Ace redemption

The sky in Cyclonia, was red. The Dark Ace, as usual, had once again lost another battle with Aerrow, the teenaged leader of the Storm Hawks. Master Cyclonis, as usual, wasn't happy. He was, after all, her best Talon, but no matter what he couldn't beat that annoying, sneaky, bratty kid. She was losing patience with him. It wasn't good enough, how would they win this war if the Dark Ace couldn't even defeat a teen in battle.

" It's not my fault the stupid brat's a better fighter than I am." Dark Ace responded weakly to Cyclonis' latest rant.

"well, I suggest that you improve in the short time before you see him in battle again." she replies, as usual keeping herself serene, while hiding her anger, although to the Dark Ace, it was evident she was ever so slightly angry. He had, after all, known her since she was six years old.

"Easier said then done." the Dark Ace mumbled.

He had mumbled quietly, but not quiet enough for Cyclonis to hear him. "What did you just say?"

He mentally stuttered, but recovered quickly. " What I meant is the brats a good fighter, but I will be better then him one day, and I will defeat him in battle."

"oh you better."

"Is that a threat?" the Dark Ace growled.

She finally turned to face him. He wished she hadn't, her face was contorted with anger. " If that's what it takes for you to be better than that retched Sky Knight, then yes it was a threat."

That was too much for the Dark Ace to take. Ever since she had taken the throne. All she had done was threaten him and undermine his capabilities. " HOW DARE YOU THREATEN ME!"

" You are in no position to talk to me like that, Dark Ace, you forget that I am the leader of Cyclonia, not you. And if you don't like the way things are run around here, then you know what I suggest?"

"Oh do enlighten me, so long as its not herbal tea, it's fine by me."

"well, if you are going to question my leadership, Dark Ace, I suggest that you leave."

"Very well then, that is exactly what I will do, Lark." he spat the leaders true name out with as much venom as he could muster and smiled inside as he watched her flinch.

She hated that name, it was a reminder of her tainted past. A past where there was no war, and he was her best friend. A past of freedom, before Dark Ace betrayed his family. She had to leave her friend then, after Dark Ace told him who Lark really was, that she was the sole heir to the throne of Cyclonia. He had never forgiven her for lying to him. She had never forgiven Dark Ace for ruining her fun, her freedom, her friendship her life. That was unforgivable.

"Well, good riddance to you, Ace." watching him flinch as he remembered his own tainted past.

Before he had become Dark, Ace was a Storm Hawk, that was no secret. But he betrayed them, he betrayed his friends, his family, even the woman he loved. Every time he looked back on that day, he lost a little more of himself to guilt and regret. He had always told himself that it was for the best, Cyclonia were going to win the war, if the Storm Hawks were still alive, they would suffer the greatest. To watch Aria go through that would be too much for him to bear. Even watching Lightning Strike go through that would be too much, despite hating him. Aria loved him more than she ever loved Ace. Seeing Lightning hurt would kill her inside, and Ace could never bear to Aria in that much pain. She would never love him, Ace knew that, but still, that didn't stop him wishing, and watching out for her. Killing them was the only thing he could do to save them from what was coming. It was a mercy killing, that was what he told himself now. A small mercy, especially to their four year old son. He would be free. Free to be a child. Free to have a life. Free to make his own decisions.

Seeing the boy again ten years later had re-lighted the spark of hatred Dark Ace had felt towards Lightning Strike. It was un-rational, yes. But the boy looked so much like his father, it was hard for Dark Ace to think of him as another person, as Aerrow, not Lightning.

"very well, goodbye master." he said and turned on his heel and left. Left for freedom and his own redemption.