A week passed since Ace killed Ivan. It was a quiet afternoon, and the day was great weather wise. It was sunny, a gentle breeze blew from the west, and the temperature was mild. Vash and Meryl had just finished buying food and were heading back to the bar. Meryl had a lot on her mind.

"Vash, what do you think Ace will do now?" she asked.

"He told he has to face Miller one-on-one sometime soon." Vash told her, "Maybe sometime in the next few days."

Vash and Meryl came up to the bar and saw Ace and Sam on the roof. Ace was target practicing with Sam launching clay pigeons. Ace was doing extremely well, even for him. Meryl went inside, but Vash watched Ace for a while.

"I used to be just like him." Vash thought to himself.

Many things had happened during the past week. Milly and Mark's relationship had grown much and they were very close. Kate had asked Ace about the statement he told Ivan during their fight when he said about there being a girl he liked and wanting to see if anything would happen, and Ace told her he had meant it a little.

Later, Ace and Vash were by themselves and Ace had something important to tell Vash.

"I plan to face Miller tomorrow." Ace said, "I figured that I've waited long enough."

"Do you have a plan?" Vash asked.

"All I can do is go there and kill him before he kills me." Ace said, "Anything I could think of, he'd expect it."

"I see." Vash replied, "What time will you go?"

"Sometime before everyone else wakes up." Ace replied, "I don't what to see them worry."

That night, when everyone was still asleep, Ace got ready. He got dressed, put on his boots, and slipped on his poncho and got his gun. He went to where Kate was sleeping. She looked very peaceful and beautiful laying there. Ace went up to her bed, stroked her hair and kissed her lightly on her forehead, and left a piece of paper with "Kate" written on it. He then checked on Meryl, Milly, and Mark. Ace thought about how these people had been the first friends he'd had in a very long time. He hated the fact that is might be the last time he would see them. He quietly crept out of the bar and went to get a thomas ready.

"So, you heading out?" a voice said from behind.

Ace turned around and saw Vash sitting behind him.

"Yeah, I am." Ace said.

"Would you like someone to go with you?" Vash asked.

"Sure, come on." Ace said with a smile.

Ace and Vash got two thomases ready and they rode off as the suns began to rise.

Half an hour later, Kate opened her eyes and yawned. She got up and stretched and saw the piece of paper. She unfolded it and see it was a letter. It read:

"Dear Kate,

I am sorry I didn't wake you up and say good-bye to you, but I didn't want you to worry about me. By the time you have read this, I will have already left to go to face Miller. I know that it seems crazy, but I'm to try to kill him before he maybe kills you someday while trying to get me. I don't want you to get hurt, you're a sweet girl. If I don't come back, I what to tell you that knowing you has been the greatest thing in my life. Good-bye.

-Ace

P.S. I love you."

Kate put the letter down and started to sob. Meryl and Milly heard her and asked what happened and she showed them the letter.

Ace and Vash rode up to where they could see the compound, which was no more than five iles away. It was the first time they saw all of the damage they inflicted on their small raid. The ammo depot was completely gone, as was most of the outer wall that surrounded it. The front door was open as if waiting for someone to enter. Ace knew Miller was waiting for him. He had waited this past week, for he knew Ace would come to face him.

"This is where I go on alone." Ace said.

"I don't know what to say, except good luck." Vash replied.

"Thanks, I'll need it." Ace said, "Here, take this." And he handed Vash a folded piece of paper.

"What's this?" Vash asked.

"Read it just in case I don't come back." Ace replied.

"All right, I hope I won't have to." Vash said, and then he remembered, "You know back at the oasis when you proposed a shooting contest between us? Well, if you make it back, I'd like to accept the challenge."

"I'd like to do that as well." Ace said.

"I got something for to say to Miller if you get the chance." Vash said and then whispered something into Ace's ear.

"If things go well, I'll tell him that." Ace said.

"And if things don't go well?" Vash asked almost afraid of Ace's answer.

Ace paused and then said, "Then I'll say hi to Wolfwood for you."

He then took off and headed for the compound.

"There goes quite a person." Vash thought to himself, "Hope he makes it."

Ace rode up to the compound and dismounted his thomas. He went inside and almost immediately, memories came flooding back. He remembered Jack and the other miners, he remembered the night he lost everything when they were killed. He thought of when he met Miller and the night he was almost killed by him. He remembered having to keep moving so he could stay alive. He thought of meeting Mark and finally thought about how he first met Vash, Meryl, Milly, and Kate at Walsh Town. Kate was especially on his mind since he loved her very much. He told himself he wasn't going to die, and that he and his new friends would have many more good times together. It was time to finally put his past to rest. He kneeled and folded his hands.

"Dear Lord," He prayed, "I know I have not been the best person, and I wish things could've been different, but I feeling you have a plan for me. I hope that after today I can become a better person. So I ask you to forgive for what I have done in the past, what I have done in the present, and please forgive for what I am about to do. If you can do that, I will be very grateful. Amen."

He then rose back up.

"Miller!! I'm here!!" Ace shouted.

After a brief moment of silence, Miller appeared and walked out to the middle of the courtyard. Ace stared him down as took out one of his cigarettes and light with the lighter Jack had given him. He took off his poncho and threw it to the ground, and then put on his sunglasses.

"I see you have come here." Miller said, "You have more guts than sense."

"Enough talk, let's end this." Ace said.

"Good, I have been waiting for this day for almost three years." Miller said as his hand hovered over his gun.

The song that gave Ace his courage went through his mind.

*Lay me down, in the cold, cold ground, where afore many more have gone

Lay me down, in the cold, cold ground, where afore many more have gone

When they come, I will stand my ground, stand my ground

I'll nay be afraid Thoughts of Heaven, stack away my fear

Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year, say a prayer for me

Close your eyes, and remember me*

Is was then that Miller drew his gun and fired. Ace jumped to the right and drew his gun and began to fight back. He fired quickly and reloaded his gun as Miller did the same. Both men wanted to kill the other very much, and they wouldn't stop until one of them was dead.

Back in New Wichita, everyone sat and waited anxiously. Meryl was reading a newspaper, Mark was having a drink, as was Milly, and Kate just sat. Meryl saw something and showed it to Milly and Mark.

"Didn't Ace say his sign was Scorpio?" Meryl asked.

"Yeah, he did." Milly said, "Why?"

Meryl showed the horoscope for Scorpio. It read: "You shall face a great challenge today. There is an equal chance of success or failure. The outcome will depend on you only."

Everyone became to worry more and hoped that Ace would return.

Ace and Miller's fight had been going on for thirty minutes. Ace had spent forty shots and two cigarettes, and hadn't even hit Miller once. Miller had only spent ten shots and there were all close calls. Ace ran out in the open and grabbed his discarded poncho and ducked behind a crate. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone move by a window. He put his gun back in his holster and reached into his poncho and pulled out a shotgun. It was Kate's and he took because he had a feeling he might need something with a little more firepower. He aimed and when the person moved again, he fired. He figured it was a kill shot because the person fell to the courtyard floor and didn't move. Ace looked and saw it was the other gunman that was with Sphinx the night Ace killed her.

"So, you still have some henchmen that help you with your dirty work?" Ace shouted to Miller as he reloaded the shotgun.

"That's right, but it's hard to find good help for my line of work." Miller said back, "You've killed my best people."

"Only because they tried to kill me." Ace replied and he shot at Miller and the fight was back on.

Twenty minutes later, Ace saw that Miller had one more henchman left, and quickly disposed of him. It was really one-on-one now. Ace counted the bullets he had left, and was not happy he had only six left in his Magnum and none in the shotgun. He had to think of a plan to use them effectively. He saw a small piece of pipe and suddenly thought of a plan, it was risky, but it was the only idea he had. He picked up the pipe and threw it in Miller direction. Miller thought it was a grenade and ran from his position and out into the open. While Miller was distracted, Ace stood up and aimed. Miller saw Ace to his left and turned face-to-face to Ace, but it was too late. Ace fired five times, four of them hitting their mark. One bullet went through Miller's right forearm and he dropped his gun. The other three struck Miller in his legs and one cut into his left arm. He fell to the ground and Ace walked up to him and rose his gun just inches from Miller's face. After a moment he lowered it.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to finish me off?" Miller asked.

"Part of me does for all the trouble you've caused me." Ace said, "But the other part of me doesn't. And you know why?"

"Why?" Miller asked scornfully.

"Because...this land is made of...LOVE AND PEACE!!" Ace shouted and he flashed the peace sign.

Miller was speechless from shock.

"I also think it's better like this because you know that I can kill you." Ace said, "Just remember that. Good-bye, Miller."

He started to walk away, and Miller was furious. He picked his gun and aimed it.

"You stupid bastard!!" He yelled.

Just before he could pull the trigger, Ace spun around and fired. Miller felt a sharp pain in his chest.

"I had one shot left." Ace said, "I was hoping I wouldn't have to use it."

Miller then collapsed dead.

Ace took no pleasure in what he had done.He had hoped that the whole situation could've been resolved peacefully, but part of him knew that wasn't possible. He then left the compound, knowing his past could now be put behind him. He mounted his thomas and met back up with Vash and they both talked about what happened along the their way back to New Wichita. Ace burned the paper he had given Vash since he survived.

Soon, they returned to New Wichita and rode up to the bar and dismounted.

"We're back!" Vash shouted and Meryl, Milly and Mark rushed out.

Cheers were expressed and everyone was glad to see them both alive. Kate came out and saw Ace, and she was more than happy to see him.

"Ace." she said, with her eyes almost tearing up.

"Hi, Kate." Ace replied.

Kate rushed over to him, wrapped her arms around him tightly, and buried her face into his chest.

"You are a big jerk!" she said crying, "Don't you know how much I was worried about you? I..."

"I'm sorry." Ace said as he put his hand on Kate's head.

Kate looked up to Ace and they kissed each other softly.

Vash and Meryl embraced each other and Vash had something very important to tell her.

"Meryl?" he said.

"Yes, Vash?" she asked.

"I love you very much." Vash told her.

"I love you, too." Meryl said and then they kissed each other.

Mark and Milly watched and both were teary eyed.

"Oh, this is so happy." Milly said nearly crying.

"I know." Mark replied as he wiped a tear away.

Later, everyone was celebrating. Ace gave Kate back her shotgun and told her it came in handy. Sam had provided a fine bottle of scotch and everyone all had a drink (Milly had couple more afterwards). Everyone then talked about what would happen now. Ace asked Kate if she minded dating an outlaw, and she said she thought it might be fun. That was when Sam pulled out and piece of paper and handed it to Ace.

"Mark asked me if I could do a special favor for him, and since any friend on Mark is a friend of mine, I did it." Sam said.

The paper read " By the power vested in me as Governor of and for the township of New Wichita, this document certifies that Ace Landen is hereby pardoned of any criminal acts he has done in the past. Signed, Samuel Chapman".

"You're the governor?" Meryl asked.

"That is right." Sam replied.

"I don't understand, if you're governor, why do you work here?" Kate asked.

"I like to be around people." Sam said, "And besides, the office is too boring."

"Well, thank you very much, Sam, I mean, Governor." Ace said.

"You are welcome." Sam said, "I'll spread the word you've been pardoned so no bounty hunters come after you again. And I can make one up for Vash if he wants it."

"Thanks, that would be good." Vash said.

"And one more thing." Sam said, "I sent a message to your boss requesting that a Bernardelli Insurance office be put here right across the street form this building and that you three young ladies would run it."

"Really? Thanks." Meryl said.

"We really appreciate it." Kate said.

"Now we can all work and drink without having to travel much." Milly said, a little bit tipsy.

Everyone laughed and knew their lives were all making a good turn.

THE END