Letters from Ace

Responses to Love

Dear Vivi,

I'm sorry but continuing to use our pen pal names while addressing each other seems rather … pointless. I'll still sign as my name so no worries if you get busted. I trust Hermes though. I don't think he'd let our letters get intercepted. I just wanted to let you know I have reached my next destination safely and that I'm rather bored. I find it hard to stay awake while eating here and Herms eats all my jerky. I had my back turned yesterday and he managed to deplete my entire stock of beef jerky in the span of a few minutes. It's nice to send this letter to get him to work out a bit. He's been gaining weight at least a little more than I think is healthy for him. That and it keeps him away from my stock of jerky.

My letters will start coming slower now. I have a lot of ground to make up and that includes missing sleep and some meals. I'm sorry but I won't have time to focus on letters as often as we used to. I've lost count of how many we've exchanged. I could count yours and that would tell me. I have them all saved and stashed away under my hat. That's not creepy is it? I find myself missing you as well… I hope I can keep on my promise soon but it doesn't look like I will be able to for a while.

I would love to hear from you soon but I think it would be best if you hung on to Herms for a few weeks before returning a letter. Be sure to tell me all the details of what's going on and how you are turning down that loser suitor. And give Herms something to do. I don't think he likes being used as strictly a way for us to communicate. I've been making him collect food for me and scout, he seems to enjoy that.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Yours truly,

The greatest hero of them all,

Hercules

She smiled at the letter before tucking it into a box under her bed along with the rest of Ace's letters that he had sent to her. She found her heart thrumming in her chest wildly as feelings she wasn't sure she wanted to feel began to surface. Yes she liked him, but that didn't mean anything. Yes he had asked her not to get married to anyone, but that didn't mean much either. He could have asked her that simply because he wanted to support her goal now. Sure she liked him and he missed her, but that didn't mean anything was coming out of this relationship. Even as she was thinking about him now he could be in some tavern somewhere talking to a whore to bed for the night.

Herms cooed from his perch on the window. He hopped nimbly off and landed on her bed with ease. He curled up near her feet and let out a soft purring noise and as soon as she felt the vibrations on her feet she felt relaxed. Dragon's didn't hang around just any ordinary person; they picked people for their character, for their morals. This dragon wouldn't agree to exchange letters between them if Ace was just playing with her in some way. Even if that was his 'intent' at first. Was that ever his intent or was it just hers? Why would one person travel that distance just for sex if they could get it elsewhere easily? Hermes's purr at her feet grew louder.

He loved her?

The world grew deathly silent as the realization sunk in true. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she struggled to find some refuting evidence, something to make her doubt this realization, this epiphany.

They barely knew each other.

That's why he wrote her exactly 17 letters before he came to see her. That was enough writing to get to know a person and she hadn't exactly hid any information from him.

He kissed her first that night.

No that was a lie, she had kissed him first. He had waited until she asked for things to make any sort of move on her. She felt her face get hot and tears form on her face. She couldn't love a pirate; it was not part of her dream country. She had to marry a sturdy man that would help enrich and help make this country a better place. A pirate did not fulfill that role.

Then why did her heart pound loudly in her chest whenever she saw a golden gleam on the horizon? Why did seeing the small dragon curled around her feet make her think of a man who was probably thousands of miles away? Why did the smell of campfires bring back the memory of his face?

Why was she asking questions that were regarding her feelings and not his?

Because she loved him.

"You play with fire and you get burned," she whispered to herself as the small dragon closed his eyes peacefully.

()()()()()()()()()

"What the hell?" Fire Eyes growled as he collided into his chest. He loved touching Fire Eyes, his whole body radiated warmth and was very inviting, it was nice for him to curl up and nap there after a long flight. Only this time Fire Eyes did not seem happy to see him and pulled him off his chest to hold him in his hands before him.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded but he didn't expect a real answer. He looked at the messenger's leg expectantly. Sighing, the dragon stuck out his leg obediently, and his leg was immediately assaulted for the piece of paper that was tied there.

"I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore. Love, Vivi," he whispered out loud as he studied the piece of paper.

He knew his human should be sad. The princess had been beside herself while writing that one line. She had instructed him to never to return but he didn't really care what she said, she wasn't the one he was bound to. If Fire Eyes wanted him to return he would. It wasn't like she had told Fire Eyes to never write back again.

Fire Eyes wasn't sad though. He had a small smile on his lips and gave the messenger a piece of jerky, which of course he devoured in a blink of an eye. His Fire Eyes looked resolved, as his face blushed with realization at something.

He had been expecting a more dramatic scene, like things being tossed and burned. He was surprised at the deadly calm that radiated off his human. It was almost like he was getting ready for a big fight.

"She loves me," he whispered before stroking his chin thoughtfully. "What do you say Herms?"

And he knew what he meant. He chirped loudly to show his approval before happily crawling unto his human's shoulder, his favorite resting place.

It was a matter of seconds before his human was busy scrawling on a sheet of paper before giving him another piece of jerky. It was hours later before he took to the air again, a return letter safely tucked on his leg.

()()()()()()()()()()

Princess,

Stop being scared. You can't push me away just because you are scared that you love me. Deny it all you want but it's true, you even wrote it in your last letter. I'm not asking for a commitment or marriage, so don't worry about your country getting involved with this. I don't think they'll ever know. I can be the sneaky thief in the night and be just your lover. I can be whatever you want me to be in all honesty.

If, of course, you genuinely don't want me to return any more letters than by all means I won't do so. That is if of course. I won't fight for you, or for us. This will probably be the most forward I will be because I'm giving you a chance. Return a letter if you want, if not, send Herms back. I could use his help, because he's a really good scout.

I have other things to do than sit here and convince you to love me. Just like I'm sure you have other things you need to do to like avoid getting married and running your country. I hope you trust me enough to know that I won't ever get in the way of that, if that is what you are worried about.

Enclosed, I'm sure you've already found it, is a small present. I've made you something. I hope you like it. Keep it even if you don't want to continue writing me. A fire that burns within your heart and a pirate flag within that. I know you are stubborn, and if you have made up your mind to shut me out that is what you will do. I just want you to know something before you do that… which hopefully you haven't already.

I'll write this plainly once but I'm never saying it again. I love you, Vivi.

Yours Truly,

Ace

In her hand a piece of glass glittered brightly under the light of the fire. It was red and smooth and had a tiny hole on the top of it to link to a necklace. It had hints of red in its clear texture. The pendant was probably smaller than her pinky toe's nail, but it was beautiful none the less. She stared at the symbol and ran her fingers over it carefully, remembering its shape and texture. The pendant was of a fire, and in the middle of the fire was a flag with a pirate skull embroidered in it.

He knew her well. She released a breath she hadn't been aware that she had been holding as tears spilled from her eyes. What was it that she wanted? It was in the open now, this forbidden emotion she felt for him and he returned the feeling. Did she want to keep dragging this out? Did she want to close her heart to love that she so desperately wanted? Did she want the impending danger of heart break? Could she handle it if the Marines caught him or if something terrible happened to him?

Her thoughts began to hurt her head as she clutched the fragile pendant in her hand. Her other hand was wrinkling the corner of her letter from her tight grip. She took a deep breath. She folded the letter neatly before stashing it away in a convenient loose floorboard under her bed along with her other letters from Ace.

Her hands shook as she placed the beautiful pendant in a silky container and placed it on top of her dresser. She would have to get a good chain to place that on. She smiled at the sleeping dragon on her bed and moved him slightly so she could lie down without crushing him. She would let him rest a few days before she thought of writing a return letter.

()()()()()()()()

Sleep became harder with every passing day. His body was so anxious he couldn't even rest at the random moments like he used to. It had been three weeks. Three weeks and he had not heard a word from her. He tried not to think about how he missed his dragon companion as he traveled from island to island.

This wasn't fair, Hermes was his dragon. She didn't have any right to keep him for so long. He sighed as he remembered that he had in fact told her to keep him for a few weeks. Instead of honing his focus he was now bitterly fighting with his thoughts every second of the day to not think about her and try and get some work done. Interrogating people didn't go nearly as smoothly when a flash of gold would speed up his heartbeat, or a chirp of a bird would leave him straining his ears for a more familiar chirp.

He tried to relax. Hermes hadn't returned yet, that was a sign that either she had captured the dragon against his will or she was writing a return letter. He highly doubted she would capture Hermes. She would feel too bad for keeping a free spirit captured. He tried to let that ease his mind but found it wasn't doing much to help him. He began to pace in his free time, and brood while he ate meals.

Then one day, a month after his last letter, he saw a glint of gold on the horizon. He smiled as a small warm ball of feathers collided with his chest and purred loudly. He didn't demand the letter that was strapped to the dragon's leg right away. He enjoyed the embrace with the small dragon, and laughed as Hermes rough tongue licked his face.

"I had missed you too. I was starting to get worried," he stroked the dragon's chin, as his other hand lowered to the dragon's leg and pulled off the letter with ease.

He pried it open as the dragon crawled to his usual spot on his shoulder. His eyes narrowed at the top of the page for a moment before his smile spread to his whole face.

"What took you so long Herms?" he asked the dragon as he folded the letter neatly into his pocket. The dragon however was already snoring peacefully and chewing on a piece of jerky it had stolen from his pocket without his notice.

"Why did she date this letter but none of the others?" he mumbled to himself finding a nice tree to lean up against. He unfolded the letter again, studying it once more before his body fell into a deep sleep.

Next to him the letter ruffled in the wind, threating to blow away. Ace's hand clutched it tighter without waking.

July 17th in the year of the 9th dragon

Hercules,

It was good to see you fight even in writing for our feelings. You contradict yourself when saying you shall never fight for us. It's okay if you never do again. It was just nice to see you attempt this one time. I'm sorry for the delay in sending this letter after I write it. I'm sure you'll be far enough to where it might take Hermes a week or so to find you and we both know he is a fast flyer. Don't blame the little one. I have been using him to spy on my 'suitor' which is actually a bit hard to do at first.

I find myself loathing this man of great character my father has picked. A long time general in the army and devoted native has nothing to do with my feelings for him. If I give up this fight this man will surely kill me to get an absolute power over the throne. I cannot allow that to happen, for the sake of this country as well as myself. Even if a man is born somewhere it does not mean he is devoted to that country.

He has been attempting to court me. The other day he took me out for a stroll among the garden. I don't really regret what I did, for I may or may not have pushed said suitor into a fountain and then spent the day in a poor city working on a well system. He was a bit too forward and tried to plant a kiss on me while saying something along the lines of how lucky it was to be born into the throne. He's not see through at all. Can you tell if that is sarcasm? I find it hard to tell over writing. In case you didn't get that he is very see through.

I find myself often thinking of the two days and night we spent together. It gives me strength to continue even if your next visit is far off into the future. I think I have adapted part of my goal to refusing this marriage for you. So that someday in the future, no matter how far off it may be, I have that choice of seeing you again. The choice to freely love you without any consequences, I know that will never happen so it'd have to be in secret but it's still a comforting thought.

Hermes has been following my suitor. We've developed a whistle system so that he can tell me how many steps from a certain area the man has been within the palace. A different whistle for whatever city he has been in, and clicks for people. It is very effective now but it was hard to develop at first. I'm sure you could use this for him as well.

A man is two clicks, a woman one. Depending on the city he whistles the amount of syllables so that it sounds like it. Numbers go from short whistles to long depending on the number used. Short is normally referring to 10 or more and he will use it rapidly to say how many steps. Long whistles are a mile or more.

I'm not sure if that helps so that you can use Herms that way as well. I'm sure you guys could develop your own system I just thought this would be helpful.

I hope to hear back from you soon but I know it would probably be best to continue our system of every few weeks. I don't think Hermes can handle flying such distances over the Grand Line without a few breaks in between. He is small after all. Hold on to him for at least two weeks before writing back.

Until then, you are in my thoughts, and I wait eagerly for your next reply.

Love,

Vivi

A smile was pressed on Ace's lips as he pulled the letter closer to his sleeping body. It smelled like her.


A/N: I am so pleased with the reviews this story is getting. You guys are the best :). Also I am in the middle of drawing two pictures for this story. One of Hermes/Herms and one of Ace and Vivi together. I'm going to post that on my DA account and if you guys are interested please let me know. I'll gladly post a link in the next chapter and there is a link to my DA account on my profile ;). This story is wrapping up, but I want to say something first. I'm not going to follow the manga but notice this is still under tragic... I will have a somewhat similar ending that I'm sure most of you are going to hate me for... With that being said I hope you guys enjoy this story so far and like the ending I have planned. Until next time,

Oceanwind