Navigating the Grand Line had turned out to be pretty simple, a lot better than the people in Logue Town, and the first few islands in the Grand Line, had told them. Luffy was really excited as they entered into Sabaody Archipelago. They docked by a bar that Ace had been told about, by Garp of all people. "Luffy stay in the boat. No matter what, stay in the cabin, and don't come out. If you want to start fresh when you turn seventeen, you can't get a bounty now, and being seen with me here is a good way to get one." Ace said, and Luffy understood. He agreed to do as Ace had asked him, and went into the cabin. Ace was really glad that his little brother had learned patience.

He waited until he heard the door close before jumping on to the dock, and heading towards the bar. His clicking revealed it to be a small building. It felt alright, so he opened the door and entered. There were only two people in the bar, and he could feel them watching him as he clicked his way through the bar, avoiding chairs and tables.

He came to a stop in front of the two, and bowed, "Hello. I am Portgas D Ace, and my grandfather, Vice Admiral Garp told me to come here for a coating for my ship." He said, then stood up straight, and waited. The person on his left stood up, and moved a bit closer.

"Your mother was Rouge?" a masculine voice asked. Ace nodded. "I'm Silvers Raleigh. Pleasure to meet you Ace. I knew your parents." The man said. Ace turned fully towards him, and held out his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you sir." He said as Raleigh shook his hand. He found it hard to believe that he was meeting his dad's first mate.

"You said that Garp sent you? If he sent you to me, then you are a pirate. This theory is supplied by your really high bounty." Raleigh said.

Ace nodded, "Yes, but um… My brother is with me. He is my, er… temporary navigator. He plans to leave back to home when he turns seventeen, that way he can form his own crew. How fast can you do this, if you are willing to take the job? We want to avoid him getting a bounty, but he finds trouble." Ace explained.

Raleigh looked at the man in front of him. He looked so much like Roger, but he had Rouge's freckles. "Your brother?" he inquired.

"Monkey D Luffy." Ace supplied.

Raleigh looked at him in surprise, "Really? Hm." He said.

Ace frowned, and reached his hands out, but stopped short, and started to pull them back. Raleigh just caught his hands and placed them on his face. He'd dealt with blind people before, and though not all of them did this, he knew enough who did to make him understand what the kid had been about to do.

Ace drifted his fingertips over Raleigh's face, and made sure not to smudge the man's glasses. His expression felt as though he were amused by something. Ace pulled his fingers back, "What is it? What is amusing you so much about my brother?" he asked.

Raleigh chuckled, "I have heard the name before. One of the cabin boys on your dad's ship met him, and passed on Roger's legacy to him. Told me all about him when he passed through. Shanks is mighty proud of your brother, you know. Loves him like a son." Raleigh said.

Ace smiled, "Ah, Shanks. I have to find him when I get to the New World. I need to thank him for saving Luffy." He said.

Raleigh laughed, "He'd like that, especially if you brought his "anchor". Tell you what. I'll do your coating for free, let's consider it a birthday present to make up for all the birthday's I've missed so far, and I'll also give you a piece of Shanks' vivre card so that you can find him. He moves around a lot." Raleigh said.

Ace's eyes widened, and then he smiled a huge smile, and Raleigh felt a pang of nostalgia go through him, as the kid enthusiastically agreed. Raleigh sent Shakky to go get the vivre card piece, and went himself to coat the ship. He even managed to resist sneaking a peak at the sleeping Monkey. That mystery would wait for another day, a day when the kid had brought himself here following his own dream.

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

They surfaced after leaving Fishman Island. They hadn't stayed, or even really docked. Ace had gone, and gotten supplies while Luffy slept. Now they were in an interesting place, and Luffy had a new Log Pose to mess with, but first they were following Shanks vivre card. Luffy hadn't stopped smiling since he'd heard where they were headed next.

It turned out that Shanks wasn't too far from the entrance to the New World. Ace and Luffy found them on a small winter island, they were ensconced in a cave, high up in a mountain. That had been an interesting adventure for Ace. He'd never climbed a mountain before. He couldn't help the giggle that escaped him when they finally finished climbing. Luffy smiled as he heard Ace's laughter ring out. It was the best sound Luffy had ever heard. He climbed the rest of the way over the edge, and stood up beside his brother.

"Ready Ace?" Luffy asked. Ace nodded, and led his brother into the cavern where he could sense many presences. "It's dark Ace." Luffy said, Ace hummed in acknowledgment, but didn't say anything else. He reached a hand back, and grasped Luffy's. As they moved farther into the cavern, following the narrow passageway, Ace felt the air become warmer. He could hear people's voices, and he followed them, following them, and his clicks.

Luffy saw a light getting closer, and he tried to see around Ace, but his brother was taller, and broader than him, so it didn't work. He could hear laughter, and smell food. It made his stomach gurgle.

"Who're you?" called out a voice as Ace stepped into a wide chamber.

"Which one of you is Akagami no Shanks?" he asked.

He sensed a presence stand up, and turned his head toward it. "That would be me. What do you want?" he asked.

Shanks looked at the black haired teen who was staring at him with an intense gaze. The freckles were cute, he mused. Suddenly his gaze was drawn by a head that popped out from behind the tall teen. "Luffy!" Shanks said smiling. He was happy to see that his anchor was still wearing his hat. The kid had to be about fourteen now.

Ace felt Lu duck to the side, and he sighed, tilting his head towards his little brother, "Lu, what did I say?" he asked.

"Tah let you talk to him first. Sorry Ace." He said, and ducked back behind his brother.

Ace rolled his eyes, "No point in ducking behind me now. He's already seen you." He pulled Luffy beside him, and pushed his head down as he bowed to the man. "Thank you very much for saving my little brother's life. Oh, and my name is Por-" Luffy elbowed him. Ace cleared his throat, "I mean my name is Gol D Ace." He said. He stood up straight and bonked Luffy on the head. "Don't elbow me next time. You could have just waited until after I'd said the name Garp told me to sail under." He said.

Luffy snickered, even as he rubbed his head. Ace had used Haki.

Sniffles rang out through the air, and Ace turned his head toward the sound, and felt a presence move toward him seconds before a body collided with his, and arms wrapped around him. Ace stiffened, and tried to figure out who was crying on him. "Luffy! Who is this?" he asked as he struggled a bit. The person was definitely male, and he smelled of booze and cinnamon. Ace's mind registered that it was a bizarre combination.

The man pulled back a bit, "You can't see?" he asked. Ace recognized the voice as Shanks, he finally calmed down and stopped struggling.

"No. I've been blind for as long as I can remember." He said.

Shanks hugged him again, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know. I was overcome by emotion at meeting my captain's son. Luffy wears his hat you know." Shanks said.

Ace didn't say anything, just gave the still sobbing man a hug. Luffy joined in the hug and soon Ace found himself surrounded by a huge group hug that included the older man's crew. With a sigh, he dropped his head.