Hello Friends! So this chapter has since been updated by my awesome beta WyrdFyre. So here it is: My longest chapter to date. Whoo

Set List:

This Is The End, Catie Turner ("Hashtag Catie" on Youtube)

(Seriously go check her out she is amazing and she is the best songwriter I have ever heard. Catie I love you!)

Warnings at end of chapter

THE NEW WORLD

"Ace we just escaped from Wano! Which, in case you have forgotten, is ruled by Kaido. The Emperor Kaido. Strongest Creature in the world. We just barely made it out of there with our lives and you still want to try and take on Whitebeard?" I called after him as Ace quickly walked through the town we had arrived in a few days ago.

He groaned before turning around and saying, "Yes! I do Ari. I told you that my mind was made up!"

"Then unmake it! Because Whitebeard is stronger than even Kaido! And we couldn't touch him!" I said in a hushed voice while watching the people stream around us.

The last thing we need is one of these idiots reporting us to the Marines...

"It'll be different with Whitebeard. I know it."

I rolled my eyes, sighed, and said. "Alright fine. So be it. You're the captain, you make the decisions."

"Exactly. Which is why I need you to tell me what you know about Whitebeard. You sailed with him for years so you must know of a weak spot on him."

Wait, he wants me to what?

I took a step back. "Ace you know I can't tell you anything like that."

"Why not?" He asked while crossing his arms and staring me dead in the eye.

I started fidgeting with my jacket and said. "Because I was his apprentice! He trusted me! I can't just go around blabbing his secrets to anyone who asks!"

And if I started spilling intel on the people I sailed with then the entire world would be after me.

Whitebeard

Big Mom

Kaido

The Marines

The Government

There is no way I would survive that…

"But I'm not just anyone Ariadne! I'm your captain!" He shouted.

"That doesn't change anything!" I yelled back before taking a deep breath and looking at the people walking around us. "Look, he may be a senile old piece of shit with delusions of godhood and an extremely overdeveloped daddy kink who is desperately trying to hold on to power but that doesn't mean that I can betray him."

Ace groaned and took a step closer to me before shouting. "Yes it does Ariadne! Yes it does!"

"No it doesn't! You and everyone else in the world might think that I'm just a disloyal bitch but I don't betray the trust of those who help me. I may not like Whitebeard but that doesn't give me the right to stab him in the back."

"No it just gives you the right to not help the crew you say you're loyal to." He said while turning to walk away.

I grabbed his arm and tried to keep up with him as I said. "Why are you so worked up about this? You said you wanted to defeat him right? YOU wanted to defeat him. With your own strength? So why do you need my help if you can do it by yourself?"

"Whatever, just forget it." He said, shaking his arm free and walking away.

As I watched Ace walk down the road away from me and I felt my heart start to race and tears welled up in my eyes. I broke out into a cold sweat as I started shaking.

No...

Ace I'm sorry! Please don't leave!

I took a step towards him before hesitating.

No, he just needs to calm down. It's ok. He isn't leaving for good, he's just mad.

It'll be okay.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the people walking around me. They had started to stare while Ace and I were shouting at each other but now they were mostly going about their own business.

Ok just go find somewhere to be alone for a minute and get yourself under control.

I nodded slightly to myself and turned to walk out of the town. After walking for a bit I found a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean that was a ways outside of town. I sat down with my legs dangling over the edge. As I looked out over the waves I took several deep breaths to try and get myself back under control. After a few minutes I pulled my guitar from my back and started plucking at the strings as I let my mind wander.

Ever since we left Sabaody things have never been the same between Ace and I. After we left Fishman island he changed. It's like he doesn't even see me anymore...

Idiot.

He hasn't changed, youhave…

This is all your fault...

Maybe I was too harsh about the whole Isuka thing, and maybe he's just getting bored with me…

But either way I can feel him drift further and further away from me each day. He never asks me to sing for him anymore and even when we're alone together he doesn't touch me. I can't help but wonder what I did…

Am I doing something wrong?

Supid.

Why bother asking that?

Of course I did.

Fucking things up is what I do best…

Why wouldn't he get tired of me? Why would he want me around? I'm just the fucked up kid from Sabaody after all…

I don't deserve happiness…

I don't deserve someone like Ace…

I felt a single tear slide down my cheek. I quickly brushed it away and started to play a new melody that I had been working on as the words to the song soon followed.

.

our relationship is fraught

split down the middle

the past of us put down to sleep

lying awake to the sound of your breathing

but I fear I hear nothing but creaks

.

and does it trouble you to know, trouble you to know

we would never grow, we would never grow

don't take this personal, love

oh I write so i'm free from my head

don't worry, you can trust me

I'll envision you as a protagonist

there's no need to dread

so I guess

this is the end,

this is the end

.

silence comes creeping in and it makes my skin itch

I trusted more in fate than I ever trusted you,

but look where that got us, he took us both like fools

.

I wanted to be better

for you

but with my self-deprecating manners

I'd wanna leave me too

.

and does it trouble you to know, trouble you to know

the seeds have been ransacked

there's no way to grow

oh don't take this personal, love

oh I write so I'm free from my head

don't worry, this time it's no joke

this will be my last poem about heartbreak

then I'll let you go

I want you to know

.

please don't let this be the end

I don't want this to end

used to treat silence as my only friend,

now he makes my skin itch

.

I'll beg if you want

I'll beg if you want me to

I'll beg if you want

I'll beg if you want

.

Exactly.

I need to just be thankful for the time I had with him and any more time that he is willing to give me. I was just lucky that he kept me around for as long as he did…

I let my hands fall from my guitar and watched as my tears dripped onto the polished wood. I reached my hand down to trace the beautiful inlaid design of the flowers on the instrument.

We were so happy when he gave this to me…

And look at us now…

Another tear fell onto the neck of the guitar and I jerked my hand up to wipe it away but as I did that it slipped from my hands. I scrambled to catch it but was too late and could only watch as it fell from the cliff just to be crushed by the waves below.

No…

A sob ripped out of my chest as I pulled my knees to my chest and sobbed for all that I had lost.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the one and only Donquixote Sibella Ariadne. Who would have thought I'd run into you in a place like this." A voice from behind me said.

I jumped and immediately whipped around to see the imposing form of Charlotte Cracker standing behind me. I turned back around and roughly whipped at my eyes with my jacket sleeves and said, "What are you doing here?"

Why is he here? Did Mama send him? But this isn't in Big Mom's territory. Damn it! I SPECIFICALLY avoided all of her islands for this exact reason!

"I was in the area and heard that you were too. So I thought I'd drop by and say hi." He said as he came over and sat next to me. He looked at my face and sneered before saying, "Damn Adne ugly crying does not suit you. Here have a biscuit and knock it off."

I tried to smile as he clapped his hands in that ridiculously flamboyant way of his before a small soft biscuit formed. I took a small bite of it before saying, "What? Are you shocked that I actually have emotions besides being pissed off?"

"Come to think of it. Yea, I am."

I laughed softly at that before we lapsed into silence as I ate and my tears dried. I looked out over the ocean once more and noticed that the sun had drooped considerably from last I remembered.

How long have I been out here?

Once I finished the biscuit I looked at my companion for the first time. He wasn't all that different from the last time I had seen him. He still wore his standard outfit of pants, no shirt, and that weird shoulder cape. Even his lavender hair was still pretty much the same, although he did look a bit taller. But beyond that the only thing worth nothing was the lack of armor.

"So where's your armor? I thought you never left home without it so you could 'protect your delicate flesh'." I asked.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Ok first, I have never called my skin delicate-"

"Everyone else does." I interjected.

"SECOND" He said loudly while glaring at me. "I'm not here on official business so I don't need to hide my face."

"'Not on official business'? You're a Charlotte. You're always on official business."

"Ok yea fair. Should have known you wouldn't buy that." He said with a chuckle. "But I'm not here for a fight and I don't want people staring at me. So this way no one knows that I'm the highly valuable and beloved son of the great Charlotte Linlin!"

So then he isn't here to drag me back to Totto with him. But still he's here for a reason. But do I even care at this point?

I can't be bothered to try and dig the truth out of him…

"Yea ok sure. Those sparklers in your hair must really help to keep people from staring." I said before smirking. "I see your scar healed up nicely."

He scoffed and punched me in the arm for that and said, "Yea no thanks to you! Seriously Adne it was just training why did you have to get so damn serious about it! Now I'm gonna look like a hoodlum for the rest of my life!"

Oh please. But still I guess it's nice to see he's still as dramatic as he used to be...

I rolled my eyes at that. "A hoodlum? I'm sorry but did you forget that you're a pirate? I don't think a scar is really going to change how people see you. And what do you mean 'why did you have to take it so seriously'? Katakuri was watching! He would have beat the shit out of both of us if I didn't! Hell he still beat the shit out of me for hurting you!"

He laughed and said, "Ok fair." Once he stopped laughing he turned serious and said, "Actually… I am sort of here on business. Mama sent me."

And here it comes...

I tensed and said. "I figured. What does she want?"

"She wanted me to remind you of your agreement. You know she still wants you to marry Peros right?"

Of course...

"Well I didn't think she forgot." I said with a bitter smile.

After all, why would she let me go? Why would anyone let me live my own fucking life?

"Are you going to? You agreed to come back when you turned 20 right? So that's what 3 years away?"

"I know what I agreed to but… That doesn't matter anymore. I'm with Ace now so she'll just have to deal with it. Besides me and Peros as a couple? Yea no thanks. He's a cool guy and all but he's old enough to be my dad."

Cracker shook his head. "Mama won't like that. She tolerates you playing rookie for now but if you actually try and defy her? Your entire crew will be killed."

"You think I haven't considered that?" I snapped while glaring at him. "But that doesn't matter now. We'll be joining the Whitebeard pirates soon enough. So unless she wants to go to war with him then she can't really touch me."

HI jaw dropped. "Wha- Why the hell would you join the Whitebeards? You hate them. I remember you saying you did. Loudly. Explicitly. Repeatedly."

"You think I want to? Don't be a dumbass Cracker. But Ace got it in his head that he can take him out and is hell bent on trying. He obviously isn't strong enough to kill him. Hell he isn't even strong enough to be a threat to him! But does he listen to me? No of course not. What the hell would I know? I only sailed with the jackass for 4 years."

"Yea I get that but Adne… betraying Mama is not something you should do lightly. No, you can't betray her. You made a deal with her and you have to honor it. Just come back to Totto with me now. I know you don't want to marry Peros but maybe we could convince her to-"

I rolled my eyes and said, "To what Cracker? To let me marry you instead?"

"Yes! Why not? I'm only 5 years older than you instead of the 25 Peros has on you."

"That's not the point! Even if it was you know that she will never change her mind! And to be perfectly honest I don't want to become a breeder for Big Mom." I snapped. "Look, I'm grateful for everything that you guys did for me, truly I am. But I can't go back. Not now. I can't leave Ace. He needs me. And I love him."

I love him.

"You love him. Really. So you weren't up here sobbing like someone had just died because of him?"

"You don't know him!" I shouted before taking a deep breath. "Things are rough right now but we'll figure it out. We always do."

Right. It'll be hard for a little while but it'll be fine. We'll be fine. I love him so I just have to fight for him.

I can't give up.

Not if I can still help him…

Cracker shook his head and stood up. "Right, well you made your choice. I wish you the best Ariadne but know that I can't protect you from her if you go through with this. She will come for you. Either for your head or your body, you know Mama doesn't give up what she wants."

"I'm well aware of that."

"Ok then. Guess I'll see you around Adne. Hopefully you'll rethink this so that our next meeting doesn't have to be at sword point." He said before turning and walking away.

Before he got too far I called out to him, "Hey Cracker tell Mama that Zeff is still alive."

"Who?"

"Red Leg Zeff? Remember him from a few years ago? He's still alive in the East Blue. He lost a leg but trust me he's still kicking. Well sort of."

"I'll let her know."

Hopefully that will be enough to get her to leave me alone until we join up with the old man…

Although at this point I'm not sure which fate is worse…

"The hell have you been Ari?" Deuce called out to me when I climbed back up the gangplank.

"That's none of your concern. But is the ship ready to sail? There's a member of Big Mom's crew on this island so we need to get out of here." I said.

"Big Mom's crew is here?" Skull shouted. "What the hell is she doing here?"

I rolled my eyes. "Stop freaking out. Just one of her sons is here, not the whole crew. But we still need to get moving if we're ready."

Cracker has probably already called her and told her about my disloyalty to the family. We need to get moving now.

"We're almost ready we're just waiting on Captain Ace to get back-"

"No you're not I'm here!" Ace said as he jumped up onto the deck. "Set the sails!"

"Where exactly are we going Ace?" I asked while following him into the deck house.

"To meet with Red Hair. Obviously."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes I know that but do you know where he is?"

"That one winter island those idiot wannabe pirates mentioned."

"But that was months ago. Surely they've moved on since then."

We really don't have time for this. We need to get to Whitebeard now.

"Well then what do you suggest Ari?" Ace asked with an eye roll and a sigh. "I'm assuming you know Shanks just as well as every other pirate around here right?"

"I've already told you everything I know about him which isn't much!"

"Will you stop nagging already? It'll be fine. Besides, if Red Hair gets uppity we can just kill him! Simple as that." He said before patting me on the shoulder and walking away.

Or maybe Red Hair will just kill all of us and save the rest of the world the trouble.

I felt my whole body shudder from the cold as I stood on the deck of the ship looking at the winter island that we had just arrived at. I pulled my multiple coats tighter around my body which still couldn't keep out the cold.

Damn it this is why I never go to winter islands!

"You ready to go, Ari? Ace asked, walking up to me in his shorts and light cape. He looked at what I was wearing and laughed. "You cold?"

"I told you that I don't do well in extreme temperatures." I forced out through my stiff jaw.

Fuck I don't know if I'll be able to make it. I can already feel my body starting to freeze.

"You'll be fine! The walk will help warm you up!" He said cheerfully before jumping onto the snowy shore.

I spared one last glance at the dragon headed ship anchored a little ways away before I turned to jump off the ship and stumbled a bit upon landing. "Ace do you really need me to go with you? I'm sure Skull or Deuce would love to go."

"It'll be fun Air! Besides you can talk anyone into listening to you right? So I need you there in case Red Hair doesn't want to hear me out." He said before he started walking quickly inland.

"You say that like it's possible." I grumbled before starting the trek to follow him.

But I guess I should just be thankful that Shanks did stay on this island for so long. Now we won't have to start over in looking for him.

After walking for a while in the freezing wind Ace spoke up again. "Hey at least it isn't snowing right now right?"

"Sleet isn't any better!" I shouted back.

Why is he not covered in snow and ice?

I looked down at my body and saw that I was slowly but surely being covered in ice crystals.

This is really bad we need to get to Red Hair soon or else I might not be able to make it back to the ship…

"Hey who the hell are you?" A voice called out to us.

Ace and I paused and looked up to see a man standing on a hill that overlooked where we were standing. He looked to be a bit taller than Ace and was wearing rather unremarkable clothes with a thick cape around his shoulders. The most noteworthy thing about him was perhaps his blonde hair and the long sword he had drawn.

Ace was the first to speak up when he said, "My name's Ace and I'm looking for Red Haired Shanks. I heard he was on this island."

"And what do you want with my captain, boy?"

"Boy? This dude doesn't look any older than me!" Ace said under his breath before shouting back. "I want to pay him my respects! I brought booze!" He lifted the large jug of alcohol he had over his shoulder to show the man.

"Fine. I'll take you to where we're camping but just know that if you try anything that you won't live to regret it." He shouted down before turning to lead us.

The two men walked quickly up the mountain as I stumbled along doing my best not to be left behind. After a few more minutes of walking/struggling we finally came to a cave that was set into the peak of the tallest mountain on the island.

I really hope it is warm in there because if it isn't then this is going to end very badly.

There was a jolly roger flying over the cave with 3 slashes over the skull so it was clear that we had found the right crew. We followed the lookout in as he shouted, "Hey Boss, this guy just showed up and said he wanted to pay his respects."

"Pay respects… to me?" A voice came from inside the cave that was followed by a strong wave of haki.

That has to be Shanks. No one else out here has haki that powerful…

"No, I don't mean it that way!" Ace replied while walking forward as if Shanks wasn't exuding incredibly powerful Conqueror's Haki. "It's just an introduction. Pardon me, sir, I just want to introduce myself. It's an honor to make your acquaintance." He extended out both of his hands palms up towards Shanks.

Wait. He's planning on doing this the formal way? Wouldn't have thought Ace knew about the intricacies of the code since no one in our generation uses it.

Shanks shared a few confused looks with the men closest to him who must have been his officers before he also extended his hand palm up. "In that case I return your greeting."

"Right. I- uh- I am of birth of Baterilla, South Blue. I was raised in the East Blue. My name is Ace. Though I am newly started on this path in life, I am known as Fire Fist by the world at large. My humble bounty is… um… how much is it again?"

"The hell should I know?"

"This guy can barely keep his sentences straight." The other crew members scattered around the cave all started to murmur and poke fun at Ace as he stumbled through his words.

Oh Ace what the hell are you saying?

"For I am such a simple country boy, I may have committed some errors of the tongue. I pleadificate for your generous forgivivation."

Why the fuck is he talking like that?

"You've got a lot of nerve, you know that?" Shanks said with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Oh please don't try and kill us because Ace is an awkward idiot.

"So what exactly was the point in that little speech there?" He continued.

Ace looked a bit flustered as he said, "Damn it, I practiced just like Makino told me to! I'm just not good with all this fancy stuff."

"Makino?" One of the crew members asked.

Ace pulled the big jug off of his back and offered it to Shanks as he said, "This is a fine libation from the East Blue, where I grew up. Makino told me that this is how pirates offer a proper greeting."

The man with dreadlocks picked up his rifle and said, "Boy either you stop talking like a pompous idiot or I'm going to shoot you in the shin."

"Take it easy Yasopp the kid brought us booze." Shanks said before uncorking the jug and smelling it. "Now that brings back memories!"

The crew started passing around the jug and they all commented on how familiar it was as Shanks said, "Did you know that I spent some time in East Blue."

"Yes I know! I grew up near Windmill Village." Ace said with a smile.

"Windmill Village? Now that takes me back. How's the mayor doing? Is this booze from Makino's place? It sure smells and tastes like it is."

"No, I bought it at another island in the East."

"So you just had me reminiscing for no reason?"

"No, well yes, no- I did get some from Makino's place when I first set sail. But then I shipwrecked and washed up on a deserted island. You know, stuff happens." Ace said with a shrug.

"You mean stuff that's so stereotypical for rookie pirates that it never actually happens?"

"I'm getting embarrassed for him just listening to this."

"Well, if Makino's doing well, that's all that matters."

"Yea I bet she's grown into a fine woman by now, eh, Captain?"

"I'd like to see that." Shanks said with a smirk.

Ace looked at them all for a minute before saying, "Anyways, my little brother says you saved his life, and all he does is talk about you so, I wanted to meet you and give you my thanks."

"Brother?"

"His name's Luffy."

"YOU KNOW LUFFY!"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU START WITH THAT?" All of the crew immediately started shouting.

"You're Luffy's brother? I didn't even know he had a brother! Welcome, welcome! Come sit and tell me how he's doing!" Shanks said before tuning to shout at his crew. "Get the booze we're throwing a party!"

"Hey boy where's the rest of your crew?" The round man who could only be the infamous Lucky Roux asked.

Geeze people said he was fat but I wasn't expecting him to be so damn huge...

"Oh I left them at the ship. I didn't want to bother you guys with all of them." Ace said.

"Well go get them! We're throwing a party!"

"Great!" Ace said with a smile before saying over his shoulder, "Hey Ari can you go get the guys?"

Wait… Walk all the way back down the mountain? But I only just now started to warm up!

Before I could say anything Shanks spoke up instead. "You're crew mate's looking a little worse for wear there friend. You sure it's a good idea to make her climb all the way down this mountain just to have to climb back up?"

Ace looked at me over his shoulder and his eyebrows shot up as he said, "What the hell happened to you?"

I stood there still covered in ice and snow while shivering more than should be possible and snapped. "I told you that I don't like the cold!"

Sure I'm starting to warm up but if I have to climb all the way back down the mountain right now then I definitely won't make it…

"Don't worry boy she'll be safe here. We're pirates not cannibals." One of the Red Hairs called out causing the rest of them to laugh.

"Just go get the others I'll be fine here." I said.

"Ok I'll be quick." He said before turning and jogging out of the cave. I stood there awkwardly as all of the Red Hairs stared at me before Shanks spoke up.

"Come sit by the fire. You're obviously cold."

I hesitated for a minute before giving in and walking over to sit close to the flames. Or rather I stumbled over and collapsed onto the ground right in front of the fire.

"You alright there?" Beckman asked.

"I'm fine." I snapped "Water and freezing temperatures just don't mix well is all."

And given my body's refusal to stay in a solid state for any length of time, regulating my body temperature is pretty much impossible.

Shanks laughed and handed me a tankard full of something alcoholic. "That's why we don't have any devil fruit users. All that weirdness is just too much trouble."

I took a sip before asking. "You don't have any devil fruit users? At all?"

"You didn't know that?"

"Believe it or not you're rather hard to gather intel about."

"Is that your way of saying that I'm not as famous as I think I am?"

"No of course not." I said looking down.

"Well. You might not know much about us but we know plenty about you." He said with a smirk.

"Is that right? And what exactly do you know?"

"Beyond the fact that you're the protege of Garp who managed to worm your way into Whitebeard's crew, then Big Mom's, and then disappeared only to reappear nearly a year later in the East Blue? A bit."

"Well then that makes us about even as I know you sailed with Gold Roger before starting your own crew. And then a bit more I suppose." I said before drinking a bit more from my tankard.

Even if you are still a massive unknown to me.

Seriously why is it so hard to find any information about this crew?

I sat there quietly nursing my drink as the Red Hairs quickly fell into their own rhythm and seemed to forget about me entirely.

I would have thought that this crew would have been a lot more disorganized…

I watched as the majority of the members of the crew ran round the cave helping to set up a buffet of food. Lucky Roux was directing them a bit but it seemed like everyone simply knew what to do, where to go, and how to not get in the way. Even though there were over a dozen men running around no one ever seemed to get in anyone's way. Not only was the crew highly efficient but they were all so… happy… Everyone was talking and laughing while working.

The Red Hairs are famous for their loyalty to Shanks but I never expected them to seem so much like a…

Family...

I wonder what it's like to be so sure of the fact that those around you care about you and would do anything to protect you...

I wonder if I could ever-

I chuckled and shook my head slightly.

Yea right Ariadne.

You'll never have people who care about you that much.

You don't deserve to be as happy as them.

And you never will be…

I lowered my head, closed my eyes, and tried to tune out their laughter.

"So what exactly are you doing on a rookie crew?" Beckman asked after he had walked over to my secluded spot away from the bulk of the party.

I glanced at him before looking back at Ace where he was happily sitting in the center of the party. Naturally, everyone had gathered around him to listen to him talk and joke.

He really is like a sun…

Looking back to Beckman I asked. "What do you mean?"

"We both know that you could join any of the emperor crews if you wanted. Hell you could become a Vice Admiral tomorrow if you put your mind to it. So why are you running around with someone like Ace."

I eyed him for a minute before saying, "Why do you care?"

"I think we both know why." He said.

Worried about what I might do in the future? Don't be. I likely won't be around much longer...

I shrugged. "Well it's really nothing special. I love him. And I believe in his dream, I want to help him achieve it"

He snorted into his drink. "Right. You expect me to believe that someone with your life experience truly believes that that brat is going to surpass the pirate king?"

"You don't?"

"He's strong. I'll give him that but he has the wrong temperament for it. He's too angry. He won't ever achieve more than captaining a single ship."

Bold claim to make for someone who doesn't know him.

"Why not?"

"He's too naive. He thinks he's stronger than he is and that is going to put him in for a very rude awakening one of these days."

I thought about that before shrugging. "Well you might be right about that. But as his first mate isn't it my job to pick up the pieces after that happens?"

If I can do even that much for him then it'll be worth it...

He looked at me in mild disbelief. "Since when do you 'pick up the pieces' for some random kid from the East Blue? The Marines might not draw that much attention to you but anyone with a brain knows that you are the strongest rookie in a good long while. Hell just for a pirate you're impressive."

Oh yes I am just so impressive now aren't I? Is that why I have absolutely no control over my life?

"Oh please Beckman. What makes you think that Ace is just a random kid? You just said that I have the best pedigree of this generation so why exactly do you think I would drop my standards for Ace? Think about it, I've survived for so long because I used my parent's connections right? Well what makes you think that I am the only one with connections to the old guard?" I said with an eye roll.

He snorted and said, "So he is his son then."

Well well, Beckman really is as smart as they say.

"Yea he is. He may look a hell of a lot like his father but that is where the similarities end."

"Well that and his temper. From what I've heard he's got a fiery one."

Wait… Did he just?

"Was that a fire pun?"

He chuckled, "Wasn't meant to be. It just sorta happened."

I rolled my eyes. "Well regardless. You're right. Ace has a fiery temper that will burn down this world."

"Well let's just hope that he doesn't drag the rest of us down with him when he does." He said before walking away.

How could the sun drag people down? No the sun is the thing that gives life to the world…

The ocean is the one that drowns all who dare to go near it...

Chapter Warnings:

Lots of mentions of being suicidal as well as self depreciating comments. Basically there is just a lot of Ari being depressed and realizing that she is a lot more depressed than she likes to believe. Unfortunately I don't think it is really possible to skip those parts this chapter as they are a lot of one liners sprinkled through out the chapter. But here is the gist if you would rather skip this chapter:

Ari and Ace get into a fight over her giving Ace intel about Whitebeard. Ari says no. Then she goes and sits on a hill and is angsty while singing "To The Boy I Fell In Love With". Then Charlotte Cracker shows up and tells Ari that Big Mom still wants her to marry Perospero. She says that she isn't going to and BM can suck it since they'll be joining the WB pirates soon. The Spades go find Shanks and they talk a bit. Then Beckman talks to Ari about her pedigree as a pirate and says that Ace isn't going to achieve his dream. So yea that is the quick and dirty version of this chapter so you can skip and pick up in the next one but I don't know how enjoyable that will be as we are reaching the climax of this story and so pretty much every chapter after this is going to be getting darker and deeper into Ari and Ace's psychological issues.

(Also all of Ace's weird as shit lines to Shanks are direct quotes from Vol 2 of his light novel. And yes the author really did use the words "Pledificate" and "Forgivivation" XD)