Author's Note:

Finally, we have Ace on board. Felt like forever till we got here. Alabasta is going to be one wild ride. As always please review and let me know what you think.

Ace really did save their asses. Creating a wall of flames so that the Marines couldn't chase them. All the townspeople were talking about the fire as they ran past. She shook her head fondly. He always did draw attention to himself. Addy guessed it was a family thing since Luffy did as well.

Though apparently Vivi couldn't help herself. Stopping and turning around to look at the battle. "What in the world is happening?"

The rest of them turned around as well. To see a massive triangle of smoke and fire whirling around each other in the sky. Addy could feel the heat from here but it didn't make her nervous. Only uncontrolled fire did.

"It's a fight between flame and smoke?!" Usopp remarked. Addy nodded. It's what happened when two people with logia powers fought and neither of them held the advantage. Happened surprisingly often.

"Addy did say he ate the Mera-Mera fruit," Sanji pointed out. Karoo quacked, also watching the spectacle.

"But Luffy! Is it true that guy's your brother?!" Nami asked.

"Yeah!" Luffy answered "His name's Ace!"

"You having a brother isn't that surprising," Zoro pointed out. "But what's he doing in the Grand Line?!" Good question. He should be in the New World, not Paradise. What was Ace doing here?

"Ace is a pirate!" Obviously. Not really the answer Addy was looking for. "He left the island three years before me to find the One Piece!" The others seemed surprised by that declaration but Addy knew better. Luffy was going to have to catch up. Three years was a long time to not hear from someone after all. They took another moment to watch the brawl. It was beautiful in a way.

"A-Anyways," Nami stated turning back to face the others. "Let's hurry back to the ship! Let's escape before anyone comes after us!" Now that was a good idea.

"Yes, Nami dear!" Sanji responded. They all took off running once again. The flames and smoke growing larger behind them. Now not even forming a coherent shape. Spreading out and launching itself into the sky.

"Still, I never thought I'd see Ace in a place like this!" Luffy said walking backwards. Looking at the fight. They were still going at it. Addy could hear the rumblings of fire. The crashing. Though her attention was focused up ahead where there was a fork in the road ahead of them.

"The path splits into two!" Usopp called out. He was leading them which wasn't surprising in the slightest.

"Usopp left!" Nami ordered. "Hear me, guys?!" Despite everything she was carrying Addy grabbed ahold of Zoro. Taking his hand. The man would find a way to get lost otherwise. He glanced at her and grasped her firmly. A faint smile on his lips.

"Yes, Nami dear!" Sanji responded. "I'll follow you wherever you go!"

"Enough, pervy cook!" Zoro snapped rolling his eyes at him.

"Eh?!" Sanji retorted. "What did you say Moss head?!"

Addy rolled her eyes at them. Now was not the time for this. "Enough you two! Let's focus on getting back to Merry!"

Luckily they managed to get back without running into any more trouble. Small miracle really. The relief that Addy felt looking at Merry.

"Hurry and load the stuff!" Nami commanded. "We're leaving right away! Addy get to the helm!"

Addy did so immediately. Ready to head out when the others were ready.

"What's going on?" Merry asked clearly worried.

"Marines," Addy answered. "We need to get out of here before they find us." As soon as Addy put her hands on the poles Addy felt the sails unfurl. The others running around the deck getting everything prepared. With Zoro lifting the anchor they were good to go.

"Okay!" Nami shouted. "Let's set sail!"

"Are you sure you want to sail yet?" Merry asked. "Luffy isn't here yet." That caused Addy to freeze for a moment. She rested her head on the pole.

"Why does the future Pirate King have to be such an idiot."

"That moron!" she heard Zoro yell. Sounded like they realized he was missing as well. Still, they couldn't afford to wait. Marines would be crawling all the harbors soon. They would have to hide the ship before they could look for him. Besides, it was Captain. He would figure it out.

"Addy!" Vivi called out. Her, Nami, Chopper, Usopp and Sanji were all standing right outside the door. "There should be a cove ahead that's hidden from view!" Addy closed her eyes. Sensing out Ocean in front of her. Feeling the currents that would take her to the cove.

"So we'll wait for things to cool down, then look for Luffy," Sanji stated.

"Yeesh!" Usopp remarked. "He's always, always causing trouble like this!" They did all sigh up for this though.

"He's a real reliable captain," Zoro complained. He was standing near the front. Keeping an eye out for the Marines. Or whoever else was out there. Hopefully Luffy.

Nami's climbed up to the Crows Nest to help keep an eye out.

"Oh!" Nami remarked. "There he is! It's Luffy!" Thank Ocean they found him. "I found Luffy!"

"You did?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah," Sanji answered. "That stupid face is definitely his. Huh?!"

"I'm back!" Luffy shouted launching himself onto Merry. Knocking Sanji and Chopper onto the deck. Sending up a cloud of dust.

"Sanji! Tony!" Vivi exclaimed. Somehow she missed getting hit.

Addy came out as well. Looking at the pile of them splayed out on the deck.

"Oh, come on!" Usopp muttered.

"Not again…" Zoro murmured. They were probably going to have to get used to the fact that this was going to be a very common occurrence. Nami climbed down onto the deck as well. Just as Luffy sat up. Laughing.

"Sorry 'bout that, Sajni, Chopper!" he remarked.

Sanji bolted up. Grabbing Luffy's shirt and shaking him. "Do you not know how to learn your lesson?! I oughta gut you whole!"

"Yeah!" Nami added on. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?! Try to act somewhat like a captain!"

Luffy tilted his head back to look up at Nami. "Sorry." Seemed like something suddenly hit him. "Oh, that's right! Ace!" He scrambled up to his feet and headed to the railing. Looking out over the city to search for Ace.

"Your brother was with you?" Sanji asked.

"Is it okay to just leave him there?" Usopp wondered. Zoro had also joined them now that they had found Luffy.

"I think Ace can take care of himself," Addy stated crossing her arms. "We'll run into him again soon enough."

"Yeah," Luffy nodded. "He'll be okay! Ace is strong!" He turned back to look at them. Rubbing the back of his head.

Addy gave a short laugh. "He definitely is that."

"He's strong?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah!" Luffy answered. "He hadn't eaten the Mera-Mera fruit a long time ago, but I still never beat him in a single fight!" He was White Beard's second division commander. Only Marco and Riley had managed to go toe to toe with him. Well, there was David who managed to beat him but no one could win against David so that wasn't a fair comparison. "He's real strong, Ace is!"

"There's a flesh and blood person you could never beat?!" Nami remarked eyes wide, pointing at Luffy.

"I guess the big brother of a monster is an even bigger monster…" Usopp added on.

"That's right!" Luffy replied leaning against the railing. "I lost all the time!" He chuckled. "But I'd win now if we tried!" He started laughing. Somehow Addy doubted that.

"I assume that's another groundless claim," Zoro stated crossing

"You would be right," Addy replied watching as Ace appeared right behind Luffy. Jumping right where Luffy was leaning. Sending Luffy spiraling onto the deck. Allowing Ace to land with a thunk onto the railing.

"Who can win what now?!" Ace asked.

"Oh! Ace!" Luffy responded from the floor of the deck. Leaning up to look at his brother. "This is the crew I was talking about!"

"Oh!" He bowed slightly. "Thank you all for taking care of my little brother!"

"Eh? Oh not, at all," they all responded, all of them except Addy bowing in turn.

"He might be a bit much for you to handle too, but…"

"No, not at all."

"Take good care of 'im." Oh, they planned too. After everything Luffy had done for them, how could they not?

"You probably have lots of catching up to do," Sanji pointed out. "Why don't you come in? I'll make some tea."

"No, uhh, that's okay. Don't do it on account of me." He pointed at Sanji's cigarette. Making the flame grow bigger. To Sanji's shock before putting it out completely.

"T-talk about unexpected," Zoro muttered.

Addy laughed. "You haven't changed at all Ace." He shot her a smile. The two of them would talk later.

"I would've expected him to be as reckless as Luffy," Usopp added on.

"No, this sensible man can't possibly be Luffy's brother!"

"He's a nice guy who cares about his brother!" Zoro remarked glancing at Addy. His jealousy was kicking into overdrive a little bit. Addy wondered what the outcome of it would be.

"Brothers can be so wonderful!" Chopper said tears streaming down his face. Poor kid. Probably never had a sibling.

"The sea is just full of surprises," Sanji muttered.

"Come now, everyone!" Vivi interrupted surprised at everyone's surprised.

"See! Aren't these guys neat?!" Luffy asked getting right up in Ace's face.

Ace chuckled. "I'm still surprised you managed to get a water faerie in your crew, much less Addy. Do you know how many people would kill to have her on their crew? How did you manage to recruit her?" He was clearly teasing Luffy. Every person who sailed the seas would kill to have a nereid on their crew. A fact Addy knew well considering how many people had tried to recruit her over the years. Eventually, she just took to hiding her identity from all but a select few.

Addy arched an eyebrow. She should have figured out that they were related. Him and Luffy were the only ones who called her a water faerie. She started playing with the chain around her neck. Her most precious treasure. "My necklace was stolen and Captain helped me retrieve it when he didn't have to." That's all that needed to be said. The rest was understood.

"Uh Addy," Merry interrupted. "As much as I would love to get to know Luffy's brother. We are being surrounded by Baroque Works ships." Addy looked up which triggered everyone else to do the same.

"Baroque Works!" Vivi shouted. "Those are the Billions' ships!"

The lead Baroque Ship quickly approached. "Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy!" One of the men on the ship yelled. They were close enough for Addy to hear. "Don't think you can get away!"

"We'll show you just what Baroque Works' Billions are made of!" another shouted. Who were these people?

Luffy leaned across the nearby railing facing the front of Merry. Slightly stretching his body and putting his hand above his eyes. "Those guys again?"

"Luffy," Ace stated catching his attention. "I'll clean them up." He jumped off of Merry. Landing on a small yellow ship of some kind. Connected to Merry by a rope.

"What's he going to do?" Nami asked.

"Especially in that little boat," Usopp added on.

"He's going to do what he does best," Addy replied with a smirk. "I would keep an eye on him. It's always a spectacle." They all turned to face the front. Having a perfect view. Luffy sitting crossed legged on the railing while Nami rested her hands on it. Addy stood next to Zoro who crossed his arms.

"Let's see how skilled this Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates really is!" Zoro said. Addy could tell he was invested. They all were. Watching as Ace flew across the water in his boat powered by fire. The opposing crew yelling at him. Boy were they going to be surprised. Once he got close he leaped up into the air. Doing several flips. His legs becoming a pillar of fire in the process. Growing larger as he fell. Landing back on his little boat on the other side of the ship.

"Kagero!" he shouted shooting a stream of flames from the palm of his hand. Obliterating the ships in front of them. The force forming a wave in Ocean. All that was left was burning wreckage. Allowing Merry to sail past peacefully. The others were shocked. Mouths wide open while Addy chuckled. He really hadn't changed.

It was proven even further when he got back on the ship. Sanji breaking out a keg of beer. Allowing everyone to grab a flagon. Luffy and Usopp sitting down on the deck with Chopper standing. Addy leaning against the wall next to Ace who was sitting on a barrel.

"Woohoo!" Usopp shouted. "Ace is one of us now!"

"Kampai!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper shouted. Toasting their flagons together.

"Who said I was joining you?" Ace asked with Addy chuckled. They ignored him. Electing to chug down the beer.

"Here's to delicious drinks!" Usopp stated instead. The three of them toasted again.

"Don't worry about it," Nami said. "They're always looking for an excuse to drink to!"

"Medicine is horrible!" Was the next one they came up with laughing. Sanji also brought on some food and they were chowing down on that as well.

"Ace!" Luffy called out. "Are you sure you won't join us?"

"I'm sure. You may have managed to con Addy to join," she snorted shaking her head. "But I'm chasing a certain man." He took a sip before continuing. "His name's Blackbeard."

"Blackbeard?!" Usopp asked.

"He's the pirate who attacked Drum Kingdom!" Vivi added on. Wind kicking up as if to add to the mood. At least it was in the direction they needed.

Ace lifted his leg up so he was resting his elbow on his knee. "He used to be a member of the 2nd Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of my men." Must have been after Addy's time since she never heard of the man. "But he committed the worst possible sin on a pirate ship: he killed a crewmember and jumped ship." Addy chocked her eyes going wide. Her heart pounding fast. For more than one reason.

"Who?" she asked. That being the only words that she could muster.

"Thatch." Oh, that hurt. Thatch was a sweet guy who liked pulling pranks on people. There would never be a reason to ever want to kill him. Hurt him terribly maybe but never kill. She closed her eyes sending up a prayer to her father. Poor Thatch. "So, as the commander, I gotta find and get rid of him."

"So that's why you're chasing after him?" Luffy questioned.

"I came here because I caught word that Blackbeard was seen in Yuba." He took another drink.

"Then your destination is the same as ours," Nami pointed out pulling out a map. Allowing Vivi to show their route. Ace, Nami, Addy, and Vivi all looking over the map.

"We've just entered the Sandora River." Vivi pointed out the route on the map. "First, we'll land at Erumalu, then head into the interior of Alabasta to reach Yuba here! The leader of the rebel army is in Yuba."

"I see. So you're headed to Yuba next," Ace muttered.

"I'll follow, Nami dear, Addy sweet, and Vivi precious wherever they go!" Sanji stated with heart eyes. Addy rolled her eyes. His body almost seemed to be swaying.

"Get lost, Love Cook," Zoro responded.

"Say what, you?!"

"A-Anyways!" Nami interrupted breaking up the fight. "It looks like we can travel together for a short while!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Usopp enthusiastically nodded. "His brother is more than welcome here!"

Luffy laughed holding up his flagon. "Let's have a fun time, Ace!" They all slammed their cups together. Addy drinking something without alcohol in it. She missed the taste but being consistently sober was refreshing.

"Yeah!" They all called out excited about the brand-new adventure that laid ahead.