Back with a new chapter. Enjoy.
Lucinda smiled as she saw the ship of Whitebeard in the distance. He had anchored near an Island. This meant that his crew might be somewhere on the Island. She saw Marco leaving the crowns nest and fly towards her. She smiled brightly as he landed on the boat.
"Lu… It's good to see you –yoi," he smirked.
"Hey Marco. Good to see you too," she smiled.
"And you brought a guest or a new brother?" he looked at Sabo.
"A guest. Sabo this is Marco the Phoenix. He is the commander of the first division. Marco this is Sabo a good friend," introduced Lucinda.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Sabo polite.
"A friend of Lu is a friend of us. I'll tell Oyaji –yoi," smiled Marco and took off.
Lucinda steered the boat towards the harbor and anchored it there. She could see some Whitebeard pirates in town and some were at the ship. Sabo wondered if Ace was on the ship too or in town. Marco landed next to Lucinda again.
"All commanders and Oyaji are waiting just for you. Come on board –yoi," he smiled.
"Waiting for me? You're so kind. Well then. Let's go," she smiled and gave Sabo a nod.
They went on board. Sabo looked around. There was a silence as if they expected bad or good news. Sabo could feel it. As they came towards the chair of Whitebeard, Lucinda was greeted by everyone. And there he stood. Ace. He had some scars, but not many. Sabo stopped and gazed at his brother. Ace stared back. Lucinda looked at the young men with interest. Before anybody could say something or ask what was going on, Ace launched a punch on Sabo and threw him on his back, while he continued to punch Sabo in his face.
The commanders were stunned, but soon Marco and Jozu were about to step in and help Sabo, but Lucinda stopped them by raising her hand. Ace's punches were hard, but not as hard as he could punch. Lucinda was counting the punches and then she just took a grab on Ace's belt and lifted him up from Sabo and threw him aside. Ace rose up, looking at Lucinda.
"11 punches. One for each year. I told Lu it was all I was giving you, brother," said Sabo
"BROTHER?" some of the commanders yelled in surprise. Marco and Whitebeard had a frown on their faces. Lucinda however looked relaxed and waited for thing to continue.
"Then it's really you," said Ace.
"It is. I know we have a lot of talking to do, but I guess Lu has more on her heart," said Sabo and gazed at Lucinda.
"I have, but just tell them who you are first," she said.
"Oh yes. I'm Sabo the brother of Ace and Luffy. Thanks for taking care of my hotheaded brother, giving him a home and a family. To hear how you all fought for him warms my heart. I would have been there myself, if I had the slightest chance to get there in time, but I hadn't," he said.
"I can't believe it. You were fucking supposed to be DEAD," said Ace.
"I was saved. I didn't know you knew what had happened, until Lu told me," he said.
"And you gave me one punch for every year I thought you were dead," Ace mumbled.
"Hey don't worry brother. I could feel your punches, but training with Lu is far more painful and scary," he said.
"Training with Lu?" Ace gazed at her.
Lucinda shrugged.
"A painful training?" Ace's eyes narrowed.
"More painful than you think," said Sabo.
"Necessary. Or do you think Rayleigh goes easy on Luffy?" Lucinda gazed bored back.
"Luffy is made of rubber," countered Ace.
"Want to fight brat?" Lucinda looked challenging at him.
Ace shook his head, even though his flames were shown. Lucinda smirked.
"Thought so. Sabo is doing fine. I think he's stronger than you, but then again he knows Haki," said Lucinda.
"Teach me," said Ace.
"I can only teach you Observation Haki and Armament Haki. To control your Conquers Haki I can't teach you, but you'll learn that on your own," said Lucinda.
"Hey wait. Conquers Haki? You think he has it? I know Roger had, but that doesn't mean that Ace has it –yoi," said Marco.
"He has it. And he activated it at the age of 10 for the first time. During a fight with the Bluejam Pirates in a fire, short before the mountain bandits came to rescue him and Luffy," said Lucinda, holding the stare of Ace.
Ace's eyes widened as he remembered. He hadn't known at that time what it was and he had totally forgotten it. A shiver ran through his body. It was a memory he didn't want to think about, but what happened that day was also the reason why he ate the Mera Mera no Mi. For the sake of Luffy. Then his eyes narrowed again.
"Why didn't you help us?" he asked.
"I was about to. But those flames were hard to get through. I could see you, but I couldn't reach you. I had to be careful with my movements. But you did survive," she said.
He nodded. Yes they had survived.
"It's scary right? That she knows that much about us. That she had observed us," said Sabo.
"Now you have introduced yourself Sabo, I will continue. You two can talk later," said Lucinda and gave them a firm gaze.
By that both Ace and Sabo went still. Lucinda turned to Whitebeard. She had made a decision and she had to stand up to it. And she needed the support of her friends. Shanks was behind her and so was Dragon and Mihawk. Now she needed to know if Whitebeard was there for her too. Or at least somehow behind her or by her side.
"Ed. Do you have come to a decision?" she asked.
"I have. And no matter what I do, I would need your help. Your advice, your wisdom, your strength and your abilities. So Lucinda. Will you become my ally or a part of my crew?" Whitebeard looked at her.
Silence. They all knew it was a lot to ask of her. To be a part of a crew, having a captain weaker than herself. But they understood Whitebeard. They would all love to have her as a nakama, rather than an ally. She was just like them. Lost without a family, though she had a lot of friends and she could stay with Shanks or live with Mihawk.
"You are asking me, who are stronger than you and you crew, to be a nakama?" she asked.
"I do. I don't care for strength. If you're are stronger that only means you can protect yourself in battle. But I'm giving you a home and a family," he said.
"I'm not sure I fit to be a 'sister', but I'll try. I say yes and stay here as your nakama," said Lucinda with a smile.
"Then it's a reason to party," smiled Thatch and all agreed.
Lucinda laughed. Without noticing it, Whitebeard and his crew was like Shanks and his crew. Joyful, free, carefree and close. Both crews also strong and protective. That's why she liked being here, but there was more to the crew of Whitebeard than Shanks'. She didn't know exactly what, but she had a feeling. She felt the arms of Thatch around her and she smiled to him.
"Just enjoy the night Lu. And the party of course. Just let your thoughts rest. We'll soon enough know more about each other," he smiled.
"So I have to let go? Think I can't do it?" she smirked.
Thatch laughed. "Oh I think you can, if you want, so show me Lu."
Ace meets Sabo. What do you think?
And Lucinda became a Whitebeard pirate. What is she planning? You'll know, if you keep reading. Maybe some of you can guess it? I won't tell you before time, so don't bother me about if you're right or not ;)
See you soon (the next many chapters are ready already. In fact I'm almost done).