Sorry for the wait but here is the next chapter of the story but before you read i hope you read the rest of this. Starting from this chapter and onward I will have Everlastingdreamshop editing Journey From a Memory so in all this means that you won't have to struggle with trying to read my story and the thought process i go through when writing it. XD So I wanted to give thanks for them and helping me fix my mistakes and point all of them out so i could correct them. Thank you.
One more island to go, then they would hit a island that finally belong to Whitebeard. For just going through a few islands on the GrandLine, It had been quite the journey. But if you asked him he would just blame it on the fact that they ran into the Marines every other island, it was crazy to say the least. Along the way both him and Marco had been slowly gathering information about the Whitebeards, but haven't stumbled onto any of their territories. Since of course, they were mostly located in the New World.
Side note, they were right about Marco being kept a secret. Since all the newspapers they had gotten their hands on contained no information about Marco being alive, or anything pertaining to the likes of recent sightings of him returning. So here they were on their way to an island before LogueTown, known as Misty Mountain town. Due to the fact that the mountain there was covered by a mysterious fog.
"Is there a reason why you want a devil fruit yoi?"
Ace blinked, as he was pulled out of his train of thoughts by his talking turkey.
"So that I can choose one now instead of later, and I'd think it be cool getting some extra power!"
"Hm, alright but no matter what you decide I'll be with you o-ngh!"
"Marco? Wait! Why are we going down?"
"A storm yoi, I'll have to land on that island for now alright?"
"Alright!"
When they landed on island it was super apparent that it was a dense forest just by looking at it. Other than looking at the forest they saw a rather small boat (not that small but enough to survive the storm) on the shore a few heavy bags to keep it anchored
"Great observation yoi."
"Sorry, didn't think I said that out loud! Heheheh. Now the question is where are we, but first let's find some shelter."
Marco nodded turning his head to his wrist, where his compass was going haywire.
"The compass is not working to I'm assuming that we weren't really meant to find this island yoi."
"Really well damn. Let's go then!"
Ace began to walk hearing Marco following him as they headed into the dense forest for some cover. They got under a pretty decent tree that wasn't dripping too much water so they decided to camp out here until the storm blew over.
"Ah, if we're going to stay here for however long we'll need to hunt and get firewood."
"That's a good idea, we should split the work. Which one do you want to do yoi?"
"I want to hunt if that's alright with you Marco."
"Yeah sure, just holler if you need help. Oh, also remember to be careful because this is still the Grand Line so we don't know what to expect when it comes to habitats and the animals living here."
"Alright, I'll call if I need anything mom."
"Yeah, just be safe son."
Ace laughed at that before he started his way through the vegetation. As a safety precaution he made sure to put extra weight in his steps. Enough to make a mark, so if he got lost, he could make it back to camp. As soon as he got a good distance away from camp he gave a low whistle, hoping to draw in some prey, then he hid in the undergrowth with his knife in hand. What he was expecting was a big animal like on but no. It was something normal, just a simple type of deer. He shrugged his shoulders, an animal was an animal after all and who knows if he was going to find another one. So he wasn't going to be picky about it.
He swiftly threw his knife, within seconds the knife met it's mark and the deer was dead. He stood up from the undergrowth and went to collect his meal. He grabbed the back legs of the animal and started dragging it back. This way he wouldn't get blood on Marco's shirt, which the other had lent him saying he should wear something if he was cold. The problem was that he couldn't, since he accidently tore his yellow one….Ace smiled at the fact that Marco gave him his shirt saying he didn't need it.
It took him awhile to drag the deer back to their camp, but he did it. When he arrived Marco was sitting at a now lit fire. He smiled before announcing his presence, briefly saying hello to the other.
"I got some dinner for us."
"Cool, give it here I'll roast it on the fire yoi."
"Hold on let me skin it first."
So he got to work, first taking off the shirt. Then using his knife to sever off its limbs first. He then went through the steps that Gi Gi taught him to skin a deer (well any animal really). At least the old man had something useful to teach him.
"Ah, here you go."
"Thanks."
"This isn't so bad, taking a break."
"No and by the look of the forest I don't think any Marines are stationed here either."
"That's good….Hey Marco about Whitebeard….What will you do when you meet him? He's your family right? So…."
"I-oh. Ace….Are you worried that I'll go back to him and leave you? When we find Whitebeard together, I promise we will figure something out, ok yoi?"
Ace could only nod, trusting in his friend. It's not like he didn't believe Marco, it was just that people tend to forget….He just didn't want Marco to forget him when he finally found his family, that's all. All he could do was wait until they crossed that bridge to see what'll happen when that time comes… hopefully he's just thinking too much.
"Hey Marco, have you heard of Gol D Ro-"
There was a noise from quite a distance away but still loud enough to make both Marco and himself look at each other before making their way to the noise. As they walked quietly towards the sound they heard, well hear because the sound, voice? Was still going, before it went quiet … and then cursed. Again Marco and I looked at each other, before brushing away the cover they had. Revealing a man with a rope around his ankle hanging in the air? He also didn't seem to notice them and was cursing up a storm just as a sailors are depicted to do.
"Um, do you need help?"
The man stopped cursing and slowly turned his head to them before sighing as he nodded.
"I'll get him down yoi."
"Naw I got it Marco, remember? I use to climb trees all the time when I got Lu out of them!"
Ace went to the base of the tree, grabbed his knife and put it between his teeth; before he began his climb. He got up with relatively no trouble, well except for when he almost slipped on the bark, since it was raining. He then carefully began to edge his way onto the branch where rope was tied. Cautious to not put too much weight on the branch. When he was close enough, he took his knife out of his mouth and got to work. In a couple of seconds he was able cut the man down. Said man was now on the ground rubbing his head as he did land head first, opps forgot to warn him first.
"Sorry, I forgot to warn you that I was almost done. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am. Thank you."
"You're welcome! My name is Portgas D Ace! And he, the grumpy pineapple is Marc-ow! What was that for!" When did Marco get on the branch?
"Sorry about him, but as he was saying. I'm Marco and his name is Ace. May I ask for your name yoi?"
"Of course, after all I would still be in that trap if it were not for you two. My name is Deuce, I'm a seeker of adventure across the great sea. You said your names were Ace and Marco right? Why are you wandering the great sea?"
"For starters I'm aiming to be a great pirate with a name of my own, and to live my life without regrets."
"I'm on this adventure with Ace because I'm trying to regain my memories. What exactly are you trying to achieve?"
"I'm on the sea to find great adventure. Well thank you agai-"
"Would you like to join my crew?"
"Wha-"
"So you want him to join next? Look you don't have to take him up on that offer Deuce-
"Marco!"
-but we would love to have another person on the crew yoi."
"Alright, I accept. If I'm to seek adventure and excitement then it's bound to come to a band of pirates."
"Alright! We should start heading out th-"
*CRASH*
"AH!"
Deuce chuckled as his saw his new captain in the arms of Marco and that he was being glared at by Ace.
"So Captain Ace, Marco, for the moment we are stuck here should we get to know each other?"
"Sounds good to me, Ace?"
"Y-yeah, that sounds good to me…."
This was so embarrassing….He could just see the smugness in Duece's smirk that was on his face. Ace didn't think he could glare anymore harder then he did at the other man but he didn't seemed to be fazed by it….bastard….
So for the next few days (stupid weather on the stupid Grand Line) Deuce, Marco, and him were stuck on the island, which Deuce had told them was the island Sixis. Also that people frequently stumble on it, since it has no definite magnetic field for the log pose to catch. So after the rain stoped Deuce led Marco and him to his boat, which they previously saw when they first landed. After they got on and started sailing, Deuce pulled out a map and asked if Ace would lend him his log pose. Since Deuce lost his quite a while ago. Eventually they arrived to the next island, a summer island. Which was ironic because of what Deuce said next.
"Welcome to the island of the sun Captain."
"Why do they call it that?"
"Because of the sun god the-
"You!"
- residents worship. It's also because they wait to see who will apparently embody the spirit of their God."
"Boy with the orange cowboy hat!"
Ace blinked as he turned around, the three of them looked down to see a panting old man as who was struggling to caught their breath.
"Young man, I needed you to come with me!"
It was at this time that they all looked at the man confused before Ace turned and looked around to make sure the man wasn't actually talking to someone else, before turning back to the older man.
"Me?"
"Yes, you! Come on!"
"But wha-hey!"
"Ace! Come on Deuce, let's follow them."
"Right. Does this happen often?"
"No and I hope it wouldn't yoi…."
"Hahahaha! I'm glad I choose to join you guys then! Let's go follow Captain."
While Marco and Deuce decided to follow him, Ace was already about cross the damn plaza with this older man dragging him. While he was still trying to get away from the other. What Ace didn't understand was how this man could not only hold his grip on him, but drag him along for as long as he has! He was an old man for Christ sake, how was he able to maintain such a strong grip on him?
"Our great messenger! I have brought the vessel to you!"
Vessel? Something tells me that this will either end badly or turn in his favor.
"Good, now bring him to me."
"Woah! Hold on, what do you mean by vessel?! And what is this? What are you going to do to me?"
"Give you this of course, it's the fruit that will make you embody the spirit of the Sun's flames itself."
Oh great they landed on an island of crazy people….wait is that a devil fruit?
"Ace!"
"Hold on Marco! You say it'll give me the power of the sun? The power of flames?"
"Yes, it's the carrier of our idol."
"Alright I'll be your vessel. So what do I do with it?"
"Just eat it and it'll give you powers of the sun itself."
"Alright."
"Well at least he now has a-
"Come on Marco, Deuce, let's go!"
"And he just stole it yoi….Come on let's go before we get crucified."
"Ha! I like my new captain! And why are you acting surprised? Is stealing not what pirates do?"
"I'm not surprised, we're talking about the same guy who stole treasure when he was young and dine' n' dashes all the time. So I really can't be surprised at him anymore."
"Come back here you thieves!"
"You'll be punished for this!"
"Get those heathens!"
They all jumped into the boat with the mob still chasing after them. So Marco turned into a Phoenix and pushed the boat away from the island. Ace, Deuce, and no doubt Marco were all sweating as they sailed away from the village of sun believers.
"Glad we got away from that, am I right gu-OW! Marco!"
"Warn us about it next time please?! Especially when you want to steal a 'sacred' item from a village of homicidal maniacs. Okay sun 'vessel'?."
"You guys are quite the pair! I can't wait until others join us!"
Sapphire~