Coco: Hey, guys, I'm back~ And with my most favorite chapter of this story so far XD It's a past snippet chapter of Wren's life, which revolves around her meeting Ace for the first time and like the beginning of their friendship. Though Wren would deny being friends with the man.
I kind of want to do more chapters like this. Like, I enjoy the little flashbacks I put in to show more of Wren's past, but every once and a while, I kind of want to take a full chapter and show more about her time before the Straw Hats. Ace will be in a lot of chapters like this as he's an important person in her life who has helped her more than she realizes in the beginning. Other past chapters, will be about her meeting her officers, or her the Doflamingo Family, Corazon/Law etcetera. Or maybe even chapters like this that revolve around her meeting someone in the past that affects her story somehow. So, I hope you like how I did things.
Now, shall we get into the story?
Wren sighed as she finished speaking with yet another informant. So, far the ones she has spoken to have all said the same, which is that the Rebel Army is most likely gone from Yuba. It was seeming as if heading for Yuba was a complete waste of time.
"It would seem as if I won't be going with them to Yuba." Wren said. "However, they needn't know of that just yet."
"So, you aren't going to tell them?" Havel asked as she carried him.
"I will eventually." Wren said. "First I wish to see how the princess reacts to this news of the rebels perhaps being elsewhere."
Wren suspects that Vivi will insist they go to Yuba on the off chance that the rebels will still be there. The wrong choice, obviously, as it would only be a waste of their time. If she chooses to revise her plan, Wren will honestly be surprised, and she might have to rethink her opinion on Vivi being a poor strategist by letting personal issues get in the way.
"Do you not think they can help in your plans in the end?" Havel asked. "Is that why you keep things so close to the chest?"
"No, I keep things close to the chest because I do not trust people." Wren replied bluntly. "Though you are right that I don't have much hope for a bunch of rookie pirates taking down a Shichibukai. Especially when they're following the lead of a princess who clearly lets her heart get in the way."
Havel sighed with a shake of his head. There she goes again acting all cold. She might act like she doesn't care about Vivi or this country, but Havel knew that deep down Wren hated to see anyone suffer. Even the humans she distrusts. But for so long she has lived like this that it has become second nature for her to think and act like so.
"I know my opinion may be unwanted, but I think you should stick with these pirates." Havel said. "Even after you're done here in Alabasta. At least until you've honed your powers once more and taken a step towards your true potential."
Wren's brow quirked. She had no plans of sticking with these Straw Hats any longer than necessary. She hadn't wanted to get involved with them in the first place. Besides, if Doflamingo learns of her association with them, she'd be dooming them to early graves.
Wren was about reply to Havel when she heard the calling of her name, which had her looking up. When she saw who it was who called her, her visible eye narrowed.
'What is that freckle-faced fool doing here?' She wondered as the man walked closer.
Havel tilted his head wondering who the man was. He looked up at Wren seeing her annoyed expression. Well, she obviously knew him. The man finally stopped in front of the pair with a large grin pulling across his face.
"Heh, I knew it! It is you, Wren!" He said.
"Portgas D. Ace." Wren said as she frowned then spoke once more in a sarcastic tone, "What a pleasure it is to see you again."
"Gees, don't sound so upset." Ace said as he chuckled. "I thought we finally got pass the stage where you pretend to hate me."
Wren's glare just worsened, which had him chuckling once more as he placed his hand on waist.
"Well, what are you doing in Alabasta?" Ace asked.
"I believe that's my business." Wren said immediately.
"I see you're going to be friendly." Ace said sarcastically though he kept his tone light to show he was teasing.
Wren actually had to resist doing an eye roll as she wondered what she did to deserve running into him. Now wasn't a good time to begin with, and honestly, she didn't have the patience to deal with him right now. Though…when has she ever? Ever since meeting this man, he's managed to push all those buttons that make her lose her cool.
TWO YEARS AGO, WISTERIA ISLAND
"The Whitebeard Pirates have come to shore?" Wren—age 17—repeated as she looked up from her book.
That wasn't something she was expecting. This island didn't get many visitors, which is why she preferred it as one of her vacation spots when away from her crew.
"It would appear so, milady." The little doll she had animated said. "I counted five ships not including the Moby Dick, which means some of his commanders are present as well."
Wren hummed in response as she closed her book and set it off to the side. She really didn't wish to deal with people during her time to herself. Especially not when one of those people was a Yonko. Even she needs time away from plotting and running an organization.
"Giolla did warn me before I left that my horoscope warned of upcoming problems." Wren said to herself. "Perhaps I should have listened."
Wren looked out the window to the small cabin she had constructed during her last stay. She could see the wildlife stirring restlessly as if some kind of new beast entered the territory.
"I suppose I should go say hi." Wren said. "They will find out I am here eventually after all."
Whitebeard looked around the island known as Wisteria with a small grin pulling across his face.
"This place hasn't changed at all." He said. "We shouldn't have any trouble here, my sons, which gives us time to make our repairs."
He looked to the Moby Dick, which had sustained damage in the group's last fight with the Navy. Though luckily it wasn't anything too serious. A few of the other ships hung back in the bay. One of them being the ship of the Second Division. The Commander of the Division—Portgas D. Ace—seemed eager to look around as he jumped down from the ship.
"So, Pops, what is this place?" Ace asked looking up at Whitebeard.
"I'm a bit curious myself, Pops." Marco said as he joined the two. "You've never brought us here before."
And Marco has been part of the crew for a long time, so he's sailed to many islands with Whitebeard in the past.
"This island is known as Wisteria." Whitebeard replied. "It's an uncharted island that I happened to come across in my younger days. Humans don't live here. Though some of the wildlife can be quite interesting."
Ace guessed that explained why there didn't seem to be any people on this island. Though he was soon proved wrong about that as a young girl came out of the tree line. She seemed close to his age—maybe a year or two younger and had medium length wine-red hair that fell to her shoulders. She had an eyepatch over her eye and wore some fancy looking clothes.
"Oh, looks like we're not the only humans here after all," Whitebeard commented.
"Who could that be?" Thatch asked.
"We might need to be careful." Marco said. "See that pin on her vest?"
Ace looked closer seeing the pin on her vest looked like a jolly roger of some kind. The skull had what looked like a cancelation mark struck through its face and beaming smile.
"She's of the Donquixote Pirates," Marco said.
"The pirates headed by the Shichibukai Doflamingo?" Thatch inquired. "I've never seen her face on a wanted poster before."
And the Donquixote Pirates were a pretty famous crew. Not only for the reason that their captain was a Shichibukai. They caused quite a bit of trouble back in the day too.
"Maybe she's new." Ace guessed.
The girl finally stopped a few feet away with her arms crossed leisurely across her chest. Her entire posture showed no sign that she was wishing to start a fight. But Ace and the Commanders remained alert anyway.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Marco asked the girl.
"My name is Magier B. Wren," The girl replied. "As for your second question, I would ask you the same, Marco the Phoenix. Though I suspect you are here for ship repairs considering the state of your flag ship."
She glanced by them to the Moby Dick before looking back to them with a sigh leaving her lips.
"And where is the rest of your crew, brat?" Whitebeard asked. "Waiting to cause trouble from the shadows?"
"I happen to be here alone," Wren said. "I was trying to have a nice vacation away from the rest of humanity, but then all of you show up. Would it be too much to ask if you hurried with your repairs then leave posthaste, so that I may enjoy my vacation in peace?"
Ace's eyes widened slightly at this girl's demanding tone. He wasn't expecting that. Many people didn't even want to be near Whitebeard since he could be so intimidating, but this girl didn't seem to care at all. Ace looked up at Whitebeard wondering how he was going to react. It was silent for a long moment before Whitebeard started laughing.
"Gurararara, you're a blunt brat." Whitebeard said as he continued to laugh. "Why did you show yourself anyway?"
"I thought it better to make introductions now than wait for you to stumble across me later," Wren said with small shrug. "You might have thought I was up to no good, and it would have been tedious if things turned into a fight due to a misunderstanding."
Thatch sweat-dropped wondering if this girl was being for real. It would have been 'tedious' for her if a fight happened?
"Now back to my previous question, will you please hurry with your repairs?" Wren brought the conversation back around.
Not only did she want some peace and quiet, but this island was special. Special in the since that like Magus, it had Fae that called it home. These Fae never see humans, and she feared they might get too close out of curiosity. From what she's heard of Whitebeard he isn't the type to get into slave trading, but that doesn't mean everyone in his crew is the same. She would have to keep an eye on these pirates until they leave.
'Which will be work…work I didn't want to do on my vacation,' She thought irritably.
Wren sat at a small table that had her favorite tea set laid out as she was sipping tea and enjoying tea cakes. Around her the Whitebeard Crew was dancing around merrily and just celebrating as they drank and ate. She didn't know how things had come to this. The Whitebeard Pirates had been busily making repairs to the Moby Dick all day, but once night hit things had quickly escalated into a party…A party she had somehow been dragged into by the Fourth Division Commander.
She didn't mind too much as she was given free food and drink. Besides, she needed to keep an eye on them, and being invited to join in on their party was the perfect excuse, and didn't make her look suspicious. Luckily the Fae have kept back so far. Though Wren occasionally senses a few on the jungle's edge watching the newcomers.
"You're not going to join in on the fun?" Ace asked as he walked over to her.
Wren glanced at the second division commander as he was leaning against the empty chair at Wren's table with a grin on his face.
"I typically leave the partying to the more rambunctious type." Wren said as she crossed one leg over the other. "I am content with just watching from the sides."
Ace nodded his head then looked at his crewmates as they enjoyed themselves, which had his grin widening. Ace was about to speak again, but suddenly a snore left him instead as he tipped forward. Wren's eyes widened partially as he slammed into her table, which broke it and sent her tea set either crashing down with the table or into the air to fall into the sand and crack. Everything went silent as everyone looked over at the scene of Ace sleeping on top of the broken table.
"Gees, he did it again." Thatch said as he chuckled.
Wren wasn't laughing, however, at what just happened. Wren slowly stood up from her chair with her bangs shadowing her face to make it impossible to read her expression. A dark aura engulfed her as she glared down at the peacefully sleeping figure of Ace. She drew her sword, which had some of the commanders stiffening, but Whitebeard motioned for them to stay back since he wanted to see what would happen.
"First you break my most favorite tea set, and now you have the gall to sleep as if nothing happened." Wren said as her eyebrow twitched. "I will not allow it!"
She kicked Ace hard in the side, and it was enough to send him flying through the air to crash into the ground seconds later. He was instantly awake as he blinked rapidly in confusion.
"What the…?" He murmured. "What's going on? Why is it so—?!"
He cut himself off when feeling the dark aura in front of him. He looked up to see Wren glaring at him murderously as she pointed her sword at his throat.
"I am not one to lose my temper so easily," Wren said. "However, that tea set was the one and only gift I had been given by someone important to me. A simple apology won't do. Now, on your feet. Die with dignity."
Ace gulped actually feeling fearful for his life as Wren raised her sword looking ready to strike. Ace, who dodged Wren's first swing, started stuttering apologies as he raised his hands in defense. He then practically squealed as he had to roll across the ground to escape the next swing. As the crew watched, they could see Wren wasn't really going to kill the dark-haired male as she wasn't using the haki she had used to land her kick on Ace in the first place. Marco grinned as Ace continued to apologize to the angered Wren. Whitebeard let out a loud laugh as the exciting atmosphere continued on.
"Such a lively brat, isn't she? Gurarara!" He laughed then took a large gulp of sake.
"I said I'm sorry!" Ace shouted as he ran away from Wren.
"That isn't good enough!" Wren shouted back. "Now stand still already!"
Ace watched Wren from a safe distance as the girl was sitting out on the beach with a book in hand. It's been a few days and the repairs to the Moby Dick were almost finished. Whitebeard said they should be leaving by tomorrow after they take another night to rest. However, Ace didn't want to leave…not until he made things right.
Even though Wren has calmed down since the first night and was acting as if she was over the tea set being broken, Ace would tell she was still upset. She said someone important had given it to her. And he broke it. He had to somehow make it up to her.
"Ace, how long are you going to stare at her, yoi?" Marco asked as he stopped beside the hiding Ace.
Ace frowned looking up at his crewmate who was looking at him with a quirked brow.
"I just feel bad." Ace said as he stood up from his crouched position. "And I don't know how to make things up to her. I know I don't really know her or anything, but I broke something of importance to her."
Marco hummed in understanding as he looked over at the young female pirate who had been approached by Whitey Bay. The two women conversed with Wren even offering a seat to the older woman. The girl might be reserved and come off as cold, but it seems like the members of Whitebeard's crew has taken a liking to her.
"You know, Hand Island isn't far from here." Marco pointed out to Ace. "It might not have the same sentimental value, but perhaps a tea set crafted by one of their skilled artisans would be a start."
Ace's face lit up and a wide grin pulled across his face as he looked to Marco.
"That's a great idea!" Ace said. "Thanks, Marco. I'm going to tell Pops that I need to make a quick trip!"
Ace was then running off with Marco shaking his head as he watched the younger man go. Wren, who noticed the freckled-faced man running off, quirked a brow as she wondered what had him going off in such a hurry. Marco, who had started walking over to her and Whitey Bay, noticed her look.
"Don't worry, yoi." Marco said with a grin. "He'll be back soon enough."
Wren gave a scoff as she looked away. She placed her chin in her hand as she rested her elbow against the arm of her chair.
"I am not worrying myself over where that idiot goes," Wren informed the First Division Commander. "As far as I'm concerned, it's better that tea set breaker leaves."
She was still very sore about what happened last night. After all, Cora-san had given her that tea set as a present. It had been the first gift she had received after being taken from her home at the age of five. Marco chuckled at Wren's dismissive tone as he sat down on the sand.
"It was that important to you, hmm?" He asked.
Wren sighed though nodded her head. No point in denying it, she supposed. She's been trying to act as if she was over the fact it was broken…but she wasn't. It may seem childish and she had much more important things to be concerned with than a broken teapot and some teacups…but still…she was upset.
"You said someone special gave it to you," Whitey Bay commented.
"Yes…someone who has been gone from this world for some time." Wren said. "It was the only thing I had to remember him by…besides the memories. Though I still have those, so I suppose I'm just being a bit dramatic over some broken porcelain."
"I don't see it that way," Marco told her. "And neither does Ace, which is why when says that he's sorry that he really means it, yoi."
Whitey Bay nodded in agreement. Wren sighed once more. She could already tell that. The freckle-faced fool wore his emotions on his face as clear as day.
"I feel as if you are trying to say I should forgive him, Marco-san," Wren said.
Marco's grin grew as another chuckle left between his lips. He then nodded his head.
"You two could be good friends if you give the kid a chance, yoi." Marco said.
"No, thank you." Wren said as she looked away once more.
'She's a stubborn one,' Marco thought as she watched Whitey Bay pick back up the conversation she had been having with Wren before he walked up. 'But Ace is too…I'm curious to see how this goes between the two.'
Honestly, despite their short time knowing the girl, Marco has taken a liking to her. She isn't like most of Doflamingo's crew. Most of them are cruel and think themselves above everyone else. The commander Corazon almost being worst of them all…
"Huh, you mean you collected all of this for us?" Thatch asked as he looked at the large sum of food and resources that was behind Wren.
The young woman nodded her head in reply. The Whitebeard Pirates were getting ready to disembark the island now that the repairs were done to the Moby Dick. They had stayed last night to rest—though it was more like to party, which meant Wren knew they used a lot of their supplies.
"I was rude to you before when you all first arrived," Wren said then gave a small shrug. "Consider it an apology. You all actually made my vacation more enjoyable than I thought."
Thatch grinned then threw his arm over the girl's shoulders, which had her stiffening. Marco and Vista chuckled when seeing the bothered look on Wren's face at being touched.
"Ah, I knew you weren't as cold as you were acting, Wren-chan!" Thatch said as his grin widened.
"Please just let go," Wren requested.
Thatch laughed though released Wren from his hold. As soon as she was free, Wren took several steps back. Wren then looked around.
"Is Fire Fist not back yet?" Wren asked. "Did I frighten him away?"
"No, but it shouldn't be much longer, yoi." Marco told her.
Wren hummed in reply. She was going to tell the crew to have a nice trip and return to what was left of her vacation. She wouldn't be missing that tea set breaker anyway. Though before the farewells could be given, Ace came speeding through the water on a small boat that seemed to be powered by his devil fruit. He stopped it at the shore with a big grin on his face.
"Hey, you're still here! That's good!" Ace said as he jumped out of his small boat with a bag thrown over his shoulder.
He ran up to Wren who watched him in mild curiosity as he crouched down to open his bag. When he pulled out a teapot, she was caught off guard. The teapot was finely made with a lot of attention to detail. Flowers were painted along the sides of it and even flowers were molded into the porcelain.
"I know I can't really replace the tea set I broke," Ace said as he held up the teapot to Wren. "You said it was given to you by someone important. But I hope this shows you how truly apologetic I am about what I have done."
Wren took the teapot from him to look at it with wide eyes. She can't remember the last time anyone has ever given her something…No, yes, she can. Her last tea set…the one Cora-san had given her.
"I even have teacups to go with it." Ace said. "I helped with these."
He brought out two teacups. One beautifully made with the same design as the teapot. The other…well the handle had an odd dip in it and the edges were uneven. The painted flowers also looked like they were done by a child. However, despite that…Wren found herself smiling without her even realizing it.
"I know mine's not the best, but I really tried and…" Ace trailed off when seeing Wren's smile.
It was like her whole face was transformed in that very instant. Her features turned soft and her visible eye seemed to turn bright. Wren noticed his look.
"What?" She asked.
"…you're smiling…" Ace said with a grin.
Wren stiffened as she finally realized she had been smiling. She then scoffed as she turned away.
"Of course, I am," Wren said. "It's because of how ridiculous that teacup looks. Are you sure a child didn't do it?"
Despite the insult to his work, which he took a long time on, Ace chuckled as he stood up.
"I'm glad you like it." Ace said. "And I'm going to take that as I'm finally forgiven."
Wren gave him a look of annoyance as a huff of disbelief left between her lips.
"Forgiven?" Wren repeated. "I don't believe I muttered such words. I might accept this gift, but that doesn't mean you've earned my forgiveness, Fire Fist."
Ace's grin just whined as he leaned in to bring his face closer to Wren's which had her leaning away suspiciously.
"Then guess I'll just have to work harder to earn your forgiveness." Ace said. "Though if you just wanted to keep me around longer, you could have just asked. Didn't peg you for the shy type."
Wren felt a rage start to boil in her chest. It wasn't like the other times she's became angry as those times she had only felt a frigid fury that she kept well maintained. This anger reminded her of when she was still a child and Law had done something to really annoy her.
"Fire Fist," Wren began gaining his attention.
Ace then grunted in pain when Wren harshly pinched his nose while glaring at him.
"Just get out of my sight already before I change my mind about not chopping off your head." Wren said. "Consequences be damned."
Ace just laughed irking her further as Marco and Vista watched safely from the sidelines.
"Scary little thing, isn't she?" Vista joked.
"Yeah, but I can see those two becoming good friends," Marco said with a grin.
PRESENT DAY, ALABASTA
"I believe I told you to leave me be." Wren said as she narrowed her eyes at him and pinched his cheek. "Have you become hard of hearing since we last spoke?"
Havel, who was watching from the sides, sweat-dropped as Ace just chuckled not even trying to pull away from her hold. He was used to how she acted. She'd grabbed his cheek or nose to pinch in punishment if he did something that displeased her, which he's done often.
"Come on, let me buy you lunch." Ace said. "We haven't seen each other in a few months. We should catch up. Like, why are you so far from Dressrosa?"
Wren frowned since taking the time to have lunch wasn't a good idea. She didn't have the time, and she needed to return to Luffy and the others. Besides, she didn't need anyone from the crew spotting her with Ace as that would raise questions to which she wouldn't wish to answer. Wren, who paused in her thoughts, then gave Ace a deadpanned expression as something occurred to her.
"Do you even have any money to pay for food, Mr. Eat and Run?" Wren asked.
Coco: And there you go! Ace and Wren's first encounter. I basically took the flashback from the previous version and extended it into a chapter and added things here and there. I hope you enjoyed it~ I'm quite happy with how it turned out.
Welp, I guess I'll be seeing you guys later for the next chapter! Until then, remember to stay safe but more importantly, keep being your awesome shelves! Tootles~
