Author's Notes:

plain italicized = Blackthorn Ashe

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This Chapter was beta'd by the amazing Blackthorn Ashe (*Ace's respectful deep bow* - *glomps Roseanne for a big hug*) and the equally wonderful Black' Victor Cachat (*long may he rule* -love this dude! Read his stories!-Ashe), they did the greatest job on editing and sharing ideas with me and keeping me motivated. It was as always a lot of fun working with them :D I am eternally thankful! -I love ya too!

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I don't own One Piece. No duh.

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The Spade pirates will be given the awesome voice that was created by Stormy1x2,(also amazing!)especially in her story The Ten Years Difference (if you haven't read her stories, then do yourself a favour and go read them) and in addition we have more information about the crew that can be found in the wiki of the Spade crew. I am combining the "two crew" to the one that I want, because I can (and I am a badass and an evil Genius mwahahaha.)

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Warnings:

Ace's self-worth issues, cursing and English is my fourth language. (and uncontrollable urge to knee slap in laughter XD) Warnings may change in the future.

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Thank you all for the encouragement and the amazing reviews!

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Guest

Thank you for your review.

That idea is most definitely on the list.

Hope for your continuous enjoyment, let me know!

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Emma/ ex-Guest LOL

Thank you for your review. I have no intention of leaving such an awesome idea :)

Very happy to hear that you thoughts " It shows how laid back but powerful Shanks is. " because that the impression that I wanted to leave. Wonder what you think about Shanks after this chapter?

Really good questions you are asking, but.. Oh, well , you need to read more to find out ;)

I hope you enjoy the new chapter. Let me know XD

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IDunnoAName (excellent name XD)

Thank you for your review. I have no intention of leaving such an awesome idea :) but with life and my other stories it does take its time.

" I really wish we'd get a canon manga or anime or something for Ace's story after he left home you know? "

I guess your wish come true :D. I'm not sure what exactly the source, maybe manga about Ace's journey, but suddenly the wiki page of the Spade crew has more information. I am adding to the crew more and more. Hope you find it as awesome as before.

Your idea is most definitely on the list.

Thank you, having amazing betas help a loooooooooooooooooooot. Without them the story would look different, but thank you either way.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter. Let me know XD

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Shimmers

Thank you for your awesome reviews. Agreed! Shanks should have done more to Ace, that's why I am writing it. ;)

I show more of the crew (according to the new info of wiki) hope you like it, and we see more of Shanks too.

This is on the list for sure.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hear from you.

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Please, read the notes at the end!

Hope you enjoy,

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"I SEE THEM!" Kimel yells loudly.

Cold indifference meets his enthusiastic announcement, matching the icy air and the somberness that has been occupying the ship since the captain and more than half the crew had left with him yesterday to meet a Yonko.

The very lucky group chosen to accompany the captain had all taken turns dueling with 'Rock, Paper, Scissor' style to determine the 'lucky' ones (The other option had been a bloody battle which meant that the real winners would be dead and rotting corpses sinking to the bottom of the sea).

Of course, there were always those idiotic or 'brave' (as they called themselves) enough to volunteer *cough cough* Spooky *cough* Tyger *cough* Ray *cough*.

What was their Captain thinking? No one really had any idea (at least if they did, they kept their mouth shut. Damn them to hell, keeping us guessing!). But their esteemed Captain – Ace – had had a mysterious knowing smile, his eyes twinkling with unhidden amusement while he munched on a mountain of snacks and watched as terror and panic tightly seized his crew.

As one, the crew– in the deepest part of their minds— hope that somehow in the crazy cheerfulness that is their Captain, he knows what he was doing.

We are utterly insane to believe this, but what other choice do we have?!, Deuce considers semi-hysterically, thinking back on it. He knows Ace best and maybe because of that, he could smell the looming disaster.

Masked Deuce is the one who everyone considers to be in charge while Dusty and Ace are not around - to the man's extreme chagrin and even horror (being the most senior member of the crew has its perks and unfortunate disadvantages that take from his precious writing time). Before Ace had left, he had 'accidentally' let it slip that Ace's initial plan had been to take the whole crew up the mountain (after getting them hyped up for a fight) and letting them know halfway up the true reason for the visit (which had yet to be revealed in which Deuce just kept shrugging and denying everything).

Fortunately, Deuce –in his godly wisdom— had pointed out that some of the crew had to stay behind to protect the ship from marines, sea monsters, or whoever they ticked off this week and had deigned to follow them. The 'suggester'- Deuce- had then been left in charge. (Shut up you morons, one of the privileges of writers is that they can make up words! Which brilliant writer said so?! He -his brilliant wonderful writer self- said so!)

Kimel - again - tries informing them of Ace's arrival, louder this time. "Captain and everyone else are finally back!" Yet the response is still the same.

Finally, Barry, still busy cleaning his long swords, takes pity on him and replies, trying to fill the silent, tense atmosphere.

"Are you sure?"

"Wasn't that what you said the last two times?" grumbles 'sleeping' Wallace.

"Five times you mean," corrects Leonero while obsessively cleaning his sunglasses for the nth time (he's clearly obsessed. Another 'new' quirk added to the long list of 'Spade Members Quirk Guide' or SMQG for short by -yours truly- Deuce).

"I am sure! Look for yourself!" Kimel insists irritably. (Really, you mess up a few times, and lose all of your credibility while they ride your ass about it for eternity!).

They all reluctantly stand up one by one, peering at the snowy shores and squinting their eyes.

They could all see what seems to be a faraway dot moving forward on the white snowy scape. They all clammer to the one starboard to try and see better.

"Well, they are finally here," murmurs Wallace as he yawns and starts stretching.

Kimel glares and snarks back, "Told you so."

"In one piece?" Uburo wonders loudly. They had gone to meet a Yonko, after all.

"Are they all there?" asks Banshee tightly grasping and shading her eyes with her trusty flintlock as she peers into the gloom.

"Captain said he knew what he was doing!" exclaims Kimel, his voice holding audible doubt.

"You believe the shit that comes from his mouth?!" Leonero asks astonished, finally placing his sunglasses over his eyes and getting hold of his weapon of choice, a long trident.

"I remember him saying that a lot of times, like a looooot… usually before a disaster peeks its head above the horizon and says 'helllo~ someone called?'" announces Ganryu, startling some of the crew with his deep voice from high above. Ganryu is a quite tall and unique man, being one of the tallest in the crew, but his extra-long reach is amazing because of the double joints in each of his arms, distinctive of the 'Longarm Tribe' to which he belongs.

Snickers and grumbles of approved dissent fills the air.

"Without 'usually.' Remember that time with the huge whale ..." whines Uburo.

Nostalgia and flashback bubbles fill the tense air, creating a sense of dread.

"Dragon..." moans another.

"It may have not been a dragon." Someone says tentatively.

"What else it could be?"

"We didn't actually see it…"

"You wanted to see it?"

"Hell no."

They all nod their assent and return to moaning and grumbling about the shared disasters they had to endure because of their beloved Captain. Meeting a Yonko is just another one down the list!

Thankfully, (truly, wholly and eternally) this meeting –whatever it reasons for even occurring– isn't a formal challenge by their captain to an Emperor (they had just arrived to the New world for GOD's sake). They had all prayed to any deity or god either pre-existing or newly invented, that it doesn't escalate to one. They are hoping that the combined efforts of Dusty and Biggie would stop their captain of doing the unforgivable on a whim (and sealing their fate in the process).

They all knew before joining, that one day in the very far and imaginative future (if they were still alive by then) that they may have to fight a Yonko, or maybe even two –optimistically assuming they survive the first encounter! Ace had been clear about his dream and goal but they all assumed that even their batshit crazy captain would first build up his reputation in the New World, as he had done in Paradise: gathering more members and information, and even more allies before he even considered challenging a Yonko.

(An uneasy shudder runs down each member's spine.)

"Giants..."

"The marines..."

"All I remember from that one was sake, singing, ...and a bottle being smashed on my head…..now that I think about it, it seems to happen a lot when marines are involved."

There are several sighs and exasperated looks shared around the deck.

"Which particular encounter with the persisting bastards?" intones Ducky Bree, completely ignoring the last comment. He is the resident expert on the issue as he uses martial arts as his primary fighting tool.

"All of them," echos several members.

"You remember the answer he sent for the Warlord position?"

"Sent! He answered him on the spot!"

"He could have waited until we had gotten out at least."

"That isn't something you just could forget!"

"…or what followed it," mutters Bree darkly.

"THAT island," groan someone else. No need to give any more details. They knew precisely which one was being referred to…

"The mushroom ..."

They all shudder in despair.

"He said that he knew..." tries Kimel desperately.

"Knew what he was doing my ass!"

"If we see anyone we don't know, we are out of here..." Wallace announces.

"I say to leave anyway. We will able to take a breather without Spooky and Tyger around." Cornelia seconds.

"Those two devils are always waiting for someone to screw up to make his life a living hell!"

"What the hell are you saying? Those two smartass punks need no reason. I bet they were born this mean," Leonero grumbles.

"You are just sour because they pick on you." Bree tells him pointedly.

"You should stop being an easy target," Kukai teases.

"Shut up, they pick on you too~!"

"I think we can agree that they pick on everyone indiscriminately," Banshee tries to pacify.

It is true. The duo has a mean streak a mile long and a smart mouth to match! They live to pick fun of others, and they don't always strictly walk on the line of harmless (but extremely annoying) fun. But they do have their shining moments. Both of them are skilled fighters and more than reliable in a fight. Its out of battle where there's a problem! If they are watching your back then you had to only watch your front. Their famous fighting shout was different versions of "You moron, don't pick on -insert a crew member's name – ! We are the only ones allowed to pick on him!" Naturally, after the fight is over, they always return to being an all around nuisance and health hazard.

"Maybe we finally can get some decent sleep without Ethan's deadly sleeping habits."

"I vote yes!"

"What about Ace?"

"Someone needs to keep the wild morons under control, who better than him?"

There are several enthusiastic nods and shouts of 'aye's.

"Isn't that Dusty's job?"

"What about loyalty! The crew …" Kimel protests weakly.

"Crew and loyalty can eat my ..."

"Would you shut up already! You always say 'can eat'...and why the hell would anyone want to eat that!"

"We grab Doc and run for it."

"Yeah, we need Biggie around!"

"What do you think Deuce?" asks Skull calmly, his name telling you all that you need to know about his appearance.

"Let the ship be ready to sail any minute."

"See, Deuce understands."

The crew brightens.

One thing for sure about Ace. He knows how to pick his crew. Each one is...hmm, what's the word to use...unique. Maybe.

And what does that say about him, considers Deuce as he mentally shrugs.

Unique would do. They complain and grumble continuously, yet none of them seriously consider leaving the crew and searching for another captain less Acceeyy like.

"When Ace is here, he will want us to set sail immediately."

The crew groans in unison.

It is a known fact that Ace is always in a hurry to somewhere (AKA run for your life someone is after him with murder in their eyes or a huge bill that needs paying! Usually both).

They had arrived in the New World in less than half a year since the crew had been created, largely because Ace had always pushed forward hard and fast. The only exception to "get going, move your asses, they're after us, hurry up, paddle faster!" rule, is meal time.

Meal time is sacred. Ace insists that all the crew, except those on watch duty, eat together leisurely and slowly (not including Ace), savoring their wonderful food. He usually finishes eating with the rest of them, but he just eats five times more (on a bad day, don't ask about the good ones, please!). Despite what he has been preached, Ace doesn't exactly eat in the normal sense. He doesn't even gobble it down. It's more in the terms of shoveling quantities of food quickly and diligently into his mouth as fast as he can. (He eats as if he is in a high-speed chase).

(Running from what, is the question) (Really, no one wants to know. For the sake of the food in their stomach).

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XXXXX

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While the others are left to prepare the ship for sailing, Deuce observes the dot becoming bigger and bigger. Small shapes appear in the distance.

Lately he has been dreaming again about his life before. He can actually now cut his life into two neat halves. Before...and After meeting Ace.

Meeting Ace had been the roundabout change that he had fervently sought all his life. He had left everything behind to (Really! He hadn't had much of a life before) search for an adventure and he found it literally in the shape of Ace.

Ace had made him experience and learn things about himself that he never wanted to learn or face for which he owes his Captain a lot, more than he is willing to admit even in the deepest part of his mind.

Deuce had been suffering in his third year in Med school with dismal grades when he had finally decided to leave to search for a better future. His parents hadn't cared about him and he hadn't had any close friends. Medical students are notoriously selfish, arrogant, and sons of bitches who like to bring everyone down (which did consequently include him).

He had just really wanted to have an adventure without becoming a wanted man. But he knew that those searching for an 'adventure' were almost always thought of as pirates, and he really only wanted to live freely and carefree without marines on his tail. His answer had been to wear a mask obscuring his face to hide his identity (According to a smiling Ace: 'Great idea! It definitely doesn't attract attention'. Deuce spoke sarcasm, so yes, it was not the best choice, but it did the trick).

He had been eager to sail, explore and write an adventure story like "Brag Men" so he sailed searching with those kind of 'stories' occupying his mind.

His first adventure had been looking for rumored hidden treasure which opened his eyes to how naive, immature and stupid he had first been.

Stupidly, he had gotten stuck on a beautiful desert island called 'SIXIS' located in East Blue. The current around the island is irregular so he had been incapable of escaping no matter what and how many times he had tried. His boat had become an unrecognizable wreckage and the few supplies he managed to salvage were hardly enough for two days.

After three days, he had given up hope of escaping. Deuce had been unable to find any more supplies or anything edible on the vast, god-forsaken, deserted land. At the end of the three days, he had been waiting for death while chatting with a skeleton he had nicknamed Skull, (not his certain crewmember even though they have a hmmm.. a similar physic) about its knowledge and experience of death (which was to be his fate shortly) when the skeleton finally spoke back.

It hadn't been a skeleton of course but a human being that had suddenly appeared. His name was Ace. Deuce had considered that maybe the gods had mercy on his misguided soul and had sent someone to rescue him...but Ace was just like him; a victim due to his ship being wrecked by the current.

Ace had annoyed the shit out of him with his smiling, cheerful, and careless demeanor, in spite of their predicament.

Even worse, Ace had been stuck on this damned island for six days (three days more than him) and yet smiling, had asked him, "How about creating a raft with me?"

He had of course agreed. It wasn't like there was something else to do (except sulking with Skull and waiting for death).

While they worked, Ace had kept making conversation and asking him about his name, making him flustered and even hotter in the blazing sun.

He had thrown away his own name on the day he had first put on the mask and set out to the ocean, but naively he hadn't thought of a new name to go with his new life.

He tried to be clever and take Ace's name as his own, but Ace objected and suggested 'Deuce' instead, since he thought the pronunciations were similar, and it also meant the number two in a deck of cards. Ace means one and the freckled kid had thought it fitting since Ace was the first to arrive and Deuce was the second.

That was how his name was born. "Masked Deuce."

Ace and Deuce had talked about their families and Ace spoke at great lengths about his adorable younger brother (he was basically beaming with happiness and pride) Monkey D. Luffy.

Ace had told him that Luffy also in a few years would seek to be a pirate like Ace and that both of them were going to fight for the chance to become the greatest pirate of all, the Pirate King.

Deuce reflected on that, thinking about the heir to the empty throne and who actually had the right to claim the title and he found himself saying, "If someone's father were Gol D. Roger, I'm sure he'd rather die."

Ace suddenly became quiet. Deuce didn't think that the bundle of energy and cheerfulness could be so still and motionless.

The smile that had been on his face since Deuce met him had vanished. Gone. It was as if it was never there. Ace's face had turned very serious, as if he was thinking and considering matters of life and death importance. His face had the blank look that Deuce wished to achieve by wearing his mask.

It dawned on him that Ace's smiling and cheerful demeanor was a mask. The perfect mask. It had been a frightening realization.

In the end, it was the eyes that made him grasp it. Ace's eyes were black with endless boundless darkness that made him see. In front of him sat the son of the Pirate King, the heir who sought to claim his birthright. Who wished to declare the seas and oceans as his throne. The impossible but real all the same.

Deuce said nothing, neither did Ace. Both of them knew that the other knew.

Deuce stood up shakily and walked off with mixed feelings filling his heart and head. He paused in his step for a second, and without turning around he told Ace not to speak to him anymore.

He had tried to delete what he had learned and to try and find food and water as far away from Ace as possible, but it had been in vain.

In the end, he couldn't avoid him forever (the rest of his short life if he doesn't find food), and it was very daunting to be alone when you knew there were someone out there, even if it was the son of a legen – wait for it- dary criminal. So he went back to the beach, where he thought that Ace was probably trying to build his raft, or maybe another one by now.

He found Ace holding a large and strangely-shaped fruit in his hand and gazing at the sea.

Deuce was starving. Even the orange-red ominous swirl patterns around the fruit didn't stop saliva from forming in quantities (he was sure it all dried out by now) in his mouth.

Deuce swallowed, peeling his eyes from the fruit to search around him, his eyes landing on a sturdy tree branch. He got a hold of it in both hands.

Deuce had realized that his body made the decision before his conscious mind. He would kill Ace. He didn't have a choice, it was for his own survival. It was the only way.

It was a mercy really. Ace shouldn't have been born. His life had been hell until now.

He had seen the darkness dwelling in his eyes. Deuce would be doing him a favor really. He would be setting him free, saving him from a life of misery. No one would mind. He would be a hero.

The last word made bile rise in his throat and his thoughts scatter in disarray.

Deuce tried to gather his thoughts once again, just as he tried to gather his resolve.

At least Ace would die for a purpose. His life would have a meaning by its death (which it didn't have while he lived). He would save Deuce. Ace would be grateful.

He had taken one step after another one, trying to keep quiet, his hands white from clutching the branch so hard.

Grrrr... Grrrr …Grrrrrrrr.

It took Deuce several seconds to realize that sound had come from him. His stomach was loudly growling.

By then Ace was looking at him, smiling as if Deuce had not renounced him as a friend a while ago. He had taken the sliding branch from his shaking fingers and thanked him. Saying let's build the broken raft again and without a second thought he offered him the fruit, not a piece, but the whole thing. Joking that the growl of Deuce's stomach reminded him of his little brother roaring stomach. Ace told him conspiratorially that sometimes he was sure it had a starving lion in it.

Deuce rejected it.

Accepting it was not acceptable.

Guilt consumed his being.

With a dry, sickening feeling he realized he was about to kill another human being. For a piece of fruit. It didn't matter who Ace was or his parentage. He had almost killed...and for what? For something that Ace parted from so easily, so freely.

If it wasn't for his stomach, he would have taken a life; stolen an older brother from his younger one.

A horrible, despicable person wasn't enough to describe what he was.

Deuce agonized while Ace chatted happily.

In the end they shared the fruit, because Ace insisted, and boy was he stubborn.

Deuce took a large bite, trying to savor the taste and what a taste it was!

It was the most terrible, vile and disgusting -but delicious at the same time- food that he had ever eaten (and probably would ever eat).

Deuce turned around to tell Ace exactly that and found him literally on fire. Ace was burning without burning. AKA he was on fire but his hair, clothes were not burning and there was no smoke.

Deuce envied how calm Ace had been (and still does). Ace had been clearly surprised, they both were, but while Deuce panicked (who could blame him), Ace seemed to be intrigued.

The disgusting tasting fruit was a devil fruit, (surprise, surprise…. apparently devil fruits were not a fairy tale) and they both had eaten one - The Mera Mera no Mi - and Ace had reaped the reward (later they had learnt that it was only the first bite that would bestow a Fruit's power).

Seeing a burning Ace trying to control his fire, and then just playing with it (he remembered his mother shrieking voice 'don't play with fire!') made his brain finally begin to tik tok.

Fire is a power that could move things, push through against the current.

He was always good with his hands, that was why he thought he could become a doctor and to please his parents just once.

By the time Ace learned to semi-control his fire, Deuce had finished building it using the wrecked wood from both his and Ace's boat, and the rafts they tried to escape with.

(Ace tried to help which they quickly found out to be a very bad idea.)

'Striker'!

He is still very proud of his creation even now. The boat had moved forward by rotating plates with the help of fire. The more powerful the fire the faster it moved.

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"Pity, it was a fake rumor that a treasure was hidden in this island."

"Not sure," Ace answered with a mysterious smile.

Ace reached his hand toward Deuce and said, "You'll come with me, right?"

Deuce didn't even need to consider, he owed him.

"I can write a good adventure story with you."

They shook hands tightly. It was a promise.

"I'm gonna go beyond the Pirate King!" Ace had declared with great conviction as they looked at the howling sea.

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Thus, the Spade Pirates were born. It's hard to believe that it had been less than a year ago! It felt like an eternity away.

Ace had asked him when the crew expanded - It was rather quick! Ace had the uncanny charisma to attract people, like a moth to the flame (the irony!) - if he wanted to be his first mate, which he had vehemently refused. Being Ace's babysitter or 'fire extinguisher' as Dusty grumbly described his job was nowhere near the bottom of 1000 things he ever wanted to do. He considered anyone who actually wanted to be responsible for something, to be utterly suicidal. And someone willing to be responsible for Ace? Well, if they existed, Deuce wished to never meet the poor sod. Dusty didn't count. He didn't seek the job, so as much as it had landed (bestowed) upon him!

It dawned on him much, much later, that the fruit had been the hidden treasure that they had sought. He admits that he can be a little bit slow sometimes (only a little bit).

..

Finally, the whole crew is back on the ship, in one piece with no visible injuries. Well, some looks green and a bit blue (cold? Hangover?), and the Captain is finally here, but he isn't knowingly smiling at the curious awaiting crew, or making fun of those unlucky to return with a deadly hangover. He looks thoughtful and concerned.

Deuce feels his heart start to pound. When Ace looks this serious and thoughtful it means ...

..

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XXXXX

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..

The palpable silence after the announcement thickens until it could be cut with a dull knife.

Deuce takes several calculated steps away from the gathered crew, counting down in his mind.

Three...

Two...

One…

"WHAT!?"

"What the hell!?"

"What the heck did you do?"

"For the love of meat! we are all going to die..."

"Language!" everyone intones

"We still have meat? I thought the last supply vanished," a crewmember reflects.

"Shut up and focus on the damn issue! We are toast!" a few panicky loud voices in the crowd cut off after a few thuds and yelps.

"Let's escape..."

"Run for your lives …"

"You mean swim..."

"You don't know how to swim..."

"Oh, shit! We are sooo screwed!"

"Who's the genius that said the captain knows what he is ..."

"Please help... "

"I'm too young to die!"

"No, you are not!" several voices chorus in unison.

"I am too fucking old for this shit."

"Abandon ship …"

"SHUT UP YO' IDIOTIC MORONS," roars Dusty, his shout of anger toppling his hat from his head and exposing his visible tiny blue veins throbbing at his temples.

"Are we joining with Red Hair?" Deuce asks loudly over the mayhem.

His question succeeds in bringing the silence where Dusty enraged shouts have failed.

"No," Ace says with decisive finality, but his eyes have yet to leave the floor.

Deuce is sure that big smoldering holes in the wooden floor will appear any minute now by how hard Ace is staring at them.

Deuce considers the last idea thoughtfully. Holes in the floor! That really wouldn't surprise me. With Ace's power, he probably could. Hmmm...I should probably suggest to Ace to check if his eyes can shoot fire. That would give a new meaning to 'looks can kill'.

"Red Hair is goin' to train our Cap'n," Dusty tells them while pointing at Ace. It is evident that he's trying to keep his temper in check. From his bland tone of voice it's hard to decipher if he is telling himself, Ace or actually them.

"...and if you ask really nicely and politely, maybe some of his crew will teach you too."

"What's the catch?" Skull asks suspiciously, echoing the unspoken doubt and wariness in the eyes of most of the crew.

They are all seasoned enough to know that there is no such thing as a free meal. They are all pirates. With a bottomless pit for a stomach totting Captain and a bill too large to imagine.

"No catch," Dusty answers firmly.

Everyone is waiting for the 'but'... but it never comes.

After a few seconds with the crew sharing looks of incredulous disbelief and unspoken apprehension... "Seriously?"

"No way?"

"Yeah." Dusty reconfirms tiredly, and rubs his temples with his fingertips, as of trying to stop the onset of a massive headache. Deuce can hazard several guesses as to the reason (they all begin with Ace).

"Yup." Ray intones.

"Yes," Ethan beams while whistling a jaunty tune. Ethan is in an exponentially good mood to the evident dismay of Spooky and Tyger, Deuce notes.

"Are you sure?"

"Ace and Red Hair have some friends in common and he wants to help. But only for short while and in seclusion." Biggie explains patiently, while the others around him nod in confirmation.

Ace fidgets in place when he feels himself subjected to the crew's stares as he avoids looking at them in the eye.

It's kind of hilarious, Deuce wonders in self-humour, looking at Dusty's ginormous throbbing veins before they deflate gradually in defeat, that when our big Doc explains things, everyone just takes it at face value but when others tries … oh, well.

Deuce notices the different expression on the crewmembers' faces that range from awe, admiration to skeptical, calculated and questioning, and even some newfound respect.

The comment "Captain so cool," sets it off.

"OHHH!"

"That's unbelievable!"

"Sweet!"

"Hooray!"

"Captain will be super strong after this."

"Yasopp agreed to teach me some tricks..." Ethan elatedly tells them, cutting into the cheer. "That would explain his abnormal good mood!"

"The annoying humming."

"Tell him to teach you how to draw for god's sake!"

"Please, I want to sleep peacefully."

"I wanna too."

"The trick is to ask them while they are drunk." Ethan ignores all the remarks and shares the wisdom. Nothing can diminish his growing happy mood.

"It shouldn't be too hard, they are always drunk," Spooky remarks.

Tiger snorts in approval.

"The same as us," Ray singsongs, earning laughter and hoots all around.

"We would be a sailin' to some far deserted isl'nd in their territory," Dusty reflects softly when things quiet down.

"If y'all don't want'a train, take it as a vacation. It should only be for three to four months." Dusty adds.

"Vacation on a deserted island? Really?"

"What kind of vacation is that?"

"Yeah, vacation should be on an island full with bars, stalls of delicious food, and women!"

"What women would look at you?"

"His mother maybe!"

Laughter resonates through the air.

Dusty is now once again using both hands to rub his temples.

Deuce glances back to the back of the crowd and spots Ace still standing there looking at the deck with his hands hanging limply at his sides (is it his imagination or is there a smokey feeling in the air).

"Get the ship ready! Someone of the Red Hair crew are goin' to join us ta help us ta navigate to the isl'nd!" Dusty yells, but everyone hypnotically stays in their places.

Anticipation could be tasted in the air.

"For the love of One Piece, please try to act like normal' people." asks Dusty, his voice colored with underlying pleading, desperation and bitterness.

"Too late," murmurs Biggie, his voice carrying over in the silence, "they meet Spooky and Tyger."

Spooky and Tyger straighten up and puff their chests out, looking very proud of themselves while others shake their head in amusement or snickers knowingly.

Deuce considers remarking that it wasn't a compliment, but why bother? They knew and loved it anyways.

"Right, I forgot...just...just... try...try to behave', please." Dusty pleads.

There are a lot of whistles and people looking pointedly at the sky.

It is really quite admirable that Dusty, no matter what, always tried to present them as a normal happy go lucky pirate crew...

Deuce had given up hope in them, when they had first joined.

They had willingly joined a semi-bare-chested pirate with an orange cowboy attached to his head who called his crew the Spades for the sole purpose of being called Ace of Spade and who also fell asleep in random times while afterwards politely thanking people for the food before running away without paying. (Deuce was the exception to the rule, of course. He joined because of this. Anyone this bonkers would have to have a great adventure and Ace has yet to disappoint. His book is getting filled quite nicely).

"Hurry up and get the ship ready to sail!" Dusty irritably snaps, his shoulders sagging.

Everyone hurries to do something, including a too-tense Ace who attempts to leisurely walk along the rail of the ship.

Dusty and Deuce share a knowing look before the former squats down to pick up his hat. Dusty jerks his head in Ace's direction, and gives Deuce a beseeching look (akin to entreating a small injured puppy).

Deuce nods reassuringly and hurries after Ace.

He finds him gazing at the sea on the stern of the ship.

Ace is rarely silent and thoughtful and yet here he is staring dejectedly at the blue waves. Ace had said nothing since he had arrived, except the 'No,' which more than anything else, worries Deuce.

Deuce stands beside him, listening to the crash of the waves. He purposely says nothing nor does he acknowledge Ace as he leans on the rail besides him.

There is no point in trying to make Ace talk or asking him pointed questions when he is in such a state. He will talk when he is ready, or not at all (Ace's stubbornness needs new adjectives - other than worrying the crew - to be discovered, fast!). Deuce will be there either way. That's all he can do.

"Do you think I'm a coward?" Ace quietly asks, getting right down to what is on his mind.

"Why?" Deuce is already accustomed to Ace's unusual (weird) conversational (mind reading by others) skill of spouting out words that Deuce fires right back automatically.

"Because I am willing to take help from..." the Yonko is left unsaid.

Ace's dream is to surpass the Pirate King, his father, meaning he needs to defeat the Yonkos. He can see why Ace would be conflicted.

"When we were stuck on that island you asked me several times for help."

"That's different!" Ace sputters indignantly.

"Is it?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"You're..." Ace stops.

"I'm not a Yonko," continues Deuce in his stead. Ace's slight tensing is all the confirmation he needed to know he is right. The Yonko part is the main issue.

He sees Deuce as an equal, or maybe as someone that he could defeat, but a Yonko is a very different story.

"Do you think he has an ulterior motive to wanting to help you?"

Ace shrugs noncommittally.

"You wish he has." It's a statement.

Ace doesn't bother to deny it.

Ace finally murmurs, "It would make things simpler."

The orange hat-wearing hot-head is an enigma. Even though he is cheerful, smiling, laughing and always up to no-good fun, and always, always willing to help others; when someone offers Ace help or wants to get closer to him, his suspicion meter rises so high that it could reach several planets in outer space (like a highly distrustful squirrel that is paranoid of the sound its own nuts make when it's chewing on them).

His true self is hidden in a pitch black and dank cave dwelling that resides in in a fortress surrounded by a gloomy and foreboding forest.

"There are nice people out there," Deuce remarks conversationally.

His Captain snorts.

"Even among pirates, you are one: for one."

"I am not nice," Ace protests. The way he says nice, it is like Deuce has called him a vile, disgusting, and unspeakable word.

"Who was the one that shared with me that disgusting fruit when we were both starving on that shitty island?"

"That …"

"Who was the one that helped Ray? Who then even adopted the clumsy, accident-prone, loud bundle of sunshine into the crew...?"

"Ray may be clumsy, and can be a real pain in the ass but he is a good ...

"Who the one that helped Ban... "

"Ok, ok! I get it! I get it already!" Ace shouts, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

He groans and rubs the back of his head.

"Oh my god, I am actually a decent human being. I feel ashamed."

"We can stop in some place for you to dine and dash without paying, if ya want."

Ace's stomach growls with approval to such a suggestion.

"That is a good idea actually. Call to change course to ..." he trails off remembering what they are here speaking about.

"Do you think he is lying to you? Misleading you?"

"No." Ace's answer was quiet but not from doubt or uncertainty.

"He's like Luffy. I don't think he can lie."

Ace considers what he said and says instead.

"No, that's not exactly right. Why should he lie? What's the point? He is strong ... very...if he wanted to get rid of us it wouldn't even be a fight…" Ace trails off, his voice fading, his hands were clutching the rail as a shudder runs through him.

"Did he …" Deuce trails off unsure what he is going to ask or how to paraphrase it.

"Haki…" Ace bits out.

It just isn't possible to arrive at the New World without hearing about Haki, or meeting someone that possesses one of the three Colours.

"Which one?" Deuce asks curiously. It is a Yonko that Ace had met.

"He probably has all three… but he used Conqueror's Haki."

Conqueror's Haki, Deuce sucks in a breath. It's supposed to be very rare. Only one of millions may have it. But it shouldn't be a surprise that a Yonko, the emperor of the sea, possesses such power.

"I never felt so...powerless. Weak." Ace spit the last word out like spitting deadly venom.

"My body refused to obey me and he was just standing there not even looking at me and I was ..." Ace struggles to find words to explain what it had felt like to be that powerless. His hands are clutching and unclutching the rail in front of him unconsciously.

"It isn't something I ever want to feel again," Ace grudgingly admits.

Deuce can see him straining to come to terms with what he had experienced.

They both stay quiet until Ace lets out a long sigh.

"But I have to. I will. Because I need to overcome it. If his training means I can face this kind of power again and again, and I can get used to it or learn to face it, then I am doing it." The more he spoke, the faster his words come while his hands are slowly cracking the wooden rail.

"I will become stronger and stronger." Ace vows, letting go of the rail completely and turning his body to face Deuce.

"I may have been a bit naive to think that with my physical power and the power of my Fruit that I can face anything."

"A bit?" Deuce jokes with a raised eyebrow.

His young Captain folds his arms in front of his chest in an angry gesture but the curving of his upward lips gives him away.

"No need to rub in. A lot, ok?"

Deuce nods, amused with Ace's childish behavior.

"I will take everything he is willing to teach me and I will become even stronger."

"I know."

Deuce does. He has been with Ace since the beginning and has seen the building of the crew and Ace's rise in fame. He has seen it all. He knows what Ace can do when he puts his mind to it.

"What are his rules or demands?"

"That I obey his commands." Ace replies sounding resigned.

Deuce raises an eyebrow. This could be a very slippery slope.

Ace continues on, "Only concerning my training. He made it quite clear that he wants nothing to do with my crew. It sounds like he's allergic to anything concerning management of the crew itself."

Deuce notices the possessiveness in Ace's 'my,' but decides not to tease him about it (he can save it for another time).

"Like someone else we know."

"I am not that bad," protests Ace.

Deuce's unimpressed look doesn't change no matter how much Ace glares at him. The fireman finally gives up with a sigh and returns to the issue at hand.

"He wants me to wait at least four months before going after Whitebeard."

"He didn't try to stop you?"

"No, he didn't even call me stupid," Ace pauses. "At least not directly."

Deuce laughs and Ace's lips quirk into a small smile.

Deuce had been the one that had convinced Ace not to reveal his plans to the whole crew. Not even Dusty is aware of all of them or the time frame. Everyone knows that Ace is aiming for the title and One Piece (not the reasons) but not the unreasonable time frame for his plans. Ace had intended to waltz into the New World and challenge the strongest man around and becoming the new big boss before his brother sails the sea.

Naive isn't enough to describe his thinking.

Deuce had tried several times to persuade him that they should go about things more slowly. To build their reputation, power and momentum and not jump the gun, but somehow Ace has bulldozed through anything in front of him until now. It made him and the others believe that he can do anything. Achieve anything. That no matter what, somehow it will all work out in his favor in the end.

He is truly relieved to hear that Ace will stop and learn and experience more before he paves his path forward. (And hopefully let his crew catch up a little in terms of power or at least take a break to grasp their bearings).

"Sounds reasonable!"

Being trained by a Yonko with such mundane demands is a gift. A rare and precious gift. A once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ace nods and with a mischievous smile on his face says, "You may find someone there to help you with your writing! The whole adventure book thing."

Deuce groans and mutters, "Not you too. My writing is just fine. Perfect actually! You people have no understanding in such creative things."

"Just saying, they may have some very good advice about word use, paraphrasing, grammar..."

"One more word and I will remove you from the book too."

"You can't, I am the main character~." Ace singsongs, laughing merrily, a twinkle in his sparkling eyes.

Deuce forces himself not to pat his own back awkwardly at a job well done (only in these moments, he envies Ganryu. Having a double joint in his arm would be very handy for this). Dusty so owes him one and Deuce knows how to collect (he's famous for it).

..

.

XXXXX

.

..

...

"How are things going Benny?"

"In an hour or so we should be ready to leave."

"Good!"

Both men are sequestered in Shanks's quarters on the Red Force.

Shanks is pacing while Benn is leaning on the closed door with a neutral expression on his face.

"Rockstar is going to join them shortly to make sure they don't get lost and to keep up with the Red Force."

Shanks nods while keeping with his pacing.

"I spoke with some of our allies to send us supplies regularly, and told them to keep an eye on things around our and the other Yonko's territory."

Shanks stops mid-turn and looks at him disapprovingly.

"I didn't say anything specific, just to keep an eye and ear out, and to update me."

Shanks grudgingly nods and continues with his pacing.

Benn lights a new cigarette and drops his hand down to its previous position. Shanks will share what was on his mind when he wants to, he reflects thoughtfully.

"You are not going to say anything about this." Shanks finally says as he stops again and faces his reliable first mate.

"About what?" Benn answers, feigning arrogance.

Shanks gives him an unamused look and gestures awkwardly with his one arm. "This."

Benn shrugs his shoulders, takes a drag, blows a ring of smoke and says nothing.

"You don't think I am making a mistake?"

"Do you?" Benn mirrors.

Shanks' first reflex is to say no, but he pauses and considers his answer carefully.

"It is the best choice, so no." He says while staring directly at Benny.

Benn unconsciously straightens his shoulders up and nods once to acknowledge Shanks's answer but keeps the figurative zipper on his mouth closed (chapapa). He has known Shanks long enough to know that he needs time to arrive to the 'point' especially when the point is something enormously important in Shanks's eyes.

"No lecture?"

Benny arches an eyebrow amusedly.

"Looking disapprovingly at me? Snide remarks about taking my role as Captain seriously? Not looking at the future consequences for my choices? Helping a rookie that may become our enemy someday?"

"He is Luffy's brother. Him coming after us is inevitable," Benn points out.

Shanks nods and inquires, "So… no lecture?"

"You want one?"

"Yes. Most definitely!" Shanks demands hotly.

Benny can't help but chuckle at the dead serious look on Shanks's face.

"You always grumble and moan that I nag you too much, that you are the Captain, and you are going to do whatever the hell you want."

"Well, of course."

Shanks's dead serious expression does not flutter.

Benn gives a brief nod and waits for him to continue speaking.

"When you begin nagging it's scary. You become so reasonable…suggesting and proposing different options and talking about consequences ..."

"Everything we do has consequences." Benn points out the obvious, because with Shanks, you have to be very careful, as you can never know what is obvious and what isn't to the drunkard.

"Of course, they do," snaps Shanks. "But I didn't become a pirate to be scared of whatever shit the world holds in its folds for me. I am going to shape my own future, or face whatever fate throws at me. Nothing but my dreams and beliefs will guide the helm of my own ship."

Benn could only nod. His captain is really passionate about such things which makes him like him even more. He opens his mouth to point out the obvious again.

"But ..." Shanks continues, "I should consider how what I am doing will affect me and those dear to me. I have thought about it already and I'm still going to do it."

"It seems that you put some thought into this decision."

Shanks nods enthusiastically and looks at Benny expectantly.

"And you still want a lecture from me...?" Benn hazards.

Shanks nods decisively.

"Nagging?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"It wouldn't feel right without it."

"Huh?" Benn involuntary responses. He wonders if he has missed something as his half burnt cigarette tilts dangerously from his mouth.

"It's a ritual by now. Even the crew will think something is amiss if they don't see you lecturing me!"

"Ritual?" Benn repeats uncomprehendingly, his brain straining to catch up.

"The captain changed our plans drastically again, is taking a new rookie under his wing without him even officially joining us, and Benn is saying nothing, nada…something is really, really fishy here," Shanks mimics Yasopp, the uncrowned ringleader when anything is amiss or can be made into a joke.

"I see," Benn finally and tonelessly utters, while smirking inwardly.

He throws the burned-out cigarette into an empty cup on the nearby table and straightens up to face the waiting Shanks. He clear his throat and with a scolding dry tone he begins.

"Shanks, as Captain of a Yonko crew you should be more aware of your decisions, and how each one could impact the crew, and of course, the young inexperienced Ace."

Shanks nods gravely with each word. It would have been serious but the effect is ruined by the bright smile on his face.

"The marines will surely target him more when they find out ..."

Shanks raise his hand respectfully and then kills that by wildly waving his hand around. Benn pauses and sighs, gesturing for him to say his piece.

"Don't forget about Garp, his grandfather!"

Oh, how could he forget? It has been only two years ago that they had finally finished paying off the damages several of their territories had endured when they had accommodated that mon... Vice Admiral in his persistent search for them several years ago.

Without so much as a batting of an eye, Benn forges ahead.

" .. and apparently will target us more..."

Shanks actually has the audacity to beam at him.

..

.

Three long ("Snails move faster!" Shanks inwardly groans "Why!") hours later

.

" .. of course, we need to take into account the sociological dynamics of the New World and the diversity of the institutional impact that will occur. First … "

Shanks clears his throat and Benn pauses in his Ahem...monologue only for a second, eyeing Shanks who is looking at him with big imploring eyes.

"Sociological means the study of different societies, including patterns of social relationships and cultures. If you remember our visit last year to the Majiatsuka Kingdom, our mere presence had an…..."

Shanks clears his throat again. Benn pauses only for a breath.

"Institutional means something organized or established. The marines and the government are an organization, meaning an institution. The Yonkos are also an institution. Each one is a separate entity…."

Shanks clears his throat once again and Benn forges ahead, ignoring him.

"Even though we are pirates, we are considered an institution of a kind. Even in our chaos there is some ord… "

Shanks clears his throat again; his eyes are glued to the floor this time, his whole body slouching in his chair.

Benn smiles faintly and makes sure his tone stays the same.

"Buyer's remorse?"

Shanks gives a pitiful small nod without daring to look up.

"Too bad. Where was I?"

Shanks's whole body slouches to an almost impossible level and sags into the chair even more as he continues to stare pitifully at the wooden floor, praying for a hole to open up and for the deep ocean to swallow him. Fat chance! Unfortunately, the ship is made from Adam's Wood and he has no one to blame but himself because he was the one that wanted the best, fastest, and sturdiest ship!

"Where were we? Oh, I remember. The sociological dynamics of the New World and the…"

Shanks lets out a soft, pained whimper. Oh why?!

..

.

XXXXX

.

..

They are here, Ace exclaims to himself.

Looking around the island that will be his home for at least the next four months, he sighs. It is really a standard island from what he has seen in the half hour they've been there.

Trees and plants. He had even seen some small animals and birds flying by but overall, nothing particularly strange that catches his eye.

When they had arrived and met on shore, Shanks had given him a sake bottle twin to one clutched in his calloused hand and gestured for Ace to follow him, leaving both crews to handle the disembarking and the building of the 'home' camp.

Now here they are. Alone. Inside the forest. Just the two of them.

Shanks had laid against some broken log when they had stopped and Ace had leaned against a nearby tree. He looks somehow thinner and very tired even though I just saw him a few days ago, Ace wonders. His shoulders are slumped as if under an enormous weight and he has prominent dark circles around his eyes that spoke of suffering and bone-numbing weariness.

It worries Ace. Is it because of me? He kicks a few leaves where he is standing and averts his eyes to the ground.

Shanks's crew had looked really cheerful and in high spirits from what he had seen on the shore. Yet their captain looks like he is nursing the Grand Line™ sized hangover. On the other hand, Shanks isn't acting exactly drunk (Ace should know. He has been around enough bars in his life), and he is still drinking excessively.

Shanks places his bottle on the ground and clears his throat, but pauses suddenly in the middle of the act and looks around him frantically in panic.

Ace warily watches him. Is there something to watch for on this island, that even a Yonko is wary of? Is my first impression about this island wrong?

Shanks then let out a sigh of relief and looks at Ace, giving him a sheepishly pained smile.

Ace feels like he missed something vital, but he doesn't have time to ponder about it before Shanks starts.

"How about you tell me what kind of training you've already had, and then I'll explain to you in detail about the training I planned for you, and the results we want to achieve in this short period," suggests Shanks, re-clutching the bottle of sake and shaking it to find it already empty.

Ace automatically leans down and hands him the unopened bottle in his hand, and sits on the floor in front of Shanks.

Shanks gives him a genuinely happy smile, takes the cork out with his teeth, pulls, and spits it out into a nearby bush.

It seems like a reasonable request to Ace.

He takes few seconds to try to put his thoughts in order.

"I never had any formal training but ... Shi... Garp left us," pain flashes through his eyes before he changes his words. "Left me and Luffy with mountain bandits, deep in the forest."

Shanks wrinkles his nose in confusion and displeasure. He remembers that Luffy had lived alone in a house in the village. It hadn't been ideal but the village people and Makino were there for him. Why would Garp send him to live with bandits? Especially after Luffy's bad experience with them.

However, his expression goes unnoticed by Ace.

Ace had become immersed in memories of times he had spent with his brothers. Of promises and dreams. He forces his hand to stay immobile in his lap and to not touch his tattoo. Mainly the 'S'.

"We had to fend for ourselves basically. Hunt for food and things like that... the animals there were not normal sized creatures but what would you call extra-large."

Shanks nods his head slowly. Ace feels the disquiet and agitation radiate from him, so he hurriedly adds, "They were great training and food source so we never really minded," Ace isn't exactly lying. It is true for the most part, he's just omitting a few details. Like the huge bear that almost killed Luffy, Tiger Lord, and the crocodiles that kept swallowing Luffy (but it's all mostly true).

Ace pauses, trying to decide what is considered training and what was just life.

"When I was young, Shi... Garp would have me fight big or strong and agile animals like monkeys, gorillas, the like...Garp had already beat them into submission, so they would obey him and beat the shit out of me."

Shanks raises an eyebrow, his face possessing an unreadable look but he asks in his regular voice, "How young?"

"Four, five I think," Ace hesitantly answers, his eyebrows furrowing as he tries to puzzle something out.

"I guess he wanted to train our durability and will to survive. Trying to improve our raw strength, speed and resistance." Or he was just being his shitty self, and I'm giving him too much credit in the thinking ahead department.

"Will to survive?" Asks Shanks while taking a gulp from the bottle.

"He tossed me in the bottomless ravine with nothing but my clothes."

Shanks lurches forward as he chokes on his sake and begins to violently cough. Ace walks over and gently hits him on the back several times as Shanks tries to get his breathing back under control.

Ace wonders if he should go and find Benn. Maybe Shanks needs a day of rest before we begin, Ace guiltily thinks. Shanks is doing this for me even though he looks really sick.

"I see. Do continue, please," Shanks says hoarsely after several false starts.

Ace eyes him worriedly, he really doesn't look good.

"He left me at the jungle at night." Ace slowly starts again as he sits back onto the forest floor.

Ace notices that Shanks's skin had an unhealthy greyish tinge.

"How old were you?"

"Six I think," Ace says distractedly, not really registering the question as he is still wondering if he should call Shanks' first mate and maybe the doctors (Biggie would know what do). He thinks back again and corrects, "No, four actually."

Shanks has another coughing fit; mild compared to the first. Ace stands up to help but Shanks gestures for him to sit back down.

After a few seconds, Shanks is able to get it back under control again. He takes a gulp and sets the sake back down and nods for Ace to continue.

"By six I was going to the forest whenever I wanted. When I was sick from the bandits and the weather was good I would stay the night there."

Shanks keeps quiet with a pensive look on his face, and Ace continues unsure. The more he talks, the more unsure he becomes if this is what Shanks had meant when he said training, but he continues since Shanks is patiently listening.

"I then got tied to a balloon and sent flying into the sky. Those were an interesting few days." he remarks.

Ace is almost sure that Shanks is about to have another coughing fit, but he asks instead in a tight voice.

"What was the purpose of such an ...exercise?"

"To make us strong marines." Ace answers without thinking. That's Shitty Grandpa's standard answer for everything and it's been pounded hard into his head enough to quote it unthinkingly.

Shanks gives up on his short stint on abstinence in his attempt to avoid another coughing fit and takes a long gulp, but Ace is almost sure he hears him murmur something about monsters, balls, and obsessions. He knows better than to ask when Shanks looks that agitated. The saying, 'Don't poke an angry bear' has its merits. (Luffy had witnessed both, in the literal and figurative sense! When an actual bear is poked (the moron get mauled for his trouble) and when Shanks get seriously pissed.)

"Did he train Luffy the same way?! I remember Luffy telling me about fighting monkeys but not the other...things you mentioned."

"He did. Me and Luffy compared notes."

It had been a night to remember. To know that there was someone out there who understood his pain completely.

"He used the same tactics on both of us, but thankfully he began training Luffy by seven."

"Thankfully!" Shanks echoes immediately. He then freezes for a few seconds.

"Noooooooo, wait a second," Shanks murmurs with a deep frown nestling between his eyes.

"Did he tie him to a balloon after he ate the devil fruit?! He could have fallen into the water and drowned. What was that senile batshit crazy ape, thinking!" Shanks raged.

Shanks's aura gives Ace the willies (he feels like a small child facing a scary giant).

The sickly person had suddenly and miraculously transformed into a monster bent into strangling a specific someone with his bare hand.

Ace could see the showdown between them in his eyes' mind. It would be glorious!

"I think it was before!" Ace hurries to reassure him. "I am sure it was before!"

Ace feels really stupid. He is the one that should be angry and furious at Garp, and yet here he is trying to calm down a sick, drunk, and red-headed Yonko from going after his grandpa for 'mistreating' his own younger brother.

"Definitely before," says Ace without much conviction.

Shanks's anger deflates as fast as it arrives.

"The brat didn't know how to swim either way." Shanks says to himself, shaking his head in dismay.

Ace keeps quiet. Garp is a sour subject for him, but he doesn't have a right to point accusing fingers. He hadn't treated Luffy well at first either, though he hopes he had been able to make up for some of it at least. He knows that Luffy doesn't resent him. The boy doesn't have a mean bone in his body (no bones at all, but you know what he means). Maybe excluding when meat is involved. Meat is a very delicate matter for the D. Family. Being mean is the least of any of the eaters' worries. The strongest, quickest and meanest would get the most meat!

Shanks seems about to say more, but thinks better of it and nods for Ace to continue.

"Me and my brot… we had one hundred fights a day against each other every day since I was ten until I left at seventeen."

Ace pauses, and scolds himself inwardly for not being able to separate the thought of his brother Sabo from the answers coming from his mouth. He had decided earlier to not speak about him to Shanks (too many questions he isn't ready to give answers to), yet with each memory, his name almost comes unbidden to his tongue. Ace tries to focus and wonders what other things are considered training.

"When Shitty... Garp...would stop by, he would beat the... train us."

They both visibly wince when hearing Garp's name.

"What kind of training?" Shanks reluctantly asks, dreading the answer.

Ace takes a deep breath and thinks of how to describe the training. Fuck it.

"He would basically beat the shit out of us. Surviving the Fist of Love is the best proof that you are strong."

"Fist of Love?!"

"That was what he called his punch," Ace explains sheepishly. The fire-user feels embarrassed in place of the old man. What kind of person calls a killing punch 'Love,' and wants to be respected after it? Oh wait. Shitty Gramps.

"It's a special punch filled with his love for his grandsons, to make them strong marines."

Filled with Love my ass. It is filled with pure endless pain. The raw material that nightmares were made from!

"Luffy calls it the scariest thing ever, but he usually forgot all about it when Garp brought out the food that included lots and lots of meat."

"It hurt Luffy?"

"Yeaaaaah. We always chalked it up to be a mystery but now that I think about it...he was probably using Haki, right?"

Shanks starts muttering under his breath erratically again, looking upset. Ace couldn't make out any of the words as Shanks was swearing at the ground.

Shanks answers him evenly after a few seconds, confirming his suspicions.

"Armament Haki, and yes, to hurt a rubber man, a regular punch would not be enough."

Ace nods acceptingly as he really isn't surprised that the old man would use such thing against small children.

"That basically how I trained. I never had any kind of mentor or guidance." Ace says apologetically.

"And your Fruit?"

"I didn't know what it was when I ate it." Ace admits and rubs the back of his head sheepishly.

"Just like your brother." Shanks huffs and shakes his head in amusement and adds.

"He gave me a heart attack when he swallowed it whole. The little carefree brat ..." Shanks mutters with nostalgic smile when Ace's laugher catches his attention. Shanks's smile turns a tinge amused.

"Apparently just like his older brother of a brat."

"And proud of it!" Ace says jokingly.

They both burst out laughing joyfully.

Ace gets control of his laughter first. Luffy has always brought joy into his life.

"I taught myself. Basically, trial and error," Ace answer the original question.

Fond memories fill his mind of his time with Deuce on that island trying not burn everything around him, and Deuce running around in a panic. He had been really lucky to get stuck on that island.

"I would have been in deep shit if I didn't know some things about Devil Fruits because of Luffy. I would have probably tried to swim or something ..." Ace shrugs.

Or take Deuce's advice to take dive in the water to extinguish the flames. Luffy has always rescued me in more ways than one.

"A self-made man," remarks Shanks. Ace frowns because he feels as if he is being mocked, even though the words were said in a natural tone of voice.

Ace straighten himself up and eyes Shanks, trying to puzzle out what he meant. Shanks has a weird faraway look on his face.

Ace relaxes. The comment had not been meant for him.

Shanks' eyes refocus and look over at him. He gives Ace an apologetic smile and asks.

"Just out of curiosity, where did you learn your manners?"

Ace is caught unprepared, and shifts his gaze off to the side, embarrassed.

"You don't have to answer. Just me being noisy."

"Makino," Ace forces himself to say.

"The beautiful green haired barmaid?"

Ace nods, still unable to look directly at Shanks.

"Why?"

Ace chokes on air and coughs violently. He flinches momentarily when he feels an unexpected hand rubbing his back gently but he relaxes as it steadily continues until he gets his breathing under control. The hand then disappears and a spit-encrusted bottle appears dangling in front of him. Ace takes it, nods thankfully, avoids the slobber, and takes a long gulp.

He feels better and tries to give it back to Shanks who shakes his head.

Ace arches an eyebrow and shakes the bottle. It is still half full. Ace eyes the sitting Shanks confusedly to find him in turn eyeing Ace worriedly.

"I wanted to thank you."

"Huh?!"

Ace looks at the floor, feeling like a fidgeting child seeking approval.

"You know... for saving my younger brother."

Ace peeks up after few seconds of continued silence to find Shanks's face frozen, his lips forming an unspoken O.

Shanks unfreezes and spots Ace looking at him with sheepish uncertainty, the concealed vulnerability in his eyes hidden and shadowed underneath his hat. That snaps Shanks out of it.

He gives Ace his most genuine smile, and tells him in complete sincerity— "You didn't have too: Luffy is a dear friend. But I am really so glad that you did as I wouldn't have met you otherwise!"

Ace gives off a genuine smile of his own and fights the impulse of rubbing the back of his head or hiding his reddening ears.

"What about Luffy?" The sudden urgency of the question catches Ace unprepared.

"I mean ...manners?" Shanks explains in panic, seeing Ace's confusion. That would be a nightmare.

"No way in hell!" Ace reassure him in a -pigs, chickens and snakes would need to spurt wings and fly while singing the hula-hula song first- kind of tone.

They both sigh in relief, sharing a look and burst out laughing uncontrollably.

Ace explains when both of them are able to breathe again, which takes its time.

"He did join me to some of the lessons but would get so bored after a few seconds and he would end up dragging me away ." To play with beetles and hunt for crocodile most times.

"That's like him."

The two share another smile, both of them lost in a world of their own.

Shanks gives a decisive nod suddenly as if he had been debating with himself, shaking Ace from his daydreaming.

Shanks's face turns serious just like before. Ace's body gives an involuntary shiver in remembrance. He changes moods just like that.

"Now, completely changing the subject, what I intend to do is…"

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Ace and Shanks bonding ^^ … Your thoughts? Favourite scene or moment? I feel like I made Shanks suffer here XD

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I have been having a hard for a few months now, with family medical emergency one after the other. I am in a better place right now thanks to my family and friends (and my wonderful betas) support. But do feel free to cheer me up with your reviews. :)

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Important notes about the chapter:

1. We are meeting more of the Spade crew. My Spade crew is built on the crew that was created by lovely and talented Stormy1x2 and the info from Spade Pirates wiki page. I am merging the two into one awesome crew if I say so myself.

In the last month and so, the wiki page of the crew is getting more and more expanded. Masked Deuce and his story are basically built on the new information in the page (I didn't make it up). I think there is a manga about Ace's journey. If anyone knows anything could you let me know? I would looove to have this manga!

2. I am going to build the crew according to what I want, so I am going to use/discard any of the new information according to what I see fit.

3. Ace isn't aware yet that he has Conqueror Haki. To remind you, he used it when he was 10-11 in a very distressing occasion, and this is his first taste of it as a pirate when he knows and is more aware of what Haki is. If he ever does put the 2+2 together…. Well, you would have to read to find out. :D

4. Thank you all for your lovely suggestion, we have a very long list of ideas. But always feel free to suggest more, it does inspire my writing.

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Leave me a review and you get to Hug a depressed Shanks (Bepo isn't available because .. *Luffy and Ashe whistling at the sky*) - MINE!