Author's Notes: Greetings, friends. This bonus chapter is a gift for CrazyTaterTot49, Taiski, and CaramelWaffles on AO3. You are amazing and I thank you for bookmarking this short story. To those of you who left me kudos, I also want to thank you for supporting this story. I just don't know how yet. X3

So, for context, Ace has joined the Whitebeards at this point. When the Spades were disbanded, they pretty much just retreated to Nesi's location and stayed with her. She was busy with work on the battlefronts, so what you're seeing in this chapter is part of what led her to confront Ace about everything. What Nesi had explained to Luffy about getting into an absolute screaming match with Ace in the earlier chapters is partially being presented here. If you want to see the expanded version of this short story or its chapters, you just have to give me the green light via review or message. Otherwise, the story is completed. I'm just adding bonus chapters as gifts for supporters at this point.

~ ... Ghost Ship ... ~

Plundering a cargo ship during a heavy rainstorm was probably a bad idea, but Whitebeard gave him his orders and, as the new commander of the second division, Ace had to do as his "father" said. It was odd for Whitebeard to be looking for a silver ship, though. He had this disturbing grin on his face like he had a point to prove to the captain of this elusive vessel. What that point was, he wasn't too sure. He just really wanted this silver ship to be brought down. The location of the ship was even weirder. It was supposed to be sailing in this open patch of sea called the Scorpio's Pool. Rumor has it that the rocks protruding from the borders of this section of water curled out like a scorpion's tail and often pinched the barges of ships like a scorpion's claws. The currents alone in the pool could suck a ship down to the hellish depths. Why Whitebeard was sending Ace to his doom was anybody's guess, but his hundred men were steering the ship towards this very daunting, dark, and choppy area. Much to his surprise, there was a silver ship with falsies on its mast being steered at the edge of a maelstrom that was forming.

Another silver ship was just a few miles away from the target. The nearby vessel must've gotten caught in the torrential vortex of the maelstrom. The other ship didn't seem to be in a hurry to save its comrade. It had falsies, too. Were these silver ships the ones Whitebeard was looking for? Having one of them as a prize was cool and all, but it didn't seem to be worth - wait... did the ship just plunge its nose into the maelstrom?

"The hell just happened?" Ace questioned, furrowing his brows.

"Commander, the other ship disappeared!" a man informed.

"How did it - ?" another crewmate asked.

He didn't have time to get his question out before the ships emerged from the waters on both sides and surrounded the ship! Some men were loading cannons without hesitation until Ace spotted white flags of surrender being waved. He held up a hand to stop his crew and ordered, "Hold! Stand down! They're giving up!"

"Probably heard we were coming to take them down," a crewmate said, making the men chuckle.

Ace was highly suspicious, however. Those ships were too fast! If they were fully armed with cannons, his ship would've sunk without him being able to respond in time. He and the other unfortunates unable to swim easily would've drowned. A walking plank shot out towards Ace's ship for someone to board it. To his dismay, his worst nightmare was walking on the plank in perfect, feline strides with her shoulders back and her arms just above her hips.

Nesi Llandala...

He didn't tell her about his failure to defeat Whitebeard. He didn't tell her about what happened to his beloved Spades crew. He wasn't sure how to tell her about Marco or Whitebeard or the truth about his lineage. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to. He had a small hope that the Spades would simply move on quietly - that his boys would forget about him and live their own lives. He should've known better. Nesi was one of his boys. She loved being part of his crew. They all loved being a Spade. He let... them all down. But... he was so close to his dream of being the Pirate King now! He may have lost to Whitebeard, but his new "father" was his biological father's rival, comrade among the legendary crew in the Golden Era, and one of the Four Emperors of the Sea! He could train him up and develop him into a legend! It wasn't much different than what Nesi had to go through! There was nothing more for him to learn as a small-town captain just like there was nothing more for her to learn as a floor scrubber. She would understand that, right?

Watching her strut on the plank with Baragon on her shoulders and her cloak flapping in the storm winds, Ace practically lost his breath at the sight of his former crewmate. She was... beautiful now. Her hair may not be the length it used to be when it was that soft, icy blue, but its original waviness to curliness had returned and the purple locks were just long enough to hit mid-shoulder. Her uniform was different, too. After the first war, she had started to receive new training from some mystery troop, and he saw his beloved friend less. She didn't return home with the Spades as often, but she did visit for a few hours before leaving elsewhere. Seeing her powers unleashed during the war cemented her departure from him. His ship...

The Bloody Doubloon had his medal of honor and plaque for participating in the war in his cabin. The ship was destroyed. None of the Whitebeards could retrieve it. The last piece of accomplishments he had with his beloved crew was at the bottom of the sea now. Nesi's medal practically mocked him as it glinted under the lightning. His capture came crashing onto his shoulders as he watched her become one with the essence of the storm. She breathed as the winds blew. There were no more moments between them that had to be shared, distinguished, or appreciated for him to recognize her growing power or her ethereal beauty. As she stood on the rails of the ship, she scanned the deck full of men, looked up at the flags with Whitebeard's symbol on them, and then locked eyes with Ace. Her eyes were as silver and radiant as the moon. She wasn't that timid, country girl anymore or his cute floor scrubber eager to learn new fighting techniques. Baragon let out a squawk to greet Ace, but the commander was quiet.

"Who are you, wench?" one of the crewmates asked.

"Llandala," Nesi said with confidence, turning to the man who asked the question. "Your ship is within range to a private training sector run by the World Government. Turn your ship ten to port and follow the red coral line to avoid re-entry. This is your only warning."

"Actually, we're here to take your pretty silver queen there," one of the men purred, licking his lips at the threat and potential bout of violence to come. "By order of Whitebeard."

Nesi merely smirked at this, tilted her nose up with amusement, and asked, "That ass rag's still talkin' crap about his power?"

"Watch your mouth, wench!" a crewmate challenged, taking out his knife.

You know him, Nesi? Ace thought with widened eyes. You even throw jabs at each other? How did - ?

"I said what I said about your beloved leader. If he wants my ship, tell him to get off his arse and try to take it himself. Although, I can't imagine what use he'll have for it since it's an underwater vessel with a tracking device on it, but it is no matter. The Cipher Pol are very sensitive about pirates touching their ships," Nesi informed.

"The Cipher Pol?" a crewmate questioned, shock and fear evident in his voice.

"Where's your ship's commander?" Nesi asked softly, lowering her eyes to show she was harmless.

Ace hesitated, but the men turned to him and waited for him to move. He gulped with nervousness, took a breath, and walked forward. Nesi was quiet at this, but she eventually started to smile softly at him. She was... proud? Why? Better question, "You have a silver ship?"

"I'm training with it, yes," Nesi clarified. "I didn't know you were that ass rag's ally. Why didn't you write to me to say so?"

"How do you know Whitebeard?" Ace asked.

"I don't really know him like that. We crossed paths when he was taking a cargo ship. My instructors spoke to him last," Nesi informed. "If he's looking to take the ships as compensation for the prizes he lost, he shouldn't and needs to complain to someone else. You really don't want this kind of smoke."

"Why are you with the Cipher Pol? Who are they?" Ace asked.

"I'll explain it another time. They're getting impatient," Nesi replied, nodding to her mentors. Two men were watching their exchange very carefully. "Remember to follow the red coral line around this property and then continue straight. You'll reach land within a couple of hours. I can't promise that I'll be able to meet you there, but, if we cross paths again, we'll talk on it. Pleasure to see you again, captain!"

"Turn the ship," Ace commanded, nodding to the wheel.

With that, Nesi nodded politely and pivoted away. The plank retracted back onto her ship and the silver ships submerged into the waters again to return to their training area. Nesi's boat was the one riding the waves of the maelstrom...

Once training was over, Nesi relaxed and watched the storm pass to another location. Maybe it was heading to the edge of town or some other place. It didn't matter. She was genuinely surprised and impressed by Ace's new ally. A commander to an emperor's army! That was a huge deal! She didn't particularly like Whitebeard, but Ace's dream was to be a Pirate King. She would simply have to set aside her bias to support him since he was willing to do the same for her. Walking to her ship's cabin, she opened the door and merely stepped inside to write down notes on the ship's handling. It was able to cut through strong currents beautifully, but she wasn't a fan of the weak mast. It could only handle a certain emerging height and speed before it collapsed. For what she needed to be able to do, this detail would not suffice. A cool wind passing through made her shiver slightly, so she removed her soaked garb and went to start a fire for warmth. It wasn't a full furnace, but it was a cleverly placed firepit in the captain's bedroom. For her training, she was going to be in the Scorpio's Pool for some time. It was important for her to learn how to steer the ship in extreme weather conditions.

Closing the door, Nesi giggled at Baragon scampering over to his bed. Nesi made sure her little friend was taken care of when she had to train, and the privateer troop allowed it as a relationship with the first Beast of the Earth was important to maintain. Changing into simple linens for the night, Nesi adjusted to civilian mode and started doing little things in her cabin to prepare for a quiet evening until her mentors called her for training in the morning. There would be a shift for nighttime warfare training, but that wouldn't be for another week or so. Sailing through storms was most important right now. With the doors to the ship's insides all locked, Nesi simply put on slippers and went through the corridor to visit the kitchen. Baragon followed her excitedly, liking the openness and warmth of the kitchen, and watched Nesi prepare for dinner. She hummed with thought and picked a recipe to start.

A knock on the door leading to the kitchen's corridor and mess hall alerted Nesi's immediate attention. She narrowed her eyes for a moment before walking over to the glass window. Her mentors had the keys to all of the doors on the ship. It wasn't them knocking. No one was trying to kick the door down, so it wasn't a Whitebeard pirate with a taste for malicious compliance. A fisherman perhaps? They do have rare fish in the area that the nobles find to be delicacies. Spotting the trademark orange hat, Nesi gasped before opening the door to see Ace in a linen shirt and jacket. She knew she was cold because of the reptilian DNA within her, but Ace had no reason to wear heavier clothes unless it was in the winter. It was only October. It was colder in the nights, but it wasn't snowing like the dead of winter frost was upon them.

"Ace? What are you doing here?" Nesi asked, squinting her eyes a bit. "I said - "

"You said 'if we cross paths again'. You're not coming to see me anytime soon then," Ace replied, a hurt look in his eyes that was faint enough to be undetected by a stranger. Nesi was no stranger.

"Happens when you're in the middle of training," Nesi said, smirking. She nodded her head for him to come inside, closed the door behind him, and then led him to the kitchen.

"When did you get a ship?" Ace asked softly.

"This isn't mine. I'm just using it for training," Nesi answered, laughing at Baragon squawk and dance. She went into a storage box and pulled out some fruit and vegetables for him to eat before returning to her own cooking. "Sit wherever you like, captain."

"I can't stay. Lotta men are in town," Ace mentioned, smirking. "They need me to set 'em straight."

"Well, they definitely got the right guy for the job! Washing piss-stained clothes is not fun. Lemme know how that turns out. Congratulations on your new status, captain," Nesi said, smiling brightly at him. "I have some leftovers from last night you can take with you. Your appetite's always been big!"

Ace smiled at this, feeling the sense of nostalgia and guilt coming over him. How long has it been since he had seen his cute floor scrubber? As much as he didn't want to terrorize that town, he didn't want to leave Nesi's side just yet. So, he sat down and took notice to the small window overlooking the town and Scorpio's Pool. Why was Whitebeard trying to make an example of Nesi? What did she do to him when they met? Should he ask her? Should he ask him? Was it really just about a cargo ship she stopped him from getting?

"Oh, I met someone," Nesi mentioned over her shoulder.

That made Ace's heart stop. "What do you mean 'met someone'? Like another guy to date?"

"Well, he took me out to lunch if that counts," Nesi replied, making Ace a bit angry.

"How long have you been with this guy?" Ace questioned, clenching a fist under the table.

"Not long. I met him when I was trying to mail some letters to you. He said he knew you," Nesi explained, stirring the contents of her pot. The food was smelling good per its usual, but Ace wasn't hungry right now. "He's older, a bit shy around girls, and he told me a funny story about you as a kid. It was cute!"

"Wait a minute..." Ace said, feeling a sense of relief and surprise washing over him. "An older guy who knows me? Y - you - you're saying you met - ?"

"Monkey D. Garp, your grandfather?" Nesi finished, turning to Ace with a warm smile on her face. "Yes, I did. He was nice to me. I've been trying to write to you for ages! No one could reach you with you being out at sea so much, so I just sent letters to nearby towns that were familiar to you. One man had been collecting them all."

"My old man?" Ace questioned.

He was about to say something, but Nesi quieted him by sitting close to him. She showed him a locket with a Vivre paper on the inside of it. The words 'A bond between father and son is not always broken or faraway' were written, and the crushed gems and metals on the other side had shaped a crest familiar to Ace. The young commander took the locket into his hands, looked at the words again, and let the jewelry piece and its meaning settle on his heart. Nesi put a hand on his shoulder before rising from the seat to return to her cooking. She largely spoke to Baragon about their plans for tomorrow and the training to come. Of which, Ace did ask questions about it from time to time. They spoke as friends as they often did whenever they were able to meet again, but Ace wanted a tour of the silver ship to understand why Whitebeard wanted it. Honestly, it was a nice ship on the inside. Plenty of room, strong foundation, better looking than his sorry Bloody Doubloon, but his beloved ship received many upgrades before his defeat.

When the two reached Nesi's cabin, or the captain's cabin, Ace could see the notes, maps, and coordinates of so much more than other vessels or small towns. It felt like he was seeing the entire world! The bedroom made him a bit nervous, but it wasn't far from what he was calling the World Room. He followed Nesi inside of it as she was gathering some things and just marveled at what she was allowed to bring with her. It wasn't a lot by any means, but she had potted plants, a bed for Baragon, and her own living space. She didn't have a canopy bed, but she did have a nice layout with a small firepit to keep the room warm. He guessed with her being alone on this ship, it must get pretty cold and boring. Where was her crew? Her fellow mates? She didn't have anyone at all?

"This is way more grand than what I was thinkin' on the Bloody Doubloon," Ace remarked, poking fun at her misfortune of losing her bedroom to a cannon.

"Actually... it's not much different from the laundry room if I had to be honest," Nesi said, waving a hand to show this point. "No clothes lines, obviously, but everything else is about right."

"Not really. You at least had one of us barging in ass-out," Ace corrected, making Nesi chuckle.

"True. My snookums hasn't had anyone to nip in ages," Nesi said, walking over to a trunk with her clothes in them. "Well, I don't wanna keep ya. You said your men were in town, huh? You'd better watch them."

"Yeah, yeah! Quit nagging me!" Ace said, huffing in protest.

With that, Nesi escorted him back to the door and nodded happily to give a silent farewell. Ace lingered a bit, though. If she was going to be out at sea, maybe he could come back. He brought his own boat, after all. That other ship was a distance away, but it was watching Nesi from afar. More than likely to respond in case his men tried to board the ship without his permission. If Whitebeard overruled his command, there was going to be nothing he could do...

"Hey, Nesi? How safe are you out here?" Ace asked.

"Pretty safe, actually. This private sector is heavily guarded. You can't tell that it is because the defenses are underwater. I get sent alerts when unknowns cross the territories. My mentors recognized you, so they didn't activate anything. Your men won't be so lucky. I don't know them, so I can't protect them," Nesi responded.

"Mind if I come back for the night?"

"I don't mind. I can escort you back into town in the morning before training starts again," Nesi answered, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "Don't you have your own cabin, though?"

"Yeah," Ace replied quietly. "The world just looks a lot bigger in yours."

"Sounds like you could use an architect!" Nesi said with a cheerful smile.

"Don't gimme that!" Ace commented with a short chuckle. He blushed a bit before kissing Nesi's cheek and saying, "Sorry I didn't see the letters."

"Don't worry about it," Nesi replied with a small laugh. "It worked out in the end. You wearing dirty underwear for a week to prove a point explains everything."

"I was five!" Ace argued in whispers.

"Maybe one day, I'll get to learn more about you. You hardly ever talk about yourself," Nesi said, opening the door and nodding for Ace to follow her.

Before she could leave again, Ace stopped her and said, "You can ask me whatever you want when I come back. Least I can do for the food you keep cooking me."

"Aye, captain," Nesi replied softly.

Ace had all but forgotten that Nesi was a beauty. It was just... he had forgotten that there were moments when she truly shined. For a second, they weren't enemies. They were just old friends reuniting again. For a second, the air felt fresher. A new day was on the horizon and adventure was awaiting them. For a second, the captain's cabin wasn't a room full of stuffy memories. It was warmer, sweeter, and filled with appreciation and love. For a second, the idle chats and catching up felt like coming home after a trip away to some random locale. In that moment, he could stand to be a Whitebeard pirate if it meant he could be the Spade captain again in secret. One day, he wouldn't hide the truth from Nesi. One day, he'd tell her everything. For right now... he wanted her to know... that he missed her. That he was proud of her for being able to steer ships alone now. That he wished he could have made her the leader of a second ship in the Spades fleet. For right now, though, he just wanted to spend the night with a familiar face - someone he knew was a true friend. Someone he had grown to love like family.

When he came back to the ghost ship for the night after settling things with the Whitebeards, Nesi invited him in again and let him look around the ship again. He was able to be curious and ask questions about everything now. He took full advantage of the bathing room, ate to his heart's content, and inspected the deck. The ship was huge. When it started getting late, they spoke at length about all kinds of things and laughed about misadventures. Nesi had fallen asleep as Ace was describing a childhood mishap with Luffy and some melon seeds. He allowed himself this one selfish thing before going to sleep himself. He kissed Nesi on her lips, whispered that he missed his floor scrubber, and carried her to bed. He joined her side, picked Baragon up by his tail when he climbed into bed with them, and let the pink worm sleep with them.

Family wasn't faraway, after all...