Third Person
Rasmus cleared his throat loudly, waking up the eight who had passed out.

Sam was on the ground and had Cody's head laying on her stomach, while Selena's arm was draped across her chest. Selena's actual head was on the floor, and she was on her stomach. Blooper was sprawled out next to her, cradling his dagger like it was a stuffed animal. CannibalCrab and Pikalus were slumped against each other and KrakenKid and Tanith were laying side by side.

Instantly several got up once their eyes opened, other than Blooper, who stayed where he was. Professor and CannibalCrab pushed each other and gave one another a glare before looking to the rooster. Rasmus' eyes rolled and he sighed.

"Training went well today, hm?" His eyebrows raised at them.

Cody stuttered, sheepish. "Hey! We trained all yesterday and today, we're just kinda tired. These guys aren't used to the Nexus in their body and I've had to demonstrate a few hundred times on how to use it, I'm exhausted."

KrakenKid rubbed his eyes, then mumbled, "At least you have it down. After the first ten times, I started to feel the burn. I'm being literal, these fire abilities began to heat up your body after a while."

CannibalCrab's eyes widened. "So that's why I was getting so cold! Sheesh, someone should've said something, I thought I was going crazy!"

Rasmus looked between the two Tide Changers, then to the rest of them. His eyes paused on both Blooper and Tanith. "I thought you two were still in the hospital."

Cody blinked then turned to them. "Speaking of, I was wondering why you guys got released so fast... Who discharged you?"

Blooper sent a side look to Tanith. Tanith paused, then answered. "Dr. Kennedy."

Professor groaned instantly. "Which is code for Tanith discharged them herself."

The hybrid put her hands up in her defense. "I am a doctor and given we both can function just fine, they were going to anyways, I just did it before them. If anything, I did them a favor, now they can focus on other patients."

Seeing as an argument might spring up, Ramus quickly shut it down. "Even so, if you all are really that exhausted, get off the ground and go relax. You're all lucky it was me who found you and not somebody else."

Cody frowned. "But-"

"That wasn't an option, it was an order." Rasmus reported sharply. His eyes gleamed. "You might be the king, but I am still your uncle. You told me once that I needed to take a break after working so hard, it's time that you do too."

Rasmus didn't need to stick around, fully knowing he had won. He strode off, leaving the others behind to their own devices.

Blooper was first to break the silence that had formed between them. "Well, he's ordering us to rest, who are we to ignore him?" He grinned, already thinking of what to do and nudging Selena. "There's an ice cream truck we can raid."

Selena tried to hide her grin but couldn't help but love the idea. Then, they all paused as a feeling of fear passed through all of them. "Is it just me or are you guys getting a bad feeling too?" CannibalCrab asked, shivering.

They all murmured in agreement. KrakenKid crossed his arms. "Ever since the pulses, I've been getting a feeling Ace is going to strike again soon. Now it's stronger than ever and call me paranoid but I think he might try something soon."

"A calm before the storm..." Tanith mumbled.

All went quiet as they couldn't help but agree, but couldn't bring themselves to say it. In the end, Blooper couldn't take it. He shot up and signaled Selena to follow. "Well I'm not wasting time then. I'm going to go get some ice cream with my best friend before it gets destroyed or something like that. C'mon, Salami!"

When Selena got up, Blooper grabbed her arm and set off, going out into the distance. They all watched them go before KrakenKid sighed. "My son does have a way with words, we should do something in case..." He trailed off.

Sam picked it up. "In case this in our last night alive?" Her eyebrows rose. "Little pessimistic but I'll give you a break. I'm with you, even if we don't die and just end up in the hospital, I've been stressing on a million different ways he could attack and I could use a distraction."

Professor's mind went back to the mini civil war that had occured. "Your situation book?"

Sam shrugged her shoulders. "Planning different strategies gives me something to do. I already finished two weeks worth of work within a few days, forgive me, but when Cody is restless, it rubs off on me."

Cody coughed sheepishly. "Sorry. Maybe I've been a little strung up-"

"A little?" Tanith echoed, crossing her arms. "Cody, I have a certain bonding power that says differently. I got three hours of sleep yesterday and another off of passing out, your stress has been keeping us both up, and that's with Cece keeping it down the best she can."

KrakenKid stifled a laugh. "You don't need Empathy powers to see it either." CannibalCrab snorted and nodded in agreement.

"What is this, the 'Roast Cody Hour'? I get the point, I get stressed easily and bite off more than I can chew! Sue me, I'm used to taking control of the situation!" Cody huffed, sending a glare to the two Tide Changers. "Rasmus advised us to take a break, and his advice is normally the way to go so I trust him. Plus, I'm 90% sure if I didn't, he'd order Tanith to sedate me for the next nine hours to get proper sleep."

Tanith looked Cody up and down, nodding slowly and sending a 'I could take you down' message that didn't put Cody's mind at ease.

Cody continued. "So, let's relax. There are some spas I know of, and the beach is having a good day I hear, or-"

"There's a bar a block away from the hospital. It's half off from two to four PM." Professor cut in. "I could care less what you guys are choosing to do, but I'm going to go down there and have a drink. First round to anyone who comes down with me, I could use some entertainment."

Cody gave him a 'Really? Going to drink at this hour?' look, but Sam shrugged her shoulders. "I'll come." Cody's look turned to her, more surprised and she sent a smirk and a wink. "It's a free drink, what can I say? Besides, I haven't in a long time. It's a nasty habit but, for the possibility of being a last night, what can I say?"

CannibalCrab grinned, stepping forward. "You're paying?"

"I take that back, free round for everyone but Cannibal." Professor replied smugly. CannibalCrab stuck his tongue out at him.

"You sure? Cannibal is a lightweight and he's quite the show to watch when he's down." The General grumbled and hit KrakenKid, who just grinned. "What, you denying it?"

"I change my mind then, Cannibal, I'll buy you the first three. Won't take much more than that, right?"

"Screw you guys! I can hold out on my own!"

Cody cut in. "Guys, you do realize we might be going into battle soon, is this really a good idea?"

KrakenKid's gaze turned to his, smirking. "Something up, Penguin? Can't hold your liquor?"

A competitive spark ignited in Cody's chest, and he couldn't stop himself from acting on it. "Oh, you're on, Kranky."

Tanith let out a laugh and followed the others as they all migrated towards their destination. As they crossed through the rocky terrain, Professor's eyes got caught on the lab in the distance. He stopped in his tracks, remembering something he had been meaning to do for a long time. The others gave him a look and he groaned, handing Cody a few gold coins. "Here, I'll catch up. Forgot about something I left behind."

They all just shrugged and moved on, leaving Professor to head for the lab.

He didn't waste any time when he got there, making a beeline straight for one of the database computers and began to search through it. He brought up the profiles on Atlanteans, then the ones specifically on those in the Poor Districts. He wished they had finished setting up more subfolders, dividing them into age, species and race, but they hadn't gotten around to it.

Professor began to click through the profiles, grumbling and wishing he could've done this earlier, then paused when he accidentally passed the one he was looking for and scrolled back.

He stopped as he recognized the same face of the boy he had seen earlier. The one who had stopped him from finishing off Ace right then and there back when he was dealing with the Pulses.

Brown curly hair and purple eyes. All the database had on him was: His name, Chester Shire Tale; his residence was in the Poor District, which Pikalus figured in the first place; and the fact that he was in a public school for a while, but skipped a couple grades, then switched to homeschooling.

Professor wasn't sure why he stopped him, if he had any relation to Ace or if he just didn't want to see anybody killed, but it was worth investigating just to be sure. He squinted at his eyes, then at his last name. Tale... Why does that last name sound familiar to me? And those eyes, unusually colored...

"Professor Pikalus!" A voice called, making him turn. The scientist, Jill, approached him with a smile on her face. "How did the Atlantean Weapons work out? I know I followed all the calibration directions to the point but were you and the others able to actually use them? I hear that these weapons can be a bit-"

She stopped in her tracks, staring at his computer screen before slowly turning to him. Pikalus saw a fire in her eyes, even if she tried to suppress it. "Professor," She said slowly and carefully, though something told him it was more for his sake than hers. "What do you think you're doing?"

Professor's eyes flickered. "Jill-"

"You know I'm not a violent person. I prefer to avoid it, in fact." Her orange eyes darkened. "Chester is a troubled kid, but he's clean. You have no reason to be searching him up."

"Jill-!"

"Do I make myself clear? Now shut off the computer, and walk away. I won't ask a second time."

Professor paused briefly, then exited out of the file and stood up. Jill relaxed. "That's what I thought."

Professor took in a long breath, staring her down. "Jill," He tried to say with authority. "Does Chester have any relationships with the criminal, Ace?"

She glared at him. "Excuse me? Chester has been accused of some insane things in the past but this just takes the cake. Whatever you or anyone else thinks of him, he's not a freak. He's gifted, he learns faster than anyone else I've ever met. He's smart enough not to get involved with some heartless criminal that you guys are so vague about. Now, do us both a favor, and back off."

Professor decided not to engage. He knew he could very well take her on, but if he was right about Jill and Chester's relationship, then it wasn't a good idea. He avoided her gaze and left, heading back down towards the bar.

------------------------------

"So you have how many siblings?"

Chester stifled a laugh and Ace passed through the doors, peeking in a few rooms. "Eleven. One of them doesn't live with us anymore but she visits whenever she can."

Ace nodded slowly, opening another room to find three beds all off to the side and three workbenches all combined into one. On top of this long, combined workbench, a jumbled robot was being formed, not much bigger than Ace's arm by the looks of it. Diamond and Clubs moved closer, taking an interest to it while Ace kept up his conversation with Chester. "What are they like?"

Chester paused, shrugging his shoulders. "A handful, most are a lot more social than I am but they're family. It's easier to work and just think while they're all at school though. A few hours to myself." Chester searched for the nearest clock and found one hanging in the hall. He walked over to check the time, then stopped in his tracks.

Chester cursed under his breath. "Ace, you gotta go."

Chester gently grabbed his arm and moved for downstairs. "What? Why?" Ace asked, frowning. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's my siblings. School is out and they'll be coming back any second now." Chester made a move for the door. "Meaning if you don't get out now-"

There was a bright red light that flashed behind them, making Chester tense up, and then a snicker that followed. "Well, well, well. Leaving so soon, Chessy?"

Both of them whipped around, and standing there was a teenage girl, grinning from ear to ear. She had short, curly hair that was separated into two braids that rested on her shoulders, and deep red eyes. She wore a white shirt and a red, zip up jacket, along with light blue pants. A smirk played on her face as her eyes moved from Chester, to Ace.

"How did she get in?" Ace asked uncertainty, his eyes moving from Chester to the pair who followed them.

Diamond and Clubs both stared at her, Diamond more simply confused than Clubs' mouth hanging open, completely dumbfounded. "S-she just appeared there! Where the heck did she come from?" Wha- D! D, what's going on?"

Diamond didn't give an answer, frowning to himself. Chester took a step towards the girl in red. "Dorothy, let's not be so hasty. Just stay where you are and we can negotiate-"

"Nah." Dorothy answered, putting a hand on her hip. "Sorry, but we've been waiting for this for a long time. You're not getting out of this."

Dorothy's body was overtaken by a red light and a flash soon filled the room. Dorothy was gone from where she stood before, making Chester run a hand through his hair.

"Never mind, looks like we're not getting out of it. Get ready to meet my siblings." Chester turned to Ace. "I can assure you, none of them are going to attack you so don't be alarmed if they try any touching or hugging. Once again, they can be a bit much."

Ace gulped and nodded, glancing over at Diamond and Clubs, who both gave a 'We can't do anything, you're on your own' look before stepping back.

Moments later, Dorothy returned in a flash of light, but leaned against the wall instead of doing anything. It wasn't long before she was followed by a phoenix coming through the open window in the living room. The fiery bird wrapped itself up in its wings before it began to morph into a human girl, a little older than Dorothy. Her hair was jet black and short, almost in a boyish cut. Her outfit was entirely purple and black, with hints of green. Her eyes were gold and she bared her teeth. Ace would've taken it for a predatory grin if Chester didn't send him another reassuring look.

"Hi there~" The girl with golden eyes sang, keeping her gaze carefully trained on him. "It is so good to meet you~" Her tone was like a lullaby, but one that would lure you to sleep before gutting you without a second thought. Ace shifted uncomfortably.

More burst in through the door. Three, two boys and a girl, who all looked similar were first, looking at him before talking to each other. Behind them, one that was much more muscular and narrowed his eyes at him. A young boy and girl followed, equally excited, and finally, Derek and Devin were last, strolling in at their own pace, having already seen Ace before.

"Is this him? Chester's best friend?"

"He's skinny. Too skinny."

"He certainly could use to gain a couple pounds."

"I don't know what you guys are talking about, he's even better than I could've imagined!"

"That's because your imagination is terrible, Rob."

"Hey! Play nice! We have a guest over!"

"Does that mean we should just lie to him about what we're like?"

"Haven't any of you heard about first impressions?"

"Look at him, look at that hair! He's perfect!"

"Uh, guys? I think we're making him nervous."

"All of you, quiet!" Chester barked loud enough to stop all the talking. Every single one of them had gone off in their own thoughts and now Ace couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed.

"Oh sorry, where are our manners, hm?" The one with golden eyes strode up to Ace, holding her hand out and keeping her eyes locked onto him. "The name's Maxine, though I like to think of myself as The Charmer of the family." Maxine took in a breath, looking him up and down once again. "Our Chessy has been meeting up with you for sometime now, he's really taken a liking to you."

Her voice seemed absent, like she was talking but in a different world. However, she shook herself and focused again before Ace could say anything about it. "Tell me, have I see you at all before? Something about you seems familiar..."

Maxine's hand moved but Chester caught it. The two siblings locked eyes and Chester held firm, even if he was a foot and a half shorter than her. They seemed to have a silent argument, but it wasn't getting anywhere.

"Max, that's enough." From the trio that had walked in earlier, the female of the group marched forward and shoved her out of the way, though Maxine just laughed like she was used to it. "He's the guest, stop hounding him."

Maxine rolled her eyes in a playful manner. "C'mon, if we can't hound him, then what's the point of meeting him?"

The girl in front of him scoffed at her and turned back to him. "Ignore her." She said. She had long, brown hair and light red eyes, and a face that looked similar to the two guys behind her. All three of them were wearing black with one piece of pink clothing, though all of them had it in different places. They all wore a T-shirt, pants and jacket, the girl had on a pink jacket. She extended her hand, grinning. "Peggy." Ace took her hand and shook it.

Peggy glanced behind her and gesutred to the two guys. "I'm one of the triplets, these two are my other halves." Both of the guys had the same hairstyle, messy and fluffy, but different colored eyes. Peggy gestured to the one with cyan eyes first. "This one is Phil," Phil waved excitedly, his eyes lighting up. "And this is Pablo." Pablo's eyes were gray, and he avoided Ace's gaze but smiled, almost embarrassed.

"Amazing to meet you, I was hoping Chester would bring you by the house!" Phil chirped, snaking his arm around Pablo and pulling him into a side hug. Pablo stumbled but didn't seem too surprised by the gesture, just looking up, and then back down after meeting his eyes. "We've all been looking forward to this for a while!"

"Stop acting like we're a hive mind." A low grumble brought the attention of a brooding and rather muscular guy in the corner. His eyes were pure black, and it was like the void to stare into them. His hair was fairly long and straight, being dark brown with dyed darker streaks in it. He wore a cheap leather jacket with little spikes on the edges and gray jeans. Other than Maxine, he was the most intimidating.

Peggy sent a glare to him but he didn't flinch from it. "Waldo, I put up with your brooding bull crap every other day of the week, but I swear to Poseidon's grave, I will put you into the ground if you scare him off."

Ace cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm... I'm not going to get scared off." Ace's heart spiked when eyes returned to him, followed by a series of grins.

"He speaks!" Phil released Pablo and clapped his hands together, eyes shining. "I thought you were mute for a second there, which wouldn't change a thing by the way but hey, you got a nice voice!"

"You're forgetting, this is Chester we're talking about. Of course the guy he befriends is going to be more quiet." Waldo rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you all expected, but it seems unrealistic."

In the back of the room, Diamond and Clubs gave each other looks, then tensed and pointed behind Ace. He didn't see what it was before someone grabbed his hand and yanked down. Ace found himself crouching down to eye level with a younger kid, though he still looked older than Chester. All of them did really.

His eyes were a faint orange and his hair was a light brown, and he had a bit of a baby face to him. His eyes were bright, curious and filled with joy, though they had a bit of a far away look in them. He wore an abundance of forest green, including a cowboy hat, though had red shoes on.

The boy examined his face, poking his cheeks and getting a good look at his eyes before he seemed satisfied. "My expectations weren't, he's just as perfect as I imagined! I expected Chester to have a cool, new friend, and that's what I got!"

Maxine chuckled as the boy patted Ace on the top of his head- even if he still struggled to reach it when he was bent down. "And this, would be our dear brother Robin." She stalked over and gestured to the kid. "The our favorite ignoramus."

Robin's eyes sparkled and he put his hands on his hips. "Yes, I am the best ignoramus! Number one!" He paused for a long while as the others stared at him. "What's an ignoramus?"

"Maxine, I am going to kill you." Peggy grabbed her arm and dragged her away. "Not today. It's like Derek said, first impressions are important."

"We've already all made a terrible first impression, don't fake it now." Waldo grumbled.

"Almost all of us." Dorothy cut in, then nodded towards the young girl behind them. "Fay, why don't you introduce yourself to the guy, and for Pete's sake, someone get his name."

The last girl of the group had faded pink hair, like it was dyed but had since started washing out, with light brown hair under it. When Ace first looked at her eyes, they were gray, then when she noticed him looking at her, they sprang to a vibrant yellow and a grin grew on her face. She wore a light blue dress with high white socks and pink dress shoes.

Waltzing forward, she held out her hand. "I'm Faylinn! What's your name?" Her eyes shifted to a faint yellow when she asked. Ace blinked rapidly, wondering if he was imagining it.

"Err- Ace." He swallowed back his fear and they shook hands. Her eyes seemed to shift in shades the more she looked at everyone, then suddenly they turned green, telling Ace he definitely couldn't be imagining the color changing.

"Chester, you need to tell us everything about your friend! How long? When? Where? Details, details, details!" The girl had left Ace behind her as she moved to her brother and began to shake his shoulders. Ace blinked, even Faylinn was taller than him. Even if she did seem more childish, she was still older than him.

Chester only got her to stop by grabbing her shoulders, steadying them both. "Fay, we've talked about this, it's hard to think when you do that."

Faylinn seemed half embarrassed but otherwise didn't seem to mind so much. "Sorry Ches, but- ah!" She squealed, looking back at Ace. "I'm so excited! Will we be seeing him often now? And-" A gasp escaped the girl, her hands cupping around her face. "Can he come to dinner tonight? Big Sis is planning on visiting and Mom has been saving up to buy us a feast because we're going into testing tomorrow. Mom and Dad will want to meet him, c'mon, Ches! Let him come!"

"An excellent idea, Fairy!" Robin nodded excitedly.

Devin laughed, separating from his brother to walk over and put his arms around the pair. "Listen- Rob, Fay- look at the guy! 'You already scaring him to death, y'think he can handle meeting ev'ryone else?"

"Uh, Dev? Ya do realize he's 'standing right there?" Derek followed behind him, then gestured towards Ace. "Why does everyone talk like he's not still in the room?"

"Thank you!" Peggy huffed, exasperated. "Somebody else noticed what's wrong with this situation! You're a saint, Derek." Derek beamed at the comment.

Devin put his arm around Derek. "What 'bout me? I'd say I've got a pair of wings."

"Lucifer was an angel too." Waldo snorted.

Devin gave a fake gasp of offense, but a smirk broke out on his face and he rolled his eyes. "Ah, who am I kidding? S'true. But I'm just saying, Chessy's only got one friend, I ain't about to make him run before we can even talk!"

"Three." A small voice spoke out, turning all attention to who spoke. It was Pablo, who shrunk down under attention but still managed to speak. "U-uh, I just said there's th-three! That's all!"

"Three?" Phil blinked, confused and staring at him.

"How many Ace's are you seeing exactly?" Waldo rolled his eyes.

Pablo blinked, then looked directly at Diamond and Clubs in the corner. The pair's eyes widened and gaped at both him, and each other. "You guys don't see them? It's just me?"

Ace nearly coughed in surprise and Chester looked over. Diamond and Clubs? He mouthed, getting Ace to nod slightly, still shellshocked. Chester eyed his brother, frowning. Pablo eventually looked away from the pair, looking back to the ground.

Maxine's golden eyes shifted from Ace, to Chester, and then to the twins. Ace could tell she was thinking, and in the short time he had known her, that scared him a little bit. "Hey, Derek, Devin." The twins perked up and turned to her. She winked at them slyly. "Weren't you two complaining about math homework earlier? Wouldn't you love some help from your favorite little bro?"

They looked at her a moment longer before Derek caught on and whispered something to Devin, making him do the same. "Oh, of course, Sister. How could we forget something like that? Chessy, if you will."

Not waiting for Chester to react, Devin scooped him off his feet and rushed upstairs. "Just because you can pick me up, doesn't mean you should!" Chester yelped in protest, but any other words were lost once they were up and a door shut.

And Ace realized he was alone with them. The eight remaining siblings, who still stared him down.

"Finally." Waldo grumbled, black eyes glaring before his whole body began to morph into a wolf like creature. He instantly began to sniff at Ace, growling lowly under his breath as he did.

Ace began to take steps back before a strong arm hooked around him and held on. A voice spoke near his ear but wasn't directed at him. "What did I say?"

The wolf growled more before shifting back into Waldo. "What? We all know the talk is coming anyways, how is this any different?"

"Oooo! The talk?" Robin grinned, putting his hands on his hips. "Yeah, yeah, we're gonna have the talk! You're gonna get talked! Gonna be one heck of a talk!" Robin paused for a long while, then leaned over to Faylinn. "Hey- uh- what talk?"

Faylinn's eyes turned to him, the color changing to dark gray. "The big sibling talk?"

"Ohhhh, right!" Robin nodded, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Peggy sighed, leading Ace to the couch and sitting him down. "Doesn't mean we can't be civil about. I'm the oldest in the house, you answer to me, capeesh?"

"Yes, Princess." Waldo sneered back at her, but she ignored him, waving him away and focusing on Ace.

"Before we ask our questions, do you have any?" Peggy inquired.

Ace paused, his breath hitching in his throat before he managed to say. "Can all of you transform like those two did?"

Peggy blinked, then laughed to herself. "Oh, right. Nearly forgot that not every family has abilities like ours. No, Waldo and Max are the only one's of us who can shape shift, and even then, there's still a huge difference."

"Yeah, I can turn into cool things." Maxine winked.

"You can turn into fake creatures. Fitting really, suits your personality." Waldo retorted, getting a glare from her.

"I thought we were on the same side today!"

"I'm on nobody's side."

Both snarled at each other before Phil cut in, engulfing both in a huge before they could transform and attack each other. "Now, now! Both of you have very cool powers, and just because they're different doesn't mean it's a bad thing! Maxine has mythical creatures because she's creative and Waldo, you have regular one's because you're a realist! Nobody is fake, okay?" Phil said cheerfully.

Waldo and Maxine paused but both ended up letting go. "Fine." They said in unison, and Phil released them.

"See? Harmony is key~" Phil chirped, then took a seat as well. The rest of them followed his lead until Ace was once again surrounded by them. He glanced back, trying to signal Diamond and Clubs for advice but the both of them just shrugged and gestured for him to talk to them.

Ace turned back just as Peggy continued. "Anyways, we're a family of mages. Mom and Dad were ones and it just passed on to the rest of us. All except big sis, but she does fine without it." Peggy snapped her fingers and her entire hand lit on fire with no sign of slowing down as it burned, though her hand appeared to be fine. "None of our powers are the same."

"And they're useful too!" Phil added. "Oh, but don't worry, we aren't going to use them against you, most of them are harmless anyways! Like mine is empathy- you really have nothing to be afraid of by the way!"

"A-and mine is illusions." Pablo's waved in front of him and created a holographic version of Chester, before it solidified and looked like the real thing. "Creating- and seeing them too. It's... It's not that big of a deal."

"The point is, we've got some tricks up our sleeves." Maxine winked.

"But that's not the point." Peggy scolded her, then sighed. "Most of us have gotten a handle on our powers but Chester... He gets frustrated with them. Gave up on studying them recently and we think we know why now."

She looked directly at Ace. "He's been preoccupied with something else. Which brings me to this: We need to know somethings about you if we're going to see you hanging around our little brother."

Ace paused, then nodded. "Okay."

Peggy nodded. "Okay."

It was Faylinn who spoke up, her eyes lighting up green. "When and where did you two meet?"

Ace hesitated but thought back. "It was a while ago... Three weeks probably? More? I don't keep track of time, but uh, he followed me home."

They all looked to each other and nodded. "And you became friends how?" Phil leaned closer, smiling softly.

"He kept finding me and kept talking and... I don't know, he was just so nice that it happened?" Ace said uncertainty, glancing all around at them. He wasn't sure how much he could give away without letting them in on something he'd rather keep to himself.

"Hm. And your intentions are purely just for having a friend, correct?" Ace nodded. "So no scheming with him?" Ace paused, more uncertain now.

"...Scheming?"

"Y'know," Maxine's smirk grew. "He's not getting involved in your... Other activities. He's not being hunted down for helping the most dangerous man in Atlantis, is he?"

Ace's blood ran cold. He stiffened up in his seat. "...You all know about that."

"Who else has hair like yours? Sorry to be the one to break it to ya, but you stand out." Dorothy snorted to herself. "C'mon, you had to see this coming. Practically the whole neighborhood knows, but since you did save us from a falling building, they're keeping their mouths shut and turning the other way. Did you really think we didn't notice?"

"I..." Ace tried to say but found himself just swallowing and trying to relax. "Maybe. I was hoping I was as stealthy as I used to be. But uh... I promise I'm not here to hurt Chester. He means a lot to me."

There was a silence before Peggy stood up. "That's good enough for me. You're off the hook, Ace. Rob, if you would save Chester from-"

"Wait!" Faylinn stood up, her eyes now turning a pink color. "Just give me a moment with him!"

Before anyone could say anything, Faylinn grabbed Ace's arm and jerked him with her and up the stairs. She rushed into a room he hadn't seen before shutting the door.

The room was cut in half, one side with books and action movie posters that were just a bit torn while the other had a mirror and various make up kits that had used up parts. The whole room was painted a light red.

Faylinn went over to the mirror side, then pulled out various scraps, including string, wood and even bits of metal and then, began to take a scrap of dark gray fabric and rub it on them.

Ace wasn't sure what to do but sit down a couple feet away and let her work. It took her awhile, but she spoke.

"Despite my more cheery nature, Chester likes to confide in me." Faylinn told him, still working but Ace didn't know what she was doing. "I'm young enough to be able to relate to him and unlike the others, I'm easier to talk to. The twins tease him, even if Derek is better at holding back, and Robin isn't the brightest bulb. I listen, and despite what Chester might say, he talks a lot. He talks about you."

The glowing, blue eyes moved back down to what she was working on and did a double take. All of those scraps of various materials were changing into the dark gray fabric that was being rubbed on them.

She noticed him staring. "My eyes do change color with my emotions but surprisingly enough, that's not my power. My power is transfiguration. Changing one thing into another. Doesn't work with living things really and trying to make money doesn't work, but clothing is easier. That's why all of us have more stylish clothing, I made them. And I wanted to make you something."

Ace cleared his throat, still staring at it. "What... Is it?"

"Like I said before, Chester talks about you a lot. He admires you, really. Listens and observed and... I don't think I've ever seen him this passionate about someone who wasn't family." Faylinn's eyes changed to a deep pink, and she smiled softly. "You mean a lot to him. You're his hero, even if he doesn't know it."

Faylinn paused, now beginning to attach a long string to the fabric. "And your outfit is so plain that I wanted to do you a favor. Since you're a hero, I wanted it to reflect that."

She finished, then moved over to him and carefully put it around his shoulder before tying it around him. When she was finished, she had him stand up, and Ace found the fabric moved all the way down to his ankles.

"A cape." Faylinn smiled. "The perfect addition for a hero."

Ace opened his mouth, maybe to protest against what she was calling him or maybe to say 'Thank you' but then the door opened.

Chester was the one to open it, his hair messed up but otherwise looked fine. He was going to say something too, but then he saw the cape and gave his sister a look. She smiled innocently and plopped herself down on the bed.

"We should go." Chester said at last. Ace nodded and followed behind him as he made a beeline for the front door. As they left, Diamond and Clubs finally joined him after finishing a staring contest with Pablo.

"Sorry about that." Chester huffed as the got outside and shut the door firmly. "Like I said, they can be a lot to deal with."

"It wasn't so bad." Ace found himself saying, glancing back. He fiddled with the fabric, trying to get used to it.

Chester paused for a moment, looking at him and focusing on the cape. "Suits you." He commented, the continued on.

You're his hero. The memory whispered in Ace's head.

------------

Blooper and Selena settled on the beach, ice cream in hand and watching the waves rise and fall endlessly.

Blooper was gulping down his favored chocolate ice cream, and while Selena had the same, she wasn't really up to it. Admittedly, she had let KrakenKid's words get to her a little. Him talking about how Ace would probably hit again soon got her on edge and glancing over their shoulders.

Selena kept telling herself she wasn't afraid of him. However, lying to yourself, especially when you know you're lying, doesn't really work as much as you'd hope. Selena knew that for sure, already imagining the glowing eyes and the electrifying body pouncing in a bright light.

Maybe it was ridiculous, but she couldn't shake the feeling. "Hey, Blooper?"

"Wa?" Blooper answered, mouth full of cream. Selena gave him a look and he rolled his eyes. He swallowed the remaining in his mouth. "What?" He said, now clearer.

Selena hesitated, but just let the words slip out. This was her best friend, after all. "Are you ever afraid of Ace?"

Blooper blinked quickly a few times. "Well... Yeah I guess, he's a pretty scary dude. Why?"

"Because..." Selena trailed off, trying to push the image back out of her head but it wasn't working.

Blooper waited a bit longer. "You get nightmares at all?"

Selena couldn't stop herself from nodding slightly. It was true, ever since a week or so ago- maybe longer- she had been having them. "Just... Sam and Tanith were caught so easily and then Tanith could've died. What if she had? Or what if that was Sam?" Selena groaned, putting her hands on her head. "I know I'm overthinking this but Sam's just always been there. Trying to imagine life without her is painful."

"Always? Never been on a business trip or something?"

"Not really." Selena shook her head. "She's gone for work a lot but she always comes back everyday and checks on me, even if it's late at night. She's been taking care of me ever since I can remember. She's more of a Mom than my actual mom, you know how weird that is? To consider someone else more of a mom than your actual mom?"

The yellow eyes flickered. "Yeah, I would."

It took her a moment for her to catch on, then it dawned on her. "Oh, Blooper, I-"

But he brushed it off, shrugging. "It's fine, Salami. I know what you mean and I'm okay with talking about it. I don't even remember my Mom, pretty much everyone I know in the Conch Command has been my Mom. My Dad, Darrel, even Gnash and Bruce sometimes. She's gone and they filled the roll, it always happens."

Selena decided to press on. "Do you miss her at all? Wonder what happened?"

"Well, duh. She was my mom. Of course I'm curious. Of course I wonder what happened at night and wonder if I was the reason she lef-" Blooper cut himself off, eyes going unfocused, then shaking it off. "Point is, yeah, I get you. Both the mom thing and the nightmare thing."

Selena's whole body twisted towards him. "You've been having nightmares too?"

Blooper shrugged. "Yeah but it's only the same dream over and over. It was weird at first but I'm not really scared of it at all now. Just... Confused, I guess. Normally even my repeat dreams have something different," He held his tentacles up. "But nada."

Selena bit her lip, then leaned forward. "Tell me more. What's this dream about?"

Blooper opened his mouth, then left it open but didn't say a word. Selena could already see the wheels turning in his head, before he decided to say something different. "I'll answer your question if you answer mine."

"Really? A trade?" Selena tried to give him a look, but Blooper held a firm gaze that surprised her. Whatever he wanted, he was serious about it. Wasn't everyday where Blooper was serious. "Okay, hit me."

Blooper slapped her arm and she pulled away, glaring at him. "I didn't mean literally!" Blooper smirked but then it dropped.

It took him longer than he'll ever admit to say it. "Why'd you bet against me?" The question froze her heart. "I know I'm still just a kid and I know I've got a lot less experience but I thought you knew I could handle myself!"

Selena's frown deepened as soon as it appeared on her face. "Blooper, believe me, I regret that choice. Just before the fight began, Professor and I were going to switch sides but then it started before we could. And Blooper,"

She nudged him, smiling softly. "You were amazing. I don't know where you learned half that stuff or how Tanith was holding out, but you were a force to be reckoned with! All of us were impressed, I wasn't even sure if I could last a minute if it were me and-" Selena finally caught her breath and let her heart slow back to its regular pace. "Point is, I'm sorry I said that, and I was totally wrong."

Blooper couldn't resist- he broke out into a full fledged grin and puffed his chest out. "Not even a minute?"

Selena pushed him over but he just popped right back up, laughing. "Don't let it get to that big head of yours too much. Just take the compliment and tell me about your dream."

Blooper's laughing died down, then it turned into uncertainty in his eyes. "Right, uh... Well it's just a dream-"

"Blooper."

"Fine." He mumbled, then took a deep breath. "Okay so what I can remember is that it's all of us standing in front of... Something. I can't remember, it's always really foggy and it's hard to see everyone around us but I know it's all eight of us. You and my Dad are nearby me and Ace is standing in front of us all. I think he says some stuff, I can never hear him. Ace is all angry and has this weird cape on and then he just attacks us, but that's when it gets weird."

Selena nodded along, not saying a word and allowing Blooper to go on. "He went after just one of us, and he electrocuted them, so they fell. But then three other people- one of them is my Dad- falls right with them! Like they've also been hit with it! And then he fights the rest of us and I get hit with a shock and I pass out and then wake up in bed."

Blooper fiddled with a broken piece of shell in the sand as he spoke. "I had it once back before we were all looking for the pulses, but then it just kept happening. I had the dream over and over and over again- and it just hasn't stopped. It always feels so real too- but it can't be. Four people going down with one shot that didn't even hit the other three, on top of the fact that Ace doesn't even wear a cape- it just doesn't fit. It's nothing."

"Blooper-"

"It's nothing!" Blooper insisted further, stabbing the broken shell back into the sand. "It's nothing and it's stupid, ignore it."

Selena let out a frustrated huff and grabbed his arm. His yellow eyes met her blue ones. "Blooper, as your Designated Best Friend, it's my job to take what you say seriously. Unless it's sarcasm but that's a whole other ballgame- the point is that you've been having these dreams, and we're gonna solve them. Now,"

Selena took in a deep breath, and Blooper found himself subconsciously doing the same.

"Try to remember your dream again, and as many details as you can. Maybe it's important."

-------------------------

Chester finally asked the question that was on his mind for so long.

Maybe it was Ace meeting his brothers and sisters. Maybe it was seeing him once again, living in a cave. Maybe it was the way he walked or looked behind his shoulder or acted in general, or maybe it was all of these things. But finally, he had the courage to ask.

"Ace," Ace perked up and looked to him when he heard his name. "You're always so distant from people. Why? I know fear is one but, it's something else too. So, why?"

The question had caught Ace off guard, but as he began to think about it, his blood started to boil. Things he kept deep inside began to surface, but he managed to carefully slip the words out. "...Do you really want to know?"

Chester nodded firmly. That's all he needed to let his emotions go.

"Because of how much pain there is!" Ace shouted, then began to tug at his own hair in his stress. His legs began to make him pace without him knowing, and even if he wasn't watching, Diamond and Clubs both shrunk away, looking to each other and feeling nothing but fear.

"Do you know what I see when I look around? Pain." He gestured outside. "I see a false god trying to live up to his father, and I see a rebel trying to start a revolution and who thinks he can stand a chance! I see a pair of sisters who hide away from everyone else because they're so scared of choosing a side or getting attached, and then losing them just like they lost their mother! I see a raging scientist who is a ticking time bomb! A cannibal who was banished by his own people and now doesn't even know who he is without his leader! A medic trying to recover from war when, in reality, she is dependent on it! A boy trying to be tough and not collapse from pure terror that he has to take on huge responsibilities one day! Not to mention the war that rages on because of all of their hatred, and everyone else who will die in the crossfire!"

Ace sucked in a breath, not realizing how fast he was talking or how loud until he stopped, but his adrenaline spun out of control. Sparks began to fly off of him in his emotions, but Chester stood firm.

"I was created because of that pain and suffering, and the longer I live, the more I see that! Everyone is so flawed and they just keep creating more and more problems- and I'm a byproduct of that! I'm just another mistake they made and couldn't cover up or get rid of before it began to destroy everything in its path!"

Ace's vision blurred, he didn't stop to see why. His breathing became ragged, and his voice was weaker. "Did you know they wanted to make a weapon of me? I tried to scream at them to stop but they just kept going. They didn't care that I was alive, apparently I wasn't alive enough for them. That professor did nothing to help me! That medic screamed at the sight of me! 'So full of hatred. Nothing good could ever come from that.' That's what she said. I was barely alive but I heard it clear as day. None of them ever cared- that penguin doesn't care! He wants me gone! He created me! He forced all of that hatred and confusion, and now I'm here! They're..."

Ace rubbed his eyes, feeling something rise to his throat and a breathy sob escaped him. "They're all so flawed, Chester. Every human I've met, except you."

Chester went still, even for a moment, before sighing and relaxing. "I'm not perfect, Ace."

"You're the only one who's ever tried to reach me. Actually know me." The blue haired man released a small laugh. "Be my friend... It's more than anyone else has."

"That doesn't make me perfect, Ace." Chester's eyes dropped to the floor. "I've done things. Horrible things."

"I doubt-"

"I use to manipulate people, Ace."

Ace fell silent. No words could be said, and even though Chester gave him time, he didn't expect him to respond. Chester prepared himself, and then he started to tell him everything.

"When I was four years old, my parents noticed I was doing things a lot faster." Chester began to play with the end of his sweater. "I learned to talk and speak clearly a full year before any of my other siblings did, I started to learn what some of my siblings in middle school were learning, I just grew so fast. They managed to ask a family friend- a doctor- what was going on with me and they eventually sat me down and had me take an IQ test."

Chester looked from the floor, to his sleeves, and then eventually up to Ace. "I ended up scoring a 151, genius level."

Ace blinked in surprise, Chester wasn't done. "So, as soon as I was in school, I began skipping grades a lot. I was placed in second grade, then moved to fourth in a matter of weeks and I kept going. I might've been fine..." Chester stopped, now starting to grip his sleeves. A rage began to radiate off of him, almost making Ace take a step back. "But there was the fact that things didn't change."

"I was still a kid to them. It didn't matter if I was smarter than most of the people there, they were still so patronizing. They talked down to me, they changed their tone and acted as if I was a scared, little, lost boy! I tried to explain to them that I understood the same stuff they talked about- politics, laws, all of that!- but they didn't listen! I was frustrated!" Chester's voice had a slow descent into a growl, his eyes narrowing.

"I started to have a problem with authority, stopped listening to the teachers and eventually dropped out of school and got a tutor because I couldn't handle it." Cody's hand tightened into a fist. "But that wasn't the worst of it. Around that time, I began to manipulate people."

Chester then refused to meet Ace's eyes. Ace, who had been standing there and trying to process all of this information at once, and wasn't sure what to think yet.

"I didn't care who it was, I just did it. Adults were easy, they didn't think they could be twisted around my finger, or that a kid like me could do that, and never believed their kids. I used the other kids for entertainment and then threw them away when I got bored." Chester wiped his eyes before they could blur. "I did all of this, for one simple reason."

Chester didn't want to say it, but he knew he had to. He had to not only admit it to Ace, but to himself. "Because I could. Nothing else, it was the simple fact that because I could use everyone around me, that I should. That nobody else tried to stop me... I'm not proud of it, Ace."

Chester began to slowly move around, his body moving, even if he wasn't paying attention. He too, began to pace. "I did it to everyone in sight. It didn't matter who or what, I just did. I... I even followed you with the same intent."

Ace couldn't hold it any longer. "What?" He staggered back. Chester stopped in his tracks, look at him with shame in his purple eyes. "You-! You-!"

"Ace," Chester said slowly.

"You USED me?" He exclaimed at last, now his back against the wall. He almost ripped out his own hair from grasping at it. "Why does everyone always use me? Am I some sort of tool? Is that my destiny? And you-! You're just like the rest of them!"

"I was, yes." Chester nodded, now much more careful about his movements. "I was just like everyone else. But you know what changed? You. You made me better. See, people can always be terrible, there's no doubt, but other people can make them better."

Ace's mind still began to spin, and Diamond and Clubs were never more terrified.

Chester waited for a long time, then moved towards the exit. "I know it hurts, and truthfully, the best thing I can do is apologize. I can't change the past, but I have changed from who I was."

Again, a pause, but no words from Ace. "I'm sorry, Ace. But I do truly care about you. I need to go back home for lunch, but if you're up for it, come for dinner. You'll meet my parents and my oldest sister and... They'll be so happy to meet you. And not all people are bad. Don't forget that."

Chester gave Ace another chance to say something, but when he didn't he left. Ace was frozen for a long time before crumpling to the ground.

Diamond and Clubs stared for a long time, gulping. Carefully, Clubs approached. "...Ace?"

"We're doing it. Today." Ace said, his voice clear.

Diamond and Clubs looked to each other, exchanging worried looks that Ace didn't see as he stared at the ground. "Are you sure you're up to this?" Clubs asked. Neither of them had to ask what he meant, they knew.

"Positive." Ace insisted, his fist clenching. "I need to."

Clubs nodded hesitantly, running a hand through his spiked hair. "Right... Well, you need their attention, right?" Ace nodded. "I have just the thing in mind. A little revenge too."

Diamond quickly strode up to him and whispered. "Are you sure revenge is a good idea?"

Clubs nodded back. "If anyone ever needed it right now, it's him."

"But..." Diamond turned his concerns to Ace. "You do realize you'll be taking on all of them at the least." Ace nodded again, and judging from the look in his eyes, Diamond had a feeling he wasn't going to back down. He tapped his fingers against his leg before saying it. "There might be a way to take down many of them. A hidden weakness."

Ace's eyes snapped up to him, now all of his attention on him. Diamond continued. "It'll be difficult, but if you get it right, you could take out half of them."

He didn't need to be told twice. "Go on."

--------------------

"I can't believe I'm stuck with you." Jill grumbled.

She clutched the small device in her hands, making the other roll his eyes. "We were partners for so long, of course they did. All until that little freakout."

Jill spung around and pointed accusingly at him. "I can't trust you if you're going to do something like that. I know we didn't know what it was or if it could even feel pain but it was alive, Jack. I never want to do that again." She turned back away, marching at a faster pace as they began to leave the lab behind.

Jack followed behind, beginning to smirk as her pace slowed down and her head turned from side to side. "Lost?" He sang, clearly amused.

"Shut up." She growled back, gesturing for him to take the lead- which he promptly did. He turned them back around and headed in the right direction, allowing Jill to focus on other things. She glanced down at the drive in her hands, less than a inch long and yet, could hold more data than most of the things available to the public. "Remind me what we're doing again."

"Forgot already? Tsk, tsk, Jill. Step it up." Jack told her, glancing back with the same smug look as before. "But, we're just dropping that off at Scientist Z'Braira's house and then grabbing more drinks for the rest. All the vending machines are out."

Jill didn't respond as they climbed high up the hills just outside of the lab. It was starting to get dark, and even if it wasn't by much, she was getting worried already. "You think it's safe out here?"

"Really? Scared of the dark?" The older man rolled his eyes again. "No, I doubt anything is going to happen at this time of day. Besides, if you're so scared, I can protect you."

"I sincerely doubt that." A voice neither recognized spoke out, and made them freeze in place. They collectively turned and met eyes with someone standing behind him. A blue haired man wearing a yellow shirt and gray cape, with glowing eyes that terrified them both to their core.

But Jack pushed back the fear and took a step towards him. "Do you now? And just who are you?"

Jill knew and tried to pull him back. "Jack, don't! That's-"

"Ace." He replied in a deadly voice. "Though, to you, I'm nothing but unstable energy waiting to be turned into a weapon."

Both of them paused, looking to each other and back. "What?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

'Ace's eyes darkened and he took a step forward. Sparks began to fly off of him, now making the pair back up as he advanced. "You don't remember? I can't forget it. Perhaps I can jog your memory. Ever remember getting some energy- blue, unstable- and then your tried to rip it apart using red lasers to make a weapon? Because, 'That thing is a weapon if I've ever seen one'?"

Jill's blood ran cold, and from what she saw, Jack knew it too. "You're-... You're-... You are alive. Oh Poseidon, you're alive! I thought you were gone and you weren't... Like this." She gestured to his body, her hands shaking against her will. Jack didn't say anything, now completely silent.

"Yes. I was alive then, and I'm even more alive now." Ace's eyes began to glow intensely, the electricity now becoming more erratic. "Still want to make me into a weapon?"

Jack couldn't take it. His blue eyes burned and he lunged at him, a cry in his throat and fully ready to attack, but it was a mistake. Ace released that energy and Jack dropped to the ground, unconscious in seconds.

Jill breathing became ragged as she tried to back away, but Ace soon turned to her and raised his hands, that same energy sparking through him. "Now. Hand over your technology."

Jill had to obey, what choice did she have? The phone was easy to give up but she hesitated on the chip. Ace took both, expecting the phone but frowned at the chip. "What... What is this?"

"It's a computer chip. A drive to keep storage and information on. It's harmless! I swear!" She told him as quickly as possible. "You can put videos, audio files, papers, anything you want but it's all harmless!"

Ace fiddled with it in his hand and tucked it into his pocket. "Fine, doesn't matter. Follow me."

Ace bent down but struggled to pick up Jack's unconscious self. Jill only watched for a moment, still trying to get her heart rate down, then she had a realization that judging from Ace's skinny form, he wouldn't be able to do it.

Ace's eyes darted to his left, glaring at something but Jill didn't see anyone there. "I know it wasn't practical but he deserved it!" He hissed through gritted teeth, in a voice that Jill almost didn't hear, making her wonder who he was talking to.

She bit her lip and waited a moment more before speaking up. "I- err." She stuttered when Ace's glare turned to her. She swallowed her fear and her heart took over. "Do you need help with that?"

Ace's stare turned blank, though his eyes did flicker to his side, the right this time. Jill quickly explained herself. "I mean, I'm already your hostage and I'd rather you be in a good mood and if you can't bring Jack with us alive than you might leave him for dead so just- let me carry him, okay?"

Ace looked her up and down carefully, but nodded in the end. Jill hosited Jack up while grunted, she could move. She then followed Ace as he led the way, electricity sparking from him as he did.

---------------------

As the night wore on, Sam found herself in unusual company.

She did know that whoever could hold their alcohol would end up with her at the end of the night, but she was a little surprised on who it was. Of course, Sam knew that she could, but she was betting on Pikalus, not Tanith and KrakenKid once it came down to it.

She swirled her drink around with one hand and looked over her shoulder, quietly snickering as Cody stumbled around, trying to get to the open karaoke machine but kept bumping into tables and falling over, then crying at his pain. Cody turned out to be quite emotional while under the influence, and called her a goddess as well as having a very strangely emotional argument with KrakenKid over his nachos and a staring contest with Tanith.

Cannibal had flirted with just about everyone in the bar, outside of Sam, Tanith and KrakenKid and now was testing a few pick up lines on a house plant in the corner. Pikalus had picked fights with everyone. Absolutely everyone. However, turns out he was a total wimp when he was drunk and all Sam had to do was push him over and she won.

Turning to the hybrid, enjoying a fruity drink with a surprising amount of strong liquor in it, and the Tide Changer who calmly sipped on his own concoction which he dubbed 'The Brick' in which everything was red and even included some cherries.

"So," She sat back, downing what she had and slamming it on the table. A part of her did it just to show off, and she smirked when she got a look from both of them. "I'll admit, I didn't think you two were the ones who could hold their alcohol. As soon as Pikalus went down at his fifth drink, I thought I was gonna be alone."

KrakenKid was first to answer, finishing off his own and ordering another, putting it on Cody's tab. He shrugged as he picked up his new drink, twirling it around with his tentacle. "After a successful raid or mission, we often throw a little party. Every day is a gift, we're never sure when we're gonna die so we drink quite a bit. I've built up a resistance."

Tanith just winked. "A lot of my body functions are for resistance to toxins and alcohol does fall under that category. Not all alcohol, but everything you have in Atlantis. There was this one kind we got from our sister city, had all this stuff in it like jellyfish poison and mana cherries. Powerful stuff, really makes you want to sing." Tanith began to chew on her toothpick that once held fruits.

"Hm." Sam nodded her head, looking around once again. "You guys sure drank a lot. All of us did."

"Well," Tanith shifted in her seat. "In my experience, when people don't want to deal with their problems, they drink. It makes them stop feeling and thinking and while it's a really unhealthy habit- I've seen it ruin people before- it does technically work." Her eyes swept the room until they landed on Cody. "I don't feel the same things I was before. Cody doesn't have all the same worries as he did before and his feelings, while all over the place, are manageable."

"So he's running from his problems?"

"We all are, aren't we?" KrakenKid spoke up. He had drank half of what he had, then put it on the table, eyes trained on the liquid, and possibly the reflection of himself. "I know I am, and our bond does go two ways, Tanith."

Tanith paled for a moment, looking to the ground. She sighed, running a hand through her hair and letting her eyes flutter shut. "I was hoping you weren't getting anything. Cece was trying her best but... Well, something's can't be helped. But can you blame me?"

Tanith's blue eyes turned slightly watery, but she brushed it away. "What if we die?" He opened her mouth, but she stopped him. "I know- I know the odds! But none of us can deny it: Ace is powerful, dangerous, and worst of all, he's unstable. He's been doing a lot of different things to throw us off, but are any of us really sure what he's going to do? What his endgame looks like? Is us dead? And even if that is part of it, what happens when we are?"

Her eyes met the yellow ones. "He doesn't exactly what the throne, KK. He doesn't just want things to change. He's not you."

KrakenKid blinked. "What about me?"

"Well I know what you want, and I can trust that." Her hand moved to his arm, resting on it. "I can trust that your motivations are justified to you, and I can trust that that's what you really want." Her gaze dropped. "But I can't trust what he wants, and that scares me. He could want anything and he's unpredictable. KK..." Her voice trailed off.

KrakenKid and Tanith had a silent conversation with just looks, before she pulled away, seemingly calmer than before. The yellow eyes shifted over to Sam, eyebrows raising. "And assuming we're all here for the same reason, something tells me I can bet yours."

Sam gave him a long look. "I'm a runaway too now? Okay, hit me, what am I running from? What am I so worried about?"

The kraken's eyes looked her up and down one last time before relaxing. He knew he was right. "Selena." He answered, hitting the nail on the head and both of them knew it.

The mermaid went silent, then gulped down the rest of her drink in one go and ordered more. "You would know that, huh? You got Blooper." She sighed, drinking the next one in the same way as the last. "But, I can't deny that accusation. Yeah, I'm worried for Selena. She's my little sister, how could I not?"

"I was more referring to age than anything. They're just kids." KrakenKid suddenly aged in his eyes when he said it, and Sam saw a flicker of pain within them. Tanith leaned against his shoulder, then whispered something he couldn't hear. Whatever she said, KrakenKid nodded with it, and his eyes returned to normal.

He continued. "I'll be honest, I'd do anything to keep Blooper off the battlefield and safe in the Conch Command but..." He pushed his glass away, smiling fondly now. "He's grown so much. He's stronger than he's ever been and I can't take this away from him. No matter how much I want to keep him safe, I have to let him grow on his own."

Tanith had long finished her drink and didn't bother asking for another, now more focused on the stories that were being told than anything. "Here's to growing." She raised her empty glass, and the three of them all clinked them together.

And it was okay.

Until Pikalus' phone rang.

Pikalus had left it with them and while he heard it, he didn't try to answer it in the slightest. Sam rolled her eyes at him and picked it up for him. "Pikalus' phone, Sam speaking."

Neither Tanith nor KrakenKid could hear the other part of the conversation, much to their dismay, but Sam's eyes darkened. "Yes... Yes, I understand. We will be there right away, and we will hand it. Goodbye."

She hung up and swiveled around to the kraken and the snake, now deadly serious. "We have a problem. Ace has contacted the lab and apparently has taken two hostages. He's asking for us- he wants us to meet him outside of Selena and I's tunnels."

KrakenKid grimaced, glancing at the three bumbling idiots and groaning. "Great. And they're drunk. Just perfect."

Tanith chewed on the inside of her cheek before nodding slowly. "I might have a solution."

Sam and KrakenKid looked her way as she stood up, glancing on the other side of the bar table. "So my village and our sister city once decided to have this big feast and both of us brought our own drinks, which contained alcohol. Neither of us knew it at the time, but while we were immune to our own types, we were not to each other's types. See, they lived on the Medium-"

Tanith cut herself off, thinking. "You guys call it something else, uhh... It's in the middle of the world, big line cut across that represents the hottest and most tropical parts?"

"The equator?" Sam rose her eyebrows.

"Yes! That! I'm getting off topic but basically a bunch of people got drunk and we didn't like that. So, we created a concoction to cure it faster." Tanith nodded her head as her eyes swept across the bar. "And I might be able to make it with what we have. Sam! I need you to grab club soda and vodka and KK, get as many lemons as you can! I'll grab the bowls and the cups!"

While a little perplexed, they didn't have any other options in mind so they rushed to grab it. The bartender grumbled but didn't seem to stop them, already hearing what the situation was.

Tanith began to mix the club soda and lemons once they brought them back, then halted, looking to the bartender. "I swear I'll pay for all of this, don't call the guards, I can't get in trouble with Rasmus again."

"Again?" Sam echoed.

Tanith waved her off. "Also, I need a few more ingredients. Unusual ones. Got any?" The bartender scoffed and Tanith quickly dug into her pocket and pulled out a diamond coin. They instantly dropped their hostile demeanor and quirked their eyebrows. "Rotten flesh and a fermented spider eye."

"Tanith, why would he have-" KrakenKid started to say, but faltered when the bartender walked into the back room, then returned with the exact ingredients needed. "Wha... Why do you have that? You run a bar, why do you have rotten flesh?"

Tanith just took it and tossed the coin over. The bartender sent a hardened look to KrakenKid. "That's not information you need to know. Is that all?"

Tanith nodded, grinning. "Yes, thank you!" She went back to brewing up the potion, mixing in the vodka, rotten flesh and fermented spider eye in until it made a strangely purple drink. She even slipped in a little of her healing magic, letting it trickle in, then mixing it quickly before it disappeared.

KrakenKid gagged as she swirled it around, getting a laugh from Sam. "Haven't you killed people before?" She snorted at him.

"Doesn't mean I like to be in the same room as rotting flesh." He stuck his tongue out, eyes squeezing shut. "Skeletons are so much cleaner."

"So, you've never raided a grave before then?"

"No, why would I?" The Tide Changer replied, then blinked. "Wait, have you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"You hang out with the penguin too much, he definitely told you that story."

"Maybe-"

"Hey!" Tanith's voice broke through them as she had already poured the concoction into three different glasses. "Give one to each of them, it might take a moment to kick in and it tastes horrible, but it'll help."

They all took a glass and split off for one of the three drunks they knew. Sam took Cody, Tanith for Pikalus and KrakenKid for Cannibal. Cody tried to spit it out but Sam stopped him, Pikalus refused to make a face as he drank all of it but looked like he was gonna throw up and Cannibal drank it all quickly before toppling over and groaning, wishing he didn't.

But, their heads began to clear up and Cody stood up straight. "Never again." He mumbled, holding his head. "What happened?"

"You got drunk. Also Ace took hostages and wants to see us." Sam was blunt, but to the point and it made Cody much more awake when she said it.

"Call Selena and Blooper." He tried to rush out the door but stumbled, his head still spinning and Sam steadied him before he could fall. "Thanks." He mumbled, then took in a deep breath. "It's time."

Behind him, the other four gather, two recovering but doing it nicely, and Tanith and KrakenKid shared a look. They all knew what was coming, and really wished they had more time to prepare.

------------------------------------------

After Ace had called the lab and made the threat, Jill feared for her life.

Ace had stuck the three of them in the Sneaky Sister's tunnels, some place Jill was surprised was so close to the lab. She thought of escape, but between outrunning Ace, carrying Jack and dodging his lightning powers, she doubted she could. She wished either of the sisters were inside them, but they remained completely silent, other than Ace's footsteps as he paced.

She attempted small talk before or anything to break past the hostility, but none of it was working. Ace was rather cold towards her, but he seemed to mumble to himself. It was strange, it was like when he did, she was only hearing one side of the conversation.

Still, that was the least of her problems. She was scared, sure, but it was more so when Jack started to wake up.

Jill tried to get a message to him to back off without Ace knowing, but when he started to sit up, Ace's eyes narrowed on him. Jack stretched, then locked eyes with Ace and his face darkened.

"You've hit rock bottom, huh?" He growled, eyes flashing with anger. "Kidnapping? What do you even want us for? Are we just another part of your evil plan?"

"Shut up." The blue eyes flashed, then sparked with energy. "Another word and I'll-"

"You'll WHAT?" Jack screeched. Jill knew he could be hot headed but now she just wanted to deck him.

Ace's fists clenched and shook, then he took steps towards him. "They're already coming," Jack faltered when he said it. "I don't need you alive anymore. They'll come regardless now." He raised his hand, and Jack suddenly lost all color in his face, as well as his confidence. Dangerous bolts buzzed around Ace's hand. "You deserve it."

"Wait!" Jill's voice pierced the air, desperation clear in it. "Please! Stop!" Both heads turned to her, puzzled what she could say or do to stop him.

Ace hesitated, the power dying down but not completely disappearing. "Why?"

"Because..." She struggled for words. She knew full well how Jack could be, and given Ace seemed rather unstable, how she could possibly stop him seemed to be the question of the night. "Because you can't take a life!"

Ace stared at her, then his head twitched. "Who are you to tell me who I am and what I can and can't do? You think you can control me?" His pupils were nearly covered up by the growing light in his eyes. "Who says I can't kill you too? In fact, give me a reason why I shouldn't! You ruined my life!"

Jill gulped, but lifted her head, hoping she could say something good. "I'm not saying I can stop you really, but taking a life is a hard deal. You're not just killing him and making them suffer, but their whole family as well!"

The blue and the orange eyes mixed, and from how his eyes were clearing up, it seemed to be working, just slightly. She quickly pushed forward with it. "Listen, we both have lives to go home to! Jack has a mother to provide for and I have a whole family! I-"

Her throat began to clench up just thinking about her family if they learned she was dead and she had to swallow before she could speak. "I was going to get off early tonight and go eat dinner with them. I always come home late and I never get to see them anymore but we finally planned to meet up tonight and my siblings- they're so excited!" She wiped her eyes. Oh Poseidon, I forgot how much I missed them...

"I have a little brother who needs me. He looks up to me, even if he denies it often." A smile grew on her face. "He's so young and gifted! He's the smartest kid I know and he'll do great things one day. He'll be so heartbroken if I don't come home. He's particular about saying goodbye when you're not going to see each other for a long time, and he never got to say goodbye last time I saw him. Please. I have eleven siblings, they'll be so dis-"

"What's his name?"

The question threw Jill completely off. Her eyes flickered to Jack, who was completely frazzled, and then to Ace, who was serious. His eyes stared at her intently. She cleared her throat and croaked out a, "What?"

"His name." Ace repeated, slower this time. "Tell me his name."

"W-why?" She reeled back, heart beating out of her chest.

"Just tell me his name!" Ace snapped at her, eyes flashing.

"Chester!" The name left her mouth in pure fear, then she couldn't believe her eyes as Ace's whole body drooped. Eyes no longer glowing and all electricity was gone, not even the lightest spark from his body. For the first time, Jill really noticed the necklace around his neck, a black heart necklace that looked eerily familiar. His face was unreadable, then it was even harder when he turned away from them.

She couldn't see his face but he seemed to mumble something, his hand slipping into his pockets, then freezing. It took him a moment, but he turned back to them. All hostility was drained from his eyes.

"I can let you go. Both of you, I can let you walk away alive." Jill's whole face perked up, and she could barely believe her ears. "But,"

Jack huffed. "Always a but." Ace's look silenced him, and for the first time in a long time, Jack looked so small.

"But," Ace continued, his eyes going back over to her orange ones. "I need you to do me a favor. One small favor, and you both walk free, unharmed. Do we have a deal?"

Jill knew he didn't say what the favor was for a reason, but she didn't care. "Jill." Jack tried to warn her, but it was already too late.

"Deal." She nodded.

---------------------

Blooper and Selena both caught up to the others by the lab, and together, they all slowly made their way over to the tunnels of the Sneaky Sisters. They gathered their Atlantean Weapons and walked cautiously, unsure if Ace was going to try and jump them.

They all raised their weapons when a strange figure emerged, but then dropped back down when they saw it was just a pair of scientists, one of them leaning heavily on the other.

Tanith felt like she'd seen them before, but Pikalus knew for sure. "Jill? Jack?" He stared at the pair of them as they limped out and towards the lab.

"I got us out." Jill told him, though there was a strange light in her eyes that looked oddly like someone who left out a bit of information. KrakenKid knew it best, he operated on that sort of talk. "He needs a doctor, you-" She glanced back at the cave. "You all better deal with him."

Pikalus tried to ask questions but Jill didn't say much after, already making her way over to the hospital, still helping Jack walk.

They might've asked more if their attention wasn't taken by Ace soon after. He came out of the cave, his eyes glaring at the lot of them and stood a good distance away.

Blooper's body stiffened, and Selena soon understood why as they looked at Ace, who had a dark gray cape on. Exactly like his dream.

"Kidnapping?" Cody pushed his way to the front, staring Ace down as he did. "That seems unusual for you."

"I needed your attention." Ace went straight to the point. "I needed to make sure you'd come, and that it would just be all of you. I don't need to deal with guards too."

"Well luckily for you, we agreed to come, just the eight of us. We didn't want to put others in danger anyways." Cody told him, then gestured to everyone. "Well, you have our attention. What do you want?"

Ace didn't need to say anything, simply letting his body be consumed with energy, and they all knew. They readied their weapons, even if everyone but Cody, who was naturally born with Nexus powers, and Tanith, who technically didn't have an Atlantean Weapon in the first place, didn't know how to properly use their abilities.

Cody was at the front of the line, with Tanith and Pikalus to his left and right respectively, KrakenKid, Cannibal and Sam behind them and Blooper and Selena at the very back. They all waited, unsure if Cody or Ace was going to strike first. Blooper couldn't help but feel like his dream was coming true.

It was Ace, lunging for them. Cody braced for an attack, readying his spear, but to his shock, Ace moved past him, and instead aimed for his left. Tanith didn't get to move fast enough before Ace put his hand on her chest, and a shock went through her body.

The shock wasn't meant to kill, but rather was more precise than powerful. Ace wasn't sure if Diamond was right about it working, until he saw it for himself.

Not only did Tanith's body go limp, but Cody, KrakenKid and Pikalus' too. All four of them fell, and Blooper was nearly frozen until his legs moved for him, rushing to catch his Dad before he hit his head. The others had the same thought, with Sam going for Cody, Cannibal for Tanith and Selena for Pikalus. They held on, then carefully laid them on the ground. CannibalCrab had to dodge an attack from Ace, rolling out of the way and to his feet.

"It came true!" Blooper could barely believe it. "My dream, it was right! How-!"

"The bond." Sam bared her teeth. "If it was anything, it had to be that."

Cannibal did a head count, then agreed. "It fits, it's all the people Tanith has bonded with. I never thought I'd say this but I'm glad I never really got to know Tanith that well now."

Cannibal barely got a breather before Ace tried for him again, and this time, landed the hit. Cannibal fell to the ground, his Atlantean Pistol clattering out of his hands when he did.

Selena and Sam both grouped up instinctively, but regretted it as Blooper was left on his own. The small kraken attempted to control the nearest metal and attack Ace, but he was too slow and soon, he too was down.

Sam and Selena were fast, but not fast enough to dodge lightning at the rate it was firing at them. They tried to run, and Selena even got out of the way for the first attack, but she found herself alone, and she didn't last a minute with panic over taking her body, and using her adrenaline against her.

And soon, the world melted away into the darkness with a flash of blue light.

----------------

Ace only let his body show exhaustion when he finished off Selena, the last one. He nearly fell down, panting hard but straightened up as Diamond and Clubs nodded.

"We make an awesome team!" Clubs grinned. "With our direction, you knew exactly how all of them moving! How cool is that? Pretty cool, we are pretty dang cool!"

Diamond nodded along. "We do make a good team." Then he paused as Clubs stared at him, a wide smile on his face. "What?"

"I just like it when you agree with me."

Ace ignored the pair, he was getting used to doing that since they loved to talk with each other. Instead, he moved over to Cody's unconscious body and raised his hand. He had the full intention to kill him right then and there.

Then a sudden pain ripped through his head and he cried out, startling the pair into silence as sudden voices and memories filled his head.

"You're his hero."

"You. You made me better."

"A cape. The perfect addition for a hero."

"But I do truly care about you."

"Suits you."

"Because you can't take a life!"

One word echoed again and again and haunted Ace, his arms shaking from just hearing it. Hero. Hero. Hero. It kept saying, and Ace couldn't help but let his power go, it dissipating before his eyes.

"Ace...?"

"I can't." He breathed, clutching his head. "I don't know why, I don't understand it but I just can't. I don't..." He sucked in a breath and forced himself back straight up. His heart pounded, and his body still buzzed with power, but with no killing intent. "I'm fine." He insisted.

Ace stood there for a while, letting his mind take over until he raised his hand, aiming above all of them. "I don't know why but I can't bring myself to kill them. So I won't." He began to charge up his power, and for a moment, his soul shined through his body. "But they'll still suffer, and they'll wish I did."

Clubs and Diamond took a step back, then glanced at each other. "Did you feel it?" Clubs asked, getting a nod.

"A splitting feeling. If there was ever enough evidence to support your theory, it was right then. It felt like they fully split apart. That's why it was so foggy before, they were merged but now they've been divided."

"Chester's confession showed the cracks." Clubs continued, using the same metaphor. "And now we're here.You don't think he'll actually manafest, do you? Would that even be a good idea? I mean I hope not but-"

Diamond lightly shook his head. "There's no telling. I hope not too but..."

Ace's body filled with electricity as he began to bend down and placed his hand on Cody's head.

"But when has hope ever fallen in our good graces?"
*********************
Roughly 14,582 words. AAAAAAAAAAAA but finally it's finished, that took foreverrrr

Lots of notes for this chapter!
- Galaxy kinda made a comment about what resembles the first scene (All of them sleeping in a pile) and dang it, it was too cute to pass up so thanks to them!

- Also Ice mentioned getting drunk and I couldn't help it. Don't drink kids, it's a bad addiction and turns you into a bumbling idiot

- Yeahhh, might've gone overboard with the 'Meeting Chester's Eleven Siblings' Scene buttt I worked really hard on all of them and I just wanted to show them off because I love all of them.

- Speaking of Chester and his family, all of them are based on a fairytale character! Some are easy to guess (I.E- Dorothy, Robin, Jill), some are a thinker (Faylinn, Chester), and some are downright difficult (Maxine, Derek&Devin). They also are all known to have powers and an unusual eye color. Feel free to ask questions about them because there's a lot I didn't put in about them because I didn't wanna bombard y'all with Chester's family.

- Blooper and Selena have a talk about what happened, and then Blooper's dream turns out to be prophetic!

- Chester reveals his full backstory and Ace reallyyyy doesn't take being manipulated well.

- "Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after." Yep, the rhyme tells you a lot

- Hmmmm...

Crap is gonna go down. Some heavy crap is gonna go downnn.

I hope you guys liked this! Be sure to comment what you thought, and farewell!

—JustAnAtlantisWriter