was not looked kindly upon, it seems, even though they brought her in right after.
And it would also seem that that programmer Lin has been insisting upon, “T,” was indeed brought on, and made the new systems manager. She is a Gym Leader, and apparently an even better programmer and hacker than Ace. This means, of course, that she is more valuable.
Of course, with how quickly this change happened, it would be easy to assume that it is, in fact, something the family has been considering for a while. But it’s much easier to believe that it is just a punishment, a response to something done wrong.
Ace tries not to think about it too hard either way. To look on the bright side. To believe that their new job is a sign that the family still holds fondness for them, to keep them in a relatively high position. And their first task is a chance to prove they are still loyal, by acting disloyal.
Though first they have to play keep away for a bit. Make Amaria believe that they are just lying low to avoid Meteor detection after their supposed betrayal.
They could tell her about Blacksteam immediately, sure, but that will probably cause her to head right in, alone, and the whole point of letting her go in the first place was to lure in even more threats. But it seems they’re all busy… until about a week and a half later, when Amaria calls Ace to the police station. When they arrive, they find her with Carly and her purple haired friend, Cain.
Carly, Carly, Carly. Isn’t she an interesting one? Aside from her defeat of the PULSE Tangrowth, apparently she was one of only two survivors on the train the family bombed, which certainly explains why she was at Mosswater, and each location after.
Information gathering isn’t really part of Ace’s job anymore, but they have actually spent some time recently trying to look into her. It was more difficult than usual, since Carly’s only just gotten to Reborn, but with a last name— Lapstel— and a region of origin— Sinnoh— purloined from League paperwork, they were at least able to do some poking around on the internet.
What they found… wasn’t much, actually. It would seem that Carly doesn’t have any real online presence, or at least not one that can be traced back to her— a smart thing, in this day and age!
But Ace was able to find one promising lead. Apparently, there is a star Coordinator in Sinnoh with the same last name, and she has a daughter. They haven’t yet been able to confirm or deny that this daughter is Carly, but it all lines up so far.
It may not be much. But it is a strong lead, for only being based off of a last name and a home. But then, those are both powerful things, aren’t they?
Ace can’t help but wonder if it’s lonely for her. Both to be so far from home, and to be so closely related to a star. But that’s beside the point.
As they lead the other three to Blacksteam, Carly and Cain trail behind a bit, whispering. They probably distrust Ace, but that’s fine, really! The two just need to be willing to give them a chance.
Carly soon speeds up to walk next to Ace. “So, uh… are you, like, in danger? I suppose Meteor probably isn’t too happy with you…”
She’d probably be right, if they had actually been fired. The family is not so keen on letting members, especially those that know as much as Ace does, leave. And their bosses certainly wouldn’t be happy with them for helping the Sapphire Bracelets escape. If this was all genuine, Ace would not be able to walk through the streets in broad daylight, for one reason or another.
But then, this isn’t genuine. So Ace shakes their head and chuckles. “Worry not, I know how to fight and flee both, so I will be fine! But say, little Trainer, what is your favorite Nature?”
“Huh? Like… Pokémon Natures?” Carly asks. “Do people have favorites of those?”
What an unexpected answer!
“Of course they do! Why, I think it would make more sense to ask who doesn’t,” Ace says.
“Oh. Well, I don’t. So all of them, I guess?” Carly says.
Ace chuckles. “Are you sure it’s not… this one?”
They pull off the trick, quickly reaching out behind Carly’s ear, then retracting their hand and holding out a Brave Mint— suited to a little heroine like her, they think.
“Huh. Neat trick!” Carly says.
“Take it. Consider it a gesture of good will!” Ace says.
Carly looks surprised, but then smiles and nods, taking the mint and opening up her bag to put it somewhere inside.
They arrive at Blacksteam soon after. Ace takes Carly and Amaria to the roof, just as planned, then heads back to the ground and knocks Cain out.
They send a quick message, and soon the front door opens, allowing them to drag him inside. They hand him off to some grunts, instruct them to take him to Azurine Island, and then head off to check on the ladies.
Surprisingly, though, as Ace approaches the turn to the hallway that Carly and Amaria should be trapped at the other end of, the former runs up. It startles Ace enough to make them back up a few feet on impulse.
“Ah, you’ve broken through, have you…” they say.
“Thanks to Amy,” Carly says. “Though I’m sure you could tell that on your own.”
It’s true. Although Ace cannot see the Gym Leader over the wall of grunts on the other end of the hall, they can certainly hear the sound of Water Type moves being used against said grunts’ Pokémon.
A couple grunts are running back down the hall, as if they came from the side Ace and Carly are on. This is most likely because they started to chase Carly, only to stop and return to the bigger threat when they saw Ace. As they should— Ace can be trusted to get things done for the family, after all.
The current situation is not ideal. But there is always a backup plan. What kind of magician just admits defeat after a trick is a dud? Ace just needs to get Carly’s guard down, first.
“I’ll hand it to her, she doesn’t hesitate to make an opportunity,” Ace says, grinning and taking a step closer as they continue. “I admit I wasn’t expecting you to split up, and yet… perhaps a slow clap for the good show is in order.”
“Ace,” Carly says as they do just that. “Why were all those grunts there in the first place?”
“Yours truly again, dear fan,” Ace says. “I’d hoped not to have to perform like this now, but it seems that it was simply not in the stars.”
“So it was all a lie, then? I’m guessing you were never even fired in the first place?” Carly asks.
Ace’s grin drops. “…would you believe, even now, that I am simply pretending to be a double agent, working for them that I might better serve you?”
“I wish that I could say yes,” Carly says.
…what an unexpected answer.
Ace had something to say if she said no. They even had something for if she said yes. But not for… whatever that means.
They clear their throat. Put a grin back on. “Well, I’d hoped to preserve this balancing act for longer, but alas— it appears that more dire things than my own wishes are at stake here.”
Of course, this is something they are very used to, so it’s not as bad as they’re making it out to be. But when are they one to not put on a show?
“For the mask to come off so soon, I am disheartened!” Ace claims.
They clutch their chest and put on a sad expression, closing their eyes and everything. “Crestfallen!”
They put the back of their free hand to their forehead. “Inconsolably melancholic!”
They crack an eye open. “…can’t you tell?”
But Carly only stares at them with a frown. “Where’s Cain?”
Ace shakes their head. “Ah, I’m afraid I can’t quite tell you that! But how about something of a compromise?”
They launch into the “reveals,” aka some clarifying information that’s not really meant to reveal much of anything, aside from assurances that certain parties are safe. They can’t just spill secrets, not when there are so many nearby to hear them!
Carly seems quite upset to hear that Ace wiped a lot more information from that chip than they’d revealed, and irked when hearing that the orphanage children are to be harnessed, not destroyed.
“That’s a really awful way to talk about a bunch of children,” she says.
Of course it is. But if Ace shared their actual opinion on everything the family did, especially so soon after getting in trouble… well, it would surely not end too well for them!
Instead, they glance away for a moment. “…even so, not all among us share this value— and not in the way you hope for— but you have my personal gold star guarantee, little heroine, none among them will be harmed.”
Carly doesn’t look convinced, though. “I want to believe it. But does that really mean anything, at this point?”
“I suppose that is a very valid question,” Ace concedes.
Carly huffs. “None of what you just said is actually helpful to me. It was all either obvious things I could’ve or already had figured out on my own, or things you can’t really back up. So let’s just…”
Her hand moves to her Poké Balls, but Ace lunges forward. “Not so fast!”
They push Carly back, then quickly reach into their pocket while she’s unbalanced, pressing a button on a remote. She falls through the trap door with a shriek of surprise.
“Well, hopefully that will be enough…” Ace mutters, frowning. “…inconsolably melancholic… can’t you tell?”
Ace can pretend they’re fine with things all they like. But… they don’t like the way that things are changing, lately. And it feels like there’s even bigger changes on the horizon, and to be quite honest? They fear this new version of the family might not have room for them in it.
And the methods… well, it’s not like they were squeaky clean before. But these new ones are definitely flashier. Have higher mortality rates, and now that seems to be the whole point, instead of simply chasing people away and shutting things down.
But… this is still Ace’s family. The ones that accepted them when their blood one didn’t want them anymore. So they can’t just turn their back on them.
Maybe they should go help with Amaria. Instead, they just walk off.
Perhaps they will head to the old Yureyu building, and check on the kids.
— — —
Ace plays the scout.
The PULSE in Byxbysion was as much of a surprise to the others as it was to Ace, which is… well, concerning! A PULSE is a powerful and dangerous thing when under supervision, so to hear there might be one outside of the family’s knowledge? Worrisome, to say the least.
So Ace heads out to the Byxbysion Wasteland to figure things out. Which is more difficult than it has any right to be— this place is insane! Full of felled buildings, strange objects, and dark tunnels.
If Ace were just here for their own reasons, they’d probably appreciate the magic of it all. Even now, they acknowledge that it is a severely underappreciated place, the average citizen of Reborn just too caught up in their ideas of comfort and how things should be to give Byxbysion a chance and see the beauty in it.
It’s just also an extremely frustrating place to look for something hidden. Ace has been here since before the break of dawn, and has only just recently gotten results.
As they tap away on a terminal, they hear grass rustling, and look up to see none other than Carly approaching. “Ah, done in Apophyll already, are we?”
Carly flinches.
Odd. Did something happen? Ace has heard that the PULSE Camerupt plan had failed, but not the details, yet.
They open their mouth to continue, only to be cut off by Carly holding up her hand. “Wait. I have a question.”
“I may have an answer, but no promises!” Ace says.
“Back at the police station, why did you let us know about the PULSE Camerupt?” Carly asks.
“Well I had to let you all look at something, lest you catch onto the deception!” Ace says. “The best schemes use a bit of truth, after all! And I’ll have you remember, I didn’t actually look at the information on the PULSEs before letting you all see it.”
“But that’s even more suspicious. You could’ve just told us about the Muk, since you were already planning on taking us to Blacksteam, right?” Carly points out. “Even the one here could’ve made sense to tell us about as a backup plan; considering how confusing this place is, it would make at least some sense for that to be a backup trap of some kind. Or maybe you really didn’t know about this one.
“But I just… can’t figure out why you would let us know about the Camerupt. You knew about that one, right? So even if you didn’t know the information was there, you must’ve known it was a possibility. Even if you were planning to trap all three of us, why risk letting us see it? Especially since that cop, Gavin, heard everything.
“Amy trusted you completely at that point— I genuinely believe you could’ve gotten away with just deleting the document, showing us something else, and letting us know about the Muk yourself, if you’d really wanted to. So why?”
…Ace hadn’t expected her to pick up on that.
“I’m afraid I can’t say!” Ace says. “Perhaps there is a reason, or perhaps there is none at all. I would like to remind you once again that I am something of a wild card~ But you are not here to listen to the ramblings of your deceiver. You are here because you— like I— have been deceived!”
It’s a completely obvious subject change, and from the look on Carly’s face, they immediately know that she knows it is. But thankfully she doesn’t push, instead accepting it. “All right, fine. I’ll bite. How were you deceived?”
Ace immediately launches into a flowery little speech about how the PULSE here was unknown even to the family, and then offers the information to Carly, provided she can beat them in a battle. They must at least appear to have tried, after all.
“So is this useless information, or just you being a wild card?” Carly asks as Ace pulls out Zoroark’s Poké Ball.
“You’ll have to find out!” they say, sending out their Pokémon, disguised as Delphox.
“…all right. I guess I can do that,” Carly says. She turns, walks some distance away, takes a Poké Ball in hand, and sends out a Primarina. “Percy, Moonblast!”
Ah. She must’ve figured out that trick after the first time. Perhaps they’ll need to change things up a bit next time.
Ace also learns, during the fight, that Carly’s Swablu has evolved into an Altaria. They try not to look at it too much while it’s out.
Although the same can’t be said for Carly. She stares at Ace quite frequently throughout the battle, head tilted just a bit. It is, if they are being quite honest, a bit unnerving. Almost like she is trying to pull them apart.
“And now might I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground…” Ace quotes as they send out their Honchcrow, because, well, they might as well say something, right?
“Would you?” Carly asks.
“Well, there isn’t much sea here to give!” Ace says.
The battle ends like it began— with Moonblast.
They both recall their Pokémon, and Ace claps. “Bravo, little heroine, bravo~ With a performance such as that, who could complain? Certainly not my higher-ups, that’s for sure!”
“Is that all you care about?” Carly asks.
Ace huffs. “You know, I believe it might benefit you to quit trying to look behind the curtain!”
Carly shrugs. “So… the information, then?”
But of course.
Ace reveals to her that the PULSE in Byxbysion is but an incomplete prototype. Nothing but abandoned old junk, really.
“Regardless, the machine is entirely inactive. Utterly useless to us. You may ignore it in its entirety!” Ace says.
Carly squints at them. “…we both know I’m not going to do that.”
“Of course we do!” Ace says. “But this is no deception, not this time! In fact, seek it out if you so please; it matters not to us. But you truly can consider the matter entirely optional, and otherwise resolved! And that, little friend, is a gold star guarantee~”
They glance away with a grimace. “Besides, the fewer people who have to deal with that creature, the better for us all…”
Carly perks up. “So there is something?”
“Yes, but… oh, forget it. I doubt you’d believe me anyways,” Ace says, shaking their head. “But regardless, the goose has been chased, and it is time for me to be well on my way. You’ve other business in the area, have you not?”
After all, the Badge for the Gym here is a requirement to use Strength, and Strength is currently a requirement to get through the old railnet, and getting through the old railnet is, at least for Carly, a requirement to get to the kids. So Ace points her in the direction of said Gym, before turning back to the terminal.
“The folk who live here aren’t the sort we’d make our targets anyway. Topsy and turvy though this place may be, they’ve settled into it out of gratitude and desperation in equal measure,” Ace says, recalling something Solaris once told them about exiles. They look back to Carly. “We have no quarrel with them.”
“Really?” Carly asks, tilting her head a bit.
“Of course not. After all, they live with the land— rather than against it. There is magic in nature too, and it must be protected. That’s all we really want, don’t you know?” Ace asks.
“Is there not magic in the city, too?” Carly asks.
That’s a strange question to be sure, even putting aside the fact that they would’ve expected her to go for pointing out that the family had been poisoning Azurine Lake.
Maybe the question would’ve made sense before the city’s decline, but Ace doesn’t think they’ve ever met anyone who would describe the Reborn City of today as “magic.” They can’t help but wonder if she’s just trying to be a contrarian.
So they wave the question off, taking out the tool for their getaway trick. “If that’s what you want to believe. Until next time, little heroine, snap, flash, and bang!”
And then they are gone.
Out of sight of anyone else, Ace frowns. That encounter had not gone how they’d expected.
Because Carly was right; Ace hadn’t had to let her and her friends know about the PULSE Camerupt plans. They’d just wanted to.
The mass murder of a community of people devoted to self betterment, carried out in perhaps the most horrific way possible? Is that really the kind of thing the family is doing these days?
Ace’s heart had skipped a beat at realizing Borealis may have discovered it. Not out of fear that Carly, Cain, and Amaria would learn about it, but rather the opposite; Ace had realized that that was likely their chance to let people know about it, and possibly even stop it.
Was that wrong of Ace? It feels mostly right… but at the same time, they cannot help but feel twinges of regret at having betrayed the family in such a way. Solaris, Elias, and many others would certainly be very upset with Ace if they found out what they did and why. And that’s a scary thought.
They shake their head— they really do have other things to focus on.
Still, though… what they wouldn’t give for the family to return to the way it used to be.
— — —
Ace plays the guard dog.
Elias has finally tracked down Luna, and with the help of several others, was able to bring her back to the sanctum. In fact, it was Ace themself who nabbed her. And now, he intends to do something about her disobedience.
He really has no grounds for it. Luna is an adult now, and even if she wasn’t, it’s really hard to argue there’s anything morally correct about chaining your child down and performing ceremonies on them.
But Elias doesn’t really care about what the laws of Reborn City say, and is utterly convinced that this is what Luna needs, so Ace is supposed to think the same, and push down a certain thought that occurred to them when they’d first seen her again.
Now, they specifically act as extra security, in case Carly or Cain somehow break free of their confines to cause trouble— as the former in particular is wont to do— or Radomus somehow sneaks in.
And Carly did, in fact, break free from the dungeon, and managed to sneak up to the top floor of the sanctum. She beats down acolytes left and right, and disables the gate one lock at a time. She also uses the Light Shards sitting on pedestals. Elias probably won’t like any of that.
Ace specifically waits until the last possible moment, as Carly runs down the hallway to where Luna is, to confront her. Call it drama. Or maybe something else.
“Oh, little heroine~” Ace calls, causing Carly to turn around. They appear, then spin and bow. “Did you miss me~?”
“Maybe a little,” Carly says. “Better a magician than a cultist, in my book.”
It feels a bit odd to hear, for some reason.
“Well, I’m afraid the nature of show business is such that my work takes me behind the scenes from time to time,” Ace says.
“You mean like kidnapping Luna?” Carly asks.
Ace holds back a grimace. “So it seems! But still, I was ever-so impressed with your display against Radomus! He’s a history with us, you see— an illusionist, much like me— and you taking him out of the picture for just a moment was all the cue we needed! While ‘tis true that a favor done freely deserves one in kind, I’m afraid that this act is one that must go on! Boss’ orders and all.”
Carly scowls. “Don’t say that.”
“Oh? Did I strike a nerve?” Ace asks.
“Don’t talk like I’m the one responsible for Luna’s kidnapping,” Carly clarifies. “That was you all.”
“Apologies, then,” Ace says, taking Alakazam’s Poké Ball in hand. “But the family has business above, and it rather requires you to not interfere.”
“That’s exactly why I have to,” Carly says, grabbing a Poké Ball of her own. “Luna has no desire to be part of this, and family isn’t something that can be forced.”
Of course it can’t be.
But they don’t say that. “Instead of intervention, I must insist on instigating an immediate intermission this instant! Let the curtain fall alongside you!”
Ace sends out Alakazam, and Carly sends out her Primarina, commanding it to use Moonblast. At first, Ace pats themself on the back that waiting to send out Zoroark worked…
…but when they actually do send her out a few Pokémon later, disguised as Delphox, Carly sends out that Altaria that Ace tries not to look too much at and has it use Moonblast.
Hmm. Maybe Ace should have Zoroark disguise as something else next time. They should’ve known, really, with how fast Carly catches onto tricks.
Sooner than later, they are sending in their actual Delphox, and she is sending back in Primarina.
“Perhaps it is foolish to expect the third movement to sing a separate song from the first two,” Ace says.
“Funny you should mention singing… although this might not quite be that, even with a Primarina,” Carly says. “Percy, Hyper Voice!”
“Delphox, Psyshock!” Ace commands.
Hyper Voice hits hard. Though not quite in the usual way it would, in these ever holy halls— from the looks of it, Carly’s Primarina must have the Pokemon’s Hidden Ability.
Delphox puts up a valiant effort, truly. Attacks and stays up for as long as he can. But that doesn’t end up being all that long.
“But then, what am I if not a fool?” Ace mumbles, face falling, as they and Carly both recall their Pokémon.
They really should’ve known this would happen. Carly has started to reach “recurring headache” status amongst the family by now— there are more members that have at least one story of being beaten by her than those who don’t, it seems. And yet…
Ace looks down, sighing. “Well, it’s another embarrassing mishap then. Delightful. Perhaps I truly have outstayed my usefulness. They’ve no need for my real talents with ‘T’ about, and paltry tricks can only keep one relevant for so long.”
“Uh… are you all right?” Carly asks, actually sounding… concerned.
Ace looks back up to her. Examines her face for a moment, and she actually looks concerned, too, what an oddity.
“Tell me, Carly, what is family to you? Is it those with whom you share blood and status, or those with whom you share loyalty?” Ace asks.
“Loyalty, of course,” Carly says without hesitation.
Ace smiles, perhaps a bit more sadly than they intend to. “It is a lovely lie to tell. Yet, what is loyalty but an illusion?”
“It’s not a lie, or an illusion,” Carly says. “Why would you say that?”
“Because it is a promise of intentions in a future which cannot be promised,” Ace says, smile falling.
Carly shakes her head. “No, it’s more than that. I’ve been through a lot, since coming to Reborn, and most of that was done with others. We care about each other. And I do care about my blood relatives, but that’s because they care about me. There’s loyalty there, too.
“And I think that you’re severely underestimating the worth of promises. My friends have had my back, and I’ve had theirs, and so I know I can count on them to keep doing so. All I need to hear from them is a promise they’ll do their best— that’s more than enough to know I’m in good hands.”
“…you’re a lucky one, to be so certain,” Ace says, looking away. “Some of us can’t be. Still, for some of those some of us, we have nothing else. We cling to fantastical illusions because the truth is too empty to face.”
Ace looks back to Carly. She’s looking at them with her head tilted just slightly, and again, a strange look of concern.
“And here was a group that needed such promises,” Ace continues. “Their goals are neither ignoble nor righteous. But they were family, and I needed that.”
“…you joined Team Meteor because you had nobody else…?” Carly asks.
Why is she acting so concerned? It makes no sense, but there’s no other way to interpret her tone and expression. A ploy, perhaps? Or…?
Whatever it is, all Ace can do is smile sadly once again.
And then there’s another voice from behind Carly, causing her to whip around.
“Please, stop this already! Get your hands off of me!”
“Luna!” Carly cries, running off.
Ah. Of course. It’s Luna that Carly is here for, after all.
Ace follows, soon arriving at the central area. And as Luna comes into view, chained to an alter, the thought from before strikes again.
Elias clearly isn’t happy that Carly made her way to the area, but he has a backup plan— threatening Cain’s life. Elias’ new assistant, Bennett, drags the boy in.
Carly looks uncertain of what to do, biting her lip. Cain, perhaps predictably given what Ace knows, makes sexual jokes. And insults Bennett’s hair. He’s clearly offended, but Ace agrees, though much more politely, and in an advice giving way.
Cain grimaces. “I don’t know how I feel about you of all people backing me up here…”
“Ah, still smarting about the taller of my tales, are we? As I said just moments ago, loyalty is but an illusion! We allow ourselves to be deceived when it is most convenient to us,” Ace says. “And was it not convenient indeed, for you then? It nearly led you to your own family— had you but the heart to take a few steps further forward.”
“Hey, shut up!” Carly snaps defensively as Cain looks away with a frown.
Maybe Ace should. Nobody likes a hypocrite, after all.
Elias clearly thinks very little of Cain’s loyalty, or lack thereof, to his blood, so that’s what should matter, even as he uses that sentiment to chastise Luna.
Elias talks about legacy, and faith. Luna talks about faith in herself. About who she is, and that reminds Ace of their earlier thought yet again.
But of course, Elias remains unmoved, soon making his intentions to shave Luna’s head known.
Multiple people protest this move. Luna, Carly, Bennett, even Ace! But Elias insists that it is something he must do.
And then there’s an interruption. A certain Gardevoir appears, teleporting all of the nearby acolytes away except for one, who turns out to be Radomus. He grabs Elias’ arms, keeping him from touching Luna. Gardevoir helps free Cain, and then he and Carly rush to undo Luna’s bindings.
It’s all very touching… to Luna, of course.
Once she’s unbound— although it doesn’t happen before Elias tears one of his arms free and rips the Emerald Brooch off of her— Carly helps her down from the alter, then gets between her and Elias.
“You will not be touching her again,” Carly says firmly, eyes blazing strongly enough that it’s noticeable even in the low lighting.
“How dare you make demands of me regarding my daughter?” Elias asks.
“It’s not a demand. It’s a statement,” Carly says.
“I believe we’ve no further business here then,” Radomus says. “Gardevoir, do we have a retreat?”
“As if I will simply allow you to leave unopposed!” Elias protests.
“No, I think you will,” Ace says, before stepping forward to stand by him. “The show is over, Elias. Whatever you hoped to accomplish cannot be done by force. I won’t allow you to make the matter worse for everyone by trying to do so.”
Elias scowls. “After everything, even you presume to defy me? And what of the family you spoke of?”
“And what did I say about loyalty?” Ace asks. “Is this really the kind of family you want to have? Because I don’t think it is.”
It would probably be difficult to convince anyone else in the room— aside from perhaps Bennett— of the fact, but Ace knows that Elias does care deeply about Luna. Misguided though he may be, that’s why he did all of this.
But it’s not what’s best for her, and what Carly said before is spot on— family can’t be forced. Ace would know, after all.
And then there’s that thought that struck them before. That even passed out, or in chains, Luna looked more like herself than she ever did before running away.
So Ace makes sure Elias’ hand is stayed, and the little heroes teleport away.
He’s not happy. But this was the right thing to do.
Ace just hopes it won’t reflect too poorly on them.
— — —
Ace plays the civilian.
They’ve mostly been stationed at the fake Devon building for the last few days. Helping with smaller tasks, but with not much else to do. They can’t help but wonder if it is a punishment.
It does, however, give them free time, with which they can do as they wish as long as they can be contacted. And today, they decide to find something in the city to do… mainly because of someone else who has shown up.
T. Titawin. Terra. The one member of the family that Ace has not even attempted to get along with.
The reasons for this are obvious. Terra is the one who took Ace’s old job, for one, and anyone would be bitter over that.
There’s also the fact that she is, to put it simply, extremely obnoxious. Very few would probably be willing to put up with the way she talks and cackles, were it not for her usefulness.
But if Ace is to be completely honest… there is another reason. One tied to Terra’s civilian identity.
It is jealousy. Because she gets to spend time with Ciel. They work together at the Agate Circus, serving as its star attraction alongside the Fighting Type Gym Leader, Samson.
Ace, of course, can’t really know everything about their relationship, but by all reports, they seem to get on well enough. If Terra’s own words are to be believed, they get on even better, but… well, taking everything she says at face value seems like a bad idea, even if it weren’t something Ace didn’t want to believe.
For all they know, Ciel secretly loathes Terra, and just pretends otherwise for work. But even then, that thought is hard to swallow— that Ciel could pretend so well for someone else, and would rather have someone she loathes around than Ace.
They try not to think about those things when they can help it. But Terra’s presence makes those thoughts harder to avoid, so Ace changes into less eye catching clothes and heads out into the city to get away from her.
As they walk through Obsidia Park, trying to figure out what to do, they come across someone else they should probably be avoiding, just sitting in the grass under a tree, eating ice cream from a cup. Briefly, they wonder why she’s sitting in the grass instead of on a bench, before realizing there aren’t any— any that were once in the park were probably destroyed by the PULSE Tangrowth.
“Oh, hey, Ace,” Carly says. “What’s up?”
“I’m just enjoying some time off from my duties,” Ace answers, hiding their confusion at the casual greeting. “As you seem to be as well!”
“Yeah, we’re just hanging out,” Carly says.
By “we,” she is clearly referring to the six Pokémon she has nearby, all let out to relax in the park. Now more than ever, Ace tries to avoid looking at the Altaria.
Then Carly scoots slightly to the side and pats the ground next to her. “Wanna sit with me?”
What a completely baffling offer. Sure, Ace has assisted her before, but in the end, the two of them are foes. Carly should be upset to see them. Maybe even attempt to call the police. Not offer her company, as if they are friends, or at least casual acquaintances.
And Ace should really not even consider it. They should escape back to base, now that they have been recognized. Maybe even report Carly’s presence here. And yet…
Ace plays the acquaintance.
They move and lower themselves to the ground to sit next to Carly. “Do you always offer to spend time with your enemies?”
“I wouldn’t say always, but you’re not the first,” Carly admits. “Anyway, how are you feeling?”
“As fine as I have ever been,” Ace says. “Though I warn you, little heroine, if this is an attempt to get secrets out of me, it won’t work!”
“No, we’re just chilling,” Carly insists. “But I did want to thank you for a few days ago. That was cool of you.”
“It was only what was best for the family,” Ace says.
Carly hums, and it’s quiet for a few moments as she eats before Ace speaks up again. “I have some questions.”
“I might have answers, but obviously no promises,” Carly says.
“How do you keep doing it?” Ace asks. They’re not usually one to question others’ tricks, but… well, they’re curious today. “Going up against us, I mean. I know that that is no simple feat. And yet you make it look easy!”
“It’s not,” Carly admits.
“And yet you keep doing it, persistent as can be,” Ace says. “Why don’t you just stop? Run somewhere far away, or at least hide somewhere, and let this whole mess be someone else’s problem? I’m well aware that you only came to this region recently. So why do you fight for it so fiercely, when it would be so much easier not to?”
Carly thinks for a moment. “Well, what’s the use of escaping the future when you can mold it into whatever you please?”
Ace wonders if she really believes that. But before they can say anything, she puts her spoon in her cup and holds up her now free hand. “Wait, let me guess— you don’t know if that’s something I really believe?”
“Did you pick up a mind reading trick somewhere?” Ace asks.
“Nah, I just stole both of those lines from a song,” Carly admits before picking the spoon back up and taking another bite. “It’s true though! I don’t really see the point in running and hiding, much less offloading it all to someone else, when I can do something about what’s happening. What about you? Do you ever think about quitting Meteor?”
All the time. They never entertain it.
“Because you really should,” Carly continues. “You can come hang out with me and my friends instead. It’ll be cool.”
“I have my doubts Cain would be very happy with that,” Ace points out.
“Yeah, but I have friends other than just him. You two wouldn’t have to interact,” Carly says.
This is completely nonsensical. Ace already betrayed Carly once. Why is she offering them a chance to do it again?
“I’m afraid that won’t be happening,” Ace says. “Family hopping isn’t something anyone is keen on! And weren’t you the one to say that family can’t be forced?”
“Yeah. But there’s a difference between forcing and trying. So I won’t force you, but it’s an open offer,” Carly says. “Did you have any other questions?”
“During our encounter in Byxbysion, you said there was magic in this city,” Ace recalls. “That was a joke, yes?”
“What? No, I was completely serious,” Carly says, seeming surprised. “Why would it have been a joke?”
“Because… well, look at this place,” Ace says, gesturing vaguely around at the park. “I cannot think of anyone aside from you who would call this ‘magic,’ and it is one of the city’s more picturesque locales!”
“Really? I can think of a few people,” Carly says. “I first met one of my friends in this park, and she had some fondness for it even though she was very aware of its flaws. Another friend remembers the way the city used to be, and wants to bring it back to that, which wouldn’t be possible if the magic wasn’t still at least a little there.
“And as for me… well, I obviously don’t know the way the city used to be, but I can still see magic in it. In the cracks where most people don’t look. It’s a beautiful, shining place, I think, it’s just gotten dirty.”
“How can you see that under all this?” Ace asks.
“I dunno. Maybe I’m just used to it,” Carly says. “Finding beauty in new things, I mean. I did a lot of traveling when I was younger. That’s part of why I came here, y’know? I’d already seen so much of the regions near my own, and they’re all beautiful, but I wanted to see more.”
Ace isn’t really sure what to say in response.
Carly sets her spoon down again and pulls her Pokégear from her pocket, checking it. “I should go, but it was nice talking to you, Ace. See ya later!”
“I’m sure that you will. Farewell for now, little heroine~” Ace says.
Carly nods, then stands up. Once she’s recalled all of her Pokémon, she leaves.
Ace, on the other hand, stays put. Thinks.
What an odd encounter that was. Ace racks their brain for any evidence it could have been a trick of some kind, but comes up empty handed.
But then… tricks are their forte, aren’t they? No, in the end, the most sensible explanation is that Carly was being genuine. But that’s not just odd. It’s scary.
Carly is… well, she’s in the right, for one thing. There’s a reason Ace calls her a heroine and not a villainess, even though she’s going up against them and their family.
As Ace said before, while the family’s goals may be noble, their actions are not righteous. And it’s only getting worse and worse as time goes on. So it is objectively a good thing, to be fighting against them.
But on a more personal level? Carly is someone Ace can see themselves being fond of.
And that’s a scary thought indeed. Fondness is a double-edged sword, after all, even when applied to a safer target. It both lets one have deeper connections with others, and gives those others the ability to hurt them deeper.
Fondness for an enemy, though? Now that is a fool’s play, something that can only result in pain. An enemy is someone one is supposed to desire be stopped. Struck down, even.
And Ace knows that rings true for the family. They desire Carly’s downfall, or even her demise, and so Ace is supposed to as well. And yet…
They sit there for a while yet, trying to suppress this feeling.
— — —
Ace plays the dungeon master.
DnD is a nice little distraction that they, Taka, Zero, Eve, and Lumi have gotten in the habit of, though this is the first time in a while they’ve all been free to do it together. And thankfully, Terra has not found out about this meeting like she did the last one.
Ace is really glad they can all do this. Zero is getting more agitated recently, which effects Eve and Lumi as well. His bickering with the two has definitely become more common, and that’s no good for any trio, but especially one that shares a body.
And Ace swears that Taka is acting different lately. Part of it is likely the pressure of his role, but there are other things that don’t quite line up with that. He’s been a bit spacey, even, although Ace thinks they are the only one who has noticed it.
So it’s nice to be able to spend some downtime with the four of them, and make sure they’re doing all right.
As is a somewhat common occurrence, however, the game has been paused to talk about other things. In this case, Zero complaining about Carly.
“I just don’t get what her problem is!” he says. “Why does she have to be so… well, such a headache?”
“I dunno, she seems nice…” Lumi says.
“Please. She’s killing the PULSE Pokémon, remember?” Zero points out.
“Only because that is the natural consequence of defeating them,” Eve counters.
“Yeah, well… she also killed Borealis, remember?” Zero asks. “You guys heard about that too, right?”
“Yeah, but… it’s just a rumor, right?” Taka asks. “There’s no solid proof she actually did it.”
“But it makes sense!” Zero argues. “Ace, didn’t you say she and him ran off together, and then he turned up dead?”
“That is what I saw, yes,” Ace says. “But I will remind you that there was some time between the escape and the confirmation of death, so any number of things could’ve happened in between!”
“But who else could it have been, and why wouldn’t she have?” Zero asks. “Doesn’t it just make the most sense?”
“Um… she seemed really upset about killing Tangrowth, Muk, and Abra,” Lumi says. “So no, it kinda doesn’t really make sense…”
“The evidence for it is all circumstantial at best, so I agree with Lumi,” Eve says.
Zero groans. “Well, what do you two think?”
Taka glances away. “…I don’t think she did it.”
“As your companions said, the evidence isn’t really all that strong, and the act in question doesn’t seem to be in her nature to do! And so I don’t believe that she did it either,” Ace says. “Sorry, but it seems you’re outvoted!”
“Are you sure there’s nothing in her past that lines up with it? Didn’t you say you were looking into her?” Zero asks.
He stares at them, and Taka looks over to Ace as well. It’s clear all attention is on them.
Ace plays the fool.
“…nope! I didn’t find anything,” they say after a moment.
Zero looks annoyed by the answer, but Ace could swear something like relief flashes in Taka’s eyes for a moment. They themselves, on the other hand, feel conflicted.
It’s technically the truth. They actually never did finish their research into Carly, too preoccupied with other things lately.
Of course, there was that one tidbit about her possibly being the daughter of a famous Coordinator, which was arguably backed up by Carly’s own claims about traveling a lot. But it’s not confirmed, and it really has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
But it also occurs to Ace that they probably should’ve told the family about that at some point. Confirmed information is best, but suspected information is still good.
Ah, but… Solaris probably already knows, doesn’t he? Terra has probably found out everything Ace has, and even confirmed or denied it.
Zero grunts. “Whatever. Let’s just get back to the game.”
Ace finds themself grateful to hear it.
— — —
Ace plays the errand person.
Amaria apparently recently wound up in the family’s clutches again, this time alongside the Steel Type Leader. This means that the Sapphire Bracelets have also found their way back to them.
The thing is, though, that whoever was last in charge at the Water Treatment Center, where the two girls are, clearly didn’t recognize the Bracelets. So it was only a little while ago, after Taka arrived to take over, that they were radioed in.
Knowing that they’ve been in reach without being retrieved for a few days now has clearly made Solaris antsy. Not only has Ace been sent to retrieve them, but several others prepare to strike at Amaria’s home, should the Bracelets be taken before they can get them. Perhaps by a certain little heroine.
And sure enough, as Ace descends the ladder to the room behind the control room, they hear familiar voices, and pause their climb just a bit above the bottom. One voice is Taka’s, the other is Carly’s, but it’s difficult to make out what they’re saying. Ace strains their ears.
“…I want you to be able to choose,” Carly says, voice… there’s some desperation in it, but is that softness as well?
“…that means a lot to me,” Taka says. “But it’s just not possible. I’m sorry…”
…oh?
Ace decides the best way to hear more would be to get a bit closer, and moves to finish their descent… only to make a mistake. Still focused on trying to listen in, their foot misses the next rung, and they make a sound of surprise on instinct before they readjust.
“…hello? Who’s there?” Taka calls out cautiously.
…oops.
Ace knows that that’s it. The other two aren’t going to go back to their conversation, now that they know someone is here. So Ace climbs the rest of the way down the ladder and walks into the control room. “Well, hello there, little darlings!”
The other two look terrified to see them, Carly in particular backing up a few steps, and Ace isn’t too fond of the way those things make them feel.
But they brush it off, walking over to Taka and holding a hand out. “Little prince, I understand you have something for us!”
“Uh… about that,” Taka mutters.
“I beat him,” Carly says quickly. “I beat him in a battle and took them.”
“I suppose I could’ve guessed!” Ace says. “I, for one, see no need to keep the audience waiting!”
They step forward, taking out Roserade’s Poké Ball and sending her out. “Let us see if we can’t magic those Sapphire Bracelets away from Carly by the count of three!”
Looking unsure, Carly takes a Luxury Ball in hand and sends out a… well, Ace isn’t sure what it is. Something with a pink and white head plume and mismatched legs.
The battle goes a bit differently than usual.
It mostly plays out the same, sure. Carly takes a definite lead, and Ace glances away from her Altaria when it comes out.
But there are definite differences, too. Ace finally manages to trick Carly by sending out Zoroark later and having her disguise as Metagross. But aside from that…
“Ah, is it just me? Or does your heart not seem to really be in this? What are you hiding?” Ace asks as they send out their actual Metagross, although they have an inkling or two.
Carly frowns and looks away, to her Primarina. “Percy. Hyper Voice.”
As always, it doesn’t take long for Ace to lose. And they figure it out… or at least one part of it.
“You don’t have them, do you?” they ask as they both recall their Pokémon.
Carly looks relieved at the question. “No, I don’t.”
Ace turns back to Taka. “Little prince, what’s going on here?”
“They were, uh, taken. By someone else,” Taka says nervously, before glancing away. “That Steel Leader. She held an Aegislash to my throat…”
“That’s right! Titania took them, and I stayed behind to make sure Taka couldn’t reclaim them,” Carly adds.
Well, that’s a bit different than the initial story. Plus, Ace looks around, and sees that there’s no mess aside from the usual and what they and Carly caused, and that Taka’s Poké Balls are vibrant in color, a sure sign that his team’s at full health.
When Ace asks Taka about it, he looks away again, expression ashamed. Ace looks between him, and Carly’s own worried expression… and some things click.
They signal off with their pager, and tell Carly about the team outside. With one last quick, regretful look sent Taka’s way, she runs off.
Once the sound of her footsteps fades, Ace turns back to Taka, asking what’s wrong. He backs up against the wall, conflicted and unwilling to tell, so…
Ace plays the mind reader.
They tell Taka things they’ve figured out under the guise of reading his mind— that he gave away the Sapphire Bracelets freely, that he and Carly had a private conversation and were going to battle to cover things up, only to be interrupted by Ace, that he doesn’t agree with his father’s actions but feels he can’t disappoint the man, and that Lin is putting Taka in a tough spot.
And so Taka, to Ace’s great relief, finally opens up to them about his fears about being a liability. That Lin will do something to him for it, and that his father may be better off without him.
That’s no good at all. Taka is an essential part of this family, one of its core members, and someone Ace cares very dearly about. It hurts to know he’s been carrying an even heavier burden than they realized, and didn’t feel like he could tell them about it.
Of course, Lin is not the type to care about such things. She seems far too invested in the whole “New World” nonsense, and has been making power plays since… well, as long as she’s been around, now that Ace thinks about it. They’ve known for a fact that she was trouble since witnessing her beat down a fallen foe without mercy, they’ve just been fool enough not to say anything.
That will end now. Taka is too fearful of his father’s reaction to say something, so Ace offers to be the one to start the conversation. It’s for Solaris’ sake as well— he must know that Lin is a threat to everything he cares about.
“Rest yourself, tired scion. This will all be resolved soon,” Ace says, tone soft.
Taka looks away, unsure.
Hoping to introduce a bit of levity to the situation, Ace’s expression turns teasing. “And perhaps one day, you will even be able to be with the little heroine~”
Taka’s looks back to them immediately at that, face dusting just a tad pink. “Excuse me?”
Ace chuckles lightly. “Oh, I may be a reader of minds, not hearts, but I have reason to believe she holds some space in both of yours!”
They sigh, clasping their hands together and pressing the back of one to their cheek. “And isn’t that just a tale as old as time? A royal and a hero, intertwined in destiny and love both?”
Taka frowns, glancing towards the door Carly left out of. “…it’s one-sided. Please don’t tell anyone.”
Ace frowns, bringing their hands away from their face and tilting their head. “‘One-sided?’ Are you quite sure?”
“Of course I am. That’s all it can be,” Taka insists.
Ace hums. “So you say. But if you ask me— though I’m well aware that you have not— I think she cares about you quite a bit.”
“Would it even matter if she did?” Taka asks. “She’s our enemy.”
…ah. Right.
Ace glances away. “…well, I suppose it is about time I should go. Next time you and I see each other, we will hopefully be part of a one hundred percent Lin-free family.”
They turn and start to walk off, only for Taka to speak up again, grabbing their attention. “Ace— I wanted to say— um… I really…”
He looks away, and Ace tilts their head. “Hmm?”
Taka hesitates, then looks back to them. “Can you really read minds?”
No, I just overheard part of your conversation with Carly.
No, I just had to be incredibly observant to get this far and remain useful.
No, I just care about you more than you realize.
“What do you think, little prince?” Ace asks with a coy smile before leaving.
— — —
Ace plays the messenger.
They word their message to Solaris very carefully, hopeful that it may sway him.
These are unsettling times. Things really have changed before Ace’s very eyes… or perhaps it would be more accurate, at least in some cases, to say things just became more noticeable.
Ace may have chosen to join this family, but they know that not everyone did, including some of those they consider closest to them. Taka has been unhappy for a long time, and Lumi and Eve were forced into their places just as they were forced into Zero’s body. Luna ran away at the first opportunity, and Ace knows that it is more inability than lack of desire that keeps the other three from following.
And those who are here by choice have become increasingly difficult to approach. Zero seems to grow quicker to anger by the day, Elias has been somewhat sour with Ace since they helped Luna’s rescuers, and Solaris focuses on ever more aggressive methods to achieve his goals.
In truth, Ace knows that Lin is not the only problem with the family, but she is like a deadly infection in an already sickly body— she must be stopped before the other problems are treated, lest she make them even worse.
Ace cannot fix their family by force— this is something they’ve been failing to do since long before they were a part of this one. But they can at least try to make it better.
And… it occurs to them that this might be helpful to Carly, too.
Lin is one of very few in the family who has not yet fought her, but many think that if anyone can defeat Carly, it would be Lin. And with the strength Ace has witnessed from her, quickly beating down a Gym Leader and even an Elite Four member with no struggle, they would not be surprised if it was true.
So Ace’s message is polite as can be, assuring Solaris of their loyalty before sharing Lin’s threat to Taka and pleading he take action. Once it’s finished, they send it with a hopeful smile…
…only for it not to go through.
“…hm?” Ace hums, brow furrowing in confusion.
The room’s lighting goes red, and letters and pictures appear on the screens mounted to the walls, the ones on the four top center screens in particular spelling something out.
GA ME OV ER
Ace backs away, starting to grow fearful. “W-what is—”
The entire room shakes, and there’s a cackle, sounding like it has been digitally filtered, but still familiarly obnoxious.
There’s an invisible pull of some sort. Ace’s vision fades, and they fall unconscious, unknowing that it is the last time they will be in the world they know for a long while.