Chapter 1 - The Letter

"Oi! Everyone! Ace is back!" Haruta shouted in glee.

Many crewmembers raced over to the railing and could see Ace zooming towards them. Cheers erupted all around to which Ace could hear.

Ace smiled and pulled up to the side of the Moby. "Hey guys! Miss me much?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

Thatch, who also leaned over the railing to see their brother, laughed. "Of course! We've missed our baby brother!" he teased, knowing Ace would get flustered.

True to his words Ace did indeed get flustered. "Shut up you idiot!" he shouted with rosy cheeks.

But everyone just laughed and he could hear Oyaji's rumbling laughter join in. Ace smirked and pulled Striker away from the ship.

Then he put speed in and gave a sharp turn, successfully sending water up and over to splash his siblings.

He let a mad cackle out as they shouted after him.

~oOo~

"Commander Ace you're incredible!"

"Brilliant!"

Ace ducked his head down and pushed his soup around with his spoon. "Bah, anyone could have done it!" he protested against the compliments.

Everyone had wanted to know how his mission went after he reported to Oyaji, and so when Ace finally told them how he defeated all the pirates, rescued the villagers, and made the island under Whitebeard protection they all had started shouting compliments at him.

"But it you did it all single handedly, it's impressive, yoi," Marco said as he sat down beside Ace at the Commanders table. He chuckled as he watched Ace's cheeks blossom red.

"Shut it, you proud chicken!" Ace countered. Thatch laughed as Marco's smile fell and his eye twitched.

"Eat your food, brat," Marco ordered. Ace opened his mouth to fire back but immediately started coughing as Marco shoved a spoonful of soup in his mouth.

Now Thatch and many others laughed at him. Ace flailed a hand at Marco to slap him but the man easily maneuvered out of the way.

"You jerk!" Ace grumbled as he finally managed to get his choking under control. Marco only just smirked and ate his food.

Suddenly the doors to the galley were thrown open, startling everyone and having them turn and see Jun, one of the handlers for messages.

"Commander Ace! I have urgent mail for you!" he shouted as he raced over to the Commanders table. Ace immediately shot up and met him before the table.

He handed it over and Ace quickly snatched it out of his hand.

Ace! Open this as soon as you get! -Luffy

Ace ripped open the envelope and became reading it.

Ace,

I got bad news! So I went to visit Makino and later I was walking in the forest when GRAMPS SHOWED UP OUT OF NOWHERE!

HE WANTS TO TAKE ME IN A MONTH TO FULLY TRAIN TO BECOME A MARINE! I DON'T WANT TO BECOME A MARINE! IT ISN'T FAIR!

I WANT TO BECOME THE PIRATE KING!

So I decided that if I don't hear from you in a week then I'll sail out and find you. Because I know you'll protect me from Gramps and I can finally see you and your nakama!

Also because I miss you very much, and I can't wait to see you.

Love,

Luffy

P.S. Makino and Dadan say hi!

Ace reread the letter to make sure he read it right.

Then he exploded. Quite literally. Flames shot up from his shoulders and down his back.

"HOW DARE HE TAKE HIM AWAY!" Ace screamed in pure rage. Gramps had no right to take Luffy's dream away! Or take him away from Ace like this, they were going to meet again one day as pirates!

A hand touched his flaming shoulder and he looked to see Marco staring him in concern. Actually, everyone was staring at him with concern and worry.

"What's wrong, yoi?" he asked. Ace pressed the letter to his chest and took off just saying, "I'll be back."

Marco looked down and read the letter. "Son?" Whitebeard asked with an urgent tone but in worry not anger. Marco's lips curled downwards.

"Seems Garp wants to take Luffy and make him a Marine. He's taking him away," he explained with anger lacing his voice.

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes at that. He knew Garp wanted his grandsons Marines and wasn't happy about Ace becoming a pirate. But to take a dream away and force them to become something else was terrible.

Whitebeard looked at his eldest son with a fierce look in his eye.

~oOo~

Ace was already out on Striker when Marco found him. Striker was moving at such high speeds that Marco worried if Ace would fly out.

The Phoenix flew fast and swiftly and stopped right in front of Ace.

Ace widened his eyes and stopped just before he crashed into his brother. "The heck Marco?!" Ace shouted at him.

But before Marco could speak, Ace beat him to it and said, "You aren't here to take me back right? Because I'm not and I'm getting my brother no matter what."

Marco transformed where only his arms were lit in flames. "Ouch, hurts that you have that much faith in me, yoi. But no, Oyaji sent me to help you, he's excited to meet your brother. So am I, I have to admit."

Ace felt guilt take over. His brother was only helping and here he accused him of stopping him to help his brother.

"I'm sorry Marco, I'm just angry and worried. Luffy's happiness is so important to me and to hear that it could be ripped away just-" Marco held a hand up to stop him.

"I understand, no need to apologize. Now, let's get your brother and bring him back with us," Marco said with a bright smile. Ace blinked and smiled but then frowned.

"Wait, he can come on the Moby?" he asked. Marco raised an eyebrow and questioned him, "You thought we weren't going to let him live with us? Ace, he's your brother so that makes him our family too."

Warmth flooded his chest and Ace smiled, a little sheepish. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking exactly what I was going to do after I got him. I just planned on getting Luffy and sailing out as fast as possible to get as much distance between Dawn Island before Garp comes," he explained and Marco shook his head.

"Well now you know where to go. Now, let's shut up and race over there before we forget that a certain someone sails away before we reach him," Marco said and transformed into the Phoenix fully.

Ace grinned and set sail. He put everything he had into Striker and even used his hands to go faster. Which gave Marco a thought.

He flapped ahead and grabbed the front of Striker in his talons and pulled.

The speed was incredible. Ace almost flew out and even Striker seemed to fly sometimes.

Don't worry Lu, I'm coming!

~oOo~

Authors note:

So I know I already made this but I rewrote it and doing this from Google Docs. It's a long story but main point is I'm going to copy and paste it. Also I apologize for any confusion.

I'm new, extremely new. I've only used this site to read not write so I'm slowly (painfully slowly) getting the hang of this. I apologize if updates are slow also in the future, I'm figuring out how to create more chapters.

*bows* Thank you for understanding (I hope…)