Chapter 11: The Challenge

"Well, well, look who's getting better!" Ace panted as he looked up at Erisa who was also panting due to all of the dodging and having to constantly be using her Devil Fruit.

Hh, even though it's only her second day of training she's actually catching on quite fast. Looks like I underestimated her. Ace thought as he looked over at Erisa who was, even though they were supposed to be taking a break, still practicing.

It had been a couple days since the time that he and Marco had brought Erisa and Victoria onto the ship, and yet in that short amount of time Ace was already finding himself smiling whenever he saw Erisa, for reasons he couldn't really place. But as for Victoria he was OK with the fact that he didn't see her much.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Erisa said, making Ace realize that he had been staring at her. He noticed that her face had turned a light shade of red as she started to worry if something was wrong with her.

"No, it's nothing. I was just sorta spacing out," Ace said awkwardly to Erisa, making her raise her eyebrow.

Aw man! I do have something on my face! He just doesn't want to tell me. Erisa said as she looked at him with a sigh.

"I'll be back!" Erisa yelled at Ace, huffing to herself as she walked to the bathroom to go see what he was staring at.

What's going on with me today? Why do I keep staring at her? It must be all the heat from the sun. Ace concluded to himself as he took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his face.

"Hh, well besides the fact of me being all sweaty and crud, I don't see anything," Erisa said out loud as she looked at her tan reflection and her brown curls tied roughly back in a messy ponytail in the small bathroom mirror.

Well, maybe he was just looking at you. A small voice said in the back of Erisa's mind, making her heart beat faster at the thought of this. Erisa quickly shook her head at the thought of this.

Ha! Yeah, like I would even have a chance at that! Erisa thought as she stared harder at her reflection in the mirror.

After all, I'm no Victoria. Erisa thought as she stood back so that she could see her whole body in the mirror.

And besides, Ace is just a friend! I mean, he is attractive...Erisa thought as her mind started playing back the incident in the men's washroom, before Erisa quickly stopped her mind from going any further.

Just friends. Erisa concluded as she left the bathroom and headed back to where her and Ace were training.

"You sure took your time," Ace said, grinning as he saw Erisa's face scrunch up in irritation.

"Let's just get back to practice!" Erisa said as she took her stance against Ace.

"You know, I think it's time we move on from the basics. No more fireballs," Ace said to Erisa who couldn't help but feel disappointed when hearing this.

"Of course we move on! Now that I'm better than you." Erisa thought she said under her breathe, but knew Ace heard when he suddenly gave her a grin.

"Better than me? And when was this established?" Ace said as he lit his hands with fire.

"Since last time when I blew you through the training cabin!" Erisa said laughing as she recalled that memory, making Ace's eyes twitch with irritation.

"That was a lucky shot. That won't ever happen again," Ace said to Erisa, getting more and more agitated as he saw Erisa still laughing at what had happened.

"Prove it," Erisa said grinning over at Ace, who's eyes seemed to now light up at the sound of a challenge.

"Ok, you're on. And if I win you have to be my servant girl for a day," Ace said to Erisa, expecting her to back down for the fear that she might lose.

"You know same goes to you if you lose?" Erisa stated as she placed her hands on her hips, trying not to let the smugness show in her face.

Looks like now I get to test Victoria's idea today. Erisa thought to herself as she remembered the conversation they had before they went to bed one night...

"Hey, Erisa? You awake?" Victoria said as she shook a sleeping Erisa who woke up startled.

"Yeah, now I am. What's wrong?" Erisa said, turning over in the bed to face Victoria.

"I just thought of an idea to try on your Devil Fruit abilities next time you spare with our flaming cowboy," Victoria said excitedly.

"Really? I've been thinking of some things too, but nothing good," Erisa said as she thought of all of her failed ideas with a long sigh.

"Instead of reflecting his moves back at him, why don't you send a shield towards him as an offensive move?" Victoria said, looking at Erisa who was now a little lost.

"What do you mean?" Erisa said to Victoria, feeling confused as she tried to picture the whole thing in her head with no luck.

"Send one of your shields flying towards him. And since your shields make objects bounce off in order to protect you it will be the same. Though, instead of someone's attack bouncing off, you will actually be sending him flying back!" Victoria said to Erisa, feeling quite proud as she saw Erisa grin at her.

"You're a genius! Why didn't I think of that!?" Erisa said as she reached over to hug her friend.

"You're pretty cocky for someone who is still getting to know their Devil Fruit!" Ace said as he suddenly sent flames flying towards Erisa.

"Goei Goei Block!" Erisa yelled, grinning. A large shield appeared in front of her that protected her as not even the heat from Ace's flames touched her.

"Goei Goei Push!" Erisa yelled, deciding that it was time that she made the returning attack instead of just deflecting and sending back Ace's own attacks.

Ace moved just in time as a red shield was sent flying towards him at a quick speed, making him feel thankful of his fast reflexes.

I might have missed this time. But how about now! Erisa thought. She this time whispered "Goei Goei shield" and pointed her hands in the air above Ace, sending a large shield cutting through the air as it landed directly on top of him.

"ACE!" Erisa yelled out, running over to him.

Damn it, I went overboard again! Erisa thought to herself as she ran over to Ace.

Suddenly flames erupted from him, sailing up towards the sky. They sent Erisa flying backwards on the deck floor.

Before she could even get up, Ace was standing over her, his fists covered in flames as he pointed his flames towards Erisa with a grin.

"Game. I win...servant girl," Ace said triumphantly as he looked into Erisa's glaring eyes. He then put out his flames and pulled her from the deck floor.