Ace

I expect loyalty to the family, not needless cruelty. You've taken it too far already.Ace Featherstone is an admin of Team Meteor and their technological Systems Manager, as well as a master magician. 
Despite being a high-ranking member of Team Meteor, Ace is quite friendly and polite, often giving the player information and guidance about where to proceed or information on Team Meteor itself. They are relatively amiable, kind, and cheerful, often making jokes or bantering playfully with others. Despite their goofy demeanor, it is apparent that they take their job seriously. Regardless of this, they appear to follow their own strong moral compass rather than any one side, and often aid the player in actively going against Team Meteor when they believe that Team Meteor is doing the wrong thing. 
== Story Events ==
=== Mosswater Industrial ===
Ace first introduces themself to the player in Mosswater Industrial, greeting the player and Fern after they enter the building with a bold and performative monologue from the factory's second floor. They rattle off their many titles to the player — first-rate agent, statistician, systemic admin, and master magician — as they dump Team Meteor's carefully collected data onto another network. They then order the Meteor Grunts on the ground floor to slow the player down, promising to buy the grunts' wages if they buy Ace enough time.
After the player and Fern enter the elevator to the second floor, Ace cuts the power to the elevator, trapping them inside. Ace offers the player and Fern a chance to join Team Meteor, stating that, while their methods aren't well-regarded, they are the ones who are looking out for the region. They also cite their great insurance that comes with a family plan. Fern retorts the offer just as Julia blows up the front wing of the factory; thereafter, Florinia captures the security station from Ace, freeing the player and Fern from the elevator. Ace retreats from the group, sealing themself off behind another locked door and continuing their work clearing the factory's data from inside.
The group then opens the locked door and confronts Ace alongside Sirius (who, at this point in the story, is unnamed) and two Meteor Privates: Aster and Eclipse. As Julia and Fern question Sirius and Team Meteor's goals, Ace proclaims their knowledge of the city, explaining that Meteor had many metrics on everything from water quality to Pokémon population to the lives of Reborn City's people. When Sirius grows tired of talking to the group, he and Ace battle Julia and Florinia, while Aster and Eclipse battle the player and Fern. After the two privates fail to defeat the player and Fern, Ace, at Sirius's behest, facilitates Team Meteor's evacuation with a smokescreen.
=== Rhodochrine Jungle ===
Ace is next met in Rhodochrine Jungle near the Rhodochrine Tree, guarding the PULSE Tangrowth responsible for the floral outburst in Beryl alongside ZEL, Taka, and Borealis. Together with Amaria, Fern, Cain, and Heather, the player challenges Team Meteor to restore some semblance of order to the damaged ward — and to rescue Victoria, although Ace discloses that she is being kept somewhere else and cannot be rescued until later. The player then fights Ace and the final PULSE Tangrowth while their allies handle the rest of Team Meteor. 
After the player defeats Ace and destroys the PULSE, Heather is defeated by an unknown Meteor private, but is carried to safety by Borealis's Crobat before any further harm can come to her. A confused Ace asks Borealis to explain himself and his intentions, but the mysterious private answers instead, blaming him for the failure in Rhodochrine. Ace expresses apprehension and uneasiness with how quick the private is to turn on Borealis despite his status as one of their own allies. However, before Borealis can explain, Amaria tells him and the player to leave while she holds off the mysterious private long enough for both of them to escape. 
=== Jasper Ward ===
The player later encounters Ace in the Jasper Police Station alongside Cain and Amaria, where Ace states that they've left Team Meteor behind. Cain appears visibly confused and alarmed, while Amaria explains that after leaving an opening for the player and Borealis to escape, she faced off against Lin, the Rhodochrine private who previously defeated Heather, and was defeated as well. Lin brutalizes Amaria, attacking her aggressively to make her give up the Sapphire Bracelets willingly, until Ace interferes angrily and steps in front of Amaria to protect her from Lin, citing that she has taken things too far with needless cruelty. Amaria explains that Ace helped her escape from Team Meteor after taking Lin back to the base, as they were fired for protecting her from Lin, and has thus earned her trust. Ace then uses their technological expertise to decrypt the files stored on the Data Chip that Cain received from Anna, which contains information on Team Meteor that Corey stored before his death. Said files reveal that a PULSE is currently operational in Peridot's Blacksteam Factory, as well as the existence of two more PULSEs present at Apophyll Beach and Byxbysion Wasteland. Cain is concerned about the kidnapped children, but Ace assures him of their continued safety, explaining that they've been listening in on Team Meteor's correspondences even after being fired. Amaria worries about protecting the ward's citizens from the PULSE, as Ace tells everyone that they can assist in breaking the group into the factory to defeat the PULSE. 
=== Blacksteam Factory ===
After the group reconvenes at Blacksteam (as they perform a magic trick and give the player a Nature Mint of their choice if talked to before the raid), Ace teleports the player and Amaria to the factory's roof before departing to assist Cain. Ace is then found inside the factory, where they appear to be startled and jumpy at the player's appearance. They say regretfully that they had hoped to continue assisting the player for longer, and appear visibly distressed at this fact for a brief moment before returning to their seemingly cheerful persona. Ace reveals that while they were in fact telling the truth that they were fired from their previous position, they have not fully turned traitor to Team Meteor's cause and were simply demoted to a new role. However, they do repeatedly reassure the player that both Cain and the kidnapped children are still safe, before opening a trapdoor beneath the player's feet. After the player falls through the trapdoor, Ace can be heard, and they appear to drop their previous facade— seemingly much more troubled and disheartened than they let on previously— as they wonder to themself anxiously if they have done enough to prove that they can still be useful to the team even after they have been fired. It is implied that there is a force behind the scenes pressuring their actions after the events at Rhodochrine Jungle, but it is not elaborated on further. 
=== Byxbysion Wasteland ===
The player's fourth encounter with Ace occurs in the Byxbysion Wasteland, where Ace, like Cain and the player, is looking for the PULSE that the Data Chip mentioned. Ace is found in front of an electronic terminal, where they bemoan to the player the time that they have spent getting lost within the Byxbysion Wasteland's many tunnels searching for the PULSE. Ace then offers to play a game with the player, challenging them to a battle with the promise of sharing the knowledge that they've obtained about the area after. They applaud the player for their victory after being defeated, and reveal that the Byxbysion PULSE is merely an inactive prototype that poses no threat. They wonder aloud to the player about how it came to be within the Byxbysion Wasteland, and offers them the option to seek it out if they so wish. Ace gives the player directions to the Wasteland Hideout, and explains that Team Meteor has no quarrel with those who live within Byxbysion, and that their only real goal is simply to protect and preserve the city and region. Ace then vanishes from the area, freeing the player to activate the terminal they were standing at in order to open the way to Aya's Gym. 
=== Subseven Sanctum ===
Ace is next mentioned in Vanhanen Castle, where Elias has enlisted them to capture Luna and Cain, although the latter manages to get away before he is then captured by Elias. They appear within the Subseven Sanctum, and delightfully exclaim to the player their admiration for their Gym Battle against Radomus, explaining that he has a history with Team Meteor. They challenge the player to a battle, although they do not appear enthusiastic about it— proclaiming that they're simply following their orders to prevent others from interfering with Elias' plans for Luna. After the battle, Ace, for the first time, appears visibly crestfallen and downcast— ashamed of their repeated failures and questioning if they have truly outstayed their usefulness within Team Meteor. They muse on the nature of family to the player, asking them what they consider family as— those with whom you share blood and status, or those with whom you share loyalty. While they appear resigned if the player answers "blood" over "loyalty" when asked, Ace reveals that they came to Reborn as a young child because of their cousin, who was too caught up in her own fame to give Ace much mind. Upon trying to reach out to her, they were callously rejected, leading them to run away and join Team Meteor. They reveal that they do not hold much regard for Team Meteor's goals, calling them noble yet unrighteous— but they remain loyal to Team Meteor, as they consider them the family that they needed yet never had. Ace heals the player silently, and they head to the central chamber of the Subseven Sanctum together, where Elias and Luna await, along with Cain, Bennett, and Radomus (in disguise). During the ritual, Elias intends to shave Luna's head— even though Ace is ordered by Elias to prevent others from interfering, they openly stand against him when they believe his actions have gone too far. They defend Bennett when he objects to the procedure as well, saying that while his motives are potentially questionable, his point stands— and that it is wrong to force this upon Luna without consent. Radomus and Gossip Gardevoir unmask themselves to aid in saving Luna, and Elias attempts to prevent them and the rest of the party from escaping together, only to be stopped by Ace, who tells Elias that they refuse to let him make the situation worse, and that whatever he had hoped to accomplish cannot be done by force. Elias, incredulous and outraged at their defiance, asks how they defy him after everything he has done for them, yet Ace retaliates by questioning if this is really the kind of family that Elias wants to have. Ace tells the player and Radomus, Gardevoir, Cain, and Luna to flee, and that they will hold Elias off so they can escape safely. 
=== Water Treatment Center ===
Ace does not show up again until the player clears out the Water Treatment Center, although it is understood that they called into the Agate Circus earlier to offer insider information to Alistasia that the Agate City sleeping spell was caused by nearby Team Meteor operative Titawin, despite their name not being mentioned as a direct source. After the player either defeats Taka or refuses to fight him, Ace arrives and challenges the player, having been sent to collect the Sapphire Bracelets from Taka. However, a perplexed Ace picks up quickly that the player does not have the Sapphire Bracelets after they have been defeated, and asks Taka what has happened, who then explains to Ace that Titania held an Aegislash to his throat, threatening him to give her the Bracelets. If the player chooses to fight Taka, then Ace is displeased with themself for not arriving sooner and letting Titania leave with the Bracelets freely. If the player refuses to fight Taka, Ace looks around in confusion, noting that his team is unscathed and the room untouched— they mention that while they won't doubt his integrity, they wonder what transpired before they arrived. Taka hesitates in answering, and Ace realizes the truth of what has happened immediately, and, regardless of whether the player chose to fight Taka or no, pages Team Meteor for assistance in covering for Taka after the setback. Ace encourages the player to hurry along if they'd like to stop that from happening. 
Ace and Taka then share a private conversation once the player has left. Here, Taka confesses that he doesn't know what to do— he is initially hesitant to say anything out of fear of Lin or Solaris finding out, but Ace picks up on what is wrong under the playful guise of pretending to read his mind, as they have been close friends since childhood. Taka states that he no longer supports Team Meteor's— and his father's— actions, but Lin is holding his back against the wall under the threat that if he fails once more, she would ensure there would not be a second. Ace says that neither they nor Solaris would stand for such a thing, and agrees that Lin and Sirius have corrupted Team Meteor to a shell of its former self, saying that it is time to contact Solaris about taking action. Taka is resigned and tells Ace that Solaris will not listen to him, and they offer themself in his place as liaison to speak with Solaris and convince him that Lin needs to be removed from the team.
=== Devon Corp? ===
After the player defeats Ciel, she reminisces on her relationship with Ace and noticeably seems to miss them. She reflects on their past history with each other-- how they followed her to Reborn when they were both young children, and how she harshly pushed them away out of fear that the pieces of her old life would drag her down, leaving them abandoned and alone until they were found by Team Meteor. She expresses regret for her prior callous and harsh behavior towards them, and mentions that she will attempt to reach out to them and apologize in an endeavor to mend their relationship. As the player exits the Big Top, the game jumps to a cutscene of Ace, who is alone and writing their aforementioned message to Solaris. In said message, Ace expresses hesitation at appearing as if they are questioning Solaris' judgment, but hopes that the many years they have spent in loyal servitude to Team Meteor will speak for themself. They argue that Lin, if left unchecked, will grow too powerful and will destroy the family that they have worked to hold together, and cites the repeated motions that she has made against others behind the scenes as proof, which has culminated in threatening Taka's life. They beg Solaris to take action and remove Lin from Team Meteor, and reveal their Meteor codename as "Nashira" as they close off the letter and attempt to send it. However, their letter never reaches Solaris, as the message fails to send. The screens above them then light up with the words "GAME OVER" in green, and Ace manages a few confused and terrified words before the room shakes with an explosion, and the game cuts to black. 
=== Tourmaline Desert ===
<tabber>
Zekrom Route/Mixed Route=
Ace does not appear here on this route.
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Reshiram Route=
When he attempts to stop the player at the Tourmaline Desert train station, Taka mentions that Ace has been missing since their last appearance at the Water Treatment Center. If the player allows Taka to accompany them through the desert, he worries for Ace's safety in idle conversation, mentioning that while it isn't unlike them to disappear for short whiles, they've never disappeared for this long before. He says that they livened up Team Meteor a lot, and got along with almost everyone— "everyone except Terra and Lin, basically.
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</tabber>
=== The Void ===
<tabber>
Zekrom Route/Mixed Route=
Ace makes a brief appearance in the void sequence following the events at the Glass Workstation, although they do not have dialogue and will vanish rather abruptly when talked to-- mirroring their abrupt disappearance in the depths of Devonyx.
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Reshiram Route=
If the player fails to defeat Solaris' Garchomp atop Pyrous Mountain, Ace makes a brief appearance in the void sequence following the events at the Glass Workstation, although they do not have dialogue and will vanish rather abruptly when talked to-- mirroring their abrupt disappearance in the depths of Devonyx. 
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</tabber>
=== Charous Path ===
<tabber>
Zekrom Route/Mixed Route=
While Solaris discusses motivations and questions with Lin atop the bridge in Charous Path, he bitterly tells her that he was able to piece together what happened to Ace, as one of the members of Team Meteor most loyal to Solaris, at Lin's hands. As the only other character who is able to connect the dots on what happened to them underneath Devonyx, he takes any knowledge of their death to his grave as well. 
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Reshiram Route=
Ace does not appear here on this route.
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</tabber>
Apart from these events, Ace is not seen again during the main game, and is presumed killed at the hands of Lin and Terra, as their signature Delphox is used in Lin's first Champion team, which consists of trophy Pokemon stolen from her victims and controlled under the effects of PULSE2. 
===New World Helix===
<tabber>
Zekrom Route=
To be updated
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Reshiram Route=
To be updated
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Mixed Route=
To be updated
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</tabber>
===Nightclub===
To be updated
==Story Battles==
===Rhodochrine Jungle Battle===
Ace is battled on a Forest Field in a Single Battle format.
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===Byxbysion Wasteland Battle===
Ace is battled on a Wasteland Field in a Single Battle format.
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===Subseven Sanctum Battle===
Ace is battled on a Holy Field in a Single Battle format.
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===Water Treatment Center Battle===
Ace is battled on a Factory Field in a Single Battle format. If the player chooses to fight Taka, they will battle Ace directly after, and they will be healed in between fights.
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=== New World Helix Battle ===
Ace is battled in a New World in a Single Battle format.
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==Theme Teams==
===Myth and Mystery===
Ace is battled on a Fairy Tale Field in a Single Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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===Eyes of Fire===
Ace is battled on a Burning Field in a Single Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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===Half-Tossed Coin===
Ace is battled on a Dark Crystal Cavern Field in a Single Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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===Technological Trickster===
Ace is battled on a Glitch Field in a Single Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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===Fashion Forward===
Ace is battled on a Chess Board Field in a Double Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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===Family===
Ace is battled on a Holy Field in a Single Battle format. All of the player's Pokemon will be set to level 100.
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==Sprites==