The two pirates have been searching for Teach throughout the New World, but there was still no sign of him. They heard many rumors about him and only a few seemed to be true. One was that he changed his name to Blackbeard, and the other was that he had attacked a small island at the start of the Grand Line.
Paradise as they called it.
They were sailing towards the winter island; Oriana was fascinated by the six-chimney thing like mountains. She would most definitely draw them before leaving, but before that, it had been a long trip and they needed something to eat, "I'm getting really tired of this, Ace. I'm tired of chasing this scumbag all around the world."
"You can just go back," her comrade had his gaze straight forward, "You want to get rid of me already?" she asked annoyed, "No, I've enjoyed our little journey together, but if you really are tired you can go back to the Moby Dick. It's fine, really" Ace gave her one of his assuring smiles.
"No, I go back if you go back!" Oriana said firmly. Ace's head fell and he started making weird sounds, "Excuse you, am I a burden to you or something?" she asked dangerously, "No… Of course not!" he said nervously.
Ace and Oriana were in a restaurant enjoying a meal when they heard people talking about how a guy named Scorpion had defeated Blackbeard. The two looked at each other for a moment before Oriana went over to them, "Where can I find that Scorpion guy?" she asked them.
"He lives in the sand kingdom, Alabasta. Why do you ask girl," a man asked, "Teac- I mean Blackbeard killed my friend and I want to meet the one who killed him," she said while leaving. Oriana didn't believe for a second that Teach was defeated by some desert guy and Ace thought the same.
"Did you hear that, Ace? We are going to Alabasta!" she said smiling, "Yeah, let's go right now" he replied and both of them ran out of the place as fast as they could before anyone noticed. Oriana had sailed with him for some time now, and she was used to his dine-and-dash.
If he wasn't going to pay, why would she fight him in that? They were pirates.
Once they were a good distance away from the restaurant, Ace went over to two men and asked them about Blackbeard. He wanted to confirm the rumor, to make sure the men in the restaurant weren't the only ones who heard it.
They told him that he and his crew were long gone now, but they had a hard time believing he was dead now as well. "Then I'll ask you another question. Has a straw-hat-wearing pirate ever come here?".
Oriana looked surprised at him, and she had totally forgotten that meeting Luffy was actually a possibility now. 'He must have entered the Grand Line by now' she thought with a huge smirk. She was already looking forward to seeing him.
Ace showed them a bounty poster of him, "If he does come here…" he said and it somehow scared the men, "If he comes?" they asked before taking a step back. "Tell him that we'll wait in Alabasta for ten days. I'll leave it to you" the young commander replied as he turned around to leave with Oriana following him.
"Hey, wait a minute. What's your name" the tall one of the two asked, "Oh yeah, that's right. My name is Ace. When he comes tell him that and he'll know who I am" he grinned mysteriously as if he was trying to impress them.
"Oi, someone, grab those two. They ate and ran" an older man yelled behind them, Ace took Oriana's hand and they both ran away, again "I'm counting on you" he shouted and the two disappeared into the distance.
That was more than a week ago and so far, Luffy hasn't shown up yet. They weren't even sure that he would come to the island. There were seven routes that he could take, and it might not be the one they were on.
Oriana hasn't seen him for about six years and wondered what kind of people would follow him. How much stronger did he get? What kind of people joined his crew? Did his personality change?
She hoped not because Luffy was perfect just the way he was.
Luffy wasn't the brightest, but he did have a special aura that always would draw people towards him. They were hopefully strong because her sunshine had a dream at the top.
While Ace was asking almost every shop for Luffy, Oriana had just brought two fans that she would use to cool herself down with or use with her powers. It reminded her of the time she used to train with Izo in order to master her wind powers.
Maybe she could use them for her other elements too.
The two pirates were walking down the street when a man stopped them, "Would you two like a golden apple, you will live for a thousand years with only a thousand berries," The man said. "Sorry, I'm not interested in living a thousand years. If I can live through today, it will be enough" Ace responded as they continued.
"Is that guy stupid? Who would fall for that?" Oriana asked confused. The pirates stopped at a little shop to ask the old lady if she'd seen Luffy using his bounty. The old lady told them to ask in the restaurant further ahead.
They liked the idea since they were hungry. The two sat down at the bar and ordered their food.
Oriana and Ace dug in like hungry pigs shocking the other customers in there. Everything was going well until Ace fell face-first into his food. She was used to his small sleep attacks and kept eating, and the people around her started talking about poisonous strawberries.
When she was done with her food, she started eating from his plate. Halfway through he woke up and the people panicked. A woman came over to him and asked if he was okay, but instead of answering he grabbed her skirt and used it as a napkin, "Oh, I fell asleep."
Ace took his spoon ready to continue eating, but the people were complaining about something the commander didn't understand. He looked at Oriana for an answer, but she just shrugged it off, "Oi, you ate my food!" he accused her once he saw the amount.
"It's your own fault for falling asleep. You should thank me for leaving you that much" she simply said as she wiped around her mouth. Ace took Luffy's poster from his bag and asked the owner if he had seen him.
But before he could answer someone interrupted them, "I guess you have no problem eating in public, Whitebeard pirates second division commander, Portgaz D. Ace," A marine introduced him.
Everyone looked shocked, and they started mumbling among themselves, "What is a famous big-shot pirate doing in this country" he asked again. The pirates looked at each other for a moment and they both had huge grins on their faces.
The marine clearly didn't recognize Oriana and it was hilarious, "I'm searching for our little brother," Ace said before facing the man. She knew Ace could handle it so she just ordered something to drink.
Suddenly Ace and the marine were slammed into the wall and apparently through them too. She turned to the person that did it, but instead of feeling angry, she felt happy, "Old man, food, food, food. I need it badly" her ray of light said smiling.
She didn't realize how much she had missed that smile.
Oriana used her right hand to support her head while tapping on Luffy's shoulder with her left, "Yo, Straw Hat Luffy. We've been waiting for you for a while now" she said. He turned to her with a blank stare then his eyes widened, "Oria? Is that really you, Oria?!"
"The one and only" she stood up and held her arms out, and Luffy didn't hesitate to hug her, "I'm so happy to see you!" he said with a huge smile that always was contagious, "I missed you, sunshine!"
Luffy got his food, and Oriana would steal some of it from time to time, "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to join your father's crew. Don't tell me you're joining mine instead? Yosh!" he suddenly yelled out.
Oriana was about to explain the situation, but the marine guy from before returned "Straw Hat!" he yelled. "You know him?" She looked at Luffy, but he was too busy eating to worry. She noticed Ace laying next to the marine with his face down, 'Did he fall asleep or something?' she sighed.
"You're that smoke guy! What are you doing here?" Luffy spat some of his food out. He was about to be attacked and quickly stuffed the last of his food into his mouth before grabbing her arm to run away, "Wait, Luffy!" she tried but it fell on deaf ears.
She looked back to see the marine guy was still chasing them. Oriana was about to turn around to face him, but Luffy grabbed her and swung them onto one of the building's roofs. "Let go of me" she protested as she was perfectly keepable of handling things herself.
"Yo, Zoro," Luffy said as he suddenly changed his direction. Oriana wasn't sure where they were, but she was tired of being carried around like a doll, "I already told you to let go of me!" she said before kicking his head to the ground, "Sorry" he said.
The marine guy was quickly coming, "White Blow!" a smoke punch came towards them.
Luffy and the people she assumed were his crew started to panic, "Oria!" Luffy yelled but she was completely calm as a fire attack came to counter the smoke attack, "Heat haze!" Ace suddenly stood in front of them, "What took you so long?"
"Who is that?" someone asked.
"Ace!" Luffy exclaimed shocked.
"You haven't changed, Luffy" Ace looked at him coolly.
Ace told them that they should go ahead and that he would handle it. Luffy told his crew to go without hesitation while Oriana just walked away like any other day. It didn't take long for her to catch up with the small crew that had stopped to admire Ace's fight.
"Who is this beautiful woman, Luffy?" a blond man with heart eyes was smiling weirdly at her, "She is my big sister!" the young captain said, "Your sister!" they yelled in shock, "Yeah, I'm Oriana" she smiled cutely.
Before they could talk anymore they decided to run back to the ship.
Oriana ran next to Luffy who was holding a barrel while running backward, "I never thought that I would meet the two of you here!" he was watching Ace fight the smoke guy, "Go left" one of the girls said.
Luffy was about to run to his left, but Oriana grabbed his arm and yanked him to the right side. They soon arrived at a small ship with a none threatening pirate flag, "Cute ship" the female pirate commented as she jumped onboard.
The blue-haired girl was apparently the princess of the country and Luffy was going to help her stop the civil war the shichibukai Crocodile was going to start. She gave the huge duck a message that would be delivered to her father the king.
When the princess came onboard, they started asking who the guy that saved them was, "He's my big brother!" Luffy was smiling as well when he told them that Ace and Oriana were pirates, and they left the island years before him.
"Imagine both brothers eating a devil fruit" the blond from before could hardly believe it.
Luffy continued saying that Ace didn't have his devil fruit back home, but he still used to kick his ass. "Oria was even stronger. She used to kick both our asses!" he laughed, and his crew could hardly believe it, "Was?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I was such a loser, but I can beat them now!" he burst out laughing yet he failed to notice Ace jumping up to the ship, "Who can you beat?" fire fist asked as he landed on the rail making Luffy move in the process.
Ace started greeting the crew and thanking them for looking after their brother with his manners, "I forgot how polite you can be!" Oriana laughed. Luffy asked what they were doing here, and clearly didn't get their message back at Drum.
Fire-fist explained that they were here for a minor business and they wanted to see him, "How about you join the Whitebeard pirates, Luffy? Your friends can come too of course" Luffy declined immediately, "Wait, you joined Oria's crew?"
"Yeah, he did" she smiled and stood next to her crewmate. "Whitebeard is the greatest pirate I've ever known. I'm going to help him become the pirate king and not you Luffy," Ace said which was no problem for Luffy since he was going to fight him anyways.
"Yeah, good idea, you might end up joining after losing to him a hundred times like Ace here" Oriana laughed at the memory, ignoring the 'pirate king thing' for now, "Is Whitebeard that strong? Is that his mark on your back?" a guy with a long nose asked with a terrified look.
The two Yonko crew smiled proudly at their tattoos. The blond guy invited them in for something to drink and before Ace could say no Oriana accepted.
Suddenly a cannon was fired from a ship with Baroque works written on the sail. Oriana stretched out and was ready to take care of them, but Ace had already started his small boat. She had thought about using her powers to keep him in check but just let him go.
It was quickly over while impressing the small crew in the process. Once Ace came back drinks were served as everyone was starting to introduce themselves. There was Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Vivi, and her weird duck.
Ace explained that they were heading to Yuba to search for a former crewmate, "Former crewmate? I would describe him as a lowlife traitor scum that deserves nothing less than the worst, but that's just my opinion," she said gaining stares from the others.
After finding out that the crew also were going to Yuba they decided to travel together and raised a toast to them.
Oriana went over to the girls later, "Ne Vivi, which part of the country is the most unique and beautiful" she curiously asked. "Mhh, Rainbase is quite a sight. But the capital Alubarna is both unique and beautiful" Vivi stated.
"Why do you ask?" Nami asked this time. "Because I want to draw it" Oriana's smile beamed. She showed them her latest drawing of Drum-island. "Wow they are amazing, Oriana-san" Sanji complemented with hearty eyes as he danced around her. "Thank you" she smiled at his playfulness.
The two crewmates' clothes weren't desert-friendly, Ace was only wearing his black shorts and orange hat, while she was wearing a black t-shirt dress. Nami gave her a long white cardigan and a grey scarf.
Oriana wore it as a headscarf with her hair falling down her back and some of it framing her face. Ace had a long black cardigan with a red flame-like pattern at the end and a white scarf.
They went off the ship to travel to Yuba. Vivi started explaining the country's affairs.
The crew was not used to this heat and was struggling to walk. Vivi who was born here was fine. As for the two friends, Ace being fire, the heat didn't bother him at all, and Oriana only felt a small heat.
There was a long way to go, and everyone just had to help each other somehow.
The funny thing about the desert is, it's heating hot during the day and freezing cold at night or so the others say. Everybody helped to set up the camp and sat by the fire to keep the warmth.
Chopper, who was enjoying the stars was jumped by Usopp, Luffy, and lowkey Zoro too because of his warm fur. They were trying not to freeze. Oriana was slowly getting tired and laid her head on Ace's shoulder.
Ace took his arm around her and held her closer while observing the others. They were an amusing bunch they both thought. "It must be a real surprise for you" They both looked to see Vivi, "I mean Luffy-san, I was surprised too at first" she continued.
"Why would anything Luffy does surprise us?" Oriana asked, not understanding the need to tell them. "Maybe it's that he isn't captain-like or that normal pirates captain is respected by their crewmate. But just this afternoon, a simple drink of water caused a big fight. But, you know, the longer I've been with the more I've come to understand- ",
"That's how Luffy does things" Oriana finished while smiling, Vivi seemed surprised. "He hasn't changed one bit since he was a kid. Despite how he seems people always gather around him. Even though he's our little brother, he has this mysterious charm about him" Ace explained.
"Oh, you already knew" Vivi sounded surprised. "We go way back," the two pirates said at the same time. "But thanks," Ace said, but the princess didn't understand, and he continued, "You were worried that we were concerned, right?"
The princess smiled, "Yes. But it looks like I didn't need to worry after all" Ace chuckled, and Oria fell asleep.
-x-
Oriana woke up the next morning to people yelling. She wasn't used to people being that close to the place she was sleeping. The female pirate opened the tent and was about to tell them to keep it down but didn't get the chance because a sandstorm was about to hit.
She jumped into the middle and made a big wind circle that covered everyone, "So cool!" she heard Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji yelling. The storm continued like that for a while longer and they had no other choice but to wait it out.
"You saved us. Thank you!" Nami sighed in relief, "Don't mention it!" Oriana smiled as she was about to go back to the tent, but everyone was packing, "What's going on?" she asked confused, "We need to keep going or we won't make it in time."
"But I'm still tired!" Oriana protested,
"I know, I'll carry you and you can just sleep on my back" Ace offered which she happily agreed to, "Ace, have I told you how much I love you" she smiled, "Yeah, but it won't hurt to hear it more often" he teased. "I love you," she said as she jumped up to his back, and in seconds, she was asleep.
Oriana woke up when she heard Luffy and Sanji arguing about something. She was on the ground and felt someone's hand rubbing her back, "Oh, you're finally awake!" Ace teased, "I would have slept longer if those two kept it down!" she said annoyed.
She lifted her head from Ace's lap and looked at him, "Thank you for that!" she smiled, "It's nothing" he waved his hand. She giggled, "By the way what's up with them?" she used her thump to point at the two.
"Some bird stole their backs of food and water" her eyes widen before turning to them, "What?" and were about to stand when Ace held her back saying, "We still got ours" That calm her down as she sat down again, "You're the best!"
Luffy ran away to chase the birds, and after waiting some time Zoro and Sanji went out to find him. "Tch, he's a lost cause" The green-haired man complained, "You can say that again" Sanji agreed. "I'm sorry. For my brother's carelessness, I apologize" Ace said sincerely.
Before they even left the camp, everyone could hear a rumble coming their way, and soon a giant lizard was chasing a camel with the young captain riding on its back. Zoro and Sanji went to help him, and the trio beat the lizard, but another emerged from the sand and was about to eat the two crewmates.
Oriana jumped out of the way and let Ace take care of it, "What a pain. Do you want to play? Okay, only if you're sure" he smirked as he jumped in his mouth and burned it from the inside. The hungry crew decided to eat the lizard Luffy and his friends beat.
When the pirates and princess were ready to leave, they noticed the camel. It refused to let Luffy ride on its back along with any other man. Nami went over to it, and it started swooning over her. She got on its back and decided to name it Eyelashes.
The red-haired girl went over to Oriana and Vivi to let them ride with her. Oriana went on without a second thought, but Vivi was hesitant and wanted to walk a little longer. Nami quickly convinced her as they started to go in the direction of Yuba while threatening to leave the guys if they don't hurry up.
They had been going for about two hours, "Oi, most of them are gone," Oriana said without turning around and the only ones remaining behind them were Usopp and Sanji. Nami was already kind of expecting it to happen, just kept going, "Aren't we going to look for them?" Vivi asked concerned, "Don't worry they'll follow our track."
Oriana just leaned back and took her arms behind her head not worried at all.
When the sun was about to set and the missing pirates still haven't returned, "Are you still worried?" Nami asked because the princess kept looking back, but before she could deny it Oriana spoke up, "It's written all over your face, princess. Stop worrying so much."
"I'm sorry, I do believe in them, but…" Vivi started, "You're all amazing. I've been wondering since Little Garden. How is it possible for you to believe in your nakama so much?" she continued. "How? I've never thought about it actually," Nami answered.
"That's even more amazing, not many people can believe in others without a shred of doubt," It surprised her. "When you meet the right people, you will trust them without even realizing it," Oriana thought back to her own crew.
Nami knew what she meant, "Well, I'm not sure, but maybe it's because everyone does what they can to the best of their abilities. You know a person can only do so much. No matter what you do, it's impossible to do it alone. You need nakama. But if they don't do all they can for you, it's meaningless, don't you think? Oh, that was a weird answer."
Vivi was shaking her head "No, thank you". Oriana agreed, "Yeah, Nami that was perfect".
Not so long after, Luffy, Zoro, and Chopper came back with big smiles. As the sun was setting, they decided to set a camp up there before it got too cold. Oriana was looking over the horizon to look for Ace, but with no luck "Where is that idiot?" she said not too loud.
She pouted around the fire, Sanji was fast to offer his company "Oria, come sleep with us!" Nami called her over. Oriana accepted the offer quickly.
-x-
By the next morning, Ace was still nowhere in sight which annoyed Oriana more than anything. They didn't have any food to eat that morning and when it was about lunchtime, they met the san pirates.
The enemy pirates attacked, but Oriana wasn't caught like the two other girls. She jumped onto the rail ready to fight them. A man came over to her with a knife in full speed Oriana just kicked to the side, "If you don't let them go, I'll destroy you alone with this ship!" she cracked her fingers.
"No don't, Oriana-san!" Vivi begged, "What? Do you prefer I just go?" Oriana didn't have time for whatever game she was playing. "No, save us!" Nami said without hesitation. Oriana smirked, "Roger!" she jumped between them and kicked the pirates away.
Oriana was ready for a workout, but it was sat on hold when Luffy came over and broke the mast.
The young pirate got along with them quite quickly which wasn't surprising to any of them. The sand pirate captain explained when he kidnapped the girl it was because they wanted to eat the camel, "You can eat that thing?" Luffy questioned surprised.
Oriana didn't think it was a bad idea considering they were hungry in the middle of the desert without food and barely any water left. Once they eat and gain strength, they would continue their journey.
Suddenly an arrow was aimed at the princess, and they somehow knew each other but Oriana didn't care to know as she relaxed by the rail because Luffy and Vivi apparently had to leave to get supplies in order to fix the broken mast.
Oriana didn't understand why they would help the sand pirate since they attacked them first. On top of that the princess would claim repeatedly that they didn't have time. It was an annoying way to waste time they didn't have.