Rebirth of Embers: Ace in MHA

HERO: FIRE FIST - ACE

NAME: ARASHI TODOROKI

RANK: 7

AGE: 23

RELATIONS: ENDEAVOUR (RANK 2 HERO), TODOROKI FAMILY

QUIRK: FIRE BODY

Able to generate and manipulate fire without significant drawbacks, except for stamina depletion.

PERSONALITY: FRIENDLY, SLEEPS WHENEVER HE LIKES

CHAPTER -1

As I lay down on what I know will be my final journey towards death, a profound sense of loss envelops me. My greatest regret is that I never accomplished my goal of defeating Blackbeard. A wave of sorrow washes over me as I realize the consequences of my actions—bringing my brothers, my father, and Luffy to Marineford. I also feel a bittersweet pride in having saved Luffy.

I've never truly considered how my family will cope with my death, but now, as my consciousness fades, the thought lingers. I can hear Marco and Juzo crying out, though I cannot tell if these sounds are real or if they are merely a figment of my dying mind. My body is slipping away from me, and I have no choice but to accept the reality that I will not be there to see my brother become the Pirate King. I won't be able to tell him how proud I am of him. I will not be there for my father in his final days, despite the fact that he risked everything for me. I won't be able to laugh with my brothers and crew ever again.

But I know that they will rise from this defeat, just as we always do. When they do, the Marines will face a challenge unlike any they've ever seen. Ah, Gramps Garp... He must be devastated by my fate. Dadan, who raised me from a child, will be heartbroken. And Yamato... I promised her that I would visit her again and free her when she was ready. Now, I can't fulfill that promise.

Luffy, I leave our shared dream to you. You will become the greatest Pirate King. I can feel nothing now, but somehow my thoughts persist. Perhaps this is my final farewell to everyone.

Goodbye, Father.

Goodbye, Marco.

Goodbye, Dadan.

Goodbye, Garp.

Goodbye, Yamato.

Goodbye, Luffy...

...

The warmth around me is comforting, like a mother's embrace. I can feel something, though I don't quite understand what it is. Mother... is that? It's... it's...

Something is moving beside me, and I can taste something in my mouth. It's unfamiliar, but intriguing. Hmm...

There's a sound now. It's soothing, like the gentle waves of a vast sea. But what is a sea? The word feels distant, almost forgotten.

Occasionally, there's a flash of light. I don't know what light is, but somehow, I feel its presence. What is light?

I think I'm not alone here. There's something—or someone—like me. Could they be a friend? A friend... yes, that feels right.

An urge, unfamiliar yet insistent, propels me. Someone or something is guiding me out of my sanctuary. I resist, clinging to the comfort of my current abode. But my companion is moving ahead. I yearn to stay with them.

'Farewell, dear home.'

.....

The warmth fades, replaced by a sudden, overwhelming chill. My body—or what I think of as a body—jerks involuntarily. The world around me shifts from the comforting darkness to something new and unsettling. I am thrust into a place full of sensations I cannot fully comprehend.

The first thing I notice is the cold, followed by a pressure on my chest, compelling me to cry out. The sound I make is strange, foreign, yet undeniably mine. The flashes of light are now constant, no longer mere glimpses but a steady, blinding presence. It hurts, and I instinctively shut my eyes against it.

There are voices around me, muffled and unclear, as if coming from underwater. They're not like the soothing sound I heard before—these are different, sharper, filled with something I can't identify. I am lifted, and the warmth returns briefly, though it is not the same as before. This warmth is external, not the comforting embrace I had known.

I sense movement beside me. The companion I felt earlier is still with me, their presence a reassurance in this strange, new world. We are separated, and I struggle, my small form thrashing weakly in protest.

Something touches me—gentle, soft. A sensation I've never experienced but that feels oddly familiar. My cries lessen, and I open my eyes, squinting against the light. The blurry shapes around me begin to take form, though they are still unclear. A face looms above me, smiling. There's a sense of recognition, though I can't place it.

The voices become clearer, their tones softening. They speak words I do not understand, yet their meaning is somehow conveyed. The face above me belongs to a woman, her expression one of tenderness and joy. Her eyes are wet, shining with unshed tears.

She speaks to me, and though I cannot grasp the words, I understand the sentiment. I feel safe, loved, and I stop struggling, resting in her arms.

Beside me, my companion makes a noise—similar to the one I made earlier. We are brought together, placed side by side. The presence that was once just a feeling is now tangible, real. We are together again, and a calm settles over me.

The woman's voice continues, softer now, soothing us both. I don't know who she is, but I feel as though I've known her forever. This new world is strange, overwhelming, but as long as I have my companion and the warmth of this woman, I think I'll be okay.