Coco: Hey, guys, I'm back like I said I would be, and I hope you're having a wonderful holiday wherever you are. I did get a little behind on some of my work. So, everything but Bright Like a Diamond was finished and I am so sorry about that. I unfortunately got sick and it slowed me down. But I am better, and I promise you that I am still working on that story to all of whom are you reading it.

So, the other two rewrites will be posted tonight. I have them all typed up and ready to go along with the chapters I promised and I hope you're ready for them. Now without further ado, let's get started, shall we?


"It's been two days." Wren said with a sigh as she rested on the snake's back while the sun was in the middle of the sky meaning it was midday…maybe a little later.

Over that course of time, she has named her new snake companion Rattle, and she hasn't sensed any of the Straw Hats or Ace. She wondered just how much distance there was between her and them. She knew she was on the right course according to the map she had. But she didn't know if they were.

'I really need to stop wasting time,' Wren thought. 'They aren't my concern. They chose the life of piracy and decided to come here and defeat Crocodile. They knew the risks.'

Though despite thinking that, she had a nagging feeling the back of her mind. She'd almost call it a sense of worry.

'But there's no reason for that,' Wren insisted. 'While I don't find them unpleasant to be around, they are not my friends. Just a group of people I've traveled with due to a pushy father and due to having similar goals. Goals a certain princess will put in jeopardy if she doesn't open her eyes and realize her way isn't the right way. I can't risk my own plans because of her.'

Too much was at stake. If Doflamingo got his hands on the weapon Crocodile believes is here in Alabasta, Wren feared her and Law's dreams will become impossible to accomplish. Even with thousands of allies, they wouldn't stand a chance if Crocodile has really found the location to one of the ancient weapons.

'Luffy and the others are allies,' Havel put in his two cents. 'They can help you reach your goals.'

Wren almost scoffed. A bunch of rookies had no chance against Crocodile let alone her ultimate foe. She could take them all out if she wanted at their current state.

'Just because they lacking the same strength as you that doesn't mean they're weak,' Havel argued. 'Even the smallest and most helpless have purpose and can be of use. You know that very well, Misce.'

Wren just frowned as she starred out at the desert in front of her. Whatever her decision, she needed to make it fast. She couldn't keep wasting time here. As if finally taking pity on her, fate intervened to make a decision for her.

"Oi, Wren! Wren, is that you?!"

Wren came out of her thoughts when she heard the familiar voice of Luffy calling to her. She sat up on Rattle's head as the snake came to a stop. Squinting her eyes sightly she managed to see that the others were a little to the west from her. She saw Luffy jumping up and down as he waved, and Sanji was calling out to her as well with his eye in the shape of a heart. She even saw the boys were back with Nami and Vivi, which meant the crew was back together again. Wren jumped down from Rattle's back as the others hurried over to her.

"Wren-chwan, I'm so happy to see you're alright!" Sanji said as he ran towards her with his arms out.

He went to hug her, but she stepped to the side, so he ended up running right into Rattle. Sanji fell back onto the sand as the others sweat-dropped. Sanji blinked while looking up at the large snake in front of him. It looked like a giant cobra, but he could hear its tail rattling like a rattle snake.

"Is…is that an Emperor Rattling Cobra?!" Vivi exclaimed with wide eyes.

"What now?" Usopp asked.

"Emperor Rattling Cobras are the deadliest reptiles in the desert!" Vivi explained. "Not only are they highly venomous, but their extreme speed and strength makes it nearly impossible to survive once crossing their paths!"

Usopp, Nami and Chopper all squealed in fright as the blood froze in their veins for a moment.

"Wren, what are you doing with such a thing?!" Nami asked.

"I needed a safe way to cross the desert." Wren explained simply. "This one here volunteered by crossing my path."

She reached up a hand, and the large snake leaned down to let Wren scratch his chin, which he seemed to enjoy if his wagging tail was anything to go by.

"Stupid perverted snake." Sanji grumbled as the glared at Rattle.

Rattle pulled away from Wren to hiss at Sanji in a threatening manner, but one snap if the fingers from Wren had Rattle lowering his head again in a submissive manner. She gave him a stern look, which had him looking almost guilty for what he had done.

"You tamed him?" Vivi asked looking freaked out.

Wren nodded her head, which had Vivi looking more shocked than before. She couldn't believe anyone could tame an Emperor Rattle Cobra.

"I didn't wish to, but I simply had to show him I was the bigger predator." Wren explained. "After that, he was quick to do as I asked."

Ace just chuckled as he watched the snake nudge Wren. Like a puppy wanting attention, which she gave.

"Now, it's good to see everyone together again." Wren said. "What have I missed with your group?"

"Oh, Wren, it was so cool!" Luffy said as he got really close to her face. "First we met sand pirates! Then Vivi and I rode on a sand sled thingy! And after that we found Ace and fought against fake rebel soldiers who turned out not to be such bad guys in the end! And Ace brought us a lot more supplies, see?!"

He gestured to all the supplies they now had, and Wren guessed they'd be set to Yuba now since they still had their pervious supplies as well.

"Oh, and we just got done eating one of those desert shrimps!" Luffy said. "Oh, I mean scorpion! You said it was scorpion, right?"

He almost seemed proud of himself that he remembered as Wren nodded her head. Even in this heat, Luffy had the energy of a child. He was an odd one that was for sure, but she already knew that.

"It would appear all of you had fun while I was away." Wren said simply.

Ace chuckled at her words as he placed a hand on her shoulder, so she glanced up at him.

"I'm just glad to see you." Ace said. " I was getting worried."

Sanji glared at Ace and his hand on Wren's shoulder as Wren quirked her brow at Ace.

"Worried?" Wren asked. "You should know a desert isn't going to be what ends me."

"I know, I know." Ace assured her as he grinned. "But friends worry about each other, right?"

Wren just narrowed her visible eye at Ace silently, and even if her expression wasn't friendly, Ace continued to smile while having a feeling he got the answer he was looking for.

"Just remove your hand." Wren said. "I don't need your filth on my clothes."

Ace chuckled though did drop his hand away from her shoulder, so to appease her.

"What have you been up to, Wren?" Nami asked. "Did you get into anything interesting while you were away?"

Wren debated whether or not to confess about her plans to ditch the crew in the desert. However, in the end, she thought better of it.

"No, nothing at all." Wren said. "Besides, meeting my new friend here, I haven't done much."

"I'm just glad you're back, darling~" Sanji said. "Did you miss me like I missed you?"

Wren just blinked at the blonde before turning away and suggesting they get moving. Ace gave the man a look of sympathy for being ignored, but Sanji just seemed happy as he followed Wren with a little pep in his step. He was just glad his beloved Wren was back where he could protect her.

Wren sat with the girls during breakfast a few days later while ignoring the rambunctious actions of Sanji, Usopp, Luffy, and Zoro. She wasn't even sure what they were fighting about this time. Rattle was curled off to the side snoozing with Eyelash, who had taken a liking to the snake, lying beside him. Even Havel, who decided to leave Wren's shadow, was enjoying a nap with the two as he laid on Rattle's back.

"Why do they behave this way every time we eat?" Vivi asked.

"Just don't make eye contact." Nami warned her.

Wren didn't comment at all as she finished eating her breakfast. She set her plate and utensils to the side then happened to glance over at Ace who seemed to have finished as well. As she was looking at him, she could see the almost troubled expression on his face.

He was probably thinking about Blackbeard. She knew it had to be frustrating at times for him to have to travel at the same pace as the group since she knew he could go much faster on his own just like she could. He could have found Blackbeard by now most likely. Or at least have found out if he was here or not. Makes her wonder why he's sticking around.

"Ace is so calm and orderly." Vivi said. "He cleans his fork and plate after each meal."

"Makes me think there's hope for his gender after all." Nami said.

Wren almost snorted since they haven't been around Ace long enough to know he's not as calm and orderly as they think.

"Sure beats his incompetent brother." Nami added as she looked at Luffy.

Wren looked down at the young captain as well as he was having his cheeks stretched out by Zoro.

"Ace is cut from a different cloth that's for certain." Nami said. "Judging by his well-mannered personality, you'd never guess he had a staggering bounty on his head."

"Ace has a bounty on his head?" Vivi asked.

"Portgas D. Ace: Wanted Dead or Alive." Wren said. "Overall bounty: 550 million beries."

Vivi and Nami looked at Wren with wide eyes with their mouths dropping in utter shock. Nami knew it was a lot, but she had no idea Ace was worth that much.

"He's worth that much?!" Vivi squeaked.

"Yes." Wren said nodding. "He is the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates after all. He couldn't hold such a title if he didn't have the power to back it up. Though you'll find a lot of people with bounties that high the farther you go into the Grand Line."

Nami's mouth dropped even more while feeling freaked out by the very thought of running into someone with a bounty that high that might want to kill them. Vivi then looked at Wren curiously.

"Wren, may I ask what your bounty is?" Vivi said. "You mentioned once being a pirate, yes? Did you have a bounty?"

Wren, who crossed one leg over the other, shook her head as she looked up at the shy.

"I stuck mostly to the shadows of my crew, so not to gain attention," Wren lied since she had indeed once had a bounty and was once a very well-known member of the crew. "Besides, Doflamingo is a Shichibukai. Once a pirate earns that title, their bounty along with their crews' bounties are suspended."

Though now that she has left the crew, her bounty was most definitely reinstated. The picture was most likely updated as well to show her true face. She just wondered if 'Corazon' or if her actual name would be used for the wanted poster.

"So, you never received a bounty?" Vivi questioned. "But you would think someone as strong as you would have caught the attention of the government."

"I suppose I'm just not strong enough to get on their radar," Wren said with a shrug.

"Well, I've never beaten you in a fight."

Nami and Vivi jumped slightly when Ace's deep voice sounded behind them, but Wren just calmly turned her head to look at him. He was crouched down behind the girls grinning, and Vivi and Nami blushed a bit in embarrassment since they realized he must have heard them talking about him.

"I have never beaten you either." Wren pointed out. "Of course, we've never had a serious fight. You are either goofing off or running away."

"You wouldn't want to face you head on either if you were me." Ace said. "You can be scary sometimes. Especially when you're angry."

Wren almost rolled her eyes at his comment, which had Ace's grin widening even more. He saw her resist making a face.

"Forgive me for intimidating you," Wren said with sarcasm dripping from her tone. "However, if one woman scares you so much, perhaps Whitebeard-san should find someone else to be the 2nd division commander."

Ace laughed not feeling insulted at all by Wren's jab since he was used to them. As he laughed, he didn't notice the heated glare he was getting from the Straw Hat cook.

"I'm not giving up my title as the 2nd division commander so easily." Ace said. "Though if you finally take me up on my offer and join the Whitebeard Pirates, I might let you fight me for it."

Wren's brow quirked at his offer. It wasn't the first time he's tried to get her to join him and the Whitebeard Pirates. Probably won't be the last, but this was the first time he offered up his spot as second division commander.

"What an interesting offer," Wren said as her lips turned up. "However, I must decline. The thought of being stuck on a ship with you every day is simply…revolting."

Nami and Vivi sweat-dropped at Wren's mean words as they exchanged a glance. Ace just grinned.

"Come on," Ace said. "Everyone on the crew already likes you and Pops is going on about needing more daughters. He'd be happy to welcome you."

Sanji, who had been listening in on the conversation, growled while practically seeing red. He'd never let anyone take away one of his lovely ladies. He'd die before he let that happen.

"Ace, you can't have Wren!" Luffy butted in before Wren could reply. "She's part of my crew!"

"Yeah, you tell him, Luffy!" Sanji said in a rare moment of agreeance with his captain. "Wren-chan isn't going anywhere with you, Ace."

Ace's just turned up, which only pissed off Sanji even more. Wren just stared at the three men with a blank expression.

"I don't recall agreeing to joining your crew either, Luffy," Wren said. "As I mentioned before, I'm a retired pirate. Our alliance now is only held together with the common goal of defeating Crocodile. Once that is over, I will take what I wish from his resources before moving on."

Luffy pursed his lips at her words and grumbled under his breath in an act that was very much like a pouting child.

"We should probably keep moving." Wren then changed the subject. "We can't waste too much daylight."

Everyone—except the pouting Luffy—agreed, so they prepared to move out. Wren helped Sanji collect the dishes as Nami put out the fire.

"Done." She said. "Well, it's time we get going."

"You may wish to tell those two that." Wren said as she pointed towards Zoro and Luffy who were now fighting after Zoro had told Luffy to get over himself and stop pouting.

Nami sighed shaking her head as those two kept arguing and tussling over something so childish.

"Knock it off you two." Nami said. "Right now!"

She hit them both over the head hard, which sent them to the ground with large swells on their head. Wren shook her head at the scene before going over to Sanji with the dishes she had collected.

"Thank-you, my dear." Sanji said as he grinned at her.

"You're welcome, Sanji." Wren replied.

Wren then turned towards Luffy as he started talking about flying-talking meat, which made no sense whatsoever. His shouting had Rattle lifting his head from his curled-up body as Wren blinked at Luffy wondering if the sun had gotten to his head. However, she soon sensed two small presences near, so she turned just in time to see the meat being taken away as it was seemingly floating through air, which Rattle noticed as well. Wren could tell it was on a fishing line though, and that there were two people behind the little theft.

"Wait, Meat!" Luffy shouted as he hurried after it while ignoring Nami's calls.

He just continued running after it as Wren and Ace exchanged a glance. It seemed he had sensed the two people as well.

"Rattle." Wren said. "Pursue."

She snapped her fingers and the snake was already zipping through the maze of rocks after the meat. Havel, who ha woken from his nap due to Rattle moving so suddenly, yawned and stretched.

"What's all the commotion about?" Havel asked as he rubbed at his eyes.

"Just a couple of thieves," Wren said. "You may remain here with the others. I'll handle the situation.

"I think I'll tag along." Ace said as he placed his hat over his head.

"Me too!" Sanji said as he jumped in between Wren and Ace.

He then sent a glare at Ace, and the older man chuckled when seeing the blonde chef was purposely trying to keep him from Wren. Wren sighed then hurried in the direction that she sensed the two presences. Ace was right after her, and Sanji was ignored when he told them to wait up. He watched them go with tears entering his eyes.

"Wren-chwan, is being taken from me by that flame head!" Sanji wailed dramatically.

His crewmates shook their heads at him as he curled into a ball of despair. Vivi tried to comfort him, but it didn't seem as if it was helping him.

"Come on, we have to go after them." Nami said frowning.

Ahead of them Wren and Ace soon caught up to Rattle who was coiled around the two thieves. He wasn't coiled tightly, but just enough to keep them from running. Wren got a closer look at the thieves seeing they were just children.

"Ah, so these two are the ones who stole from us." Ace said as he crouched down on the rock Wren was standing.

"It appears so." Wren said. "Rattle, come here, please."

The snake didn't have to be told twice as he moved away from the two boys to go wait behind Wren loyally.

"Was the food to your liking?" Wren asked as she sat down properly beside Ace.

The older boy put himself between the younger boy and two pirates as they looked down at the children.

"Stay back!" He said. "I mean it."

Wren almost wanted to chuckle at how pathetically amusing it was that the boy thought those words could keep pirates at bay. The naivety of youth amuses her sometimes. Though it almost saddens her as well.

"You can't have the meat back!" the younger boy said. "We ate it."

Wren and Ace said nothing as they continued to look down at the two frightened boys. The older boy suddenly brought out a gun to point at the two, but Wren didn't feel very frightened considering how badly the boy was shaking. Even if he did pull the trigger, she doubted it'd hit one of them.

"E…Either of you move a muscle and your dead!" the older boy warned.

Ace grinned though the look in his eyes was quite dangerous as he continued to look at the boys.

"As a general rule, I'm not fond of people pointing guns in my face." Ace said. "An even more important thing, however, is that I really don't like guns being pointed at my friends."

"Dip, listen!" The younger boy shouted. "Have you ever shot a real gun before? Will it really shoot bullets?"

The older boy, Dip, told the younger to hold on, and he went to shoot. His younger brother tried to stop him, but the gun went off with the bullet flying right towards Wren. Ace acted in a flash, and through a rock at the bullet to stop it in its track. Those boys stared in amazement while muttering about how amazing that was. Wren just sighed then jumped down from the rock, which had the boys jumping in fright since they had no idea if she was as strong as her companion.

"You two are playing a game not meant for children." Wren said with an almost stern expression on her face. "You do not fire a gun unless you're willing to risk the consequence if you happen to miss, understand?"

She then took the gun from the boys, which had Dip flinching since he thought she'd use it on them. However, she just emptied the chamber with the remaining bullets falling to the ground. They were then surprised when she tossed the gun up into the air and drew her sword. In a split second, it seemed as if she had only moved once before placing her sword back into her sheath. However, as soon as the sword clicked into the sheath the gun fell to the ground in multiple pieces.

"They're strong…I've never seen anyone like them." The younger boy said. "Are they going to hurt us?"

Just then the others caught up to see what Ace and Wren had found, and Nami was surprised to see it was two kids.

"What's up?" Usopp asked. "Who are they?"

Wren was about to reply with an "I have no clue", but stopped when the two boys ran up. The younger one grabbed her cloak as Dip looked up at Ace pleadingly.

"Please, sir, miss, my brother—Chip—and I have a favor to ask you!" Dip said.

Chip nodded his head as he gave Wren a pleading expression as well while continuing to hold onto her cloak.

"There's someone we need you to find and catch for us, please!" Dip pleaded. "It's important."

Chip nodded again as Wren and Ace exchanged a glance. It would be Wren's luck to get caught up into someone else's problem.

"I can give you a reward!" Dip said. "If you catch him for me, I'll pay you a million beries!"

"A million beries?" Nami asked.

Wren looked at the boy with a quirked brow while noticing he didn't seem as if he could have a thousand beries let alone a million.

"Yes." He said then looked down. "I can't pay either of you right away, but I will as soon as I grow up, I promise."

"I'll help too!" Chip said nodding as he looked up at Wren still. "Please, miss, help us find him!"

Wren tilted her head to the side as Dip brought out a ripped picture of a middle-aged man.

"Help us find this man!" Dip said.

Wren took the picture from him to get a closer look, but she wasn't really interested, so she passed the picture over to Ace.

"My brother and I have been on his trail, and we know he's close." Dip said. "We followed him from the badlands."

"We need more details." Usopp said. "What's his name?"

"Scorpion…he's a bounty hunter." Dip said.

Wren doesn't believe she's ever heard that name before, and if she did, he was probably some nobody, so she pushed his name to the back of her mind to be forgotten.

"Hold on, you sure?" Zoro asked.

"What possible reasons could you two have for wanting to chase a bounty hunter?" Nami asked.

Dip and Chip exchanged a look before looking down at the ground. Wren narrowed her visible eye at the pair before giving a small sigh.

"I'm sorry, children," Wren said. "However, I have no interest in this bounty hunter, which is why I see no point in going out of my way to find him for you. Especially, when you're obviously hiding something.

Dip and Chip bit their lips guessing it was a long shot to get help from these people.

"Actually, Wren, this might interest you a lot." Ace said.

Wren looked at Ace with a questioning quirk of her brow as he continued to look down at the photo.

"This is the man I came to see." Ace said, which had the others looking at him. "The man who defeated Blackbeard is somewhere in Yuba…He goes by the name Scorpion. My whole purpose of traveling to Yuba is to meet his man."

"That guy…defeated…Blackbeard?" The others—besides Wren—asked in unison.

"No way!" Usopp said. "I don't believe it."

Wren frowned as she took another look at that photo once more, which showed a middle-aged man who didn't seem to have anything special about him.

'This the man who claims to have defeated Thatch's killer?' Wren thought. 'Impossible. I won't believe it.'

Thatch was a strong man. After all he was a division commander. Teach taking him down in the first place was nearly impossible to believe. But Teach had managed to do so, so she found it very unlikely, the man in the photo in her hand had took down Teach. It almost irked her to think this man was bold enough to make such a claim.

'Just who is he?' Wren wondered.