Ace ran down the castle corridors. He had to find Destruction FAST.

Amu was on his heels, bounding along with him.

They reached the castle entrance and here stood King Spotless.

"Dad?" Ace said cautiously, "Dad what's wrong?"

The Dalmatian-looking king's face was whiter than normal, and he was shaking.

The king lifted one shaking talon towards-

"Oh no..." Ace whispered.

Amu's eyes widened. "So, Destruction is... She's here..."

Ace nodded, and then leaped into the air, the wind under his wings. The wind flew into his face, slowing him down.

Below him the arena came into view. This was where the Princesses fought for Queenship.

Ace landed in the tower on the east side of the arena. He turned to Amu, who had landed beside him. "What do we do?"

Destruction stood to the west side, while Impeccable stood below them.

Amu shuddered. "Is there anything we can do?"

Ace shook his head. "Maybe. No. Yes. I don't know!"

Then a thought occurred to him. When he'd first met her, Trick had said that he relied on everyone else and his magic. Now was one of those times. He couldn't expect Amu- who knew close to nothing about the situation- to fix his problems. "I have to do this myself." He whispered.

"What?"

Ace lifted off the tower. He swooped down to stand in front of Destruction. "Des!" he said, waving his talons in her face, "Des do you hear me?"

Destruction wrinkled her snout. "Of course. I'm not deaf, idiot."

"Oh... Well... Okay," Ace said, tilting his head. Then he smiled. "Then you can stop. Don't kill Impeccable- not in this state. You can't just go around hurti-"

"I'll do what I want! Stupid protagonist pureness!" Destruction shouted. Then she threw his to the side with a flick of her talons.

Ace hit the wall with a smack. "Owwwwww...." he groaned.

He watched helplessly as Destruction took a step forward, opened her mouth, and sent a shot of RainWing venom straight at Impeccable. The Queen was struck in the arm, then Destruction leaped at her, tearing a gash in her wing.

The Queen let out a blast of flame, burning Destruction's snout. But the animus used her power to heal the burn before raking her claws across Impeccable's eyes. She grabbed the Queen's neck in her talons, and with a loud crack Impeccable dropped to the floor.

Ace tried to think. He could use his magic to heal his broken bones- he was sure some bones were broken- and then he could confront Destruction. But what then? She'd just throw him aside again. Unless...

What if he restored her soul?

It was a long shot, but a chance he could take. He bit his lip and cast the healing spell on himself.

"Des!" He called, "can we talk?"

Destruction turned to face him. Her talons dripped with blood, and she padded over to him. In the back of his mind, Ace heard a voice say, 'RUN! She'll kill you!' But he somehow stood his ground.

"You won't try to stop me again, will you?" she asked, "because that is super annoying."

Ace shrugged. 'Careful' said the voice in his head. "I guess there isn't much choice."

Destruction smiled. "I'm glad you realized. I never wanted to kill you, only if you got in the way."

Ace smiled back. 'One chance'.

"I enchant Destruction to regain her soul!"

Nothing happened.

Destruction frowned. "I knew you'd try to stop me. Your spells won't work on me."

Ace felt extremely panicked. "Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZ-"

Ace was cut off by Destruction grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground.

Then she dropped him, and fell to the ground.

"Des?!" Ace shouted.

Amu stood behind Des, bloodied spear in hand. She panted heavily. "I'm sorry Ace," she said, "but... She would have killed you."

Ace put his talons against Destruction's neck, hoping to find a pulse.

"She... She's gone."

Amu set down her spear and padded over to him. She curled her tail around him and he leaned on her shoulder and cried. He cried until there were no tears left.

They buried Destruction in the form of Des that very night, under the three full moons of brightest night.