This is the 30th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Hot Emotions and Brotherly Bond!
In three years, not a drop of rain has fallen in the desert kingdom of Alabasta, the Land of Oasis. Desperate for rain and prodded by outside forces, the kingdoms people have taken up weapons. The land is at the brink of war. With no where else to turn, the people are turning on each other. After arriving in Alabasta, Luffy and the others ran afoul of an old enemy, Marine Captain Smoker, but there to save Luffy in the nick of time was the man who controls flame, 'Fire Fist' Ace, who as it turned out was also Luffy's older brother.
Alabasta, Nanohana
After the Straw Hat pirates and two former Baroque Works agents have manage to escape, thanks to Ace, Ace was left alone to deal with the Marines and Smoker. Smoker isn't too pleased to see Ace blocking his path and letting Luffy and the others get away.
"Move it." Smoker ordered.
"Afraid I can't." Ace refuse with a smirk. "You understand."
And with that Ace then uses the flames to form a wall, blocking their path and preventing them to go any further which got the Marines, except Smoker, shocked. Little did they know, one of the Baroque Works agents is watching the scene and noticed Ace is in Alabasta as he quickly left without getting caught, informing Crocodile and his fellow agents.
"So, you're the Straw Hats brother, are you?" Smoker asks, turning his hands into smoke and turning his body into smoke. "White Spark"
Smoker then charges after Ace, but his flames are blocking at the fight rages on.
The people of Alabasta looks up at the sky and saw both Ace and Smoker fighting. The Straw Hat pirates and two former Baroque Works agents stopped running, looking up at the sky.
"What's going on back there?" Chopper asks.
"Looks like a fight between smoke and fire." Usopp states.
"So, that's the kind of power you get after eating a Flame-Flame fruit." Sanji told them when Carue quacks.
"Speaking of Devil fruit, Luffy, is it true?" Nami asks.
"Is Ace really your brother?" Anna adds with a question.
"Yep! His names Ace." Luffy replied, turns to Ventus. "But how do you know him, Ventus? And why is he calling you Ven?"
"Like I said, I'll explain when we get back to the ship." Ventus told him.
"Look, I'm not surprised you here have a brother, Luffy, but what's he doing here on the Grand Line?" Zoro questions with a serious expression on his face.
"Ace is a pirate too, just like I am. He left home 3 years before I did to go search for One Piece." Luffy explains.
It got them shocked when he told him. Ventus was shocked because he's not being told by Ace at all, for his reason to be on the Grand Line. However, it got them snapped out of their thought when Ace and Smoker are continuing to fight each other.
"Anyway, he bought us some time, so we can't waste it." Nami informed them. "Let's get back to the ship."
"I second that. We have to get out of here before the Marines catch up to us." Ventus adds, agreeing to Nami's reason. "Let's go!"
"Sure, Nami, dear." Sanji said happily.
And with that, they continued to run back to the ship as the fire and smoke explodes, causing the smoke to rise up.
"Wow, I never would've thought I'd run into my big brother in a place like this." Luffy states, watching the fight between Ace and Smoker.
"Ah! Which way do we go?!" Usopp exclaims when he saw a fork on the road.
"Left, Usopp! Everyone get that?!" Nami shouts as they, except Luffy, turned left.
"Yes, Nami, I'll follow you wherever you go." Sanji said, gone goo-goo eyes.
"You lovesick freak!" Zoro, Ivan, and Ventus shouts in unison with annoyance.
Luffy however, isn't paying attention to his surroundings because he's too busy watching the fight while getting himself lost, again.
After the fight, Ace manage to flee and left Smoker in the dust which it ends up in a stalemate between fire and smoke. Smoker however, was the only one standing with a furious expression on his face when Ace got away.
"A fight between flame and smoke is ultimately pointless." Smoker muttered. "As we've just made obvious. Where's the Straw Hat and his crew?!"
"They're gone, sir!"
"So is Ace! We've lost sight of him!"
"I reamend to the Straw Hat at the Grand Line and have them as good as captured, but then, you just had to get in my way, didn't you Ace?" Smoker growled at his name.
While it didn't take long for them to get back to the Going Merry and putting the supplies away for the time being while trying to get the ship ready to leave.
"Get everything stowed! We're shoving off right away!" Nami ordered.
"Aye, aye!" Usopp complies as he and the rest of the crew getting the supplies loaded. "Set the sails!"
Soon as they unfurl the sail, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, and Shanise are getting the supplies loaded on the ship, with a help of Ventus, Ivan, and Anna.
"But it took us so long to finally get here." Chopper protests. "And now we're leaving already?"
"Not like we have a choice since the Marines are too busy fighting Ace." Ventus told him. "Also, if we stay here any longer, we'll get caught."
"He's right, but remember, we only stop here to get the supplies if we're going to make it for the rest of the journey." Vivi adds, agreeing to Ventus' statement. "And now that we have all of them, we're going to head up river into the interior of Alabasta. Our next destination is, the City of Green, Erumalu."
"Erumalu?" Chopper repeats.
"Hurry!" Zoro ordered.
"I am!?" Usopp exclaims.
Zoro and Shanise are pulling the anchor and place it on the wooden rail.
"Pick up the pace!" Sanji shouts when he and Ventus pull the ropes.
"Ready!" Usopp exclaims when he made it in the helm's room, ready to sail.
"Right, set sail!" Nami ordered, but widen her eyes and gasp.
Until, when they were about to get ready to leave after loading the supplies, they seem to be having a feeling like they're missing someone. It was silent when one of them ask a question.
"Ah, dammit!" Sanji quietly cursed.
"Uh, guys?" Chopper called them when Zoro grunts with annoying scowl.
"You know, I have the strangest feeling we're forgetting something." Usopp said.
"Yeah, so do I." Chopper agrees.
"It's not something, it's someone." Nami corrects them.
"And only one idiot who we're missing." Anna adds with annoyance.
"AHH! That STUPID MORON!" Zoro shouts.
"Just when exactly...WHEN EXACTLY DID HE SEPERATE FROM UUUUUUUUUUUS?!" Ventus yelled at the top of his lungs with his dragonic tone, catching on to someone who's missing...again.
While at Nanohana, Luffy is now in the alley which of course, he got himself lost as he sits on the top of the barrel, crossed his arms and legs with a ponder.
"Well that's weird, I could have sworn they were right here." Luffy muttered, but completely oblivious that he got him lost by going the opposite direction. "And now they're all gone. Where'd they go?"
"Well, I guess giving you a chance to escape was pointless." The voice of Ace said when Luffy looks, seeing him at the top of the building.
"Hey!" Luffy called him when Ace chuckle while tipped his hat. "Hiya, Ace!"
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Ace asks with a smirk when he lands on the ground while placed his hands on his waist.
"You can say that." Luffy replied with a smile as they chuckled a bit, gripping their hands while placing their elbows on the top of the barrel. "How many years has it been?"
"I don't know, but you haven't changed much over that time." Ace states. "You're a little taller, but you're pretty much the same."
They then started gripping their hands tighter, doing the arm wrestling and struggle each other to force each other's hands down to the top of the barrel.
"So do you! Aside from those powers you got from eating that Devil fruit, you haven't changed a bit." Luffy grunts, tried to force Ace's hand down which he's holding on. "Remember when you use to sneak into the fields, eat 100 watermelons, spit the seeds out like a gatling gun and run away?"
"No, that wasn't me! That was you!" Ace corrects him, tried to force Luffy's hand down which he's holding on also.
"The farmers would chase you and you scream like a girl?" Luffy asks.
"That was you too! I watched and laughed!" Ace grunts when their faces are red, struggle to force their hands down at each other as the barrel breaks out and the water is splattered down to the ground.
"I guess we're still the same." Luffy states.
"Sure are." Ace agrees, holding each other's hands.
"Just like old times." Luffy said with a grin.
"Wait, wasn't your crew looking for you a few minutes ago?" Ace asks, going through his bag as he pulled out the canteen.
"Yeah." Luffy replied. "Hey, what are you doing in this country anyway?"
"I'd take it you never receive the message I left for you back on Drum Island?" Ace counters with a question, scoffed as he opens the canteen.
"Message?" Luffy repeats in confusion.
"Well, I guess that's a no, but don't worry, it's no big deal." Ace assures him. "It was just to let you know that I'd be in Alabasta for a few days. I'm in these waters on some business."
"Business, huh?" Luffy repeats again.
"Yeah, I'm with the Whitebeard Pirates." Ace complies after drinking the water from his canteen, tossed the canteen to Luffy. "Catch."
"The Whitebeard Pirates?" Luffy repeats, caught the canteen as Ace turns arounds, showing the tattoo on his back.
"See this tattoo? That's our mark and it's my pride." Ace told him, leaving Luffy amazed while drinking the water from the canteen. "So Luffy, why don't you and your friends come join us? Come on, it'll be fun. What do you say?"
"No thanks." Luffy declines, causing Ace to laugh.
"I had a feeling you'd say that." Ace said while holding his hat with a smirk. "That's too bad, cuz' you see, Whitebeard is the greatest pirate I've ever met. That's why I'm going to help him become King of the Pirates, and not you, Luffy. Sorry."
"That's fine, I guess we'll just have to fight then." Luffy states with a chuckle. "Because I'm gonna be King of the Pirates."
And with that Luffy is drinking the canteen which he's trying to drink the whole water.
"STOP IT! DON'T DRINK IT ALL, YA MOOCH! HEY!" Ace shouts with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
While at the shipyard, an agent named Mr. 11 was caught by the Marines and was held in the main mast after being interrogated by Smoker when they got the information of the location to Alabasta from Crocodile. The Baroque Works agents were searching for Luffy and Ace when they heard they're still in Nanohana along with the pirate crew, which they're still at the other side of the shore. However, they're also looking for Mr. 11 which they have an assignment to kill him if he got caught by the Marines and gave away the information.
Mr. 11 is a short man with long wavy gray hair. He has tattoos of his number on each side of his face, and a large black top hat. He wears a dark black coat with a gray collar and yellow buttons. Underneath, he sports a purple puffy shirt with black pants.
"Something big must be going on in town! All the Marines on board wouldn't have left me on the ship unattended like this." Mr. 11 said with a smirk, chuckled. "Oh well, whatever it is, it's given me a perfect opportunity to escape."
However, the Baroque Works agents, the Billions, arrived at the Marine ship and saw Mr. 11 being tied into the main mast.
"Mr. 11."
Mr. 11 then look up and saw the Billions with a grunt.
"Well now, since you know my codename, that can only mean that the three of you are members of the Baroque Works, I guess Millions." Mr. 11 guessed. "Hurry up and untie me!"
"You're right about one thing, we're with Baroque Works!"
"But we're in line to become number agents, see? We're not Millions, we're Billions!"
"You are a number agent, but it looks you like you're barely wanted that! A stronger agent would've never been captured by the Marines like this!"
"Can we discuss this later?!" Mr. 11 grunts, trying to free himself. "Like when I'm not tied up maybe?! Now help another member out before all those Marines come back!"
Though, the Billions are grinning which they're not gonna help Mr. 11 out.
"Oh, we'll help you alright, right off this mortal coil that is."
Soon as one of the Billions pulled out a flintlock pistol, aiming at Mr. 11, who's panicking.
"A Billions can get promoted to a number agent whenever there's a seat to fill."
As he said that, the big Baroque Works agents arrived at the Marine ship with a smirk on his face and spoke to Mr. 11.
"And your position is about to be empty."
"Wait! No! Hold on!" Mr. 11 cried with a plea.
But it's too late as the Baroque Works agent fire the pistol at Mr. 11, killed him. As soon as their work is done, the Baroque Works agents disembark and was about to head out.
"Hey!"
They saw their fellow Baroque Works agent rushing towards them at the shore, stops as he pants heavily.
"You believe it! 'Fire Fist' Ace is here!"
"What?! 'Fire Fist' Ace!"
"You mean the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
"If we take someone with his reputation down, then we'll guaranteed to become number agents."
Meanwhile inside of Nanohana, both Luffy and Ace are wandering around in the alley while trying to find their way to the Going Merry since the rubber Captian has gotten himself lost in the first place.
"Alright enough chit-chat, we need to find your friends before the Marines do." Ace suggests. "Do you have any idea where they could've gone?"
"I don't know." Luffy shrugs. "They might've gone back to the ship."
"Well that's a start, where's it docked at?" Ace questions, turns to Luffy.
"Actually, I'm not sure." Luffy answered with a ponder. "That's funny."
"Huh, geez." Ace groans with annoyance when the Baroque Works agents revealed themselves from each building without getting caught. "You know Luffy, pirate ship Captain usually remember where they leave their ships."
"Yeah, but I was hungry." Luffy told him with a goofy grin. "And I forgot."
"You haven't changed at all." Ace states with annoyance. "So, tell me about your crew. I already knew about Ven and what he's like. I want to know about the others, what are they like? Who are they?"
"Well first, there's a tough guy who carries around three swords, wants to be the Greatest Swordsman in the World. Then, there's a navigator who likes maps and tangerines and money. There's also a cook who makes really yummy. There's a ranger who's aim is really cool and also with blades too. There's a liar too. Oh, and we just got a doctor who happens to be a reindeer." Luffy explains as the Baroque Works readied their weapons while going after the two.
"Really? You don't say?" Ace said with a smirk. "Sounds you got a motley crew there."
"We also have two former agents, a princess, and her giant duck." Luffy adds.
"Oh?" Ace inquires curiously.
"Every one of my crew is so interesting." Luffy told him.
"Sure sounds like it." Ace agrees. "But I'd wager you're the most interesting one of all. But still, only a handful of people for a pirate crew, that's just like you."
"I'm still looking for a musician, though." Luffy muttered with a smile.
Until, the Baroque Works agents revealed themselves with their weapons aiming at Luffy and Ace.
"Stop right there, 'Fire Fist'."
Ace and Luffy stops when the Baroque Works agents surround the two while the leader of the Billions walk towards his fellow agents.
"You've got no place to run, Ace. Your head is mine, it's my ticket to promotion. Prepare to die."
Meanwhile, the pirate crew are sailing out of the shore of Nanohana while try to hide from the Marines since Smoker and his group were looking for them because of Luffy causing trouble.
"Um, is it okay for a ship to set sail without its Captain on board?" Chopper inquires.
"No, but we're in a tight spot since the Marines are looking for us and Luffy is wandering off to God knows where." Anna told him. "And it's no surprise he always gets himself into a lot of trouble."
"That and the first place the Marines are gonna look for us is the harbor." Nami adds. "So, our top priority is to hide the ship."
"I know of a secluded cove that's up ahead; we can anchor the ship there." Vivi states.
"Alright, so we lay low, let things cooldown a bit, and then go back for Luffy." Sanji said.
"Good grief, that guy attracts trouble just like a dead guy attracts vultures." Usopp muttered with annoyance.
"Yeah, that's the only reliable thing our Captain ever does." Zoro agrees.
"Which it got us to question why is Luffy became Captain instead of someone else." Shanise adds with a serious glare.
While back in the alleys of Nanohana, the Baroque Works agents aiming their weapons at Ace and Luffy, ready to shoot them.
"It's our lucky day, boys! This'll be easier than shooting fish in a barrel!"
However, one of the Baroque Works agents noticed Luffy.
"Hey, look at that other guy. Is it just me or does he kinda look like 'Straw Hat' Luffy?"
"Hey, now that you mention it, it is him! He's worth 30 million berries!"
"Well, well, it looks like our lucky day just got even luckier. And big promotion is our only a hot skip jumping two severed pirate heads away!"
"Anyway, let's go find your ship, we'll start at the shore." Ace suggests as he and Luffy walk past them.
"'Kay." Luffy complies.
Though, the Baroque Works agents were furious when Ace and Luffy walk past them which they're taking it lightly.
"Hey! Stop you two!"
"Hold it right there!"
Ace and Luffy didn't listen while continuing to walk past them and try to find the shore to get to the ship.
"You can't walk away from us! Get them!?"
With that, the Baroque Works agents charges after the two, but Luffy manage to dodge that attack from behind while one of the Baroque Works agents starts swinging his sword, causing the rubber Captain to dodge.
"What's going on?" Luffy asks while deliver him a somersault, knocking him out. The Baroque Works agent was about to swing his sword, but Luffy dodges.
However, Ace has no problems of fighting against the Baroque Works agents when dodge his attack, goes after the other agent and deliver a low sweep, knocking him out. The two Baroque Works agents are trying to catch him, but Ace knocked him out with a smirk on his face.
"Hold him down!"
The Baroque Works agents then surround Luffy as they catch him, holding him down. Luffy stretched his arms when he grabs the clothesline and launched himself while sending the Baroque Works agents flying.
"Whoa! What the hell?! His arms stretched out!"
"Oh man! He must have Devil fruit powers!"
The Baroque Works agents then tried shooting him when they aim at Luffy, firing bullets at him which it only got his body stretched out.
"Have these back! Cuz' I don't need them!" Luffy shouts as the bounces right back at the Baroque Works agents, causing them to flee as he lands on the ground.
The Baroque Works agent then drew his sword out as he charges after Luffy, about to swing his sword when the rubber Captain dodges. When the Baroque Works agent was about to swing his sword, Ace manage to stop him when he caught the sword with his hand.
"Gum-Gum: Bazooka" Luffy then stretches both his arms backwards while Ace burns up the sword, causing the Baroque Works agent to yelp in pain. Luffy then hurls them forward, strike him and sent the Baroque Works agents flying at the sky, leaving the rest of the Baroque Works agents shocked.
And with the fight is over, Ace and Luffy continued to head out while try to find the ship, leaving the Baroque Works agents completely stunned of what they have witnessed, but that's not gonna stop them.
"Don't be scared, men!"
"Yeah, he's right! The rank of number agent is writing on those two!"
Ace and Luffy made it out of the alley while the Baroque Works agents are still going after them.
"Here we are." Luffy states, looking at the sea as he and Ace rush towards the shore.
"You see your ship?" Ace asks as Luffy looks for the Going Merry when the Baroque Works agents found the two.
"You can't escape from us!"
"You clowns just never learn." Ace muttered with annoyance when he turns to the Baroque Works agents.
"Oh, there it is!" Luffy exclaims, saw the Going Merry. "Hey! Over here, you guys! We're here!"
And with that, Luffy jumps off and rush off.
"Luffy, you go on ahead-No, you've already went." Ace said, noticed Luffy already gone.
While at sea, Nami was at the crows nest when she sees Luffy through the binoculars while Ventus used his Dragon Sight and saw Luffy waving at his crew.
"Oh, I don't believe it." Nami groans with annoyance. "I found Luffy!"
"Are you sure?" Zoro questions.
"Yeah, that stupid mug is definitely his." Sanji replied, but noticed Luffy stretched his arm towards the ship. "Uh oh!"
Soon as Luffy caught the wooden rail, he launched himself back into the Going Merry, but knocked both Sanji and Chopper.
"Sanji, Tony, are you alright?" Vivi asks with worry.
"Oh, Luffy came back." Usopp exclaims.
"Yeah, the hard way." Zoro muttered with annoyance.
"Sorry about that guys, my bad." Luffy apologizes with a chuckle.
"YEAH, YOU'RE SORRY ALRIGHT! YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A CAPTAIN WHO'S EVER SAILED THE SEA, YOU MORON!" Sanji yelled at him, grabbed his vest and shakes him.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've put us in?!" Nami berates him. "Can't you at least act like a Captain sometime?!"
"She's right. And you're about to get yourself into a lot of trouble for what you've done." Anna added with a glare, crossed her arms.
"Why?" Luffy asks.
"Because of your stupidity." Ventus growled with anger, turning his eyes into a dragon eyes. "Sanji, give me that idiot you have in your hand."
"Sure thing, Ventus. He's all yours." Sanji complies gladly with a smirk.
"AAAAHHHHH! No! Sanji! Don't do it!" Luffy begged with panic, tried to get his vest off of Sanji's grip.
Once Sanji passed to Ventus, he dragged him over to the back of the ship which they're getting a pretty good idea for what the young Dragoon was about to do.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT! DID WE NOT GO OVER THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES?! I SAID IF YOU EVER WENT ON AHEAD WITHOUT US, I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND BEAT YOU TO DEATH! IN THIS CASE, YOU JUST WENT ON AHEAD LIKE AN IDIOT! AND NOT ONLY THAT, YOU HAD TO GET SEPERATED FROM US WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM THE MARINES! DO YOU NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR LEFT FROM YOUT RIGHT OR WERE YOU DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING?! IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I WOULD'VE TURNED YOU IN TO THE MARINES BACK BEFORE I OFFICIALLY BECAME CAPTAIN OF THIS CREW!" Ventus yelled with pure rage, beating Luffy senseless.
After a short while of beating, Ventus dragged his now bloody and battered Luffy back to the front where everyone is. As he did, Ventus noticed a weird look on their faces.
"What Are You Looking At?!" Ventus demands, still mad of Luffy's idioicy.
"Nothing!" They shouts in unison, frightened.
"That's what I thought." Ventus growled, turns to Luffy. "Also Luffy, you better be glad that your body is made out rubber because I'd do a lot worse than beating you. Now I'm gonna ask you once, where's Ace?"
"R-Right here." The voice of Ace replied as Ventus turns to see him at the top of the rail.
"Oh, Ace." Ventus said, letting Luffy go.
"I'm guessing you beat up my little brother because he got separated from you guys while escaping, huh." Ace said with a smirk. "Looks like I came too late to warn him about getting on your bad side."
"You only say that to make it look like you're guessing when I actually yelled out loud enough that you can hear it." Ventus states with a deadpan expression.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Ace said sarcastically as he and Ventus laugh at that.
"Well, you can sit down and relax. I'm sure and Luffy have a lot of catching up to do while you give us an explanation of how you meet Ventus." Sanji suggests. "I'll make some tea."
"No, that's thoughtful, but I don't want to impose." Ace declines politely, lights up Sanji's cigarette.
"Oh yeah, now that he's here, why don't you explain how you know him, Ventus?" Usopp asked.
"And why did he call you 'Ven'?" Shanise adds.
"Save it 'til later." Zoro suggests when he and the crew noticed the Baroque Works ships are heading their way.
"Baroque Works! Those are the 'Billions' ships!" Vivi exclaims with shock.
"Those guys again?" Luffy said, saw the ships and manage to recover quick.
"I take it you and Ace have run in with the Baroque Works while getting yourself lost?" Anna inquires.
"Hey!" Luffy said, resenting that.
"Yep, we've run in to these clowns." Ace nods, turns to Ventus with a smirk. "Hey Ven, it's been a while since we've worked together. I hope you improved your lance skills along with your magic and your dragon traits."
"You bet I did, Ace." Ventus states with a smirk, sprouts his dragon wings. "Shall we?"
"Ventus! You and Ace fought together once?!" Luffy shouts with shock.
Ignoring his question, Ventus jumped off the ship and takes flight while Ace jumped off, lands on his small boat.
"Let's go!" Ventus shouts, flying towards the Baroque Works ships.
"Yeah!" Ace agrees, using his Devil fruit power to start up the ship and head towards the Baroque Works while following Ventus.
"I wouldn't worry about those two if I were you. We already see how strong Ventus us and why we have him on his crew for a reason." Anna told them.
"That and they don't let just anyone become the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates." Zoro adds.
The Baroque Works saw both Ace and Ventus heading their way.
"Is he insane?! 'Fire Fist' is heading right towards us!"
"And look, he's got the demon brat with him!"
"Let them go! Our ships are gonna make matchsticks out of him!"
"And if he thinks we'll just let him go with that brat to us?! He's got another thing coming!"
That statement got Ventus really angry with his veins popped out of his head.
"As if I'll hand him over to you idiots." Ace said with a smirk. "He's my partner in crime. I think you all know his name. 'Raging Dragon' Ventus Starwind!"
The Billions panicked when they heard the young Dragoons name. Some even mention his bounty that's higher than Luffy's. While they panicking, Ace jumped off the ship while Ventus flew higher and went over the fleet. Ace then lands on the small ship and Ventus flew down next to the sea.
"Let's show them what good wind does to fire, Ven." Ace suggests.
"Right." Ventus responds, twirl his lance as he readied his wind magic. "Tornado"
"Fire Fist" Ventus unleashed his tornado while Ace turns his fist into flames and launches the dense column of fire while combining with the tornado, turning it into a flaming tornado. "Fire Tornado Fist"
Thanks to Ventus wind magic, Ace's fire got so big, it engulfed the entire Baroque Works fleet, leaving no survivors.
"I see you haven't lost your touch, Ace." Ventus said, turns to him with a smirk while placed his lance on his shoulder.
"That's my line to you, Ven." Ace compliments with a smirk, tipped his hat. "And I see that you improved."
It got the entire crew, except Luffy, shocked and stunned of Ace's Devil fruit power combined with Ventus' magic.
Meanwhile at Nanohana, Smoker is sitting on the stone wall while the Marines are guarding, thinking of what has been transpired.
"Captain Smoker." Tashigi called him, saluted his Captain. "We've calm the entire city sir, but 'Straw Hat' Luffy and his crew are nowhere to be found."
"Do you want to know who I saw with them?" Smoker questions, leaving her confused. "Vivi and I'm certain it was her too."
"Vivi?! As in Princess Vivi Nefertarti! But what would she be doing with the Straw Hat Pirates?!" Tashigi asks with shock. "She must be her hostage. They probably abducted her and hopes that her father would pay a hefty ransom."
"Doubt it, she wasn't acting like a kidnapped victim." Smoker told her. "More like part of the crew."
"The princess...acting like a pirate?" Tashigi muttered with a question.
"Something strange is happening, I just wish I knew what it was." Smoker states when the Marines rush towards his Captain.
"Captain Smoker! I'm sorry sir, but it appears that Mr. 11 was killed on board the ship while we were off searching for the Straw Hats! Who by the way, we still haven't located yet!"
"Call off the search for 'Straw Hat' Luffy, I have a pretty good idea where he's headed." Smoker ordered. "He's after Crocodile, I'm sure of it."
"Why Crocodile?" Tashigi questions. "He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. A pirate given Government approval."
"I find all of the Seven Warlords despicable, but Crocodile is the absolute worst." Smoker states.
"Politically speaking, isn't he an ally of the World Government and the Marines?" Tashigi questions.
"Crocodile might have the powers that be full, but not me, their delusional if they think given him a sanction will make him obey." Smoker told her. "He's a pirate. There's one thing you'll always need to remember, Tashigi, a pirates a pirate no matter where they go. They never change. Crocodile will lead right to them, Straw Hat will show up wherever he is. And I'm sure we'll find out what's going on when we get there, there will be no escape for him, not this time."
While at sea, the Straw Hat pirates are celebrating for Luffy's reunion of Ace after he and Ventus returned to the ship.
"CHEERS!" Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp cheered, clasping their mugs.
"Wait, who said I was joining your crew?" Ace asks with annoyance, but being ignored when the three drank.
"And to the delicious drinks." Usopp muttered.
"CHEERS!"
"Oh, don't worry." Nami assures him, earned his attention. "They can't take anything they say seriously when they're like this. They get all goofy when they drink."
"It happens quite a lot when it comes to cheering for either a new member of the crew or not." Ivan adds.
"Ace." Luffy called him with his mouthful, turns to him. "Are you sure you don't want to join us? It'll be fun, I promise.
'Didn't he just said that he isn't joining us?' Ventus mentally questions, decided not to tell Luffy.
"I don't think that's the case, Luffy. Ace is here for a reason." Anna states, turns to him. "Isn't that right?"
"Yeah, and it sounds like you hit on the mark." Ace said with a smirk. "So yeah, I'm chasing someone. He's a pirate named Blackbeard."
"Blackbeard?" Usopp repeats.
"I've heard of him, he was the one who attacked Drum Kingdom, but got defeat by Ventus." Vivi states, leaving Ventus surprised.
"Is there a reason?" Shanise inquires.
"There is, Blackbeard used to be a member of the 2nd Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. He was one of my own men, but he committed the most unforgivable sin a pirate could, he killed one of his fellow crew members and then he jump ship." Ace explains. "As Commander of his Division, it's my responsibility to take care of him."
"So that's why you're after him." Usopp said, understanding his situation.
"I came here because I'd heard that Blackbeard was seen in Alabasta in a place called Yuba. So, that's where I'm headed." Ace told them, drinking his alcohol.
"Hey, that's are destination too, right?" Nami asked Vivi as the princess showed the map.
"Exactly. We've just entered the Sandora river. We'll take it to Erumalu where we'll dock, and then we'll proceed on foot until we reach Yuba, here." Vivi explains. "The leader of the rebel army is there, that's where we'll going."
"You don't say?" Ace asks, looking at the map. "You mind if I tag along?"
"Nami~! Vivi~! Anna~! I follow you anywhere, just tell me where to go~!" Sanji said, went goo-goo eyes which it really annoys Ventus.
"Hopefully, it's off of a cliff." Zoro muttered.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY, ZORO?!"
"Cool it, you two!" Nami shouts before Sanji starts a fight. "Well, looks like you'll be with us for a little while, Ace."
"We're all really happy to have you aboard." Usopp states with a smile.
"This is gonna be fun, to Ace!" Luffy cheered.
"CHEERS!"
"Oh, by the way, how do you know Ventus?" Luffy inquires. "Or is it the other way around?"
"That was days before you ever get me to be a pirate from Shells Town." Ventus told him.
"WHAT?!" The Straw Hat pirates shouts in unison, spatting their drinks.
"Is that true, Ace?!" Luffy asked with shock.
"Yep. I wanted to pick you up, have you join the Whitebread pirates, or at least tell you what you needed to bring before you go there." Ace explains as he wipe the alcohol off his face. "Before I went there, I stopped by at Tanoshi Island. At first I find it weird when I noticed how quiet it was and all, until I saw Ven training with his lance in the air."
"The people thought he was one of those pirates that causes trouble and they had me fight him, but he fell asleep right in the middle of it." Ventus continued. "It wasn't long until the other group of pirates came that they realize how good he really is."
"Well, Ace is strong!" Luffy states with a grin.
"I mean by personality, you moron." Ventus berates. "Anyway, after we defeated those pirates together, Ace gave me some tips about the Grand Line since I told him that I was looking for my uncles and bring them justice for what they did to my parents."
"So wait, then back when you told us that a pirate told you about the Grand Line, that was Ace who told you?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah, it was a good thing too." Ace answered with a serious glare. "He gave me his backstory about his family back in Ishgard and how they died since it happen 11 years ago. Blackbeard killing his crew is one thing, but his relatives killed his parents is the most unforgivable sin a family relative could. And that was one biggest mistake that his uncles have made."
"I'm afraid banishment isn't enough for them, we figured that they'll be looking for Ventus and finish what they started." Anna states with a harden glare. "I won't forgive for what they did to Merida and Starblaze."
"Neither us do, Ventus even gave us everything for what happen back at Cocoyashi Island." Nami adds.
They wouldn't forget for what Ventus have told him of his dark story, but decided to change the subject.
"The reason why I called him Ven is because I've decided to shorten his name, just to make it easier. And to give him a nickname." Ace told them.
"Which I don't seem to mind." Ventus adds. "He even told me he had a feeling that I'm either going alone or join a pirate crew. Ace had feeling that Luffy would do anything to have me join him. I didn't think it would be bumbling brother, though."
"Aww jeez, you're making me blush." Luffy said, oblivious that it's obviously an insult.
"That wasn't a compliment, Luffy." Ace told him. "And that's pretty much it."
"Hang on! How did you return to the Grand Line?!" Usopp demands. "We have to go over that Reverse Mountain to get there, and the Calm Belt is out of the question!?"
"That may be true to our case, but with Ace, that's a different story." Anna told him. "You saw how he operates the small boat with his Devil fruit."
"That's right, my boat doesn't need to have wind on its side, as you saw earlier." Ace adds with a smirk. "And if there any Sea Kings in my way, I could just burn them up."
"As expected of Ace." Ventus said with a laugh.
And with that, they cheered once more as they sail towards Erumalu to get to Yuba.
That's it for the 30th chapter.