Coco: Hey, guys, I am back with a new chapter! Hope you're ready for it :D


Wren sighed as she and Havel, who laid at her feet, watched Ace stuff his face full of rice and meat as he was eating his umpteenth dish. She was going to go broke because of him. She didn't even know why she was still here. She didn't have the time to be wasting.

"I see that your eating habits haven't changed." Wren deadpanned.

Ace chuckled at her words before shoveling more food into his mouth. After he finished chewing and swallowing, he looked to Wren.

"Thanks for this, Wren." Ace said. "I was starving."

"You're welcome I suppose." Wren said then she sighed again when seeing how messy his face was. "You need to wipe your face."

He nodded his head then wiped his face with the back of his hand, which had Wren frowning at him.

"I meant with a napkin," She practically hissed.

She then took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She wouldn't let him get the best of her like he always does.

"Oh, right." He said chuckling.

He grinned at her while amused by the glare she was sending him. Havel, who was watching the scene in interest, was a bit amused as well. He's never seen Wren act in such a way, so it was fun to watch her lose her temper.

"So, you two traveling together?" The chef asked as he set more food in front of Ace.

"No." Wren replied. "I merely had the misfortune of running into this idiot while I was walking through town."

The chef sweat-dropped at how hostile Wren seemed towards Ace who wasn't even bothered by her tone.

"Oh, yeah, I actually came here to speak with you, sir." Ace said. "I'm looking for someone, and an elderly woman down the street said you know about everyone. I—!"

Ace was about to say more when he suddenly slumped forward with his face falling into his food. His hand that was holding his fork was still up in the air with a piece of meat hanging from it. As the other patrons and the chef started freaking out, Wren shook her head.

"Is he okay?" Havel asked with a tilt of his head.

"He's fine," Wren replied.

She then heard others murmuring frantically about Ace keeling over so suddenly, and that it must be the work of a type of spider known as the Desert Strawberry. People, who were backing away from the second division commander, were starting to think he really was dead.

"Miss, you should back away from him." One man whispered. "If you don't, you might suffer the same fate as your friend."

"There's no reason to be afraid." Wren said as she poked Ace's head. "He's merely sleeping."

The patrons looked shocked to hear it as they looked at the man whose face was still buried in his food.

"A…sleep?" The chef murmured.

As soon as the words left the older man's mouth, Ace shot up while gasping as he woke. Havel grimaced when seeing that his face was covered in his food. Everyone gasped in surprised when seeing he was awake.

"He came back to life!" Someone shouted.

Ace just blinked blurry-eyed while looking like someone who just woke up from a long night's sleep. He looked left and right seeming confused by everyone's stares. It was silent for a moment as the patrons and chef looked cautiously at Ace. Finally, a young woman stepped up to him.

"Um," She began uneasily. "Are you alright?"

She then let out a scream as Ace lifted her skirt, so to wipe his face, which had Wren sighing for the umpteenth time. The young woman then ran away as Ace just blinked. He turned back to face the bar counter to resume where he left off eating, which meant stuffing that piece of meat in his mouth.

"Sorry about that." He said as he chewed around the meat. "Fell asleep."

"You were asleep?!" All the patrons demanded at once.

Ace just put more food into his mouth while ignoring everyone's weirded out expressions.

"That doesn't make any sense!" One man said. "You were right in the middle of a conversation!"

"And now you're just eating like nothing happened?!" His companion demanded.

Ace frowned at them thinking they were acting rather odd as Wren shook her head.

"Gees, what's all the commotion about anyway?" Ace asked as he glanced at the three men behind him and Wren.

"We had thought you dropped dead! Are you crazy?!" The three men yelled.

Ace ignored their question as he looked back to the chef with a confused expression. He then gestured to the three men with his thumb as he continued to eat.

"Does this restaurant of yours do comedy skits or something?" Ace asked.

"No, that isn't our thing." The chef said as he grinned uncertainly. "Not here. We're just all glad you're okay."

Though as soon as he said that, Ace fell asleep again with his face falling into his lunch.

"Dammit! Cut it out!" The chef snapped along with those three men.

Some people started to leave the restaurant out of annoyance, which Wren didn't blame them for. Wren sighed while sliding off her stood. She pulled out more beri than was probably needed for Ace's meal to pay the chef with.

"This should cover everything." She said as she handed the cash to the man. "I apologize for his behavior."

She then smacked Ace on the head to wake him up again, and he did with a start. He sputtered a second later when Wren threw a napkin in his face.

"Clean your face." Wren said as she placed her hands on her hips.

Ace did as he was told then looked at Wren to notice that she seemed ready to leave.

"We leaving already?" Ace asked.

"We—as in you and I—aren't going anywhere together," Wren corrected him. "Havel and I will be taking our leave, however."

Though before she and Havel, who stood up and stretched out across the floor, could leave, someone else entered the restaurant.

"You have some nerve eating in a public place like this."

Wren and Ace turned seeing a man who seemed to be in his late twenties to early thirties. He had snowy white hair and a muscular physique…and he seemed to be a marine. The last thing that Wren needed or wanted to deal with at the moment.

"Even for a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates." The marine continued. "Hello, Portgas D. Ace."

Some of the people in the restaurant started to freak out when hearing Ace's name. The man's eyes then slid over to Wren, which had her openly frowning at him.

"You a crewmate of his?" He asked.

"No," Wren replied. "I just happened to run into gentlemen on my way here, Marine Officer sir."

Ace chuckled at her tone as the marine narrowed his eyes at Wren. Obviously trying to figure out if she was a pirate herself. Wren turned her gaze to Ace.

"This is all your fault," Wren informed him as she spoke in hushed tones. "As always, you draw too much attention."

Ace's grin only grew as he took a drink from his mug. As usual, he didn't seem to care that he brought trouble onto himself.

"I'm curious," The marine continued. "What's such a big shot pirate like you doing in this country?"

Ace didn't reply at first as he sat down his mug onto the counter of the bar. His movement making some people flinch.

"I'm looking for someone." Ace answered. "And happened to run into an old friend."

He gestured to Wren, who gave him a look, as he finally turned around in his seat to look at the marine. As he placed his hand on his hat, he grinned.

"My little brother." Ace continued.

Wren vaguely remembers Ace speaking of his brother to her before—like a lot—, but she can't remember the boy's name. It went silent with a tense atmosphere falling around the restaurant.

"So, what do you want from us now, Captain?" Ace asked.

"I believe, I have no part in this." Wren said as she picked up Havel. "Besides, I am a busy woman, so I don't have time for such tediousness."

She knew the others were probably wondering where she was at the moment, and she needed to deal with this problem quickly, so she could return to them. However, she would like to do so without fighting or getting on the marines' radar.

"I'd just like you both to come with me quietly." The marine said. "If you're really not a pirate and have no actual connection to Portgas D. Ace, we'll let you go, Miss, but we'll have to ask some questions first."

Wren frowned though wasn't surprised. She should have just gone about her day when running into Ace. Whenever she's with him, bad things always happen, so she knew better to get involved with him.

"No, thanks." Ace said. "I think I'll pass, and as Wren said she's very busy and doesn't have time to deal with you."

"Yeah, I figured you would say something like that." The marine said while not looking perturbed in the slightest before giving a small sigh. "I'm here in Alabasta trying to hunt down another pirate at the moment. To be honest I have no real interest in capturing either of you right now."

Wren tilted her head as she wondered slightly what kind of pirate had to be here in Alabasta to have a marine captain personally looking for them. Had to be someone important.

"Then look the other way." Ace said as he shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." The marine said as he clenched his fist, which started to smoke. "Not as long as I'm a marine and you're part of a notorious pirate crew. And if that woman with you is a pirate, I can't simply let her go."

Ace held back a frown as he kept his relaxed position as he was leaning against the bar counter.

"Those aren't very good reasons, now are they?" Ace asked as his body language seemed to change. "How about I give you one?"

The two men looked ready to fight, but paused when hearing a voice that sounded vaguely familiar to Wren yelling something. And the yelling was getting louder. Suddenly something or rather someone hit the marine in the back hard, which sent him flying forward. He shouted in shock as he was flying right towards Wren and Ace, which had their eyes widening. Wren managed to dodge to the side just in time as Smoker hit Ace so hard, they went flying through multiple buildings and crashing through walls.

"What just happened?" Havel asked.

He was answered by the shout of a familiar voice, which had Wren turning around to see Luffy standing there with his arms raised high.

"Woo, food!" Luffy cheered. "Now, I can eat! Finally! I'm starving! I thought I was gonna die!"

Luffy then jumped on top one of the barstools while grabbing the silverware Ace had left behind.

"Old guy, give me food," Luffy demanded. "Come on."

As the poor chef looked completely lost at what just happened, Wren let out a sigh.

"Luffy," She said getting the younger pirate's attention.

Luffy grinned at the sight of her and Havel while not seeming to notice their exasperated expressions.

"Ah, Wren, Havel!" Luffy exclaimed. "Did you guys come here looking for food too?!"

"Not exactly," Wren replied. "Tell me, have you managed to meet up with the others yet?"

"Nope!" Luffy said shaking his head. "You two are the first I've seen."

He then went back to demanding food from the chef who surprisingly made the boy some. If Wren was him, she probably would have turned him away after what he had done. As Luffy was getting his food, Wren glanced through the holes Luffy made. He really sent Ace and that marine pretty far. Wren couldn't even see either of them.

'Ace, could have easily avoided that 'attack' even if he wasn't expecting it,' Wren thought as she heard Luffy happily munching in the background. 'Why didn't he just allow the marine to faze through him? He's made of fire after all.'

Wren looked back to Luffy who was conversing with the chef about what he had done. She wasn't surprised when Luffy didn't seem to get it. All he seemed concerned with was eating. Wren then blinked when she saw Ace pick himself up from the rubble. He didn't look happy in the slightest as he came marching back towards the restaurant, but not before apologizing to the people in their homes as he went through. His approaching figure had many ducking for cover or running from the restaurant entirely.

"This is probably going to turn into a fight," Wren commented. "I'd rather not have to keep Ace at bay as Luffy escapes."

She didn't think the young captain was quite ready to fight a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. As Ace got closer, Wren stepped forward to try and get him to calm down as he looked pretty angry. Though his annoyed expression turned into a happy one when his eyes landed on Luffy.

"Haha, hey, Luf—!" Ace tried to call out.

However, he was shoved face first into the ground by the marine who also seemed to know Luffy.

"Straw Hat!" The marine growled.

Wren looked at Luffy, who just continued eating, as she wondered how he knew Ace and this marine. He didn't even seem to care about the marine's presence though as he just kept on eating.

"I've been looking for you, Straw Hat." The marine said. "I thought you'd be here. Seems I was right."

Luffy didn't even reply as he kept on stuffing his face. He ate just as badly as Ace, which was saying a lot.

"Would you quit eating?!" The marine demanded.

"I apologize for him," Wren said to the marine as if it were a reflex.

The marine looked to her as she stood off to the side with a look mixed between annoyed and tired on her face.

"So, you know Straw Hat as well," The marine said. "You must be a pirate."

"Hmph, you know you shouldn't assume," Wren informed him.

The marine growled at her while looking ready to start a fight, but Luffy suddenly spitting his food all over the marine brought the marine and Wren to a pause.

"You're that Smokey guy!" Luffy said. "What are you doing in Alabasta?!"

The marine just frowned as he looked ready to start swinging at any moment. Luffy held up his hand.

"Wait a second," Luffy said.

He then proceeded to shove all the food into his mouth at once before he took off running.

"Comph onf Mren!" He called over the food in his mouth to Wren.

The marine shouted for him to stop as he quickly gave pursuit. Wren and Havel just watched them go for a moment before the prior looked to Ace.

"How long are you going to lay there?" She asked.

As if her words snapped him out of whatever daze he was in, Ace jumped to his feet. He then grabbed his bag and snagged Wren's wrist to pull her along as they ran.

"Luffy, wait up!" Ace shouted as he ran. "Luffy, it's me!"

'Why does this kind of stuff always happen I cross paths with this man?' Wren wondered irritably as she ran behind Ace.


Back where the others had set up a temporary base, Vivi sighed as she placed her hand on her hip. It was getting later in the day, and Nami's group wasn't back with Luffy or Wren yet.

"Where could have Luffy and Wren gone?" Vivi wondered aloud. "They don't know the island at all."

"I'm sure that rubber-brained idiot is fine wherever he is." Sanji said. "Though no crew should have to work this hard to keep up with their captain. I'm worried about Wren though. She said she just needed to collect some intel. I didn't think it would take this long."

He was expecting her to be back already, but the longer she was away, the more worried he became. Sure, she had the furball with her, but that didn't make him worry less. Sanji then looked up from his task of dividing out the supplies to see the others returning and without their missing companions.

"It doesn't look good," Usopp said. "We could be in serious trouble if we don't get out of here soon."

"Trouble," Sanji repeated. "Why is that?"

"Cause the marines are here." Nami told them.

Sanji frowned because that wasn't good at all. They wouldn't have a reason to bother Wren as she wasn't a pirate, but Luffy on the other hand…

"Marines?" Vivi asked.

"Also, some mystery man." Chopper asked. "We saw him talking with Wren after he had been asking about Luffy to the locals."

Sanji completely froze for a moment as his eyes widened after hearing what Chopper just said. He then whirled around to look at the tiny reindeer.

"Mystery man…with Wren?!" Sanji gasped out. "Is that bastard trying to take her away from me?!"

Zoro rolled his eyes at the blonde who got bonked over the head by Nami who told him to keep it down.

"Let's just find Luffy and Wren as fast as possible and get out of this town as fast as we can," Nami said.

She then gasped as Zoro pushed her and Chopper behind the stone wall they were beside.

"Hey, hide!" He told them.

"What for?" Nami asked.

Though she quietened down when hearing shouting and people running around. She frowned. Looked as if the marines were closer than they thought. This wasn't good at all.

"What was that?" Chopper asked.

"It's the marines." Zoro said.

"Yeah, and they're excited about something," Usopp added.

As if to agree with his statement, the shouting only seemed to grow louder as the marines continued to run around.

"I'm sure it's nothing," Sanji tried to assure his friends. "They're probably chasing some idiot pirate who's running crazy around town."

"Some idiot pirate?" The others said.

Sanji frowned as the words replayed in his head with a certain smiling idiot's face coming to mind. That's when they all heard it…the screaming of a voice that they knew all too well.

"It's Luffy!" They all screamed in frustration as they stood up.

Which proved to be a mistake as Luffy, who was running by, managed to spot them. He grinned at the sight of his friends.

"Oh, hey, Zoro!" Luffy called out causing the swordsman to flinch. "What's up? Oh, so that's where you guys have been!"

He started running towards them, which brought the marines right their way as well.

"No, you moron!" Zoro growled. "Get rid of them first!"

It was too late, however, as the marines quickly spotted them as well. With no other option, the group gathered their supplies and started running. Luffy was quick to catch up as they had to flee quickly from the group of marines behind them.

"Luffy, have you seen Wren?" Sanji asked as the group ran. "I haven't seen her since we separated in the market."

"Huh, Wren?" Luffy murmured. "I thought she was right behind me."

He glanced over his shoulder, but saw no sight of the woman and her cat. His eyes widened.

"Oh no, did Smokey get her and Havel?!" Luffy shouted.

"You mean you left her behind with the marines?!" Nami snapped. "Luffy, how could you?!"

"I thought she was following me!" Luffy said.

Sanji growled in annoyance as he looked over his shoulder as previously mentioned marine captain caught up with his men. He didn't see Wren with the man, but that didn't that she was safe. Smoker could have left her behind with some other marines to guard her.

"We have to go back and find her!" Sanji said as they kept running. "And if those damn marines even laid a single finger on her, I'll kill them!"

The group then came to a screeching halt as a wailing noise entered the air before the marines running alongside Smoker were sent flying. Zoro narrowed his eyes when seeing slash marks appearing on their bodies as if they were cut by a blade.

"I appreciate the concern, but I assure you I won't be bested by a few marines," Wren, who appeared suddenly with Havel, said as she held her sword out to her side.

"Wren, you're okay!" Chopper cheered.

Smoker, who had come to a halt, looked back at his men in surprise as they lay on the ground. They had several cuts on their bodies and they appeared to be stunned as they laid there with wide eyes and shaking bodies. Smoker turned his eyes to Wren.

"Just who are you really?" Smoker demanded to know. "You can't just be some citizen!"

"I have no reason to answer your question," Wren told him coolly. "Now, why don't you give up and leave us be? That first blow was merely a warning. The next…will be deadly."

Smoker glared at Wren before giving a shout as he threw out his fist which extended far due to his arm turning to smoke. The attack never reached Wren as someone else intervened.

"Heat Haze!" Ace shouted as he used his fire to block the attack.

As her companions watched in awe at what was happening, Wren fanned herself with an annoyed expression on her face as Ace, who had turned himself into pure fire, started to bring his flames together to return to his normal state. Though the flames still licked his body as he planted himself firmly between Smoker and the rookie pirates behind him and Wren.

"You again," Smoker grumbled.

"Just give it up," Ace told Smoker. "While you may have the power of smoke, mine is fire. A fight between the two of us would be pointless. It would probably go on forever."

"Or you could take your chances with me," Wren added as she brandished her sword. "I warn you now that your smoke body won't save you from my blade."

Smoker grit his teeth together as he looked at the two keeping him from his real target.

"Alright, looks like the mystery man has devil fruit powers." Zoro said. "And he seems to know Wren."

"Who is this guy anyway?" Usopp asked. "Why is he helping us? Is it because he and Wren are…friends?"

Wren, who heard him, tried not to pull a face at the word 'friends' as Ace chuckled. Even if she hid her annoyance well, he still noticed her jaw tense slightly.

"That you, Ace?" Luffy asked causing the older man's grin to widen.

"You haven't changed a bit, Luffy." Ace said as he glanced at Luffy over his shoulder.

Wren glanced back at Luffy with all the pieces falling into place. She was honestly surprised she hadn't figured it out sooner. Ace mentioned his brother so many times, she doesn't see how she forgot his name. Not to mention, the similarities in some of the behavioral habits was a giveaway as well.

"It is you." Luffy said still looking shocked. "Really? Wow, did you eat a devil fruit or something?"

"Yeah, the Mera-Mera no Mi." Ace replied.

More marines were arriving as the two conversed. The injured were moved out of the way and replaced with fresh troops, which meant they were going to have a fight on their hands. Something Wren had really wished to avoid.

"Anyway, now probably isn't the time for chatting." Ace said. "You guys get out of here we'll catch up. Don't worry about these guys. We've got them."

"While I don't appreciate you assuming I'm going to help you out, you are right," Wren said. "They won't be a problem."

Luffy didn't have to be told twice as the told the others to follow after him. Sanji ran though looked worriedly over his shoulder to Wren as Havel jumped down to get out of the way. As her current companions got away, Wren looked to Ace.

"So, that is the infamous little brother," Wren commented casually. "To think I've been traveling with him for a week or so now and hadn't even realized his connection to you."

"It's because you only remember things that interest you," Ace teased. "I guess stories about my baby brother didn't make the cut."

Wren's lips actually twitched up at his jest as he wasn't completely wrong. Though it was more like Wren tuned him out often. Especially when he spoke of things that weren't of any interest to her.

"There's one thing I don't get," Smoker said cutting off their conversation. "No, two things. I don't know you who are, woman, despite the fact you seem to have ties with a notorious pirate group like the Whitebeard Pirates. And I don't understand why you're both helping Straw Hat."

"Can't a guy help out his bungling kid brother?" Ace asked. "Even you should get that, Smoker."

"He's your kid brother?" Smoker said. "Interesting. And how about you? What's your reason for helping Straw Hat?"

He looked to Wren as he spoke as she rested the blunt side of her blade against her shoulder.

"My reasons are my own and do not concern you," Wren told Smoker. "As for who I am, well, I still don't feel like sharing that information. Sorry, Captain, but I'm not so easy."

Smoker growled feeling even more annoyed by the second as his target got away. He had to deal with these two quickly.

"Tch, I see asking you questions isn't going to get us anywhere," Smoker said. "So, move it."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Ace and Wren replied in unison.

Ace then erupted into fire as the white in Wren's eye bled black with her red iris glowing bright.

"Now, let's see what you've got." Ace said grinning broadly.


Coco: And that's the end of that chapter. I know it's been very Wren and Ace these last two chapters, but we'll be back with more Wren and Sanji very soon as the poor love cook gets jealous over the flame boy XD