Hello everyone, here is the next chapter

This is a bit of everything and hope it is good, it is also not too long, but the next one is a bit longer

Also, I have a lot ready right now as I've been excited for this story, really excited, so the next updates will happen rapidly, so be prepared for that

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Whitebeard was enjoying a day out on deck, the weather was okay. Not sunny, but not raining, and the temperature was good. They had had a meeting earlier today, and when it was over, Trevor said he had a new thing for Ace to try, which was meditating, having spoken to Haruta with it, who regularly did it and could show it. But they hadn't tried yet, but would try in the morning, and Ace accepted that.

When morning came and Ace came out, Trevor looked at the other. "Ready to try meditating." Ace sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be." Trevor nodded. "Good." They then waited for Haruta, and when she came, she said she was ready, and they moved a bit to the side, to the railing. So they weren't in the way for anyone. Haruta then sat down with her legs crossed. "You start by sitting down like this." Ace shook his head. "Nah nah, not sitting like that." Trevor gave a sigh. "You promised to try." Haruta shook her head. "No, it's fine. You can sit on your knees as well." Ace nodded. "That I can do." Ace then sat down on his knees, and got comfortable. "What now?" Haruta gave a small chuckle. "You can't rush this. Now you focus on your breath, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths." Ace nodded and did, before Haruta continued. "Now, you stay in the moment. You stay here and now. Don't let your mind wander. But if it does, you just go back to concentrating on your breath. If your mind keeps wandering, try to see where you wander to, and accept your mind might wander, be kind to your mind. But just come back to focusing on your breath."

Ace nodded and seemed to do it, and they kept it up for about 5 minutes, before Haruta started speaking again. "And when you feel ready, you lift your head and open eyes, and come back to the now." Ace nodded and opened his eyes, and when he did Trevor moved a hand out. "How did this feel? Let me guess, you hate it." Ace hummed. "Actually, I like it." Trevor blinked. "You do?" Ace nodded. "Yeah. Not going to be better than fighting or replacing it, but I like it. I think this would be fine to do before I leave for hard assignments or join raids." Trevor nodded. "That sounds smart. Maybe I will give it a try too." Ace nodded. "You should. But it won't change the fact I want to fight. This won't change that." Trevor huffed. "Why not? You liked it!" Ace nodded. "Yeah, I did. But it won't substitute the fighting. This is just a huge plus." Trevor let out a breath. "Fine, I will find something else for you. I'm not done yet." Ace nodded. "That's fine." Ace then looked at Haruta. "Thanks for doing this. I enjoyed it." Haruta smiled. "I'm glad you did. I enjoy it a lot." Ace nodded. "I can see that. And I will use this when I need to. When I am heading for a hard assignment or join a raid, even wars, to get a clear mind." Haruta nodded. "That sounds good. It is great to clear one's mind." Ace nodded. "I can see that. Thanks for showing me." Haruta nodded, and Ace looked at Trevor. "Find something else, something which actually is equally, if not better, than fighting." Trevor sighed. "Fine, I will find something." Ace nodded and the day went by fine.

-x-

Marco stood out on deck, they were a bit to the east now, where they hadn't been often, and it was a clear day, a good day. But as the day was moving by, Thatch gave a gasp as he looked at the sea. "Look! Look! A shiny stingray!" Marco frowned and headed over to the railing, and there was a shiny stingray, it seemed to be almost glowing in colours, but it was probably from the sun hitting the water. Thatch gave a whistle. "That one is pretty." It was, and everyone agreed. Then it was gone from view. Thatch then tried searching for it, but didn't find it or anything close to it. Those who hadn't seen it, didn't believe it was a shiny stingray, which had Thatch say against them and say it was pretty, and he hoped they would see it again.

When the night came, and he was doing some paperwork, Ace came into his room, and had a smile, which had him curious on why Ace looked so pleased. Ace then made a motion to follow him, and he did, and they headed down to the back of the boat, where they had their smaller boats for when they headed to islands or sent out scouts, Ace then looked at him. "You trust me, right?" Marco nodded. "I do, yoi." Ace nodded, and went and grabbed a large board, like a surfboard, but longer, from the back. When he looked at it in question, Ace chuckled. "It's a longboard. Trust me, okay?" Marco nodded, and Ace put the longboard in the water, before he moved to sit on it, legs down in the water, and patted the space behind him, and Marco, very carefully, moved to sit down as well. Both had short pants on, Ace probably prepared for this, and Marco's was generally short as he didn't feel coldness. Or, he could feel the water was a bit cold, since it took away a bit of his powers in his legs, not so much he couldn't move them, just felt a bit weak. When he was seated, he felt unsteady, and Ace chuckled. "Don't overthink. Just, lean with the movement. You can fly if you want to." Marco shook his head. "No, I trust you, yoi." Ace nodded, and then started paddling with a paddle, and as they got a bit away from the boat, Marco felt unsure, but Ace said they were soon there, and Marco was curious on where they were headed, it was nothing here.

After a minute more of paddling, the Moby far away, Ace put the paddle down on the board, before he made some movement with his legs, and as he did, there was a light that came from underneath them, and Marco was sure this was a sea monster, probably a large angler fish, and Marco was sure they would die. Ace just took him to his doom. Ace moved a hand to his leg. "Relax." Marco nodded and tried to, looking at the light deep below them. But as it got closer to the surface, more colours came with it, it was a mix of red, white, blue, and yellow. Then it came to the surface, and it was the stingray from earlier. It actually glowed, it was beautiful.

The stingray came to be on their left, slowly floating in the water, and Ace chuckled. "This is Tala." The stingray moved a bit. "I am Tala, guardian of the sea." Marco blinked. "It… it spoke?" Ace chuckled, giving a smile to him. "Mythical being. Protector of the sea." Marco nodded. "It said 'guardian' of the sea, not protector, yoi." Ace chuckled. "Potato potahto." Marco gave a chuckle, and carefully moved a hand out to the stingray- Tala- and touched it. It was warm, compared to the cold water, he moved his hand over some of the glowing parts, which were warmer than the rest. Ace then also moved a hand to it, and the stingray seemed to enjoy that.

The stingray then moved a bit. "You can understand me. How?" It was a female voice, light, and it felt… familiar. Marco looked at the stingray. "I can understand you since I'm a phoenix, yoi." The stingray moved a bit. "You're Makar." Marco blinked, before he looked at Ace, feeling a bit cold inside. "Can you understand it?" Ace shook his head. "No, I can speak to only one mythical being. Maybe our paths will cross one day." Marco nodded, that was good. He didn't want Ace to find out yet. He knew Benn had said Ace knew, but he hoped not, and Ace hadn't said anything about it. Marco gave a relieved breath. Marco looked back at the stingray. "Yes I am, yoi." The stingray moved a bit. "I saw you, I tried to yell out, but you just flew." Marco nodded, that made sense, probably why it felt familiar. He had probably heard her but not seen anyone and flew on. "Sorry about that, yoi." The stingray moved a bit closer, so a bit was underneath them. "It is fine. I need to leave. Give my thanks to Ace, he has been nice to us." Marco nodded, and before he could speak, the stingray moved a bit away, before it jumped over them, and Ace gave a chuckle at it and Marco stared amazed. It had lights underneath it as well. It truly was magnificent.

When it hit the water, it swam down to the depths and out of view. And as it was, he looked at Ace. "She wanted me to thank you, she said you've been nice to them, yoi." Ace nodded. "Yeah, helped out with them and just been there." Marco nodded. "You need to tell me about it, yoi." Ace chuckled. "One day, I will." Ace then grabbed the paddle. "Want me to get us back with my powers, fly, or paddle?" Marco hummed. "Paddle. It is… calming, yoi." Ace nodded. "It is, let's start, it will take some time as the boat is moving away from us." Marco blinked and looked towards the Moby, which was further away than what it had been.

They, or Ace, started the paddle back, and Marco enjoying being this close to the ocean, he could see some things moving underneath him, a few things having faint light on them, even seeing some jellyfish a bit away, which were blue-ish. It was beautiful. They then got back into the boat after about an hour of paddling, Ace placed the board and paddle a bit in the back, probably so it was close if he wanted to take a trip out. When they were on safe ground, Marco looked at Ace. "That was… I don't even have words, yoi." Ace smiled at him. "I had a feeling you would enjoy it." Marco nodded, he really had,

They then went back to his room, Ace moving to sit on the bed and reading a book, while Marco finished his paperwork, before he went to bed with Ace. It had been a good night.

-x-

Whitebeard sat out on deck, enjoying a sunny day. It really was beautiful today. And as he was out, he heard the other speaking about this and that, and Thatch, who was speaking to Izou and Ace, said he never hid anything to Izou or him, and Whitebeard knew that, Thatch was an open person and they had had many talks, Thatch feeling bad for his past and original family. It had Ace hum. "If you trust someone with everything, they can take away everything." Whitebeard nodded. Ace had many reasons to not trust people. He had been in many deplorable situations, met many who were evil, and seen what evil can do. He wanted to get Ace's trust, so Ace had someone to lean on. He knew Ace trusted Marco a lot now, and that was something, but he wished Ace would rely more on them, rely on him.

Thatch did blink, before he opened his mouth to speak, but didn't and closed it, just nodding. They knew Ace had a lot of secrets, and Whitebeard did wonder if Ace had anyone he trusted with everything. He had a feeling the answer was no. Ace trusted very few, maybe no one fully. He had probably trusted his mentor, but he was no longer around. He hoped Ace had someone. And he hoped, with time, he would be a person Ace trusted.

The day then continued calmly, and when they docked the next day, they headed on the island, them joining Trevor and Mika in checking a place, Ace working. It was a handful of them. But as they entered a room and Trevor moved some papers, the door suddenly banged shut, before they heard some sounds, like something moved behind or inside the door.

Izou frowned as he had pushed at the door. "It's closed… We're locked inside." Whitebeard frowned, seeing Trevor moving to the door himself as Izou moved away for him, trying to open the door, but not able to. Trevor had a frown as he looked at the door, taking his dagger out and trying to pry the lock up, some sound sounding, before the assassin looked at a small opening in the door, having made one. "Damn. Security door lock. At least 5 inches of metal, seastone metal, which also annulates devil fruits. This is a secure building." That wasn't good news. Trevor turned to look at them. "Windows? Panels? Anything we can move?" Whitebeard saw all his children starting to check each wall and surface, but no one found anything, Whitebeard doing his best to check the ceiling as he was one of the few tall enough. As he didn't find anything and looked to Trevor for ideas on what to do next. But he didn't get anything out as he watched Trevor moving to crouch down in front of Mika, who had sat down on a chair, Trevor looking concerned as he moved a hand to Mika's. "Hey, how are you holding up?" The captain saw Mika shaking her head a bit. "I don't like cages, Trevor." Trevor gave a comforting look. "I know. And try and think we're in a room, not a cage. We're gonna get out." Mika nodded, seeming to take a few deep breaths to keep calm. He got this was tough for Mika if she didn't like cages. But who would like a cage, they had just never been in a cage like they had, and understood it was bad memories.

Trevor sighed. "I wished Ace was here, he is amazing at finding exits." That he could see, but he was sure they would get out of here. They tried to pry everything they could see, moving every furniture, but found nothing. They were stuck, and Trevor did his best to find a way, but also help Mika, who wasn't doing too well, then Mika looked up. "The light…" Trevor nodded. "Yes, concentrate on the light." Mika shook her head. "No, it's a chandelier. That means…" Trevor looked up as well. "A movable panel." Trevor then moved to point at it. "Pull that out of the ceiling." Whitebeard nodded and did, and the roof around it did also fall down, there was a way out. It was small, but a small person could fit, and he looked at Haruta. "You can maybe fit." Haruta looked uncertain, but before she could speak, Mika did. "No, I can do it." Trevor frowned. "Mika-" Mika shook her head. "No! I can do this!" Trevor sighed. "Okay. You do it." Mika nodded, and Whitebeard helped her up to the hole in the ceiling and she climbed into it, before she was out of view. Mika should fit as she was just a bit taller than Haruta. Now, they just needed to wait.

It took a few minutes, but they soon heard some sort of mechanics sliding, before the door opened and Mika stood on the other side, looking relieved. "And, we're free." Everyone nodded and was about to head out when Trevor spoke. "You go ahead. There is a reason this is a secure room, so imma search it." Made sense, and a few offered to help, which had Trevor glad, before the rest of them, including Mika, left back to the boat. It then took an hour before the rest came, not having found anything, and when everyone was safe on the ship, Thatch looked at Mika and Trevor. "...Can I make a really bad joke?" Trevor looked at Thatch. "Why do you ask? Why not just tell it?" Thatch gave a small sound. "It's just, it might be a bad one." Trevor blinked. "Okay, try it. I will stop you if it's bad." Thatch nodded, before he looked at Mika. "You don't like cages?" Mika nodded, lifting an eyebrow, obviously wondering where this was headed. "But you're with Cage Trevor." Both Trevor and Mika deadpanned, before Trevor spoke. "What?" Mika opened her mouth, before she did it again. "Well, he isn't wrong." Trevor then facepalmed. "That was horrible. One of the worst things I've heard." It was a terrible joke.

A few more did look shocked and facepalmed, but it was fine, Mika even laughing a bit. When Ace came back two hours later, Trevor told what happened, which had Ace look at Mika. "How'd that go?" Mika shrugged. "Well, seeing as I am with Cage Trevor, I am fine." Ace deadpanned. "That was either Trevor or Thatch, because that was bad." Thatch held a hand up. "Me." Ace shook his head, giving a small chuckle. "Well, I've heard worse." Thatch blinked. "Like what?" Ace hummed. "What kind of tea is hard to swallow?" Thatch frowned. "I don't know… A hard flavor?" Ace shook his head. "No, reality." Thatch blinked. "What?" Ace chuckled. "You know, reali-tea." Thatch blinked, before he deadpanned. "That was horrible." Ace nodded. "I know. That was the point." Thatch shook his head, giving a small laugh. "Is that the worst you have heard?" Ace hummed. "I know a few long ones. But they're boring as well. And just stupid." Thatch nodded. "Maybe another time?" Ace nodded. "Sounds good."

The rest of the day went by fine, which was good, and they set sail the next day, and headed more east, to a place they hadn't been before. But as they were, a loud sound from behind him had him turn around, and he saw a huge black bird, looking like a huge raven. But as the huge bird moved towards them, Marco changed into his phoenix and distracted the bird, which was good. He could trick it away and then they could sail on safely. But as the two birds were a bit away, Whitebeard heard a panicked voice to his left. "No! Pops! You can't have Marco close to that thing!" When Whitebeard looked at Claus, he had a panicked look as he continued. "It's a Nevermore. You touch it, your devil fruit is gone. That's why they're called Nevermore. That, and they are basically invincible. They've wiped out admiral fleets!" This was bad, really bad. Whitebeard was about to yell out for Marco to come back, when the bird, the Nevermore, shot feathers at Marco, one gracing him. But it was enough as the phoenix instantly disappeared and Whitebeard could only watch as Marco fell from the sky, the Nevermore just behind as it tried to eat him, the sea riddled with seamonsters. Marco was dead and they could do nothing. He could hear his children scream out in fear, seeing as there was no way Marco would or could survive this.

But as Marco was just feet from the ocean, a sea monster right underneath, another shape was suddenly next to Marco, before both were gone. A second later a bang and the sounds of someone losing their breath was next to him, Whitebeard turning with a relieved sigh to see both Marco and Ace there, the first one trying to grasp his breath again. Ace just looked at the huge bird, that now that its prey was gone, headed straight for them again. They were screwed, there was no other way to call it. As the bird flew straight for them with amazing speed, he could see his shooters lining up to fire, and it was their only and last chance. Just as Whitebeard was about to tell them to shoot, Ace suddenly ran between them and straight for the railing and the bird that was heading straight for them. As Ace was close to the railing, he jumped over it, before turning in the air and disappearing. Just as he had and the bird was close, it gave out a shriek in pain, before it turned to head right, them seeing Ace on its back, scythe in its neck, obviously doing it to get the bird away from them.

As they were a bit gone, Ace moved to jump off, jumping to a rock mountain, the bird screeching as it turned around and headed for Ace again, mouth open to eat him. Ace reacted fast and jumped into its mouth, using his hands to hold its mouth open, also taking its view away as it crashed into another mountain, Ace having jumped off again. The captain could hear his children were worried for Ace, that he would lose this battle. But before he could respond, he heard someone to his left speak, turning to see Trevor there with a spear, Mika close. "Remember what we said?" Started the assassin, and continued before they could respond. "If you're up against a foe you will lose against, we will step in and take the battle." Trevor then moved the spear a bit down, holding it straight. "My lady." said Trevor as Mika moved to stand on it. As Mika was, Trevor quickly moved and threw the spear at the Nevermore with Mika on it, hitting it in the back and making Mika join the battle. As Mika was off and with Ace, Trevor moved out a gun and aimed it at the Nevermore, hitting it in its back, making it turn to them. Trevor then moved to the railing with a smile. "You better hold on." He said as he moved to jump off and onto the Nevermore. And as he had, Ace had placed a well aimed shot at its head, making the Nevermore screech again as it turned to get to Ace instead, turning next to them with a huge move with its wings, making the ship rock.

As Trevor was off, Claus gave out a shocked sound. "It's a Nevermore! They can't win!" The captain didn't know what to say or do. He could only hope the assassins had a plan. "I think they have a plan, son." Claus didn't seem convinced. "Still! It's a Nevermore, you can't kill them!" Whitebeard swallowed as he turned to look at the huge bird, who flew straight into the rock mountain Ace and Mika was on, shattering it and leaving the two assassins to jump to another rock, Trevor joining them. As they were all three there, Ace spoke as he pointed around, the other two nodding. They had a plan, but he just hoped it would work. That they wouldn't die. As Ace seemed finished, the three split up, Ace heading for the bird and jumping on its back again, moving it around towards a rock wall, maybe to make it crash in it. Not that it would do much as the Nevermore had thick skin it seemed like. As Ace was doing this, Mika and Trevor had climbed up a small rock each, Trevor throwing something to Mika, seeming to be either a sort of rope or rubber band rope, both tightening it. As it was ready, Trevor yelled something out, and it had Ace moved to stand ready on the Nevermore's back, before he made it crash into a mountain rock, before Ace jumped off with a shot of his gun, the boost helping him land in front of the rope, and once again jumped with a shot onto the rope, making it move backwards, scythe against it and Ace's feet on the blade, ready to shoot Ace away. As the rope went the other way, Ace also using his gun to get more boost, the Nevermore had just recovered and was on its way to fly, when Ace hit its neck with the scythe, throwing it backwards to a rock, where the Nevermore's head parted from its body, the bird falling down to the rock limp, head soon after. They won, they beat it.

As the Nevermore was dead, Claus moved to grab his hair. "A Nevermore. They killed a Nevermore! That's impossible! Holy God!" Everyone was in the same state as that was amazing. Ace soon was next to Mika and Trevor with his powers, before all three of them were back on the ship, Mika giving a laugh. "Been a while since we tackled a Nevermore." Trevor nodded at it. "Yeah. Great plan, Bunny!" Ace just waved his hand. "Done it a couple times before. Easier with Moira around, though." Trevor snorted at it. "Everything is easier with Moira around." Before Ace could respond, Claus spoke first. "You killed a Nevermore. You can't kill a Nevermore." Ace just blinked at Claus, before he moved a thumb to the dead bird. "Go tell that to him. Maybe he'll come back alive." Claus just blinked and Ace waved his hand and Trevor spoke. "Of course you can kill a Nevermore! It's just hard." Ace nodded at it. "Yeah. A Nevermore is worth around 4 billion. Easy money. You just need to know how to fight."

Claus blinked. "How do you fight one?" Ace hummed. "As we did, not be afraid to touch it." Claus blinked. "But… it takes away one's devil fruit." Ace nodded. "Yes, but you get it back when it's dead." Claus nodded slowly, and it made sense. He was so glad he had the assassins in his family right now, if not, things would have taken a different turn.

The rest of the day went by fine, many commenting on the fact the assassins beat a Nevermore, which was supposed to be impossible, but it wasn't. But as they were having supper, Ace came into the galley with a small cup of something, and when he sat down, Trevor whined. "No! I want that mash too!" Ace shook his head as he ate whatever it was with a spoon. "Nope, mine. My mashed potatoes." Thatch blinked. "I can make some." Trevor shook his head. "No, It needs to be that!" Thatch frowned. "Isn't that just some quick fix? That tastes awful, doesn't it?"

Ace shook his head, moving a hand out towards Thatch. "Okay, a lesson; Some food is supposed to taste like shit, that is what makes it good. This is awesome, it sucks, but that makes it awesome. Many hate it, I don't. Not that your food is bad, it is amazing, but sometimes you need the shitty food." Thatch blinked. "R-really?" Ace nodded. "Like, there is this pizza, and if you don't like it, it is since it tastes like cardboard. And, if you love it, it is since it tastes like cardboard. I love it, Mika loves it, Trevor hates it." Trevor nodded. "That one I never got." Ace chuckled. "It is so awesome. Tasted like cardboard with cheese, and I love that. I can bring some and you can taste it." Thatch nodded. "Yeah, I would like that." Ace nodded. "Good."

The rest of the day went by fine, and when the next day came, Ace brought the pizza he spoke about, and it had Mika really happy, and when Haruta took a piece, being the first one, she blinked. "Oh my God, It does taste like cardboard!" Ace nodded, taking a piece. "It does. Nice or nah?" Haruta frowned a bit, before she looked at Ace. "I think I like it." Thatch frowned, before he took a piece, and looked at it. "It looks like cardboard, and feels like it too." Ace nodded. "I know." Thatch then took a piece, and as he had taken a bite, his eyes went big. "Oh my God, it is cardboard!" Ace nodded. "Did you think I was lying? You like it?" Thatch looked at the piece he took a bite off. "I don't get this! it looks and tastes like cardboard, but it is good?!" Ace nodded. "Yeah." Everyone tried to take a piece, and the crew was split as some liked it, and some did not. Whitebeard had to admit it tasted like cardboard, but it wasn't good. But as the pizza was eaten, Thatch looked at Ace. "Is there more like this?" Ace nodded. "Oh yeah, I have like a hundred things. Wanna try them?" Thatch nodded. "Yeah. I've never really tasted quick fixes, the few I have were bad." Ace nodded. "There is a thin line between so bad it's good, and just bad." Thatch nodded and looked excited, and Whitebeard was curious about the food they would taste onwards.

Things were calm now and things were going fine.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

This was bits and pieces of things and hope it came together well, the next one is better and not so all over the place. Also, for the pizza that tastes like cardboard, that exists in my country and is the most eaten pizza here, and even if you hate it or love it, it is since it tastes like cardboard. I find it funny

This story is also not finished. I know it is marked finished, but that is since the main part I had planned is over and now it is just the rest as well as ideas that I have. We still have some loose ends, like the wedding, the thing about Marcus, and other things.

Also, come check out the one shot series to this story! It contains one shots of missing scenes, past events, and alternative scenarios, etc.

If you have any scenes you would like to see, don't be afraid to leave a comment, or send a PM

And I love feedback too; it is what keeps me going!

If you want to, come follow me on Twitter, where updates will be posted, and if I'm late. My twitter is Azuruko You can leave comments, requests, ideas, or just say hi (a link is also on my profile).

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