All rights to One Piece goes to Eichiro Oda! OC's belong to me!

Sorry Mina! I know I took awhile, but I became discouraged after someone posted a comment that they hated the story, only once they reached chapter 37. It mad me sad and not want to write any longer. I know my story can be very mary sue-ish at times, but I did not make Crystal without her flaws, or anyone else for the matter. I created Crystal with how I, note 'I', wanted her to be like, not anyone else. I will not change my character just because someone wants to complain after reading the whole story.

If you do not like my story, please do not read. This is for people who like to read these kind of stories. I could care less if you don't like it, but I like to hear from those that do enjoy my story.

Another point, don't post on the comments with a long paragraph that you don't like the story, that is plain rude and disrespectful, and you can make a person not want to write from saying those kind of things. I'm sure there are other stories out there for you to read, so don't hate on mine when you can read those.

The only reason why I continued to write was because there were others who wanted me to continue. Along with valancia who was nice enough to prove to those who thought it was all mary sue, that it truly wasn't.

Do not misunderstand, I love to hear from people about what they think about it, but if you're just going to hate, disrespect, and dis my story, do not read, do not comment, and definitely do not do so to other stories.

R&R

Crystal could feel the emptiness fill around her; surround her in its cold void. She felt like she was drifting in a sea of emptiness, with nothing and no one around her. She tried to move her finger, but could hardly blink with how heavy she felt.

So this is what it's like to die… She thought to herself, closing her eyes peacefully.

"Wake up!" Ace shouted, shaking Crystal's limp body in his arms.

"Ace," Marco said, laying his hand on Ace's shoulder.

Tears fell on her cheeks as Ace looked down at her sadly, hugging her close to his body as he began to rock slowly. Her blood seeped over his chest and down onto the ground.

"Onee-chan…" Mamoru hiccupped as he stared at his sister sadly.

"No," Sakura said shaking her head defiantly.

"I win!" Akito laughed manically. He stared down at them with raw, evil victory plain on his face. "I knew she would never defeat me!"

"My baby," Rin said, crawling over to Crystal as Ace lay her down onto the floor.

Rin brushed Crystal's hair out of her face, and wept over her daughter who risked her life for them. She lay her head down on Crystal's stomach, letting her tears run with her daughter's blood to the ground.

"You will pay for this." Whitebeard said, tears running down his face.

Pirate and Marine's alike looked up at Akito with raw hate, more determined now than ever to defeat him.

"We may not have liked or agreed with Crystal, but that doesn't mean you could have killed her in such a horrible way." Smoker growled at them.

"I thought Marine's hated pirates!" Akito scoffed at them.

"We do," Kizaru hummed. "But she was willing to help us with our goal."

"So you were using her?" Akito raised an eyebrow.

"In a way yes." Aokiji nodded. "But she was willing to be used."

"Oh, well." Akito shrugged, looking down at them with a smirk. "It's just one less pirate on the seas."

"Usually we would agree." Garp said, taking a step forward.

"But now you don't?" Akito laughed.

"No, I don't!" Garp shouted glaring at him. "She was my granddaughter!"

"You're granddaughter! HA!" He scoffed, glaring at Garp. "She was my daughter! And she belonged to me! She was supposed to be my ultimate weapon!"

"Shut up," Ace growled, standing up.

"What?" Akito asked, turning his glare on Ace.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Ace shouted, glaring back at Akito with tears still running down his face. "She belonged to no one! She used her power for good! And you couldn't handle that!"

"Annoyed little bastard." Akito cursed.

Akito snapped his fingers, sending slashes of darkness towards Ace. Marco tackled Ace to the floor in time for the slashes to miss and hit the ground behind them.

"Are you an idiot? Crystal didn't die for you to die right after her!" Marco yelled, punching Ace in the jaw.

"Ace, I know it's hard on you right now. But we have to finish this." Thatch said softly, trying to get Ace to focus. "For Crystal."

Ace looked at everyone as they stood there watching Akito. He rubbed his jaw and stood up, wiped the tears from his eyes, and clenched his fists as he stared at Akito with pure hatred.

"You aren't winning this." Ace told Akito fiercely.

"Oh? And why's that?" Akito asked teasingly, as if they were all children who didn't know better.

"Can't you see?" Takeru asked, standing up. He pulled his arms out to either side of him, indicating to everyone behind him. "Crystal has brought everyone together. She has changed all of us some how. Whether we will like her or not afterwards, that doesn't matter right now. Because right now, she brought us all here so we can defeat you."

"You won't be able to defeat my army!" Akito growled.

"What army? You took them out to get to Crystal's family, remember?" Shichiro growled back.

Akito looked at everyone, seeing no one that was on his side before. He looked at his own family who were now glaring at him as if he was someone they no longer cared about. His pride and victory decreased quickly as fear pricked inside of him, seeing that though he took down Crystal, there were now hundreds more to take care of that wanted revenge for what he did to her.

"Y-You don't scare me!" He faltered, pointing his finger at them.

Ace threw a giant wave of fire at Akito, tired of his accusations that were soon faltering. Akito flew into the air quickly, using the darkness to deflect gravity around him and keep him there, looking down at everyone.

"We're ending this!" Whitebeard growled.

Chopper picked Crystal up and away from the group and towards the ships, the only place he could think that would keep her body from any more harm. He gave her one last look before biting a rumble ball and quickly changing into his monster form that roared in anger at Akito.

Whitebeard slammed his fist into the air, sending a powerful quake at Akito and sending him flying. Chopper acted quickly and slammed a hand into Akito, sending him into a wall painfully. The attacks sent the crowd into a rage as they charged towards Akito, ready to attack him with whatever they had left in them.

Akito growled and slammed his fists into the wall behind him, making the darkness seep out from the cracks and absorb into his body. He growled as he hunched over. His body began to grow as his muscles bulged out and enlarged, his whole body becoming muscular as he glared at all of them, eyes flashing a deadly red.

"What the…" Sabo shouted, grabbing a sword on the ground and stopping.

"He's becoming desperate!" Rin shouted to everyone. "Keep attacking! He's using his last resort!"

His skin turned to black as it made him turn into a shadow with red eyes. Webbed wings with spikes at the end, exploded from his back, flapping desperately against his weight and lifting him into the air.

"A demon!" A Marine shouted in fear.

"It's real! He's truly a demon!" Colby shook in fear, staring up with wide eyes at Akito.

He laughed evilly, his voice more gruff, possessed, and bone chilling than it was before. "Witness my true power! Fear it! Because you will die by it!"

He shot forward, dagger claws flashing in the sunlight as he reared his arm back. He slashed his hand through the air, sending dark slashes at them. Whitebeard hit the air, and deflected it away from all of them, but couldn't dodge in time as Akito sank his claws into his chest.

Whitebeard groaned in pain as blood slipped out of the corner of his mouth. He grabbed Akito's arm and flung him away, but Akito flapped his wings and hovered in the air, licking his claws as if it were covered in frosting.

"I love the taste of blood." Akito hummed in delight. "I wonder if all of yours taste different?"

He flashed his fangs at them, sending a cold chill through all of them, making them froze in place. Ace clenched his fists and set a blazing circle of fire around everyone, snapping them all out of their trance and fear.

"You think that will stop me?" Akito smirked.

He slashed his nails through the air, making the fire diminish quickly as darkness consumed it. He continued as he wiggled his fingers, sending the darkness into some of the nearby people.

"How about a little fun?" Akito laughed.

He moved his fingers as if they were connected to strings, making the pirates and marines the darkness captured, turn and face their own side with their weapons.

"What are you doing?" Garp yelled at them.

"I can't stop," One of them ground out, his fingers gripping the handle of his gun till his knuckles were white.

Each one that the darkness captured, had a gun full of seastone bullets. They pulled them up and aimed them at the others, sending their eyes wide in desperateness. They pulled the trigger simultaneously as the bullets flew through the air.

Ace groaned as a bullet lodged into his shoulder, sending him backwards and into Thatch. Thatch narrowed his eyes at the wound and delved into it, ignoring Ace's cries of pain. He grabbed the bullet quickly and tossed it aside, watching as the wound healed slowly. It would take awhile for that wound to heal, but it was at least healing.

"What out." Thatch whispered to him.

Ace nodded his head and stood up, flicking the blood from his hand. He shouted as he raced towards Akito, his fist and arm covered in flames. Marco flew through the air, changing into his phoenix form, grabbing onto Ace's shoulders.

"Leave these guys to us!" Thatch told them reassuringly.

Ace directed his attention to Akito and lifted his arm covered in flames, feeling Marco's flames join his for the attack. Orange and blue flames licked around one another as Ace shot out his arm, sending the fir towards Akito dangerously, both flames swirling around one another as if in a dance.

Akito broke his concentration from his marionettes and dropped one hand, blocking the flames in his hand. Half of the marionettes dropped exhausted, as if Akito took their energy as he had them in his power. Akito smirked as he lifted the flames in his hand and brought it to his mouth, swallowing it.

"Thanks for the meal." He growled with a smile.

He opened his mouth and shouted, the same flames rushing out of his mouth and towards the two. Marco veered quickly, barely dodging the flames as they circled Akito. Ace dropped out of Marco's reach and landed on Akito's back, feeling instant exhaustion when he made contact.

"Feeling tired boy?" Akito teased. "Careful, people just can't seem to keep their energy around me!" He joked, laughing and sending dark waves away from him.

Ace felt his world tilt as he slipped off of Akito, desperately grabbing his ankle to hang onto. Akito looked down at him curiously, then a smirk appeared on his face as he gazed down at Ace with fascination.

"You have power." Akito said, reaching down and grabbing Ace by the throat.

The rest of the marionettes dropped as Akito used all his attention on Ace, sucking the energy out of him. Ace clenched his teeth, seeing black spots enter his vision. He slammed his fist into Akito's chest, sending an eruption of fire into Akito's body.

Akito screamed out and threw Ace away, making him hit the ground and create a crater. Akito glared down at Ace and lifted his hand, shooting out orbs of darkness that exploded around him. Ace yelled out in pain as he skidded across the ground, unable to gather any more energy.

Are you giving up already?

Crystal snapped her eyes open, looking into the emptiness with shock. Ryuuji stood there in his human form, gazing down at her with hurt and guilt.

Are you giving up? He asked her again.

I can't fight any longer. She told him with a whine. I can't even move my finger.

It's because you are not trying. Ryuuji told her gently.

I have tried! She argued, glaring at him with hurt. You think I would leave my family out there alone on purpose?

You have not used every option. Ryuuji told her cryptically.

What other option do I have? I am already dead. She told him with a sigh.

No, you still have us. Ryuuji told her sternly.

Crystal felt her muscles relax and strength. She opened her eyes and sat up, feeling the water around her run off gently and leave her dry.

You have us. Multiple voices said gently at the same time.

Crystal looked around and saw all the dragons in their silhouettes standing in a circle around her. One by one they changed into their human form and gazed down at her with worry and determination.

Can you count on us? Aoi, Takeru's dragon, asked gently.

Crystal looked at them carefully, feeling their strength leave them and seep into her. She got up shakily and stood on the water just as the dragons were.

What if I don't win this? She asked them skeptically. What if I can't control all of your powers?

You will. You are Hikari No Tenshi. Ryuuji told her. You have always been Hikari No Tenshi. It was just whether you wanted to release that power or not.

What do you want to do? Momo asked quickly.

Crystal closed her eyes and breathed, giving a smile as one by one her family flashed through her eyes, her crew, her friends, and the last being Ace.

I want to protect everyone. She told them warmly. I don't want anyone else to be hurt by Akito.

That is the answer we wanted to hear. They all said at the same time. Call us.

Ryuuji… Crystal began, feeling his energy and power envelope her in its warmth. Momo. Chii. Haru. Saki. Aoi. Midori.

She could feel their power taking over her…no they were filling her. They were giving her their power and strength, giving her all they had to make her the most powerful she could be. It didn't hurt either, it was if It were a soft blanket wrapping around her in an odd sense of protection.

Dai. Chairo. She called the final two feeling her body react automatically to the full power she had.

It seems you have finally awakened me.

Crystal pivoted around and stared at the dragon before her. It shone in the light and was so warm it was as if it was the sun. The white dragon standing before her was greater than anything she had ever seen before.

Shiro. She wasn't sure how she already knew his name. It was as if it reverberated through her body and called into her heart.

He smiled and a white flash enveloped the empty space around her, blinding her and making her close her eyes.

Shouts were heard all around as she felt her wound close itself up, her muscles grow stronger, and her body flow with the power of all the dragons inside of her. She sat up and opened her eyes, looking over the battle field with wide eyes.

Her family, friends, Marines, and everyone else were fighting still, though they were all too tired to fight much more. She looked and saw Ace struggling to stay up, his limbs shaking in exhaustion as he desperately tried to help his comrades.

She stood up, feeling the power swirl around her. Her hair fell out of its ribbon, the wind automatically tying it to her wrist for her. Power swirled around her and slowly went upwards, making her boots, clothes, and accessories disappear as she walked towards the group. In their place stood the light blue summer dress that flowed around her thighs, and tied around her neck.

Her necklace shone brightly as she could feel warmth envelope her and gather into her back, between her shoulder blades. She continued to gently walk forward, her eyes on Akito, waiting for him to spot her and give her the satisfaction of seeing fear on his face.

She heard a gasp, and trailed her eyes down to Sakura and Lily who stood there watching with wide eyes as if they were watching a ghost. She gave them a smile and trailed her eyes back up to Akito.

"Crystal!" Sakura cried out with joy, tears falling down her cheeks.

Everyone turned around quickly, gaping as Crystal continued to walk. The crowd parted as she walked by, watching in amazement as her dress and hair swirled from the non-existent wind, and her feet floated on the ground rather than touched the ground as she walked.

"Crystal," Ace whispered, reaching out towards her.

"THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE!" Akito shouted as he spotted Crystal standing in front of the whole group.

He threw his power forcefully at her, ready to devour the whole group along with her, but his fear was taking over and enveloping the darkness, making it falter a second. The ball exploded, making debris fill the air around them, and giving hope inside his body.

Crystal felt the warmth grow and burst out of her back. Akito's fear rose as his hope dropped out of him. Crystal stood there in front of everyone with pure white wings spread out on either side of her, coming out form her shoulder blades.

"No! No! NOO!" He screamed out, grabbing his head.

"Crystal," Ace whispered again, finding the strength to walk towards her.

Crystal turned, facing Ace with gentle eyes as she gave him a small smile. He pull her close and held her to his body in a death grip.

"Gomene." She whispered into her shoulder, placing her arms under his arms and on his back.

She pulled back and gave him a quick kiss, giving him some energy. She stepped out of his arms and looked at everyone.

"Mina, arigatou." She told them with a smile. "But this will be the end."

They looked at her as if she just said the world was ending right then.

"What do you…" Rin asked.

"I have to end this." Crystal interrupted her. "Please, stay out of the way and stay safe."

Ace reeled back as if she was betraying him. Her words stung as they hit everyone with force.

"You can't possibly mean you're doing this alone?" Sabo shouted at her in anger.

He tried to take a step and grab her, but her wings outstretched, sending him a step backwards from the force of the wind.

"I can't let you get hurt anymore than you already are." She told them sadly.

She turned her back on them and took a step forward, feeling the wind rise underneath her, ready to pull her up into the sky.

"Crystal! Wait!" Takeru shouted, trying to reach his sister.

Crystal ignored him as her wings flapped powerfully, shooting her into the air like a bullet, and towards Akito quickly. He held up his hands, putting up a dark barrier between him and her. Crystal narrowed her eyes and waved her hand, sending the barrier away quickly. She slammed her foot into the side of his hand, making him spin wildly and fall towards the ground, before he caught himself and glared at her.

"Why won't you just die?" He shouted at her.

"I won't die until I know you're gone." She told him stubbornly. "Until I know those around me are safe and out of your reach."

He threw slashes of darkness at her, making her fly higher into the air to dodge. She folded her wings in and her arms to her side, sliding through the air like a missile towards Akito. She landed her head into his stomach, making him cough out as the impact crushed some of his organs. She gripped him in her arms and sent Shiro's power through her arms.

Akito screamed out and yanked away from her, watching as parts of him where she was gripping, were now gone and diminishing.

"What did you do to me?" He shouted, glaring at her threateningly.

"What? Afraid to die?" She asked with narrowed eyes. "Maybe you'll get the same treatment you gave to all the other people you killed for your own gain.

His eyebrow twitched as a nervous and fearful tick over took his face as he watched her like an angel sent down to fight him. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, flying towards her quickly. Crystal matched his speed as they clashed against one another repeatedly around the sky.

To the others on the ground they were just flashes in the sky as they clashed. Their speed was too great for the human eye to see. They watched in amazement at the sudden power she had over Akito, giving hope bloom in all their hearts.

"Enough of this!" Akito shouted, pulling his hand back as darkness surrounded it and swirled dangerously around his arm.

Crystal disappeared as he lunged his arm forward, ready to hit her. She appeared higher in the air as she gazed down at him.

"Why is it you want to destroy everything so bad?" Crystal asked him angrily.

"I want the power!"He shouts at her.

"Is it worth it?" She asked gently. "To hurt your own family? To hurt mom? To hurt others?"

He stopped, freezing in mid-air as he looked at her. He looked down and gazed at Rin and his children, before an evil smile crossed his face. "Yes! It's very much worth it!"

He laughed maniacally sending chills down Crystal's spine. She could see it now; he was never her father, just someone who wanted more power. He was always taken over by darkness; his heart was always filled and consumed by the darkness within.

Crystal let a shadow cross over her face, despair hitting her hard. She had hoped to help him, but now she saw he was beyond hope. The only way to stop this now, was to destroy him once and for all. Crystal looked up at him, and quickly beat her wings against the wind, soaring her towards him. He reached his arms up to attack, but she flashed past them and grabbed his arm. He pressed her hand against his chest as she gripped his arm tightly. Her legs pulled up under her, and her back curved over to look down at him in the eye.

"This is over Akito." She told him softly. "You will no longer hurt anyone else."

His eyes widened before she plunged her hand into his chest and grabbed his heart, wrapping it in her palm and sending light into it, changing it from the inside out. The darkness diminished and retreated from his body, trying to keep his heart full of the darkness it needed to live. Soon there was none left.

Crystal softened her eyes and wrapped her arm around Akito's neck, knowing he was going to try to get away. She sent more light into him, filling his heart up with it instead, and feeling it become larger as it tried to fight off the power she was sending it. She pulled her hand out as his heart burst inside of him, disappearing from within him as if he never had one to begin with.

"I won't forget this." He grunted out, arms dropping and body going limp.

"No, the world won't forget the horrors you've done to it." She told him sternly.

She let him go and flew backwards, watching as he dropped to the sea below and disappeared beneath the water's depths. His body dropped until it hit the bottom of the sea, where it would rot and be forgotten over time.

She looked back towards the others and smiled victoriously at them. She flew towards them quickly, wrapping Ace in a hug as she dropped to the ground gracefully.

"We did it!" She said happily into his shoulder.

"You did it," Whitebeard said with a smile.

Crystal laughed as the others smiled and cheered with one another. Crystal gasped as a shooting pain ripped through her. Ace looked down at her worriedly as she gripped at his shoulders desperately.

She let out an airy laugh as she pulled back and smiled at them. "Ne, Marco. You have to take care of my sister ok?"

Marco looked at her confused at the sudden command. "Of course I will."

"Takeru," She said, turning to face him. "Don't blame yourself okay? None of you blame yourselves."

She looked at all of them as they turned silent and looked at her confused and worriedly.

"Never blame yourselves. Live life to the best as you can. And always smile." She repeated, remembering the words her brother used to tell her.

"What are you saying?" Ace asked, stepping forward.

Crystal went into his arm and cupped his face, giving him a loving kiss as she pulled him close. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, realizing too late the desperateness in the kiss.

She pulled out of his arms and smiled. "Gomene. I can't keep our promise." She ran her thumb along his cheek. "Never forget that I love you okay?"

"Crystal!" Takeru said desperately, noticing before anyone else what was going on.

Crystal stepped back, facing everyone with a smile. Her wings were slowly disappearing as the feather flew in the air around everyone, touching everyone and healing their wounds for the most part. As her wings disappeared, she began to slowly diminish.

"It seems I've used all my power." She said with a smile.

Her smile faltered as she looked at everyone. "I really am glad all of you took me in. I was glad that I got to live my life with all of you." Tears ran down her cheeks as she couldn't hold it back anymore. She bite her lip and clenched her hands on her dress, trying to pull it back. "I'm going to miss all of you."

She looked up and gave one last smile as her body turned translucent in front of all of them. She stepped back and shook her head as Ace desperately tried to reach out of her, his heart breaking that he was losing her again and again couldn't do a thing.

"You can't leave me." He said desperately, voice cracking from the pain.

"I'm sorry." She said, sobbing. "I love you." She said looking up at him lovingly. "Never forget that."

Ace rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her, wanting to hold her to the earth so she didn't leave them. As his arms wrapped around her desperately, she burst into tiny orbs of light, that began to float into the air and disappear from their sight.

"No, not again." Sakura cried, dropping to her knees and sobbing loudly.

Once again Crystal had risked her life to save them. And once again, she did her best to leave them with a smile. It took awhile for people to leave, and then they had to remember the reports that had staid hidden behind the shore all this time. The hardest to make leave was Ace as they finally had to drag him away and to his room, but even then he stared lifelessly at the floor as he sat on the edge of his bed.

The news spread out quickly as the Marine's left the pirates, a silent agreement that they would leave one another alone for awhile. The news showed the battle of Akito versus pirates and Marines, and the result ending in defeat. Screens were displayed all around the world as the recording was shown to everyone. The last part showing Crystal disappearing with a smile to everyone. Sengoku had turned back to normal, and was once again throwing every Marine to catch pirates and law breakers; as if nothing had happened.

Three weeks went by as everyone tried to get back into their normal schedules. Most pirates left Whitebeard and his crew, going on their own journey's once again. The Whitebeard pirates, strawhat's, Rayleigh, shanks and his crew, Jinbei, Iva, and Crystal's family still remained on the ships. They helped one another grieve, but still could not return Ace to the way he was before.

"Come on Ace," Sakura pleaded tugging at his arm. "Let's get you some fresh air."

He looked at her and got up slowly, letting her tug him along towards the deck. He sat down in the middle of the deck on the front of the ship, letting the sun hit his back and warm it. His eyes were still lifeless and dull as he looked at the floor.

"Ace, you have to take care of yourself." Sabo said standing in front of him.

"It's my fault." He whispered. "It's all my fault. I should have stopped her."

Sabo sighed, knowing the man had been saying this since the day Crystal disappeared. It was as if it was the only thing going inside of his mind.

Arms came down and wrapped around his neck comfortingly. A chin hit his shoulder as a body pressed to his back slightly, but nothing hit the floor behind him. He didn't even flinch or move as this happened, his body numb and cold.

"I thought I told you not to blame yourself." A voice teased behind him from the body hanging onto him.

Ace jerked his eyes upwards as the people on the deck turned in surprise. Crystal floated there, with her arms around his neck and chest pressed to his back as her lower body floated above the deck. The wind died down and diminished as she landed on the deck softly, wrapping her arms around his neck gently, but lovingly. Shouts of surprise sounded over the deck, causing the others to hear around the ship.

Ace stood up quickly, jerking out of her grasp in confusion. "How…" He whispered, staring in shock at Crystal as she stood up slowly.

She smiled as she tilted her head and smile as everyone else walked up to see what the commotion was about. The dragons exploded out of her, standing next to her side by side as they faced the others.

"Return." She said gently to them.

The dragons returned to their masters, leaving Ryuuji and Shiro standing next to her with smiles. Shiro appearing with long white hair and golden eyes.

"How is this possible?" Whitebeard asked with a smile towards his daughter. "Are you trying to teach us a lesson or something? You keep dying and coming back!"

Crystal let out a guilt laugh as she scratched her cheek. "Well, you see. I was really disappearing, and as I was dying, Shiro," She indicated to the man with white hair next to her. "protected me and gave me more power. By the time he did that I had arrived in a heavenly place. Can you believe it? I ended up in heaven!" She let out a laugh, but noticed it wasn't helping the situation. "And well,"

She looked around the group and spotted Luffy giving him a thankful smile. "The rest I have to thank Luffy for."

Luffy pointed at himself with wide eyes. "Me?"

Crystal nodded her head at him and smile. "God said he owed you a favor. That he had watched the battle and knew you were my brother. He said he would settle his debt with you by sending me back to earth. To all of you."

She looked at all of them carefully, watching for anything that will show her that they no longer wanted her there. Ace started forward and wrapped her up into his arms, squeezing her till her bones felt like they might break.

"Ace, you're going to squeeze me to death." She joked around.

"I don't care. I'm not letting you go." He told her.

She looked at him surprised, before wrapping her arms around him and burying her head into his neck, breathing in his scent and relaxing in his touch.

"Does that mean you guys aren't mad? You guys will still allow me to stay here?" Crystal asked with a pleading smile.

"We're angry, just not over what you may think." Marco rubbed the back of his neck.

"Most of us are angry because we were so happy you came back to us, and then you left just as quickly again. It was almost as if you were playing with us." Thatch explained.

"I didn't mean to. Honestly. I thought I would make it through." She said desperately.

Sabo ruffled her hair and smiled thankfully down at her. "Of course we know that. It just hurt. You're still our family."

"Really?" She asked, water at the corners of her eyes.

"Really." Lily said smiling at her.

"You'll have to earn everything all over again tho!" Shanks laughed at her. "After all, it is a new life for you!"

Crystal smiled, nodding her head eagerly as she pulled back and looked at Ace. She looked at him questioningly, but couldn't get a word out as Ace pulled her face to his and kissed her deeply, sending her mind into a fog, and her body to react to his own.

"Don't you ever leave me again. You hear?" He said commandingly.

She nodded her head, trying to clear the fog as she gripped his hand on her cheek lightly. "Daisuke daiyou."

Ace smiled as he sat on the deck with her in his lap, hugging her close and not planning to let go any time soon. "I love you too."