SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 39 out, this is Chapter 40 of this fic.' and yes, Ace-boi is in this chapter. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors, myself included, sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ace/Sasha, familial Luffy/Sasha, patriotic Law/Sasha (Might end up as a Law/Sasha pairing later if I end up killing Ace at Marineford and if reviewers don't mind the age gap)

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC.

Chapter 40: Arc 4: The Heroes Reunion! His Name is Fire Fist Ace!

"We have to find Luffy." Nami dragged the protesting Usopp and Chopper away. "We're done shopping, so we can leave for the next town as soon as we find him."

"Speaking of which, I wonder where the hell Luffy ran off to." Zoro wondered.

"Knowing him..." Sasha sighed, pretty much used to the antics of her sibling. "Zoro, what's wrong?" she asked when she saw the swordsman's attention was diverted.

"That guy..." Zoro frowned, spotting Ace in front of a trader with Luffy's bounty poster in hand.

"It' couldn't be..." Sasha breathed, her eyes taking in the familiar hat. "Why is he... doing here?"

"Who was that?" Chopper mused. "He looks really, really strong."

"And why is he looking for Luffy?" Usopp questioned.

"A bounty hunter?" Nami inquired.

"No, he's not." Zoro replied. "That mark..." he trailed, the Whitebeard Pirate's Jolly Roger was proudly inked on Ace's back. "As a former pirate hunter, I can never forget that mark. Is that..." he then spotted Tashigi at a weapons stall. "It can't be... that woman." he moaned. "Why is she here?"

"If she's here, then I can safely say Captain Smoker is here, too." Sasha predicted. "Speak of the devil..." she muttered when Smoker appeared.

"Wasn't he the Marine Captain from Loguetown?" Nami whispered, the group hiding behind a large vase.

"Does that mean he chased after all of us all the way from Loguetown?" Usopp gaped.

"Where the hell is that idiot?" Zoro muttered.

"There's bad news." Usopp informed Sanji and Vivi once the group reconvened back at the broken wall. "We have to leave right away, this place has bad vibes."

"Bad vibes?" Sanji echoed.

"The Marines are here." Nami replied.

"And a strange man, too." Chopper added.

"Let's find Luffy as fast as we can and get out of this town." Nami suggested.

"Get down." Zoro pushed the others closer to the wall when he heard yells from the distance. "Marines." he concluded.

"They're making a lot of noise over something." Usopp pointed out.

"IT'S YOU!" the others chorused when Luffy ran by, chased by the marine soldiers.

"Yo, Zoro!" Luffy beamed. "Everyone's over there!"

"IDIOT!" Zoro roared. "Don't come here until you've lost them!"

"What should we do?" Usopp stammered, now that the Marines were focused on them.

"Our only option is to run." Nami replied.

"We have to get to the ship." Vivi added.

"What's taking you so long?" Luffy shouted, running past them. "Let's get going!"

"YOU MORON!" the rest of the crew shouted after him, following their captain.

"Everyone, fall back!" Smoker took the lead from his men. "The Straw Hat is mine!"

"He caught up with me!" Luffy panicked.

"White Blow!" Smoker let loose his attack. "You won't escape!"

"Heat Haze!" Ace's blast of fire met with Smoker's smoke trail, both attacks nullifying each other.

"You again..." Smoker muttered.

"Give it up." Ace grinned. "You may be smoke, but I'm fire. With our abilities, a fight would be pointless."

"That guy has a Devil Fruit's ability?" Zoro blinked.

"Who the hell is he?" Usopp gasped. "Why is he helping us?"

"I knew it!" Sasha's eyes widened.

"Ace!" Luffy was shocked.

"You two never change, Luffy, Sasha." Ace smirked.

"Since when did you eat a Devil Fruit?" Sasha asked.

"A while back," Ace replied. "I ate the Mera Mera Fruit. Anyway, we can't talk like this." he focused on the fight. "I'll catch up later. You guys run for it. I'll keep these guys busy."

"Let's go!" Luffy gave the order.

"But Luffy..." Nami voiced.

"Who the hell is that?" Sanji asked.

"Wait, Sasha." Nami looked at the girl beside her. "Just who was that?"

"Is he someone you knew, Luffy-san, Sasha-san?" Vivi asked.

"Yeah." Luffy grinned. "He's our brother!"

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.