#malleace

after all, Ace was the first to not want to wake up, depite knowing it was a dream, he liked the idea of having an easy life wwere he can get eveything he wants and wouldn't have to say a permanent goodbye to Yuu, and Ace didn't really thought there would be much of a differece if they all lived their whole life in a dream

he basically agreed with the whole philosophy of overbloted Malleus, and while he wouldn't like the coments about himself ("if Malleus chose to be alone that's his problem" "you are saying we, victmins, need to fight to help the poor jerk that did this to us?") he would have to admit Ace was also right about it, Malleus chose this destiny himself

i can see Malleus waiting to see what happens, with a little hope that Ace can make his friends see "reason" and agree to stay

then, when that doesn't work, he shows up just before Ace can wake up, after all, it's natural that a king would come to help one of his "loyal subjects"

but Ace would never stand to see someone hurting his friends, so even thought he is afraid, he would help them to fight malleus, try to help them run from Malleus

and in the end, i think he would sacrifice himself so they could all escape, he would tell his plan to Leona, since he can see he is the less emotional there, and Ace would go to distract Malleus, to give Silver time to use Meet in a Dream

Ace would use his acting skills to apeal to Malleus, promise to stay there, after all this world is perfect for him, and would even say that Malleus is invited to his vacation, after all, working for everyone like that would be lonely, it's only fair the king gets to enjoy too

Leona takes the plan to get everyone together and tell Silver to use his UM, they will have to abandon Ace after all, Grim, Yuu, Deuce and Cater have to be draged there kicking and screaming, wih Leona screaming back, it was Ace's choice, they shoudn't waste his sacrifice

they disapear, Ace's friends screaming his name and trying to reach him until the last second

and Ace is left alone with Malleus, who is a little disapointed, but honestly, when he noticed what was happening, he didn't really try to stop them

after all his priority right now is to help the subject who stayed with him, who agreed that his bleesing was a gift and invited Malleus to participate in his ideal world as well, his poor subject who is trembling

of course all this fight scared him, he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep peacefully like this

he saw Ace's darkness trying to console him, like he was a lost little child, and reminded of what Lilia used to do help Silver and Sebek when they were scared of the storms

Malleus made Ace rest in his lap, singing the same lullaby as Lilia used to

Ace was internally panicking, but the darkness was making him tired, Malleus's voice was making him tired

"you... are going... to want a flower shirt...too...?" he mumbled, the image was so absurd he giggled a little

Malleus spoke quietly "i know you are trying to distract me"

Ace's heart sank

"don't worry child, you won't be in trouble" Malleus ran his fingers ran throught the ginger's hair, it was cold, and stained the strands with blot "you know, we are very alike, you and i"

"we both just wish for the ones we love to stay by our side"

"the child of man really has a good friend" Malleus left a small laugh, it sounded a little maniacal "you could have anything, everthing you have ever wanted, but all you did was to solve your friend's problems, to make them happy..."

"don't worry child, soon i'll make them happy too, forever, like we both wish"

tears left Ace's eyes, he weakly grabed Malleus's cape

"please don't ....hurt them, Yuu... likes you so... you can't be all bad... so please... don't...."

Malleus softly shushed Ace

"i won't, don't worry, soon they will see the truth of my blessing"

darkness aglomerated around Ace, reassuring him, conforting him, Deuce put a hand to his shoulder

"Now we can have a blast this sumer"

"yes! don't be a crybaby Ace, we will have the biggest barbecue you have ever seen here!" Grim jumped and rested on his chest

"don't worry Ace" Yuu... held his hand..." we are safe, right here by your side, i can't wait to show my home to you guys!"

Ace weakly looked at Malleus

"you... promissed... to stay... here... too..."

"i will hapilly make you all company, for eternity"

Ace closed his eyes, a single tear running down his face.