Fun it was. The boys thought her training had been hard before but now with no one here to see the difference in power, she switched from a merchant sailor to a Rear Admiral. Naia had taken to training with the boys one on one to help establish a more personalized way of training them. They were so different from one another that throwing them together would only create unwanted chaos.

"Naia please, can't we take a break?" Ace huffed out. Naia grinned as the 16 year old boy slumped to the ground. The sword he had been using clanged to the ground and his hands shook from exhaustion. Somewhere along the way, he had become more open to her and her heart swelled each time one of the boys sought to spend time with her, especially Ace. Naia had fought hard to gain his trust.

"Luffy's going to win," Naia hummed, a small smile on her face.

"I don't care at this point. I need a break."

"Alright, stretch it out. We'll move on to something else for the time being." Naia ruffled his hair, giggling as the teenager tried to bat her hands away. "There is something I have been meaning to teach you."

Naia took a seat across from the boy, who furrowed his brows at her. She had never hidden anything from them or kept something from them. With Ace, she found herself hitting walls- of her own choice.

"As you know there are three forms of haki," Naia started.

"Yeah. Armament, observation and conqueror's," Ace said, confused.

"Aye, conqueror's is one of the rarest forms. It's not something you can teach but is a talent you are born with."

"Okay, what does this have to do with me?"

"Dadan told me about your fight with Bluejam while I was at the ball." Naia raised an eyebrow at him. "She also told me of an instance where you managed to knock out a large group of pirates without even moving."

"Yeah so?"

"That, my dear boy, is Conqueror's haki."

"No."

"Ace, I understand-"

"No! I refuse to be like him!" Ace glared at her.

"Ace, you are your own person. This isn't something I would teach you simply because of him. This is because you possess it and it can make a huge difference in a fight," Naia argued.

"No."

"Ace…" Naia sighed as the boy continued to glare at her. She tilted her head out towards the water. Even after all these years of stubbornness, he would continue to hold himself back. How was she going to go about this? It was times like this she wished Shanks was with her. He had a way of persuading people into doing something and making them feel like it was their idea. Naia wasn't the best at it. "Then we are done here."

"What do you mean, done?" Ace argued.

"I mean we are finished training. I'm going to go check on your brothers." Naia made to leave when a warm hand wrapped around her wrist.

"I can continue! I only needed a break."

"You do not wish to learn anything more from me. Your sword fighting skills have grown exponentially as have your navigation skills. All that is left is haki. You took to the other two like a sponge but if you are unwilling to learn then I can not help you." Naia gazed sadly at her oldest. He had come so far but sometimes she forgets what he had to endure before she got there. Benn had been right in calling her foolish. She couldn't heal him, but she had hoped to help him cope. Naia gently ran her fingers through his hair. "It seems I have failed you."

"Failed? What do you mean? Naia!?" Ace shouted out to her but Naia continued to walk away. Tears stung her eyes. He would have to overcome himself for this. "Naia, please!" His hand wrapped around her wrist once more, pulling her back.

"Ace, I have tried to make you see you for you but I can only do so much. No one here is comparing you to him. No one but you." Ace's eyes widened at her. "I will never fully be able to understand what you went through before Garp brought you to our doorstep, but I do understand what it is like to be measured up by your family and scorned for who and what you are. I used it as inspiration to break from the shadow of my family, but you are using it to stay trapped in it!"

"I'm not!"

"Then tell me why you are refusing to learn a skill that is not only useful but could very well save your life one day!" Ace's eyes widened when her voice rose at the end. He had to learn. He needed it for that day. "I will honor your request for now, but do not come crying to me when you are in need of saving your brothers and are powerless to do so."

"That's not fair, Naia! You know I would do anything for them!" Ace snarled, his eyes flashing with rage.

"Apparently, not everything," Naia said coldly. They stared each other down, neither willing to give into the other, but eventually the anger on Ace's face faded into uncertainty.

"I don't-" Ace looked away sharply. "I don't know how to let it go. All this anger and resentment is what kept me going all this time. How do I let it go?"

"You don't." Ace furrowed his brow in confusion. "You let it remind you what it was like to have nothing but scorn and hatred thrown at you so you can better understand the world around you. You let it spur you on, so you show the world what you are actually made of! You show them not what it is like to not be Gol D Ace but Portgas D Ace!"

"Show the world what I'm made of?" Ace echoed to himself. Naia's lips twitched upward at the fire burning in his eyes. His devil fruit really did suit his personality and if she didn't know better it was as if he was already wielding it. "I can do that!"

"That's my boy!" Naia drew him into a tight hug. "No one gets in the way of Portgas D Ace, not even himself!"

"Naia, let me go! This is so gross!" Ace whined, pushing at her side. Naia giggled and held him tighter.

"Shall we begin again?" Ace nodded and slid into a defensive pose. "This will no longer be a test of strength but of wills! You best be on your guard."

The four of them fell into a blissful routine. Ace was working harder than ever to prove himself better than his father and Luffy was equally spurred on by his brother's will to live. Sabo had thrown himself into learning anything and everything he could to help his brothers while out at sea, but every once in a while his eyes would stray out towards Grey Terminal. It held him back much like Ace's anger had held him back. Sabo was angry too just for different reasons. To live in a world where you are told how to live every day of your life and treated as nothing more than a pawn, it had left a scar no pirate flag or crew could fix. Sabo had a burning need to help others, not just himself. This wasn't working, but thankfully, Naia knew how to approach this one.

The conversation had been long and hard, but in the end Naia had been able to get Sabo to admit what he actually wanted in life and not what he thought he wanted. No more kind brother mask and no more noble mask, the boy had crumbled in front of her, raging about the absurd rules people lived by and the cruelty of the nobles. How much he wanted to end it, how much he wanted to help those who couldn't help themselves. To fight for a cause and for those who couldn't. Sabo would do great in the Revolutionary Army. She knew it and so did Luffy. The boys had been so unhappy but deep down she liked to believe they understood why. Luffy was grateful for the chance to say goodbye to his brother rather than thinking he was dead. Dragon was luckily in the area and Naia was able to plead his story just right. It helped that Sabo recalled just enough of the first time around that he was able to play off the scared but determined runaway noble. Kids really do grow up fast.

All too soon it was time to let Ace go. Where had the 7 years gone? Naia discreetly wiped a tear from her cheek as she watched her eldest say goodbye. They really do grow up so fast. Luffy was excitedly bouncing next to his brother as he spouted out tip after tip for his brother. Ace looked a little confused as to why his brother knew so much but seemingly shrugged it off. It wasn't the first time Luffy had said something strange

"Ace, don't forget about all our lessons! Naia made sure we were prepared for anything!"

"Calm down, Lu! I'll remember. I'll remember," Ace placated, smiling gently at his little brother.

"If you see Sabo out there, tell him hello from us!" Makino chimed in. "I'm sure he's as grown up as fine as you."

"Y-yeah, I'll be sure to do it." Ace blushed. He really had grown into such a fine young man. Naia watched as the two brothers continued to say goodbye in their own special way, letting younger images of the two overlap their current bodies.

"They grow up so fast, don't they?" Makino observed.

"I can't believe he's already setting sail. It seems like it was only yesterday Garp was dragging a spiteful little boy into the cabin."

"How far he's come." Makino smiled wistfully. "Go say goodbye. I'll rein Luffy in." Naia chuckled as Makino practically dragged the rubber boy away from his brother but the grin on his face said his protests were anything but serious.

"You have everything you need? Food, maps, compass?" Naia fretted, shifting her gaze to the belongings in his boat. "Emergency pearl?"

"Yes, mom. I have everything. I double-checked and you triple checked last night." Ace rolled his eyes, an easy grin sliding over his face. "Naia… thank you, for everything you've done for me."

"Oh, firecracker. You really have grown into such a strong young man," Naia praised, her hand cupping his face. "Your parents would be so proud of you. I know I am."

"Naia." Tears pooled in Ace's eyes as he pulled Naia into a crushing hug. "You've done so much for me. What you had to put up with just to raise me and that you have done to get me where I am today. I know it wasn't an easy road and I made things as difficult as I possibly could, but you kept trying. You never gave up on me even when I had given up on myself. There is no way I could ever repay you."

"There is nothing to repay, Ace." Naia stroked his back as tears began to fall from her eyes. "I wouldn't give it up for the world."

Naia held him tightly and Ace relished in the feeling of having her arms around him one last time.

"I'm ready," Ace sniffed, rubbing the tears from his face harshly as he pulled away. "I should set sail before the sun begins to dip."

"I better see a bounty poster soon," Naia smirked. "It would be killer to my reputation if it took you more than a couple of months."

"Whahahaha, you won't even have to wait that long!" Ace gave her a large grin.

"I better not," Naia whispered, caressing his cheek one last time before stepping back. "Say hi to Sabo for me if you see him."

"And Shanks? I plan on finding him again as well," Ace asked cheekily, "I'm sure he would like to know how you're doing."

"Why must you boys tease me so much about him?" Naia grumbled. "He probably barely remembers me."

"I doubt that very much, Naia." They smiled at each other. "Naia, what happens if we meet out there? I don't want to fight you."

"Then you better learn how to be slippery or show me your growth," Naia said, ruffling his hair. "I will meet each of you out there with my white coat. It's up to you to prove you can surpass me."

"Challenge accepted," Ace smirked.

"Oh before I forget!" Naia pulled out a small satchel from her pocket. It had taken quite a long time of searching but it'll be worth it when he actually uses it. "Garp gave me this the last time he visited with strict instructions that you should only listen to it when you truly need to."

"What does that mean?" Ace gazed curiously at the bag.

"No clue." Naia shrugged. "It's Garp, you never know with him."

Naia waved as she watched Ace's boat sail into the distance. The sun ray's silhouetted his figure but the water lapping at her feet let her know he would be just fine. He would go on his journey, meet his crew and join his family when the time was right. Luffy was silent next to her and a serious atmosphere settled over them.

"It's time to set things into motion," Luffy stated, "How many do we have?"

"So far? A good handful in good places," Naia stated. "My crew is also in position to start moving."

"Good, let's give them hell." Naia grinned toward the setting sun as her youngest laughed. These next few years were going to be very entertaining.

And entertaining they were. Luffy had flourished under the training of the pirate crew and had sharpened his skills under hers. The years seemed to fly by and before Naia knew it she was watching her youngest sail off, and her own crew coming to pick her up. To think 10 years had passed. She had received a few letters from Shanks throughout the years and she had taken great pride in keeping them stored in a box under her bed. Cliched as it was.

"Are you ready, Rear Admiral?" Naia grinned at her second in command.

"Weisman, these next couple of years are going to be crazy!"

"You sound like that's something new."