"Friendship is really the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love."―Jane Austen
Ace was sitting on the bed that had been built for the boys the day before completely wide awake. The marines that shared the ship-much to the boy's annoyances- decided that giving them hammocks caused more of a problem then just building them a sturdy bed. Luffy sure wasn't complaining as he was stretched over Sabo drooling on his pillow and snoring away the night. It was around 7 AM meaning they would be getting up officially soon but Ace chose to let his brothers rest. The reason he was awake was because he was over thinking.
Ace wasn't sure how the meeting with the bandits would go whether they would be happy to see him again or not. They didn't get along well in the past as it was so his hopes of a friendly reunion weren't that fantastic. He knew the forest he lived in as well wasn't the safest place in the world-what with a giant bear and a monster tiger guarding the forest and all. Ace knew especially that Luffy and bears were forbidden now.
Marco had made it clear that the two were to remain separate at all times unless they favored a bear coat. Ace didn't mind it that much; maybe they'd beat the bear here to prove to Marco that bears didn't stand a chance against their brother now. Maybe Marco would let up a bit if Luffy took down one super strong one, or on the off chance Luffy did beat the bear and Marco still decided to take his head for putting the boy in danger…Was it worth the risk? Marco could be darned right out scary when Luffy was in any sort of danger, than again so could he… Ace shook his head trying to not once again over think everything around him.
"Ace?" Sabo slowly opened his eyes as the sun began to shine through their window onto the bed.
"Yeah?" He asked looking down at Sabo who pushed the sleeping boy over some so he could sit up.
"What time is it?" Sabo rubbed the sleep out of his eyes though he felt unsure if he would go back to bed or not depending on the time.
"Around 7 or 8 it's still early." Ace replied looking at the sleeping boy who had decided to remove his pajama shirt and cuddle it instead through the night.
"Why's he sleeping without his shirt?" Ace asked Sabo who shrugged and smiled.
"Said it smelt like Shanks." Sabo said and Ace raised a brow but pegged it off to being one of Luffy's weird moments.
"Should we get him up and head to see Makino?" Sabo asked before a smile crept on his face.
"Is that why you're awake? Couldn't stand the thought of sleeping away from your beautiful Makino.." Sabo asked Ace but got a pillow thrown in his face a moment later by said man.
"Shut up and wake up Luffy." He scowled but blushed anyways stupid feelings and girls being stupidly cute.
"Whatever you say… Mr. Romeo." Sabo chuckled as Ace shot the blond yet another glare. Once Luffy was awake and ready to go the boys made their way to the tavern where Makino had just begun to start making breakfast.
"Ah! Good morning!" She called out to them as they waved and sat down.
"Morning'" They greeted back to her. Makino began to set plates of food in front of each boy and smiled when they gave looks of joy towards their meals.
"Thanks for the meal!" They called before digging in.
"So did you boys sleep well?" She asked leaning down on the table.
"Mn! That was the best sleep I've had since I left home! The clothes you gave us they smelled like Shanks!" Luffy said before eating more toast. Makino smiled but her eyes widened before becoming soft.
"That's because they were once his clothes." She said and Ace stopped eating.
"They were?" Sabo asked giving Ace a worried look.
"Mn, Shanks came to visit this island around 5 years ago." She said a gentle smile on her face and a small blush adorning her cheeks.
"Why did you have his clothes?" Ace asked his food left untouched now.
"Because he spent a lot of time here before he left." She said to Ace with a smile. "He told me many stories about a young boy who lived with a group of pirates." She said turning to Luffy whose grin widened as he pulled on the edges of his straw hat.
"Shanks... someday I'm going to be stronger than him." Luffy said closing his eyes and picturing his idol in his mind. "I'm going to become the king of the pirates and return his hat." Luffy said picking his hat off of his head and staring at it.
"I thought that hat might have been his." She said and Luffy made a head tilt he was so famous for.
"He told me of his precious straw hat that he left with a child that carried a powerful dream." She said with a smile.
"Sooo you and Shanks…Did you guys … You know what never mind." Sabo said looking at Ace who was a pale color at this moment.
"Hmm?" She said not understanding anything that was happening.
"We want to head out soon we have a long trek through the forest to get to where we used to live." Sabo said standing up and pulling Ace off of the stool he seemed to be frozen to.
"Ah! I'll go prepare those lunches than." She said and headed back to the kitchen away from the boys.
"You alright Ace?" Sabo asked and Ace just numbly nodded his head.
"We'll go have some fun then come back later, kay?" Luffy said to Ace who was beginning to unfreeze.
"Yeah… sure." Ace said while Sabo and Luffy exchanged worried glances.
"Ace…You need to pull yourself together. The forest animals won't hesitate to kill you if you're zoned out. What would Luffy think if you just went and died on him?" Sabo asked the man making him fully come back to himself.
"Don't worry Sabo I won't die." Ace said closing his eyes mentally bringing himself back.
"This island is weird for the East Blue…Luffy might like it since it feels like home but don't forget he's still new here." Sabo stood up and accepted the backpack Makino had given them filled with lunches.
"Be safe boys I'll be here when you get back." She said and they nodded before heading out.
"So this forest is where you both lived?" Luffy asked them unsure about the situation.
"Yeah we lived her and fought here but it's home." Ace said staring at the trees taking a step forward getting hit with the smell of home.
"I come from the city just on the other side of the forest." Sabo said to Luffy who nodded his head.
"Can we go there?" He asked but didn't know if he wanted to by the looks he was given.
"It's a mean place." Sabo said to Luffy who was confused.
"But you came from it?" He liked Sabo and if Sabo came from it then the place should be good.
"I was an outcast in the town-in my family." Sabo said a dark shadow covering his face making Luffy step closer to him.
"Well, you're wanted here with our family." Sabo looked at the boy before smiling.
"I know and I'm grateful." He said and Luffy laughed.
"Hurry up guys it's a long ways to Dadan's place." Ace called to the stragglers behind him. Along the way to Dadan's place Ace pointed out spots he used to hunt at. Sabo would tell Luffy stories about things they did and area's they should avoid.
"Wow! This place is huge!" Luffy said in awe coming to a clearing but Ace and Sabo were on high alert.
"This is the Tiger Lord's area we should move along." Sabo said to Luffy who looked at his brother like he was an idiot.
"Why? Is he strong?" Luffy asked and Ace nodded his head.
"Sabo and I could never beat him as kids." Ace clarified on to why they respected the tiger.
"But you're not kids any more…" Luffy said with a feral look in his eyes hoping to find this great tiger and test out his skills.
"He's not one you should under estimate Lu." Sabo scolded lightly but Luffy turned his gleaming eyes towards him.
"I was raised on the grand line. I've been watching Marco and Thatch take out Sea Kings three times their size since I could walk. I think I'd like to meet this Tiger Lord." He smiled but Ace and Sabo didn't want to risk the chance
"Well we won't have to wait long…" Ace said knowing the familiar sounds of huge paw steps. "He's almost here." Luffy's grin widened and his eyes narrowed.
"I've been itching for a fight for a while now…Bring it beast." He growled to the forest. It was at times like this that truly reminded the brothers that Luffy was a born and raised pirate. The East Blue may be boring for the young teenager since he had grown and adapted to the dangers of the Grand Line and New World. The Growl that came from the Tiger wasn't as spectacular as Sabo and Ace remembered it to be.
"Let's do this." Sabo said pulling his large pipe off of his back and swinging it in front of him. Ace allowed his arm to form into flames and Luffy crouched down almost like a wild animal himself.
The tiger was strong, strong enough to hit Luffy across the clearing with one swipe of a paw. Luffy hit the ground in a cloud of dust causing the ever angry Ace to flare up even more.
"Don't touch my little brother!" He shouted but Luffy was up in an instant and pushing Ace backwards.
"Don't touch the tiger!" Luffy shouted at his brother who hit a tree with a thud.
"What the hell Lu?" Sabo yelled at Luffy who glared at the tiger.
"I like you." He said to the beast as it hissed at him its ears folded back on its head and tail low to the ground.
"So you like him. Last time I check Marco doesn't like cats!" Ace shouted jumping up for another attack this time landing on the tiger's side and Luffy freaked out just slightly.
"I said don't touch her!" Luffy shouted punching Ace causing the man to raise a brow in confusion.
"You may be my brother but I'm half tempted to kick your ass Luffy." He said in a cold voice.
"Bring it Ace but I'm not letting either of you touch this tiger." Luffy said in the same cold voice to his brothers startling them, just what the heck was wrong with him this time?
"Luffy this tiger had been causing Ace and I grief for ever as children…" Sabo said carefully not liking the look in Luffy's eyes.
"But that was years ago, things have changed since then." Luffy said and pointed to the trees surrounding the clearing. Sabo took the opportunity to look where Luffy was pointing and his eyes widened at the sight.
"Nothing's changed Luffy." Ace snarled but Sabo grabbed his shoulder making him look.
"Ace…" Ace looked at his brother and followed his gaze to where Luffy had pointed to. In the clearing were 2 baby tigers watching carefully.
"Babies." Ace said and Luffy nodded his head.
"A mother protecting her children… Could you really take a parent away from those brothers?" Luffy asked Ace who had stopped flaming. Luffy turned his gaze to the tiger who was growling at him.
"We won't hurt your babies." He said in a flat tone and the Tiger Lord watched him carefully before walking around the clearing towards her children.
"Go, we won't bother you again." Luffy said to her and she turned her back walking towards her children before stopping to look back at them. She turned her golden eyes upon Luffy and chuffed* before walking away the babies following behind her.
"How did you know?" Ace asked his brother who laughed his Shishishi.
"I saw them when she smacked be the first time and she doesn't have family jewels." Luffy said and Sabo shook his head laughing.
"Only you Luffy." But it was a time like this that made him proud to call Luffy his brother.
"Let's keep going we need to make it there soon…" Ace said turning away from his brothers "Luffy…Sorry for doubting you." He said and Luffy laughed once again.
"Don't worry about it let's just go." And that they did. They crossed over logs where Ace pointed out the many crocodiles swimming bellow while Sabo walked behind Luffy just in case he chose that moment to test his luck and jump in. Ace pointed out that at the bottom of that ravine was a pack of wolves that had mutated to become giant and feral.
"This island is something like back home!" Luffy said happily
"Yeah that it sure is." Sabo now having lived in both the grand line and new world couldn't deny that this island was one special place for a sea so calm.
"I can't wait to tell Marco about this when we get back!" But the shivers that went up their spines made them look at their brother with worried eyes.
"Why don't we not tell him..." Ace said seriously and Sabo nodded his head quickly agreeing.
"What? Why?" Luffy wanted to tell Marco all about his adventures.
"Because this island is a little too crazy a tale to tell to him." Sabo said hoping to change the subject quickly.
Luffy hmmed but would let it go for now.
"See that cabin Lu? That's where Ace lived!" Sabo said pointing in a direction and Luffy squinted looking around.
"What cabin? All I see is a run-down hut…" Luffy said making the boys laugh.
"Yup, that's the place." Ace said laughing a little.
"What you're serious?" He yelled and Sabo laughed harder.
"Common we need to be polite if we want to get what we want from them." Sabo said and Luffy looked confused.
"What do we want from them?" He asked feeling yet again out of the loop.
"Tattoos little brother." Luffy's eyes sparkled at the thought.
"Like Ma's?" He asked excitement bubbling in his chest.
"If that's what you want…" Sabo said and Luffy nodded his head frantically.
"It might hurt a little..." Ace said and Luffy frowned before giving Ace a strong look.
"If you're getting a tattoo then I want one." He said and the brothers knew that nothing could break that will. When they got to the hut Ace knocked on the door loudly and waited for a large woman to bang it open with a scowl.
"Who the heck is it? Do you want to get killed?!" She screeched as she looked at the one who dared to bang on her door.
"Hey it's us." Ace said to the woman who blinked a few times at the boys standing in front of her.
"Who the heck are you?" She asked in confusion before Ace growled at her.
"It's me Ace!" Ace screamed and the look of shock that covered her face was almost comedic.
"Ace?! But Garp took you away from here!" She said and Sabo smiled.
"Yeah we're back." The look of horror finally made Luffy laugh.
"You're stupid and funny, pops!" Luffy said making Sabo and Ace smile.
"And who's this little shit?" She said pointing to Luffy once she had calmed down a bit.
"Ah, that's Luffy." Sabo said fondly and Ace looked over at the kid.
"Garp's grandson." He completed for Sabo causing the other two bandits to just stare open mouthed at them.
"He's also a whitebeard pirate." Sabo laughed as they all paled drastically.
"What a terrifying combination!" Dadan whispered looking at the laughing boy in front of her.
"He's also our little brother." Ace said softly but the bandits caught it and the older two smiled.
"Well come in I guess." Dadan said letting the boys pass.
"Thanks pops!" Luffy cheered and Dadan closed her eyes scowling.
"I'm a woman dammit!" She said to the boy who wasn't listening.
"This place looks like crap!" Her brow twitched even more with his statement.
"If I kill him Garp and that old pirate will kill me…" She whispered and Sabo laughed at her.
"Nah, probably the first division commander Marco might though; he's very protective of the boy." And Dadan just stood there digesting all the information.
"Where have you boys been?" Dagra asked them once they had sat down.
"We were taken to the grand line and dropped off on White Beard's ship." Ace said with a smile
"We've been there ever since…" Sabo said accepting a cup of tea.
"Sounds like an adventure…" Magra said happily.
"Every day is an adventure there." Ace laughed causing the bandit's eyes to widen at the sound.
"What about him?" Dadan asked curious about Garp's grandson.
"I've been with Pops and the others my whole life." Luffy said happily.
"So you've always been at sea?" Magra asked and Luffy nodded.
"Can't remember a day not being out in the open." Luffy missed being on the sea already he had spent way too long docked at an island for his liking.
"Why are you here brats, you both aren't one for sentimentality…"Dadan asked and Ace nodded his head.
"You are the best tattoo artist around and we want some." Ace said and she rolled her eyes.
"Like I'm giving a bunch of brats tattoos, wait until you're older." She said until Ace reached into his pocket pulling out a heavy bag.
"Do it and you get this." He said and she opened it to find jewels and gold piled in it much to her delight.
"Of course." She said putting the bag in her pocket and ordering her bandits to get her stuff. Once ready she looked at the brothers seriously.
"Who's first?" She asked and Luffy stepped forward.
"Me, I want the white beard mark on my lower back." He said Dadan looked over at Ace who had pulled some paper from one of the drawers in the room and drew the design that Marco had.
"Make it small." Ace said not wanting it to be a huge thing on him.
"The lower back hurts a bit kid." She said seriously to him and he nodded.
"Do it, but don't let me see." Luffy hated needles but as long as he didn't see them he might be okay.
Once the needle hit his rubbery skin Luffy flinched and Sabo grabbed his hand.
"It's alright Lu, we're here for you." He said and Luffy nodded and bit his lip until it was over with.
"Keep it clean but don't get it wet for a few days." She said and wrapped it in a bandage.
"I…got …a…tattoo…"Luffy said slowly but he felt so happy at that moment.
"You did, we're so proud of you kid." Ace said to his brother giving him a small hug.
Ace and Sabo got the ones they had discussed and had them wrapped up like Luffy's.
"Gramps is gunna be mad isn't he?" Luffy asked eating his lunch with the bandits and Ace laughed.
"Probably but who cares? We're pirates remember?" Ace said with a smirk.
"You've changed Ace…" Magra said smiling.
"Hmm? Yeah, maybe…" He said and looked at Luffy fondly.
"That kid changes people…"Sabo said knowingly.
"He's a damned D what did you expect." Dadan whispered to herself but smiled in the direction of the boy. When lunch was over the boys waved goodbye to the bandits and began their walk towards the village.
Luffy started to walk forward but turned back to face them.
"Oi! Dadan! I really don't like bandits much!" He shouted and caused her to yell back at him but he laughed.
"But I like you guys! I hope we can meet again!" He said and Ace smiled pulling the boy forward.
"We gotta go Lu; we really don't want to be here during the night." He said and Luffy smiled following his brothers.
Sabo pointed to the tall wall that was in the distance and explained it to Luffy as they walked Luffy nodded and frowned at the people that lived there. Ace explained the grey terminal and how it had come to be because of that wall. Luffy liked the bandits and liked Makino but decided he wasn't very fond of anything else on the island.
"Let's go see Makino and show her our new Tattoos." Luffy said finding the path they had walked on and Sabo gave a look to Ace.
"I've decided... When we get back I'm going to confess to Makino." Ace said and Sabo nodded with a small smile.
"I wish you luck." He said and Ace grinned back at his brother knowing in his heart he stood no chance against someone like Shanks.
They finally made it through the jungle/forest back to town where Garp was loading the supplies onto the ship.
"Where were you boys?" He asked them and gave them a suspicious look.
"Visiting the bandits." Ace said and Garp laughed.
"Really? How are they?" And Sabo smiled at the gold man.
"Fantastic." He said remembering the pile of gold and jewels Ace passed to them.
"That's good." Garp said softly. "Pack up boys we're leaving soon." Garp waved and went back to helping his marines' load what needed to be loaded.
"How was your time? Makino asked them and Luffy cheered before lifting up his shirt and showing the bandaged tattoo.
"I got Marco's mark on my back so no matter where I go I will always be family." He said and Makino's eyes widened. She didn't like the idea of a child getting a tattoo but didn't say anything; this was the boy's life to live.
"We all got tattoos." Sabo said showing his arm to her and she smiled at him.
"I'm going to miss you guys.." She said to them and they smiled at her.
"We will miss you to Makino." Luffy said and Sabo looked towards Ace who was fidgeting.
"We're going to head back to the ship." Sabo said puling Luffy forwards leaving Ace alone with Makino.
"Is there something wrong Ace?" She asked as Ace's face started to brighten.
"I…I Like you!" He said quickly to her hoping to get it out right and quick.
"I like you to Ace." Makino said to the teenager who flinched but pulled himself together.
"No I mean I… Like-like you… Dammit I'm sounding like Luffy!" He said and her eyes widened before a small blush came to her cheeks.
"Ace…I'm sorry.. I-I'm with Shanks." She said to the man who nodded his head in understanding.
"I know I just couldn't leave without saying something." He said and she smiled softly at him before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for your feelings though Ace." She aid to the boy who pulled himself together.
"If Shanks ever does anything to make you cry I'll beat him up." Ace said and Makino Laughed.
"I'll be counting on you." She said and Ace smiled turning away from her and following his brothers. Sure he didn't get the girl but as the phrase goes, there are plenty of more fish in the sea.
Meanwhile on an island in the East Blue a green haired kid had no idea what the tides would bring him in the following days, if he didn't get lost before then of course…
Hello once again! So here you have it a super long chapter! So much happened in this one! I've closed the poll because I gave Luffy the tattoo as many have suggested I do. I left that up to my lovely readers and your voices have been heard. I also didn't want it huge for the world to see regularly due to the fact that Luffy will be his own captain someday and want to have a name of his own. I put it on his back so his shirt can cover it :) Ace confessed to Makino and was shot down in the most Makino way possible :) The tiger, I know it was probably a boy in the anime but I love tigers. A tiger doesn't purr it makes a chuffing sound and it moans. I follow Big Cat Rescue so if you're interested in learning more about tigers and other big cats check them out :) Luffy has always had a connection with animals and I wanted to show that here. :) I hope you guys like how I ended it, like I've said EB is going to be a fun arc away from home getting stronger on his own. I am thinking of updating on Fridays as well now but that will be a work in progress, I make no guarantees :) I've been helping my agency move into a new office so I've been coming home half dead from exhaustion every day and I'm helping to organize a charity in a months' time so I will so my best for you all! I hope you all have a fantastic week ahead of you and I shall see you all soon! Keep well! DR
