~Chasing After You~
Lance/Ace- Puzzle and Dragons Cross
by AyaxRoses
Rating: T- Ongoing
Voting Results are up: By a small smidgen using Polls from Twitter, Fanfiction, A03 , Facebook, amino apps, and general asking of friends and family to break the tie….our title will be ''Chasing After You''! Nearly 50 votes all together! That's just awesome! *
Semi spoiler as far as battle results for the post Lance vs Ace fight episode 39! *see notes below for episodes and where to find them*
Light streams in through the surface, and he's there. He's always been there, but a stubborn heart and headstrong mind seems to keep things at bay.
For some time at least, that was how things went, and it would be alright, surely.
Here lies a young boy no older than 15 or 16, adorned in a soft red and white jacket, tan slacks, and a fiery burst of passion in those blue sleepless eyes. His hair remains a mess of spikes, with light auburn hair surrounding his temple. In the center of his hair remained a bright yellow "X" shaped cross, as though painted there. Ace sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. The younger teenager crossed his arms behind his neck and leaned back.
The teenage boy had set up camp, in a small tent pitched behind him, with a fire igniting the longing in his eyes even more. Two blue irises looked to be fused with an incomprehensible swirl of red and yellow flames. "Tama...zo", he breathed out, and side-glanced to see his trusty dragon partner was asleep on the ground beneath. Ace's seat was firmly planted on a small stump in the forest, a large tree stood behind him not to far up. A small pile of twigs and sticks were lit aflame for a small fire place, all thanks to Ouka.
Ace smiled softly, his trusty egg-shaped partner was lying on his back, with a circle of a mouth wide open and oozing with drool. The teenager shook his head, as he leaned to the side, over towards the white and orange egg shaped dragon was resting, he adjusted the small orange blanket to covering his friend. A blanket covered with different colored orbs and cartoon-like eggs, another gift shop souvenir? "Tamazo," Ace called gently, as a tremor filled his lips. He was a bit envious of the dragon, "You never overthink things like I do…huh?" he whispered more to himself than anyone. His eyes gazed north one more.
"Noooooo way, Ace!," a high pitch voice shouted out, breaking Ace from his trance.
"Tamazo?!" Said boy retracted his hand upon hearing the words, his eyes widened. Light snoring followed after, and his precious dragon fell right back asleep. "That one's mine...scrambled eggs all for Tamazo-tama", his squeaky voice mumbled on as a goofy open-mouth smile filled the little dragon's face.
Ace laughed quietly to himself, holding a hand over his lips to cover any sounds to awaken his dragon friend or his new temp travel buddy Garnet. She was holed away in her own, far fancier tent, likely falling asleep with the spirit of her dear Valkyrie lulling her gently. Those two made a perfect team.
Ace had planned to accompany Garnet for a few missions, and had kept busy thus far. He reached into the side of his pocket, feeling a small electronic making all kinds of vibrations and buzzes. He took out the handheld phone and scrolled through the names and messages, several from Tiger, and a good majority from Charo. Ace smiled. He would call them back, and with a click, Ace's phone screen shut back to a dark grey screen.
Ace breathed in and slowly exhaled, as his eyes gazed upward. He absently placed the phone against his side and slid it through the hole in his pocket. The soft smile on his face faded, and his eyes darkened and remained steady. That starch white moon above the sky, it seemed to call out, and leave his imagination running wild. That image of an older male, formed it's way into his world. The image remained with hair as white as the clouds, and a slender form encapsulated within a sky blue cloak. And those eyes, Ace gulped subconsciously, staring into the sky's reflection of those two bright yellow eyes, almost always so piercing. Ace held a hand above his chest, "Lance," he breathed out the name, and of course he could feel his heart pounding.
Now it's just saying his name...great. Ace lifted his right hand up and rubbed at his temple.
The feeling of such a strong rival was one thing, but what's been forming inside him these past few weeks or perhaps much longer, was another pain entirely. It was overflowing and threatening to consume him whole like nothing else. And it was everything.
Ace shivered. He reached his right hand up and across his chest. His fingers dangled before curling themselves into the red jacket. Blue eyes were illuminated by the blinking stars and moonlight above as he looked forward.
The smug look upon a pale face haunted his dreams and even the vision of the sky. Ace's sight brought on the image of Lance once again, as though his face were reflected upon the surface of the bright moon, looking down at him with stern yellow eyes that held a small opening of light. He could hear that lecturing tone as they went on missions, a mission together. What were yu thinking? I told you to wait for me. Ace couldn't stand him then...and well he swore that was the case now, then and forever after.
Lance was so overconfident, and the desire to knock him off his pedestal brought a small and amused chuckle back to Ace. The laughter dulled the lingering press and ache against his chest, but he still felt it. What is this…? Ace asked of himself, as the stars above became water, light, dark, wood, fire and heart drops, and every gap between reminded him of Lance often with Devi in tow.
I hadn't completed this mission on my own. Lance would say and the auburn haired teen blushed at the memory of it. It made it harder to just outright deny any interest in Lance at moments like this. He was always such a hotshot, such a hero...one who rarely bothered a 'hello' for said fans. What a jerk. Ace wanted to say...and think.
The white haired teen took things seriously, and more often than not was preoccupied with saving monsters and the earth around it, and it left little time for hearing words of praise. Ace held out his hand, and removed the red sparkling d-gear from his pocket. The shape and size being like a mix between the modern day smartphones and large cordless phones. This did far more than communicate with numbers, although it did that too, he had made so many precious connections with his beloved teammates. Their love and respect was earned and proven through the small marble shaped egg drops.
Lance was the one who saved them too… Ace grit his teeth at the memory. Their first mission out, the egg drop traffickers let him with an impossible choice. And he had nearly lost all his beloved monsters to who knows where, in the bottom of the sea. Ace flushed, the red of the fire before him rivaled the tint upon his cheeks. Then came lance swooping in and taking down the crook-filled vessel easily, and he handed Ace back what he feared he lost forever. Ace flushed, his actions led to Lance picking up his slack...again.
Yet, still there mission was complete together, and Lance had counted him as being a praiseworthy assistant. "I want more than that…" Ace whispered out in a melancholy tone, his hand that grasped at his aching chest found it's way onto his sides. Ace changed his sitting position as he leaned back against the thriving tree behind his body. He bent his legs and brought them up close to his chest, as he wrapped them up in a hug. Images flooded from growing with Horus, transforming and finding the strength to bring him on equal grounds to Lance.
He had been so headstrong and foolish in the past. Ace held out his palms flat as he looked at them, the image surfaced of Horus's golden and brilliant claws fused over his fingertips. They had been so close, and for once Ace felt he was finally understanding what he lacked against Lance before.
Their last battle. My heart's still racing. It was such a rush. Dueling hand in hand, fully fused with their soul armor and accompanied by their powerful monsters, the pair were literally glowing on the battlefield. Ace had finally found the strength to reach Lance, and Lance had finally found a worthy challenger.
When Ace's soul armor evolved, the feeling was exhilarating it was like flying. Ace smirked, imagining the slightly widened eyes and slightly ajar mouth of his rival. Having Lance make any expression aside from stoic and calm was thrilling. And… Ace felt his heart rate at the thought, being the cause behind Lance's expression was a whole new thrill on it's out. But why would it be… They were..they were just...what were they now?
The teenager still felt his heart skip a beat at the remembrance of scene, it was after their duel. It had been called a draw, with their combined power being far too overwhelming for the stadium as a whole. The impact knocked Ace out and had him resting for quite some time. After the finalist's interviews, Ace caught sight of Lance, about to leave.
Their dragon companions talked between themselves, but Ace found it hard over the heart pounding in his ears. The battle had ended long ago, but he could still feel it, and more so with Lance so near. Taking a step forward Ace smiled, Oh and Lance.. Thank you. I really enjoyed it. Seriously, that was an amazing battle. The younger teen spoke in earnest, the thoughts of wanting to catch up and having a rematch were closely linked, although unsaid.
What he wasn't expecting was for the high and mighty Lance of all people to correct him in such a way.
I could not stop you. I've been defeated. With his eyes closed and feet always leading him forward lance left the room, his words cutting through Ace and stopping him in his movements. He had...defeated Lance?
That honest and simple admittance had been worth so much. What Ace had sworn he had been after all along Right?. Yet, it was technically a draw...and he wanted much more. But there was something about Lance, an unspoken promise he would come back to be number one again and stronger. I still need to catch up to you. To grow stronger with control. There is still so much to learn.
Still Lance acknowledged him. For once, but things didn't feel final.
"That is what you said right?" Ace closed his eyes once again, as he buried his face against the fabric above his legs, and he curled in on himself. "At the time I couldn't believe it…"
Ace pulled his legs closer to his chest. That was the last time he had spoken to Lance. The words should have been like a dream come true. It was all so surreal. Despite Lance's words it seems he hadn't come to fully acceptance either.
Ace's eyes peered between the darkened sky and the fire burning out before him. "If anything now I'm more confused," he chuckled as he spoke the words aloud, likely sounding as insane as he felt. It's not like there was a crowned champion, a ceremony or elusive egg drop to claim. Just those few words between them.
Warmth blended with a shivering cold, and Ace could only wrap his arms around himself tighter. He closed his sparkling blue eyes and cuddled into himself, curling as though he could shrink into a small marble shaped egg drop. To hide away from the world, until he was needed, that would be nice. Maybe then he wouldn't be stuck replaying those same scenes, and his mind could rest.
"You did this to me…" Ace hummed out the words, and the memories recollected. He could see himself right up there among the stars that kept mimicking elemental orbs. Those first moments stumbling blindly, and no matter how frustrated he became it seemed like fate played it's hand in ensuring the rivals saw each other time and time again.
What is this? This near unbearable ache inside, and racing thoughts about someone he could easily brush off before. It didn't add up. Was this simply a cause of normal rivalries? Or the fate of the protectors of these world, they were all bound together through the guild in one way or another. If so why weren't his thoughts so confusing and focused on his other rivals.
Because they're not Lance.
Lance is...
Ace buried his face in further against his legs, trying to find comfort in the limited space provided. He slowly rocked himself side to side, moving his hips and swaying as he remembered his mother doing while he was a child. Ace
didn't want to open his eyes, he knew who he'd see all over again. He didn't want to sleep, as he knew who would be haunting his dreams. Maybe a quest could lead his mind astray maybe… "I want to see you," Ace was admitting to himself, and it scares me. He felt his closed eyes swelling and overflowing with whatever this was.
Nocturnal monsters in the forest and the crinkling of the firewood were of the only things heard that remaining night. Ace rocked himself in near- silence, until he soothed himself to near a moment, Ace softly smiled, as he blinked his eyes open at the comforting and familiar scene. Tamazo asleep beside him and without a care in the world.
He would go back to sleep, and find the strength to protect the world around him, no matter how basic the steps to that point may seem. He would continue on. He'd figure out a way to save the planet from dying.
He'd figure out a way to solve...everything.
~El Fin~
((This was a little start into the story and I'll focus more on Lance and of course their interactions later on. )) Ace has a lot of angsty feelings, and he hadn't realized they run deeper than he ever wanted to.
Title voting wise- Chasing After You vs Follow in Your Footsteps was very close and A03 alone had the majority for the latter while other polls I ran featured the other in favor, it was very close! In case anyone still wants a chance to vote, now reading the start of the story I'll add in later title votes and the poll up here: Thank you for your time and helping me pick the story!
Episodes 1-38 are subbed and dubbed on and through their funimation now service. Please support the show and play the fun mobile game too!
Episodes 39+ have not been translated but you can find the new weekly episodes on the official Japanese Youtube Site(パズドラ公式チャンネル) here: channel/UCUqaK35h_Tg7g2gbFoe3hJw (Hurry as episodes only stay up on the official one for one week!)
Watch episode 39+ Raw here/Finale to Ace vs Lance ( .tv/watch/cc317773/ )
If there becomes another official website source for those outside of Japan I will link it!
Tough times being an English speaking fan of the show but let's keep the fandom going and support official licensors if/when the eps come back to CR of Funi!))