Makino stared at the envelope in her hand, which she had just received from a man in a cloak. He hadn't said who it was from; just that it was for her, Ace and Luffy. Could it be a message from Shanks? She hoped, so she opened it. As she saw the picture, she yelped, her hand rushed to her mouth. Woop Slap, who was with her at the time, looked at the picture and gasped.

It was Casey and Sabo, both smiling happily and with a newspaper. He could make out the date and the head title. It was from a week ago. He couldn't help but smile and feel a stone fall from his heart. He had heard how Benn Beckman, the pirate, had called and that Makino had spoken to him and Casey. It was so good to see her, but it was a shock to see Sabo, whom they had thought was dead.

Tears fell down Makino's cheeks, as she read the notes. "I'll close up and go to Dadan and the boys," she said.

He nodded. "I'll go with you."

It didn't take them long to get there. Ace and Luffy were for once just outside the hut.

"Makino," Luffy grinned happily at her.

Ace just nodded to her, cheek slight red. Dadan came out, after hearing Luffy cheering loudly at Makino. The latter smiled happily, just like when she came to bring news about Casey. Maybe she had news about the girl, which Dadan would be happy to hear, not that she ever would admit it.

"Neh, Makino, why are you here?" Luffy asked.

"I got a letter for you boys. And three pictures. One for each of you and one for Dadan," Makino said, after having seen there were four pictures in the envelope.

"From Casey?" Luffy asked.

"Yes. Her and Sabo," Makino said.

Luffy paled, while Ace jumped up, angered. "BULLSHIT. SABO IS DEAD," he yelled at her.

"Dogra only saw his ship blew up, right? If this isn't Sabo, then who is the boy next to Casey?" Makino said and showed Ace the picture.

Ace stared at it. It was Sabo, but that couldn't be right. He looked at Dogra, who paled, stuttering it couldn't be right. Luffy cried, hugging the picture tightly. It was his sister and brother. He was so happy that they were alive and together. That way they weren't alone. he looked at Makino.

"There's a letter from him," Makino said.

Hey Makino, Ace and Luffy

Yeah I know, you might think I died, if you heard about my boat getting blown up, but guess what. I was saved in the last moment. However, I lost my memories. I didn't have a clue who I was. As Casey showed up, all came back like a bucket of ice water.

Yes she's with me now and you won't believe where. We're with Dragon and no Luffy not an actually dragon, but a man named Dragon. He'll help us to get stronger. Being here has opened my eyes and I know where I belong. Right here, helping Dragon with his course. So yeah, I won't become a pirate, but I'll be free and happy.

Ace, don't be mad. Though I will allow you to punch me once, when we meet one day. I'm sure we will, because I'll be waiting for your first bounty. I'll hang it in my room and brag about you being my brother.

So get stronger, let the old fart help you, though he's an abusive stupid old fart.

Sabo

The S was crossed out, just like the first letter they had gotten on the day after Dogra had told them about Sabo's boat getting blown up. Luffy was sobering happily, even Dadan had tears in her eyes and the bandits sobbed lightly. Ace tried hard not to cry, but Makino saw the tears stinging in the boy's eyes.

"There's one from Casey too," she said as they had calmed down.

"Read," Luffy said.

Hey everyone

I'm fine. I found a new family and when I reach 17 I will leave Dragon to be with them. It's not Shanks, but another great pirate. I won't tell you who, you'll have to wait until I'm infamous enough among the crew.

If you read Sabo's letter first, which I'm sure you did, yes he's with me. I was so shocked to see him and hear what he had been through. Ace, please don't be too mad. He truly had no memories at all and when he got them back, he screamed in agony. It was hurtful to hear.

We will train hard and we'll get stronger. So don't fall behind, okay? What I want you to know is that Shanks brought me here. I wished I could go back, but the slave mark I got is a sign that I belong to someone and if someone like Bluejam or others like him finds out, they'll hunt me to get the prize money there is to bring a runaway slave back. So I have to be here, until I'm strong enough to live on the Grand Line.

I'll be looking forward to the day we all can be together again and renew our wows, because that we have to do. Shanks said that when sake siblings gets separated and meets again, they'll have to drink another round, to keep the promise up (I'm sure he's just saying because it's involves drinking booze, but I love the idea).

Keep up fighting brothers.

Makino-san, you're the closets to a mother I ever had, so thank you for everything. One day I will come back and can tell you about my adventures.

Dadan you old hag. You're not that motherly, but I know you care, so don't deny it. Keep my brothers safe and sound, you hear. Oh and I care for you too. Thanks for everything and see you.

Cheers from Casey

To say that Luffy cried was an understatement. He was a mess of tears and happiness and even Ace cried, though he didn't let anyone see it. Makino handed Dadan and Ace the other two pictures and told them she would keep the letters and show them to Garp, once he came by.

-x-

To say that Casey and Sabo had it easy was to lie. Both were worn out by the end of the day, dragging themselves to a late snack, before passing out on their bed, just to wake up way too early to train again. However, they didn't complained, both wanting it. Koala, who also trained with hem found them crazy for pushing themselves so far, but also amazed about their strength. After all, they were just kids.

Dragon read the reports of their progress and kept being stunned. Sure Casey was his daughter, she was a D., but the progress she made was slight scary. She might have inherited more of his father's brute strength than he had. The force she had behind her kicks and punches was slowly destroying everything. She had even managed to break six meters thick ice. And she was just 12 years old.

He shook his head. It had even been ice she had made herself. Her Devil's Fruit powers were increasing and she had fully control now. Mostly she walked around with fox ears, paws and her tails. She had gotten two more, now having four.

He recalled when he introduced her and Sabo to her mother. His wife had hugged her tightly, being the most emotional of them. Casey, who was more like him, had slowly returned the hug. Sabo had also gotten a hug and his wife had then declared him their son. Not that dragon complained, his wife had adopted Koala too, so Casey could call her mom or mother, if she wanted. Not that Casey did, she held her distance from him and his wife, though neither minded. Both knowing she had others she saw s family and whom she would return to.

-x-

"You want to teach us Haki? What's that?" Sabo asked Dragon.

"I've observed your training for a while and you all three shows signs of having slightly awakened your Haki," Dragon said.

"Is Haki why Jiji can hit Luffy, who ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi?" Casey asked.

Dragon chocked. He had forgotten that his son also had a Devil's Fruit and even one which Dragon couldn't see how to put to a good use, but both Sabo and Casey had ensured him that Luffy could make it work. Also that the fruit suited Luffy's personality very well. With that fruit, Casey wasn't that scared that Luffy got too much hurt.

"Yes. That is probably Armament Haki, a way to break Devil's Fruit user's defense, effective against logia's and Luffy," Dragon said.

"So if we ever cross a logia user, we can hit them using Armament Haki. Got it," Casey said.

"It's more than that," Dragon said and started to explain about Haki.

Casey, Sabo and Koala listened carefully, asked the right questions and were naturally curious. Dragon demonstrated the two Haki types to them, but kept them in the dark about the third. He wasn't sure if they would understand yet. Sabo and Koala were both 15 and Casey 14, so he would wait. If Casey showed she possessed the third type, he would explain it to her. He would be surprised if she didn't have it, she was a D. and his daughter, so she might have inherited as well.

-x-

Casey stared with eyes wide open. The animals they had fought against and which were stronger than the three of them, now lied unconscious on the ground. Koala, who had been trapped by two of them and in danger, was panting hard on the ground, wondering what happened, just like Sabo and Casey.

"What was that energy coming from you?" Sabo asked Casey.

"I … I don't know," she stuttered, slumping down, feeling drained all of sudden.

"That was Conquers Haki, the third type you can use, but it's something you have to be born with. You can't learn it and I can't teach you to control it. However, the more you learn about the other two and the more control you get over them and yourself, the more control do you get over your Conquers Haki. I can explain what it is, but you'll have to learn to control it by yourself," Dragon explained.

"So … I can make animals or unconscious onto the ground?" Casey stared.

"Any with a lesser will power than yours can fall victim to that power, which means innocent people too. You can learn to control who you uses it on. The stronger your will, the stronger your Haki is," Dragon said.

"Teach me," Casey said, determined to control this power.