Hi guys! Here is the next chapter!

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Marco walked towards Pops' office, a gremlin saying Pops wanted to see him, so he headed towards him. Marco wondered what it might be. When he got to the office and sat down in a chair, Pops spoke. "How are you?" Marco hummed. "I am good, yoi." Pops nodded. "And Ace?" Marco sighed. "I think he's fine. But he just spent some time with the ferryman, yoi." Pops blinked. "The ferryman? Isn't that Shanks?" Marco nodded. "It is. He took Ace to see a Hell tree on a lone island, and these flowers apparently sing, yoi. Ace loves them and there are more and he wants to see them all." Pops hummed. "How odd. Shanks usually keeps to himself and away from us, never once has he approached us or taken us on a trip that wasn't business."

Marco nodded. "I know. And he doesn't seem dangerous, but I am keeping an eye on him still, yoi. But Ace seems to genuinely like him, and I don't want to stop him from becoming friends with someone." Marco sighed. "Why must Ace be this… including and innocent? See the best in others, yoi?" Marco shook his head. "But we're not here to talk about that, yoi." Pops hummed. "We kinda are here to talk about Ace." Marco blinked and looked at Pops. "What? Oh no, please don't tell me anyone has shunned him again, yoi? If they have, they will die. I don't care what you want." Marco would keep that up.

Pops gave a small chuckle, before he sighed. "No, it is actually quite the opposite. It has come to my attention that Ace had planned to… commit suicide. If you didn't answer or said no." Marco blinked, before he moved a hand to his face. "Oh no, Thatch, you promised, yoi." Pops nodded. "Yes. He didn't want to tell, but there was a reason he told." Marco looked at the other man. "Please don't tell me he's gotten worse and I haven't noticed, yoi." Pops shook his head. "Nothing like that, he seems to be getting better as a matter of fact. But, the fact that Ace, who was so pure and such a good kid, would have gone to Hell, no matter what, since suicide is a sin, made not only Thatch realize, but also I realize, that the world have changed and we have lost touch with it. Things are bad there."

Marco nodded. "I know, yoi. But we can't do anything, it is a sin." Pops nodded. "Which is why, at the next big meeting, I want to bring this up, and see if we can change it." Marco blinked. "You can't just change a sin." Whitebeard nodded. "I know. But we need to try. Many that are pure and have lost everything, ends up in Hell, just because suicide is a sin. Ace, who is so amazing, could be rotting away in a pit right now. I don't mean we remove the sin entirely, but we view them individually. What made them do it, commit suicide, and if they have a pure soul or not. But to do this, I need you on board, and not only that, I need everyone on board. Meaning they will all know."

Marco took a breath. "I… don't know if Ace wants this, yoi. He would be in the center of attention, and he doesn't to be liked to be reminded of the suicide plans he had. How depressed he was." Pops nodded. "Which is why I am telling you this now, so you can have an open chat with Ace. The meeting is in 7 weeks." Marco nodded. "I will do my best, yoi." Pops smiled. "Good. If you ever need to talk about this, or Ace does, my door is open." Marco nodded, before he left, and felt himself full of thought. He needed to bring this up with Ace, but he didn't want to blurt it out either. He would find a time that fit.

Marco then walked to his room, where Ace seemed to be ready for a trip out, which made him glad. So he wasn't spending all his free time cooped up in this room. "Heading out, yoi?" Ace nodded. "Yeah. I want to look around more." That was very good, he wanted Ace to get to know this place so he would be comfortable and feel at home.

As Ace seemed ready, Ace looked at him. "Oh, um, do you have a coin?" Marco blinked. "Why do you need a coin, yoi?" Ace gave a small sound. "I want to… go see Shanks. He seems like a good guy, and I want to visit another tree. I don't need to go if you don't want me to go." Marco smiled, before he went and grabbed a coin from his dresser, a Hell coin. Yes, they didn't use money here, but when brought to the surface, it would mimic any coin in any value needed. He gave it to Ace. "Go see him, yoi. Don't feel like you need my permission." Ace smiled and took the coin. "Thank you, Marco." Marco shook his head. "It is nothing. Go have fun, yoi." Ace nodded, before he went and headed towards the river, making Marco sigh. Ace was so kind and innocent, why did he have to be like that?

Marco then called for a crow to be close to Ace, but also keep his distance, to not be spotted. If Shanks hurt Ace, Marco wouldn't care if he didn't fall under their rules, he would die.

-x-

Ace looked at the coin he had, and it looked… weird. It was silver and had a pentagram on it, same with a picture of Whitebeard's devil from. Well, it was a Hell coin, so it fit. He then went to the ocean, and hoped Shanks would show up. He then just stared out on the vast ocean, no winds of animals, the blue colors moving like waves, but there was none. It was, in a way, calming. After a bit, he saw some ripples, and then he saw Shanks, who just appeared out of thin air a bit away, which made him blink, before he smiled and waved.

When Shanks was close, he looked at him. "You're back." Ace nodded. "Yeah. I would like to see another soul tree, if you have the time. I would also like to get to know you more." Shanks blinked, before he nodded and brought the boat a bit closer. "Hop on." Ace nodded, and it changed him to his demon form, but he was prepared this time. When he was on the boat, Ace blinked, before he moved a hand to his side. "Oh! I almost forgot!" He said as he moved to grab the coin, and moved to hand it to Shanks, who blinked. "Why are you handing me a coin?"

Ace blinked, feeling confused. "You take a coin. You're the ferryman. I mean, it's the right thing to do. I don't want to use you without paying for me." Shanks blinked, before he smiled. "This one is one the house, Ace." Ace blinked and tilted his head. "But… the last one was on the house?" Shanks nodded. "And so is this one, I will not be taking your money." Ace blinked, and looked at the coin, before he looked at Shanks. "Are you… sure?" Shanks nodded. "I have never been more sure of anything. Next time, you can pay." Ace nodded and put the coin back in his pocket.

Then they started the sail, and Ace chatted with Shanks, just chatting about anything and everything, trying to get to know Shanks better. When he asked how old he was, Shanks didn't have a number, he didn't keep count. Which would make since he had been here so long. When Ace asked what he did with the coins, Shanks hummed. "I use them to buy a glass of liquor. Each different coin from different countries and such, gets me a special kind of drink." Ace blinked. "Oh. I would have guessed you like… I don't know actually, maybe save them for something or use them to honor the dead." Shanks hummed. "I honor them by taking the drink." Ace nodded. "Oh, cool."

They then sailed on, and after a bit, a bit longer than last time, they got to a small island which also had one lone tree. And on it, it had a flower which looked like a sort of Ixora flower, but it had multiple colors, and as the others, were translucent and glowed a bit, and had on itself what looked like glitter. These ones were a mix of red, yellow, purple, and white. The leaves were mint, cyan, and deep blue. They were stunning. And as he was closer, the cyan leaves felt like silk, and it was amazing. So, he plucked one of each color of each leaf and flower, before he took one flower and moved it back and forth, and this time, it sounded more like a note being sung, not just humming. That was amazing.

He then went back to the boat and looked at Shanks. "Thank you for taking me here." Shanks shook his head. "It is nothing, Ace." Ace nodded and looked at the flowers, glad to be able to fill up his collection. These were amazing. He then looked at Shanks. "What do the other ones look like?" Shanks hummed. "A couple look like flowers from Earth, like this one. But a few have more special shapes." Ace blinked. "Like what shapes?" Shanks gave a small sound. "It is hard to explain. But I can take you to one next time." Ace nodded. "Okay. I can't wait! You are a really nice guy." Shanks gave a small smile, before they started the sail back to where he had been picked up.

They then spoke a bit as they sailed, and he asked how Shanks was able to navigate this vast ocean, and Shanks said he had learned through trial and error. And now, he knew the ocean well. It was amazing. He really liked Shanks a lot. He was so nice to him. And he felt bad that Shanks didn't take the coin, but then Ace got an idea, and would do it when they got to the shore.

So, when they got to the shore later, and Ace stepped out, he moved and took the coin out and handed it to Shanks, who shook his head. "No, as I said, this one was free." Ace nodded. "I know. And this is not for the ride." Shanks frowned a bit. "What do you mean?" Ace smiled. "You said you lost count of how old you are, and that you use the coins to buy a drink. So here, take this as a birthday present from me!" Shanks frowned a bit more. "A... birthday present? What is that?" Ace blinked. Shanks didn't know? Oh, he wasn't human. Ace nodded. "Yes. It is something you give to someone you like on the day they are born. A gift. So, here is your gift! From me!" Shanks blinked. "But, I don't have anything for you." Ace shook his head. "And it is not my birthday, so I don't need a gift. This is your gift, from me, since I like you. It is very rude to not accept the gift."

Shanks blinked, before he reached out and took the coin, making Ace smile. "There! Now we are friends! Thank you again! I'll see you later! Bye!" Then Ace left, looking at the amazing flowers and leaves. It had been a good trip.

-x-

Shanks blinked as he watched Ace leave with a smile, before Shanks looked down at the coin he just got. He had gotten a… gift. That hadn't happened in… forever. Not in many millennia. He then looked after Ace, and couldn't help but smile. He had a friend.

Later, he went to grab his drinks, and he carefully thought about the coin from Ace. It was a gift, so should he use it? He brought it out and looked at it, to see which country it came from, but was shocked to see it was a Hell coin. Those were very rare. He had never had one in his possession before. As he looked at it, the one behind the counter spoke. "What a nice coin. What's the occasion?" Shanks hummed. "It is my birthday." The guy behind the counter hummed. "Then happy birthday. That coin gives a very special drink indeed." Shanks nodded, before he shook his head and put the coin away. "No, I will not use that one, not yet. I would like to use this;" He said as he took a coin from a soul, one from Norway, who had their own currency. The man behind the counter nodded. "Brennevin it is."

Shanks nodded and drank it, before he thought back to Ace. Has Shanks really gotten a friend? He had barely spoken with anyone for so long, no one took an interest in him, but this Ace did. He was a curious person, and Shanks wanted to run into him again.

-x-

A few days later, Ace walked out of the home, as he needed a break after what had just happened and what he had accidentally said and then offedend Marco he felt like. Ace felt horrible right now. At first, Ace didn't know where to go, before he found himself close to the ocean, making him blink, before Ace went to the water's edge, and waited, before Shanks came as last time, just appearing out of thin air. And then Ace got in the boat, before he sat down and felt a bit at ease to be with Shanks again. He didn't judge him. And, he needed a break from Marco.

After a bit, which had minimal conversation, Shanks spoke. "You are more silent today. Has anything happened?" Ace sighed. "It's just… something I said to Marco…" Shanks nodded. "Did you have a fight?" Ace shook his head. "Oh no, not like that…" Shanks nodded. "Then what? Maybe I can help?" Ace sighed,a black blush visible. "We were… messing around you know, and we haven't really done that, and he did something that felt really good, and I said… 'Oh God, yes'. And I think I offended him." Ace was still feeling very bad about that.

He didn't know what he expected, but he didn't expect Shanks to start laughing, before Shanks spoke. "You humans are very weird, and always use God's name. I am sure it will work out, Marco just needs to chill out. I know you use phrases like that, and Marco needs to learn that. He is not that in contact with the human world anymore." Ace blinked, before he gave a small smile. "Yeah." Shanks gave him a smile. "Don't feel bad, okay? I want to see you smile." Ace nodded. "I will try to."

As they were speaking, he noticed a bird was flying over them, seeming like a crow, which was weird as he hadn't seen any animals here, beside Stefan. As he noticed it, Shanks moved his oar up and shooed it away. As he had, Ace looked at Shanks. "Are the crows dangerous?" Shanks shook his head. "No, not to us. They sometimes are used to peck at those in pits. But I don't like being watched by them." Ace nodded. "Oh, okay." Ace also wondered how Marco was doing, as Ace had kinda just left, needing away for a bit. He felt a bit bad about that, but he was scared he would make it worse by staying. He hoped Marco wouldn't worry too much.

After a bit, he and Shanks spoke a bit and Ace tried to get to a better mood, and Shanks helped a lot, he saw the island a bit up ahead, which had one lone tree as the others. When they were close, Ace walked onto the island and then up to the tree and looked shocked when he saw the flowers. He had never seen anything like it. The flowers looked like they were made up by half gears that got larger as they moved out in a circle. And they all had different shades of color and were translucent as the other had been, as well as having small lights on them. The first thing that fell to his mind was that Eustass would love this.

Ace looked back at Shanks. "Do these ones die on Earth?" Shanks hummed. "I don't have the answer to that one. They might, or they may not. But it should live longer than a normal Earth flower." Ace nodded. "Oh, okay, thanks." Shanks hummed. "Why do you wonder about that?" Ace gave a small hum. "A friend I have, who is still alive, would love this one." He heard a hum from Shanks. "Take it with you and give it to your friend. Friends are important." Ace nodded. "I know." Ace then plucked a few, same with the leaves which were a sort of weak brown and red, and a few were orange. He took a flower and moved it, and it made a vocal note and it made him smile. He liked these ones.

He then went back to the boat and when they started the trip back, Ace looked at Shanks. "Thank you, for this trip. I think I needed it." Shanks hummed as he rowed. "My boat always has a spot for you, Ace. Never doubt that." Ace smiled, feeling glad and better. He really liked Shanks. They then spoke as they went back to the shore so he could go back to the house and speak with Marco, feeling calmer.

When they got to the shore, he gave a goodbye to Shanks, and a promise to come back another day, before he went back to the house. When he got to the house and to his and Marco's room, Marco was sitting on the bed and stood up when he came through, giving a relieved breath before he moved to hug him. "There you are, yoi." Ace nodded and hugged back. "Yeah. I was with Shanks. I needed to think." Marco nodded and let go, and looked at him. "I may have overreacted, yoi." Ace gave a small hum. "Maybe, or maybe not. I mean, you're not on terms with God, and I just yelled out his name, and I feel bad as well."

Marco nodded. "Why did you decide to say that, yoi?" Ace gave a small sound. "We, I mean human, use God's name a lot, in daily conversation." Marco blinked. "So, you use God's name in vain? You just… use it, yoi?" Ace nodded. "Yeah. Unless you are like super religious, then you don't. But everyone else does. We also use the Devil's name at times." Marco nodded. "The world's certainty has changed, yoi." Ace nodded. "Yeah. And many feel like God has given up on them. I promise I will try and not use his name anymore." Marco smiled at him. "It is okay, it is just, no one here uses his name, so when you said that, I was shocked and confused, yoi." Ace nodded. "I get that. But I said it since I was feeling, like, really good. But… I am not sure I am ready yet, for going farther." Marco shook his head. "It is okay, we will take it slowly." Ace nodded, glad about that.

Marco then took a breath. "While we are talking, yoi. I need to tell you something, and feel free to say no, okay?" Ace blinked, but nodded, making Marco continue. "Thatch and Pops found out that you had planned to commit suicide, yoi." Ace felt instantly uncomfortable about that, making Marco move a hand out to him. "And they got worried for you, but you are getting better. But Thatch felt really upset about the fact that if I hadn't answered or said no, you would have done it and gone to Hell to rot, yoi. And that's not fair, at all. You never did anything wrong and had a pure soul. And they are right, it wouldn't have been fair, yoi."

Ace blinked, and moved a hand to his arm as he felt unsure. "Um… like yeah, but it is a sin. I knew I would end up in Hell if I did it." Marco nodded. "I know, and that makes Thatch feel even worse, since you were suffering so bad, yoi. But why I am telling this; we want to try and change the rule about suicide being a sin." Ace blinked. "But… Can you do that? I mean, it is a sin, you can't just remove it. Right?" Marco nodded. "You are right. It needs to be voted on, and brought up. The issue here, we cannot bring anyone out of a pit to explain this, yoi. They are viewed as sinners and their souls are marked as such. No one will listen to them." Ace blinked. "Then how can we do this?"

Marco took a breath, and moved to grab his hands and looked him in the eyes. "The only one we have who can fight with us, is you, yoi." Ace blinked. "M-me?" Marco nodded, and Ace felt like he couldn't breathe for a second. "But… but then everyone will know…" Marco nodded. "I know. Which is why I am telling you now, so you can think about it, yoi. We don't need to do this." Ace felt at a loss. He didn't want everyone to know. But it was also feeling unfair. He didn't want to make others suffer as well. Marco moved a hand to his cheek. "You don't need an answer now, yoi. And I will always be here for you, Ace. Same with all of us. Pops' door is also always open for you." Ace nodded, and he would need to think about this.


And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed!

More things will happen now as we move along and I hope you find this interesting

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