Chapter 18

"Law!" Rosinante cried. "He's the Captain of the Heart pirates?"

Sengoku grimaced. "Yes, and I couldn't keep his bounty out of the system any longer either. Not that's he's done anything particularly crazy like that Eustass Kidd has, but Law has gotten into quite a fair bit of trouble as it is. Law's wanted alive of course, and should be delivered to us safely because of that, but the world now knows he's a witch."

Sengoku had called Rosinante and Kuzan to his office to show him the newspaper personally. Rosinante was relieved that he was learning this from Sengoku and not by himself, that would have been really stress inducing. Garp was there too, for whatever reason, but honestly he never needed an excuse to lounge about in Sengoku's office.

It was nice seeing Law's face, even if it was pretty well hidden by his hand trying to stop the camera. The thought made Rosinante smile. Law looked healthy, angry, yes, but healthy, and it was amazing it see. It warmed his heart.

"At least the 'D' is hidden," Rosinante sighed.

"I guess we're going to have to work even harder to catch the kid now," Kuzan muttered.

"That reckless boy of mine," Rosinante groaned.

"Oh, Traffy!" Garp said. "That little brat, I thought he said he wanted to be a doctor!"

All three of them froze, and slowly they turned to Garp who looked annoyed.

Garp hummed. "But he's a nature witch. I didn't know we had them as 'alive only' now too."

"YOU'VE MET HIM?!" Rosinante screeched.

"WHEN?!" Sengoku yelled.

"He's been training with my grandsons for years now," Garp said, laughing nervously. "I only knew his name was Traffy and that he was a nature witch."

"DAMN YOU, GARP!" Sengoku snarled. "We could have had him captured years ago!"

"We've been searching North Blue for ages!" Kuzan scowled.

"Do you know how much danger he's in? He has the Ope Ope no mi and is the last Trafalgar witch!" Rosinante ranted. "Doffy is still hunting him down and now he's a pirate!"

It made it so much easier for Doflamingo to capture Law. That thought terrified Rosinante, but Law was a clever boy, and hopefully he could keep out of Doflamingo's clutches.

"Oh yeah, Luffy did say he had a weird devil fruit..." Garp mused.

"HOW DID THAT NOT RING A BELL?!" Rosinante screamed. "THAT'S MY SON! THE ONE I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR!"

"DAMMIT, YOU IDIOT!" Sengoku punched the back of Garp's head earning a yelp. "Not only that, but there was rumours out of your own home kingdom that there was a Portgas witch there. Those two have been training together, haven't they?"

Garp whined.

"That isn't exactly news," Kuzan said. "Remember how Rouge claimed Law back at Swallow Island?"

Rosinante grimaced. "And Garp knew where they were all this time."

"I didn't think it was the same kid..." Garp shifted in his seat.

"Damn Monkeys!" Sengoku scowled. "Where is this island, Garp? We can at least secure the Portgas child."

"Rouge already moved."

Sengoku twitched. "You've been in contact with her? Portgas D. Rouge? The woman we've been trying to erase from history because of her affiliation with Roger!"

"...Maybe?" Garp offered.

"DAMN IT, GARP! YOU MORON!" Sengoku ran his hand over his face, groaning. "Portgas D. Rouge was the world's most dangerous woman. She could take on the likes of you, me, Whitebeard and Roger and for her it was a thrill! Not a terrifying notion like it would be for any normal person. Now she has taken two witch heirs under her guidance. Law might have left her side now, but Rouge was always known for her possessiveness. If he is in any danger, she will fight for him. The fact that her ghost is still haunting this world is troubling indeed. If Portgas D. Ace continues to grow stronger, so will she. We need to capture him before he hits his prime. If he does, and is still free, Portgas D. Rouge could possibly return to her former strength, and you and I, Garp, are too old to stop her now."

Garp grimaced. "I don't think any of our people are ready for her in her prime."

"No." Sengoku shivered. "We're not. Ace has to be captured or at least be made a deal with. We need him on our side."

"I'll start looking for them again," Garp said. "I found them once, and I can do it again."

.::.

"Okay, so you ran into one of the clan members of Death when we all visited Flevance?" Ace tilted his head. "The last one?"

Ace had been learning a bit more about the other clans from his mum today, only to pause when she mentioned Nico Robin, one of the youngest criminals in history. Ace had no idea how he felt about that. He would also be concerned one of the world's youngest criminals from birth if everyone learned about his bloodline. He didn't believe the newspapers when they had said about Robin murdering all those people, but now he was too sure exactly considering he had just found out Robin broke his mum's neck and spine to knock her out during their meeting.

"Why in the world did she do that?" Ace continued on.

Mum sipped at her tea. "I was kind of threatening her?"

"Why?" Ace groaned.

"She has a bad reputation in regards to her allies, and since she was showing interest in you and Law, I got a bit protective..." Mum grumbled. "I'm kind of impressed she so ruthlessly knocked me out." Mum threw her head back and laughed. "Rahahahaha! It was probably a good idea actually."

"You disappeared for hours," Ace sighed. "Shouldn't we be making friends with the other clan members?"

"Depends on which ones," Mum mused. "Some are more dangerous than others, and many are unknown. Like the head of the Love clan, that is the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock. She's a Warlord. The youngest one I think? They left her free since she is in a working relationship with the World Government. If that is ever broken however, I can see the Marines being sent off to capture her immediately."

"Warlords." Ace's nose wrinkled.

"It's not the worst idea if you want to be free a free head witch," Mum said. "I don't judge her for it entirely. She could be trying to protect herself, or her people, from the Marine's wrath. It's not an easy place to get to for most people, but if there is a will, there is a way."

"I don't want anything to do with the Marines," Ace said sharply. "That Celestial Dragon almost murdered Sabo, if it hadn't been for you, he wouldn't be alive right now, and after everything the Marines did to Law's home, to your home, I can never forget it."

"What exactly is your dream, Ace?" Mum asked, resting her head on her hands, staring up at him.

When did it get to up? It used to always be down. Ace hadn't realised how much he had grown, to the point where he was taller than his mum, even sitting down at the dinner table. It wouldn't be too long now before he set sail himself, before he followed Sabo and Law out into the ocean. Just a few more months really.

"Thinking big thoughts?" Mum tilted her head.

Ace leaned back in his chair and thought about it. What exactly did he want from the sea? Luffy wanted adventure. Sabo wanted freedom. To free himself and others also suffering under the World Government's grasp.

"I want to be more known as a witch, or as Roger's son," Ace mused.

Mum stared him down. "You've never been known as either of those things. Try again. What do you want, Ace?"

Ace bit his lip, but his mum didn't relent.

"The sea isn't just something we can go play in, not out in its depths," Mum said softly, staring out the window, towards were the beach was. "It is dangerous, and beautiful, and only people with a certain kind of strength and want will survive it's fury." Mum's smile sharpened. "It's basically a bitch. The bitchiest queen of them all. She will give, and she will take, so Ace, you better figure out what you want from her. Is it an adventure like Luffy? Do you want to chase the legend of the One Piece and discover what is out there in the world? Do you want to be like Sabo, who seeks to be free and the freedom of others? Or like Law, who sought out the sea for his safety from the World Government and Doflamingo, who also sought it out for revenge against those who also wronged him and ruined his home and family?"

Family.

Ace clung to that word. He wanted that. He wanted to be with his family. He wanted to share his adventures with them, his freedom with them, his safety with them. Sabo, Luffy, Law, they were his family. They were his brothers. He had his mum, who had always been there for him. He had Garp, his grandpa, every so often, but Ace wanted more of that. He wanted to grow that family. Ace wanted to find those like him who were alone, and give them something more to live for.

Ace grinned. "I guess I want a little bit of all that."

Mum paused thoughtfully, then grinned hungrily. "Then you're as greedy as I was."

"Like mother like son!" Ace laughed.

"Hell yeah to that!"

.::.

Four Months Later

They had returned to East Blue at last. Goa Kingdom had not seen them coming of course. Rouge had made sure it had been misty the night of their return. Luffy would remain here and train in the forest, but now it was Ace's time to set sail, and he had wanted to begin here. They had spent a couple of nights here, reuniting with Dadan and the bandits, but now it was time to go. It was a warm, sunny day. Rouge grinned happily, because it reminded her of the day she had set sail. Of course she was much older and wiser than Ace was now, but at least he wouldn't be going alone unlike Luffy. The dumbass. He was a lucky dumbass though.

Just like Roger.

The thought made her smile as Ace gave one last goodbye hug to Luffy. Ace jumped down on to his boat, letting it sway against the sea's current. Rouge joined him as Ace adjusted the cowboy hat Luffy had given him, making sure it was tied properly. Ace wouldn't want to lose it in the wind after all.

Rouge nudged Ace's shoulder.

"Ready?" she asked.

Ace beamed. "Yep!"

"Take care, Ace!" Luffy yelled, grinning wildly.

"Yeah." Ace nodded. "See you, Luffy. I'm going off to join Sabo on the seas!"

"I'll join you guys soon! I'll get stronger and get an amazing crew and catch up to you both! Shishishishishi," Luffy laughed.

Dogra and Magra were sobbing. Dadan hadn't come along to say goodbye. She had told Rouge that she couldn't handle it again, especially not so soon. Rouge understood why, she loved Ace like a son, and thankfully for Rouge, she couldn't be parted with Ace. Not as a ghost bound to his side. Makino had even joined them, carrying food supplies.

"Take care!" Magra cried.

"Try not to catch a cold!" Makino smiled.

Ace pushed off out into the sea. "You better watch me, Luffy, I'll make my name soon! Keep an eye out for the newspapers. I'll do my best to try beat Law's first bounty!"

"You better!" Luffy grinned. "And when I catch up I'll do the same!"

It didn't take long for the current and wind to sail them out into the ocean. Ace threw his head back and laughed.

"Let's go on our adventure, Mum," Ace said, smiling warmly at her. "And see who we can find first."

"If it's anything like the last lot of strays you found, we're sure to be in for a treat," Rouge teased.