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Published:
2024-06-02
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2024-10-10
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5/?
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The Coolest Hero

Summary:

The world of Miitopia is in danger due to the Dark Lord stealing people's faces! Luckily they got the coolest hero ever to save Miitopia!

Who totally doesn't have any issues with his family or abandonment issues.

Chapter 1: A Cool Beginning

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

This is the land of Miitopia.

It is place where everyone can live in peace and harmony.

Or at least... it was.

The darkness came without warning...

A great and terrible shadow threatening all of Miitopia!

An unspeakably evil fiend started stealing everyone's faces!

And to add insult to injury...

The fiend gave the faces to monsters!

Behold, a simple traveler wander-...Wait I think he's just sleeping under a tree. But a traveler non the less!

Now this is where our tale begins.

A tale of The Coolest Hero!

-<........>-

The Traveler was sleeping under the tree. He had a brown bag beside him. He had dark blue hair but poking out of his hair were two black horns. And his traveling outfit was also a similar blue to match. There was some cloth wrapped around his waist that held together an imp like tail. But it didn't seem to be a real one at all. But most importantly laying on his face as he slept were sunglasses. After all how can you be cool without them!

He continued in his trip in dream land as he laid on the soft grass.

As he slept a presence starts to approach him in his sleep until it is looming over him.

"Hhm..." He mumbles as he opens one eye to see a butterfly in his face.

"Oh just a butterfly." He rolls over onto his side continue sleeping. "Leave me alone I'm trying sleep."

"Wait..." He looks over at the butterfly to see it had big eyes. "I'm pretty sure butterflies don't have those." It let out some kind of screech at him. In a panic he grabs his bag and swings it right into the butterfly.

"What the fuck!?"

It was knocked back by the force but got right back up. "Ha ha! Still think you can fight me? I'm Ace the coolest guy around!" Ace boasted while also shaking a bit.

The butterfly let out a shriek as more butterflies with eyes start to come closer.

Ace blinked. "Ok we'll call this a draw." As he starts making a dash across the fields.

"Nope! Nope! Nope! I ain't dying to butterflies! That's a stupid way to die!" Ace yelled as he continued running.

-<........>-

Ace was out of breathe as he reached a nearby town.

Once he did he saw someone by the entrance and tried to explain what just happened.

Only for him to laugh in his face.

"Monster with eyes? Pfft! Hahahaha!" Ace looked annoyed at the townsperson.

"Now that's funny! You must of been seeing things. Look nothing bad happens around he-" As he speaks dark clouds starts to cover the sky.

"You were saying?" Ace said bluntly.

They both look up towards the sky. Ace lowers his sunglasses to see the dark clouds better. As a voice cackled from above.

"Mwaa ha ha haaa!" Ace looked around at the sky to try and see where that creepy voice was coming from. Then from the dark clouds appears a horned figure from the sky. While Ace's horns were more pointy this one's horn were a lot more curved then his. He had dark black hair that Ace could swear that it looked like it was moving. He had a long purple cloak and a matching purple robe with it. His skin was pale blue. Hanging from his neck was a golden charm in the shape of an eye. 

He had a sinister smile on his face as he looked upon the people below.

"Who even is that guy?" Ace said tilting his head to the side.

"Ahem...HEY DARK AND CREEPY! WHO ARE YOU!?" Ace yelled out.

"What!? What are you doing!?" The guy next to him said in a panic.

"Clearly getting answers." Ace said bluntly.

The horned figure looks down towards Ace.

"I was getting to that.  I am the Dark Lord! Dark Lord Emory! Mwaa ha ha haaa!" Dark Lord Emory cackled.

"Dark Lord Emory? Or is just Emor-" The guy standing next to him covers his mouth.

"Shush! Do want to make him mad!?"

Ace grabs his hand and pulls it away. "Oh what is he going to do? He's already made the sky dark which means I can't wear my sunglasses at the moment. Which is already the worst thing possible."

He just stares at Ace. "What?"

"Ahem! Anyway! I've come to wreck havoc and terror on this miserable little world! And I'm starting with you, people of Greenhorne!"

"Huh I wonder what that is-" Ace was saying but stopped when the guy's face just comes right off his body.

"Eh!?" The guy panics as his face floats up towards the Dark Lord along with a few other faces from the townsfolk.

"Oh shit!" Ace said looking at the floating faces by Dark Lord Emory's side.

"Say goodbye to your faces!"

Dark Lord Emory admired his work before announcing. "Hmhp. I think this should do nicely for now."

He points down below. "Now listen here, faceless freaks!"

The faceless people along with the people who still had their faces shook in terror at the Dark Lord looking down at them. "I hope you like a life of wordless terror, because that's all you've got now!"

He gave a sinister smile. "And to those of you left behind...Take a nice long look at your poor little friends..."

"AND DESPAIR!!! BUH BYE! MWAA HA HA HAAAA!!!" And Dark Lord Emory flew away with the faces that he stole.

Ace looked around still a bit shock. "Well...I...Didn't expect that..."

He turned to the guy that he was standing next to. And gave him a little poke in the face. Or whatever was left of it that wasn't mouth, eyes, or nose.

"Huh...So...How are you going to eat now? Or breathe even?"

Then Ace heard some sobbing. He turned around to see a woman with a long dress holding a faceless child closely.

"It's going to be ok...I'm here..."

"Huh..." He said before stepping closer to the women.

She noticed him getting closer. "You! Adventurer! You have to help me!" The women begged.

"That...Thing stole my precious...Lei's face..." Ace looked at the child with curly red hair as they also hold onto their Mother.

"...Why of course!" Ace smirked.

"Now It wouldn't be cool of me to reject this kind of request!" The woman sighed with relief as she pulled out a charm that was purple with a closed eye in the middle of it.

"Please take this. it's our family's good luck charm. Hopes it'll keep you safe from the Dark Lord."

Ace takes the charm and places it around his neck. "Have no fear ma'am! I'll get their face back in no time!"

Ace runs forward but he trips right onto the ground landing face first. He quickly pushes himself up before turning back to the woman smiling. "I'm ok!"

As he runs out of Greenhorne. And towards the grassy hills ahead seeing a familiar figure in the distance.

"Oh he's not getting away from me! He's gonna face my uhh..." Ace looked around to see what he could use as a weapon and looked at his bag.

He proudly holds up his bag. "My bag! The perfect weapon!"

He swings the bag around by the strap. "Ha! Dark Lord whatever! Prepare for a bag to the face!" But as he swung the bag around it came loose and was sent away a bit from him. "Oops."

He runs over to his bag and picks it back up. "Alright maybe I can pratice some cool moves with my bag. And maybe some cool one liners." Ace's eyes sparkle at that idea.

"Ha! I'm so smart!"

-<........>-

Notes:

A start to a Miitopia fanfic. Having fun writing Ace here. He's gonna be fun.

Ace: He/Him
Personality: Cool

Chapter 2: Reach For The Stars

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

-<........>-

"Stop right there Dark Lord Emory!" Ace yells out pointing towards the Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord turns to look at Ace. "Now what we have here." He eyed Ace.

"Now listen here Dark Lord Emory! I am Ace the coolest guy around! I am armed with a bag that will cause pain!" Ace holds out his bag.

"Now you can make it easy and give back Lei's face!" Ace smirks.

'Man I was so cool.' He thought to himself.

Dark Lord Emory stares at him unamused. "If you were going to be this annoying I would of taken your face as well."

"Hey! Who are you calling annoying!?"

"But if you want their face so badly. Why don't you earn it." With a snap of his fingers a Yellow Slime appeared next to him. And he opened the other and Lei's face floated down.

And stuck right onto the Yellow Slime. Within place the monster growled at Ace. Ace backed up a little a bit nervous of the monster that now had Lei's face.

"Let's see how well you do in a fight. Maybe that bag will help." The Dark Lord mocked.

Ace's body shaked a bit at the monster.

'H-Hey...This is nothing...I can do this...' Ace thought as the monster came closer.

"Be seeing you! If you survive, that is! Mwaa ha ha haaaa!" Then Dark Lord Emory vanished leaving Ace with the Yellow Slime.

The Slime edged closer to Ace who panicked and started waving his bag around trying to hit it.

Even when it did hit the Slime it didn't even do much to it. As it slightly sunk into the Slime it pulled it from Ace's grasp and throws it to the side.

"Umm...Can we call this a tie?" Ace nervously said.

The Slime pounces onto Ace making him yelp. It looks right at him. Despite it having a child's face...Ace was scared...

'What do I do!? What do I do!?' Ace thought in a panic. Trying to shove the Smile off with little sucsess.

Then the charm around Ace's neck had started to glow.

It took both Ace and the Slime by suprise as it started to glow brighter and brighter. Before everything was engulfed by it's light.

-<........>-

"Ace." A voice called out.

"Uhhh..." Ace rubbed his eyes as he opened them.

"Can you here me, Ace." It called out again.

"Huh?!" Ace sat right up to take in his surroundings. He wasn't in a field of grass anymore. It was vibrant with glowing lights.

"What the...Where the fuck am I!?"

"Now, now no time for such language." The voice called out.

"What the!? Who said that!?" Ace looked around for the source of the voice.

"Ho ho! It does sound like you're hearing me...What good fortune this is!"

"Uhhh...Ok...Who are you?" Ace asked still looking for the voice.

"Now you may not believe this, but I'm kind of a...Guardian Spirit."

"Wait, wait...Were you in that family's good luck charm?" Ace asked pointing towards the charm around his neck.

"Precisely. But it seems you got yourself into quite a predicament, my child."

"Pfft...It's still no trouble." Ace said with a confident smile.

"Oh? Really?"

"Ha. Yeah! I had that Slime where I wanted it."

"I guess I could just send you back to deal with that Slime if you don't need any help." The Guardian Spirit says.

"Wait! Wait! I was joking!" Ace yelled.

"Good. I, er, bestoweth upon thee the awesome power of the guardian! Hurrrrrgh...HAAAA!!"

A bright light appears. Which results in Ace needing to cover his face. He lowers his arms to see six orbs floating in around him.

He sees a sword, a mage staff, a cleric staff, a knife, a microphone, and a frying pan.

Ace looked at them a bit confused.

"Now, select a job you would like."

"A job?" Ace tilts his head.

"Yes! It will give you the power to fight that Slime."

"Ok..." Ace said a bit unsure. But it doesn't hurt to try.

"Hmm...What would be cool enough for me."

He looked at all the orbs. But what caught his attention was the microphone.

Ace has seen idols before and how cool they can be on stage.

He reaches out his hand towards the orb and touches it.

And he's engulfed in a bright light.

-<........>-

The Slime backed away as the bright light shines brighter. It slowly fades revealing Ace in a new outfit.

On top of his head was a black fedora with a shining blue and yellow feather. Luckly it had a spot where his horns would be able to stick through. Like it was made for them in mind. He still had his sunglasses which were resting just above his eyes. Ace was glad that transformation didn't get rid of one of his most precious items.

There was also a blue vest with gold lining the outer lines of it. Still around his waist was his fake imp tail. It was slightly connected to some leggings that were the same color as his vest. And on his wrists were black and gold bracelet.

And in his hand was a microphone. He swings it around in his hand and points towards the Yellow Slime. "I believe it time for us to start a real showdown." Ace says as he pulls down his sunglasses.

The Slime acts quickly as it tackles Ace to the ground.

Ace falls down onto the ground but quickly gets back up. He looks at the Slime and notices a little weak point on the Slime up the top of it's head or...Body I guess.

"Of course."

Ace raises up his microphone and whacks the Slime at the top. The Slime backs away in pain.

Taking this chance Ace whacks the Slime a couple more times and it falls to the ground. And Lei's face floats right off of it. "Wheeee!" The child cheers as Lei's face floats away towards Greenhorne.

"Phew." Ace falls to the ground in relief. 

"Excellent work, young Ace!" The Guardian Spirit cheered.

"Ha ha! It was no problem. It's expected for a cool guy like me to win." Ace said with a smug expression.

"Ho ho. I suppose. But that child should be safe now."

"It is best to return to Greenhorne to see that return. To make sure things are in order." Ace shurgged. "I suppose."

And Ace makes his way back to Greenhorne.

-<........>-

Once he returns to Greenhorne he watches as Lei's face floats back down towards their faceless body.

Lei cheers for joy at the return of their face and their mother hugs them tightly at the joy of Lei's face returning. As Ace watches from afar not wanting to interrupt them.

'Huh...That kid must be real special...I mean they got their Mother's love so easily...I wonder what they did to be worthy of that?' Ace thought as Lei starts jumping for joy around again.

'I'm...A bit jealous to be honest.'

"What do you mean by that?" The Guardian Spirit spoke up.

"Gah!" Ace jumped in suprise.

"Seriously! Would it kill you to give a guy a warning." Ace said a bit annoyed.

"Right...But young Ace what did you mean by that?"

Ace tilted his head confused. "What I just said? I mean...Isn't it how that works?" Ace asked a bit confused.

The Guardian Spirit stayed silent for a moment before continuing. "Nevermind...But Ace, my child...I have a request for you..."

"Huh?"

"You've seen the deeds of the Dark Lord Emory. He's made quite the mess, and that's putting it mildly."

"You can say that again."

"So! I commission you...Defeat the vile Emory, and save this world!" The Guardian Spirit yells.

Ace thought for a moment before answering. "Heh...Now isn't that just the coolest thing I've ever been asked. You can count on me!" Ace raises his microphone upwards proudly.

"I am very happy to hear that! Your new powers should help you contend with Emory."

"Now, go forth! And defeat the Dark Lord! Ace the Pop Star!" The Guardian Spirit cheered with encouragement.

"I expect great things from you! Ho ho!" Ace's eyes sparkle. "You can count on me!"

"Oh Adventurer!" The Mother called.

"Huh?" Ace turned towards her.

"Here's a reward for saving my sweet Lei." She held out a bag of G towards him.

"..." The Guardian Spirit stayed silent as he watched over Ace.

Him accepting the bag from her and waving goodbye to find the other faces.

"What he said...He makes me worry about him..."

'What I just said? I mean...Isn't it how that works?'

The Guardian Spirit sighed. "It wouldn't hurt to keep a closer eye on him."

-<........>-

"AAAAHHHH!!!!" Ace screamed as he was swarmed by butterflies with newly placed on eyes.

"I'LL ADMIT IT I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!!!" Ace screamed.

"Ho ho ho! Looks like you're in hot water." The Guardian Spirit joked.

"ENOUGH WITH THE JOKES AND HELP!!!" Ace screamed while trying to hit away one of the butterflies.

"Have no fear. Ahem...Amicus, amici...AMIGO!" The Guardian Spirit chanted.

And in a bright light someone appeared.

It a someone who had blonde hair with a black streak going through it. They wore a long scarf with a black and white pattern on it. They wore a leather vest and what they wore below was also made from leather that reached down to their knees. And on their legs were some bandages. And they wore black boots.

They blinked lazily as they looked around on where they were.

"Huh..? Wasn't I just..." They started saying before they heard Ace scream at them. "HEY!!!"

They turned to Ace to see him gettting mobbed by butterflies. "I COULD USE SOME HELP OVER HERE!!!"

"Oh!" They quickly run over to Ace with a dagger in hand.

-<........>-

"You know what?" Ace said after defeating the last one.

"What?"

"I am starting to hate butterflies."

"I get it."

"But...Who are you? Are you one that Guardian Spirit sent?" Ace asked.

"Oh so that's who dragged me away from what I was doing." They said a bit annoyed.

"Ho ho ho, so you're both still in one piece, eh?" The Guardian Spirit said with joy.

"Yes...But why did you bring me here?"

"Oh why it's quite simple. I know you two have similar goals."

"We do?" They both said at the same time.

"Yes correct! You both are after the Dark Lord!" Ace looked at them.

"You are?" They nodded.

"Yes...The Dark Lord....He took my Brother's face." They looked to the side.

"What!?" Ace jumped in suprise.

"Yes...We were just outside...Praticing...With our daggers together...Like we always do...Then...His face came right off his body...And floated away."

"Look us thieves already get a bad rap with the whole stealing thing. But stealing someone's face is messed up!"

"Wait you're a thief?" Ace asked.

"Uhhh...Why did I say that..."

"That's...SO COOL!!!" Ace's eyes sparkle.

"Huh?" They looked a bit confused at Ace.

"I mean sneaking around. Not being caught! Now that's top tier coolness!" Ace cheered.

"Heh. And I know cool." Ace said lowering his sunglasses.

"Ok...But we really do have the same goal. But we should say our names. I'm Dallas." Dallas holds out their hand.

"Ace. And Dallas...As a totally cool guy I promise to help you save your Brother's face." Dallas smiled.

"Thank you." 

Dallas let out a yawn. "Uhh...All this action has made me tired."

"Wait...But it isn't even night yet."

"For me...Night time is when I say it is." Dallas let out another yawn.

"Why you two are getting along great." The Guardian Spirit cheered.

"I guess. Ace isn't emotionally draining to be around." Dallas says.

"I have great faith in the both of you." 

"Heh of course. We can do anything!" Ace smirked.

"You two better watch over each other."

They both nod.

"Bon voyage you two! Ho ho ho!" The Guardian Spirit said. 

As they two of them made there way. Most likely to find a place to sleep. Since Dallas kept saying it's night time.

"...I just hope things will end alright." The Guardian Spirit whispered.

-<........>-

Notes:

And Ace gets a job as a Pop Star! And we meet our first teammate Dallas!

Dallas: They/Them
Personality: Laid Back

Chapter 3: The Power Of Sprinkles

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

-<........>-

"Ughhh...How long have we been walking?" Dallas complained.

"Not that long." Ace replied as they continued to walk.

"It feels like forever..." Dallas said looking around.

"Wait. Look!" Ace pointed ahead.

It was an Inn. "An Inn!" Ace cheered.

"Wait really?!" Dallas perked up. "Finally a place to sleep!"

And the both of them rush ahead into the Inn.

At the counter was a man with white hair. he wore a blue tunic with a white trousers. He waved at them. "Hey. You here for a room?"

"Yes." They both said.

"Well go ahead. We got pleanty of rooms." He pointed towards the rooms down the hall.

"Wait...Don't we need to pay?" Ace asked.

"Nope staying at my Inn are free. But..." The Innkeeper pulls out some uniform that Dallas recognized as some thief uniform. It was black compared to Dallas's one.But it also looked to be made of stronger material.

"I heavily recommend you buy my stuff. I may be letting you stay for free. But still need some Gold."

"Ace. I'm getting that. Please tell me you have some Gold to spare." Dallas begged.

"You know what. Sure." Ace passes some of his Gold to Dallas. "Yes!" As they give the Gold to the Innkeeper.

"It's all yours." "Dallas takes the uniform off and runs off to put it on.

Ace then followed after them. He sees them come out of the room that they have chosen to stay in with the new uniform on. "Heh I got more style now."

"You sure do." Ace grinned.

Dallas yawned. "But...How about we rest now. Kinda tired from all the walking and action." Dallas walked back into the room and falls right onto the bed and falls asleep.

Ace shrugged as he walks over to the other bed and lays right onto it and right to sleep.

-<........>-

After a nice nap at the Inn they were on the road again in search of Greenhorne's missing faces. After fighting off some more monsters along the way.

"I think Carter's face went this way." Ace said pointing forward across the plains.

"Hope we can find him soon. All this walking is annoying." Dallas complained.

"Yeah also is searching. This monster who got his face should just come out and face us!" Ace said holding out his microphone.

Then a dark shadow looms over them. They both look confused and once they turn around they see a large silver Butterfly with Carter's face.

"AAAHHH!!!" Ace screamed at the sudden appearance.

"Well you got what you wanted." Dallas said bluntly.

"Yeah I see that!" Dallas quickly runs forward and slashes the monster with their dagger and after quickly moving away. The monster hisses in pain from the attack and charges towards Ace and tackles him into the ground before doing the same to Dallas.

"Oh you're going to pay for that." Dallas charges forward again and slashes the monster again. Ace looks at the Butterfly from afar and notices a small weak spot on it's back. He smirks as he charges forward and hits hard right onto it's back with his microphone.

"Oh we're doing good so far-" Dallas was in the middle of saying but was tackled hard by the Butterfly before taking a tumble towards the ground.

"DALLAS!!!" Ace called out.

'Oh no...nononono...That's bad...What do I do? That looked like it hurt alot...' Ace looked around in a panic at what to do.

"Have no fear, my child." The Guardian Spirit spoke.

"Huh?"

"You're friend is not doing so well. But do not worry. As here is a gift to help." The charm started glowing a bright light and comes out of it was...Some kind of shaker?

"Uhh..." Ace looked a bit confused at it.

"Shake these onto your friend and they'll recover in no time."

"But these sprinkles won't last forever! So sprinkle wisely, ho ho!" And the Guardian Spirit was gone. Ace noticed that the monster was about to attack Dallas again.

"Oh no you don't!" Ace ran forward and pushed the Butterfly aside with a slam from his microphone and started to shake the sprinkles down onto Dallas. At least enough for them to stand up a bit.

"What the..." Dallas was about to say something but Ace stops them.

"Explain later! We got better things to worry about!" Ace points towards the Butterfly that was charging towards them.

"Right." Dallas said as they both charge towards the Butterfly weapon in hand.

And together they raised up their weapons and hit the beast together. It recoils in pain from the attack and it glares at them with Carter's face.

It them makes a full tackle towards Ace knocking him off of his feet and onto the ground. He quickly pulls out the sprinkles and pours the rest of it onto himself. He lifts up his feet and kicks the Butterfly away.

And coming right up behind it comes Dallas as they jump up and sends their dagger right through it. The Butterfly hisses in pain before it falls to the ground and Carter's face flies right off of it.

"Thank you!" He cheers as his face flies away and right back towards Greenhorne.

Ace and Dallas both sigh with relief. And they both lie down on the grass next to each other "So those sprinkles?"

"Gift from the Guardian Spirit."

"I see. Didn't really expect Butterflies to our biggest problem."

"True. But...Butterflies should think twice before messing with us!"

Ace jumped up. "I went slam! Slam! And you went stab! Stab! Slash! Hahaha! Now that was cool!" Ace cheered.

"I guess." Dallas shrugged as he sat up. Ace holds out his hand and Dallas accepts it getting back onto their feet.

"Well let's get going we got more faces to find." Dallas nodded before walking forward with Ace.

-<........>-

The bushes nearby shake as someone from the inside watches the two of them walk off.

"Whoa...They're really strong...And I'm meant to help them?"

He had black hair was wore armor over his body and on the chest plate was a star symbol with smaller stars next to them. And going down his back was a long red cape. He slightly lifts up his helmet to get a better look at them. 

"Why meee...I mean maybe someone more capable should be chosen. And how can I just walk up to them a say hey! I heard about Dark Lord Emory and I want to help! Nonono...They'll probably say...No we don't want any Knight's help!"

The person in the bushes crouches from inside the bushes.

"Ok...Ok...But I don't want to let anyone down...UGGHHH!!!"

He covers his face. "Stupid! Why are you so stupid Faris!?"

"STUPID FARIS WHY CAN'T YOU BE NORMAL!!!???" He starts to pull on his black hair.

He looks through the bushes and sees them walking further and further away.

He breathes in and out. In and out.

"Ok just ask them...And if they say no then...Maybe I can go and cry in a corner about it...I would probably make things weird." He looks down at the symbol on his armor. He sighs. "I never did anything to deserve this armor."

"Just...Make sure they don't find out...Then maybe they won't think you're some weakling loser who can't do anything right." He pokes his head out of the bushes and they were gone.

"WHAT!? Oh nonono! I was to busy on thinking on how to talk to them! Great job Faris you messed it up again!" Faris quickly looked around and started running in the direction on where Ace and Dallas went.

"Wait!!! Come back!!!" He yelled as he ran hoping to find them again.

-<........>-

Notes:

Both Ace and Dallas saved one of the Greenhorne's faces together yay! And we meet someone hiding in the bushes.

Faris: He/Him
Personality: Cautious

Chapter 4: Here Comes The Great Sage

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

-<........>-

Ace and Dallas made there way across as they keep hearing shaking from the bushes they past. And they keep looking back at them.

It has been going on for a while. And Dallas sighs and they start walking towards the bush.

"Alright that's it. I'm going to stab whatever is in there."

"Wait! Don't stab! What if it's just an animal!?" Ace said grabbing onto Dallas before they could try and stab the bush.

"Well what if it's a monster? And it's very badly trying to get the jump on us." Dallas tries to pull their arm out of Ace's grip.

"Um..." A voice quietly says from the bush. Faris pokes their head out from the bush a gives a little wave.

"Hi..."

"See I told you." Ace said with a smug smile.

"You said it was an animal not a person." Ace waves off Dallas's response.

"Same difference. Sooo you are?" Ace asks.

Faris nervously looks around. "It's Faris..."

"Well Faris why are you stalking us?" Dallas says with a glare.

Faris goes back into the bush slightly. "I umm...I wasn't it's...Just I heard...About your quest...And....Wanted to help." 

"Well why didn't you say so!" Ace reaches into the bush and pulls Faris right out of it. Faris yelped and he falls due to the force and right onto the ground. "Oh. Sorry."

"It's fine." Faris gets up from the ground and dusts himself off.

Dallas looks at Faris's armor. "So you're one of The Knights?"

Faris holds his hands together nervously. "Umm...Uhh..Yes...If that's problem I understand I'll ju-" Faris goes to leave but was stopped by Ace.

"Hey! Hold on! Don't know about these Knights but if you're here to help us with Dark Lord Emory." Ace grinned.

"I see no problem with you joining." Faris stared a bit before smiling. "Thank you."

'IT WAS THAT EASY!? I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK OVER THIS!?' Faris laughed a bit nervously which earned him some confused stares from Ace and Dallas.

"So I am Ace the coolest guy around." Ace boasted.

"And I'm Dallas I'm making sure he doesn't die to butterflies." Dallas says.

"Hey! You were the one losing to that last one!" Ace defended.

"But not before I had to save you from some other ones when we met."

"Dallas! Shush! You might change the opinion of our newest member if you keep talking like that!" Ace pointed towards Faris.

Faris looked around a bit nervous being put on the spot so suddenly.

"So...To get back on track...Where do we...Find this Dark Lord?" The other two shrug.

"We're kinda getting back the faces of Greenhorne at the moment." Ace explained.

"Eh maybe we'll find that guy on the way." Dallas said pointing forward.

Ace grinned pointing forward. "Well as the leader of this team I'll lead us to the missing faces!" Ace ran forward with the other two behind him.

"Wait! Who decided that!?" Dallas asked.

Ace showed off the charm. "Well the Guardian Spirit chose me. So it makes sense that I am."

"Sure it does." Dallas said bluntly.

"What's that suppose to mean!?"

Faris laughed to himself. 'These sound like some nice friends. Wait...Do I count..? No...Don't be stupid Faris...You just met them.'

Faris looks nervously towards Ace and Dallas. 'I just hope...They don't find out...That I didn't earn the right to be one of The Knights.'

-<........>-

They continued to search around but no sight of anymore of Greenhorne's faces. 

"They couldn't of gotten sent away that far." Ace said looking around.

"You're telling me." Dallas said looking up towards they sky. They noticed that the sky was starting to go dark. "And it's getting late." Dallas said looking a bit nervous.

"Hmm...Something wrong Dallas?" Ace asked.

"N-No!" Dallas quickly said.

"Ohhh you stuttering. You scared?" Ace teased.

"No shut it Ace!" 

"Um guys?" Faris tried to say.

"Oooh what is it?"

"Shut the fuck up Ace!"

"Ace...Dallas..." Faris said again trying to get their attention.

"Come on tell us~" 

"NO!"

"ACE!!! DALLAS!!!" Faris finally yelled.

"WHAT!?" "What?" They both said with different tones.

Faris pointed behind them shaking a bit. They both turn around to see Dark Lord Emory looming over them.

"Oh." Ace said.

"Now isn't this amusing." Dark Lord Emory said looking upon them.

"You!" Dallas pulled out their dagger and points it right at the Dark Lord. "Give back my Brother's face!"

The Dark Lord looked unamused at Dallas. "Hmm. And you are?"

"I'm the one who is going to stab you right through your chest!!!" Dallas charged towards the Dark Lord.

Dark Lord Emory grinned as they charged for him. "Pffffft..."

The Dark Lord summons a small sphere of dark magic it glows brightly and sends it towards Dallas.

Dallas looked at it with a shock expression as it hits them knocking them back onto the ground.

"DALLAS!!!" They both yell as they quickly check on them.

"Ughhh..." They groaned. Their wounds were bad...It may of been small but. This is the Dark Lord! There were heavy burn marks on their body from where it had hit them.

"Aww what's wrong..? Aaaah ha ha haaaa! Now that was a good one! The screaming and falling to the ground. How pathetic!" Faris steps in front of Ace and Dallas holding out his sword.

"S-Stay back! I-I... You should be prepared to face defeat!" Faris yelled slightly shaking holding out his sword.

"Oh how cute. Well, since you want it so much..." Dark Lord Emory once again brings forth another sphere of dark magic it was much bigger then the other one.

'So this is how I die. Well I had a good life.' Faris thought as he stared at the sphere.

"Oh fuck! This isn't cool!" Ace yelled out while he held onto Dallas keep them close.

'This is it? Man couldn't I go out saving someone at least? Man...This really isn't cool...We're not strong enough...I wasn't worthy enough for this...After all that is why they-" Ace was in the middle of thinking before hearing a voice. "Hold it right there!" Then a beam of green magic rushed past over their heads and right into the sphere destroying it in the process.

"Who dares..?" Dark Lord Emory growled.

The three heroes look in shock at what just happened. They turn around to see who had just saved them.

They stood proud and firm with a silver staff with a blue orb inside of it in their hand they were wearing a thick white and turquiose robe. The three of them couldn't really see their face with the hood being up but they could see there was some white hair underneath it. They took a step forward and stepped in front of the three of them holding their staff out.

"So you're this Dark Lord I've been hearing so much about." They said looking towards the Dark Lord. They smirked. "You won't be getting your way for much longer!"

Their staff glows brightly and green runes surrounded the stranger. "Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Ace and the others stare in shock at this. This for Ace...Was one of the coolest things he's ever seen.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you nobody likes a party pooper?" The Dark Lord said before letting out a chuckle. "I might just let you live...This time!"

"Bye for now!" He cackled before vanishing.

The stranger sighed with relief before turning around to face the others.

They looked at them and then eyed Dallas. They walked forward and kneeled down.

They held out their staff over Dallas's burns. "Now hold on for a second."

The staff glowing once again but this glow was a bright yellow unlike the green one for earlier.

And in seconds Dallas stopped feeling pain there or any feeling of possibly dying as their burns vanish.

"Woah...Uh thanks." Dallas said as Ace and Faris help them up.

"It's no problem. So how do you do?" They said.

"I mean we didn't die so I say pretty good...I think." Ace said scratching the back of his head.

"Fine I guess." Dallas replied.

"Thinking about my life choices right now." Faris said bluntly with the look of terror in his eyes.

Ace and Dallas glance over at Faris. "But I'm alive so I think that's good."

'You think?' Both Ace and Dallas thought.

"Wonderful. Was worried for a moment but I see things are alright now. Others call me Cato. I'm a traveling mage." Cato introduced.

"I'm Ace the coolest guy around!" Ace grinned.

"Dallas." Dallas said bluntly.

"I'm...Uh...Faris." Faris nervously said.

Then Ace starts explaining all of the events that he and the others have been through while with Dallas had to interrupt at points to correct some of the events that Ace was explaining.

"I see. So you three are on a quest to defeat the Dark Lord?" Cato asked.

"Yeah...But we kinda..." Ace looked over at Dallas.

"You don't feel you're not quite strong enough?" The three of them looked sadden and nodded.

"I mean I did almost die."

Cato looked over at Ace. "But...I sense a strange power within you, though." Ace looked down towards the charm hanging around his neck. 'Makes sense...The Guardian Spirit did give me some of it's powers.'

Cato places a hand onto Ace's shoulder. "You might not think it's much at the moment." Cato smiles. "But continue your journey, and you'll grow and grow. So just hang in there."

Ace gives a firm nod. "Right."

"Uh...About this whole power thing that Ace has. Don't really think Faris and I count as that." Dallas says.

Cato looks over at Dallas and Faris with a smile. "Don't have such doubts in yourself. I sense you two have great strength within you. Just like your friend you have to continue this journey to see it." Cato reassured.

Faris smiled brightly. "Nobody really told me that before...Hearing that now. Really got me motivated!" Faris points his sword upwards.

"Hmm. I guess hearing that was a good. We can't really expect to beat Dark Lord Emory right now."

Ace grinned as he wraps his arms around Dallas and Faris to pull them in close. "Yeah! We'll get stronger together! And we'll beat that guy to a pulp!"

Cato chuckled at Ace's enthusiasm. "If fortune is on our side, we'll meet again. Until then!" The three of them wave goodbye to the Great Sage as they left.

"So. We can all admit that Cato...Is the coolest person ever!" Ace cheered.

"Cooler then you?" Dallas teased.

"Hey. I'm the coolest guy around. They're the coolest person around. Very different." Ace said bluntly.

"Heh makes sense." Faris laughed.

"But we should head towards an Inn. I'm very tired..." Ace yawned.

Both Dallas and Faris nodded with agreement.

And all three of them made their way across the grassy hills in a search of a Inn.

-<........>-

Notes:

And we finally meet the Great Sage Cato yay!
Cato: They/Them

Chapter 5: Goblin Ham Arguments

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

-<........>-

After a quick stay at the Inn our heroes were once again on the move in search of the other faces of Greenhorne. While Ace did also make a quick purchase of one of the clothes the Innkeeper was selling.

He wore a new fedora with a lighter blue belt going around the fedora that also had a spot where he can poke his horns through. He now wore a white shirt with the word 'Mii' on it. Around his neck was a silver necklace right next to the charm. Ace just thought they looked really cool together.

Around his waist was a dark blue hoodie that came with the clothes but Ace didn't want to wear it so he tied it around his waist thinking it was a cool look along with his fake imp tail wrapped around his waist as well. And he had black trousers that also match the color of his new shoes. He looked so proud of his new clothes that he gave a pose at his new friends.

"Aren't these just the coolest?" Ace asked.

"Uhh...Sure." Dallas said looking away not facing Ace.

"Hey! Dallas! Why you not looking at me!?" Ace said getting closer.

"You smell of Goblin Ham that's why." Dallas said bluntly.

"Yeah...That Goblin Ham you ate was terrible..." Faris said.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOBLIN HAM!!?? IT'S GREAT!!!" Ace defended.

"It's really not..." Faris said with a nervous expression. "Who even eats that?"

"UGGH!!! You two have no taste!" Ace huffed as he turned away from them. "It's you who has bad taste, Ace." Dallas argued with their arms crossed.

"I DO NOT!!!" Ace grabbed onto the charm around his neck. "Guardian Spirit! Tell them I don't have bad taste!"

"I do not have much info on this matter, my child. As I've not eaten that before.Or much food for that matter." The Guardian Spirit answered.

Ace sighed with annoyance. "We need someone with better insight on this matter."

"Me and Faris aren't enough for this?" Dallas asked. "It tastes terrible, Ace."

"Well I-" Before Ace could continue to argue a smell went through the air. It smelled...Delicious.

"Wait you guys smell that." Ace smelled the air. "It smells nice."

Dallas and Faris smelled the air as well getting a scent of it as well. "Huh. Where is that coming fro- Hey Ace! Where you going!?" Dallas yelled after Ace as they notice he was walking away.

"To follow the smell! Duh! Wherever that smell is coming from is clearly someone who knows how to cook and settle this argument!" Ace said as he ran away in the direction of the smell.

"Are you still on that!?" Dallas questioned chasing after Ace.

Faris just stood there. "Did...Are we just going to forget about finding the faces?"

Faris sighed before chasing after them.

-<........>-

"Hmmm~ Hmm~" That was a cheerful hum going around in the grassy fields and behind a few bushes.

There was a girl with long lilac hair. She was wearing a white chef jacket with a pink apron around her waist with a pink neckerchief wrapped around her neck. And puffy white trousers matching her jacket as she tends to her cooking with her chef hat sitting off to the side.

She had a campfire where she held her frying pan over it as she cooked the meat inside of it. She held the frying pan in one hand and a spatula in the other as she moved the meat around.

She moved it away from the fire to give it a smell. "Hmm..." She paused before smiling. "Now doesn't that just smell great!" She chimed.

"Oh Heidi~ You truly out done yourself with this!" She placed her frying pan onto a flat rock near the campfire. 

Once she placed it down she heard some rustling behind them. She quickly turned around and yelled out. "Who's there!?"

The heads of Ace, Dallas, and Faris poke out as they wave at her. "Uhhhh hi..?" Faris said giving a little wave.

Heidi blinked for a moment before smiling. "Are you hungry?"

-<........>-

"Thank you!" The group said together as they ate the meat that she had given them.

Heidi smiled at them as she ate her own. 'What a fun group they're.' She thought as she ate her food.

"So...Uhh...What was your name?" Ace asked as he ate. "Ace! Stop talking with your mouth full!" Dallas scolded.

"Shut it! You're not my Parents!"

"Well I am taking the role to get you to shut YOUR mouth when you're eating!"

"I can eat and talk how I want!"

"Why you little!"

Faris got in between them before they could possibly go at each other's throats. "Sorry about them they sometimes...Well you know..." Faris tried to say but he didn't really know these two that much...It's really only been almost a day since he met the both of them. So he...Didn't really know to much about how they act towards each other.

"It's no trouble at all. It's Heidi by the way, dear." She waved it off with a smile.

"Yeah so since you're a chef...Can you settle a food arguement with my...Judgy friends." Ace said looking over at Dallas and Faris.

Heidi tilted her head. "Whatever do you mean?"

"They're saying I have no taste and that Goblin Ham is terrible!"

"Because it is!"

"It's soooo isn't!"

"Oh my gods, Ace!"

Heidi coughed to get there attention. "I see you're having a bit of a food arguement...About Goblin Ham?"

They all nodded. "I see but what Goblin Ham type is it about?"

They all blinked confused. "Type?" Ace asked.

"Yes type."

Ace looked a bit stunned before his eyes lit up. "There's other types of Goblin Ham!?"

"Oh no what have you done." Dallas said with their face in their hands.

She sweetly smiled. "Oh I see. Well with Goblin Ham there are three types and this applies to all food with it's type being ranked in stars. The most common one is regular Goblin Ham it doesn't really have any stars. While I am not a big fan of it. Goblin Ham Star One is quite good~"

Ace was beaming at the thought of other kinds of Goblin Ham the other two not so much. "There really is other types?" Faris questioned.

"Correct! Now from what i am guessing you two have had the most common one and didn't like it?" They nodded.

"Well if we find more of this Star One we can all try it together see if you like it...But if not that's fine."

"Aw no! They'll keep judging me if they don't!" Ace argued. "And I'll make sure they don't." Heidi said firmly.

"You shouldn't judge someone for their taste in food. Everyone is different in their tastes. Nobody can really like all foods."

"Wait umm...You said we didn't you? What do you mean by that?" Faris asked.

Heidi smiled again. "Well I can't just leave you all alone now can I?" As she smugly grins. "You'll need someone like me around if you have food arguments again!"

'Is she serious?' They all thought together.

"Buuut another question...Why are you three out adventuring?" She tilted her head.

Ace placed his now eaten food to the side and points upwards to the sky. "We're...On a question to stop The Dark Lord!" He yelled proudly.

"Yeah...We're doing that so...I doubt you want to come alon-" "You're after Dark Lord Emory!? That's perfect!" Heidi yelled with glee.

They all stared at her confused by what she had just said. She was excited..? About the Dark Lord..?

"Oh this great! Great!" She sat up and hopped around with joy. "Now I can have a good lead with you three!"

"Uhhh...Heidi...Why are you happy to meet the Dark Lord? You know what he does right?" Faris asked.

She stopped hopping around and nodded. "Why yes! I know what he does!"

"Then...Why so happy about it?" Dallas asked with a concerned look.

"Well...Other people who've met him kinda give me weird looks when I say this. Promise not to judge?"

They all look at each other. "Uhhh....I guess...Sure?"

She let out a sigh of relief. "Good,good, goody! I...Well you know how Dark Lord Emory is doing all that bad stuff about stealing others faces..?" They nod. "Well I..."

"I think the reason he's doing this is..."

"Because something bad or awful happened to him in the past!!!" She yelled out.

"And he just needs someone to listen and talk to him!!!"

And she then pointed towards herself. "And I am just that person to do that!!!"

They all stared at her in shock.

"I mean after all...People don't just hurt someone without reason. I-I... Know that." Heidi started to tear up.

"There... Is always a reason for everything someone does...It's either good or...Bad...Nobody ever has no reason to hurt people like this!"

"And I want to know what this reason is so I can help!"

Heidi rubbed the back of her head. "I know it sounds insane...Crazy even...But I can't just see someone out there...Hurting people and not know the reason for it and not help!"

"So please...Even if I do sound kinda crazy or nuts...Please take me with you!" Heidi begged as she pressed her hands together.

They still looked at her in shock as if Heidi just had grown a second head.

Did they really just hear what she had just said?

Dallas took in a deep breathe and sighed. "And if he just wants to keep hurting people..? What if he doesn't care about his past and just wants to keep hurting others? Then what Heidi?" Dallas glared at her.

Heidi nervously gripped her jacket. "L-Look...I know it sounds nu-" "OF COURSE IT IS!!!" Dallas yelled as they got up right towards Heidi.

"Dalla-" Faris tried to stop Dallas but they pushed him out they way. "GET OUT OF MY WAY I NEED TO GET IT THROUGH HER HEAD!!!"

"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SOMEONE LIKE HIM HAS STUPID SAD SOB STORY!? WELL EVEN IF HE DID I. DON'T. CARE." Dallas got up close to her face.

"HE TOOK MY BROTHER'S FACE!!! LIKE I AM EVER LETTING THAT SLIDE!!!"

Heidi was frighten by the glare they were giving her as she started to tear up more.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you mad!" Heidi stuttered. "I just...Can't accept...Someone would just...Hurt someone...Without reason..." They glared at her once more before she started to stutter out 'I'm sorry' over and over again.

She took a deep breathe in an out in between her 'I'm sorry.'

"People...Aren't like that...We're more complicated then that...There...Has to be..." Heidi looked at the ground as her tears started to fall.

Dallas stared at her before saying. "You're stupidly naive." They sounded...Angry...Tired...Upset...So many feelings at once in their tone.

"I get that a lot." She said bluntly. "You're not the first one to say it."

"Look...If...What I am doing doesn't work...Then I am fine with what you'll do with Dark Lord Emory...Is...That ok..?" Heidi held her arm squeezing it a little.

Dallas curled their hands into fists before sighing. "Whatever...I don't have...The energy to deal with this right...You can join...Or whatever...Don't expect us to get along." As they walked away.

She looks over at Ace who was helping up Faris after Dallas had pushed him. She walked over to them. "I...I'm sorry...I made things weird didn't I?"

Ace looked at her a bit concerned before sighing. "It's...Ok...But I do slightly agree with Dallas with you being a bit naive about this...But yelling at you like that was a bit over the top...I'm going to talk to them." He goes to follow after Dallas but was stopped by Faris.

Faris rubbed the back of his head. "Look I know it's for the best that you do that...I doubt I could I barely know them...I didn't know about the whole Brother...Thing...It was a suprise when Dark Lord Emory attacked us...But maybe wait until they calm down a bit..." Faris looked where Dallas has walked off to. "Maybe we keep our distance a bit..."

"Right... Good plan."

Heidi nodded at this plan it sounded for the best...After all that yelling... "But hey! When we get back to the Inn together." Ace gently grabbed her hands. "You gotta tell me more about Goblin Ham types!"

Heidi slightly smiled at that. "That sounds...Lovely." Despite what just happened she felt a bit better.

'I just hope this ends better then the last time...' As they all walked a bit of a distance away from Dallas.

-<........>-

Notes:

And here is Heidi! You know this chapter started out all wholesome with all the food bonding and then I thought. What if I added some angst? Hehehe poor Heidi.

Heidi: She/Her
Personality: Kind