NEW BOOK!

Though this was first published on Wattpad...

Enjoy~

It was cold.

Very cold, despite being made of fire.

Ace was certain he hasn't felt this cold since his childhood. Actually, even then, it wasn't this cold.

In here, the complete darkness, all he felt was freezing cold.

Nothing else.

Everything else was blank.

Is he.. dead?

The last thing he remembers is shielding his little brother and telling him his last words...

Thank you for loving me.

He should be dead.

As if it was a confirmation, the uncomfortable and very hurtful feeling of his flesh burning, something, a fist, tearing apart him from both outside and inside came to him.

It hurt so much, so so much and it was the second time he was feeling this.

But ignoring that, he hoped Luffy is okay. Poor lil' one saw Ace die in front of him in that state Ace would've never wanted him to see.

But back to the darkness..

What's even happening?

Maybe.. maybe he can escape this?

...

It was the only thing to do so. In the complete and utter darkness, Ace tried taking a step forward. But it wasn't the best choice as it seems, because the moment he did, he found himself falling into the darkness. Into something unexpected. Something.. not from this world. He wasn't sure if even New World would be capable of something like this. This is out of league. Very different and concerning. Why is Ace here? Why isn't he dead? He was still breathing fine. His heart was beating normally. He was alive and kicking, literally. Did he not die then? How is that possible?

Finally, there was something seen below. Light. It was light in the darkness that Ace saw. Pulled out of his thoughts, Ace focused on the light, narrowing his eyes to try and see more. But he couldn't. It was a free fall into something he didn't know. Ah.. maybe this is how death is? Feeling the wind blow on him from the fall, he readied himself for whatever was waiting him there. Maybe the light was a mislead? Maybe his worst nightmare was waiting him down there? But.. hadn't it already happened? That Sengoku bastard.. He'd told everyone, the world about his.. parentage. Fuck.. And still none of them backed up. Not even one. They all faced the entire world.. all for him. Ace quickly wiped away the tears that were gathering up in his eyes, and noticed he was getting closer and closer, even if nothing was seen in the brightness. The light had taken most of the darkness by now, and in no time, it was white all he saw. But this wasn't stable as the darkness one, it became more and more bright every second, to the point he couldn't open his eyes. When he reached that point, everything stopped. His falling stopped, he no longer felt the wind and slowly, securely Ace opened his eyes-

To be met with a wonderful baby blue sky, the eye-hurting brightness of the sun and relaxing sounds of water hitting against wood. The semi-cold breeze of ocean wind blowing against him. The smell of the beautiful sea that he missed so much.

How?

For a while, Ace just stood there, laying on his back and watching the sky. It was the real sky, alright. Didn't feel like a dream or anything. He could smell the ocean, feel the waves hitting against wood. This was a boat. He was alone. Didn't notice anyone around. But this is surely a joke or something? Surely it can't be right, he died back therein Marineford? There must be something wrong. Slowly he sat up, and searched his surroundings. This.. He was in the middle of the ocean, on a little boat. The same boat he'd used when sailing away from the Dawn island to become a pirate. He then examined himself, remembering and feeling the pain of Akainu's magma. But.. Ace was perfectly fine. And.. Was he actually young? Younger, he meant. He was young when he'd died, or well, he should have died, but this body.. It was his, Ace knew it. But younger. Was he somehow.. in the body of his seventeen year old self? How's that even possible?

He checked himself again, just to make sure, and this time more throughoutly. He noticed something that shouldn't have been there. A scar. A big, nasty scar, right on his chest. It probably was reflected on his back as well, as it resembled the magma-fist attack of Akainu. Now, this both made sense and didn't at the same time. What was happening to him for God's sake?! What's this, is he haunted or something? Is all of this a nightmare? Some kind of joke the world has decided to play on Ace?

...

Calming down (sort of), he sighed and leaned his back on the railing of the boat. According to the timeline, he would meet Deuce in a few days, maybe. If this is even going to go by the same. He didn't know how long it'd been since he sailed away right now, everything is just ocean around. He didn't really care, but he knew he should care. Maybe.. Just maybe, this was a second chance. For him to make all the wrongs right. He can.. save Thatch. Can change the future. Make the Marineford never happen in this timeline. Would it affect the world bad or good? He didn't know. But he wanted to try.. Pops probably had died after him. Because of him. It was all his fault, and he would never make that mistake ever again. Ace had time before everything started, meaning before Thatch found the devil fruit. Somehow he had to gain clues that Teach was a traitor. They'd gotten info on that Teach has been planning to get this devil fruit for a very long time, and he always had been a traitor from the very start. How could he betray family.. You don't betray family, you look after them God damn it!

Cursing Teach, then himself, he got up and looked around. There it is! The first island he'd landed on, where he was stranded and met Deuce. Maybe being stranded wasn't a good start, but.. still it was a start. This is the island where he gains the devil fruit power, too. Ah- does he have the fruit's powers in here now that he's reborn into this timeline? Question on air, he lifted his hand in front of him and tried to light it up. To his surprise, his fingers turned into fire and now he could feel his body heating up. Well.. That's a plus? But even if he didn't have the powers right now, he knew just where to find the fruit. Whatever. He had to make a plan, though. Good thing he remembered exactly when the attack happened. The exact day of Teach's betrayal and Thatch's death. It happened a while after he'd become the second division commander. He would still have time before everything started. About the plan.. He needs some help. First, he needs Deuce. His first true friend after Sabo, his first mate, the man who he knew for sure would follow him through hell. As he was getting closer to the island, he smiled to himself. Meeting everyone again the second time would be nice even if this was a nightmare of its own. He will form the Spades, all the while planning what to do and not. After his crew was formed, they needed to gain Whitebeard's interest. The old man loved young, free and fierce souls. Ace knew how to gain his interest, so that part would be easy. Second, they needed bonds. Strong ones, so they could track Teach without being obvious and found out. He needed strong friendships and deals. Who could help him?...

Maybe, Shanks the Akagami? Surely the redhead can help him? He did owe Shanks for saving Luffy years ago. Sacrificing his own arm for the little boy. He could talk to him, the man knew Whitebeard personally and their relationship wasn't on edge. And.. if he remembers it true, Shanks was attacked by Teach and given the scar on his eye. He had also warned the old man about Teach. Yes, ,Shanks would be a good help in this. Good thing Ace knows exactly when and where to find him. He had met Shanks a little while later the Spades were formed, to thank him for saving Luffy and introduce himself as Luffy's bug brother.

The next person that could help him.. is Dark King Silvers Rayleigh. As much as he hated the man for being that man's first mate, he knew he was wrong. You don't shun someone for being in pirate king's crew if you're the said king's son. Whatever. He knew old Rayleigh would help him. He's heard of him from Whitebeard and Marco enough to know about him. He will keep Rayleigh in mind for this. And.. maybe.. just maybe he could learn something about Roger... cross that, no, that man ruined everything.

For now, these two were good help and he'd try to talk with them firstly. He met the Whitebeards in New World, thankfully, so he could talk with both Rayleigh and Shanks before meeting them again. He knew where to find Shanks, as he'd gone to thank him after forming his crew. And he also knew where to find Rayleigh, meeting him before entering the last island in Paradise.

He was getting closer to the island, and he knew the big bird would come here now. So he got up, and used his fire to boost-fly himself towards the island. Launching up, he lit up his legs and fired with all power he had, flying towards the island. He crashed into a tree and it broke, falling down with Ace on top. Groaning, Ace stood up and watched as the big bird, whatever it was, flew and offed his boat. Sighing, he turned to watch the island and grinned to himself. He knew where to find Deuce. He knew how to build a new boat. And he would be more than able to fight that bird. On that note.. he did wonder if his strength is the same now that he's reborn. He could find out about that on this island. He went to where he found Deuce, feeling happy that he's going to meet his best friend.

After walking for a while, going 180 around the island, he looked for Deuce and finally saw him. The man was sitting below a tree, looking at the journal in his hands miserably. Oh, Deuce. Let your future captain give you some good adventures now. He went to Deuce, and the blue haired man didn't notice him. Though, he had conflicts.. Should he call him Deuce? He is supposed to give that name to himself. Hmm.. Deuce is masked. He is a masked man. He isn't Deuce right now. Yup. He's just going to call Deuce 'masked man'.

"Hey, masked man!" He called, and Deuce jumped up in surprise. He looked up at Ace with wide eyes.

"Hi?" Came out the reply in a low, very very confused voice. Ace couldn't help but burst into laughter. He was wheezing and couldn't stop himself. He inhaled, and tried calming down.

"Anyway! My name's Ace. Nice to meet you! Would you want to join me in my adventures?" Ace said, offering a big grin to Deuce.

"Huh? Whaddya mean?" Deuce asked, looking interested but also doubtful. Of course he's interested. He's Deuce, after all. His Deuce. The man he knew very well.

"I'm stranded on this island right now, but we can build a boat and sail away together. We are pirates! You can be my first mate! Our crew's name will be the Spades!" Ace said happily, and Deuce laughed at his words.

"Why would I be a pirate? And you're not even going to ask my opinion while recruiting me to be your first mate?" Deuce asked in almost disbelief, making Ace chuckle.

"Well, you're searching for adventures, aren't ya? The sea's calling for us, can't you hear her?!" Ace screamed, beaming while looking towards the sea. It's been so long in his case. He hadn't been able to look at the sea, hear waves hitting their massive ship, smell the salt water before his death. He had died right in the middle of a war, a war that had broke out because of him. For him. A war where he'd left a ton of traumatized brothers, family, his little brother. He looked down, wide grin turning into a sad smile on his face. He felt so happy that he was given a second chance by whoever did this. He was pushed away from his thoughts by a loud sigh that came from behind. Deuce stood up, and went to Ace. They stayed silent, both watching the waves hit the shore.

"Why did you set sail and become a pirate, Ace?" Deuce then broke the silence, sounding interested but in a low and soft tone. Ace smiled and turned to face him, looking into his eyes. He saw the exact look he'd back in his past timeline, when he first met Deuce. But that was a few days after this day, as he was trying to build a boat and get away from this island.

"I have been searching for some kind of answers for myself. As a kid, it was all I did. And it was stupid. But, that was what made me want to set sail. That was when I realized that the sea was calling for me." Ace said, smiling fondly and Deuce reflected his smile back. "Why have you sailed away and are here?"

"I have always dreamed of sailing and having adventures on the sea. Though, I never thought of becoming a pirate." Ace chuckled, that was what Deuce thought. So, everything was indeed the same. It will just differ because he wanted it to, he could change the future. But.. would it affect that now he had met Deuce quicker than he should? Whatever, it's late now to change this anyway.

"We will still have adventures and travel around. Just.. under a black flag with a crew of our own. I'd really love to have you by my side," Ace voiced out his thoughts, and Deuce looked at him weird.

"We just met." He said, and Ace shook his head. This, talking about it to Deuce, it may seem a little too early for and maybe useless, but he needed at least Deuce to know before everything started. Deuce was the first person he had trusted. The first one he'd let in after leaving the Dawn.

"No, that's not true in my case.. I've actually met you. I know you." Ace said, shocking Deuce. He then frowned, and asked for proof since he clearly didn't remember Ace. Maybe he met him back on his home island? But.. why didn't he remember Ace?

"Well.. I'll tell you about that later when we finally get away from this island. First, we need to make a boat. Ah, we also need supplies.. food and water," Ace murmured to himself as he walked away, looking towards the strange forest in sight. Deuce followed not long after, asking what their plan was. Ace smiled. He knew Deuce would follow him no matter what.

"From this day forward, I'll be known as 'Deuce'." Deuce suddenly said, after they sailed away from the island they were trapped in, and promptly after Ace fire-fisted the giant bird. Ace smirked to himself, having been waiting for this time and really having a hard time trying not to call the man as his self given name, Deuce.

"That's a good pen name, isn't it? Masked Deuce." Ace said, and Deuce screamed at him something that Ace, again, been waiting for. He was really looking forward to having all their little and big adventures with his beloved crew. Oh, how he missed them. The last time he saw them.. he didn't want to think about that. But soon, he has to make a plan. That's a part where he needs some brains. Deuce is the help he needs the most.

"Deuce?" The freckled teen called, and Deuce looked up with a hum. "Do you want to know how I met you?" He said with a sad smile. Deuce seemed to be interested, and he put his journal away to listen after giving a nod.

"I met you back on that same island. 3 years before. Things were similar, but a bit different than this time. I'm glad you're the same. Everything is the same in this timeline." Deuce frowned as Ace talked. He was making zero sense right now. What's he even talking about? Ace seemed to notice that Deuce looked troubled, and chuckled. He had to explain further.

"I've been reborn into this timeline, to start again. To change the future. To make the wrongs right. Before I was reborn, I died.. 3 years from now on, if everything is to stay the same, I'll die. But I won't let that happen." Ace explained, and then went into further details on how he'd died, where everything started, how they joined the Whitebeard pirates and how someone in the crew ended up betraying, to how he went after that same man and ended up in Impel Down to how the war broke out, then exactly how he died. He then told Deuce that he needed a plan before forming their crew, Spades, and before they start acting on it they needed allies. Deuce stared with wide eyes the whole explanation, shocked beyond belief.

"I-I can't believe it.. You.. It's.. I don't know how to feel about it all, Ace.. This is something that never happened before. Something.. unbelievable." Deuce stuttered in complete shock, overwhelmed by everything he'd learned. Maybe telling him everything so early wasn't the best choice.

"Yup. Sorry for troubling you with it. But, Grand Line sure is a mysterious place. I never knew this could happen. Only knew of time travelling and that was possible with a devil fruit." Ace said in all honesty, and Deuce gulped. He looked up at Ace, clearly having trouble about asking something. Ace just told him to ask anything he wants. So he did.

"Let me get this straight, first. We are.. trying to change the future. What will we exactly change? And.. what happens if we just.. can't? Or what happens if everything changes for the worst?" The blue haired man asked, making good points. Ace thought for some minutes before answering.

"We're trying to stop Blackbeard's betrayal. We need to expose him so he doesn't do anything bad. I want to prevent Thatch's death, the fourth commander of Whitebeard pirates.. If that's prevented, then Marineford won't happen. Meaning, I won't go after Teach. Because he would be dead. If the worst happens, we'll have to go with it." Deuce nodded. That sounded like a plan. But they didn't have an exact plan to be precise.

"We really need a real plan." Deuce voiced out, and Ace agreed. They couldn't go without one. Ace said they still had time. The first thing needed to be done was forming the Spades. Deuce trusted him, so he let Ace adjust the plan. They travelled through the seas to the next island on Striker together, on their way to recruit their next crew member.

Thanks for reading! ~ I hope you liked this book so far, part two will be out in maybe a week? Keep safe!