Discalmier: I do not own the One Piece. Look out Luffy. I'm on the Grand Line searching for it too. ;)
Letters from Ace
How it All Started
"You were worried about my reaction towards him?" he found a small smile escaping his lips. This girl was rather peculiar. He hadn't given it a second thought, but here she was being overly concerned. She seemed to take it on as her responsibility to look out for everyone.
"No need to worry. Luffy and I do go way back. After all we are brothers," he reminded her and this time his smile was forced. Why should she worry about Luffy and his relationship? It wasn't any of her concern. He loved his brother; he had gone out of his way to protect him. Luffy was still the same. He was still childlike and innocent and unbelievably lucky with a strong sense of moral. There was no real reason to worry about Luffy. He could take care of himself.
"That's good," she smiled softly and looked at his brother bicker with his crew mates over who got to cuddle the reindeer. He smiled again at his antics.
"Luffy has that charm about him. People always are drawn to him and he's reliable when it counts…" he trailed off as he stretched his arms over his head. He studied the girl next to him. This girl must be the Princess of this land, the one Luffy told him about earlier. He hadn't really given her much thought until now.
Her blue hair framed her face almost perfectly, and her eyes were a light brown but a hint of purple rested in them. How she had infiltrated an assassination's organization while obviously looking like royalty was beyond him. She must have an interesting story. The fire he had created for the camp grew slightly as he added more heat to it. He noticed with disinterest that the cook and the navigator disappeared into a tent together. The Princess looked a bit more uneasy without the other girl around. She studied his brother and the other's with almost a longing face.
"Even if they are good pirates, they are still pirates. I don't belong with them," she said after a moment. Her eyes lowered to meet his. He patted the cold ground next to him. He wasn't sure what to make out of her. Her eyes held mistrust but her body language screamed relaxed. This was a different person; he had never encountered royalty before. He wanted to know more about her.
"I'm a pirate," he said once she took a seat next to him. He laughed at her alarmed look but her eyes were unsurprised. This girl was a people pleaser. She would use whatever reaction she thought was best for the moment. They were silent as Luffy grabbed his friends and pulled them into a tight hug around the fire. He said something about 'Now everyone can have some reindeer warmth' and promptly passed out. He chuckled at his brother's antics.
"You still love them. You're glad that you don't have to be so mature around them. That you can rely on them to help you with a problem," he whispered as he noticed she was sitting closer. He let a flare of fire escape his foot to warm them more slightly. She jumped at the unexpected light and heat but moved closer to him so that her arm was touching his.
"I consider them friends," she said carefully after a moment. Her face became harder and less readable. It was still readable. She cared too much. Luffy would probably get upset with her soon if she kept on like this. He would take offense to it. He wasn't as thick skulled as his crew made him out to be. Although he was at moments… that was beside the point.
"We're all friends," he said smiling, "any friend of my brother's is mine as well."
He offered his coat to her as she shivered slightly. He didn't need clothes to keep him warm. He could control the fire in his body to keep him warm or cool. They sat in silence for hours, watching the embers of the fire die out together.
"Thank you, Ace," she said as the black sky lightened slightly.
"What for?"
She shook her head and he smiled. He knew that sometimes people just wanted to sit in silence without being pestered. That people needed silence to sort out their thoughts. She probably hadn't had many quiet moments on the ship with his brother on it. She was grateful for the silence that he offered, the calm that his brother would never be able to obtain.
"Better go catch a few moments of sleep Princess," he wasn't sure what made him snap out the word princess, he just suddenly despised that word. It might have been envy, it might have been spite, or for some unexplained reason it might have been teasing her.
"Good night Pirate," she whispered back as she disappeared behind a tent flap.
Ace stayed up after that. He mulled over the words in his mouth. Pirate, pirates were free people, they did what they want. They followed no laws but their own they set in their hearts. Pirates could be lawless, heartless and cruel, but then again so could monarchs. Princesses could be spoiled, demand jewels, and eat cake while their country burned around them. What difference did it make if he was a Pirate and she was a Princess? Why was he even thinking about differences? He shook his head and let out a deep breath. He needed some sleep or tomorrow would be a long day.
()()()()()()()
"I was just telling you my opinion. If they can protect the people now why not let them? It's not like you and your father have the power to do that now while your country is in disarray," he felt like yelling but he settled for shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
He had just found them again after being separated for two days and she yells at him for bringing back food and water? Who cares if the men he got them from were spineless and maundering around as if they were rebel soldiers, they still offered peace to that little town.
"I want to test them," she said after a moment. "I want to see if they are worthy to watch over this town."
The way she said worthy made him want to scream. What did it matter what they called themselves? Who cares if they called themselves Rebel warriors when in fact they were just mooching off the city? If any real threat came by then they would be screwed anyways. He could blow up that entire city with a snap of his fingers but he wasn't that cruel. Instead of rushing to the rebel city like the Princess wanted too, they were going to waste more time to get to the same result. They would have to leave this city with either uneasy or eased minds. Did it matter which one they choose? He shrugged his shoulders as his brother agreed to help her test these men. He'd go along with it for now. Too easy, same result. They left the small town running.
He followed at an easy within ear shot range as they travelled listening to her tell Nami about the boy named Koza. He felt something stir in him. Was he jealous of this boy? This boy who was willing to risk his life for her?
They stopped for lunch sometime after his brother devoured a giant scorpion. He ate quietly and away from the others, not wanting his brother to steal his food as well. He shed his jacket and basked in the cool shade offered by the rocks. He smiled to himself as he cleaned his dishes off. The two girls were whispering and looking his way. He wasn't arrogant to girls, they were admiring him. He smiled to himself some more. He composed himself when he heard the mention of bounty on his head. He frowned down at his brother and rested his chin on his hand and clenched his fist. He was going to catch Blackbeard, the damn traitor, if it was the last thing he did. Which meant as soon as he found out if he was defeated or not then he would have to leave.
He watched as some kids crept up on camp and used a rod to steal the leftover meat. He wanted to laugh as Luffy chased off after them calling it talking meat. He sighed and brushed off his pants as he stood up. He calmly followed the faint patter of footsteps. Two children and they were brothers.
"We never had meat in the Badlands," one of them said excitedly as they took a large bite of meat.
"Oh so you're from that rustic wasteland," he said making both of the kids jump. The one that must've been the older brother moved himself to shield his younger brother. It was a reaction he would have done.
"M-Move and you're dead," the older one said, shaking as he pointed the gun at him. He couldn't help but laugh slightly then. He carefully picked up a small pebble that had lain next to him. This would suffice in stopping a bullet.
"I'm generally not fond of dangerous things, but…" he trailed off staring at the children as the younger one pleaded with his brother. The kid jumped on his brother as the older one pulled the trigger. Now. He flung the bullet stopper just as quickly hearing the satisfying ping. He saw the star struck light in the boys eyes and smirked to himself. Yup he still had it.
"Good boys should brush their teeth before sleepy-bye," he grumbled. He was annoyed that he was almost shot by these kids, even if it wouldn't affect him. He wasn't here to hurt them. The kids were awed and shaking with their backs pressed up against a rock. The others found him at the sound of the gun shot.
"Hey who are they?" the liar asked.
"I have a favor I must ask. There's someone I want you to find and catch," the older kid said. Flinging the gun down and graveling at his feet. He sighed, so much for getting to Yuba any faster. "If you catch him, I'll give you a million Berries!"
"A million Berries?" it wasn't the Princess, it was the navigator who asked that. Where was the Princess?
"I can't pay it right away but I will pay it when I grow up," the kid said looking down with his fist clenched. "Please find this man!"
He felt his eyes narrowing as the kid held up a picture of a taller looking man with brown hair, a beard, and round sunglasses. The man had an easy smile in the picture, with a heart tattoo on his forehead and was holding a pitch fork in a relaxed manner. This man hadn't defeated Blackbeard. He was a father and a farmer from the looks of it. He grabbed the picture and held it in his hands glaring at it for a moment.
"My brother and I followed him here from the Badlands," the kid offered trying to look modest.
"So who is he?" someone asked. The entire group had found them now. Of course his brother was missing. He tried not to let that bother him. It was Luffy he would be fine. He felt himself being irritated that the cook had shown up with the princess. Why should he be bothered by that? After all the cook obviously had the navigator, but their travels together had proven he was just a love struck idiot. He would switch to the princess in a heartbeat if he could.
"Scorpion. A bounty hunter," the kid said breaking him from his thoughts. Their father, he wanted to add but he wouldn't expose them yet.
"Bounty hunter?" ahhh Zoro, an infamous pirate hunter. Luffy would take him on as a crew member.
"Why would you guys be chasing a bounty hunter?" Nami asked. Vivi looked surprised but kept her peace on the matter. What did she think about this? Did she want him to help these kids?
"I have business with him too," he said interrupting the interrogation as the kids exchanged awkward looks with each other. "A man in Yuba defeated Blackbeard, his name was Scorpion. My reason for going to Yuba is to meet him," he was mostly saying this to explain it to the others. Just in case he didn't get a chance to tell Luffy goodbye.
"Eh? He defeated Blackbeard?" everyone asked nearly simultaneously. They needed to stop doing that. It was a bit odd. He noticed that Vivi's voice hadn't been in the question. He needed to stop noticing things fast. It was almost as if he was developing a conscious effort to notice the princess. Maybe it was because she was a damsel in distress. Luffy had saved her though, it was his problem. Besides it wasn't like he had any moral obligation to her, other than the fact that she was his brother's friend. As soon as he found this Scorpion guy and confirmed his suspicions he could be on his way again. He shouldn't be developing awareness of this girl. It would be bad for him in the end.
"I dono Ace. Did this Scorpion guy really beat Blackbeard?" Usopp, that was his name. He needed to remember his brother's friend's names. The liar broke him from his thoughts again.
"I'm not sure. The only way to find out is to meet him," he looked up from the picture to meet his gaze. He sighed. He was still crouched studying the picture and his legs were beginning to protest. He ignored the kids as they stuttered his name. He was famous. He should be used to gawking by now. He stood up. Something different was approaching.
"What is it Ace?"
"Two people. And a bird?" he knew that seemed odd.
"What is it?" Nami asked the reindeer.
"They're coming," he said simply. He heard Vivi gasp. Whatever was coming wasn't going to hurt her. He would make sure of that. One of the voices traveling over the sand sounded familiar. The patter of the bird coming closer by the second and the voices fell. A bird appeared over the crest of the hill, along with a picture of the man the kids had given him.
"There you are Fire Fist Ace! I'm Scorpion. The indomitable hero! I've come from far lands to challenge you. Let's fight, fair and square!"
"That's Scorpion?" that was the Princess asking. He smirked. She wasn't even worried now. That was good.
"Heya! Are you all here?" Luffy said popping out from the man's back. Everyone else seemed surprised. He wasn't. His brother would do something like this. It was innocent though. He probably had no idea who or what this man was. He took a deep breath.
The kids were hiding behind a rock and muttered something. He found a smirk again.
"This is so exciting! Ace! This is a serious fight! Don't pull any punches!" his brother called laughing merrily from behind the man's back.
"I wasn't planning to!" he found his voice sounding annoyed. He wouldn't pull a punch with his brother right there. That could potentially hurt him, and he couldn't have Luffy getting hurt. "But there's something I want to ask him too!" His voice sounded strange on the wind he knew. "Move aside Luffy!" he called out to his brother.
"Here I come Fire Fist Ace!" the old man screamed and charged his bird forward. Ace didn't move until Luffy jumped off the back of it. Now he could fight. He smirked as he dashed forward. He wouldn't let this man get away. He needed to know about Blackbeard, and he couldn't let any attacks get behind him. Not with Vivi sitting there.
"You seem to have some skill," he was surprised when the man got back up. He had blown a rather hot metal net back at him after all. Most men couldn't recover from that. He let his surprise show but that was it.
"Our hellish battle is just getting started!" Scorpion said trying to right himself. "Popo! Compressed Extinguisher Gun!"
His smile disappeared. That wasn't fair. The bird dropped something in front of the man and took off to safer grounds. His eyes narrowed. So much for a fair fight. He couldn't let that thing touch him. He dodged quickly as the man shot it at him. Dodged again. He kept running. Getting closer and closer to the man with each dodge. It was maybe five seconds. He sent a light punch into the man's gut. By light he meant without his fire attached to it.
"I expected as much. You lied about beating Blackbeard, didn't you?" he asked once the man fell over the sand dune. "You figured using his name would get me to show up. Am I right?"
"That's right. Not too shabby of a plan right?" the man said grabbing the sand beneath his hands.
"That's enough DAD!" one of the kids said screaming. He had been right about that as well. He sighed and looked back at the kids. Heart filled speech inserted here. It was truly inspiring to see such an old man teach his kids to live with dreams in their hearts, but the idiot dropped his weapon and it went off. Luffy dashed forward leaping into the rocks. No he couldn't let his brother get in the way.
"I got this!" he yelled making him stop in his tracks. Summoning his fire, he whipped his arm back. "FIRE FIST!" Fire spilled out and whipped the tumbling rocks out of harm's way.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he made his way towards the kids. His heart sinking with every step closer to the three. The dad lay on the ground unmoving, while the two boys cried.
"Hey, old guy. Did you die?" Luffy asked sinking to ground level.
"Don't be stupid," he answered looking up. And Ace smiled again. It was good to see family looking out for each other. He sighed as he looked up and met Vivi's eyes. Such beautiful eyes. She understood. He had to get going now. Would he ever get a chance to really know her? Would he be able to sweep her off her feet? He only had a few more hours to spend with this group. The dad and kids were welcomed into the shadows of the rocks and they distracted the rest of them. This was his moment to pull her aside.
He was surprised when she pulled him aside first.
"Look… I'm really glad we met," she said after a moment. "If it isn't too much of a bother I'd like to ask a favor. Could we be pen pals?"
"Pen pals?" he laughed. He didn't have time to sit down and write her love letter's if that was what she wanted. How typical of a princess to hope for something like that. He had thought she was different.
"Not every day writing out your heart and soul. Just whenever we cross each other's minds or get wind of one another…" she trailed off biting her lip. Like the night before silence came over them. He felt something cool brush against his hand. He looked down to see Vivi's pale hand wrapping around his own.
"Whatever you want, Princess," he said bringing her hand up to his lips and brushing them against her hand. He was mocking her. He wasn't sure why. He could be honest and say he was attracted to her, but it seemed like something more. Like he wanted her to understand that not all pirates were bad. And maybe she understood that, after all she had befriended Luffy.
"It's Vivi," she said firmly glaring at him with a bit of hostility. He smiled.
"Alright Vivi," he leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her lips. He had been dying to do that for a few days now. The kiss was short and sweet just like their encounter. Something that probably would have never been had luck not been on their side.
"Good bye, Ace," she said tears rested in her eyes. He couldn't stand tears.
"Not good bye. Just see you later," he reassured her. "I'll write," he promised as he turned back towards camp to hang out with the rest of them. "Let me know when you make it home safely as well. I'll be heading west," he told her.
()()()()()()()
"Well then…" he picked up his hat and readjusted it onto his head. He had spent the last few hours with the rest of them. Catching up with Luffy and swapping stories.
"Are you really leaving, Ace?" asked the reindeer. It seemed disappointed.
"Yeah," he smiled at them all. He caught Vivi's eye for a moment longer. "Seeing as Blackbeard isn't in Alabasta I have no reason to be here," he sighed. He wished they hadn't stumbled upon this man so soon. He might have had more moments with Vivi.
"Oh," Luffy's face was blank. He was upset that he was leaving so soon but he wasn't about to stop him. He smiled appreciatively at his brother. It would be easier now.
"Where will you go next?" asked the cook Sanji.
"Scorpion says there's a man who saw him in the west. Guess I'll go check it out," he pulled out the piece of paper from his pocket. Something for his brother to keep. He smiled widely now.
"Luffy," he tossed the object to him. "Always hang on to that."
"Huh? It's just a scrap of paper," he said looking at it with some interest. Vivi was peering over his shoulder with interest. He smirked.
"It's a scrap of paper that will bring you and me together again sometime."
"Yeah," he unfolded the paper and looked down at it.
"You don't want it?" he asked. He felt hurt for a split second.
"No, I'll keep it," his brother reassured.
"It's natural for a big brother to worry about his bungling kid brother. He might be a bit much for you to handle, but take good care of 'im," he said to the crew. He felt like he had said this a few times now. He might have. He smiled sheepishly.
"Luffy, next time we meet, we'll both be top pirates!"
"Yeah!" this time a smile did appear on his brother's face.
"Come to the top!" he smiled again.
His departure with his brother is what mattered now. He didn't need to worry about Vivi. These guys were strong enough to handle the desert. He disappeared after the kids called out and distracted the group. Long good byes sucked. He couldn't spend another moment pretending nothing existed between him and Vivi. He needed to depart with his brother. He placed a kiss on her hand before he left. A span of three seconds for them but a life time for him.
And that was it. She had come into his life like a storm. She changed everything yet everything remained the same. He wasn't in love with her. He'd probably get to see a few more girls on the side in neighboring towns, but she was different. He would maybe write her when he got to the next town. But what kind of world did he live in when a pirate ever had a chance with a princess? That kind of world still didn't exist. It was better this way. It was better that things didn't get carried away. That this encounter had been short. Maybe it would be better if he forgot her, but he knew he wouldn't be able to. He might start that letter later tonight…
A/N: Okay I am still very upset that Ace is gone. I'm making this story for him. I don't think people should be without love in this world. I know Luffy loved him but I decided I was going to give him a different kind of love... you know... with a girl...hahahaha. I hope you all enjoy. This is going to be a decent sized story. At the very least 3 chapters, I hope to go further with this story, just for the satsifaction of finishing it. Hopefully my computer will cooperate.
Forever a pirate at heart,
Oceanwind