Ace could feel the heat on his face, and hear the roaring crackle of flames. It was beautiful, and deadly. The flames were reaching out to engulf him as he faced down Blue Jam, and then he'd felt Dadan, and knew that the flames would try to eat her too. He fought the insane pirate harder, and just as he struck him down, he felt flames lick along his back, and then Dadan had him in her arms, and she was running.

Ace jolted awake. He could feel sweat drip down his back as he remembered the phantom touch of the flames. He wasn't afraid of fire, but this nightmare scared him. It made him relive Dadan, himself, and Luffy almost dying. It also made him remember how Sabo had died shortly after. Years ago already, but he could remember it like it were yesterday.

Ace lay back down, and closed his eyes. Today was they day that they left. He'd been planning to go on his own, but Luffy had pointed out that he'd need to use a compass, and a map, neither of which he could use. So Ace had relented. Luffy had told him that they'd be an alliance, since both were going to be the captain. That had made Ace laugh, so he'd rolled with it.

Ace heard birds chirping, and figured that it was late enough that he could get up without bothering anyone too much. He'd let Lu sleep in a bit though. They were already packed after all. He quietly got out of bed, and walked across their room, and out the door. He could sense Dadan in the kitchen, so he went to her. He moved quickly, and entered the kitchen, wishing the woman, who was as close to his mother as anyone, a good morning.

Dadan jumped, "GO-er, Portgas D Ace you damn near gave me a heart attack, shitty brat." She said.

Ace grinned unrepentantly. He'd noticed how she'd started using his mother's last name for him again. They'd talked about it, and had decided that it was safer for him to sale under Portgas until he was sure of himself, and had a crew that he trusted. It wouldn't do to paint a target on his back so soon, after all.

Dadan snorted at him, but started a huge "going away" breakfast for him and Lu. He could hear her sniffling, but didn't comment. The woman didn't want people to know that she was emotional, and caring. Of course, that meant that everyone knew. Bandits were worse than old women for gossip.

Food was about done before Luffy came down the stairs. He was carrying both of their bags, if the noise he was making was any indication. Ace snorted, but smiled at his brother as they had their last meal with their sort-of-family.

*^*^*^ Time Skip^*^*^*

Luffy hummed as he looked at the map, and then the compass. He was really glad that Ace had forced him to go to school every day, and even gotten Sabo to tutor him. Sabo had also helped Luffy with his navigation skills. Not that Luffy was an expert or anything, in fact, he was merely mediocre at best, but it was better than what Ace could do, so Luffy rolled with it. They'd been traveling for a few months, and they were just about to Logue Town. Luffy was excited.

Ace didn't admit it, but he was excited too. He was going to the town where his father was born, and had died. They'd managed to avoid too much attention. Ace didn't want Luffy to get a bounty yet, especially since the kid was determined to go back to Dawn Island, and leave from there on his seventeenth birthday, in order to start his own crew. Ace had huffed, and muttered, but ultimately gave in because it would make Lu happy.

An hour passed before they finally landed at Logue Town. It was bustling, and Ace had a hard time using his clicking at first, but he adjusted quickly, and soon was leading Luffy through the throngs of people. The first thing they did was stock up on supplies, and then ask around a bit about the Grand Line. They learned about Log Poses, and made sure to buy a really good quality one. They got some new clothes as well, Luffy had just had a growth spurt.

On their way back to the ship, Ace and Luffy were jostled by the crowd, and they ran into someone. Ace had the wind knocked out of him as his toned body smacked into another man's. He could feel flesh, and concluded that the man wasn't wearing a shirt, even though Ace could feel a jacket. The man smelled of smoke, and had a gruff voice when talking. "Are you alright kid?" the man asked.

Ace took a small step back, and focused his unseeing eyes on the voice, "Don't worry about it, um…" He moved his head around, and tried to sense Luffy, but there were too many people. "Can you see the boy I was with? He's wearing a vest, and shorts, and a straw hat." Ace said. He could hear the slight panic in his voice, but couldn't help it. He'd never been unable to sense Lu before. He'd done just fine earlier.

Smoker looked at the boy in front of him. The kid had looked him in the eye, and had seemed to focus on him, but the kid couldn't see the boy he was looking for, sleeping at his feet. "Calm down kid. He's asleep by your feet." He watched as the kid reached down to pick the boy up, and then turned and looked Smoker in the eye again. "What's your name kid?" Smoker asked.

"Portgas D Ace. You?" Ace asked.

"The name's Smoker. You should get home now. It'll be dark soon, I'll walk you since your eyes are currently sleeping." Smoker said. He was surprised when the kid grinned at him.

"He is not my eyes. We are from a small town, and I had never experienced trying to sense his presence when he was sleeping while surrounded by so many people. When asleep his presence dims quite a bit." Ace told the man.

Smoker watched as they walked and talked. Every now and then Ace would give a click, and then avoid something. Smoker was amazed by how self-sufficient the kid was, but found himself grown worried as they came to the harbor. "Wake up Lu." Ace said, and dropped the boy he was carrying. Smoker watched as the boy woke up before he hit the ground.

Smoker found himself face to face with slender young man who couldn't be older than fourteen. The kid, Lu he thought, looked at him with a huge grin and big brown eyes, "Hiya Mr. Marine Guy!" the kid said. "Do you know my grandpa his name is Ga-" a hand clamping over Luffy's mouth stopped him from continuing.

"Luffy, what have Makino, Dadan, and I always told you about giving information out to strangers, no matter how official they may seem?" Ace asked. He removed his hand from Lu's mouth, but ran his finger tips over the kid's face, his expression was sheepish.

"Sorry Ace…" Luffy pouted. He got into the boat, and waved goodbye to the white haired marine.

"Well, thank you for walking us to our ship Smoker. It was nice, finally being able to feel this city." Ace said, and bowed to Smoker, before getting into the boat, and setting sail.

As Smoker watched them sail away, he had a nagging feeling that he hadn't seen the last of them, but the thoughts were soon lost as he heard screams of pirate. Smoke poured from his body, and he went off to do his job.