Acceptance.

July 22nd, 2026.

Falling toward the Earth after reentering the atmosphere, Icarus was devoured by flames. No matter how hard he wished for this pain to end, the fire would never subside, and with time, that unrelenting inferno would seep into the very thing he called his soul. But before that happened, he crashed. Not into the desert directly above Retly where the Tower was assumed to be watching from, but rather, into Riverton Island. The town where it all began.

Ignoring his infinite injuries, Icarus pushed himself up and gazed over the verge of the rooftop he'd crashed onto; chuckling one last time. His happiness would be short-lived. The second he turned around, now lying flat on his back in a pool of his blood, there he was. The Scarlet King. However, the anger that consumed him had all but vanished. Attempting to laugh was futile, as he fell into uncontrollable hacking the moment a chortle exited his throat. Ace disregarded his condition, still looking down at him with clenched fists and an irritated expression.

Amid his violent coughing, Wilder knelt in front of him and jerked him forward by his torn coat, staring into his half-dead black eyes. Even when faced with the inevitability of his death, the Jester smiled. How truly despicable.

"Hey..." Icarus weakly drawled. "Long time no see. Wanna chat? We go way back, after all..." he said.

"Tell me. Was it all worth it? All the lives you've taken, everything you've done--can you say to me, on your deathbed, that you lived a long fulfilling life, you monster?"

The tone Ace had used was unexpected. Instead of yelling straight in his face to answer for all the happiness, the demon had stolen from them, the look ingrained into his eyes spelled out something beyond basic anger. Icarus's null pupils reflected that sense of understanding, leading him to turn away--averting his gaze from his ginger executioner. Nevertheless, his lips parted.

"Yes."

Ace's eyes didn't widen. He kept listening.

"Ever since I was born, everyone's always looked at me the same way. The eyes which they should've used to stare at me with love... I couldn't help but kill myself every time I remembered the first thing I ever saw. My very first memory. Whenever I look back on it, I wonder the same thing: 'Why do they... look at me like that?' I searched on and on, but it didn't change. No matter how hard I tried, it was pointless. Bad people. Good people. It doesn't matter anymore. I wish I could say I regret everything I've done to hurt others, just as how my parents' disgusting faces hurt me, but I can't. Everything that I've done has been a part of my nature, from the second I was born into this godforsaken New World. I can't say sorry to you, Ace Wilder, but I also don't blame you. I'm a bad person. Is that good enough for you?"

Ace chuckled, to Icarus's surprise. He was so enthralled by his words he hadn't even noticed the ginger's healing hand sunken into his shoulder. Looking at the palm and then back at his executioner, a puzzled expression spread over the Jester's dying face.

"What... are you doing?" he asked.

"Don't get me wrong. I still hate you. But, I understand. I can't say I'm innocent so I'm not ending you in the name of justice. This isn't vengeance, either. Saying that I'm doing so under the banner of either would be a lie. And, I'm done lying to myself," Ace admitted.

Icarus laughed. "Self-affirmation, huh? Heh, I guess I can't blame you. After all, there's nothing more important in this world. Self-deception can be a funny thing, too. Who's to stop you if you tell yourself you're executing me for justice or revenge? It'd be nothing more than a white lie... don't you think?"

Ace stood.

Revealing his shades from his pants pockets, his eyes wandered, deciding to question the Jester one last time: "Any last words?"

Rising his head to meet Wilder's reluctant gaze, Icarus smirked, holding his disfigured shoulder.

"Goodnight, Ace Wilder. Let us never meet again, you foul brat."

Pointing his finger ahead, his right eye flashed green with Convergence. Heterochromatic lightning crackled around his fingertip; the playful grin staining his lips upturned, replaced by a newly-formed genuine smile that imprinted itself into Icarus's sight.

"You can say that again... Icarus Chrollo."

Turning away from his enemy's disintegrating corpse, Ace looked up, spotting the falling Tower start to enter orbit. Seeing as how many of his friends were still aboard that structure, he saw no other choice but to summon his sister's power and surround the descending structure in an emerald sphere powered by Convergence. With the power he received by surpassing his limits, that task was easy. Unfortunately, that was all that was easy.

Guiding his comrades' bodies from the collapsing Tower amid the sky, Ace smiled, spotting his darling cousin's grin as she descended from the heavens to emerge from the bubble and land before her savior. Katie ran at him, enchaining his neck with her arms, hearing the calming sound of his laughter enter her ears during their embrace. After spending enough time in their hug, the girl opened her eyes and withdrew her face from her relative's neck.

"It's over... isn't it?" she asked.

Ace's expression changed. His hands remained on her shoulders; everyone else's injured bodies watching from the distance or unconsciously recovering. Jason and Kima watched from afar as the ginger spoke to his black-haired cousin, informing her of the truth she would never come to believe.

"No. Not yet," he replied.

Her widened eyes led to her head jerking forward. "What?! Why not?!" she yelled.

He sadly grinned, removing his shades to display the stream of blood pouring down both of his eyes. To Katie's surprise, it was apparent: Ace was dying.

"In exchange for strength powerful enough to defeat the Jester once and for all, I gave my remaining life span. After that task was complete, I'd be dead. I'm sorry, Katie, but this is the end for me."

How could she believe such a thing? The very person who saved her all those years ago, finally, they had a chance at a normal life, and at the last second, he was dying. Though she knew in her heart there was nothing she could do to stop this, she pleaded with her cousin one last time; tears leaking from her eyes.

"No. No, no, no, no, NO!! You can't... you can't leave me here! Everyone's waiting for you! We managed to survive everything! You, me, Kima, and June! All four of us can have a chance at a life together, one free of Artifacts and Requiem bullshit! You can't now... YOU CAN'T!!"

Ace was shocked to hear her pleas. It was almost as if she wasn't speaking to him, but something beyond. Fate. He'd been beside her for everything, from the scars that littered her arms to the smile that complemented her face. Part of him regretted this more than anything, but even so, this was it for him. For him.

On the other hand, the one he saved that day five years ago; he fell to his knees and stared her in the eyes. Wiping away the tears from her face, Katie's lips stood parted as she listened to her cousin speak his final words.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could stay with everyone but I can't. I've done so much wrong, I can't just stroll along the sidewalk of the Capital acting like I'm innocent in all this. I can't live with myself, knowing the things I've done have hurt other people. But, you, Katie, you're better than me! I know you've done the same things as me, but I don't care. We're both bad people but you're not dying. You have a second chance! Be better than me. Be better than Alex. Accept the sins of the past and move forward with hope for the future. If not for me, Kate, then for yourself. Please. Can you do that for me, Katie?"

There was one thing in this world Katie Moon held dearer than anything else. No matter how hard she tried to dissuade herself in the past, she couldn't deny that the only reason she was alive today was because of him. When she was drowning in despair, he was the one who offered the hand that yanked her free. For that, she was eternally grateful. Despite everything that'd happened to her before, she could stay within her heart of hearts, this goodbye was the hardest thing she ever had to do. Crying would only prolong the mourning process, so when he wiped away her tears, she sniffled--mustering up all the courage she had to send him one last smile that widened his eyes.

"I can! I know I can!"

And that--that was all he needed. Removing his hand, he held the Requiem Artifact: the last remaining remnant of the New Allfather's influence. Katie sniffled again, looking at the fragmented spectacles and watching them slide into Ace's hoodie. After starting to stand up, he walked past his cousin; the sounds of her weeping echoing into the sky. Now standing in front of Kima and Jason, he sheepishly rubbed his neck.

"Uh, so, I... I wanted to say--"

Before he could even finish, Kima threw herself onto him and pressed her lips against his own. They shared one last passionate kiss, both of them clueless to the tears streaming down their fair-skinned cheeks. He was the first to pull away, feeling the softness of her fingers brush away the tears from his eyes--regaining his clear vision. Placing one hand on her cheek, he smiled at the sight of her, just watching as she closed his eyes and melted into her touch.

"You're as beautiful as you were the day I met you. Heh. I'd be lying if I said it was always fun together. Still, we... we had some good times, didn't we?"

Holding back tears, she nodded her head, turning her mouth slightly to briefly kiss his palm before redirecting her attention into his stunning eyes. "I think so," Kima muttered.

They put their heads together, both of their eyes closed.

"I'm gonna miss you..." she whispered.

"I know. Don't forget me, okay?" He slowly removed his hand from her cheek and opened his eye, staring at her face ever still.

"'Kay," she muttered.

Letting their fingers linger just a bit, they shared one last peck before Ace nodded at Jason and shuffled over to June's sleeping body. Kneeling beside his slumbering sister, he sighed, bringing her into his arms and kissing the side of her face. Just then, their last interaction flew through his mind.

'Notwithstanding wherever anyone else stands, you and I are bonded together for life. Forgiving and not forgiving are irrelevant, compared to us. Especially when it comes to me. I always listen. I'll always be here for you. I'll always love you. I don't need a reason or explanation. Brothers are just like that.'

Ace smiled. There was nothing left here for him now. Having said his goodbyes, he looked at everyone one last time, leaving one glance in June's direction. Katie had already stood up, having sensed his presence beginning to fade. His corporeal form turning transparent, he looked at Kate one last time as the remnants of his being faded into celestial sparkles that ascended into the heavens.

Unable to maintain her composure, the brightness reflected within the Source's blue pupils, spotting Ace's body vanish from her sight to rest beyond the clouds seated above. Without a shadow of a doubt, Ace Wilder was dead, having taken the Requiem Artifact to his eternal resting place. Watching Kima help lift Katie from her knelt posture, Jason sighed and scratched his neck, taking a gander at the scenery before him.

"So, what're you kids gonna do now? The Capital's in disarray following the invasion and so's this place. But, with Retly gone, the Requiem Subjects can finally have a chance for peace," said the Hunter.

Sniffling after wiping away some tears, Kim looked at the older man. "What will you do, Mister Rivera?" she asked.

"Well…" he crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "There's nothing here for me. I've killed myself too many times to count now and honestly, it's starting to hurt. Despite my irrelevance within this timeline, I think… I think I'll go wherever you do," Jason answered her.

She smiled at the response she received, glancing at June, Natalia, and Jefferson's unconscious bodies before turning back to Katie.

"I'll be returning to the Evolutionary Capital to start rebuilding. After that, we'll go to the many victims displayed by Retly and invite them. What about you, Katie?" Kima's purple eyes curiously shone while awaiting a reply.

Instead of immediately verbally answering like Jason, she took a moment to analyze her surroundings and bent over. Having collected the remnants of Ace's existence in her hand, she gripped the shades that hid Divergence close to her heart before diverting her gaze to Kim's face.

"I think… I think I'll move away. Riverton holds too many bad memories for me, so I'll travel the world. Make new memories. A fresh start," murmured Katie.

"I see. I suppose this is goodbye, then," Kim whispered, somberly looking down while her friend turned back to her.

"Yeah… I guess it is. Kima—" Kate extended her hand to her friend and smiled, withholding the urge to burst into tears. "Thank you. For everything," she said.

Interlocking their hands together, Kim grinned and nodded happily. "It's my pleasure. But, what're you going to tell June? She'll be devastated when she hears you left," she reminded.

"No. No, she won't. If she ever wants to see me, she'll know where to find me. What will you tell the world? Will the truth gain you as many residents as you think?" queried Katie.

Kima took a deep breath, relaxing her shoulders.

"I wonder about that, too. But, what kind of a leader would I be if I lied to my people? So, even if the truth hurts, I'll do it. Yes… let's—let's tell them everything…"

…

October 30th, 2033.

'It's been seven years. Why doesn't it ever feel like it? During this time in my childhood, I would've been drowning in despair courtesy of the monsters I called my mother and father. The only reason I was able to escape that… was you.'

The woman who once called herself the Source of Death removed the hissing kettle from the stove, carefully situating it atop the island beside it. Picking one of her cleanly-designed teacups from the rack of dishes, she easily poured the tea into the glass and hummed all the while. Even while enacting such a mundane task, the smile over her lips didn't fade.

Having finished pouring her drink, she slipped her finger around the handle and slid the idle book atop the dinner table under her arm. Pushing herself through her cottage's front door, she was met by a cool breeze—but that only widened her gentle grin. No matter how many times she'd experienced it over these past seven years, it was still as satisfying as it was the first time.

Nestling into the chair settler onto the porch, she sighed and placed the teacup beside her. Opening the book to where she last left off, she found not only a bookmark but an inactive pen awaiting her arrival. Without skipping a beat, she resumed her writing, etching her signature into the paper; fingers producing endless words.

'It's my 30th birthday. Time has bypassed me like nothing ever has. It's unbelievable. The time I spent with you was simply trivial compared to the hundreds of thousands of hours I've spent alone here. For the past few years, I'd been debating what to say to you—only now can I say that the words I've currently chosen are the right ones. Not too long, not too short. Ace, it's because of you I was able to find acceptance. It's because of you... I was able to figure out how to love myself.

Thank you, Ace. For everything. I hope to see you… when I pass on.'

White Lie - Fin.