Thanks for all of the reviews again :D

Sorry about the long delay, I hope you enjoy this chapter =)

Chapter 8

The chattering had slowed into a lazy mumble, while the stars had possessed the night sky in a bright, hopeful glow. Ace stood proud on the balcony, his fur and ears rippled softly in the evening wind. The happy laughter from his team-mates filled the air. Ace smiled, but his gaze was not with his friends, but her statue.

Lexi's proud, defiant pose stood, immortal in white marble. Her arms were crossed, but her head looked upwards and her gaze watched into the depth of the moving sky. The statue stood in the middle of Acmetropolis- she was protecting her city.

Fading poppies amongst other flowers decorated the base, with small scraps of messages and thanks tucked neatly into the flowers. Perhaps it was to stop the wind carrying them off.

"She was popular with the citizens wasn't she" A voice snapped Ace out of his gaze. He turned, then his eyes widened. Layol stood away from him, also watching the statue.

"Layol…how are you he-"

"I was bound to the gem, when it broke I could be myself again. My essence was trapped in the gem, but my powers have gone too"

"Ryisem didn't kill you?"

"No, he just forced the light bond I had with the gem further away. You could say he teleported me"

"He's dead now"

"Yes…" Layol whispered, Ace could see sadness in her eyes.

"He was killing innocent people…I would have taken him to prison…" Ace trailed off, he didn't know what to say. He hadn't ever killed someone before, let alone trying to explain why he did it.

"I don't doubt what you did, it was necessary. But it's difficult now…"

"I don't understand what you are saying"

"He had killed my future husband…I came here solely for revenge but you took care of it…" she whispered, her gaze looking at the floor.

"He killed your love" Ace stated stunned, horrified.

"Yes. But, the man I love just left me physically. I know he's still watching for me" She said smiling gently, and then she flinched. "I owe you a lot; I was stuck in that gem until I had to fight Ryisem. However, you handled it far better…at an ultimate price" Layol paused.

"It wasn't a price, she chose to do it"

"You could have brought her back to you"

"At the cost of the entire city and its people, she didn't want that. Neither of us did"

"But…what if it wasn't at the city or the people's cost?"

"What?" Ace whispered, turning to face Layol.

"You have a small part of the gem, it got stuck in your armor…you could use it quick enough to bring her back" Ace's eyes widened, and then he smiled. He lifted out the small piece, then he stepped forward and pushed it into Layol's hand.

"No" he smiled softly

"What?" Layol gasped

"She deserves to rest in peace"

"But you're in love with each other, nothing will happen!" Ace's smile fell slightly

"Yes, but we don't have to be with each other to be in love. She's never left me" he stated, indicating Lexi's bracelet he wore. "Use that power to get back home, your family must be very worried" he smiled again, before heading inside. Layol stared after him, then her gaze fell to the fragment of gem in her hand.

"Fine, I've made my decision" she stated boldly and faded into the night sky.

For the first time in a while, Ace slept peacefully. The city had fell silent, but it wasn't a bad, worried or scared silence. It was a happy, peaceful silence. It showed signs of recovery and new life with new beginnings. Things fell back in line quickly; the whole team now struggled to get up from bed. Let alone getting to the morning coffee they always needed.

However, the alarm always broke the sleepiness. Now, it took no time at all for the Loonatics to arrive to scenes, enemies were much more wary. In this early morning case, all the robbers had time to recognize was the roar of five motorbikes and the interior of a police van.

Clapping and cheers filled the air, as the Loonatics lifted back into the sky. People were proud of their heroes; young children clinging to their parents stared in amazement at the majestic sight. Everything was perfect, but perfection rarely lasts. A scream pierced the happy mood.

The scream spread, like a disease as more people screamed and more people ran for cover. The Loonatics spun the bikes around, but could only stare in a mixture of horror and amazement at the sight.

A slim, black jet raced down to the ground. Its streamlined body perfectly angled, the engines hissing and whining with the guns eager to fire. The engines let out another roar as it approached the ground. But it was Tech that realized something quickly, as the morning light bounced off of the jets broad chest, the Loonatics symbol flashed unmistakably on the front.

"My baby!" Tech gasped to Ace's left, Ace rolled his eyes. However the jet showed no signs of slowing down. If anything, it sped up, as if adrenaline was pulsing through the wires.

"Get away from the statue" Someone screamed below, as people scattered from the base of the memorial. Time slowed in Ace's eyes. The white stone immortal shattered like glass as the jet smashed mercilessly through it. Ace pushed his hover-bike into the next gear, with a snarl from the engine it raced after the deranged jet.

Ace pulled to the side heavily, as bits of white marble flew delicately like snow off of the jet's front. The jet was much lower now, but the statue had left another impact. Smoke was beginning to curl and claw from the around the armor of the jet. Now, where to park it? He mused, before he noticed something shifting on its wing.

His laser vision hit the gun just as it began to whir. Only one gun he glanced to the jet, almost as if in reply lasers shot from both wings. Ace pulled up sharply, the lasers following his angle.

A child on the street below watched in fascination from the protection of a metal building. The black jet resembled a large black falcon, as wisps of fire trailed off of the wings. Behind it came the small blackbird, with a yellow mark flaring defiantly. Lightning rippled in between the two, as lasers hit each other and the metal producers. Sparks from the conflicts fell innocently to the ground, it looked like neon coloured snow to the children.

Suddenly, all of the lasers fired a bright attack; a powerful shot of white energy came hurtling upwards to Ace. He was ready this time, his lasers blasted down, as the red intertwined with the white. A loud roar echoed out, as the shockwave detonated in a fierce last attack from the exhausted engine.

It was lucky they had managed to get to the outskirts of the city; however the shockwave was mostly a bang and a blast of wind tainted with smoke, however Ace hadn't noticed the small amount of the white energy attack, mixing with traces of his own attack was now whirring above him in the clouds. Ace was watching as, in a graceful curve, the jet ploughed into the ground quite a distance away.

He raced downwards to the broken jet lying on the floor, a rumble echoed from the sky above him. Without warning a flash of lightning sparked into life from the depths of the clouds. Rain began to pour down, causing people to run back into the building. It also sealed off the jet and Ace from the city.

Ace turned slightly, the water running around the edges of his helmet. In the centre of the twisting black clouds, a bright sphere was forming. The plain water, was now glowing as it fell to earth. Ace looked at the rain in the palm of his hand, it sparkled and thousands of colours danced within it. What the hell is going on? He thought, confused.

He realized the orb was swelling in the clouds, it wasn't small. It must have been at least half of the size of the jet. The clouds fluttered across its surface, creating dancing shadows along the ground. A crack burst from one side, and light escaped it. The crack continued to move along the fragile surface.

Until a shape burst from its centre, the shockwave exploded outwards sending the clouds out in a circle.Ace turned and raced downwards, the water had limited his vision, and he had no method of attacking. Blind attacks were worse than sitting still.

The wind whistled past him, as another black hover-bike shot past him. Realizing they were over taking, he slammed into the next gear.Two small black hover-bikes raced across the ground, the rain outlining them due to their speed. The figure looked to Ace, before pushing the bike on again. Ace responded by going just as fast. From a distance it looked like two shadows were dancing along the ground. Ace grinned, he liked this speed.

A loud grating sound caused him to look down, before the hover-bike flipped upwards. The hover-bike's back had caught on the ground, and now hurled twisting through the air. Ace was fighting to pull himself out, but the twisting was making it difficult to keep focus. All he could see was the waiting ground.

A pink sonic attack sliced through the front, releasing Ace from the bike's grasp. Catapulted forward, Ace managed to hook onto the other bike. It pulled upwards away from the ground. Without hesitation, the rider offered their hand to Ace. Smiling he grabbed it, and hoisted himself behind them.

However, the bike wasn't meant for two people, with a groan the bike began to drop sharply. The rider pushed the bike on, as they just skimmed a tall hedge. Completely inelegantly, the bike nosedived straight into a large lake. Ace allowed himself to sink, so that he wasn't in the way of the heavy bike. The bike was sinking like a ton of bricks. Ace looked up from his helmet, through the water into the darkening sky above him.

Slowly, to make sure everything was working Ace rose to the surface. He pulled the helmet and tasted the air in his lungs. Lavender hung in the air, and a huge willow sat to the side of the lake. Ace looked around, as the rider of the other bike rose up behind him. He was about to turn to see his savior, when he noticed something.

The black jet that was practically destroyed rose into the sky, before light shone from within it. A figure stood on the nose, lifting it up into the sky. A silver falcon shone on its base. Layol's symbol. Ace stunned, watched as the jet flew up into the sky, and carried on till it was nothing more than a shooting star.

"Layol…what did...why did you…" he whispered, still watching the star. It glittered, and winked before fading.

"Ace, that was too close. Are you alright?" a frantic voice came from behind him, he turned.

"I'm fine thanks to y-"he cut off, staring. The black and pink armored, blonde haired rabbit looked at him worried.

"I'm dreaming again…" he whispered moving backwards.

"No Ace, I'm here. It's really me" she whispered, swimming up to him. He pulled himself onto the shore staring at her.

"But how…?" he whispered disbelieving what was in front of him. A hand pulled his chin up, and her green eyes locked to his blue.

"Ace, it's really me…I don't know how I'm here, but I know it's me" she smiled gently, brushing his cheek softly. Then she looked up to him, before leaning into him. Gently, she placed a kiss on his lips. He gently closed his eyes, leaning back into the kiss. As he wrapped his arms around her waist, he had seen the ting piece of the white life giving gem placed into Lexi's chest, it was glimmering gently. Thank you Layol he thought, hoping she'd hear him.

Then he pulled into a more passionate kiss, Lexi pulled back. Then looked at him

"Don't leave me Ace" she whispered, he placed his hands on her cheeks

"Never again" he responded before they kissed again, covered by the willow in hidden place sealed within Acmetropolis.

Crime fighting could wait until tomorrow.

And there it is for you, I've really enjoyed writing this.

Big thank yous:

~To all my reviewers- it made the story so much more worthwhile.

~Academia Cicero- for the helpful reviews and the name for my villain. Thank you so much.

~To my good friend, HaiTing (she'll know what I'm doing XD) - thanks for kicking me to get this story finished, and all of the support. I couldn't have done this without you ;)

FreedomFighter94