Leaning back into his chair, he sighed. It had been 3 months since he had started attempting to track down Whitebeard and he had only recently got a lead on his whereabouts. He started humming, while casually leaning his chair back then forth. "Hmm... So his ally was last spotted in the red line, but one of his major crew members was seen near paradise, but then again they were also at grand line a while ago..." He started mumbling to himself. "Captain!" He snapped out of his semi-dazed thoughtful state, and his attention was brought to the knocking on his door. He got up to open the door, coming face to face with his brunette first mate; Liam.
"Liam?" His face turned into a smile and he crossed his arms. "What can I do for you this fine morning?" "...your an idiot." "HEY, IS THAT ANYWAY TO SPEAK TO YOUR CAPTAIN" "Pardon me, Captain Idiocy, but we are nearing an island." His first mate gave a mock bow. "Why you- wait. An island?" His face turned from annoyance to curiosity. Liam sweat-dropped and sighed. "We told you about it three days ago." Ace casually put his arms behind his head and stretched, seemingly bored with the conversation. "Oh. I wasn't listening." "YOU KNOW WHAT-" Liam started. He was cut off. Ace broke off into a grin. "This is the island rumored Jimbei is on right? The fishman who apparently is close to the geezer." He cracked his knuckles and went back into his room to grab his discarded hat. Taking care in gently placing it on his head while his crew mate supplied him with more knowledge on said fish man. "...and he is said to be very strong. So don't mess with him unless necessary , he isn't a warlord for any old reason." With his beloved hat now with him, he walked back to the door where his swordsman was waiting. "When we get to the island, your coming with me investigating, and tell the others to get supplies and whatever else we need." They started walking towards the navigation room, where their navigator; Valk; currently was.
The closer they got to the room the more curious Liam got. "Captain, why are we hunting down Whitebeard so vigorously?" At first he had thought his captain was like the other newer pirates, and wanted to challenge the senior to show off strength or what not. But as stubborn and as much of a show-off as Ace was, that reason didn't seem likely. Ace's eyes flashed gold for a second, a sign due to his devil fruit that something angered or upset him. His eyes got shadowed by his hat and he stopped walking. He sighed,"I knew you guys would get curious eventually. I guess you could say that I'm proving myself? Heh, it's kinda like a personal grudge." His eyes were unshadowed half way through his little speech, and were now the usual grey, except cloudy; as if they had seen or gone through something. Upon seeing this, Liam stopped questioning, choosing to trust Ace on his reasonings. He put his hand on Ace's shoulder as a reassuring sign, and grinned at him. "We are gonna get him, I have no doubts." His grin was apparently infectious as Ace gained one as well. "That's the plan!"
As they reached the room they could hear Valk. "...the storm will be here in a weeks time, but we should be gone by then, unless minor setbacks occur we should be caught up. Then the ship should be stable if we leave it docked next to a beach. In including the possibility of an ocean animal attack. But then again there's always a possibility of a-" They opened the door to him scribbling away, with books sprawled out everywhere, ...again. As they walked in a book was thrown at them, narrowly missing even as they dodged it. "Jesus Valk! Can you not try to kill us with literature." Liam started to nag the sniper. "Yes mother, I apologize." The sniper didn't look up from his work as the increasingly angry first mate continued lecturing him. Ace interrupted them. "So how long until we reach the island?" He was hovering over where Valk was working, skimming over what he was writing curiously.
The sniper shifted his position in his chair so he was facing his captain, "About an approximately 2 hours to 2 and a half depending on the tides." "Alright, and is there a docking place already picked out?" The navigator started tapping his pencil on the desk, and leaned his head so it was resting on his left hand. "Well there are some ports we could dock at, and there is also some beaches around, then there are also someplace a near the forest that might work." Liam chimed in. "We should dock near the forest, somewhere where we won't be seen, I don't want to start a scene or anything, this island is protected by Whitebeard after all." Ace looked like he gave it some thought, then he smiled again,"Forest it is!" Valk nodded joining in with a small smile. "I'll have the course set there then."
After they left Liam stopped Ace. "You should rest before we go to the island." Ace was mildly surprised, "Eh? Why I slept fine last night." "You might need it, plus the last thing we need is for you to have a narcolepsy attack in town, again." Ace tensed at that remark, feeling sheepish at the memory. "Fine. Wake me up when we are docked." He started walking to his room. "Aye-aye!" And a lazy salute was the goodbye from his swordsman as he himself left in the other direction.
(TIMESKIP)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*knock* "Captain!" Ace groaned. *knock knock* "Captain!" Ace shifted in his bed, putting the pillow over his head as a futile attempt to block out the sound. "CAPTAIN DONT MAKE ME BREAK DOWN THIS DOOR!" Ace slowly got up and opened the door, groaning when the light from the sun hit his eyes. Standing in front of him was his ships cook, a top-hat wearing swordsman, with teeth that stood out like a vampire. Ace rubbed at his eyes and yawned,"What." He was pissed at being woken up. "We're at the island." ...3...2...1. "Crap! I forgot about the island" He quickly grabbed his hat and ran off to meet with his first mate so they could go into town. He yelled his thanks to his doctor whilst he ran. When he got to the stern of his ship he skidded to a halt, seeing his first mate all packed and ready to go. He gazed at the island, green filling his vision. Something felt weird, like something was going to happen, something big. It made him anxious, but for now he choose to ignore it. After all, what's the worse that could happen?
(TIMESKIP)
"So your Jimbei huh?" The fish man stood at the center of a clearing, with his arms folded and expression a frown. "What is your business with Whitebeard-San?" Ace folded his arms, and his cocky grin found its way to his face. "Cmon I just want to talk to the old guy." Apparently the warlord was not convinced. "I will not allow you to try to harm the old man." Ace frowned at this, and turned his head to the sound of footsteps. "It's seems your crew has come for you." He crew looked worried sick, "Captain, don't!" An array of discontent rang from his protective crew. "You should listen to them, overconfidence can be a very bad habit." "Not until you let me see the old man!" Ace for at the older, arm raised in firsts. "I told you that I'm not letting you touch Whitebeard-San!" The fish man put his hands up In a block as the newer pirate clashed with him. "CAPTAIN" His crew was stubborn, much like their captain and protective, also much like him. To be honest, they were terrified of what the warlord could do to Ace. Ace on the other hand, was going all out,"DONT GET IN MY WAY! THATS AN ORDER." Some of the Spade pirates moved in an attempt to do something, but Liam just held his arm out to block them. They watched as the two fighters exchanged blows to bare skin, and brutal strength being the only power used against each other. As a first mate he understood best, that his captain was serious about this, and nothing they would do would help. They resorted to watching from a far.
(TIMESKIP)
It had been five days since the fighting has started and both of the fighters seemed beaten to a point of exhaustion. Point proven when they both promptly passed out from exhaustion simultaneously. The spade crew rushed to tend to their fallen captain but was stopped when a laugh filled the air. A very know yet to them, sinister laugh. "GURARARARA" " So this is the best you dares to challenge me." Ace, upon hearing this voice, staggered to get up. "GUYS" he yelled to his crew, that were trying in their best efforts to reach him. "STAY AWAY" He slashed his hand in the air which brought a wall of fire, but the interesting thing about it was that there was white and black mixed into the sunset array of colors. This fire surprised many, not of his crew, because he had fought Jimbei with his bare fists, and had barely had any account of using power similar to this. It was rumored the boy had a devil fruit but the rumor itself seemed far fetched. This fire especially grabbed the attention of a certain blonde. Just who was this raven captain? His fire had successfully separated him and his crew but his crew was not happy. Shouts of disapproval could be heard clearly from the other side of the wall.
Ace was panting, he had used much of his strength fighting, and used almost the rest of it protecting his crew. He glared up at the giant captain. To which the captain just smiled and laughed,"You got some guts kid. Take my mark and become my son." He reached out his hand to the exhausted teen. Ace took a moment to register what he said, before promptly snarling at the elder,"GO FUCK YOURSELF!" ...before he then passed out.