A revelation! Da dun!
I love writing Ace but I want to write a happy Ace soon. A smile suits him more. I want to write his goofy side! Arrrghh! Patience, me. Patience! Enjoy this new chapter! Ace is here! Stay strong, Ace!
Beta'd by MerryAnchor16
disclaimer: One Piece is not mine!
Chapter 12
The Former Roger Pirate
Ace stared at the endless blue color of the sky, thinking of how alike it was to the ocean, so wide, so blue, so deep, another place for freedom.
A cloud passed his sight, its puffy figure completely blocking the sun. Somehow it reminded him of Stellar's hair colour and how it felt in between his fingers. It was white and soft, just like the clouds. He wondered where she was right now. Did she know what had happened to him? He scoffed, 'of course she knows by now. News spread so fast.' The worried and guilty feeling forms lumps in his stomach as he imagined what her expression would be. 'She must be mad or maybe crying. No, she rarely cries. Maybe she's furious. Can't blame her though, I promised not to do stupid things but here I am, sitting with cuffs restraining my powers. I'll be dead soon.'
He tried to let his mind wander on anything other than the nearing execution. He didn't want to die but, in his heart, he knew he deserved it.
He was a demon's child. The Pirate King's son. The whole world didn't want him, they didn't want him to live. He had accepted that long ago. Sometimes he thought that maybe, it was best for him to be gone.
He turned his eyes away when the cloud left the burning sight of the sun. His eyes stared blankly at what's in front of him, a wooden plank of the ship.
He felt weak and tired, so lifeless. Maybe the effects of sea-prism cuffs are totally weakening him, physically and mentally.
He thought again on what happened a while back.
Luffy came to save him. His little brother is in Impel Down, trying to save him. What the fuck is he thinking?! He didn't ask to be saved! So why… Why is he there?
He dragged his eyes to the sky again, feeling the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He would not cry. Not here. Not now. He closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth.
'Please be fine Luffy.'
That damn brat kept on making him worry. He wouldn't even let his death be peaceful.
"Y-you're from the Pirate King's crew, r-right?" one of the prisoner's asked, disbelief plastered on his wrinkled face.
'Ah, they found out.' she covered her lips to hide her growing smile, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I wonder…" she answered. It might be best not to answer their questions directly.
"So that's why Rayleigh knows you! You're also with the Pirate king!" Luffy shouted excitedly, instantly bouncing in front of her.
Stellar froze in her place and immediately covered the taller boy's mouth with her hand. "Luffy-kun. Shh!" she placed an index finger in her lips, signaling him to shut up.
But Luffy seemed not to get the message as he took off her hands on his mouth and continued blabbering. "Shakki mentioned you're super strong like the old man and have this cool devil fruit power! She said that's where they get your nickname! Oh wait, what is it again? Va… Va… hmmm. Ah! Vio—" his words turned muffled when Stellar forcefully covered his mouth with her hands again.
Stellar sighed, feeling an oncoming migraine on her head. She was so tired. She didn't want to deal with this.
"Wait a minute!"
Stellar and Luffy turned their heads to the owner of the voice. Buggy stood above the second-floor railings, his pose tall and mighty, red nose perked up to the sky proudly with fisted hands planted on his hips.
"That's right my men! Stellar nee-san and I were both on the Pirate King's ship!" he smirked when all his followers have this gleam of admiration on their eyes. "In fact, she's one of the famous Pirate King's best friends!"
Small delicate hands shamelessly fell from Luffy's mouth, and her mouth hung open with disbelief as she watched Buggy revealed everything.
"That's right! She's Roger-senchou and Rayleigh-san's best friend! She is known as the shadow, the shield, the fearless demon of the crew!"
Stellar groaned and facepalmed, her head aching terribly at the scene Buggy was making. Too much for being secretive.
"She's my nee-san! And she's notably known as the Violet Demon!"
"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"You mean she's the Violet Demon who the World Government is desperately trying to kill?"
"Yup."
"The merciless pirate who slays anyone, be it children, women or oldies! The d-demon who kills anyone?! When I mean anyone, I seriously mean ANYONE?!"
Stellar frowned at the silly gossip, "I don't do that."
"Uh-huh."
"The demon who is rumored to eat beating fresh hearts?!"
"That's just disgusting!" Stellar commented, cringing at the sick thought of eating human hearts.
"That's right."
"Buggy-sama! Is it true that she killed a Celestial Dragon?!"
Stellar raised an eyebrow at that, "I thought that was supposed to be a secret?"
"Positive."
"It was supposed to be a secret!" Stellar screeched.
"Shishishi. I'm starting to like you Stellar!"
"Nooo…" She hid her face in absolute shame. She's exposed. Fully exposed.
"It's relieving to know we have a legendary pirate on our side, Stellar-san. And a former Roger Pirate too." Jimbei, the ex-shichibukai, joined the conversation, ignoring the loud big-headed pirates in the background.
Stellar glanced over Luffy's shoulder seeing Jimbei walking towards them, she smiled tiredly at him, running a shaking hand on her arm. She could feel exhaustion taking over her body. "It seems like many people will be depending on me."
"It's one perk of being strong. The weak depend on the stronger ones but isn't that what you're fighting for?" Jimbei asked, giving the smaller woman a side-glance.
"That's before, when our crew was still present." She whispered. "Now it's different. I am not with any crew right now, this time I only have a few people to protect, including him."
"Ne, Stellar…" Luffy looked at her curiously. "Why are you here?"
Stellar gently smiled and ruffled the younger boy's hair. It was softer than what she expected. "I heard Ace is your brother. Am I… correct?"
Luffy grinned big and so innocently, "Yeah, I'm his brother!"
Stellar immediately grasped the rubber man's hand, surprising the boy. "I-I—no, we will save him, Luffy-kun. I promise you." She said with a sure and determined look in her eyes.
Luffy grinned widely, "Of course!"
Stellar smiled softly at him and held his cheek with her hand. "Now, how about we rest? Oh wait, let me heal your wounds." She suggested with a motherly tone. She glanced at Jimbei, "Yours too."
Jimbei crossed his arms to his chest, smiling slightly, "No, I'm fine. Reserve your energy for later."
Stellar shook her head disapprovingly, removing her hand from Luffy's cheek, "I don't take no for an answer."
The fishman sighed in defeat and uncrossed his arms. "Fine. Let's go upstairs. It's crowded here."
Luffy and Stellar nodded and they went upstairs to sit near the steering wheel. Jimbei had purposely left it without someone to take over. The current would take them to where the Navy HQ is.
They all sat on the wooden floor with Stellar in the middle. Luffy asked, "How will you heal us?"
The corner of her mouth curved into a smile at his genuine curiosity. "Being a demon has its perks, Luffy-kun."
"Oh."
"Who wants to go first?" she asked while removing her black gloves in her hand.
Luffy raised his hand excitedly, "Me! Me!"
Stellar laughed, raising her hand in front of her with a light violet glow, "Okay, okay. Just stay still."
And so she healed every wound in and on his body, starting from his abused hand going to his chest. She sadly wondered how he got those terrible wounds- they were serious and in need of dire medical attention. Her healing powers could only do so much and it worries her how this boy will survive in the coming war.
She raked her eyes over his body for more scratches or cuts, and she saw how hurt he was. Not just physically but emotionally. She noticed how he would constantly glance at the sea and how his eyes gleamed anxiously. She didn't know him well, but it was enough to know that he really cared for his brother.
'Luffy-kun…'
At this particular moment, Stellar made a silent vow to herself as she healed him. She will protect Luffy. No matter what the consequence will be, she will make sure that this boy survives the war and rescues Ace. Luffy deserves happiness just like his brother.
War was something she got used to, and war was never pretty. Never would she wish for anyone to feel what she experienced.
Life was cruel, unfairly cruel, but no one deserves to only see it as it is.
So more info about Stellar! Buggy knows her too well.
Thank you for all the reviews! You're all lovely! If only I can give everyone a hug!