Death, defined as the end of life, Something that really puts fear in the heart of every creature.
Throughout life, people experience different types of tragedies, but none of those are as painful and more feared than death.
However, in some situations, people would often risk their lives just to protect something they hold dear. Like the love of a caring mother, or the protection of a loving father.
But a friend? That's unheard of right?
Ace had truly formed a bond with Kaiser, his best friend.
That's why when his time came, Ace was easily ready to make a sacrifice for the sake of his friend.
The price?
His own life!
But is death truly the end of life? Or is there an aftermath, an afterlife, to be exact?
That was something Ace had to discover for himself.
'What the~,' Ace muttered to himself. It was nothing he had ever experienced.
He was conscious but couldn't sense anything. All his senses were like they were turned off!
He could see nothing, darkness all around. He tried to open his eyes but couldn't.
To him, they were glued shut. No matter how many times he tried to open them, they wouldn't budge.
He couldn't hear anything at all. He was stuck in pure, dull silence, and he didn't like it.
It was frightening. He wasn't able to hear the smallest of sound waves, not even his breathing.
As if those weren't bad enough, his mouth was also closed.
Deep down, Ace was screaming. "Hey, Hello! Anyone there?!" but soon he came to realize that it was just his thoughts.
He sighed, but that, too, was just his imagination!
He felt angry and lonely, but most of all, his sense of hopelessness overtook him
His most important senses cut off from him, only his thoughts available to him, and they fell to no ears.
'Damn it, you have to be kidding me. I can't see, can't hear nor can I speak!'
Ace's emotions overflown, he had no idea what he was feeling, or wether they were even possible to be in the precense of.
'WHAT KIND OF HELL IS THIS?'
Ace had been overwhelmed with anger. Stripped away from his own existence and he couldn't do anything.
'So, Is this what it feels like dying?' his inner voice deepened.
The sense of hopelessness overtook him completely. There was no denying it. His time had been done.
Suddenly he felt a force pulling him down, his consciousness still under the shock.
'What the~'
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt some kind of shiver. The touch of cold water!!
Like diving into a lake, Ace suddenly submerged under the water. It's touch cold and unrelenting.
Instantly Ace regained his senses, but at what cost!
Ace felt like drowning, his breath quickened and he lost oxygen by the second.
Bubbles of air rose to the surface as he threw his hand to try and catch them, but nothing helped.
Abruptly, ripples of a roar ran through the water. Looking down Ace saw a nightmare. A hideous monster was waiting to eat him.
Its body was huge, and its mouth opened wide; the whale-like creature was nothing Ace had ever caught sight of.
His body was covered with huge, darkened scales, and its teeth were sharper than knives. Ace immediately knew there was no escaping this.
But who was he to give up, he started flapping his hands, one ahead of the other. He felt heavy as if his weight had tripled or something.
Yet still, he refused to give up wanting nothing other than to flee, however it was too late.
Looking back, Ace saw that the whale had caught up to him.
His jaws grew larger and larger the closer they got. With a lightning snap, the whale closed its huge jaws. Taking all the surrounding water and Ace with it.
"Aaaaaaaaa," Ace rose from the cozy bed that he was in!
His body quickly reacting to his previous nightmare, snapped out of bed like a spring. His eyes grew twice their size as his scream weaved through the whole room.
He looked around, confused!
He was alive?
"Ohh, you've woken up." A soft voice said, carrying a tone of care.
Looking to his front, Ace was shocked. Standing before him was a girl, which confused him even more!
She was holding a tray with food in it, her long red hair neatly tied into a ponytail.
Her red eyes met with Ace's, and Ace kept staring back. For a moment, the two stood there in silence, as they kept staring at each other.
'What the fuck is going on here?' he thought, his head filled with confusion.
Like lightning pain struck his thoughts. Its sting intensifying by the second. "Ahhh" Ace tightened his grip on his head.
The girl shocked, yelled out a name. "Skysher!"
Ace's eyes widened, his heart rate quicked. A quick yet very painful sting stroke him right in the heart.
Unlike before, this wasn't physical pain or anything, rather a mental one caused by the name he was given!
Ace started to shake. He knew that name all too well.
Shock overtook him as he murmured back, "Skysher?!" his voice sharp and terrified.
The girl put the tray she had on a table That lay near her as she carefully made her way to the bed.
Ace still in the shock of the moment, his heart started throbbing as his blood pressure started rising.
As if on cue, he felt a hand on his head, looking up, he saw the girl sitting on the bed. Setting her hand on his head, her face painted with a concerned look.
"It's alright, the medicinal effects will ware off soon!"
'If only you hadn't been ignorant, you'd be fine now!' she thought, her hand still frozen on his head.
Hearing her words, Ace was taken aback.
'It all makes sense,' Ace thought; deep inside, he knew everything!
He knew who he was, he knew the girl before him, and most importantly, he knew what world he had woken up to!
But even though he knew everything, he couldn't show it. He looked back at the girl, still having her hand on his head, and put on a fake smile.
"Thanks, Sis," he answered her. Seeing that he had calmed down, Skyra let go.
In an instant, she stood up as she looked back at the tray she placed back on the table.
"I only came here on mother's accord..."
She paused looking back at Ace.
"So if you're going to thank anyone, it should be her and not me!"
Having made her point, she looked ahead picking up the tray of food from the table.
Looking back, she was met with the gentle smile of Skysher.
"It's alright, Sis. You can leave now," he said, shifting his sight to the clock that was In front of him.
"Now that I'm awake, I think I can take care of myself," Ace added looking at Skyra, Her bright red eyes glowing under the evening light from the window.
Out of nowhere, the door was knocked. "Skyra?" Someone said calling her.
Looking at the door Skyra sighed slightly. She looked back at Skysher who was smiling at her.
"Best of luck with your journey back," he mummered.
Skyra shook her head as she placed down the tray of food.
"Remember to stay away from trouble. Take care of your damn life and stop troubling those around you constantly!"
Skyra growled at Ace with a gentle yet sharp voice. Her eyes and hands still on the tray of food.
Ace tightened his fists, hearing her words struck him right in the gut.
Standing back up, Skyra locked eyes back with Ace. This time her red eyes gleaming with fury.
"Next time I might not be available to save your life! So treasure it while you it lasts!"
The room fell quiet, the air around shifting slightly as both stared at each other's eyes.
Ace looked at her as he put out his right hand, forming a thumbs up to her.
"Have some faith in your little bro, would you?" he said teasingly.
Skyra's eyes gleamed at Ace as her hands tightened. Her faith completely broken, she curved her lips turning her back on Ace
'How long are you going to keep living on broken promises dear brother!'
"Remember to get good rest and stay in bed, it might help fix that broken brain of yours"
"I will!"
She glanced one more time at Ace, her hands on the door. Slowly, the door knob revolved to open the door and moments after Skyra was gone. Making sure to close the door shut.
The noise in the room slowly faded as Ace looked down on his bed. His face darkened as he clenched his fists.
"DAMN IT."