CHAPTER 9 - Secrets & Decisions
Ace woke up feeling all warm and content. His body was tired and stiff, screaming to not move a muscle, but at least he wasn't in pain. Dazedly, Ace tried to remember when he had fallen asleep, but the throbbing in the back of his mind prevented him.
"You're awake?"
Startled, Ace quickly sat up, only to regret the action as his head pounded harder. He softly moaned, closing his eyes as he pressed his hand to his forehead, massaging in attempt to get rid of the headache.
"Idiot…" Ace heard someone said, but with no heat. Someone lowered him back down to the ground, pillowing his head with something soft yet firm. His hand was replaced by a much colder one, leaving Ace sighing in content. The cold sensation helped tremendously for his headache.
He opened his blue eyes once more to immediately see a pair of yellow ones staring down at him. Ace then realized they were under a shady tree. He also realized he was using Lance's lap as a pillow.
Honestly, the light auburnette was too tired to feel embarrassed at this point.
Ace watched Lance use his free hand to tug some covering further up the younger's body. Ace saw it was the Dragonoid's blue cloak acting like a makeshift blanket. He felt a bit warm at the consideration.
"T-thank you," Ace said, receiving a nod in return. "But what happened?" From what he can see, they are in a forest. The forest Ace often visited as a child.
Lance stroke through Ace's hair, relishing in the softness. "After we got the Tamadora out of the SDF base, you passed out while we escaped on the way here." He slightly smirked, "You have a habit of sleeping on me, you know?"
The younger blushed, recounting how many times he done such act. "S-sorry."
"It's fine. You've been constantly using your powers without much rest for two days. It's normal to be exhausted."
"But still, how did you find this place when I wasn't able to show you?"
Lance glanced to the side. "Your friends helped me."
Ace blinked, turning his head to see seven Monsters playing around in a bed of flowers. Two of them he recognized as Tamazo and Devi. The rest were Monsters with similar shape, but each representing one of the five elements. He grinned brightly as the sight of them.
King Flamie and King Baddie were double-teaming against Tamazo and Devi in some kind of wrestling match. Flamie was taking on Tamazo while Baddie was Devi's opponent. King Shynee was trying to stop them to no avail. King Bubblie and King Woodsie were cheering on from the sidelines.
They looked happy. They all look alive.
They're still together after all this time. Ace might as well cry, but he doesn't have the strength to even shed one tear. He turned his attention back to Lance, who was waiting for the younger to explain.
"They're my friends since childhood. My best friends. At least, I hope we still are after not seeing each other for so long," Ace said, slowing sitting up with Lance supporting him. He leaned his head against the Dragonoid's shoulder with Lance's cloak covering both of the teens' laps.
His action caught the attention of the Monsters as the suddenly stopped moving. Tamazo shoot off towards them with a cry, "Ace!" The Tamadora crashed into Ace's chest, sobbing dramatically.
"You're okay, tama! We tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't, tama!" Ace petted Tamazo in attempts to comfort the crying Monster.
"I'm alright. I just needed rest." He laughed lightly, "I've been doing that for the past few days already." Ace lifted his head after hearing someone snort.
"If you just listen to Master Lance and keep that idiot at home, then we wouldn't even be in this mess in the first place, devi," Devi sassed before softening his tone. "Stay out of trouble if you can't help it, devi."
Lance smirked at his partner's choice of words. Devi wasn't the type to worry about others that wasn't him, but the Devidra was taking extra care to look out for the other two. He's awkward when it comes to those things and disguise his worries with sass and witty comments.
Unfortunately for Devi, his light counterpart sees through his act. "I knew you like us, tama!~" Tamazo launched himself at Devi once again, but the Devidra foresaw this and quickly dodged the oncoming hug.
Ace would have thank Devi if it weren't for his childhood Monster friends pouncing on him (who would've fallen if Lance's arm didn't steady him). He laughed at their affectionate cuddles, feeling warm and joy of being near them again after years of separation.
He really missed them. So much that he might actually have the strength to cry.
"I miss you guys so much!" Ace gently stroke their heads, mindful of not knocking their crowns off. They responded in kind, cooing and cuddling further into his sides despite their large size now.
They were waiting for this day to come.
Lance let out a low chuckle, watching Ace's reunion with his Monster friends. Devi came to his side, nuzzling against him too. Tamazo followed but went straight into the cuddle fest with vigor. The Devidra looked slightly puzzled at the scene before him.
"I'm surprise that no one has already capture these fellows - the whole set too, devi. Raising them until they are at this evolution probably wasn't easy, devi."
The Dragonoid agreed. From what Lance saw for the past two days, there were only Monsters still at their first evolutions. While the Monsters before him weren't high level ones, they were by no means weak. Now with knowledge of Ace's current skills and involvement with them, Lance wouldn't be surprised if the light auburnette had a hand with said evolutions.
Ace finally detangled himself from the cuddle fest with a laugh. "Okay, I get it! You guys missed me as much as I missed you. Please settle down before you hurt yourselves."
Tamazo claimed his seat on Ace's lap, much to the others' displeasure as they glared at the smirking Tamadora. King Flamie, King Bubblie, and King Woodsie settled on top of Ace's legs as King Shynee and King Baddie opted to settled on top of Lance's legs.
The light auburnette send an apologetic glance to the other who shook his head, not minding the extra weight.
"Hey Ace, how did you met these guys, tama?" Tamazo asked.
Ace thought for a moment. "Can you guys keep a secret?" His instincts are telling him that the others can be trusted. He just needed their word.
"I have no reason to tell your secrets. They're yours and only yours to do with," Lance answered. Ace softly laughed, somehow knowing that was what the Dragonoid would say.
Tamazo placed his palm over his chest. "Tamazo can keep secrets better than he can eat eggs, tama."
"That doesn't even make any sense, devi. But since Master Lance agreed, I followed his wishes, devi."
Ace thanked them and he gazed up to the blue sky. "When my mom and I moved into Vienna City, I never been good at interacting with people. When people come up to greet us, I mostly hide behind my mom's skirt, too shy to speak to anyone." He then smiled fondly. "One day out of nowhere, these guys, who were only babies at the time, came into my backyard looking for food. I gave them food and they followed me inside."
At that last sentence, all five Kings bounced joyfully, recalling that fateful day with glee. Devi deadpanned, "Are you guys cats or what, devi?" He promptly shut his mouth when Lance shushed the Devidra with a warning glance.
"Mom wasn't onboard with having five wild Monsters inside the house especially since we just moved in. She changed her mind, however, when they keep coming back everyday without fail. Even snuck in through our windows to get inside. They played with me and they never left me alone since." Ace then giggled softly, eyes shining with mirth as he turned towards Lance. "I remembered one time that Baddie and Flamie scared off one customer by trying to bite their hands off because the guy was asking my mom out."
Tamazo burst into laughter as the Kings joined in with their own snickers. Devi turned away to discreetly snickered. King Baddie and King Flamie looked smug, proud of their younger selves for protecting their family. Their faces fallen back to serene when Lance and Ace petted them tenderly. The Dragonoid was amused after hearing that particular tale.
"Monsters often felt the need to protect and care for those they grew close to. So, it's not surprising for them to be aggressively protective of her," Lance explained.
Ace nodded, chuckling. "Mom said the same thing when Baddie and Flamie finally got rid of that customer. It's part of their instincts she said. After some time, we all became a bigger family."
Devi crawled forward to sit on Lance's lap. "How did they evolve to this stage, devi? There isn't much going on around here for them to gain experience points to evolve, devi."
What the Devidra didn't know is how wrong he was.
The light auburnette bit his lips, blue eyes darken. "They evolved trying to protect me." Ace whispered so quietly that the others have to strain their ears to hear him. The Kings, however, knew what he meant and crooned softly at Ace.
Lance's chest tightened when he heard sniffling from the younger. He wrapped his arm protectively around Ace and pulled the younger close between his shoulder and chest. Lance used his other hand to soothingly caressed the other's hair.
Tamazo and Devi, along with the Kings, stay closed near the teens. Hoping their presence eased Ace and his sudden burden.
The Dragonoid whispered, "What did they protect you from?" He brushed away the tears fallen from those blue eyes.
"T-they protected me from p-people who wouldn't u-understand." Ace cried earnestly, visible wet marks stained on the black shirt. "I...I often get b-bullied as a kid, coming home with bruises, cuts, and blood. They never liked the fact I could make f-friends easily with Monsters and they couldn't. When they came back to beat me up a-again, my friends suddenly evolved. They wanted to attack the bullies, but I-I stopped them before they could do so." He took several deep breaths to calm himself. "Then, some people from SDF came to my house demanding to know about them and m-me."
Lance froze, ideas immediately clicked in his head. "They didn't…" His initial fears dissipated when he felt Ace shook his head.
"They didn't go too far because mom prevented them, threatened them of calling the police for breaking and entering. They love their reputation more so they complied with my mom's demands. B-but it didn't stop them from spying on me since that day." Ace finally calmed down, leaning further into Lance's warmth, feeling much safer in the Dragonoid's arms.
"I was around ten years old when everything changed. Shynee went missing for hours and we went out looking for her, but we couldn't find her." King Shynee looked crestfallen and guilty, pressing its side against King Baddie's. The others comforting their kin warmly.
"I had to use my tracking ability to find Shynee and I found her. She was caught in some type of cage in a forest and I snuck off to get her - not my brightest idea then. I didn't realized it was a poacher's trap until I got electrocuted when I grabbed the cage. That man tied me up against a tree, laughing and making fun at me. He was also drunk because he was slurring his words and stumbling around." Ace's words then came out wavering slightly. "Then, he pulled a g-gun at me."
Ace pressed closer to Lance, trembling from the memory, as the Dragonoid visibly shaken in anger and disgust. He wanted to rip that vile man apart for doing such thing to someone who was only a kid - a ten year-old child. The Monsters were close to tears; Tamazo and Devi didn't understand why someone would do such thing and the King were shaken by the memory of that horrible day as well.
"You don't have to say anything else, Ace. If it hurts too much, then don't say more," Lance gently assured the other. He rubbed Ace's back in soothing circles.
The younger shook his head. "No, I can keep going. I need to tell you this now or I might never will. When he pulled his gun at me, he made a show of firing a bullet, but he actually did shoot into the air. The others had been looking for me and heard the gunshot because the next thing I knew, the poacher was on his back unconscious with Flamie and Baddie on top of him. Woodsie and Bubblie freed me and we tried to get Shynee out."
The Kings eventually gathered near Ace's side and back, cuddling against him, hoping their presence give him some strength and encouragement. The Tamadora and Devidra flew back to their partner's side as well, silently supporting them.
Ace pulled away a bit, looking down at his trembling hands. "The SDF also followed us because before I could think, they were swarming around me and everyone. I felt so scared and helpless, overwhelmed with fear that they will hurt my friends and take us away. Before I knew it, I unconsciously created so many Drops - more than I could handle. The others suddenly evolved to their current forms. Everything was happening so fast that my mind couldn't keep up. Drops kept appearing and there might've been a battle. It became too much that I blacked out."
Larger, pale hands reached out to grasped his trembling ones. Thumbs caressing comfortably over the back of Ace's hands. The light auburnette took shuddering breaths.
"When I woke up, I was at a hospital. My mom was right by my side crying because I didn't return home that night and found me unconscious in the forest. She told me I was in that hospital for weeks under some type of coma. The doctors said it might have been a physiological cause, but my mom told me it was the fact I used my powers too much - to the point it was dangerous."
Ace looked back to his childhood friends, he petted them soothingly to calm their guilt away. "Soon after that, I heard rumors about missing SDF soldiers and a supposed wanted poacher. No one knew where they are or how they vanished into thin air. My mom told me I have to cut ties with my friends so we won't endanger each other or having people find out what I can do. Now, they resided in this forest - the one place only we know of and the same place we said our goodbyes." Ace wiped away the tears from his cheeks.
"I was all alone again since then."
Silence fell over the somber group. No one knows what to say after hearing Ace's story. The Kings stayed close to Ace, cuddling him more. Tamazo took his seat back on Ace's lap and hugged him close to offer his warmth. Devi sat back on Lance's lap too, reaching out to place a comforting palm on the light auburnette's knee.
Lance simply pulled Ace back into an one-armed embrace, resting his head on top of light auburn hair. He whispered, "You're not alone anymore. I won't allow it."
Words rang true to Ace's ears. He leaned into Lance again, taking in his morning air and ocean scent, setting a wave of calmness in him. He sighed, letting himself smile after one realization clicked inside his mind.
I'm not alone anymore.
Rena once again waits in worry for her son to come back home. Ever since Metal dropped off Charo at her house, she sat at the dinner table waiting. She already cooked some meals for Charo, seeing that the blond will be staying for awhile.
"Ace is going to be alright, Miss Rena."
Breaking away from her thoughts, she turned to Charo who had finished with his meal. He was careful of placing his chopsticks over his empty bowl before looking back at her. Charo smiled reassuringly, adorable dimples and everything.
"From what I saw when Mr. Metal drove me and Miss Garnet away, Mr. Lance and Ace were riding on an Aoyaiba, heading off to a forest by my calculation. It's probably the safest place to be at when the SDF are searching." Charo's green eyes sparkled. "Plus, Ace is strong enough to defend himself! He will be back before you know it!"
Rena's mouth twitched upward into a smile. Charo has a point and if he said her son was heading off to a forest. He could only mean that Ace and the others are hiding in that forest. She relaxed her tense shoulders as she fondly thought, That means those five little troublemakers are with Ace.
Her assumption might be right because the front door was opened rather loudly once more. Before Rena realized, five familiar Monsters instantly cuddled her.
"I knew you troublemakers will come back someday!" Rena burst into laughter as their cuddles were tickling her sides.
"Oh my god! Those are the King level of Flamie, Bubblie, Woodsie, Shynee, and Baddie! I never seen them together in one place before!" Charo exclaimed, jumping out of his seat and took his tablet out. He snapped a few pictures in quick speed. "Where did these guys come from?"
Ace and Lance (along with their partners) walked towards them. The light auburnette softly smiled at the sight of his mom reuniting with their missing family members. It was almost like the years before he turned ten.
It was nice.
"I'm home, Mom," Ace cheerfully chimed.
Rena looked up and grinned at her son. Her smile dimmed a bit when she caught sight of Ace's slight swollen eyes, but his behavior isn't any less sad. If anything, he looked as though the burden of the world had fallen off of his shoulders. She glanced at the Dragonid for a moment, thinking he had something to do with Ace's current behavior.
"Welcome home, Ace," Rena replied, her grin returned with the same brightness. "It seems that for the past few days, you've been coming home with someone new each time. I'm glad you're making friends!"
Ace slightly blushed at her comment, scratching his redden cheek bashfully. She didn't have to say that.
"But other than that," Rena began as she looked towards the rest of their family already playing with Charo and Tamazo (who decided to join in). "I'm glad everyone came back here safely." She clapped her hands together. "This calls for a celebratory dinner!"
"With lots of omelette rolls, tama!" Tamazo excitedly jumped in, only to be grabbed by Rena. "Tama?" He turned his head and became petrified by the cold glint in her blue eyes, yet the smile on her face stays pleasant.
"After we have a little chat first, Tamazo." She held the frozen Tamadora by the head and proceed to walk into the kitchen. The sound of the kitchen door closed ominously.
The Kings laughed at the Tamadora's misfortune and Charo can only blinked innocently at the development. Ace sighed, shaking his head, knowing Tamazo had it coming since yesterday. We can't have one day where one of us didn't get into trouble.
Devi shivered, "I actually feel bad for him, devi." The Devidra turned towards Lance. "Master Lance, when are we returning to Dragoza Island, devi? Seeing as the Tamadora won't be coming with us anytime soon, devi."
Lance nodded, "It seems so." He turned his attention back to the light auburnette. "What will you do now?"
Ace shifted his eyes down to the floor, recounting the events from the past few days. He felt his current abilities are much stronger than before and a bit more difficult to control now. Not only that, the SDF already seen him and might come after him soon.
It will also cause trouble for his mom if Ace doesn't act fast enough.
"There's a chance that I have to leave home and go to Dragoza Island too. The SDF knows what I look like; it's a matter of time before they find themselves here." A bitter laugh left Ace's lips. "The only way to protect myself from them is that I have to-" Ace stopped himself from finishing that sentence.
Lance picked it back up. "You have to be a Dragon Caller."
Devi nodded, "Make sense, devi. Dragon Callers do have a protection law against any type of military for specific reasons, devi."
Ace looked back towards Lance. "I don't think I will make a good Dragon Caller. I don't even like battling or fighting."
Lance grasped Ace's hand, lacing their fingers together. "Being a Dragon Caller is more than fighting, Ace. It's much more than that." Lance knew what it means to be a true Dragon Caller; for he himself still strives to be one.
"Even so, I don't have a choice here. I need to go to Dragoza Island and soon too. But…" Ace trailed off, smiling at the Dragonoid. He gripped their hands tighter. "At least I can see you again."
Lance's eyes widen a bit before going back to normal. The idea of being in the younger teen's presence once more settled the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. Lance smiled back at Ace, happy to know it was mutual between the two.
Devi rolled his eyes good-naturally. Well now, I don't have to worry so much anymore. Then a sudden realization hit him like lightning. Wait! That means I will be seeing that moron too! The Devidra sulked, not looking forward to the greeting hugs of death.
Charo, who had been discreetly watching the whole thing along with the Kings (who looked oddly smug), grinned excitedly. The blond didn't know why, but seeing the older teens interacting like that made him happy. Plus, they look great together as a pair. The blond giggled at the thought.
Rena leaned her back against the kitchen door, listening in her son's life decision. She knew it was coming and it did make things easier for her to tell Ace later. Become strong and stay as your true self over there, Ace.
Author's Note: And I am done! Man, when I decided to write three stories at once, I forgot how time consuming it was for each story. I think I have a death wish here.
And so, Ace revealed his past and secrets to Lance, Tamazo, and Devi. People may think it was too fast for Ace to tell anyone, but Ace trusts them because his heart doesn't lie to him. I made the five Kings (Flamie, Bubblie, Woodsie, Shynee, and Baddie) as Ace's childhood Monster friends! They need the love and they are freaking adorable too!
The next chapter will be picking back up the anime. We are heading towards Dragoza Island and we will meet Vahaton and Angine soon! Also, a special Fire-Type Monster will appear too! Guess?
Leave a review or a comment! See you guys soon!