HERE WE ARE – Ace's POV!

"Aaaaah, that was a good meal!" petting his belly, Ace stood back up on his striker, ready to make his way back towards the Spadille.

The area they were sailing towards was known for having lots of coral reefs, the islanders at their precious docking spot had warned them that this place was notorious for ending journeys short by sinking ships. Thus, to be on the safe side, Ace had gone to scout ahead and check if the Spadille was light enough to go over or between the reefs, or if they needed to sail around. Luckily there were some parts deep enough for the Spadille to go through, while taking a break to eat his lunch, Ace had made some notes and a small drawing of the course they could take.

With everything packed away again, and with a full stomach (most important), he activated his fire again, sailing towards the Spadille at a speed no other ships could top.
Some may think it's lonely, a boat for 1, but Ace loved this. He could be alone for a while, just him and the sea taking away all of his worries, the wind blowing through his hair, splashes of sea-water hitting him every now and then, seagulls flying in the distance, a big blue fire ball closing in on him. Aaah, sailing on Striker was really relaxing, it always brought him a peace of mind.

….

….

….

FIREBALL?!

Swivelling around his eyes opened like saucers at the sight of a huge blob of fire following him.

-Wtf is that?!-

…

The sound of a bird thrilling got his attention and he looked around trying to locate it, but there was nothing besides the ball of fire... Now that he was thinking of it... the thrill did seem to come from right behind him, from where the fire was coming from...

Upon closer inspection Ace noticed it wasn't just a fire-ball. It was a bird, a magnificent creature almost as big as him. He noticed how some fire seemed to have the shape of feathers, there wasn't only blue fire though, there was also yellow and orange and... Golden ringlets?! -The new word sure has some cool creatures!- The bird thrilled again and flapped its wings. -The wingspan is huge, wwooooow!- Ace was looking on in awe, only barely remembering to also focus on keeping his balance.

Suddenly drool was coming out of his mouth -I wonder how it tastes, heheh... WAIT NO, BAD, BAD ACE! Don't eat all the creatures around! And... Blue fire... Deuce told him it was hotter than him... It would probably hurt even him... Sad... -
He decided he couldn't eat this cool looking creature, and not just because said creature was on fire, blue fire, fire hotter than him, and definitely not because he was directly above the world's largest swimming pool, when he couldn't swim.

Wiping off his drool he continued to look at the extraordinary bird, he could at least taste with his eyes before it flew off, right?

But... it wasn't flying away... and... is it coming closer? Why is it coming closer? And why... why does it have a shine in its eyes as if it wants something... I have no food anymore! As if to show the bird he had nothing worthy of attention with him, he showed his empty hands that were in his pockets. Unknowingly jostling the object of the bird's desire, his beaded necklace.
The bird instantly increased speed towards him.

Once again his eyes opened wide -Ow shit, it's really coming for me!-

Turning around Ace upped his firepower, making him fly over the waves even faster than before. This should take care of that bi- -HOW IS IT EVEN CLOSER?!-

It would make him go a bit off course, but Ace started zooming left and right, on purpose making water splash up towards the bird, hoping to somehow chase the bird off or at least make it go further away. There's nowhere for him to hide, he's in the middle of the goddamn ocean for god's sake!

A thrill got his attention again, A HAPPY THRILL! WHY IS THIS BIRD HAPPY AND HOW IS IT STILL FOLOWING ME! Birds shouldn't be able to fly this fast, how is it this fast!

Every time I looked back the bird seemed to be closer than before, why does it look so happy too! How do I even know the bird is happy?!

-WHAT DO I DO?! IT'S GONNNE FREAKING GRAB ME! What would a bird want from me!? Oh god, it probably knows I wanted to eat it, it's going to eat me in return now. I am sorry bird! Forgive my stomach! Shit shit shit, it could probably even lift him with ease with how big it is! I'm doomed, I'm so doomed. I'll be remembered in the newspapers as 'The captain who got defeated by the first New-World's bird they crossed'. I'm sorry Luffy, your brother is not going to leave this place in style, I'll meet my end thanks to a bird, you probably would have called it a cool blue chicken too.-

A lightbulb suddenly went on in his head, the bird may be fire, but it's a different colour than his, he could probably still scare it away. Just throwing some flames at it should do the trick.

Ace raised his hand and made a fireball about the size of his own head, carefully he aimed towards the bird. He would throw it slightly towards the bird's left, close enough to feel the heat, but hopefully not get burned. He really didn't want to harm this beautiful bird, just make it stop chasing him so he can be on his way!

He waited until they were both steady and threw! This should work, the bird would get scared and fly off and Ace could continue home. Everything was okay and he had a fun story to tell his cre-

"BIRD, NOOO!"

The bird was flying right towards his fireball, why did this stupid bird just turn! Doesn't it see the actual danger coming towards him. It's going to hit him straight on! Ace looked on in horror how the bird and his fireball hit each other, the bird disappearing into an explosion of flames.

-SHIT, BIRD, DAMNIT! He's going to fall and I can't grab him if he hits the water!-

He adjusted his fire and started turning the striker around to catch the bird. However, before he could turn around the bird emerged with a shriek as if he had just conquered the earth.

"What the hell..."

He had no time to think for the bird looked down at him with renewed vigour visible in those dark orbs.

"Aw sh*t"

"Huh?"

"What's up Skull?"

"I just thought I heard the captain screaming."

"Hmm, he called when he left so it should still be about an hour before he arrives here, going by estimate of his usual speed."

"Yea..."

….

"Okay, now I hear it too... OI FINAMORE!"

Finamore looked down from the crow's-nest, "What you want Deuce, I was taking a nap."

"... You shouldn't be sleeping when on watch... Either way, do you see something at the horizon? Like I don't know, a fire?"

Taking up the spyglass Finamore scouting the horizon, "The captain still shouldn't be back you know." he moves towards a new place "You said it was at least 3 hours and it's only been 2."

"Ya, I know bu-"

"AAH CAPTAIN!"

"You see him?"

"SEE HIM?! HE'S GETTING CHASED BY GIGANTIC BIRD THAT'S ON FIRE!"

Deuce already started praying to whatever god would hear him, -Please don't tell me he's guiding it straight towards us.-

"HE'S COMING STRAIGHT FOR US FROM STARBOARD!'

-Dear lord have mercy.- And he's even second in command by being the first mate, why did he ever accept this position.

"EVERYONE! GATHER UP! Ace is coming back and he's bringing company!"

By the time they were all up and ready for a fight, Ace was already getting close to them.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPP MEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Is the captain getting chased by a bird?" - "Yea... And since when are birds on fire..." - "It's a pretty bird though. - "Hmm, you right, it is a cool bird."

Deuce pinched the bridge of his nose, this whole crew is made up of idiots, with the comments he heard, they did NOT have the right priorities. "ACE, YOU BETTER NOT BRING THAT FIREBALL CLOSE TO THE SHIP, YOU'RE GOING TO BURN THE WHOLE THING DOWN!"

"THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO!?"

"NOT BRING IT HERE YOU IDIOT!"

Ace started circling the ship at a small distance, the bird following Ace like a loyal companion.

"SOMEONE DO SOMETHING?!"

"What do you want us to do cap?!"

"I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING"

RWAAAUTCH!

"NO KOTATSU!" - "THE BIRD'S ON FIRE!" - "CATCH HIM!"

Since none of the other flesh-bags were doing anything, Ace's loyal companion Kotatsu, decided to take matters into his own paws and save his fire-human from the evil bird chasing him.
With a mighty roar he sprinted towards Ace, dodging everyone who tried to grab for him. -Rrrrr, Idiots trying to stop me when captain is in danger!-

Reaching the edge of the ship, he jumped up on the railing and used it to push off, lunging himself at the big blue bird.

With a screech the bird went down into the water, both Kotatsu and the bird disappearing under the waterline.

"KOTATSUUUUU!" Ace yelled while turning Striker around.

"ACE DON'T YOU JUMP IN!"

"BUT KOTATSU IS-"

"YOU CAN'T SWIM, YOU IDIOT! I'LL GO!"

Deuce was already taking of his boots and coat, ready to jump in after the lynx. It wouldn't be a problem normally, the cat is a good swimmer, but if that bird was indeed fire and Kotatsu grabbed it…...

Before Deuce could jump Mihar grabbed his shoulders and pointed towards a spot in the water a little further away, "Wait, look over there."

At the spot air was bubbling up and after a moment Kotatsu's head popped up.
Mreeerrww

Ace was instantly at his side and pulling him on striker, squishing his cheeks and checking him all over. "Oh my baby kitten, are you okay? Are you hurt? Show me your paws?!"

"... The baby-talk is never going stop is it..." - "Nope..." - "At least Kotatsu seems to be alright."

"Ehm..." - "What is it Skull." - "... Isn't the bird still in the sea?" - "... AW SHIT!"

Deuce hung over the railing before calling out "KOTATSU, FETCH DINNER!"

At hearing the command, Kotatsu jumped back into the sea and out of Ace's arms, Deuce was glad the Lynx listened to him... some times. Now, hopefully the bird was the first thing he found, or else Kotatsu would bring up a fish.

"KOTASU BABYYYYYYYYYYY- Deuce, how dare you send my baby back into these treacherous waters!"

"I could see from here that he was alright, he's kind of our best swimmer and the birds been under for a while, so Kotatsu is our best shot, AND we taught Kotatsu to not damage pray too much, so he won't hurt the bird more. Unless you wanted the bird to drown, I could swim instead."

"No... but... my kitten..."

Deuce sighed "Cap, he'll be fine, just stay there and then you can even get him back on board quicker."

Falling to his knees Ace looked towards the water, swishing his hand through it and making kissy noises and talking to the water. "Come baby, I got you, you can do it."

"Ace... don't touch the water, you're a fruit user... ah why am I even bothering with this. Someone grab some towels for Kotatsu and the bird."

After what seemed like hours to Ace, Kotatsu came back up, with a limp bird dangling from his mouth. Ace quickly lifted them aboard, holding them in his arms while he sailed them towards the boat.

Wallace and Aggie took care of hauling Striker back on the ship, while Ace was crouching in front of the Lynx, making Kotatsu release his catch.

"You did very good Kotatsu, thank you for saving me." Ace said while patting the lynx, receiving proud purrs and growls in return. "Can you give me the bird hmmm? Please?"

"..."

With a sigh, Ace reached into his blue bag attached to his leg, taking something small out. "Alright alright, here you go, catch!" Throwing the item away from them, Kotatsu released the bird and happily ran after it to get the treat. He swam a lot and got food, of course he would only trade it for a reward, no free labour!

"Aw damn, poor bird, this isn't what I meant for to happen..." before Ace was the blue bird, weakly laying down on the floor, the once huge bright flames that were sprouting of him were now only small flickers. His tail even only seemed to consist of the golden ringlets instead of ringlets being almost concealed in flames. "Deuce, we got some blankets or something?"

"Yea, over here, I'll get you some."

A weak coo turned Ace's attention back to the bird. The bird was getting up on weak legs, cooing softly, once up it wobbled towards Ace.

"Aaah, birdy, be careful, we're going to get you dry in no time!" Ace had his arms stretched out for the bird but he was afraid to touch him, not of the flames, he was a fire being himself, and since Kotatsu was fine, it would mean that the flames somehow didn't burn. But he just didn't want to scare the bird more, it was the last thing they needed right now.

The bird ignored him and slowly came closer with unsteady steps. Reaching him the bird pressed against him and after some movement succeeded in getting his head under Ace's shirt.

"Wha-?"

The bird was literally climbing into his shirt, pressing against his body. Once fully settled the bird cooed softly, it was still weak, but I had sounded a bit … delighted?

"Huh, where's the bird... is he in your shirt? Well... I can understand it."

"Why would he come in my shirt, Deuce?" Ace asked very confused.

"Probably for warmth, it did see you sprouting flames before, maybe it was just following you because it liked your fire. Did you try to stop your flames and see if he stopped following?"

"No..." Ace looked down and into his shirt at the shivering bird. With the bird against him, he could feel the trembles of the creature and how cold it was. He slowly petted the creature through his shirt, moving his arms to hold him. He was slowly rising his own body temperature, hoping to make it more comfortable. A small cooing and head pushes against his chest made him smile, it seemed that at least the bird was warming up and getting cosy.

"Captain..."

"Hmmm?" He looked up to his crewmate, still patting the bird.

"The bird's hurt."

"Huh, how would you kno- aw shit." Ace's eyes opened wide at seeing the state of his shirt. He had thought the wetness he felt while patting was water, the bird just having taking a dip into the sea after all. But … water wasn't supposed to be red now... was it?

They're on the ship, and Marco's hurt! Rip Marco, it's all the marine's fault.

Someone already commented a perfect idea for something birdy Marco will do on the ship, it shall be implemented once Marco's healed. If anyone has any idea's themselves of shenanigans, let me know!

Rambling about a new discovery:
Piece of Spadille, the name of Ace's ship. I always thought 'Spadille' was a type of wood and they just named it after it, idk to be silly, and I decided to look up the type of wood while writing this story...
But no, Spadille is literally 'the highest trump-card in certain card games, such as the Ace of Spades in Ombre and Quadrille'. IT WAS ANOTHER CARD REFERENCE? I feel so stupid now omg, the name feels so much smarter now. I'm sorry Ace and crew and ship for thinking the name was stupid. (Still not a fan of your ship though Ace, the horse-head on your ship looks stupid, sorry not sorry)