"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice"

Chapter 11: Pinky Promise!

Muttering incoherently under her breath, Sky tried moving. It didn't work. The headache was killing her; it felt as if it was trying to split open her head. She made a mental note to never ever get dead drunk again.

Orange juice seemed like a much safer choice. She imagined the crew and Pops laughing at her childish choice of drink.

Maybe she should just go some water. However, something was weighing her whole body down, as she lay immobilised amongst hangover pirates.

It gave her a chance to think of her new status as a pirate. Thinking of Luffy and Zoro. Were they doing well?

Luffy must be thinking I would definitely join his crew now. The mark was as clear as ever on the back of her palm, staring back at her. She sighed – it wasn't a sad one, just a normal exhalation of air.

Funny how things turned out…

Ace gave a light snore. She could easily turn into her cloud for to get out but seeing his peaceful face she knew she would feel bad afterwards. His whole body was dead upon her, although she wasn't crushed underneath him.

"Luffy..." He murmured. Sky smiled fondly, since she didn't want to wake him up from his slumber, it was best she went back to sleep. Since her right arm was free from his weight, she played with a few strands of his hair, having fun for a while in that way to entertain herself. Ace suddenly rolled sideways but dragged her along, his arms in a deadlock around her waist. Her face was now pressing against his chest, making her able to hear his steady heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump…

"Argh you Bakahead."

She was now lying on top of him, and she could feel the rising heat emitting from him. He was made of fire after all. A permanent contented look was etched on his face. It felt nice to be warm in the chilly morning, so Sky made no attempt to move. It wasn't like she could wriggle out of his grasp anyway.

Bored, she managed to climb up from the dead lock, examining the freckles on his face. Luffy didn't have freckles.

She was terribly thirsty however, and licked her chapped lips automatically. Being so close proximity to Ace gave her no qualms still.

Ace felt a slight brush of a tongue on his collarbone, sending chills up his spine. He was too tired to investigate.

By the time he fully awoke, Sky had already given up and gone back to sleep. Fully aware of the situation he was in, Ace chuckled and entangled himself from the skinny girl. She refused to let go.

"It's warm."

His body felt all hot and bothered (he should just get a shirt... The previous ones had all been burnt to crisps, unfortunately).

She was his nakama!

Too intimate...

Any closer his head tilted forward it would satisfy all his mindless inner arguments. He gently ruffled her cropped hair, taking care to disturb her slumber. If he went even closer...

His gentleman instinct chided him but his reckless pirate one cheered him on.

Who cares if you're drunk?

His lack of experience was all his little brother's fault. What else would you think of if you had to constantly save him? His mind was going crazy again - going as far as to blame his brother...Her head moved, tickling his neck.

Sky's cute expression was very distracting.

"Oh god, just kiss her if you like her so much." Thatch grumbled, holding his head up to get out of his hangover daze.

Silence was his only reply.

"Damn he has a hell lot of patience with that kid."

An extremely blaring horn broke the morning peacefulness. Ace scowled.

"MARINES SOUTH-WEST AHEAD!"

Flicking a random snot away, Whitebeard got up with no sense of urgency. "At this time? Those young brats sure are feisty." Climbing to the ship front with surprising speed, the captain stood, looking carefully at the oncoming Marine fleet.

"What should we do, Pops?" Marco was at his side within seconds, remaining a stoic expression. The Moby Dick was comparably bigger than most of the ships, but being outnumbered didn't even make them flinch. Not at all.

"They aren't here to attack us today." He only said knowingly.

An intimidating admiral was there, tall and ready, his white coat of justice fluttering behind him. The guns were not raised, however. Holding up a single wanted poster, he barked orders to his men to not let their guard down.

"Does one of your crew go by the name of Sky?" The coldness of his voice washed over the whole Moby Dick, sending tiny chills over the less experienced. Whitebeard chuckled darkly.

Raising a fist, he countered, "If so…?"

"You do know it is an intolerable crime to hide those who may have been related to Gol D. Roger. I'm sure you are familiar with that name, Whitebeard." The admiral was taunting, threatening but it did not have an effect on the strongest man in the sea.

"Aren't we already classified criminals, eh?" Marco humoured him.

Whitebeard spotted his daughter stand right in front of him, her fists balled up.

"I heard you were looking for me." She was uncharacteristically aloof, and Ace wondered if she switched personalities.

"In the name of justice, all evil must be perished." He eyed her like she was a piece of rotten meat, ready to be thrown away. Clenching her teeth, the grip on her revolver tightened. Then she realised it was no use getting hot-headed. That was what he wanted her to be in the first place. Her anger was replaced with unreadable smugness.

"Absolute justice? Absolute evil? Do you think either is possible?" Marco gaped at her.

"First we must destroy the seed." Blatantly ignoring her remark, he said it in an ominous, hard tone.

"Who do you think I am?"

Putting the poster even higher up in the air for all to see, he revealed his purpose. "The daughter of Sophie Blue, the only living descendent from Gol D Roger's crew!"

Before Sky could even fit a word in, someone said bitterly, "Rubbish. So to be involved with anything to do with Roger is a sin, huh?" Whitebeard shot Ace warning glances which he failed to notice.

Pulling up his sleeves, the admiral acknowledged that, saying "That is correct, fire-fist Ace."

"I think you'd better leave," A single flame lit up on Ace's finger, "Or you might find yourself stranded in the sea." Many of the lower-ranking marines gulped. Whitebeard would have punched that reckless son of his if Sky didn't spoke up.

"Hmm? I don't know any Sophie." She said mildly, admiring the revolver in her hands. The admiral never believed her for a second, taking an even firmer stand.

"The only family I have is around me now." Having a lack of evidence to arrest her right there and then, and not having enough resources to take on the Whitebeard crew, the admiral wisely headed on their way.

"We'll see." The ship took its leave, with the admiral flinging the poster down into the sea. It floated gently around, before a giant fish gobbled it up unknowingly.

"I wish you'd shut your arrogant trap." A certain tattoo artist had found her way beside Sky, coolly making her presence.

Looking a little astonished, Sky's eyes sparkled. "Nicole…"

"What?"

"YOU'RE SO COOL!"

"… Yeah right…"

"And you!" She stepped on his foot – hard.

"Ouch! What the hell!"

He just tried to save her and she returned the favour by humiliating him? Nice.

"You reckless idiot! And I don't want a dead Ace! I want a living, breathing one!" It took a full minute to register what she just said. There she was standing there, with her silver streaks illuminating in the sunlight, telling her that she worried for him. Of course Ace thought she was joking.

"I won't die that easily!" He snorted, looking a little stung as she underestimated his abilities.

"What are you crying for?!"

"But Ace, I thought you died…"

"You idiot, how could I leave my little brother and die? I promise. I'll never die."

"Pinky promise?"

Realising her grey eyes bore into his skull, he said resolutely, "Pinky promise," sticking out his little finger to hook with hers.

"And…you're just saying that because nobody else tolerates your idiotic nonsense."

Ace looked through half-lidded eyes, preparing for a fist to come in contact with his face.

Nothing…?

"Hmm, okay." Amazingly, she was already half-dragging a protesting Nicole to see the new fish king she caught.

Stunned, Ace turned towards Marco and Whitebeard for much-needed advice. "I really need… a devil fruit to read minds."

"Kiddo, I'm sure what is in her mind is exactly the same as what comes out."

Watching the naive pirate girl tentatively poke the flapping fish king's eyeball, he sighed audibly.

"You're probably right."


I wonder if you people actually like this fic... But I'll continue it anyway :) xx