I do not own One Piece

Prologue:

He shifted his stance, just slightly putting more weight on his forefoot. "Hiken!" he yelled and thrust his flaming fist forward, the fire exploded around his opponent. He stood there as the flames died away, his hat swaying slightly on his back as a gust of wind dispersed the fire. He frowned at the man that stood there. Had he known that he was a devil fruit user he wouldn't have so brazenly burst into the compound. Ace clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. The man was dressed in white like a marine; however he had none of the markings of the marines on him. The man also just stood there watching the pirate for a long time, as if letting him think of what to do next.

The man then stepped to the side as Marco's talon feet slashed at where he had been. Marco kicked at him again, and once more the man just backed away from the attack.

Ace took a wide stance and set his hand in a gun like style with his index and middle finger. "Higan," he said as several fire bullets were short towards the man. Marco slashed and kicked at him as he moved away from the attacks. "Damn it," Ace cursed and ran towards him. He threw his fist forward. The other grabbed his fist and looked at him for a moment, the grin on Ace's face was telling however. He burst into flames. Marco flew a little higher into the air. This mission wasn't supposed to be this strenuous. He landed as the flames died down. The older Whitebeard pirate looked towards them. Ace's fist still in the others grasp.

Marco started as the one in white reached out and grabbed Ace's throat, Macro went to move closer, but stopped when Ace was thrown towards him. Macro caught the second division commander and turned his attention back to the one in white. Still he stood there as if letting them gather themselves and think of what do to next, however the look of disappointment was clear on his face now. White eyes watched as Ace sat up and coughed, he glared hotly at the man before them. Marco had a hand on the younger's shoulder as he stood up and faced the white one.

Marco stood there, his stance lazy, nonthreatening; the white one lifted a brow at him.

"Whitebeard sent us," Marco said, "to collect the package yoi."

"I know," the man finally spoke. "Your tattoos are not exactly covert."

"We weren't expecting anyone at the compound," Marco went on as the one in white looked to him and to Ace.

"I imagine not," the man placed a finger to his temple and watched them. "I also didn't expect him to send his first and second division commanders, it seems… odd."

"Odd how?" Marco questioned. The man got a small amused look on his face before he replaced it with what was his normal expression of nothing.

"You will find out," he moved to turn his back towards them and head deeper into the compound. Ace was still sitting there glaring at the man's back. He paused and looked over his shoulder, "are you two just going to stand there or are you going to come with me?"

Ace stood up and dusted his shorts off before he looked to Marco, the blond shrugged and followed after the white one, and Ace too followed Marco.

They walked into a room with many different paintings, some large of landscapes of marshes and jungles, others of barren wastelands, others had buildings taller than the marines could dream up and so many of them. Ace stopped at one of those and looked at it with wide eyes. The white one stopped and turned around; he regarded them for a long moment before looking around the room. He placed a hand on a glass box, and opened it. Marco was watching him and not what Ace was doing. The younger man was looking at all the strange paintings. The white one took out a small wrapped package and walked over to Marco. He held it out for Marco and it took it easily enough and looked it over.

"What are these?" Ace finally asked.

"Paintings, it's best if you don't touch them," the man replied. Ace looked at him and pouted as Marco chuckled slightly at the look Ace was giving the one in white. "You best be on your way," he said as the amusement came back on his face. "May the Fates be kind on your soul," he said and looked directly at Ace. The fire user stood up straighter and glared at him. He then turned to Marco. "I will see you again." Then the amusement left him and his expression was blank again. "Now leave, you are not welcome here."

Back aboard the Moby Dick Ace was leaning against the railing watching the sun set. They had given the package to Whitebeard and the old man had a mix of emotions cross his face as he looked at the clear glass ball. He had crushed it afterwards in his fist. The two that went to get the package didn't quite understand why the old man had done it. So that was the reason why Ace was leaning against the railing watching the waves against the ship. Marco was beside him arms crossed and just in company with the other.

"I wonder what it meant," Ace said.

"Whatever it was it was a message for pops yoi," Marco replied to Ace's statement. Ace let his arms dangle over the railing, Marco looked at him with a lifted brow. "You want to go back don't you?"

Ace looked at him and nodded his head. The older man rubbed the back of his neck and grumbled that this was a bad idea but really couldn't say no to the face that Ace was giving him.

Flying over the ocean and finally land back to that compound that they had been at not twenty-four hours ago, they entered and looked around. The place didn't change, but it was dark now that the sun wasn't shining through the windows. Torches came to life to light their path as soon as the door closed behind Marco. The first division commander suddenly had a bad feeling about this and turned around. There was no door there anymore, Marco's hand went to the stone and turned to Ace, the younger male had a strange look of fright on his face, but it was gone quickly. They followed the torches back into the large picture room, the one in white sat in a large chair as he watched them enter. His expression neutral as they walked closer to him, he and Marco locked eyes for a moment before his gaze slid to Ace.

"What can I do for you?" the white one inquired them.

"What was the package you gave pops yoi?" Marco asked for Ace.

"A gift of warning," the man said. "As I often do for those I like or find amusing. You are quickly losing both for not heeding my request."

Marco looked to Ace as the younger put on a large grin. "I wanted to come back to know why you made pops angry."

"Like father like son," the one in white breathed and Ace's smile vanished and he glared at the white one.

"What did you show my old man?" Ace said.

"I have no reason to tell you, or you," he looked to Marco and then back to Ace. "Neither of you have gone through my trial like those before you who have earned my warnings. "

"What is this trial yoi?" Marco asked. The white one's attention went back to Marco for a second before a sly twitch of lips turned up into a small smile. He tossed Marco two rings, the first division commander looked them over they were plan silver bands.

"Put them on and choose a painting," he said Marco glared at the white one as he still sat calmly. "The trial is that, once you do that find your way back. You will have one month."

Ace took a ring and placed it on his finger as it shrunk to his size, Marco followed. "I want a better explanation," Marco said. The white one shook his head.

"Those before you did not get one, I will not give you one either. You either do or not, it matters little to me." Marco frowned; Ace looked thoughtful for a moment before he grabbed Marco's arms and pointed towards a painting.

"What's the worst that could happen? We get a painting and get out of his compound, I doubt it will take a month," Ace said, Macro looked at him and then looked to the white one's amused smile. Marco allowed the fire user to lead him to a painting of large buildings.