Ace watched the Whitebeard Crew in confusion. Was it just him, or was everyone more excited today? He went to Whitebeard's office and saw even he seemed more cheery today. "Oi, Pops. What's going on? Everyone seems to be more energetic today."

"Oh, Thatch was supposed to tell you. Guess he forgot," Whitebeard laughed. "We're visiting an old friend that saved our lives a long time ago."

"Ho-oh. The great Whitebeard needing help?" Ace joked.

"Guararara! Cheeky son. I think you'll like him very much," commented Whitebeard. "You remind a lot about him, but of course, he's stronger. Hm, probably by now, he's stronger than I."

This intrigued Ace...a lot. "Stronger than you. Now I'm really excited to meet this guy. Tell me 'bout him."

"Hm, I'll only tell you one thing," Whitebeard considered. "He has flames."

"Flames? But, I have that Devil Fruit!" Ace protested. "Is he like Marco then? A logia that has flames?"

Whitebeard merely smiled coyly and gestured his son away.

Ace huffed as he decided to investigate more about this intriguing person.

"He's super awesome!"

"Oh yes, that fellow. He's quite the remarkable one."

"Of course I know him! He saved my dad!"

"Aw, is little Ace interested? You'll like him a lot, he's quite the character."

"Hm, you could say he is like the Sky."

All of these replies just confused him and made him want to meet this person even more.

"We're here!" one of the men shouted from the mass.

As Ace looked out at the island, he was surprised to see a large mob of people cheering and greeting them. 'Civilians greeting pirates?'

"Quite a sight, ain't it?" Thatch chuckled as he came up from behind Ace. "Don't worry. All the new mates were like this too. We visit here frequently-about three times a year. We just couldn't make it last time because we got you on board a while away."

They stopped at the dock and quickly sprang down. Ace watched as many men ran to woman and embraced, some having children clinging to their legs. Some greeted the elderly and some being smacked. However, what caught his attention was the person splitting the mob in half as they walked. It was a brunette about 5'6 with warm brown eyes, a bit lighter than his own. His spiky hair reminded him of his as well. He wore a simple outfit consisting of a white button up and black slacks, but he held this air of authority. He had a warm smile on his smile as he caught sight of the boat.

"Oi, Tsuna! Why you all the way back there. Usually you're in the front!" Thatch shouted from beside Ace.

'Tuna?' Ace thought in bewilderment.

"Gomen, gomen. I got caught up in work," Tsuna grinned as he jumped onto the railing in front of them. "Besides, Kurrma baked the most delicious cake ever and I just had to savor it."

"You and your sweet tooth," Marco said from behind them. "We're back Tsuna."

"Good to have you," replied Tsuna. "We have a lot to discuss, don't we?"

"Gurarara, of course son!" Whitebeard laughed all of a sudden-seeming to appear from nowhere. "This a' here is Portgas D. Ace. In other words, your brother."

Tsuna tiled his head a bit and then smiled. "Ah, I can see the resemblance."

"Wait, brother? What the heck are you talking about?" Ace shouted. "I only have one father-." He paused and starred at Tsuna in horror. "Wait, you're from him too aren't you?"

Continuing to smile, Tsuna merely gestured to the large manor. "Shall we talk in private then?"

"To be honest, I wasn't planning on meeting you this early," Tsuna confessed as he casually sipped some herbal tea.

"The hell? Why aren't you reacting to this at all?" Ace shouted as he slammed his hands on the desk. (Yep, the office again.)

Marco laughed at them. "That's just how Tsuna. He takes everything in stride. He is a King after all."

"Wha-?"

"Oh my god, your face!" Thatch burst. "We're dropping too many bombs on him it seems!"

"Thatch stop it. You're just being rude. I won't give you any access to my kitchen if you continue," Tsuna threatened with a glowering stare.

"What? That's cruel Tsuna! Devil!" Thatch cried out.

'I've never seen any of them act this way,' Ace thought as he stared at the new side of his family. 'All because of one person?' "How did you guys meet my...brother exactly?"

"Saved our lives during a bad thunderstorm," Whitebeard answered. "Also lured away Marines using his title and Devil Fruit from capturing us. He also let many of the people here join our crew-who wanted to-after a lot of the elders retired here."

"Too many questions," Ace groaned as he rubbed his forehead. "Where exactly is here?"

Tsuna smiled. "Glad you asked. Brother, welcome to the Nathioka Islands, a territory all on its own without the Government and ruled by me. We are a sanctuary for pirates, marines, and criminals who seek acceptance and a home." He laughed a bit at Ace's astounded face. He's seen many of those over the years. "It's taken quite a bit to do so, but it's been done. Here, there is only one Celestial Dragon, no slaves, and little to no poverty. I can't claim it is completely a haven, but it is definitely a place of acceptance."

"Nathioka is rarely known about because Tsuna forbids it from the Government to spread word, but it is a legendary myth between convicts who seek refuge," Marco explained. "That is why many crews who have become associated with this land accept convicts to their crew so they can bring them here."

"Wait, you say crews," Ace began.

"Many crews are included. Many marines who follow Tsuna's rule, the Yonko, Red Haired Shanks, even some of the Shichibukai," Thatch finished off.

The three Whitebeard crew members decided to leave the two brothers alone to bond for a while and go out to search for old crew members and catch up with them.

"Uh, I never asked this, but the crew said you had fire. How?" Ace asked.

"Oh that," Tsuna rolled his eyes. "It's a manifestation of my dying will you could say. I knew that the crew would mention that. Would you like to see?"

Ace nodded hesitantly. Though Gol D. Rogers may have also been his father that he despised, that didn't mean he despised Tsuna.

Tsuna extended his cupped palms and allowed his flames to generate-all colors of the rainbow swirling around one another. "I am a special case you could say, for more than one way. First, I wield these flames that few can ever configure. Second, I wield one of the rarest and strongest flames, the Sky Flames or the orange ones. Third, I can control all seven flames when most people are only ever born with one."

"They're all...sparkling," Ace commented.

Laughing, Tsuna let the flames flicker out. "Yes. The clearer and purer, the more they tend to seem to shimmer as well."

"If that's natural, then do you have a Devil Fruit as well?" Ace asked. He wanted to know Tsuna more. Something drew him to know more about the brother he only ever heard about years ago, that he had forgotten.

"Yes," Tsuna answered. "I have called it the Hoshii Hoshii no Mi. It has given me the brand and power of a Celestial Dragon."

At this, Ace flinched.

"Not one of the Government," continued Tsuna. "But an actual one. I have a bond with the Sky and the ability to be one. I am considered the most powerful of the Government because of so, thus I have so much power over them."

Ace felt curiosity and a slight bit of anger at this. "Why haven't you done anything with this power to the outside world? Why just here?"

Tsuna raised a brow and sighed. "I wish I could do more, but people don't listen Ace. I cannot force them to accept, unless they wish to. Many people are greedy and wish to keep their laws. Others seek salvation and I cannot offer that to them, unless they find me. Even I have my limits."

Ace lowered his head in shame. He knew that no matter how large of power, it could not change the way people thought. He should know that by now, but to accuse his own brother! "Sorry."

"It's quite alright," Tsuna responded. "You are a good man Ace. Keep that."

Ace nodded and felt a bit closer to Tsuna. "You too."

"Of course."