Don't mess with the Whitebeard pirates
Lucia's POV
I stay curled up in the corner with tears running down my face. Never had I been exposed to violence to this extent and I felt ashamed that I was so weak. Rayleigh had been right, I have to train, I don't want to always be dependent on the help of others. Suddenly there is a terrible noise up on deck. I look up at the ceiling hoping it is Ace and the others. "Ace?" I ask, trying to relax as my body has tensed up due to my posture. "Lucia, where are you?" Ace asks me seriously. "In a cell!" I say fearfully. Suddenly I see the door open and the scarred face, fearful, enters the room. He has a pistol in his hand and I tense up again. He looks at me angrily and yells, "This is all your fault!" I don't say anything so as not to provoke him further. He storms towards my cell and frantically unlocks the door. I jump up and try to escape through the door but I can't. He grabs me by the hair and pulls me in front of him. I try to free myself, flailing around, but I just can't. He wraps his arm around me, around my neck and holds me in front of him like a shield. "You're going to help me escape, bitch!" he hisses in my ear. I tense up completely and tears run down my face. He is about to push me away from him when the door flies off its hinges and Marco enters the room. The Phoenix quickly grasps the situation and if you know him you can see the unbridled rage in his face, to outsiders he just has a bored expression. "Let go of the girl!" Marco says calmly, too calm to be harmless. I look at him pleadingly. Scarface sputters, "If you come even a little too close to me, I'll put a bullet through that little girl's head!" I feel the cold metal against my temple and wince, in consequence the guy chokes me even more. I whimper and Marco's aura darkens. "It's all right, Lucia. We'll go home soon!" Marco tries to reassure me. He looks me in the eye and somehow I calm down a little. I swallow hard. The scarred face wants to sneak past Marco and keeps holding me in front of him, this way Marco can't do anything and he keeps looking at the man. Then comes the point where we are closest to Marco. I close my eyes and try to muster all my courage. I quickly bite with all the strength I have into the arm that is holding me in place. The man cries out and reflexively lets go of me. I lurch forward with my eyes closed and can already feel warm arms wrapped around me, I can smell Marco's scent, of sake and sea as well as warm forest floor. "It's all right," I hear him murmur. He lets go of me for a moment and I hear a loud crash, then his arms were wrapped around me again. Sobbing, I claw into his shirt. Tears run incessantly down my face. Marco hugs me tighter and keeps stroking my hair soothingly. I feel the stress now taking its toll and both of them sink away. Marco quickly lifts me up in his arms and presses my face against his chest. "Keep your eyes closed!" he urges me. I nod wearily, trying to suppress the trembling. I just want to get to Ace! I feel Marco walking through the corridors and can smell the scent of burnt flesh, blood and fire. I press my face harder against Marco's chest and want to shut out the world.
Narrator's POV
Marco has found the little girl just in time. She is completely distraught and Marco feels the anger boiling inside him. Lucia presses her face fearfully against his chest. If Ace sees her like this, there won't be much left of the ship, and even if there is, by the time Whitebeard sees her at the latest, the ship will be rubble. Everyone on the Moby has already developed a protective instinct towards Lucia. Marco quickly runs on deck, mentally resolving to force the little girl to train from now on, but first she has to recover from the fright. When Marco steps onto the deck, he sees a picture of destruction before him. None of the slave traders are still standing and the mast has snapped off and is on fire. Ace walks straight across the mast, ignoring the flames. His face is shrouded in shadow and the fires themselves, seem to dodge the fury of the fire fist. Ace himself has only one thing on his mind: Lucia! He steps quickly towards Marco and carefully takes her from his arms. Lucia seems to know who is snatching her from the Phoenix's safe arms. She immediately nestles her cheek against his chest and looks up at Ace with tears veiling her eyes. Marco steps back for safety's sake. And suddenly an interesting spectacle presents itself: Ace can no longer keep his devil fruit under control and his arms burn up without him noticing. But the flames don't hurt Lucia, they flicker up her arms as if to calm the little girl. She herself doesn't seem to notice much of this. Rather, she looks exhaustedly at the fire fist. They seem to be communicating again and Ace nods. He hides his face in her hair and presses the little girl tighter against him. Somehow Marco doubts that Ace will let go of the little one at all in the near future, let alone let her out of his sight. And if he is completely honest with himself, he probably won't do that either until the girl can defend herself. It was close, far too close. The Moby has caught up by now and you see relieved faces when they see Lucia. Ace jumps to the Moby with her in his arms and immediately the Doc is with them to examine Lucia. The poor guy has a hard time with his work, because neither Lucia nor Ace want to let go of each other.
Lucia's POV
I cling to Ace as the Doc examines me, afraid to wake up and be back in the cell. I wasn't in it long but I never want to be that helpless again. I breathe in Ace's soothing scent again. I was distracted for a moment and flinch in shock as a hand touches my shoulder. Vista cries out in fright and I look up quickly. He is fanning his hand back and forth. What has happened? Ace seems confused too, having buried his face in my hair. I don't complain because it gives me a feeling of security that I desperately need. "Ace what's this nonsense?" hisses the Doc stressed and looks at Vista's hand. Ace seems confused. "I didn't do anything!" he defends himself and continues to hold me. "So you didn't notice?" Marco now asks curiously. What did he notice? I am too exhausted and distraught to bother with it any longer. The only thing I want is a bed and Ace. "Not now!" I hear Whitebeard say "Ace take Lucia to bed!" I feel Ace nod, he stands up and I look around for a moment. Whitebeard looks at me with sad eyes and I resolve never to expose him to such a situation again. I would become stronger! Quickly, Ace walks through the corridors to our cabin. He gently puts me down on the bed and is about to leave. "Not!" I think fearfully, not yet ready to give up the safety of the fire fist. He puts his forehead to mine and says in a calm voice, "I'll be right back, I'm just going to get some fresh clothes for you." I try to bring myself to let go of Ace, but it's hard. I swallow hard and shakily pull my hand back. Immediately I feel lost in the semi-darkness of the cabin. Next to me the candle suddenly flickers on and I calm down a little. Ace looks at me sadly and quickly goes to the cupboard. There are the bags I bought just a short while ago. He grabs some shirt and brings it to me. "Come on, take this rag off first." he says reassuringly to me and hands me the shirt. I take off said rag as quickly as possible and put on the long-sleeved shirt. The dress immediately bursts into flames. I quickly crawl under the blanket and pull it over my head. Ace sighs and climbs under the covers with me, but keeps his distance. I flinch, is he angry with me? I start to cry again, it was just too much for me.
Narrator's POV
Ace lies down in bed with Lucia, but gives her space. He doesn't want to crowd her, not after she's only experienced something like this. Had he been selfish to take her out of her world again. Should he send her back again? Suddenly he hears a thought from Lucia that is certainly not directed at him: "Is he angry with me?" Ace is horrified that Lucia would think that. Without his conscious effort he pulls Lucia into his arms. She flinches at first, but then she embraces him seeking support and Ace gives her what she needs: Hold! Just as she was for him. He shouldn't have let her out of his sight. Not in a world like his. He had seen her world. A peaceful, defenceless world. At least in his eyes. Without his doing, Ace starts humming a tune. Lucia stops crying and Ace looks at her. She has fallen asleep from exhaustion. He would never let anything happen to her again. She may have the strongest heart he has ever seen, but physically she is weak. Ace, too, begins to doze off. The candle goes out, plunging the room into darkness. Unnoticed by the two asleep, flames keep flickering onto Ace's body and then jump over to Lucia to continue there. Without hurting, without burning.
On deck: "This must not happen again!" says Whitebeard angrily. Nobody messes with his children, he never wants to see one treated like that again. And Lucia was his weakest child. He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "She needs to train!" says Marco darkly, looking at the wreckage that was once a slave ship. Whitebeard had only really stripped the ship after Lucia was below deck. But first they had made sure there weren't any poor souls still on the ship. But Lucia seemed to have been the only one. And the rest? Their own fault, you don't wake a sleeping monster. "Have you any ideas yet, son?" asks Whitebeard of his first mate. "We must see what she can do. Besides, her general strength needs to increase!" says Marco thoughtfully, already making notes in his head. Whitebeard grumbles and then asks, much like the father he was, "What else is on your mind?" Marco looks at the sea and says, "You can't beat those two for oddities, but now THAT!" Whitebeard laughs. He had noticed it too and was looking forward to seeing what would happen. Marco doesn't seem to find the whole thing quite so funny. "I don't know what you find so funny about it, Father!" he grumbled. Whitebeard just laughs, it could only be an advantage for his only daughter. Vista joins the two after Marco waves him over. "Can you teach the little one the basics of combat?" asks Marco, because then he can concentrate on fitness. They would make their chick fly yet! Vista nods, for he too has been worried about his sister.
Lucia's POV
I am alone in the darkness. Something keeps tugging at me and I am terrified. I try to scream but no one hears me. I run into the darkness, but I don't know if I'm moving at all. I hear a laugh that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Panic-stricken, I try to move away even faster but I cannot. As if in a swamp, my legs try to struggle against resistance. I flail around desperately but find nothing. Suddenly a light appears in the darkness and I see Ace in front of me. The glow is enough to see that I am stuck in a black sludge. "Ace help me!" I whimper as I can't make it on my own. I want to reach for his hand but he pulls it back and says, "I don't need someone so weak!" and turns away. He seems to fade away, leaving me alone in the darkness. I want to scream again but the gloop flows into my mouth and seems to gum up my lungs. I try to fight back, but I can't breathe. Suddenly there is a small fire in front of me. It seems to displace the cold and darkness. I see how the black gloop simply dissolves. The fire shines softly in my face. It just seems to float in the air. All of a sudden it shoots towards me and I notice a familiar smell, but I can't place it. I want to retreat for fear that it will burn me, but it comes after me. It glides over my face almost lovingly, like a familiar hand that wants to wipe away the tears. Then it hovers around me as if it wants something. It floats in the other direction and somehow I have the feeling that it wants me to follow it. I walk hesitantly after the fire, which keeps waiting. The darkness suddenly breaks and I am at Ace and my clearing. I let myself fall into the grass, relieved that the dream or whatever it was is over. The little fire is still with me and keeps nudging me. That familiar smell surrounds me again. Suddenly the fire hisses and Ace is in the clearing. The little fire immediately starts circling him and then flickers and disappears. What was that? Ace rushes towards me and takes me in his arms. I breathe in his scent. Then suddenly it hits me, the fire had the smell of Ace on it. I snuggle into his arms as he strokes my head. "We haven't been here in a long time!" says Ace and I nod, actually I thought we couldn't come here after we both have our own bodies now. "Everything good?" he asks me and I nod. Yes, everything is fine now. He lies down on the grass and I just lie down next to him. Here I feel safe again. But the dream remains in my head that I was completely alone, that I was too weak. "Lucia, what's wrong?" Ace asks me seriously. I'm still lying with my head on Ace's chest. "It's nothing!" I say to reassure Ace. Ace growls and then says, "Tell me the truth!" I was about to say something but he gives me a sharp look. "I don't want to be a burden to you!" I admit. "We'll train!" says Ace to me. I keep quiet, having my doubts if I can ever be that strong. "You're not alone!" he continues, stroking my back. Tired, I close my eyes again and take a relaxed breath. While not physically tired here, I was mentally tired. There has just been too much going on the last few days!
Narrator's POV
Ace looks at Lucia calmly. She was lying against his chest, asleep. He almost lost her, not only she has to train, he has to train too. Never again does he want her to be snatched away from him. Inwardly he still blames himself for not having looked after her. He feels that something is still bothering her, but he can't help her unless he tells her the truth. Ace closes his eyes and falls asleep.
Next chapter:
First training and voluntary swimming
... Vista stands in front of me and taps his forehead. "First you run around the Moby to warm up!" Inwardly I groan, but I start to run. Slowly at first until my muscles have warmed up, then I pick up speed. As I stubbornly put one foot in front of the other, I mentally call Vista a whole series of unpleasant names. I said I was training, not that I don't curse the trainer. ...