One Piece: Ace's Untold Adventures

Devil Fruit Crystal Arc

Chapter 3

(Three days into the Grand Line, Eva is making sure they stay on course, Hansel is keeping watch from the crow's nest, and Ace, who was badly injured, can finally walk around without feeling severe pain with every step.)

Ace: Hey Eva how long till we reach the next island?

Eva: It should be in view in the next hour; Hansel will let us know when he sees land.

Ace: How is he gonna let us know, wave? The guy doesn't talk at all, and I'm starting to think he can't.

Eva: He can, but if I remember right; he only talks when he deems it necessary.

Ace: That's not very convincing. Hey Eva there is something I've been meaning to ask you for ever since we left Loguetown.

Eva: What is it?

Ace: How do you know Hansel?

Eva: Well I did some things for him in the past and now he's just returning the favor.

Ace: *sigh* That's the best answer I'm gonna get isn't it?

Eva: Absolutely

Ace: Look from now on I want you to give me the 100% truth about any questions I ask about the people who kicked me into a friggin' building. Deal?

Eva: Deal.

Ace: So who was that guy, the one who nearly killed me?

Eva: His code name is Black Rook, and unfortunately for you that's all I'm will to say.

Ace: Eva!

(Ace was about to say something when Hansel came in and Eva knew that he has seen land.)

Eva: Looks like we have arrived at our first stop on the Grand Line.

Ace: Really!

(Excited Ace completely forgot his anger and rushed out to see the island, and what he saw was that the land was filled with many tall volcanoes that could be seen from a great distance and only a small patches of green scattered around the land.)

Ace: Whoa! What island is that?

Eva: Volcano Island, it's the first stop and I have some business there.

Ace: Hold it! What kind of business? If it has anything at all to do with those clowns in black robes you better tell me!

Eva: Okay, just listen carefully okay? Those 'clowns' as you called them are members of a organization called CHESS and each enforcer or agent has a identifying earpiece that resembles to corresponding chess piece. Black Rook's would be a black rook earpiece, and mine was a White Bishop piece. The bracelet that you 'accidently' got stuck to your wrist; well the CHESS want it, and only special crystals can utilize its power and create chaos.

Ace: What kind of chaos?

Eva: The kind that gets the World Government involved.

Ace: Makes sense.

Eva: There are six crystals total and I have two, the Water and Darkness crystals.

(Eva takes out the two crystals, the water crystal is a royal blue color and the darkness crystal is a dark purple color, and places them into two indents.)

Eva: Now I only have four more, the Fire, Wind, Earth and Light crystals; which the CHESS already have.

Ace: Alright so all we have to do is fight these CHESS guys find the other four and you can get your revenge and I can get this bracelet off my arm, we both win!

Eva: If only it was that simple.

Ace: What do you mean?

(Ace looked around and realized that throughout their conversation Eva had steered the ship into an abandoned port, through a river on the west side of the island where the dense forest camouflaged their ship so it won't be discovered so easily. All three of the pirates leave the ship and head east following Eva and Ace notices that Hansel always stands behind both of them.)

Ace: Hey Hansel why do you always walk behind us?

Hansel: ….

Ace: Eva, are you sure Hansel can talk?

Eva: I'm sure. Let's keep moving we have almost reached a town.

Ace: You sure know your way around, why is that?

Eva: It's because I've was here two years ago just days before I entered the East Blue.

(The group entered the town and every villager stopped talking and only stared with fear at them, even the tavern with was bustling with noise grew quite when the trio walked in and sat at the counter.)

Ace: Well this is a warm greeting. (Big grin) Eva?

Eva: They don't like outsiders because it makes the Dragon angry.

Ace: Dragon?

Eva: I don't know much about it myself, because there wasn't one here two years ago.

Hansel: On this island volcanoes are all over, the people here were lucky to find small bits of land where the volcano's lava can't reach them. But there are times when the volcanoes erupt with greater force than normal but, six months after you left this island a dragon named Metashi came and stopped the eruptions now guards this island; but in return the villagers must give money and valuable items to the dragon in order to appease him, for if they don't the volcanoes will destroy them all. There is one rule; no outsiders who are not involved with cargo ships and the World Government are allowed to stay here for very long.

Ace: Oh my god…You can talk!

Eva: I'm guessing you've been gathering more information on CHESS then you let me know.

(Hansel just nods and hands the bartender a piece of paper with his order written on it. Ace and Eva also order; Ace wants pretty much anything they got along with some water. Eva just wants some sweet fruit and a cup of black tea and Hansel's order was some Yakisoba with some wine.)

Ace: Hey barkeep! Know anything about red crystals?

Barkeep: No outsiders allowed! So just eat, pay and get lost!

Ace: Not every hospitable there are you?

Eva: Don't bother; these villagers are too scared of what Dragon will do to be of use to us.

Ace: But how can a guy be a dragon?

Eva: The Dragon is a devil fruit user; my accurate guess is a mythical zoan that gives him the power transform into a dragon. And the Zoan type is the devil fruit ability to transform into animals, and the mythical zoan fruit lets the user to transform into a mythical creature.

Ace: Sounds like he'll be fun.

Eva: If what Hansel said is true and that the CHESS are involved then I bet he has the red crystal.

Ace: I guess now it's our business.

Eva: Even if he didn't have the crystal I'm not leaving without finishing off Dragon.

Ace: Why, do you want to help these people?

Eva: Of course not, Dragon is a member of CHESS and for me to exact my revenge is to eliminate any member I come across.

Ace: …What did they do to you?

Eva: Enough.

(Ace continues eating then his face lands in his plate, not moving; while Eva is just sitting there calmly drinking her tea and Hansel drinking some wine.)

Hansel: It's good to get sleep when you can.

(The people in the tavern stayed quiet and ignored the three pirates when someone else entered the establishment and their eye widened with fear; this person had long hot pink hair, soft mint green eyes, a feminine physic, fair skin, delicate fingers, and long slender legs in a black yukata with a floral design. The face was that of a woman, but when this person spoke it was the voice of a man.)

?: Hello there young travelers.

(Eva and Hansel turn around and see this person smiling and asked to sit down next to Ace, which this person did without an answer.)

?: My name is Jou, and you three are?

Eva: How is that any of your business?

Ace: (suddenly wakes up) huh? (Looks around) Sorry about that, fell asleep. (Looks at Jou) Who's the woman?

(Jou looks shocked and starts laughing.)

Jou: No sweetie, I'm not a woman, I'm a man.

(Eating food when Jou made his announcement, Ace started choking and looked completely shocked.)

Ace: Seriously!

Jou: Of course.

Ace: Eva, Hansel did you two know about this?

Eva: Obviously.

Ace: If you knew, why didn't you tell me?

Eva: How would that be funny?

Hansel: …

Jou: You three seem quite interesting, might I ask for your names?

Eva: I already said it's none of your business.

Ace: My name is Portgas D. Ace, but you can call me Ace. The rude girl is Eva and the big silent guy is Hansel.

Hansel: …

Ace: See.

Eva: *glare*

Jou: I couldn't help but overhear how you three are looking for the Dragon. If you want I could take you there to meet him, since I am usually the one who delivers the offerings.

Ace: That would be very helpful thank you. (turns to Eva) See how being polite can get you farther than being rude?

Eva: Shut up.

Jou: So shall we get going?

Ace: Why not, I've already had my fill so let's go.

(Both Ace and Jou get up ready to leave and Eva decides to go along, but Hansel stays behind for some reason and gives a wave as they depart. The trio heads into a forest but after a short distance the forest is gone and up ahead is a wasteland created from the most recent volcano eruption, they travel further and further across the waste land until Jou who was leading them stopped and turned around. His soft mint green eyes have turned rage red orange with a black vertical slit and he sprouted a sinister grin as he spoke.)

Jou: I'm sorry but this is as far as you two go. My real name is Metashi and Eva I'll be taking that bracelet and the two gems you have with it.

Eva: So you are a member of CHESS, I don't see a piece on you so I'm guessing you're just a pawn.

Metashi: JUST a pawn? JUST A PAWN! I'll have you know I'm rank #3 of 16 and I'm about to eliminate a future problem.

Eva: What makes you think you can eliminate me?

Metashi: No, not you. I know you're strong enough to take down anyone who's in your way, but I wasn't talking about you. (Smile)

Ace: I get it, so then Mr. Dragon; let's get started.

Metashi: You're gonna regret those words.

(As the smile on his face grew so did his form; Metashi transforms himself into a dragon-human hybrid. His chest transforms that of a dragon's with scales forming all over his body, his hand's transform into claws along with his legs and feet, his mouth and face starts taking the shape of the dragon while maintaining his human shape and size, and fire started forming around his body and protected it like it was energy waves from his own body.)

Ace: Now this is more like it! Eva stay back I want to fight this guy.

Eva: Have it your way.

Ace: Thanks, and don't interfere no matter what.

Eva: Got it, now go kick his ass; or get your ass kicked.

(Metashi charges at Ace with a straight jab, which Ace manages to catch it and blocks Metashi's right hand jab at the same time. The scales on Metashi's hands and arms tear Ace's skin on contact and make him jump back but in vain, Ace gets knocked to the ground suddenly by an up air spin kick, he skids across the ground for several seconds before he is finally stopped by a tree which he knocks down due to the impact. Eva quickly catches the tree before it falls on him and throws it at Metashi who burnt the tree to ashes before it even touched him. Eva then helps Ace to his feet and tells him,)

Eva: Have a nice trip?

Ace: That guy…he's strong. But not as strong as the guy back in Loguetown, I'm sure I can get him this time.

Eva: Go for it.

(Ace gets up fully and walks over to Metashi, gets into a fighting stance and charges forward and readies his right fist, as he's running he quickly runs side to side to confuse his opponent, gets close to Metashi and delivers his punch right on contact with his face hard enough to crack his scales, but it makes Ace's hands bleed on contact. Metashi looks surprised that someone could even crack some of his strongest scales.)

Metashi: (How is this possible? No human can be this strong, if I let this one go, he might become threat just as bad as Eva.)

(Metashi starts to inhale the air and his cheeks get larger and larger until they are the sizes of party balloons and then blows out a large inferno which engulfs Ace. The fire quickly subsides and never before feeling this kind of pain, Ace drops quickly to the ground. Metashi, not wanting to take any chances, grabs his short dagger sword that he keeps on his person; surrounds it with fire and shoves it into Ace's body making him scream in pain then pulls it out in a different angle making Ace's wound even more painful.)

Metashi: You're out of your league boy, so just admit defeat and die!

(Ace struggles to get up, but all he can do is grin.)

Ace: (laugh)

Metashi: If that's the way you want it, then so be it. Farewell…Fool.

(With sword in hand Metashi readies to plunge his weapon into Ace's heart. Millimeters away from the skin the dagger sword breaks in two and sending both pieces away from Ace; on a green mountain top near the Western river 20 miles away, a ridge that faces the wastelands where Ace was fighting with no obstructions, sits Hansel with his long ranged rifle with a long ranged scope, in hand and smoke coming out of the barrel. Stunned Metashi looks around franticly trying to find where the shot came from; suspecting it was Eva, Metashi kicks Ace in the ribs causing him to roll and moaning in pain. Eva stops Ace from rolling on his wounds anymore and kneels down to lift him up by his left arm, behind her neck and tries to get to get him on his feet.)

Metashi: Humph, I don't know how you did that but I'll make sure you won't ever bother with CHESS again.

Eva: Are you sure this is how you want to die?

(Metashi suddenly disappears and reappears 1.5 ft away and his arm pulls up his weapon ready to kill, but Eva uses her right hand and a large burst of water shoots, and barley misses Metashi who managed to jump out of the way in time. But the burst of water hits the ground and gets bigger and bigger until it becomes the size of a small water spout to which Eva smiles before Metashi loses sight of her. When the water spout eventually subsides Eva and the injured Ace were nowhere to be found, Metashi transforms back to his human form and smiles while looking to the west. After a while of running and carrying Ace, Eva makes it back to the ship with Hansel waiting with his gun loaded.)

Eva: Thanks for the support back there; we won't have long before Metashi figures out where we are, so we have to be ready.

Hansel: …*nods*

(Hansel picks Ace up and puts in over his right shoulder and carries him into the ship where Eva starts bandaging his wounds.)

Eva: Fortunately Metashi likes making people suffer so his wounds aren't fatal or very serious.

?: Well that's good news.

(Eva and Hansel shocked to see that someone had found their ship and both get ready to attack the stranger. The stranger has short red hair tied in a low pony tail that ends at his neck, pale green eyes and wearing a blue t-shirt and grey knee high shorts and grey shoes. He was carrying a sword in his left hand and raised both hands in the air to show he meant no harm.)

Eva: Who are you?

?: My name is Kito, and I want to help.

Eva: What good are you boy?

Kito: Wow Metashi was right; you do look down on everyone who you don't respect.

(Hansel hears Kito mention Metashi's name and immediately jumps him with rope ready, but Kito sees this and unsheathes his sword; uses the sheath to block Hansel's arms and the blade to hold to his neck. Hansel uses his height and strength to easily over power Kito and eventually subdue and tie him up, pulls out one of his flintlock pistols and puts it to Kito's head.)

Kito: Wow, you are really strong. I thought I managed to stop you because your height made you slower but boy was I wrong.

Eva: You seem happy that you lost, what's with you why are you working for Metashi?

Kito: This Island is rotting, this guy claims to be a savior but he's the cause of everyone's suffering!

Eva: What are you talking about?

(Kito gets worked up and tells the two the history of this island and of Metashi.)

Kito: When I was just a boy the island was prosperous, hardly any of the volcanoes erupted; but that all changed a year and a half ago when suddenly the volcanoes started violently erupting and then that man showed up and proclaimed to be able to stop them, I have always been suspicious of this guy. When out of nowhere he started demanding offerings and one strong fighter to deliver them and that's when I got the chance to find out what this guy wants.

Eva: And what makes you think we would believe you?

Kito: I don't want you to believe me, I want your help! Wait, that didn't come out right.

Ace: So you want our help to free your island? Sure.

Eva: Something's bothering me, why hasn't the World Government gotten involved?

Kito: Metashi kept saying that there's a Knight in G-4 that keeps their eyes blinded to the game of Chess; whatever that means.

Eva: Figures.

Ace: What does that even mean?

Eva: The better question is why are you walking around with your injuries?

Ace: I can't just sit down and let Metashi win!

Kito: Exactly so will you help me?

Ace: Of course.

Eva: Right after you rest and let your wounds heal; in your current state you would only die quicker.

Ace: What will we do if Metashi finds us; we need to act before he dose!

Kito: Is this guy always this impulsive?

Eva: Unfortunately, yes.

Kito: So…you gonna untie me?

Eva: No.

(That night Eva and Hansel take turns watching Kito, who is still tied up, while Ace is resting in another room on the ship; but Ace is having trouble sleeping and decides to walk around. While of the deck Ace catches Kito trying to escape over the edge.)

Ace: Where do you think you're going?

Kito: Eh? Sorry but if Metashi finds out I was with you guys he'll cut my head off. But I believe that your crew can help us.

Ace: Not sure how useful I'll be since I couldn't even injure the guy.

Kito: *grin* Do you want to be?

(Meanwhile at Metashi's hideout, the Dragon of Volcano Island has a visitor from the CHESS.)

Metashi: So that guy has the bracelet, what a shocker. Didn't think Eva would let that thing out of her sight. Whoops sorry I forgot, you don't like hearing that name do you; Black Rook?

Black Rook: Look I don't care what you do to the other two, just get that bracelet back and leave Eva for me.

Metashi: I got it, I got it.

Black Rook: Good.

Metashi: Speaking of the traitors and the CHESS, did you find out more information about our second deserter and newest member Black Bishop?

Black Rook: No the other one has completely gone into isolation and dropped out of our sight, and as for Black Bishop; he's been getting too friendly with the enemy recently, twice now he's let our target slip away when it's his job to find the son of Gold Roger. There's something about him I do not trust.

(Back at the ship.)

Ace: What do you mean do I want to get stronger?

Kito: It's just as I said, except there's a catch.

Ace: What kind of catch?

Kito: Let me explain first.

(Kito reaches into his bag and pulls out a fiery red perfectly round fruit with flame like swirls all over it.)

Kito: This is a devil fruit, I was going to eat this so I could stop Metashi, but I'm not willing to go that far. I was watching you fight from a safe distance and I figured you can have it. This Devil Fruit is called the Flame-Flame Fruit, but that's all I know about it. Once you eat this fruit you will no longer have the ability to swim, you will just sink.

Ace: And the catch is?

Kito: If I give you this will you let me join your crew?

Ace: Sure if you want; but why?

Kito: I want to travel, see what there is to see and challenge myself and become stronger.

Ace: Sounds good to me, but let's seal the deal after I beat that Dragon.

Kito: Agreed.

(Ace takes the devil fruit, takes one big bite and swallows the bite it whole. He throws the fruit on the ground and grabs on the guard rail of the ship thinking he might barf because of how awful the fruit tasted.)

Ace: That was the second most disgusting thing I have ever tasted!

Kito: (Confused) What was the first?

Ace: Moving on. So now what?

Kito: Hold out your arm.

(Ace stretches out his arm to Kito.)

Ace: Like this?

Kito: Perfect now just hold still.

(Ace's attention drew to the shore line of the river where he noticed a large bird with pink bushy feathers drinking from the river, and fails to notice Kito drawing his sword and bringing it down on Ace's arm until it was too late.)

Ace: So what are you gonna (shock)

(Out of reflex Ace jumps back but too late as Kito's sword went through Ace's forearm. But instead of blood the place where Kito cut turns to flames instantly then when Kito backs off Ace's arm reforms.)

Ace: (little freaked out) Kito was that supposed to happen?

Kito: Yup, sorry for not mentioning it earlier, but the Devil Fruit you ate was a Logia type.

Ace: …

Kito: It's a type that transforms your body into a certain element, allows you to avoid any attack by just transforming into that element and creating unlimited amount of that element to attack in various different ways. But I have to ask, did you already know about Devil Fruits before entering the Grand Line?

Ace: Yeah my little brother ate one when he was a kid, he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit.

Kito: I have never heard of that one.

Ace: Why did you lie about the fruit? Earlier you said you knew nothing of this fruit, but that was a lie.

Kito: I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you so much before you have decided if you wanted this fruit or not.

Ace: Well okay. But now I need to figure out on how to control my Devil Fruit powers.

Eva: I can help you with that.

(Midday the next day at Metashi's hideout, Metashi is sitting on his favorite comfy chair while holding up two photos. The left photo is of Eva in her female White CHESS clothes with the earring in full view; the right photo is of a woman with straight long pale purple hair with ruby red eyes, she's wearing the female Black CHESS clothes with the Black Knight earring in view.)

Metashi: The two traitors shall soon be punished, but Black Rook is right. If we left Eva go she'll lead us right to the other one; after all those two are the ones who made them.

(Metashi just sits there looking at the pictures when he hears a familiar voice calling him from outside.)

Ace: Come on out Metashi and let's finish what we started!

(Metashi smiles and walks out to face Ace with confidence in his Devil Fruit.)

Metashi: I thought you would have left this island after I beat you.

Ace: Once I face an opponent, I won't run.

Metashi: Oh, how brave; and foolish. That's why you are going to die today.

(Wanting to crush Ace completely Metashi transforms into his hybrid form and launches forward at Ace with his claws out ready to tear him to shreds, but Ace manages to block them again at the same time Metashi pulls out his sword so he can slice him in half, Ace quickly lets go of Metashi's hands and jumps back but not quick enough to avoid the flaming sword which slices through his waist. )

Ace: Man that was close, I really have to hand it to Eva; she's a good teacher.

(A flashback to last night has Ace and Eva standing in the forest with vines all around them.)

Ace: So what's first?

Eva: First you need to learn to transform into your element to dodge attacks.

Ace: And how is this forest supposed to help?

Eva: Like this.

(Eva then takes four sturdy vines and quickly ties each one tightly around each of his limbs to the point where he can't move.)

Ace: Um…is this necessary?

Eva: Now that you can't move, you can't dodge attacks, thus you must rely on your Logia ability to transform into your element which is fire.

Ace: Oh good, cause I was thinking something totally different.

Eva: Shut up.

(Walking over to a pile of rocks, Eva gets a smile on her face and glares at Ace.)

Ace: Uh, what's with that look?

Eva: Training Exercise 1: Elemental Transformation at Will.

(Without warning Eva starts throwing lots of rocks at Ace, and Ace failing to transform.)

Ace: Would you knock it off?

Eva: Your not concentrating, you need to mentally transform into your element!

Ace: HOW!

Eva: What's the point of learning if I have to tell you everything?

Ace: *sigh* You're right, sorry. Just give me a little time to think.

Eva: Alright.

(After sometime, Ace decides to ask Eva some questions.)

Ace: Eva, why do you know so much about Logia types?

Eva: Do you remember nothing from our fight on Jewel Island?

Ace: Barley. All I remember is you kicking my butt so easily with something.

Eva: It was water; I have the Logia element of water. And how I beat you, I was using a blast of my devil fruit attack and I knocked you down, out and gone.

Ace: Wow, how long have you had your power?

Eva: Fifteen years. Now break times over, time to get back to training.

Ace: Wait, I haven't figured anything out!

Eva: Learn through experience!

(Again Eva starts pelting Ace with rocks trying to get him to use his power; when eventually Ace does it. The rocks finally pass through Ace with absolutely no resistance.)

Eva: Looks like you nailed it. But you have to keep it up and separate intervals.

Ace: Huh?

(Now back to present, Ace and hybrid Metashi start fighting and things are going no different than last time. Metashi has the upper hand in physical strength and the scales keeps cutting Ace's skin with every punch he lands. But now Ace is memorizing Metashi's fighting style and is lasting longer than the previous day.)

Metashi: (Grr) I don't know what you've done but play time is over.

Ace: That's just what I was thinking.

(Getting irritated with Ace's persistence, Metashi goes all out and transforms into his Zoan form; a giant red Chinese dragon that makes Metashi's mountain hideout look small in comparison.)

Ace: Wow, now that's…big.

Metashi: Now I will kill you and all who oppose the CHESS!

(Metashi inhales and breathes out a mixture of fire and magma that resembles a raging river that pours over the land, Ace disappears in the fire without so much as a peep; the fire river started to burn everything in its path and starts making its way towards the town. The people hear the eruption caused by the fire river and begin to evacuate to the rivers. As the fire starts burning everything down hill and more; a large light slashed across the land and created a huge gash in the rock that led the fire river into the ocean.)

Kito: That was close; do you think he'll be alright?

Eva: Please, I would never keep anything that could be broken so easily.

Hansel: …

(The battle ground is nothing but a sea of flames and magma with only small bits of rock still visible, and with Ace nowhere to be seen Metashi claims victory. Just to be sure, Metashi starts checking each piece of visible earth until he get to the last one. Metashi walks over towards a pile of rocks looks around them and decides that Ace had died and starts turning away; when out of the rock pile Ace jumps out and clocks Metashi in the chin. Metashi, shocked, manages to keep himself from hitting the ground and stands up to attack; but sees that Ace has only slight burns on his body.)

Metashi: H-how are you alive!

Ace: It was all the training that Eva put me through last night.

(Another flashback to last night, Eva and Ace are at a small volcano like mine field. The area was covered with small volcanoes that shot up eight gallons of lava in a span of 2 seconds every five minutes.)

Ace: You want me to do what!

Eva: Run into those and dodge the magma as it shoots out and make it to the other side, and keep doing this until you come out unscathed.

Ace: …serious?

Eva: Absolutely.

Ace: How is this going to help me control my devil fruit power?

Eva: The power you have is fire, but magma will defeat fire. So the first step is not to rely on that power and learn to dodge your weaknesses. Only then will I show you some tricks to control it.

Ace: Right now I'm not sure whose training is worse, yours or Gramps.

Eva: That's nice, now run.

(Back in the present)

Ace: Thanks to her…"unique" training, I've been able to take you head on!

Metashi: Sounds like you're getting attached to that traitor, but now you're gonna die!

(Metashi's voice got deeper and more menacing as his body changed yet again, but this time his body grows even larger and transforms into a gigantic red Chinese dragon that made Ace look the size of a puppy by comparison.)

Metashi: Now it's your time to die you fool, this is your punishment for getting involved with CHESS!

(Metashi takes deep breath and blows fire out of his mouth, forcing Ace to jump to another visible piece of land only to have Metashi launch another attack. This goes on until Ace reaches the last piece of land that he can jump to, Metashi sees this and decides to swallow Ace whole so he walks up and strikes, but Ace sees the attack coming so he readies his right hand into a fist which starts to glow orange. Metashi opens his mouth wide open and comes in for the kill, but Ace dodges and jumps into the air, aligns himself with Metashi's mouth and yells.)

Ace: FIRE FIST!

(Ace launches a large fire ball from his fist and sends the fire in and down Metashi's throat, which causes him to explode and sends Ace flying where Eva, Hansel and Kito are.)

Eva: Here he comes, Hansel catch him!

(Hansel runs towards where Ace would land and catches him before Ace lands in a lake of burning magma. But the force of impact from the explosion was enough to knock Ace unconscious. Hansel starts heading toward the village to get Ace some help while Kito leads Eva to Metashi's hideout. Along the way Eva keeps using her Devil Fruit powers to cool down and harden the magma that is still burning the island. Three days later Ace finally wakes up in his bed on the ship with Kito standing beside the door and bandages around his torso.)

Ace: What happened?

Kito: Before or after you got knocked out?

Ace: What?

(Confused, Ace tries to get out of bed but his chest starts hurting greatly forcing him to lie back down.)

Ace: What's going on?

Kito: Ace, you felling okay?

Ace: No, my chest hurts so much I can barley breath when I sit up.

Kito: Eva, he's awake!

(Kito walks over to Ace's side when they both hear the sound of Eva's shoes on the move and heading towards them. Eva walks inside with a first aid kit.)

Eva: So he's finally awake. Just in time too.

Ace: What?

Eva: We were just about to leave this island because the log pose changed direction.

Ace: Oh that thing; quick question. Why can't I sit up?

Eva: As you may recall, you defeated Metashi by blowing him up in an inferno and in the process knocked yourself unconscious and broke six ribs. Luckily for you Hansel managed to catch you before you landed in a lake of magma.

Ace: Ha, so I did win.

(Ace manages to sit up a little bit, crosses his arms and smiles proudly at his accomplishment. Eva smiles then slams her right hand down of Ace's bandaged chest and still smile as he screams in pain.)

Ace: What was that for!

Eva: Because of you the red crystal I've been looking for, the one Metashi had in his possession, was lost in a sea of fire and magma! Hansel and I have spent a week searching the whole island for it while you were here recovering!

Ace: Did you find it?

Eva: Yes, we had a bit of luck when Hansel found it underneath a rock.

Ace: See, all is well.

Eva: I'm starting to hate that laid back attitude of yours.

Kito: Um, I hate to interrupts this little spat but I just have one question. Where is Hansel?

(Kito and Ace look around to room and they feel that the ship has already been moving when the ship sways to the left a little too hard.)

Eva: Does that answer your question? Since the log pose had set towards the next island, I had Hansel get the ship ready to sail.

(The ship sways roughly to the right.)

Ace: Can Hansel steer a ship?

Eva: It's good enough.

(The ship sways roughly to the left.)

Eva: Well my turn to take over.

(A little while after Eva leaves the ship stops swaying roughly. Ace manages to stand with Kito's help and they walk to the deck to see Volcano Island almost completely out of view.)

Ace: So are you gonna miss it?

Kito: Huh?

Ace: Your home, are you gonna miss it?

Kito: Maybe, but this was my only chance to get stronger in my own way. And joining you guys is the only way I can think to repay what you did for everyone there.

Ace: Heh, no problem.

Kito: I'm willing to follow you till the bitter end. Captain Ace.

Ace: Till the end Kito.

(Ace and Kito share a handshake but is interrupted by a booming voice that echoes far.)

Eva: Hey what do you idiots think you're doing? If you can walk you can do chores! Hansel you swab the deck, Kito start cleaning the inside and Ace since your injured you get the dishes, now move it!

Hansel comes out with a mop and bucket, Ace and Kito head inside. Above them, flying on a tamed Dragon, Black Rook looks down at the ship while thinking back to meeting Zero at Loguetown. Zero enters an abandoned condo that is scheduled for demolishment and out of the shadows appears Black Rook. And throughout the whole conversation Zero keeps his smile and polite way of talking.)

Zero: Glad you got my message Black Rook.

Black Rook: What the hell is this all about? And it better be good for calling me way out here from the Grand Line!

Zero: Calm down, it is. I found the person that the King wants to join us.

Black Rook: The son of the Pirate King, he actually exists?

Zero: Of course. Don't believe me, then why don't you test him?

Black Rook: Do I look like a pawn to you!

Zero: Not at all. If you were a pawn then you wouldn't stand a chance against him in the fists place would you? No, I chose you because your raw strength will be enough to prove how powerful this man is.

Black Rook: Is this clown really worth all this trouble?

Zero: But of course, it is all necessary to test him, to see if he is worthy enough to join our ranks and fill the spot that the other abandoned. But that is only if he agrees; if not, then I will have to kill him for knowing our organization exists.

Black Rook: Cruel and yet at the same time so polite and direct. I can't help but not like you.

Zero: Well you are entitled to your opinion, there's just one more thing that I wish for you to take care of.

Black Rook: What is it?

Zero: You remember Eva don't you?

(Just hearing that name makes Black Rook clench his fist very tightly and start grinding his teeth.)

Zero: I figured so. Well the traitor is traveling with our supposed son of the pirate king, but I predict that she might have the other traitor join her crusade for revenge.

Black Rook: She's back in the Grand Line? Get out of my way Black Bishop, that b*tch is going to die for what she has done to me!

(Black Rook started to walk to the exit but Zero stood in his way and still with a smile on his face.)

Zero: Now, now. You know the rules, before you can attack a former member you must ask the King for permission. I recommend you wait and bide your time, and on another note, aren't your two pawns already stationed on key points of the Grand Line?

Black Rook: You want them to try and take Eva out?

Zero: Of course not, I just think that those two have out lived their usefulness in this game and that the pawns must be sacrificed in order to test your opponent's strategy.

Black Rook: Your sick man, you know that right?

Zero: So will you test out Mr. Portgas D. Ace?

Black Rook: Fine!

Zero: Just enough to influence him and not to kill him okay?

Black Rook: Right, right I got it.

Zero: Well farewell for now.

Back Rook: I know you have already become good friends with this Portgas D. Ace. What's your reason for trying to be his friend?

Zero: (laugh) Unknown to Portgas D. Ace; we have an unbreakable bond, but if I tell you what that is… (Smile and Glare) I will have to kill you.

(Back at the present Black Rook flies off with no one but Hansel watching him.)

Black Rook: That man is not to be trusted.

(Black Rook pulls out his Den-Den Mushi and a small black one to keep people from listening in and makes a call.)

Black Rook: It's me I've called to make my report. Eva has taken Metashi's piece and is traveling with the son of the pirate king who I've learned is Portgas D. Ace, and two others; Hansel and the swordsman who was Metashi's underling. What are your orders King?

King: Make sure they arrive at the Island of Screams.

Black Rook: Yes sir. (Hangs up.)

(In a dark room with only one lit candle shows a3D chess board on a large rectangular stone table. A black clothed hand picks up the white queen piece and knocks over a pawn on the second row and places it in that spot. All but one pawn has been knocked over and the hand puts a name on the white king piece. ACE.)

King: Now, let's see. Are you as fun as Roger? Portgas D. Ace.

To Be Continued…