Title: Ace: King of Pirates
Genre: Hurt/ Comfort, Adventure, Friendship, Family, Romance
Pairing: ? X Ace
Summary: This is the story of Portgas D Ace and how, despite everything and even his own misgivings, he became the King of Pirates.
Or
Where being reborn as a fictional character from a favourite anime is not what fanfictions made it out to be. Mistakes are made… and some cannot be reversible. Instead of saving everyone and having a grand adventure like in those stories, you end up ruining the whole story by killing the most important characters.
Warnings: Slash (Yaoi, Boy X Boy…), Semi-Self Insert, Canon Divergence, Suicidal thoughts, No OC
Chapter Four
"Oi, you sure this is the place?" Zoro questioned lazily as the trio of youngsters made their way through the completely deserted town. After docking, they had easily found the town but there were neither inhabitants nor any sign of the pirates Nami was interested in.
"The reports I found at the marine base say that the Buggy Pirates took over this island," Nami explained, a displeased frown on her face. "The marines were being paid to ignore the issue so it's reliable enough information."
"The people probably left the town if pirates came here," Ace mused as he took in the destruction around. Some houses were completely destroyed while others were still standing.
"That or they were all killed off," Zoro added.
"There's not enough blood though. And no body," Ace tried to reason.
"You guys are morbid…" Nami muttered, too low for the two to hear.
However, before they could continue this line of conversation, a loud resounding boomshook the whole town. Not far, they heard the sound of buildings being destroyed, as if being hit with a sudden explosion. Nami screamed in shock, the ground rumbling and trembling under their feet.
"What the hell!?" Zoro yelped, almost falling over before catching himself by bracing against a wall. Nami was not so lucky and she found herself falling on her back.
When everything came to a standstill, silence fell over them as they tried to pick themselves up. Ace, the only one to have stayed on his feet, rushed ahead, turning a corner to find, as he had expected, newly destroyed buildings. Whatever had done that had created a clear path of destruction, showing where the explosion had originated from.
"What the hell could have done that?" Nami gasped as Zoro and her joined him.
"Looks like we've found your pirates," Ace commented, cocking his head at the ship they could see in the distance, docked on the other side of the island.
The plan was simple. While Nami would sneak aboard to get the map to the Grand Line, Zoro and Ace would act like a distraction to draw the pirates' attention. Of course, things went sideways pretty quickly.
The Buggy Pirates were cheering and partying when the two men made their way up and to the deck. The pirates were so incompetent that they managed to board the ship without any subtlety and stood by the railing for long enough that they could observe the rowdy lot.
"Seriously?" Zoro asked incredulously, a deadpan look on his face. Ace had an amused smirk on his face, looking absolutely entertained that no one in the whole pirate crew had noticed them even when they stood out in the open, on the deck.
"GAH! Who are you, you flashy bastards!?" The sudden voice cut through the throng, finally bringing the crew's attention to their unexpected visitors. The speaker was an older man who… looked like a clown, together with the round red nose.
With a crooked, disarming smile, Ace stepped forward and bowed slightly, "We are just visiting. My name is Ace. Nice to meet you."
Almost automatically, the clown bowed back and replied with a, "I'm Buggy. Nice to meet you too." And then he snapped up and glared, "Now is not the time to be polite!" He aggressively pointed his finger at the still smiling Ace, "You can't just board someone's ship without permission, you flashy bastard!"
"Well, sorry about that. We thought you guys would see us coming. We were not exactly trying to hide anyway."
At his reply, Buggy turned and glared at his assembled crew that shuffled awkwardly, looking away like scolded children. One even whistled, hiding the booze in his hand behind his back. Zoro, who had watched the proceedings half-exasperated and half-amused – something he was starting to learn was going to be a constant with Ace as his Captain – let out a snort. To think those men were supposed to be feared pirates. Unfortunately, this also brought attention to his presence. It was almost comical the way Buggy pointed his finger at him and gapped.
"YOU! You're the pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro!"
Said man sighed, wondering if this name was ever going to be left behind. It was not like he was a bounty hunter anymore. Then again it had only been a little while since he had become a pirate. It was not like people would forget his reputation that quickly.
"HAVE YOU COME FOR MY BOUNTY, YOU FLASHY BASTARD!?" Buggy screeched at Zoro who responded by digging a finger in his ear.
"Not really," the man replied lazily.
As if not hearing Zoro, or maybe he was just ignoring him, Buggy turned to his men and gestured wildly at the two uninvited guests. "Get them!"
Meanwhile, Nami was sneaking her way on the ship, using another way and sneaking pass the drunk crew. She found the Captain's cabin pretty easily and immediately set about searching for the map for the Grand Line. A part of her worried for her two companions but she quickly shook away her worry; those two were strong and could take care of themselves. Besides, even if something did happen to them, all Nami needed to do was sneak away with her prize. It was not like loyalty was a notion found in a pirate crew. Those two should expect her to leave when things went sour. Ace, after all, did say he would let her go when she was ready to.
Shaking her head at her thoughts, Nami decided to put the whole thing behind her. What was important at that moment was for her to actually find the map. Surprisingly, Buggy kept his cabin clean and orderly, not exactly something she would have expected of other pirates. She found the map enclosed in a small box, stuffed in a locked drawer in his desk. Some quick, deft lock-picking later, the map found itself stuffed in her bra.
Since it had not taken long for her to find the map – and since it seemed like the fighting was only then starting – Nami decided to find the crew's treasure. Buggy was known for his love of treasure after all, so he likely had quite a hoard.
Opening the door, she made sure that there was no one around before she tip-toed out of the cabin. She had to duck a couple of times to avoid pirates running to deck; the commotion her two male companions were causing becoming louder and louder the closer she moved. She was more interested in finding the treasure though and so did not pay more than a cursory ear at the noise.
Then she found the treasure which was an even bigger hoard than she had expected. With her heart in her throat, Nami quickly determined that with this, along with the treasure she had amassed from the Alvida Pirates, she would definitely – finally – have enough to buy back her village. And even have some left for some well-deserved pocket money.
"Hey! Who are you!? What the hell are you doing here!?"
A rough hand grabbed her tightly by the arm and swivelled her around. With wide eyes, she stared up at the angry pirate glaring aggressively down at her.
Those pirates were pretty weak, Ace could confidently say. It was not like he was expecting differently; while Buggy was a Grand Line pirate, the man was not much of a fighter and he relied heavily on surprising people with his devil fruit abilities. His crew was not any better; they were East Blue pirates through and through. In other words, they were weak, arrogant and easily angered to recklessness.
Ace absentmindedly slapped away a knife from Buggy's hand as he continued to watch his companion's fighting style.
Compared to the opponents he had faced during the last ten years, East Blue pirates were a laughing stock. Of course, among them there were also some who were the exception, Zoro being an excellent example. But then again, Zoro was not exactly what you would call normal in those parts. Yet, Ace thought as he watched said green-haired man hold off five pirates with only one sword, he wondered how far he could push the other. Just how stronger could he make him before they reached the Grand Line? It was not likely they would find any worthy opponent in these waters but Ace himself had seen enough battles to push him.
Now, that was a thought…
"Stop ignoring me, you flashy bastard!" The yell made Ace turn back to his own opponent, feeling slightly sheepish at actually having more or less ignored Buggy's attempts at getting a jump on him. While both Zoro and him were strong enough to beat this particular crew quickly and easily enough, they had agreed earlier to distract them long enough to give Nami time to steal the map. However, Ace had been more ignoring his opponent than actually fighting him, occasionally slapping his attacks away.
"Sorry about that," he apologised sheepishly. Well, his attention had been more on Zoro's fighting than his opponent. He had honestly not been trying to offend Buggy.
Said man let out a loud frustrated yell and rushed at him, hands and feet detaching again from his body so that, not only did this allow for the rest of his body to float safely away from Ace but also for his hands to erratically twirl around him with knives, looking for an opening.
Except he never had the chance. The door leading under deck burst open and two people stepped out, one holding the struggling other by the arm.
"Captain! I found this woman sneaking in the treasure room!" the pirate, who looked to be in his late thirties at best, announced.
Buggy comically froze and swivelled, pointing an accusing finger at the suddenly sheepish-looking Nami. "A thief!?" he screeched. "How dare you try to steal from the great captain Buggy!?"
Nami, on her side, froze before turning to Ace, a large pout on her face as she batted her eyes at him, "Oh, Boss! I'm sorry they found me!"
Almost instinctively, Zoro leaned back even though he was farther from them than Ace and Nami's eyes were on his Captain. "What… the hell!? That witch – !" A shiver went down his spine and he shuddered in horror.
Ace, on his part, did not know whether he should feel exasperated at her obvious attempt at 'throwing him under the bus', amused at the other pirates stopping to watch the drama or worried at having Nami as a hostage.
He settled for face-palming.
"She's one of yours!? How dare you – !?"
"Ah, well…"
While Buggy and his crew's attention turned to Ace, Nami tried to wiggle her way out of her captor's grasp to sneak away, using the distraction to her advantage. Unfortunately for her, said captor was not ready to let her go yet.
"Don't move," the man hissed at her warningly, clutching a knife at her throat threateningly.
Nami, panicking, turned wide teary eyes at Buggy, saying, "Wait! Wait! I'm sorry! He forced me to steal from you! I didn't mean to!"
Buggy was obviously not buying her excuse. He scowled at her. "You still tried to steal from the great Captain Buggy! Man, kill her!"
Nami, panicking even more, flailed for a moment before she decided to change her tactics, "Oh, but Captain! I would never try to steal from such a great Captain as you if that man hadn't threatened my sick grandmother!" she simpered. "I am so sorry! Please, forgive me, oh-great Captain Buggy!" To add even more effects, she tilted her head in such a way that she looked at the pirate Captain from beneath her eyelashes, and batted her eyes at him, biting her lip in mock worry.
Ace was impressed. Not far, Zoro released a horrified, "What the fuck!?"
Surprisingly, Buggy bought her acting, appearing both flattered and flustered. Ace deadpanned.
"Oh, for the love of…" he muttered. He gave Zoro a look and then darted forward. Quick on his feet, he appeared behind the man holding Nami hostage, knocking him out before he even knew what was happening. In the same movement, he grabbed Nami by the waist to pull her away from the action. Screams could be heard in the background while Zoro took care of the others. After making sure that Nami was safe, the rest were taken out quickly between Zoro and Ace.
"You got the map?" Ace asked his navigator.
"A-ah, yes," Nami blinked down at the defeated pirates all lying on the deck and stared. She had known her new companions were strong but she seeing these two fight again without even getting winded reminded her just how out of her league they were.
"Great. We can leave then."
Her mind screeched to a halt and in a blink, she grabbed the back of Ace's T-shirt and pulled him to a stop. Ace stiffened under her hold before he relaxed and turned to give her a questioning look over his shoulder.
Not noticing his momentary lapse in composure, Nami declared, "We're not leaving without their treasure."
"Seriously!?" Zoro asked incredulously from where he was leaning against the mast, swords back in their sheaths. "Just how greedy are you!?"
Nami scowled at him but her reply was interrupted by the loud laugh from Ace.
"Yeah, sure, okay! Let's get your treasure and then leave."
He turned, intending to follow Nami below deck before they were stopped by a detached hand flying at them with a knife. Ace pushed her forward and leaned back, the hand flying between them. He tilted his head to the glaring pirate Captain to his right. He blinked.
"Oh? You're still here?"
"YOU – HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT THE GREAT CAPTAIN BUGGY, YOU FLASHY BASTARDS!?"
Ace sighed. Then he cocked his head at Zoro and asked, "You want to take care of him or should I?"
The swordsman gave him a wild grin, raising his swords challengingly. "Leave him to me."
"You sure? Blunt force works better than swords with him," Ace raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'll find a way," Zoro growled, an unholy light appearing in his eyes as he turned to stare predatorily at Buggy. Said pirate Captain let out a cowardly 'meep' and backed away from the ex-pirate hunter.
Ace shrugged. "Alright then. Find us when you're done." With that, he motioned Nami to get back under deck, following her behind, the door closing with a light 'snap'.
AN: Leave behind your thoughts. I'd really like to know what you think of my Ace!
Leight