Luffy was running around town as he followed his nose towards the smell of food.
"Ugh. This town stinks! Where's the food?" he asked before spotting the restaurant a good distance ahead before drooling. "There's the res-" he said before his voice died in his throat and he slowly stopped running. He just stared ahead with widened eyes as he felt his breath catch in his chest. His haki picked up on two people in the restaurant. One he remembered from Louge Town, and the other...was someone he hadn't seen in so long. His eyes began to water while his body trembled as memories began to flood his mind as he muttered in a low and broken voice. "Ace!"
-In the restaurant-
"So, what should I do?" Ace asked in a confident tone.
"Sit there and let me arrest you." Smoker said.
"Wrong answer." Ace said.
"Hmph. Actually, I'm note here for you." Smoker said. "I'm looking for someone else."
"Well then why not let me go?" Ace asked with a smile.
"Can't do that." Smoker said as he turned his right arm into smoke. "So long as you're a pirate, and I'm a marine." Ace just chuckled before grinning at Smoker.
"You sir need to relax." Ace said. Both just stared at each other before a voice could be heard in the distance and getting closer.
"...aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEE!" Luffy screamed as he rocketed into the restaurant and straight into Smoker's back.
"GAAAAAAAH!" Smoker yelled as Ace's eyes bugged a bit out of his head. Everything seemed to go in slow-motion before Luffy and Smoker smashed into Ace, sending both of them flying through several walls and out into a busy street while Luffy landed on his feet.
"ACE!" Luffy yelled as he looked around hysterically with tears rolling down his face as he smiled. He kept looking around until the smile fell of his face when he couldn't find Ace while the everyone else in the restaurant just stood there gaping at him. "Huh? I know I sensed Ace here." Luffy mumbled to himself before staring at the ground with a sad look on his face. He didn't even hear his stomach grumble for food as he looked at the ground. 'I know I meet Ace again in Alabasta...maybe I'm just too eager to see him again.' Luffy thought.
"Hey...kid?" the owner asked, snapping Luffy out of his thoughts. "You might wanna-"
"Food please!" Luffy said as he quickly sat on a stool. Everyone just stared at him before the owner got him a few plates of food.
-In the street-
A crowd was forming around Ace and Smoker as both of them were slowly waking up.
"What was that?" Ace muttered in irritation as Smoker lit two cigars. Ace began walking back through the holes in the buildings, bowing respectfully and apologizing to various people for the damage before walking back to the restaurant. Smoker followed him as he too wanted to find the one who hit him. Both saw who it was before a smile appeared on Ace's face and a scowl on Smokers. "HEY LU-"
"STRAW HAT!" Smoker yelled as he shoved Ace's face into the dirt. Luffy just kept eating as Smoker approaced him. "So, you've arrived in Alabasta as well." Smoker said. Luffy just kept eating as he stared at Smoker. "STOP EATING!" Luffy kept shoveling food in his face as he stared at Smoker as he swallowed all his food before smiling.
"Hey Smoky! When'd you get here?" he asked. "Sit down and eat! The food's great!" he said with a grin, causing Smoker to glare at him with narrowed eyes.
"You arrogant little-"
"Hold that thought!" Luffy yelled before shoving all the food into his mouth, stretching his cheeks out. "Thanks for the food!" he mumbled with a bow before sprinting out the door.
"GET BACK HERE!" Smoker yelled as he gave chase. Ace slowly got to his feet before running out the door as well.
"HEY LUFFY! WAIT UP! IT'S ME!" Ace yelled as the owner stared in stunned disbelief.
"Dine and dash!" he said.
-With Luffy-
Luffy was still running through the town before he swallowed his food as Smoker kept on chasing him.
"TASHIGI!" Smoker yelled as he spotted Tashigi talking with some other marines.
"Yes Captain Smoker! Do you need a towel or something?" she asked.
"Catch him! It's Straw Hat Luffy!" he ordered.
"Straw Hat!" she gasped before unsheathing her sword and swinging at Luffy, who effortlessly jumped out of danger onto the rooftops. Smoker followed Luffy onto the rooftops before continuing his chase.
"Gather the men and have them hunt down and capture Straw Hat's crew!" Smoker ordered.
"Yes sir!" she said as she left to carry out his orders while he gave chase. Luffy kept on running as Smoker kept sending out attack after attack.
-With Luffy's friends-
"LUFFY! LOSE THE MARINES, THEN JOIN US!" Zoro yelled.
"There's the rest of his crew!" one of the marines yelled.
"What now?!" Usopp yelled.
"We run! That's what!" Nami said.
"Back to the ship!" Vivi said as everyone started grabbing their stuff.
"Capture them!" a marine yelled.
"Move it!" Smoker yelled before throwing out a smoky punch. "WHITE BLOW!"
"HEAT HAZE!" yelled a voice as a wall of fire blocked Smoker's punch. Everyone was now staring at the giant ball of fire as it slowly revealed a grinning man. "Forget it. You may be smoke, but I'm fire. A fight between us would be pointless." he said. Everyone was stunned as they watched the fire dance across the man's body.
"It's that Whitebeard pirate from before!" Yosaku yelled.
"He's got Devil Fruit powers?!" Zoro said.
"What does he want?!" Alvida said as the rest also asked questions, none of which were heard by Luffy as the world around him seem to disappear, leaving only Ace in his view.
"Ace?" Luffy mumbled weakly as memories from when they were kids to when Ace was killed in front of him filled Luffy's mind. "Is...that you?" he asked. Ace only looked back with a grin.
"You never change, Luffy." he said before looking at the marines. "I'll hold these guys off! Get out of here! GO!"
"Let's go!" Greg yelled as they all ran.
"Who is that guy Luffy?" Usopp asked as they ran. "Luffy?" Usopp said as he looked back when Luffy didn't answer. "LUFFY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" he yelled when he saw that Luffy hadn't budged an inch. Everyone looked back to see this as well.
"I got him!" Zoro yelled as he ran back to Luffy. "Luffy! Come on! We gotta-" he said before he saw tears flowing down Luffy's blank face. He remembered what Luffy said before and understood why Luffy was crying before grabbing his arm and dragging him away towards the others. "RUN!" Zoro yelled as he caught up with them all.
"What's wrong with you Luffy?!" Usopp yelled as he looked back at Luffy, who hadn't taken his eyes off of Ace.
"Talk later! Run now!" Zoro yelled before they all saw a huge cloud of smoke and fire float into the sky.
-Earlier with Ace and Smoker-
Ace stood between the marines and the Straw Hats.
"Why are you helping them?" Smoker asked. Ace just chuckled with a grin on his face.
"Having a dumb little brother makes a big brother worry." Ace said as the fire around him started to grow.
"Brother?" Smoker asked. "You two are...?" he said before he narrowed his eyes. "Move it!"
"No way!" Ace said both of them erupted into smoke and fire.
-With the Straw Hats-
"Luffy!" Nami yelled before slapping him. He shook his head before looking at her as everyone else stared at Ace and Smoker's fight. "Who is that guy?"
"That's...that's Ace." Luffy said as he turned to the fight. "He's my big brother!" That got all of their attention.
"BROTHER?!" they all yelled.
"So...he grew up with you and Sabo?" Nojiko asked.
"Yeah." Luffy said as he began to tear up again. "It's been a long time since I've seen him." Everyone watched him tear up before the smoke and fire began to billow out in everything direction.
"Anyway, let's talk more of the ship!" Nami said before they all ran for it, with Luffy running backwards with a barrel of water.
"The path splits! Everyone, go left!" Nami yelled.
"Anything you say, Nami-swan~!" Sanji said.
"Shut up crap cook!" Zoro yelled as the Straw Hats went left and Luffy went to his left, which was the other way. He kept on running until he got into an alleyway before placing the water barrel down.
-With the Straw Hats-
Everyone had made it to the ship before Nami told them to stow everything and cast off.
"We're leaving already Vivi?" Chopper asked.
"Yes." she said. "We only stopped here to gather supplies for our journey. Next stop is Erumalu. The City of Green!"
"Erumalu?" Chopper asked in confusion before everyone pulled up the anchor and unfurled the sails. Everyone was ready...but stopped when it slowly dawned on them all.
"Uh...guys? Where's Luffy?" Gin asked.
"Big Bro Luffy's...not...here." Johnny said.
"THAT DUMBASS!" Zoro yelled.
"Ace...Ace!" Luffy said before dropping to his hands and knees as the tears flowed down his face. "ACE!" he screamed out before sobbing. He knew that he'd see Ace again, but to see him right in front of him...he just couldn't control himself anymore as he cried his heart out.
"Hey now," said Ace as he looked down at Luffy from atop a building. "Didn't I tell you before that real men don't cry?" Luffy looked up to see Ace smiling down at him before jumping down to him. "Still a crybaby, huh?"
"A-Ace!" Luffy said in a broken voice as the tears flowed even faster down his face. The smile on Ace's face fell into a frown as he looked at Luffy.
'Something's not right.' he thought. 'Luffy's never cried this much...not since-' But before he could finish that thought, he found himself in a bone breaking hug. "Huh?!" he said as he looked down at Luffy hugging him.
"Ace...It's really you!" Luffy sobbed. Ace smiled before returning the hug.
"It's only been three years Luffy." Ace said as he pulled Luffy away. "I didn't think you'd miss me that much." Luffy didn't seem to hear him as he muttered something. Something that got Ace's attention.
"Your...your alive!" he said.
"Of course I am! Don't you remember? I promised you that I wouldn't die!" Ace said with a smile. Luffy's reaction wasn't what he expected however as Luffy just screamed out in sadness. "Come on Luffy!" Ace said as Luffy just sniffled. Luffy looked at Ace again sobbing again and hugging him. Nothing Ace said was getting Luffy to stop crying, so he did the only thing he could think of that would work. He raised his fist before bringing it down onto Luffy's head. "ENOUGH!" he yelled as Luffy's head went crashing into the dirt, which resulted in his head getting stuck and the crying to stop. "Geez. I told you I don't like crybabies!" he said as Luffy struggled to get his head out of the ground. After a hard tug, his head popped out of the ground before it snapped back, flinging his body backwards until he fell on his ass. "You done crying now?" he asked.
"Sorry." Luffy said as he just sat on the ground with a look of pain and sadness in his eyes. Ace sat down as well before he sighed.
"Alright Luffy. What's wrong?" he asked.
"Huh?" Luffy said.
"The only other time you ever cried like that was back on our home island." Ace said.
"Oh...it's nothing." Luffy said. Ace just raised an eyebrow before painfully pulling Luffy's cheek. "Ow!"
"Liar. Tell me what's wrong Luffy." Ace said as he pulled on the cheek.
"I...I can't." Luffy said.
"What do you mean you can't?" Ace said as he let go of Luffy's cheek.
"I...I made a promise to a friend." Luffy said. "And if I told you, I'd be breaking that promise." Ace just stared at Luffy before sighing. If there was one thing he knew about Luffy, it was that Luffy would never spill a friend's secret.
"Alright." he said before smiling as he pulled a canteen of water out and drank some of it. "Still, it's good to see you Luffy."
"You too!" Luffy said with a smile. If only Ace knew how true that was to Luffy. "I heard my crew say you were a Whitebeard pirate!"
"Yep." Ace said as he turned around to show him the mark on his back. "This tattoo here is our mark, and my pride!" Ace said before facing Luffy and asking him, "Hey Luffy, won't you and your crew join the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Nope." Luffy said without a second thought. Ace only smiled at him.
"Didn't think so." Ace said with a laugh. "Shame really. Whitebeard's the greatest pirate I know. That's why I'm gonna help him become King of the Pirates Luffy."
"Okay." Luffy said with a grin. "I'll just fight him then since I'm the one who's gonna be King of the Pirates." he said before he remembered that he wouldn't get the chance since Whitebeard was killed in the war. Both then grabbed their things as they began walking before Luffy took a huge swallow of water from his barrel.
-On the Marine Ship-
"Where'd all those marines go?" Mr. 11 asked himself. "Ah who cares. Just gotta get free before they come back."
"Mr. 11!" someone said. Mr. 11 looked up to see a few people looking down at him.
"Hello. If you know my codename, you must be with Baroque Works. Hurry and untie me Millions!" Mr. 11 said.
"You're half right!" one of them said.
"We are Baroque Works, but we're Billions!" said the fat one. "We're next in line to become number agents should anything happen to one of you guys."
"You must be one pathetic agent to have been captured by the marines." said the third guy.
"Can we talk later? Like when I'm out of here?" Mr. 11 asked. One of the men grinned as he pointed a gun at him.
"Oh, you're out alright. Out of Baroque Works AND out of the land of the living!" he said. Mr. 11 stared up in horror as he told him that a Billions can fill an available as a huge man came out of nowhere.
"And yours is about to become available." he said.
"No! Wait! Stop!" Mr. 11 begged before a gunshot was heard. All for of them jumped off the boat as another Billions came running towards them.
"Big news!" he panted. "Fire Fist Ace is in town!"
"Fire Fist Ace! The Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?!" they asked before the big man grinned.
"If we kill Fire Fist Ace, a seat as a number agent is in the bag!" he said.
-With Luffy and Ace-
"Okay Luffy. Let's go find your friend before the marines do." Ace said as they kept walking. "Any ideas where they are?"
"With the ship." Luffy said.
"Okay. Which way is that?" Ace asked. Luffy just closed his eyes for a moment before pointing out West.
"That way." he said.
"That way?" Ace said as he looked on. "Out West huh? If you say so." he said before grinning. "Looks like you've matured a bit since I last saw you Luffy."
"You have no idea." Luffy mumbled.
"What?" Ace asked.
"Nothing." Luffy said with a laugh. Ace just chuckled as well before they kept on walking and talking. "So, you ate a Devil Fruit too?"
"Yep. The Flame Flame Fruit." Ace said as he held up his hand as flames danced on his fingers. "So Luffy, tell me about your crew. What are they like?" Ace asked.
"Where do I start?" Luffy said as he stared off in thought. "I've got a big group on my ship!"
"I saw that earlier." Ace said. "How about we wait until we meet them at your ship?"
"Alright." Luffy said with a grin. "I can't wait to introduce you to them all."
"I can't wait to meet them." Ace said. "I thought your pirate crew would be a bit smaller. Guess I was wrong." he said with a laugh.
"And I plan to get more." Luffy said. "Though I'm still looking for a musician." he said as he thought about Brooke.
"Hey, the papers say you attacked the Royal Family of Goa Kingdom." Ace suddenly said. "Is that true?"
"Nah." Luffy said with a grin. "I heard there was a big banquet there, so I crashed the party, stole the food, and ran." he said. He didn't mention how they bad mouthed Sabo, knowing that Ace would go back there and burn the whole place to the ground for insulting their brother like he was nothing.
"HA! That definitely sounds more your style Luffy!" Ace said before laughing.
"Stop right there Fire Fist!" someone said as a large number of Billions started appearing and surrounded the both of them.
"You're surrounded Ace." said the leader of the group. "Your head is mine, along with a promotion! Get ready to die!" he said before some of the others noticed Luffy was there. "A man with a 48,000,000 berry bounty! This is my lucky day!" said the leader as Luffy and Ace walked right past him.
"Let's go find your friends." Ace said.
"Right." Luffy said as they kept walking.
"HEY YOU!"
"GET BACK HERE!"
"KILL THEM!" shouted the leader. Luffy and Ace just smiled before they both went to town on the Billions.
-Back at the Ship-
The rest of Luffy's crew sailed away to avoid getting caught by the marines.
"Is it really okay to sail off without Luffy?" Chopper asked.
"The marines will look around the harbor first for our ship!" Nami said. "We have to hide the ship first!"
"I know of a secluded cove up ahead." Vivi said. "We can anchor the ship there."
"So we lay low, wait for the heat to wear off, then find Luffy." Sanji said. Everyone agreed before they began to argue about Luffy's stupidity.
"Hey guys? Why was Luffy crying earlier?" Chopper suddenly asked. Everyone stopped talking and looked at each other as they thought about it.
"I don't know why." Nami said as she looked down.
"Something tells me that doesn't usually happen." Greg said.
"You'd be right." Nojiko said. "What troubles me is the look on Luffy's face. He looked like...like he'd seen a ghost."
"Maybe he hadn't seen Ace is awhile." Usopp said. Everyone was slowly guessing what happened. Zoro was the only one who was silent as he stared out at the island in thought.
"Hey Moss Head." Sanji said. "You suddenly grew quiet." Zoro just side-eyed him before looking back at the island. "You know something, don't you?" he said. Everyone was now looking at Zoro as he looked back at them all.
"Is that true Big Bro?" Johnny asked.
"You know what's wrong with Big Bro Luffy?" Yosaku asked. Zoro just eyed each of them before closing his eyes.
"You DO know something!" Nami said. "What's going on Zoro?" she demanded.
"Is Luffy sick?" Chopper asked in worry.
"Mr. Bushido?" Vivi said as Zoro remained quiet.
"It's not my place to say." Zoro finally said. Some of them looked ready to keep pressing him for answers, but Nami stopped them with a groan.
"Oh great." Nami said while looking through a pair of binoculars towards the island. "There's Luffy." she said as Luffy stretched his arm over before rocketing onto the ship, knocking over Sanji and Chopper.
"He's back." Nami said in a bored tone.
"We noticed." some of them said as Luffy apologized to Sanji and Chopper before Sanji began to yell at Luffy.
"Honestly Luffy!" Nami said. "Do you know what kind of trouble you've put us through?" she asked.
"My bad." Luffy said as he looked up at her. "Nice outfit." he said. She just looked out at the sea so no one could see her blush.
"Whatever." she said.
"Where's Ace?" Gin asked as Luffy looked out over the side of the ship.
"Did you ditch him?" Zoro asked.
"Kind of." Luffy said before relaxing agaisnt the railing. "Don't worry. Ace is strong."
"How strong?" Chopper asked.
"When we were kids, he always kicked my ass. Even before he ate the Flame Flame Fruit."
"A flesh and blood guy beat you?" Nami asked in disbelief.
"I find that hard to believe." Alvida said.
"You couldn't beat him Big Bro?!" Johnny and Yosaku asked.
"Nope." Luffy said. "Every time we fought, he'd kick my ass. But that was when we were kids. I could totally kick his ass now." Luffy said before laughing.
"Who's ass can you kick?!" Ace yelled before landing on the railing as Luffy fell on his butt and looked up at Ace.
"Hey Ace!" he said with a huge grin. "This is my crew!" he said before standing up.
"Nice to meet you all!" Ace said before he bowed his head at them. "Thanks for taking care of my little brother. I know he can be a handful."
"Not at all." they said before bowing at Ace.
"Don't lie." Ace said with a smile. "I know my little brother. He's definitely a handful, isn't he?"
"Not really." they said.
"You guys are okay!" Ace said.
"Come on in." Sanji said as he held up an unlit cigarette. "I'll make you some tea."
"That's nice, but I dont' want to impose." Ace said before lighting Sanji's cigarette with his finger.
"He's acts totally different from Luffy." Nojiko said as they all stared at Ace.
"Are we sure they're brothers?" Usopp asked.
"He's polite while he's a total airhead." Grace said.
"And this guy kicked our Captain's ass all the time?" Nami asked.
"They just can't be brothers." Gin said.
"I don't see it." Johnny and Yosaku said.
"Neither do I." Zoro said.
"I wish I had a nice brother." Chopper said.
"I wish I had a nice Captain." Sanji said.
"I bet he doesn't get lost like our Captain." Alvida said.
"Maybe we can swap Luffy for this guy." Valerie said with a laugh.
"Keep on dreaming Val." Greg said.
"Everyone!" Vivi said before looking at Ace. "They're all joking!" she said with a smile.
"Aren't they a riot?!" Luffy asked with a grin and a laugh as five Billions ships sailed towards them. "Them again?"
"Those are the Billions!" Vivi said in surprise.
"I got this." Ace said as he jumped into his boat, detached it from the rope, and sailed off towards them using his Flame Flame Fruit powers.
"What's he doing?!" Nami yelled.
"He's gonna fight them all on his own?!" Usopp asked.
"I wouldn't worry." Zoro said as he crossed his arms and looked on with a bored look. "Not just anyone gets to be Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates." And he was proven right as Ace jumped over all five ships while his striker dove under the water. Ace was over the last ship before he fell towards the water and landed on his striker as it resurfaced before his fist burst into flames.
"FIRE FIST!" he cried out as he through a huge wave of fire at the ships, leaving all five of them nothing but charred splinters floating in the sea.
"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!" Usopp yelled out as they all looked on in shock. Luffy smiled while Ace tilted his hat up with a flaming finger before smirking.
-Back with Smoker and the marines-
Smoker and Tashigi were discussing about the Straw Hats not being in Nanohana, along with Smoker seeing Vivi with the Straw Hats. Tashigi thought that she was abducted for a ransom while Smoker thought otherwise as he saw her willingly go with them.
"Something very strange is happening." Smoker said. "Can't figure out what though."
"Captain Smoker!" another marine said as he approached them before saluting. "Bad news sir! Mr. 11 was killed on board while we were all looking for the Straw Hats, which we haven't found yet."
"Cancel the search. I've got a good idea where they're going." Smoker said. "I'm pretty sure he's going after Crocodile." he said. Tashigi argued about this as Crocodile is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Smoker stated his disgust of the Seven Warlords before claiming Crocodile as the worst.
"But isn't he our ally?" Tashing asked.
"Crocodile may have fooled the higher ups, but not me." Smoker said. "If they think approving him and giving him freedom will make him obey, they're dead wrong. Remember this very well Tashigi. Once a pirate, always a pirate no matter what! Where ever Crocodile is, Straw Hat will be there, along with the answers as to what's happening here. He won't escape from me this time!"
-Back with Luffy's crew-
Luffy and his friends were celebrating before Luffy asked Ace to join them.
"Sorry Luffy, but I'm here on business." Ace said. "I'm looking for a pirate named Blackbeard." Luffy's eye twitched at that guy's name as some of them other crewmembers remembered Blackbeard's name from Drum Island. "He used to be one of my subordinates until he commited a unforgivable sin on our ship. He killed a crewmate, then jumped ship. I'm his commander, so I'm the one who must deal with him."
"So that's why you're here?" Usopp said.
"I've heard that Blackbeard's been spotted in Alabasta in a place called Yuba, so that's where I gotta go." Ace said.
"That's where we're going too! Right, Vivi?" Nami said.
"Right." Vivi said before bringing out a map and pointing to where they'd dock the ship and where Yuba was.
"Well what do you know?" Ace said. "Mind if I join you guys?" Ace asked.
"I'll follow the ladies here anywhere~!" Sanji said as he wiggled around like a noodle.
"How about off a cliff?" Zoro said.
"WHAT'D YOU SAY?!" Sanji snarled.
"Knock it off!" Nami yelled. "Well Ace, looks like you'll be joining us for a little while."
"It's great to have you on board Ace!" Usopp said.
"Welcome Big Bro Ace!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled.
"This is gonna be a blast!" Luffy said as he raised his mug. "TO ACE!"
"CHEERS!" they all yelled as they clinked their mugs together and drunk.
"Hey Luffy, now that we have a breather away from all those guys chasing us, how about some introductions? I'll go first." Ace said before looking at Luffy's crew. "Nice to meet you all. My name is Portgas D. Ace. Luffy's older brother and Second Division Commander." he said before bowing his head.
"Nice to meet you!" they all said before bowing as well before Luffy started introducing his crew.
"This is Zoro! He's my first mate and is aiming to be the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
"Nice to meet you." Zoro said as they shook hands before Luffy moved on.
"These two behind him are Johnny and Yosaku! They're swordsman too who look up to Zoro and wanna be badass swordsman like Zoro as well."
"A bro of Luffy's is a bro of ours!" they said in unison as they shook each of Ace's hands.
"This is Nami and her big sister Nojiko! Nami's our navigator who loves money and tangerines. She also draws maps. And Nojiko here's helping her out."
"It's nice to meet you Ace." Nojiko said as they shook hands.
"It's still strange to think you two are brothers." Nami said. Both she and Ace smiled as they shook hands.
"It's strange, but true." Ace said.
"This guy here is Chopper! He's a reindeer, who's also a doctor, who also transforms into seven different froms! Isn't that awesome?!" Luffy exclaimed.
"That does sound awesome!" Ace said.
"You two...complimenting me like isn't going to make me happy, so shut up you bastards~!" Chopper said as he danced around.
"Not good at hiding his emotions, is he?" Ace asked. They all just laughed before Luffy moved on.
"This is Sanji! He's our cook! He makes amazing food!"
"Is that all I am to you Luffy?" Sanji asked in irritation before looking at Ace with a small smile. "Still, he's right about me making great food."
"He also forgot to mention that you're a lovesick pervert." Zoro said.
"YOU WANNA DIE MOSS HEAD!?" Sanji roared.
"Calm down!" Ace said as he held his hands up. "I'll have to try your food sometime." Ace said as they shook hands. "Any time you need a light, just ask."
"I'll remember that." Sanji said as he calmed down before Luffy continued.
"This is Alvida! She ate the Smooth-Smooth Fruit and likes to hit people with her Iron Mace!
"Smooth-Smooth?" Ace asked.
"Watch." she said from her seat on the railing. "Sanji, would you be a dear and help me up?" she asked as she held out her hand.
"Of course Alvida-chwan~!" Sanji said as he spun around towards her and took her hand. He tried to help her to her feet, only for his hand to slip before he fell face first onto the deck.
"Oops!" Alvida said as the others all laughed. "Sorry Sanji." Alvida cooed.
"Ah Alvida!" Sanji said as blood dripped from his injured nose. "You're so beautiful when you're toying with people!"
"I see what you mean." Ace said as Luffy went on.
"This is Vivi! She's the Princess of Alabasta! And that's her duck Carue!"
"A Princess?" Ace asked in shock. "What's a Princess doing on a pirate ship?"
"It's a long story." she said before holding her hand out. "It's nice to meet you Ace."
"It's nice to meet you too." Ace said as they shook hands as Carue happily quacked while Luffy stood next to Valerie.
"This is Valerie. She's a chocolatier!"
"Nice to meet you." she said as they shook hands.
"Nice to meet you too. A chocolatier huh?" Ace said. She nodded before Ace lifted her off the ground with one hand. "Wow you're light!" Ace said.
"I ate the Kilo-Kilo Fruit!" she said as she did a one-handed hand stand on his hand. "I can change my weight from 1 to 10,000 kilos." she said before increasing her weight and falling into Ace's arms bridal style.
"OOF!" Ace grunted as he struggled to keep them both from falling. "Okay, I get it!" he groaned.
"Kyahahaha!" she laughed before jumping out of his arms.
"This is Gin! He always looks like he needs sleep and is a strong fighter!"
"Nice to meet you." he said with a small smile.
"Same here." Ace said as they shook hands.
"This is Grace! She want to be a World Famous Artist!" Luffy said. "She can also make you laugh, cry, or drink tea with her paint."
"An artist huh?" Ace asked as he bent down to her eye level. "Laugh, cry, or drink tea?" Grace only smile before she took her palette and brush before slapping a yellow, blue, and green mark on Usopp, Gin, and Luffy. "Colors Trap: Laughing Yellow, Sadness Blue, and Soothing Green!"
"BAHAHAHAHAHA!" Gin laughed as he fell to the ground and began to laugh hysterically. They all looked at him, thinking it looked a little off to see a serious man like Gin laugh like that. "G-get this p-paint off me!" he said through his laughing. "Grace! You'll p-pay for this!"
"WAAAAAAAAH!" Usopp balled as tears sprand from his eyes. "Why would you do this Grace?!" Usopp said as he sniffled before sobbing again. "I beg you! Let me be happy! WAAAAAH!"
"Calm down Usopp." Luffy said as he sat down with a calm look on his face as he drank some tea. "Ah, this tea is good." he said. Ace looked ready to fall over at their reactions.
"Holy crap! You weren't kidding Luffy!" he said as he looked over at Greg. "And you are?"
"The name's Greg." Greg said as he held out his hand. "I'm a bomb man that ate the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." Ace said as they shook hands. "Bomb-Bomb Fruit huh?"
"Every part of his body can explode." Valerie said.
"Speaking of which, Valerie said you tainted that Rum somehow back at Little Garden." Usopp said. "How exactly did that happen?"
"Simple. No one was around for a few moments, so I had a bit of privacy to 'relieve' myself." he said with a smirk.
"THAT IS DOWN RIGHT NASTY!" all the women and some of them men yelled.
"Well Ace?" Luffy asked calmly as he drunk his tea. "What do you think of my crew?"
"They're definitely one-of-a-kind." Ace said before looking at Luffy. "How do I break that paint hynosis?"
"You just have to erase the mark or remove his vest." Grace said. Ace smirked at that.
"Easy enough." Ace said before throwing a tiny fireball on the back of Luffy's vest. The paint got ruined before Luffy jumped to his feet and danced around.
"AHHHH! ACE, YOU BASTARD! I'M ON FIRE! PUT IT OUT!" he yelled before he just ripped it off and threw it overboard. After the vest hit the water, Luffy looked back at Ace before yelling. "YOU TRYING TO BARBEQUE ME?!" Luffy yelled. He panted as he noticed that they were all staring at his chest. "What?"
"What do you mean 'What?!' Luffy! How'd you get that scar?!" Ace yelled. Luffy looked down to see his jagged X scar before looking at them all. "I've seen you ripped open by bears Luffy and you healed from that perfectly fine! So what gave you a scar like that?!" Ace said, feeling very troubled at the thought of someone or something hurting his brother to the point of leaving a scar like that. Luffy just stared at him before he did what he usually would do. He began to sweat, averted his eyes, and pulled his lips to the side.
"I...I don't know." he mumbled before whistling. Everyone but Zoro fell over at that before jumping to their feet.
"DO YOU THINK WE'RE THAT DUMB?!" they all demanded.
"I won't ask again Luffy! Who gave you that scar?!" Ace yelled.
"I...I can't say. It'll make me break my promise!" Luffy said. Ace just glared at Luffy before sighing in defeat.
"Fine. But if I ever meet the guy who did this to you, I'm gonna teach him not to mess with my little brother!" Ace said.
"Got it!" Luffy said. "Alright everyone! On to Erumalu!"
"AYE!" they all yelled.
A/N: Hope the reunion was good. Please leave a review.