Curate, connect, and discover
Two names that start with an ”A”
For Cosmic - who introduced me to the theory that inspired this short thing
Disclaimer: this work is not a mirror of my Personal feelings towards Riddle Rosehearts, it Is merely a mirror of, what I think, is early game Ace way of thinking in this au.
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Ace Trappola never liked to be constricted in his right to freedom. It started when he was mere days old, trying to wiggle out of his crib with wooden bars to ensure he wouldn't fall out and continued like this through his whole life. Primary school, middle school, home life, in all possible areas. So it came as no surprise, at least to his mother and brother when his magic manifested as wind. The element of freedom that blew freely throughout the World changing its course and finding no obstacles in whatever direction it wanted to go.
It would also come to no surprise, with that information, that Ace did not take the housewarden's Riddle collar all too well.
His freedom, his magic was constricted. It was confined to the very centre of his body, and couldn't even flow right beneath his skin.
Ace felt terrible.
Ace felt fury.
**
There once was a girl, a little girl who fell below, down the rabbit hole.
The little girl's name was Alice and she had a wonderful imagination.
Her imagination led her through wonderland, though everything that tried to take her freedom away from her.
Through everything that made Her blood boil.
**
Ace was becoming more angry by the minute. His hosewarden was a little tyrant that imposed crazy rules onto everyone. He ruled with fear and iron collars that took what every mage had and couldn't live without in the long run.
Riddle Rosehearts was everything Ace despised.
**
Alice met the Queen of Hearts and at first she tried to understand. Queen of hearts explained that Wonderland drove everyone mad, and that her rules were necessary to keep everyone from going insane. But in Alice's eyes, the Queen had everything she wanted, she was the ruler, had her kingdom, and her servants. There was nothing that stopped her from her freedom.
Yet she ruled with an iron fist and took what everyone needed to live.
She took not only their freedom but their heads. She kept taking the one thing that made it impossible to choose freedom, their Life.
The Queen was everything Alice hated.
Alice wondered if it was Wonderland who drove everyone insane or its ruler.
**
Riddle Rosehearts imposed crazy rules, he claimed it was for the need for discipline. He claimed it was necessary to grow and become the best mages they could become. Ace soon realised that Riddle lacked the one thing he kept taking from everyone.
Riddle Rosehearts lacked freedom.
Ace pitied him for it for a grand Total of five seconds.
Just then Little tyrant threw away their hard made tart.
And just like that Ace felt no remorse.
**
Alice saw what the queen was doing to her subject, she knew what madness she brought to her own queendom. She was beyond reason and so there was only one way to deal with her, direct confrontation.
Alice found herself in Court.
**
Ace may have been a bit harsh towards Hertsybull's house warden. He learned some new facts after the disastrous tea party from Trey, who turned out to be a childhood friend with the teapot tyrant. That didn't really change anything, in fact thanks to Headmage, Ace realised there was only one way to deal with him, direct confrontation.
Ace was going to challenge Riddle in a duel.
**
Alice failed to see one, quite obvious, point. Queen of hearts was a tyrant, yes but she was still The ruler of Wonderland.
And the Queen's word was absolute. So when she ordered card soldiers to grab her it didn't matter that they were in court. It didn't matter that they were having a discussion, it didn't even matter that she was supposed to have rights as a side in that proceeding. Nothing mattered as long as the Queen said so.
And so, when Alice was restrained and brought onto a platform with an officer meant to enact her final verdict, she knew no one would help her this time.
She glared defiantly at The Queen to the last second, until her head was forced onto the chopping block.
,,Off with Her Head!” yelled the ruler.
And in her last moments Alice woved, if there was a chance, if she could get a second one, she would never again fall to the tyranny of another.
**
Ace stared at his housewarden as they prepared for the duel.
Riddle Rosehearts was a sad, caged boy who craved freedom all the same he did, the difference between the two of them was, that Ace was never afraid to grab his, while Riddle choose to stay in a cage.
It was easier for read haired boy, it was his way of life, it was disgusting to Ace.
How could this boy, not much older than him bear being locked in a prison that had a lock and key on his own side. How could he delude himself into thinking that those restrictions were love?
“And how dare he take what he himself could have all this time?” hissed something deep within Ace.
Riddle could have everything, power, his rules, friends and freedom.
If only he wasn't a coward.
If only he wasn't like Her.
Ace looked at the boy as the headmage announced that he was to remove The collars.
Ace looked at him and saw a different figure, from a different time.
Ace looked and saw the Queen of Hearts.
He would never bow to the queen.
Not again and not ever.
Deep withing him something stirred, more pronounced this time.
Collar came off and it wasn't only wind magic that got released.
Ace smirk found itself on his face and as Riddle raised his arm to cast a spell, just as mirror shattered starting the duel.
Both of them raised their hand too.
,,Down with The Queen”
His unique magic, their unique magic swelled. Spell capable of dispelling other spells, spell created for a sheet want of freedom. Spell that allowed him to destroy everything that could confide him. Everything that could constrict his freedom, everything that included heart shaped collars.
A second of shock whas all they needed to send The burst of wind magic towards their opponent.
Ace and Alice grinned as one.
,Down with The Queen indeed’