Ace's Second Chance 10
Welcome!
Nami followed Silvers Rayleigh's instructions to reach the aquarium at the casino. "So convenient, this place is big enough to hide the Sunny and since it's underwater the coating will not break." the navigator said and she was extremely happy that their journey was as smooth as never before, usually a sea monster or a random enemy would be chasing them. "Maybe our luck is changing." She smiled as the ship stopped moving.
"I see the bird guy, the dog guy and Vivi's friend." Luffy yelled. "How do we get there?" He asked when he noticed that they were behind a huge glass.
"This place is super. Two aqueducts keep a certain level of water in this area, one allows water in and the other drains it. When a vessel comes, a wall will open for it and once it enters, it will close to stop the flow of liquid. This system prevents the water from leaving its glass container, allowing a platform to be connected to the main room and give free access for the passengers. In our case, the Sunny's coating, being a giant bubble, connects with the platform." Franky was excited trying to explain to Luffy the mechanics he discovered of the aquarium but the captain stared dumbly at him.
"Aren't you coming guys?" Chopper asked from the platform with the rest of the crew, he could barely contain his emotion.
"Wait… I was supposed to go first." Luffy stretched to grab the platform and in less than a second he passed through the Sunny's bubble and crashed with Zoro.
Pell welcomed them. "I hope you had a pleasant journey, if you need to rest fell free to choose one of the many rooms of the hideout and dinner will be ready in five minutes if you prefer to eat first." The zoan type acted as formal and kind as always.
"Hey Bird guy." Luffy smiled but suddenly he stood up and jumped to the living room. "Vivi." He yelled and hugged her, Sanji, Chopper, Usopp and Nami followed him. Zoro just smirked at the scene because he was too cool to display his emotions, but he was actually glad to see her.
"Guys, I've missed you so much, you have no idea." The princess started to cry.
"You still cry a lot." The Captain smiled. "I like you anyway." The group laughed.
"I've been keeping track of all your adventures, I even have your wanted posters in my room. Oh God, I'm so glad you are ok, I was so worried when I heard of the events at Marineford… I thought something horrible happened to you because you were not with Luffy, but then Ace told me the truth..." The girl kept crying.
"It's all right Vivi, we missed you too." Nami was trying not to cry.
"I'm sorry for having you worried." Chopper sobbed.
"Usopp, I'm sorry about Merry, I know how important it was for you." Vivi said to the sniper. "There are so many things I want to say."
"Let her breath…" Zoro said and approached the Princess. "It's nice to see you."
"Mr. Bushido." She wiped her tears.
"Vivi, my love, you look beautiful." Sanji tried to suppress a nosebleed.
"Thank you Sanji." She looked at the rest of the crew. "Now I feel bad because I was rude to your friends by not introducing myself to them." She sobbed and stared at Brook with wide eyes. "S-soul King?" She was amazed. "I'm a huge fan of yours."
"Such a beautiful lady… you have the charm that only the Royals possess." Brook started. "May I see your panties?" He made Nami punch him.
"That's Brook, a perverted Skeleton and the last to join." Luffy said.
"I'm Franky, the shipwright and a pervert." The cyborg posed for the Princess.
"Nice to meet you, guys. I'm happy that Luffy found great friends like you and I wish we can become good friends too." The Princess touched her heart. "All of us." She emphasized looking at Robin, who had been silent and away from the group.
"As expected from our Princess." Pell closed his eyes. "She has such a good heart… I wouldn't be surprised if she even forgives Crocodile." He told Kohza.
"Of course, Miss Wednesday." The archeologist smiled and extended her hand.
"So we are friends now, Miss All-Sunday." Vivi giggled and pulled Robin's hand and Zoro, much to his annoyance, for a new group hug with Brook and Franky.
Luffy looked at his crew with a smile, suddenly he separated from them and activated his Second Gear. "What are you doing here?" He yelled and charged at Kuzan who entered the living room with a lazy expression, which changed to surprise once he saw the rubber-man attacking him.
"Now he uses Haki. Why is he going against me?" Kuzan thought. "Front attack, then you'll appear on my left and kick me." He predicted Luffy's movements. "Ace is planning to intercept his little brother." The former admiral decided to stay still.
Just as Luffy's foot was about to touch the ice-man, Ace blocked him and sent him flying. The rubber-man almost hit the aquarium but extended his arm to grab the whitebeard pirate and clash with him. The logia type was pleased that Luffy was able to touch him so he also used armament haki to land a blow. At the end of their friendly exchange of fists both brothers smiled at each other.
"You've become quite powerful." Ace noted and Luffy's smile widened.
"Why didn't you let me kick that Marine's ass?" Straw Hat pointed angrily at Kuzan as the tall man yawned.
"That's not going to happen, he's still too strong for you…" Fire Fist explained.
"And for you." The former Admiral reminded him, much to Ace's annoyance.
"I forgot to tell you, Kuzan is in our side now." The princess apologized.
"Say those things sooner." The straw hats, minus Robin, yelled.
"I thought Miss Wednesday sold us to the marines and that we would be executed." Robin made a creepy remark and everyone shivered.
"My, my…" Kuzan looked at Nami really closely. "Well developed body and a pretty face. Where have you been all my life?"
"I wasn't even born during the first half." The navigator turned him down.
"Too bad" Aokiji raised his shoulders. "This is your lucky day, because I just happen to be single." He told Robin.
"I wish there was something between us." The woman said casually and Kuzan could not believe it. "A wall would do." She added and everyone laughed at him except Sanji who was glaring at the ice-man.
"It's nice to see you, and as I told you before I'm glad you found your place." Kuzan grinned and Robin smiled back.
"Let's celebrate your arrival by the river." Vivi said and everyone exited the casino. Carue, Eyelashes and the rest of the Super Spot-billed Duck Squad were waiting for them outside. Once the Straw Hats rode an animal they started to run at their full speed. Pell, Kohza, Kuzan and Chaka followed close with the food and drinks.
The party at the river started with a bonfire made by Ace; Brook sang his newest songs while Franky, Chopper and Usopp danced, Luffy and Ace ate like crazy, Zoro had a drinking contest with Kuzan and Kohza. Vivi, Robin and Nami discussed current events as Sanji offered them appetizers. Finally, Pell and Chaka looked at the Straw Hats with fondness.
After an hour Vivi noticed someone was missing. "Have you seen Carue?" The princess asked Pell, she was worried because her pet was nowhere to be seen, and he usually didn't leave her side.
"I'm sorry Princess, I'll look for him." The guardian answered.
Near the party place, a group of strangers found Carue. The Caribou Pirates had followed Luffy's crew from Sabaody Archipelago with the intention of killing them. Their ship was anchored not too far away so the enemies decided to walk and face the Straw Hats once and for all. "A weird looking duck. I wonder how much he's worth…" Wet-haired Caribou used his logia abilities to capture Carue and move forward with his crew.
"Kuzan!" Ace stopped eating and glanced at his sensei.
"I know, I'll let you handle them." The former Admiral said, making the Straw Hats look at him. "There's a group of pirates approaching and I don't really feel like doing anything." He yawned.
"I'll do it." Luffy yelled. "It's time to test my new power." The rubber-man was determined to encounter their new enemies and his loyal crew followed him, all of them had two things in mind: prove their new skills and make their Captain proud.
Vivi started to walk but Ace held her hand to stop her. "I've become stronger too, did you think Kuzan was actually protecting me?" She smiled sweetly. Ace smirked and let her join her friends.
The Caribou Pirates stopped walking when they saw the crew they followed for 5 days. "They charge straight at us… are they underestimating us?" The green eyed man licked his lips.
Luffy entered Second Gear and strengthened his fist with armament haki but Ace appeared before him. "Wait and see your friend's powers, after all, they trained so hard for you." The logia type looked at the Straw Hats and grinned. "Each of you will take down a section of that crew." Fire Fist pointed in Caribou's direction.
Zoro prepared his three swords and revolved to create a tornado-like attack, which eliminated the first group. Sanji covered his body in flames all of a sudden and burned his section of the enemies. Nami created a huge black cloud and electrocuted the pirates in the blink of an eye. Usopp shoot a seed that grew into a man-eating plant and took down his part of the group. Chopper transformed into a full-grown reindeer to send the pirates away with his enormous horns. Robin focused on creating huge limbs to smash her section. Franky transformed into some sort of weapon and shot the enemies. Brook hypnotized his portion and cut them without them noticing. Finally Vivi jumped to the battlefield and used her peacock slashers to take down everyone within the reach of her weapon.
Surprisingly, some pirates were standing up after the Straw Hats beat them to a bloody pulp so Zoro took extreme measures. "Duck!" He warned.
"Carue?" The princess, Luffy and Chopper said at unison. The girl was expecting to see her pet but she instantly dodged when she saw Zoro's attack. The other two that got distracted were unharmed too, Luffy was out of range and Chopper was in his brain point so the attack passed way above him.
"Are you trying to slice us in half?" All the Straw Hats except Robin yelled.
"It would be really interesting to see a red desert if our blood mixes with the sand." The archaeologist made one of her creepy remarks, making everyone shiver.
The battle was almost over but the Captains were still standing.
"Wow, so neat." Luffy yelled. He was really impressed with his crew, they really became strong, even Usopp and Nami who used to be cowards and only fought when completely necessary. "That got me pumped up… I'll take down the weird-looking one." He told Ace, who raised an eyebrow since both enemies were very strange.
"Who's the Captain?" Fire Fist cracked his knuckles as both remaining pirates pointed at each other. "You annoy me." Ace used a Haki enhanced kick to knock out Coribou, the fat man with the reptile on his head.
Luffy was finally able to use his Second Gear to punch Caribou in the face. "I'm a logia type, physical attacks shouldn't affect me." The green eyed man passed out.
"Depending too much on your logia power makes you weak." Ace stated.
"Ace, that was really wise." Vivi looked up on him and he grinned.
"He's just quoting me." Kuzan yawned and Ace's eyebrow twitched.
Several things appeared from Caribou's body, treasures, weapons and Carue, who ran straight to Vivi. "You must have been really scared, and I had no idea you were in danger, forgive me." The Princess sobbed.
"She does cry a lot." Franky pointed out, suppressing a sob himself.
"And you are the one to talk?" Usopp made fun of the cyborg.
"I suggest we continue the party." Kuzan froze the enemies and Pell placed them on a net so he could fly with them to a jail in Alubarna. The former admiral approached the Straw Hats with a barrel full of booze.
"For all of us." Luffy yelled at his crew and they cheered with him.
The group made a big circle and shared their funny stories, Luffy told them about their time in Amazon Lily but Robin wasn't paying attention, she made an ear appear near Vivi and Ace since she found them more entertaining. The Whitebeard pirate was getting too close to the princess and she was giving him a worried look. Then he whispered something in her ear followed by a question. "What do you think?" He smirked. "I think you are going to sleep." She said and sprayed something on him, suddenly Ace yawned and fell to the ground. Robin laugh and Vivi smiled shyly at her new friend, who surrounded the circle to sit next to her.
"Do you love him?" Robin went straight to the point and Vivi nodded. "I assume you haven't told him because we are leaving soon and it would be too painful for you." She guessed and Vivi nodded again. "Miss Wednesday, say it or the regrets will kill you, By the way, a little kissing never killed anyone." She winked and left.
The celebration continued for five days. The unbearable heat was beaten by an Ice-wall made by Kuzan, and the freezing nights were warmed up by Ace's bonfires. The music, the food and the drinks never stopped, and the friends talked about anything they could think off. However, the fun ended when Pell returned and landed next to Vivi.
"Vice-Admiral Hina and Captain Tashigi are at Alubarna." He said and the princess' face turned white.
To Be Continued
Thanks for reading
Excuses so you won't kill me:
The reunion was all tears because Vivi cries a lot, but that's what makes her Vivi and that's why we love her XD.
The Straw Hats' powers are just a sneak peak of what they can do (got inspired by the opening lol).
As you can see I do too many time-skips… they just happen XD
And I hope you liked Aokiji's pick-up lines… he uses them every time he sees a girl (even if he met her before).
I totally see Robin and Vivi putting the past in the past and becoming friends, I also see Robin noticing Vivi-Ace before any other Straw Hat. That will help with their friendship (They kind of bonded immediately, that's Vivi for you XD)
Amazon: Thanks for the review. :D
Saveme57: Thanks for the review. I love the kidnapping idea and I hope it happens in the anime during the reverie but for the story I already have the solution for Vivi's problem XD (hope you like it).
Mikila94: Thanks for the review :D. Sorry, Sabo is not alive, it would be super cool but I don't think I'll be able to make it work in the story T_T.