"They were called back to the faraway kingdom of Hildian, and had to listen as the king paid respects to all the people who died during the fight, and they listened to when he came to your name. "I would like to pay respects to another man as well." The king said. "A man who willingly gave his life for our kingdom, a one which he wasn't a citizen of. These people were this man's close friends. They also fought valiantly to protect our blessed kingdom… at the cost of this man's life." At those words, your friends realized that it was true. This wasn't a dream. You were gone forever. This was a nightmare. "The man didn't even know his own name. He fought the leader of the Crimson Thorns in one on one combat. I will say this though. Ace was a hero. If he hadn't had put an end to their plans, we would surely have succumbed to their overwhelming forces."

"From here on out, Harley, the red headed singer, cursed herself as she stared into the mirror with quivering lips and leaking eyes, for not being able to save you but then again what could she do to stop a god's power. She throws up because she's crying so hard because she lost a dear friend. No matter how much she tried she couldn't play in her band."

"Burberry, the bounty hunter, took numerous jobs that were in faraway countries just to get away from the silence of the house when you'd normally be up at the ungodly hours of the night. Even though she is miles and miles away from your home, her eyes will never stop mirroring the image of your finale smile. She will return to your grave at random times. Half the time she wants to take whatever they could recover, take you to a necromancer and revive you, even be as a vegetable. The other half she respects you too much, and doesn't want you to live like her and have to watch all of your loved ones pass."

"Shock, The Balthazar racer, will shed a tear every single time he see's anything relating to you. He's holding more tears back. He wishes that you were still breathing and that you could race him again. You'd both tell each other terrible jokes with Maya. He will try racing to take back his title but no matter how hard he tries he always remembers the rush you gave him at the Adrift race and loses. At the funeral, there wasn't a single thing to bury. After the funeral, they all sat in your apartment, staring blankly at each other because god knows they couldn't think of anything to say that didn't just float through the air where you should have been."

"Ashlotte, the Hazlevale Princess, will go into your room and clench your jacket sadly. She will lay on your bed and cry as she holds your jacket to her face, desperately trying to remember your natural scent. She'll then sleep in your bed trying to imprint your scent on herself before the guards come and escort her back. She barely knew you from the start but now she misses you like a brother."

"Maya, the ex-husk of music incarnate, sits on your Archangel, remembering the fun times you had. She remembers the face you always had on when you drove with or against her. She doesn't dare start it due to the fact that Kyuubi will rebel against her, though she desperately wants to. She hates that she never got to repay you for the kindness you showed her."

"Selles, the man who cared for you after your mother died, will let Maya stay at your apartment out of respect and sadness for you. Azreal, the brother of Maya, will honor you and forever thank you for taking his place in the dark dungeon cell while he escaped even though it cost you a part of your sight. He wishes to one day have the courage you did. The same courage that allowed you to want to sneak into the ranks of the Thorns and risk your life for him."

"Why didn't you tell me your power could kill me?!" "Now Ace. I would like to say I never saw this coming but I have. It's simply weaved into time's cards." Asura said. "What?" Ace asked. "This has all happened before. Not detail for detail, but it's happened before. When you received my power, you receive my memories of this life. My sister and I create seven others. We create a world, create humans, humans and us live together in harmony, humans forget their roots, humans wage war on each other, humans wage war on us, we kill the world. We make the universe, time passes, I have two children, maybe two boys, maybe two girls, maybe one of each. One child corrupts and misuses power, the other child puts the other down, child gains my power, child becomes titled the branded husk. I have branded others but that's my own choosing. The fact that YOU were branded is embedded in time. Then more time passes and in the future events unfold, something happens that I probably could have stopped, I lose control, I kill the remaining members of my family. I live in solitude, waiting the end of time, then everything resets. It's happened countless times and yet… here we are."

"You gave your life so they could continue theirs and that is one of the highest sacrifices. I gave you my power to get you to the battle of the ages but now is the choice that will change your road… forever. I offer you a second chance though Ace. A chance to make everything right again. Take up the reigns of the power that was misused and use it for good. Go back to living as the husk of Judgement incarnate. The other choice is that you end it here and wait for the end of time among this sea of flowers. What do you say?" Asura asked. "You will die in time. You'll live far far longer than a mortal but you shall wither and die in time. You shant be immortal just, in my words, very fucking durable."

I accept. Ace said. In a blinding purple light, Ace felt warm. He opened his eyes and he was back in his bedroom. He opened the door and stepped out into the living room. Everyone was out of it, either with their faces in their hands or looking at the floor. The atmosphere of the room felt so sad. "Hey guys." Ace said getting their attention. They all turned around and their faces lit up. They were so happy that he was here that they didn't care how. They almost didn't believe it. "I missed you guys." Ace said, as a tear rolled down his cheek.

*years later*

Ace had become a legend, working his way up the ranks and soon leading enough people to form a small city. Many people though he would fail, not trusting the authenticity of the brand. They were wrong and were told so as word reached them of a new found kingdom of sands. Latoiabridge. He stood on the balcony, addressing the citizens of how proud he is that he was able to do this and solemnly swears that peace will reign in this city. Maya was now the nations army general in case something happens. Harley had left to go back to Nightshade to get her things then she'd come back to live in Latoiabridge. Burberry still operated as a bounty hunter and was the best in the business. Ashlotte serves as the holder of the pact of friendship between the Hazlevale royal family and the Latoiabridge kingdom. Azreal serves beside Maya as a general. Shock respected Ace, deeply in fact, but had no interest in joining a kingdom. Ace respected his decision and told him he was always welcome. The last time Ace heard about him was when word of a new champion racer with a metal arm graced the city of Hildian.

*a few years later*

Ace had just returned to his bed chambers after a long council meeting discussing the embassies in neighboring kingdoms. He was tired, very tired. He closed the doors to his room and walked towards the balcony. He stood on the balcony, overlooking the moonlit sands and the lanterns lighting up his glorious kingdom. "Finally. Secretly, all my life I wanted to leave a mark on the world. It didn't matter if it was a small insignificant mark, as long as there was a mark." Ace said proud of what he'd been able to accomplish. The brand's power had begun to diminish and his powers as judgement were growing as a result.

"I need to get some rest." Ace said because tomorrow was the day he had all planned to spend time with the people who got him to where he is now. He'd spend time with Harley, treat her to what she enjoys. Spend time with Maya and Azreal, rewarding them for their friendship. Burberry couldn't make it. Ashlotte was more than willing to visit him. He though life couldn't get any better.

Then… … … it was all ripped away. He looked down at his chest to see a metal blade jutting out from his chest, straight through his heart. This blade surely wasn't a normal blade as the events that occurred after detail. A hand grasped his shoulder and the blade was stabbed multiple times in the same spot, making sure he wouldn't get up after. The assassin turned him around so he could see his face. Ace's eyes widened as he saw a face he'd never expect to see again. It was the face of his brother, Shara.

Ace fell to the floor and thought "Everything is so sticky and warm and soaked in red. It feels so heavy, but where's the pain? I don't feel any pain. Will I be alright? Will I make it out alive? But, this is my blood. Will this just end already? I'm exhausted. I'm dying and I know it. I'm lying in my own blood, waiting for my own end. Will it just end already? I can't take this anymore, somebody find me already, please! Aah, this is driving me insane. I can't. Somebody... I don't want to die, please help. I can't do this on my own, I'm too weak, I'm too broken. I'm so exhausted, I'm so weak. I can't lift my arms; I can't even move my feet. I just want to sleep and wake up in my own bed, leave all of this behind as a mere nightmare. But I can't. I can't escape and I can't sleep, if I sleep I die. Somebody find me please, I can't sleep, but I can still escape. It's getting cold, really cold. My body shivers, I can't help it. I don't think I've ever felt this cold. Harley…" Ace cried out softly. "Azreal…. Burberry…. Shock…. Ashlotte… Maya…. I'm sorry…. I'm… so…. sorry."

His brother knelt down looked him the eye and smiled "Like I said, I still had an ace up my sleeve."