Thank you, Fenrir_IndomitableSpirit for the big ideas for the Tiny One AU! It did help get me back into trying to write it again :) So here we go! We have Thatch returning to the ship, but something is starting to go wrong with all the cuteness that is a tiny six year old Ace.

(Tiny One AU)

Marco and Ace walked out their bedroom, Ace nimbly jumping between each floorboard, using his tiptoes to navigate the hall. Marco was trying to keep a close eye on him, because his lover had been acting strange lately. Things he hadn't seen in a while seemed to be forgotten about entirely. Like earlier he had forgotten why he had sleeping medication.

It left Marco feeling a bit nervous, but Haruta had investigated the deaging devil fruit Jewellery Bonney had. Apparently Ace would go back to normal in a few days. So Marco would wait for that. Ace's child self probably just had a short attention span.

Thatch was due back today, and Marco could feel his excitement just from the cook's haki. The moment Thatch stepped aboard the ship though, he didn't go to Pops to give him the report, oh no. He sent speeding for Ace.

Marco had scooped Ace up and planted his foot into Thatch's face when Thatch began squealing in delight.

"Mean!" Thatch groaned pitifully, rubbing his nose as he stumbled back. "Ace is so cute. Don't hog him, you cradle robber."

Marco twitched.

Ace huffed. "Don't call him a cradle robber!"

Thatch cooed. "Aww, you sound so little. And your little hands! I could just squeeze your cheeks!"

Ace slapped his hands away when he reached up, flushing. "Stop being creepy!"

"I bet Tate and the girls are mothering you-" Thatch grinned.

"Who?"

Marco stiffened. He glanced down at Ace who looked completely baffled. His brow was furrowed, and head tilted. Thatch tilted his head, blinking too, just as baffled. It was the perfect picture of Ace's look.

"Marco's scary division of doctors hell bent on keeping us healthy though horrible means?" Thatch reminded.

Ace's face fell into a scowl. "I don't know what you mean."

Marco's heart dropped.

He cupped Ace's cheek, forcing him to meet his eyes. "Ace, name some of your division members yoi."

Ace grinned. "Deuce!"

"And?" Marco pressed.

"Kotatsu," Ace said happily.

"And?" Marco insisted.

This time Ace bit his lip, his brow furrowed once more. "Um..." he mumbled. "Me..ha?"

"Mihal?" Marco asked softly.

"Yes!" Ace grinned. "Mihal!"

Deuce and Kotatsu had been with Ace earlier, Deuce chatting away while Kotatsu curled up against Ace, purring contently. Marco recalled that Mihar had wandered past, speaking briefly to them, before heading off again.

"Ace." Marco pointed at Thatch. "Who is he?"

Thatch rolled his eyes. "Of course he-"

"I don't know? He's weird."

Thatch's face dropped. He stared at Marco, eyes wide. "Marco?"

Marco repositioned Ace so he was on his hip and marched away. He ignored Thatch's distressed call, and headed straight for Pops. He was trying to remember who had spent time with Ace the past few days.

Izo had been around Ace constantly. Rakuyo too. Betty, the spiked ball weapon Marco remembered Rakuyo having since they first joined the Whitebeard pirates, loved playing with children. She was always gentle with them.

Fossa however hadn't seen Ace today. He had been around yesterday briefly, but avoided Ace due to his smoking habits. He didn't smoke around children, but grew cranky is he didn't get to inhale a cigarette.

"Ace," Marco said, the moment he reached Pops' chair, who looked concerned already. "Who are the Division Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Ace tilted his head, and held out his fingers. "You," Ace said, closing a finger. Marco barely stopped himself from cooing, because he had to admit, that was just adorable. "Me, Izo, Haruta, Rakuyo... And Betty? Maybe Sam?"

"No, Sam is the head nurse in my division yoi," Marco said. "And Betty is Rakuyo's spiked ball chain."

"Oh." Ace deflated, before grinning. "And Pops!"

"He's the Captain yoi." Marco stared up at their father. "Something's gone wrong. The woman's Devil Fruit isn't supposed to do this from what Haruta said. It's supposed to age a person to either a child or an elder, and allow them to return to their normal state in a few days."

Pops' frown deepened. "Ace, do you remember Luffy?"

Ace huffed. "I don't know! Why are you asking me weird things?"

"Ace, what about Garp?" Marco asked. "And Sabo yoi?"

Ace smirked. "I bet Sabo at gathering money for our pirate ship last week-" Ace frowned, tilting his head. "Wait... Why would we be trying to buy a pirate ship if we're on one...? That doesn't make sense..."

"Ace, do you remember being an adult?" Marco asked urgently.

His heart raced in his head, and his Phoenix crooned worryingly. Something was seriously wrong with their lover and it was something they had no idea how to fix.

Ace's nose wrinkled. "I was old!"

The worry turned to annoyance.

Old? Seriously?

"Guarararara! You were still a little kid to me!"

"Yeah, but you're a fossil!"

"I'm surprised you even know what that is," Pops laughed.

"It's what gramps is."

Pops threw his head back and laughed again, slapping his knee. Marco threw him a bemused look.

"Pops, this is serious."

"True, true," Pops agreed, shaking his head. "Something has gone wrong, hasn't it, Ace?"

Ace tilted his head. "I don't get it."

"I know, son," Pops soothed. "I know."

"I'm going to run some tests yoi," Marco said. "But we need to find Jewellery Bonney. Now."

Pops nodded, running a finger over Ace's hair, then patted Marco's back. "We'll keep looking."

Okay, I have to blurbs now (unedited) sorry about that. I know I've got a good few pieces of advice on how to fix one of them, but I decided that showing both ideas for my blurb might be better before trying to fix them.

So here we go, the blurb for The Wardens of Strar:

Example 1

Yasmiel is a young huntress from the quiet village of Horntale. But when her life becomes entwined with the Wardens of Strar and the God of Death, she has to fight to save her family from the approaching darkness.

With the God of Death's undead army, the Mortem, hunting her at every turn, she will have to rely on the help of the Wardens of Strar, their Commander, and the mysterious voice inside of her head.

But will she manage to save her family and uncover the secrets from their past? Or will she be lost to the darkness?

Example 2

Life vs Death

Light vs Darkness

Yasmiel's life has so far been simple, until the day the Commander of the Warden's of Strar walks into Horntale on a cold Summer's morning.

Now she fights the God of Death, and his undead minions, the Mortem, who hunt her at every turn.

Will she survive with the help of the Wardens of Strar, their Commander, and the mysterious voice inside her head? Or will she be lost to the darkness?