Ace

Ace didn't like the way that this woman, Nico Robin, was staring at him. She was analytical, calculating.

Nico Robin, formerly Miss All Sunday, snuck onto the Going Merry when the crew left Alabasta. Ace hadn't met her beforehand, so he didn't really know what she was like, but judging by the way the crew reacted, he assumed that she wasn't the best person. It wasn't really his concern. She wasn't hostile. She actually wanted to join the crew to which Ace was left asking himself what Luffy did this time. His ability to make friends with everyone was truly incredible.

Anyways, Ace knew he could handle Robin if she decided to attack, and unfortunately, the look she was giving him might be hinting at that.

"What is someone of your standing doing all the way out here?" Robin asked suddenly. Ace must have looked confused because she was forced to explain herself. "It's just that, I see no reason for you to be here."

Ace could have opened his mouth to counter and ask her why she was here, but she did have a point. Why was he still here? He promised that he would stay with them until the end. From "the end" he meant until they were out of Alabasta, yet he was still here, not that anyone else seemed to mind. He wasn't meddling too much.

If he had to respond, he'd say this was like a break for him despite what he should actually be doing. At first, he had been so motivated to catch Blackbeard, to avenge Thatch. But now, something was preventing him from completing his task.

Ace was seriously thinking of blaming Marco.

After making his promise with Vivi, the man was absolutely consumed his thoughts, making his mind wander when ever he had time to himself. He really was in love with Marco. His subconscious made sure that he knew this.

"I needed some time," he finally answered, not completely sure of what he meant. "Anyways, shouldn't you be in town?" She had said that she was going to go into town to look for information, but obviously, she hadn't followed through on that statement yet.

Robin smiled at him mysteriously. "If you wish." She walked away, leaving the ship. Ace had a feeling that she didn't believe him, but he didn't want to follow her into town to confirm this.

Ace decided that he would help watch the ship. As much as he liked to explore new islands (he had never visited Jaya before), the place just didn't seem right to him. He wasn't scared of it, whatever it was, but his instincts were screaming at him: Don't do it. Don't go. Ace listened to his instincts.

But his instincts were also contradicting themselves. They were telling him to stay. Ace wanted to leave so he could accomplish his goal, yet he couldn't ignore the nagging pull in the back of his mind. 'Just a little bit longer,' it whispered.

He couldn't answer Robin for now, but maybe, soon.

Ace didn't know what to do. He could've sworn that his limbs froze up, too tensed at his sides. His gaze hardened into a glare, and suddenly, his caring older-brother persona had vanished, replaced by a furious pirate.

Teach. Teach was there, and he was in Ace's reach.

Despite his earlier screaming instincts, Ace wasn't expecting this at all. He thought something was off, but he didn't think that thing was the very man he had been pursuing. Damn. If he had trained with haki more, he would have known already. He could've gotten to the bastard and killed him.

"Zehaha!" Teach laughed. Despite the distance between the Going Merry and whatever sort of giant raft the man was on, Ace could hear him just fine. "Commander Ace! Fancy seeing you here!"

"Teach," he growled. He was pretty sure the traitor knew exactly what he was thinking. Unable to contain his rage, fire sparked around his arms and hands. He tried hard to push it down (he didn't want to damage the ship after all), but he needed some way to let it out.

And he would do that by bashing Teach's skull in.

It was true that the odds did not spell absolute victory for him, but he had to try. This was what he had been waiting for, and he couldn't afford to wait any longer. He didn't care that they were about to ride a dangerous current up into the sky, or that he was a devil fruit user about to fight between two sailing ships. He had to do this.

For Thatch.

"Teach!" he yelled. Ace was about to hop on his carefully hooked up Striker and kick the man's ass. His blood was alight with exhilaration, adrenaline. Finally, he could end this. Finally he could go home.

But then he felt that oh so familiar presence at the edge of his senses: Marco. Marco was coming for him.

Marco

Marco considered the facts of the article. Ace had been seen in Alabasta, but Marco doubted he was still there. His best bet would be to head to one of the surrounding islands, and his instincts were telling him that Jaya was the place. He wanted to groan, but who would hear him? Why did it have to be Jaya?

Jaya, at least its main town, was an unpleasant little place. Marco had the... pleasure of visiting it once in his earlier days as a pirate. It was smelly, and the pirates who stuck around reeked equally enough. Marco liked fresh air, so, as one could imagine, the visit went sour quickly. If Ace really was here, then Marco hoped that he would be able to finish his task quickly.

The visit had already gone sour. He hadn't even arrived yet when he noticed that the clouds around him had darkened, ruining the perfect sky he loved flying through. He would be there soon, and he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous.

What would he say to Ace? What would Ace say to him? What would he even think of him after Marco hurt him? There were a number of things he could imagine happening. Ace could not even be there, giving Marco more time to think (which was admittedly one of the better scenarios). Ace could run away from him, and in the process break Marco's heart. Maybe he would be furious. The worst thing? Marco getting there only to find out that Ace had fallen out of love with him.

Marco could only hope for the best. He wanted to love Ace, and he wanted Ace to love him back, but he couldn't just expect Ace to come running into his arms after he hurt him. But none of that mattered if he couldn't save Ace.

And suddenly that thought became more relevant than ever.

Marco could sense Ace with his haki. He was there, dangerous flames dancing upon his presence. As Marco flew farther, he could see what was really happening.

Teach's unmistakable presence indicated that he was there too, filling Marco with rage. He could see them now. There was a giant raft floating atop the waves, darkness swirling around it. Fire sparked from a small caravel nearby.

It was clear what was happening. Ace was a fool. What was he thinking? There was no way he would win this battle!

Marco let out a screech, letting the fire of his wings grow stronger. He raced faster now, an unstoppable force. Ace grew closer, and so did Teach. He had two options here: he could stop Ace directly, or he could attack Teach and kill two birds with one stone.

He pinned Ace down just in time.

And he wasn't expecting what happened next.

Ace

Ace couldn't move. He flailed helplessly under Marco's talon, but it was no use. In this condition, there was no way he could escape. But he needed to. "Let me go, Marco!" he yelled, continuing to struggle. There wasn't much time left. The Knock-Up Stream was coming.

"Please!" He couldn't see much from his position on the floorboards, but he felt the stream hit.

Ace looked up just in time to see them being blasted up, but most importantly, he saw his Striker destroyed, and his journey was left to the mercy of Marco's wings.