"You're sure popular…" Deuce remarks as he and the rest of the spade pirates party, enjoying their liquor as they sit around enjoying another victory against the surprise attack of bounty hunters hunting them down.

"Lately it's only been guys like that. Such a bummer." Ace complained, which he rarely did as he took a pint of alcohol. Well, they'd certainly seen an increase in people coming to attack them for Ace's bounty and that was because even in comparison to other pirates in the same class as Ace, his bounty was high. To have that high of a bounty as a rookie who hadn't even been to the New World yet makes him look like a reasonable target. The crew were just happy to see Ace's bounty rise and Ace was happy to see his crew happy.

However only Ace knows why it's higher than normal not the crew not those targeting Ace, nor the marines around here, probably no one knows. Ace is strong of course, he's even a Devil Fruit User. And he's quickly signing big name pirates one after another, the marines couldn't catch him not to mention him being associated with the marine traitor they were wary of him. He still couldn't believe Ace had no clue about his sister turning tail of the marine, having no clue she herself was one once the reason for the soon to be admiral as it was gossiped heavily in the sea to turn tail on such a promotion still was a mystery amongst both pirates and marines…

There had been rumours sure, some saying she had been a spy all along for the revolutionaries, some saying she had an offer from the famous Cipher Pol to become it's number one and some simply saying she had died on sea until she had been shown to be in the Yonko's crew…some believing Shanks had snatched up her. No one would go against a Yonko just for one solider, even if said soldier was to be an admiral as it had been discussing heavily across the seas…

Ace really had no clue how notorious his sister was, how she struck fear into the highs of both pirates, bounty hunters and even fellow Marines alike as some had theorized that red head Shanks and her had been an item, for quite some time, using her marine ties to get him ahead of the game, some saying the same for her and Benn Beckman even…they had often been seen with one another as she had been seen with the crew on numerous occasions.

But was all that only reasons Ace had such a bounty? Just what was the motive for giving Ace a higher bounty then the guys who did worse than him and had seniority over the crew? That was the seed, Deuce couldn't help but feel bad about this underhandedness he couldn't believe it after traveling with Ace for so long…

Ace probably knew the truth.

-Roger.

When Deuce looked at Ace's Wanted poster, he remembered that name however Ace probably doesn't want to, shouldn't, admit that. Even if it couldn't be seen you had to notice the shadow of that existence over him even as Ace kept his mouth shut so Deuce had no choice but to pretend, he didn't notice it too.

"Ah well I guess being loved by someone is better than being hated and hating them in turn." Deuce tried to light the bland mood just a little.

"Even that bushy beard bastard-" Deuce quickly cut himself off without thinking. There was a loneliness in his hue as he stared into his mug just like the dark depths of the seafloor. He wasn't drunk.

"Ace…" Deuce hesitated, he had to say something when…

"Nau!" The crew's no sit revelry came to a complete stop the ship becoming quiet. Everyone followed Kotatsu's line of sight into the distance as he stares and growled. Kotatsu was looking in the direction of the deep fog the bounty hunter's ship had disappeared into and looking there, they could see the silhouette of a single ship appear from within the fog.

"What the? Are the coming back for another round?" Ace arises from his seat but there was more than just a single ship's silhouette. In the fog countless ships were coming into view. This was a fleet…

"Marines!?"

The seagull mark slipped out of the fog.

"It was painted on ails. It was one of the marks in this world no pirates wanted to see.

Below that written in absolutely huge letters was the word "MARINE." Sure enough those were marine ships that had appeared the smoothly lined up fleet was heading their way.

"That's Nailing's ship. We got found by someone dangerous. Nailing is rumoured to be a rally strong Ensign." Skull pointed to the leading ship.

"I heard she was trained by the marine traitor!" Another one of the spade pirates throw in as Deuce couldn't help but look over at Ace, oblivious to the title nor to his crew's fear as the ship approached.

"An eptheth huh? Were they a former shipwright or something…?" Ace asks as Deuce gave the rest of the crew instructions.

Open up the distance!" One battleship surged ahead of the others. Moving with it there was a gap surrounded by the other ships. The battleship had already entered the gap in formation as it opened up the distance bit by bit with both sides but it shouldn't have done that.

So there's a rear area nearby looks like if we don't change course we'll enter it. Full speed straight ahead! Sensei the sea charts!" Deuce gave instructions to the person probably in the archives wary of the battleships following right behind them, Deuce stayed topside going back and forth to keep her on course and then…

"This is a nice ship." Said a voice, Dedue was unfamiliar with right beside him.

It was a young woman's voice. She wore a fluttering white coat with the characters of justice printed on the back like a cloak, wearing a coat like that is only done by those in the marines that can be called Officers.

When the hell did she!?

Where did she jump over from, this lone Marine Officer that boarded them!?

"Sorry to say it but your voyage ends here." She reached for a sword hanging off her waist on the back of her had was a terrible burn scar and the retort of a gun-

"Hmph."

A metallic ringing. She gave an amused snort.

Without changing her expression, she had drawn her sword.

"Oh my she blocked it." Mihawl said from out of nowhere after a moment of silence. It had all happened in an instant. That woman had blocked Mihawl's sniper shot with her unsheathed sword.

"What a monster…"

Deuce unconsciously took a step back.

"I had a good teacher." Smirking, she tells the crew coyly.

"Master Ace that's Nailiiiiing!" Scared, Skull screamed after a glance having noticed her presence because of the gunshot.

"Oh? I thought for sure it was some sort of skilled old partner coming for us. Why's she called nailing?" Ace asks his crew curiosity clear on his furrowed features.

"Because she's said to leave her prey full of holes that are precise like hammering in a nail!" Skull screeches.

"So that's her thing." Ace said as he stepped forward without even the slightest tremble of fear in his voice.

Ace was calm and collected. But so was she.

Without batting an eyelash, she started straight at Ace with strong willed eyes.

"I am Ensign Isuka. You're Fire Fist Ace right?" She introduces herself with a strong voice, pointing her blade at Ace.

"You're under arrest." Isuka asserts.

"You…have a bird-like name huh." Ace looks at her with a rare serious face.

For a moment the air around them stilled- or at the least it felt like it did.

Ace's remark didn't fit the tense atmosphere, yet the officer Isuka didn't move a muscle. Silently, her sword stayed pointed at Ace.

"Can you really cut me with that?" Ace asked grinning like a mischievous child. With that, his body seemed to flash like a mirage, the fierce flash was him preparing to instantly turn to flames.

"As you wish I'll fill you full of holes!" Isuka moved beofre she even finished speaking with such speed that Deuce couldn't follow she struck out with her slender blade. It might have been because there was too much force behind it but even though Ace had turned to flames, he was still pushed back by her sword.

"Captain Ace!"

"Guys help the captain!"

Even though the crew immediately surrounded her Isuka still moved her sword around freely. It was like there was an invisible wall with no gaps in any direction. Even just a step closer and Deuce imagined in a flash her sword tip would have them full of holes.

Nailing Isuka. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed she lived up to the name.

"Ace don't run! Quit your futile resistance and come quietly!" Isuka lashed out at Ace in a firm fierce voice.

"So if it's not futile resistance it's fine right?" Ace asked in a light teasing tone having been pushed back by Isuka's sword.

Those two were quite the contrast.

And here Deuce suddenly voiced that there was something strange about Isuka's tactics.

Isuka was one person, they were many. Both sides had a limit to their physical strength. With Isuka's tactics either way it would without a doubt be her loss. Despite that, why had this woman boarded the spade's ship without backup? Despite all the subordinates she had brought along she was on the spades ship alone. Given that if she was just buying time-

Noticing that when Deuce looked around, their ships' designation was already surrounded by battleships. They thought they were listening them but the truth was they were steadily surrounding them. She used herself as a decoy…!

She boarded an enemy vessel all alone herself to open up space.

Despite Deuce dislike he had given her his full attention as they didn't have a choice but to deal with those actions. If trouble broke out on the ship, inevitably the ship's stuttering will become eligible and if other battleships surrounded the gap…

Thinking about it with just the one ship following perfectly behind them maybe it was a plan to turn their attention to only behind them.

"Now it's over." Isuka thrust her sword tip at Ace again. However…

"UWAAAHHH!"

From outside the spade ship shrikes could be heard. Of course they came not from the spade pirate ship but the surrounding battleships.

Well would you look at that it looks like we made it in time.

Something in Deuce's chest calmed down in that moment they'd make it to where they were heading.

"Didn't you notice the rocks around the bottom of the ship in your delirious chaos?" Coyly, Deuce turns to look at the battleships one of them surrounded the spade ship was heavily listing to one ide.

It was a reef area.

If you enter one without noticing the waves will beat you against the rocks and its impossible to navigate. If your luck is bad it'll open a hole in the bottom of your ship and you'll sink it looks like that's what happened to the battleship before Deuce.

It was obvious from the start that their goal was to have the battleships surrounding the spade's ship. Deuce never thought a commanding officer would board the spade ship herself and fight them though, but the point was that even if they wanted to surround the spade ship, the spade's best bet was to make it a situation where they simply couldn't do it. that's why Deuce had this place be their goal, he thought they would escape them without getting surrounded if they could slip through a gap in the reef area.

Raising their speed and with such vigour they probably got caught on the sharp rocks. The battleship's damage looked server as they watched the listing got worse.

People and barrels were dropping off the listing ship.

The reef's area's waves were rough because of all the rocks the waves crashed together irregularly.

In addition, those waves washed rocks were all sharp so if you carelessly charge in you won't get off scotch free.

"It really would have been best if you noticed the rocks and quit following us." Deuce advises as the fallen marines were at the mercy of the waves no matter how good a swimmer they were, a place like that is tough.

With that, Isuka sheathed her blade and stepped onto the edge of the ship.

"What's this? You're running?" Amused, Ace hollers to his foolishness.

"You idiot, I'm going to save them!" Isuka snaps as with that said without hesitating she jumped down into the white frothing waves, leaning over the edge, the spades watched her progress.

Not even phased by the wild waves, Isuka swam. Then she extended her hand to her drowning subordinates she got them clinging to floating barrels and planks.

"That's one amazing woman." Skull gave a whistle of admiration.

But the relentless waves were strong. Even Isuka was at the mercy of the fierce waves. Countless waves washed over her head because she was handing out floating assistance to all her subordinate soon there wasn't one for her.

Ace stares at Isuka's form and then-

He quietly threw out a life preserver.

With strong eyes, she stared up at the Spade Pirates' ship at Ace.

"Why did you save me!?" Mad, she shouted in a ridiculously loud voice.

"Who knows…" Bluntly, Ace replied turning away from her unaware of her hues widening when hearing his delivery some semblance of familiarity in her hues Deuce deduced from the pain faintly flickering upon her furrowed features from his words.

"Fire Fist I'll definitely arrest you next time! I'll make sure you regret saving me!" Mad, she roars raising her voice as the spade ship continued forward listening to Isuka's war of declaration upon them.

"She's a good person…" Ace whispered as they were passed back around the reef area.

A commanding Officer that without hesitation promised the rescue of her subordinates herself.

Thinking like that, Deuce guessed she was a good person just like Ace said. A battle plan to board an enemy vessel all alone yourself and buy time it wasn't just because she was the strongest but possibly because that was the type of person she was. However…

"Thinking about how that scary woman is going to be chasing us around from now it makes me want to cry." Crestfallen, Deuce sighs sadly.

"But it's better than a bushy bear isn't it?" Ace argues amused.

"Well I guess so…it's just he's been chasing us for so long…" That said, Ace and Deuce looked at each other and laughed.

"Now then how about we continue that part? Raise your glass!" With Ace's lone command, the party started again…

Quietly, a figure with a coal cloak makes her way inside, hoodie up as she enters the bar where waiting with a small smirk is a certain woman with short black hair, soft inhaling the cigarette between her fingertips.

"My, my if that isn't a face from the blast." Bemused, the woman winks at the smirking woman sitting down on the barstool one leg over the other.

"…" Silently, she sits as the woman smiles silently taking out a bottle drawing out a glass for her which she silently sips, taking it, hearing the crisp click of ice cubes clinking.

"There was a guy looking for you." The woman leans over the counter cheekily.

"Let me guess, tall towering looks like an admiral." Annoyed, the figure finally speaks sighing exasperation etched into her tired tone.

"Last I heard he is one." Smirking, she leans into her hand.

"Is he now?" The cloaked figure exclaims.

"Has quite the smouldering look…bet he knows his way in the bedroom." Bemused, the woman winks, a glint gleaming in her hue as the cloaked woman simply silently sips her drink.

"…He's good." She sighs giving them that only to falter furrowing her brow by her slip up.

"So you admit it." Smirking, Shakki leans into her hand pleased by the ruby red flustered face of the angry Ann.

"Shit!" Scowling, she spits it out.

"Didn't think you would go for an admiral…" Amused, Shakki smirks spewing smoke into the open air.

"Didn't think an admiral would be chasing after me." Muttering, Ann grumbles glaring down at her drink.

"He didn't seem hostile, he seemed almost concerned…" Shakki says softly to Ann, her hues softening sadly.

"Almost as concerned as the people on Ohara…?" Bitterly, she sneers sipping said substance, a still silence hanging heavily between both of them…

As the spade pirates continued their journey, the New World was before them. They'd already made it halfway through the Grand Line. The first half of the struggle was over. At this time the Spade Pirates had grown to a total of 29 people and 1 animal.

Starting with Ace, the members of the Spade Pirates became people who could be placed apart from other pirates at a glace. With this Ace's bounty as the spade pirate captain also greatly increased. With this excitement ringing in them they thought they could go bursting into the new world but it seemed that it wasn't quite so simple as they were immediately waiting for a while on the intelligence Officer that was Skull.

"Coating?" Confused, Ace tilts his head to the side at the unfamiliar word.

Lamplight filled the room inside the ship as Ace was sitting in a chair and at his feet Kotatsu's big body was curled up tight having a pleasant looking nap. On the desk a sea chart was spread before him as Skull continued his explanation.

Yep you cover the boat in a special natural resin. With that you can travel underwater it seems you ca even dive all the way to the seafloor." Skull elaborates to his captain. The next designation the Log Pose pointed to was the destiny island on the seafloor: Fishman Island.

To get to the seafloor, you couldn't just continue sailing naturally as the spade pirates had. It seemed going to the seafloor required the spade pirates to get the ship covered in a special product, the Coating by a specialised craftsman. Furthermore the one place to get that coating was-

Sabaody Archipelago?" Ace mumbles mystified by the name, his hues darting down towards the map Skull spread out before him. It was a collection of different sized islands, on Skull's recommendation, the Spade Pirates ship was currently hearing for Sabaody Archipelago.

Sabaody Archipelago isn't actually made of islands. Each island is actually one of the world's largest mangrove trees, a Yarukiman Mangrove. And the coating resin requires sap from the tree roots that make up the surface of the islands.

I see so because they're not islands even if we stay there the log can't be overwritten right?" Deuce mumbles staring at Skull's map, the map had 79 islands marked on it, that they were all a collection of trees and people lived on top of their roots was a surprise.

"Our goal is to get a skilled Coating craftsman however no matter how fast they are, it's going to take three days."

So we'll be stuck here for three days…?" Ace made a seriously face, their captain doesn't look at maps normally so to see him making such a serious face at the map before him was an strange sight. Thought to stay they were stuck here and not staying here was an Ace-like expression.

So is the food good?"

That was also an Ace-like worry.

It's the Sabaody Archipelago as entrance to the new world it has great attraction. There should be plenty of restaurants with delicious food."

Hmm. I see…"

Even though he was worrying before, Ace quickly brightened up.

"Anyways what so bad about going to this spot with the skull mark?" Ace asked pointing to the huge mark drawn on the map.

"What are you saying Master Ace!? That's my mark! That's my aim for where we should land. Our goal point. The place we're currently headed for." Fuming, Skull snaps shocked raising his vocie to his captain cross.

"Is that so? Hey isn't this mark hard to understand?" Ace argues quirking his head to the side uncertain.

"Eh!? Is that right? Well guess it can't be helped…" Skull reluctantly dipped the pen in red ink and surrounded said skull with a ruby red heart. Ace looked at Deuce speechless as Deuce couldn't help but understand the feeling well.

The ship continued forward steadily drawing closer to Sabaody Archipelago they would soon be arriving at the goal on Skull's map, the marked place. From up on the deck, they looked up to the tree towering up high into the heavens.

"Huge…" Unconsciously slipped out of Deuce's lips, towering before his hues were the trees even bigger than he'd imagined.

From the roots of those big trees came the special natural resin. The ingredients for Coating. It was inflated by the air of the root's breath becoming big bubbles dancing up into the air. Countless bubbles made like this danced above the island. The bubbles shined with rainbow reflections thanks to the shining sun above. Deuce couldn't help but be in awe, at a loss of words for it all as in front of the of the city of bubbles danced, he could see a big Ferris Wheel. It was just like a dream, the problem was what words could even capture the entirety of this beauty, could words even suffice for it? Deuce couldn't help but worry while the spade's ship docked between the roots coming out o the sea's surface. To dock the ship, they searched for a place people shouldn't be able to spot.

Sabaody Archipelago of course had probably maintained ports but those weren't near here. That's because to get to the ship Coated at the very least they'd have to stay on the island for three days. In that time if the marines and bounty hunters and other bad professions people potted them they wouldn't get that coating. There are plenty of lawless zones where the government's eyes don't reach in Sabaody Archipelago so they dared to choose such a place to dock their ship. Compared to being pinned down by marines and unable to move the ship, the lawless zone were preferable ad could be called a familiar home to the spade pirates. Finding a shadowy place behind the trees, they quietly docked the ship.

As they prepared to anchor the ship, Skull warned the crew, "It's not just the Marines and bounty hunters. The World Nobles kidnap people…there's a lot of troublesome things to get you. Until the Coating is done, please stay out of trouble." Skull looked especially expectantly at Ace.

"I'm begging you Master Ace." Skull swiftly adds anxious.

"Ah what was that?" Eyes shining as he looked at the island, Ace made a stupid face.

"Agh if only nothing troublesome will happen…" Skull slaps his hand over his face.

"I get it anyways are those Graman things any good?" Ace asks.

"No you don't get it…!" Skull scowls at his captain.

Grand line Maju- for short Graman. A souvenir for this island. It seemed Ace's head was already filled with considerations of what to eat now that they were making land. Talking a calming breath over Ace's behaviour Skull turned to Deuce seeing what Skull wanted to say, Deuce gave him a bitter smile and nodded.

"I'll keep an eye on him. If he went on his own he might get over excited and burn some World Nobles…"

"Oi! Oi! Listen to me! You know how good I am at intelligence gathering and none of that is assumptions! So don't do it! Absolutely don't! don't even consider it!" Intensely, Skull says as looking at Skull's suddenly frantic behaviour, Deuce laughed then Skull soon joined him as they were doing that the ship came to a full stop, they had finally arrived.

"It's been sometime…Rayleigh." The woman whispers standing before the crouched figure of the long silver haired male tending to the ship before him.

"That it has princess…" The silver haired male smiles softly at the pink haired woman.

"You look well…" The pink haired woman eyes the man still cloaked in black brow furrowing.

"As do you, Roger would be to see the beauty you've grown into." Honestly, Silvers smiles softly as he turns to face the long haired woman.

"Heh such words are undeserving for someone who failed his captain's last order." Anguished, Ann looks to the side solemnly sadly…

"…Ann." Rayleigh's hues soften at the young girl slowly standing.

"I tried uncle I tried so hard…" Ann's lip trembles tense, the tears threatening to fall from her heated glassily gazing into Rayleigh's.

"I know you did…but you need to remember Roger would want you to be happy if you weren't smiling…" Silver stands, bringing the young girl into his arms.

"I know. I just…I hope I can be enough for that." Ann places her head onto his chest, trembling.

"You will be. You just need to train yourself back to your prime you still have time unlike us old folks." Silvers smirks sadly down at the crying child in his arms.

"…Rayleigh…" Ann whispers weakly as she steps back brow furrowed.

"Still I remember warning Roger you're beauty would cause quite the stir, to have an admiral on your trail just shows it." Intrigued, Rayleigh remarks softly sipping the flask he takes out, her hue twitching tense alarmed almost.

"Urghh…don't tell me he came to bother you too." Tiredly, Ann grumbles.

"No I was drinking while he was asking about you to Shakki!" Smirking, Rayleigh reveals attempting to lighten the mood.

"…Great." Ann mutters glaring to the side scowling.

"He seemed concerned for you." Silvers shrugs sipping said flask.

"He's concerned for Ann D. Portgas." Pointedly, Ann deadpans.

"And what are you?" Rayleigh raises a brow by her words.

"You know who I am if he knew…." Ann mutters side eyeing the old man.

"You don't know if he'll react like that…" Tentatively, Silvers points out.

"But I do. I really do." Deadpanned, Ann states scowling she had seen it time and time again, she joined the marines due to that fact.

"Ann…." Silvers sighs at Ann.

"It's best he forget, I've push the past behind me so why can't he?" Annoyed, Ann demands done.

"I think you know why…" Silvers sighs at Ann.

"You think it'll be on sale tonight?" Ann asks Silvers trying to change the topic.

"According to sources…" Silvers shrugs.

"I can only hope it does. If it goes in the wrong hands I don't know what I'd do…" Honestly, Ann admits brow furrowed from the thought tense, she had to get it, only she could wield such might.

Once they finally finished carefully tying the ship down the deck was wrapped in a relaxed atmosphere.

"Well there's no way you'd find a World Noble in a dive like this but we shouldn't be found by the Marines-"

"I've been waiting Fire Fist! I didn't think I'd see you here for a long while yet!" A familiar voice said mixing in with Skull's words.

"-Ei…ther…" Skull turns his head like he was covered in rust towards where the voice came from. Fearfully, Deuce checked the area outside the ship.

"Get out here! I'm going to arrest you today!" The owner of that vigorous voice was needless to say Isuka. She proudly stood there with her arms crossed looking at the ship.

"Did the captain already leave…?"

"How many times has it been…?"

At Isuka's voice the crew started sagging not so much in fear as much as being a bit fed up with her. Since entering the Grand Line the Spade Pirate's ship has been persistently followed by the single female Ensign. That would be Isuka. A ridiculous woman with a burning obsession to arrest Ace, appearing at the next island ad following the pirates no matter how many times they shake her off.

"Oh if it isn't Isuka what are you doing here? On vacation?" Excitedly, Ace asks from the deck in a rather easy going tone.

"Like hell I'm on vacation! I came to arrest you, you stupid idiot!" Isuka roars raising her voice to him.

"Oh? By the way are there any other specialises here besides the Graman?" Ace asks her.

"You mean survives? My subordinates bought Grase because they're long lasting…I told you I wasn't on vacation!" Isuka had screamed but…

A vacation…

It's a vacation…

She's clearly on vacation right now…

What Isuka was wearing hadn't helped her argument at all as she wore what were obviously tourist clothes. Didn't she just confidently find this ship while on leave? If anything she didn't have to meet them on the huge Sabaody Archipelago, was this just the sort of insuperable relationship they had? If there was one thing to be said of Isuka, it was that she was a "good person."

Her feelings for justice were strong and she was seriously honest to a fault. In a fight she demonstrated monstrous strength, but it disappeared at the crucial point that's why she always treats Ace as a nice person. That aesthetic had become something like a deciding punch line. It wasn't just Ace even among the Spade Pirates crew members Isuka was now established as a completely familiar existence. If she heard that herself, she'd probably call it unwitting but rather than a marine anymore there was a part of the spades that recognised her as a somewhat familiar odd acquaintance that often pops up wherever they go.

"Geez at least she didn't bring her subordinates." Skull gave a sigh of relief, thankful that she was aloe.

"If it's just her it's just like it always is. Skull as said as well in the end.

"Yeah we'll have to hide the ship afterwards…" Watching Ace and Isuka's very different temperaments in this exchange, Deuce quietly nodded.

"Get down here Fire Fist! Surrender quietly for your own good!"

"Well, looks like we can't head out for a while…"

While impressed with Isuka yelling up at them from down below all this time, Deuce sighed. She doesn't change, this obstinate woman.

"That woman's got spine. I'm so jealous. I want a woman with spine following me around too." Skull had assessed her as a spitfire woman from before Isuka was always following them without giving up.

"She's a Marine." Deuce reminds Skull.

"That she is…there she is…" Skull sighs.

"You're getting your ship coated right? Then you can't run anymore!" Arrogantly, Isuka said letting out a high pitched laugh continuing her rant as before the crew knew it they had no choice but to eat leftovers on their ship while the woman ranted and they waited for an opening…

"Well Ace looks like we'll eat here-" Deuce turns to look around but Ace was gone, he had an inkling due to the still silence of a retort Isuka received. Isuka still with her arms crossed continued, her attitude unchanged as she stared straight up at the ship, oblivious to the certain someone long gone.

"Fufu you know you can't run, so you're too scared to talk, huh Fire Fist?! Today you'll pay for everything! Oi Fire Fist you hear me? Answer me! What's wrong? Are you asleep!?" As Isuka continued ranting, Deuce couldn't help the pitiful look he sent the woman while she continuously ranting as before Deuce knew it, he had found Ace's wallet and was running, praying Ace hadn't already burnt a world noble as Isuka continues ranting to the ship oblivious to the panicked and concerned crew that were the spade pirates.

"Dine-and-dasher!" Ann perks up at the voice, brow furrowing from the muffled voice screeching screaming taking her aback as she turns to the black blur rushing at her, noting the meat and bone in the man's mouth as next she knew something had practically pounced on her.

"The hell?!" Ann groans as she is thrown back, her head hitting the floor making her hiss holding her head.

"Ann!" Excitedly, the voice calls out as Ann holds her head glaring glowering up at the ass barging into her until…

"Ace…!?" Astonished, Ann gawks gapes at the boy before her.

"When Deuce finally laid eyes on Ace it was at the amusement park where lots of attractions using the bubbles were lined up- he was under the park Ferris wheel and he wasn't alone.

"What is with you dining and dashing like that do you want to be caught?" Cross, Deuce rushes over to Ace's side, staring shyly at the hooded person by his side silently staring.

"I thought I had my wallet." Ace argues as Ann's hues narrow at the boy behind her.

"This is why I tell you to double check before going out urgh…" Deuce grumbles glaring at the boy only for his hues to widen…

"Ace! If you're going to eat it pay for it!" Swiftly, she chops his head, her hand bashing against Ace's head astonishing Deuce taken aback at the confidence of the woman.

"I said I was sorry Ann." Ace whines holding his throbbing head, a small sour bump forming on his head from said strike.

"Just take it and quite causing a mess." Mad, Ann lightly glares at the ass that was Ace.

"My wallet!" Ace beams brightly at the wallet finally realizing it.

"Do you have anything to say to your friend?" Frowning, Ann demands from the blue haired male mystified by the cloaked figure.

"…Is it just me or is it lighter?" Ace furrows his brow by the wallet blanking Ann out as a tick mark soon forms upon her head.

"It's lighter you moron!" Mad, she snaps scowling swiftly slamming her hand into his head another bump forming upon his already formed bump.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! I'm sorry okay!?" Wailing, Ace holds his head horrified.

"Better. Apologies about my brother wandering off like that." Tiredly, the cloaked figure turns to the stunned Deuce.

"Brother. So you're really…" Dumbstruck, Deuce begins gawking gaping at the stray strand of pink peering out of her hood.

"That's right Deuce this is the sister I've been talking to you about." Animatedly, Ace gushes giddily over to Deuce.

"And what have you been telling him? Only good things I hope." Ann smiles at Deuce dumbstruck at the living legend.

"Course, only about your hopeless sense of direction an-OW!" Ace huffs cutting Deuce off.

"Why don't you let the poor sod speak for himself? Moron!" Mad, Ann snaps scowling at her baby brother bashing his head once more another bump forming on his head.

"I…I…." Deuce begins but soon finds himself tongue tied taken aback at the living legend before him.

"Hm?" Happily, she smiles at the baffled blue haired male.

"It's an honour to meet you!" Deuce bows before the woman.

"Oh…" Astonished, Ann jolts up at the bow brow furrowing from it.

"An honour? What's so great about Ann?" Ace blurts out unaware of the tense twitching brow of Ann.

"You want another fist of love punk?" Pointedly, she snaps sharply scolwing slamming her firm fist into his head once more.

"EE-EEP! N-No mam!" Meekly, Ace whimpers weakly holding his head another bump forming upon his head from the threat terrified as after that the snail alarm of sorts upon her wrist perks her interest.

"Well would you look at the time, I best be going…" Ann looks down at the snail attached to her wrist.

"You're already leaving?" Ace whines disappointment clear in his tone towards Ann.

"I have some business to tend to." Smoothly, she dismisses Ace.

"But I wanna show you my nakama, my ship too we're getting it coated!" Cheerily, Ace boasts.

"Are you now? Heh…maybe afterwards." Amused, Ann considers calmly.

"Yeah that sounds great we can meet at my ship we're the spade pirates you can't miss it!" Animatedly, Ace winks at Ann amused at her baby brother's bright broad grin.

"We can just meet here again." Deuce offers.

"…That sounds like a much more better idea." Ann agrees with Deuce.

"But I wanna show you my nakama!" Annoyed, Ace whines like a child.

"And I will all good things take time Ace." Ann reminds Ace.

"Fiiine." Frowning, Ace cranes his head back brow furrowed going with it.

"It was lovely to meet you Deuce." Politely, Ann smiles nodding her head at Deuce.

"A-As it was meeting you." Shyly, Deuce bows his head honoured relieved to be breathing after leaving the two to it.

Having caught the unrepentant Ace, Deuce finally took a breath, listening to children shout in joy, Deuce idly looked up at the Ferris Wheel. Looking up at the giant Ferris Wheel from directly under it, it was even more beautiful than when Deuce saw it from the ship, the transparent gondolas shining in a rainbow of colours were elegant, twinkling in the sunlight as they slowly went around.

It must be really nice view from the top….Deuce idly thinks to himself, Deuce doubting himself immediate after it' not something for a grown man to ride alone much less a pirate…

"Do you want to ride it?" Ace asks as he returns from the food stall.

"Me? Ride a Ferris wheel? I'm not a damn kid you know." Deuce snorts.

"Have you ever ridden one before?" Ace asks.

"Well no but…" Deuce begins but…

"Then it's fine isn't it? Don't worry let's ride it!" Ace smiles slapping him on the back beaming before pushing Deuce towards the platform acting unwilling but on the side screaming with joy as they approaches the unsmiling attendant.

"Alright please look forward to a fabulous view of the Sab-" In the moment he attendant grabbed the door-

"I finally found you…Fire Fist!" Fiercely, with her threatening attitude, Isuka forced her way into the gondola.

"Uwah! A-are you stupid!?" Deuce gawks as he is pushed into the wall.

"You bastards sneaking away…why didn't you come out the front!?" Fuming, Isuka demands from the two.

"But you were there." Ace answers.

"What!? Eve you should come out the front! You're men aren't you!?" Incensed, Isuka demands.

"That doesn't change anything!" Ace bit back at Isuka as the two began to argue, a terrible click came from behind Isuka.

"Hm?" Isuka looks behind her. The Ferris Wheel was locked.

The Ferris Wheel moved without a word. Inside the Gondola was an uncomfortable air. Why'd it end up like this? Deuce dreads brow furrowed from the situation he and his captain found themselves stuck in, he was sitting curled against the wall of the Gondola, sitting next to him was Ace enjoying the view outside the window without a care in the world while across sat the displeased looking Isuka without even glancing at the view outside, she wordlessly glared at Deuce and Ace.

I want off! Deuce internally screams his heart aching even though the ride had barely begun… it was like he couldn't breath, why did Parties and a marine have to ide a Ferris Wheel together? He couldn't enjoy the view like this it's just like being in prions. When would they get back to the ground? The slow pace of the ride terrified Deuce.

The bubbles that come out of the ground float all the way up before they pop huh?" Oblivious to Deuce's distress, Ace looked up at the sky without a care, up until now Ace had been the only one to say anything mostly things like "Ooo" or "Wow."

"Ace how can you be so calm!? That woman is, Isuka is staring really hard at us hard enough that it wouldn't surprise me if lasers came from her eyes!? Panicked, Deuce worries while he was so scared, he couldn't bring himself to look at her instead his hues darted down towards her hands, the terrible burn scar shyly peering out of her glove, now that he looked at it, it looked pretty old…

"What are you look at?" Isuka unexpectedly asked. Astonished, Deuce jumps in surprise at her suddenly words, the inside of the gondola descending down into silence.

"I guess I was wondering about that burn scar on your hand ah I mean, sorry…" Deuce apologises.

"It's alright I got this when I was a child. The village I was born in was attacked by pirates it turned into a sea of fire in an instant. That raging fire swallowed up my parents…" Isuka reveals as at the word fire, Ace showed a faint reaction but continues silently staring out at the window.

"I don't remember much but…while I was trapped in the flames and smoke, I was saved by a single Marine Officer rushing in…vice admiral Portgas." Isuka smiles strained pained by the mention, her hand gripping her trouser leg by the thought of her so called meteor turning traitor why…why had she done such a thing?! Isuka did not know but all she knew was that she had to find out, her mentor was kind so why work for a yonko!? Why leave behind so much?

Quietly, Isuka makes her way through the hollow hallways, her hues sombre sorrowful even noting the still silence around the tight tension of the office, Isuka could feel the heaviness hang over her as she went through these halls, halls abandoned as she noted the boxes being packed away no doubt to be investigated seeing some files being read and torn to pieces shreds what were inside, the young Isuka would have no clue…

"I can't believe her…betraying her own grandfather…"

"To join red haired at that…"

"They had been seen together you think she planned this?"

"It doesn't matter she's a traitor like admiral Akainu says burn everything!"

"But admiral Aokiji ordered us not to!"

"Do you want to face admiral Akainu's wrath or Kuzan's?"

"…I'd rather face neither…"

"Why did she have to be so troublesome…?"

"Who cares she's a traitor that's all there is to it, she's pirate scum! A traitor of the marines!"

Isuka furrows her brow by the many marines making their way past her, trying to ignore the heaviness of confliction convulsing in her tight tense constricted constrained chest, she had to focus, she had a job to do help clean up Ann's office…that was all she had to do. Isuka approaches the door, her hues soon widening when noting a familiar figure sat at the desk looking around, trying to find something searching for something Isuka had no clear but the desperation was clear as day. Isuka couldn't help but ponder if Aokiji had known about her plan to leave, a fair few marines had pondered the same, the two were close it was as clear as day but even when she did, he acted as if he had no clue about it, the two were so close how could he have not known?

Isuka furrows her brow by the thought watching the man search for something desperately until swiftly slamming his furious fist down on the desk, the sharp slam scaring Isuka, flinching back from the ice spewing out from beneath his frosted fist from said strike, shaking quivering quaking almost similar to a volcanic eruption or a geyser about to burst…Isuka couldn't help but stare shocked never having seen the normally calm composed cool headed Aokiji act in sure a manner, sure he was a bit fiery, he had a bit of a temper it was showing much more since Ann's departure. But he seemed more hostile lately, she was always the one to calm him down, cool the fierce flame behind his cool firm façade for her to leave…it hadn't made things easy.

She had heard rumours of Sengoku ordering Aokiji to take a few days of rest which of course he refused, she had even heard of Aokiji and Akainu spitting venom at one another, Akainu acting all high and might proclaiming he had predicted Ann being a traitor saying she was nothing more than scum, she hadn't had the conviction of a marine, the right justice that was needed for the navy…how he would drag her back to enact justice…that seemed to be the last straw for Aokiji as Isuka had heard of the man striking at Akainu it was only thanks to marine hero Garp that the fierce flame of Aokiji had cooled.

"Dammit Ann…why!?" Isuka perks up at the tense tired tone of the aggravated Aokiji swiftly slams said fuming fists down on the desk taking Isuka aback at the sheer severity of his tense tone, noting the faint feeble tense tremor trying to break through the cold curt voice of his, glaring glowering down at the desk. Isuka's hues widen when noting the picture he takes out of her desk, a photo of the two, they looked so happy Isuka took note of the two, not quite sure what else to say shock still washing over her to see such emotion from the normally cool composed marine, biting his trembling lip, trying to stop the tears threatening to fall flabbergasting her.

Her hues soften slightly seeing him approach the sofa, picking up the loose fabric of a blanket, a blanket that wasn't always there, Isuka recalled it well, Ann and her had been on a mission when she out of nowhere bought the blanket fussing over if it was as soft, comfy and well warm as the shop keep said until buying it, fussing over it like a mother hen. Isuka didn't know why Ann would want it back then she always seemed far too busy to be laying around with such a blanket but that was when Isuka would walk into the office and be answered by the sleeping Kuzan with said blanket draped over him, Ann not even acknowledging it or batting an eye as she would work while Isuka would give her the latest report, Isuka being smart enough to know when to pick her fights and the fight with the blanket and Aokiji was one she did not wish for after all she didn't have a death wish.

"I know you're there." The cold curt voice of Aokiji alarms Isuka squeaking slightly from the ice cold curt stare sent her way as next she knew…

"E-Eeep!" Said redhead fell forward falling flat on her face before the aloof admiral.

"…" Silently said male stoically stares down at the marine below.

"S-Sorry!" Scared, she squeaks slightly standing up, fearful of facing the hostile wrath of the admiral before her.

"…What do you want?" Tiredly, he sighs staring down at her.

"I…I came to pick up some of Ad-I mean her things." Tense, she quickly corrects herself, keeping her head down.

"…On who's order…?" His hues narrow, his tone tense glaring down at her.

"Vice admiral Garp sir." Scared, she squeaks unaware of Aokiji tsking at the name drop.

"…that so." Silently, he turns to glare to the side.

"Y-Yes." Stuttering, she says, keeping her bowed.

"Take what you want and go." Aloofly, Aokiji turns his back to her, holding the blanket in his hand.

"Y-Yes sir." Shyly said marine soldier shyly nods her head, furrowing her brow by the admiral before heading off to do so, shyly taking what was ordered of her to go before leaving him, furrowing her brow by the sad state of admiral Aokiji, having no clue what to really say or really think except…why admiral Ann? What had happened to make you do this? Why would you leave him behind of all people?

"…Huh?" Ace flinches from the name, his hues widening while worriedly, Deuce turns towards the astonished Ace however before he could ask…

"She had rushed me out of the building, but I just remember seeing lieutenant Commander Draw at the time take care of those pirates…he's been promoted to Vice Admiral since then but I joined the marines because I wanted to be like them." As she spoke, Isuka gently stroked her burn scar.

"When I look at this hand, I remember my childhood…more than that I don't want the number of kids with memories like mine to increase. I'm going to arrest all the bad pirates." Isuka kindly smiles to her that burn scar was a bitter memory yet at the same time it was like a guide for her life. Seeing that gentle expression on Isuka's face, that was the first thig Deuce had thought, was it something that could only be seen while she wasn't wrapped up in her marine uniform like always? Or was it-

"Fire Fist you…should quit being a pirate."

At those words, Deuce gasped.

"I don't think you're a bad person…and…and if you are related to who I think you are then you may be the key to helping me understand." Earnestly, Isuka explains to Ace, his brow furrowing from her words while Isuka looks hopeful.

"…Understand?" He asks as she opens her mouth to explain, Portgas…if she really is related to him, he could help lead Isuka to her, to explain herself for this treason there had to be a reason there had to be more to this, there just had to be…her mentor wouldn't just leave everything behind like this there had to be a reason!

"W-What are you saying…? Q-Quit being a pirate? If he quits what about…the rest of us?" Deuce suddenly speaks out sluggishly sure but still he speaks out.

"If you have nowhere to go come to the Marines. I'll recommend you. You'd defiantly look good in a Marine Uniform all your nakama can join you. How's that? It's ot a bad offer right?" Hopeful, Isuka asks staring straight right at Ace with strong willed eyes, if he were to join perhaps she too would come back a part of Isuka hoped…

"Yesterday's enemy is today's ally. You have to abandon old feuds if you truly want to save people."

"It was crazy…" Deuce was speechless shocked, Isuka, she was serious, seriously inviting Ace and even the Spade Pirates to join the Marines. Those they had clashed with on island after another in a journey ever since entering the grand line. Marines and Pirates were always the chaser and the chased, the cat and the mouse yet by some crazy nerve, she was able to make such a proposal.

"No it seemed that somewhere in all the drama of chasing the spade pirates down again and again. Isuka stopped seeing Ace as just a pirate and recognised him as an induvial. Pirates were the reason her parents were gone, so pirates were bad, yet even from this perspective of Isuka's she couldn't see Ace as a bad person.

Ace kept his silence.

And then-

A familiar click erupted.

"Ah would you look at that? It's open…I'm hungry so I'm going to head down first." Ace turned to the two with a troubled face.

"Wait you haven't replied to my offer yet!" Isuka was calmly, her legs and arms crossed, she hadn't moved an inch from her seat.

"Quitting piracy and becoming a marine was it? That's not something I can consider." Ace's eyes looking back at the two were like the colour of the bottom of the ocean but it was only for a moment. Ace's usual bright smile was soon in place.

"See you later Isuka." He said, jumping out of the gondola landing on the roof of the next gondola as he was in the air, flames sprung forth from his body as he descended down them like stairs, kicking off of one descending from one roof to the next until making it to the ground.

"Sorry I made a promise to meet with someone!" Smiling, he waves raising hand to them beofre he left like that, leaving his crew member and Isuka watching his retreating back wordlessly.

"YOU DIDN'T AGREE TO MEET WITH HER THERE!" Deuce soon snaps scowling down at the peppy mess of Ace.

"…What do I do?" Deuce stops to turn towards the redhead.

"Maybe so but not all pirates are evil. It's like marines not all marines are good, there are those that use the title to obtain what they want just as some pirates do the same…" Sighing, she explains to Isuka.

"And how do you tell the good from the bad?" Isuka queries.

"Trust." She answers.

"Trust?" Isuka exclaims.

"The choice whether you trust them or not. Watch them first see for yourself what you think of them and whether you think you can trust them or not…that will be up to you to decide. But without trust nothing can be done." Dutifully, Ann explains as Isuka listens on the edge of her seat stunned.

"Ace won't quit being a pirate. We Spade Pirates will follow Ace that's why up until now and going forward, Ace and the rest of us will always have to be your enemy." Deuce reminds Isuka seemingly snapping out of her thoughts, the tears threatening to fall….

"I guess you're right…" Isuka bows her head sadly, a stray tear freely falling…

"So…are you going to take me hostage…If you do Ace won't run and he'll definitely come to save me it's the kind of guy he is." Deuce deadpans.

In contrast, Isuka gave a bitter smile, a small slip of a tear freely falling.

"…I know…that's the kind of guy he is. I wish we were nakama…" She faintly whispers.

"So you won't?" Deuce asks hopeful as she hollowly heckles.

"Those on the side of justice don't take hostage you stupid idiot." Smiling, she wipes the tear aside with her hand as the gondola slowly descended, soon the ride came to an end as Isuka looked away, no words needing to be shed as she let him run away for today since it was her day off ad she is on leave right now…

"This is bloody ridiculous…!" Rudely, the girl grumbles cloaked in black as she hid her perky pinkish blonde locks from straying too far out of her hood as she descended down the stone steps of the auction house. Still not what she was looking for, fuming, she furrows her brow by the waste of a trip…

"Ann!" Animatedly, a voice calls out perplexing the woman, her hues narrowing, her hand darting towards her blade when next she knew…she grabbed the boy by his arm stopping him.

"You're not tackling me a second time." Tiredly, Ann softly sets her brother down.

"Now you can meet my nakama!" Animatedly, Ace beams brightly at the thought.

"Didn't we agree to meet at the Ferris wheel?" Snippily, she scowls at him.

"We did?" Innocently, he quirks his head to the side.

"Urgh…" Ann facepalms.

"I'm hungry I don't suppose they're selling Grasen." He places his hand to his stomach.

"…I assume you're paying." Ann asserts.

"What do you think?" Teasingly, he smirks at the annoyed Ann.

"Urgh…you're lucky I have money on me." Miserably, Ann grumbles giving into her little brother's wishes as they go off to shop for food…

"I'm glad I bought more this isn't enough to fill me up

"Nothing will ever be enough." Ann deadpans, practically hearing her sobbing wallet while the two hold their respective boxes of food after easily dealing with bounty hunters and such now wandering through the slums, unlike the lively downtown this place had a dejected air to it, there was trash scattered around and the buildings looked like ruins. He still had a fair amount left in his hands however as he simply stared ahead, Ann couldn't help but note from the corner of her hue, in the shadows of the collapsed buildings were little children watching their every move.

"Hey it's alright here." Ann knelt down slowly sliding the boxes over noting the lack of ay sort of shops ad such around here, beckoning the nearby kids to come over as she handed her Grasse over to the terrified children one by one.

"Oi sis…" Ace soon stops in his tracks taking note of what she was doing, soon joining in as well. The children soon smiles as they held the Grasen like treasures and ran off it felt like the air of what they thought was a gloomy alley soften just a bit…

"You still hungry?" Ann asks turning to her brother.

"Nah I'm full." Watching, Ace watch the kids leave, a smile tugged at Ann's lips, plopping her head over her brother's head tousling his hair bringing him into a side hug which he happily returns…

"I've finally found you." A familiar voice calls out as Ann feels her heart drop as next Ace knew…

"Oi Ann!" Ace furrows his brow by his scowling sister pushing him behind her as the two turn towards the two, Isuka now wearing a white coat that didn't fit the slum showing she was on business as Ann's hues dilate at the sheer sight of the girl.

"Crap…" Ann curses taking Ace aback as he eyes Isuka noting her seemingly on business brow furrowing at Ann.

"It's been some time…vice admiral Ann." Isuka bows to the woman, her grip tightening around Ace's arm.

"Vice admiral?" Ace furrows his brow by the familiar title, he had hoped to talk to her about that but the excitement of her meeting his nakama got the best of him…

"What do you want Draw?" Disgusted, Ann sneers scowling at the other marine by Isuka's side a similar coat Isuka wore on the man.

"Wait we came to talk today!" Isuka rushes forward, looking between both parties.

"Isuka…" Ann furrows her brow at the girl.

"It's a good offer!" Innocently, Isuka's eyes shined.

"This is Vice Admiral Draw the one who saved me when I was a child." Cheerily, she introduced the man besides her.

"I know who he is." Annoyed, Ann glares at Draw.

"As I know who you are traitor. Ensign Isuka let's keep this brief." The man called Draw stepped out before them, he was a head taller than both Ace and Ann but he was rather muscular.

"This is addressed to you two." Draw took out a letter, two out of his pocket and they opened it, looking at it. Ann's hues narrow at the letter issued by the world government, glaring at the content within being a recommendation by the high world Government Authority, the Gorosei for Ace and Ann to become warlords…

"So how about it, a good offer right? This way you don't have to quit being a pirate and vice admiral Ann can come back to the marines, everyone's been so worried about you mam, your unit-" Relieved, Isuka gushes giddily with a happy looking face at the thought of things returning to normal but…

"You think this will shut me up?" Icily, Ann demands glaring glowering at Draw.

"Shibukai huh? Sorry but I have to agree with Ann no thanks." Easily, Ace refuses the invitation as Ann simply tosses the envelope away. Astonished, Isuka couldn't help but gawk gape, she couldn't completely hide her surprise after all as Isuka said it wasn't a bad offer, gathering getting the title was something lots of pirates would trade an arm and leg for, they would receive amnesty from the world government, she wouldn't have to run anymore neither would Ace, it wasn't something most could hope to achieve and Ace and Ann hadn't hesitated to kick all that to the curb.

"If you think this is going to get you any closer to her, you can think again." Ann states the fact firmly flabbergasting Isuka, her? Who was her?

"Sorry but I don't even like the Shibukai system itself in the first place." Ace adds.

"That's-" Isuka says shocked, seemingly never even considering their refusal and she was frankly dismayed. Draw standing next to her didn't even so much as arch an eyebrow at it to the contrary he silently smiled.

"How marvellous Ace. The truth is I've always thought the same thing about it as you…" Draw admits.

"Vice Admiral what are you-!?" Isuka begins but…

"And as for you…I've wanted to bring your head to the Gorosei since day one." Growling, Draw glares at Ann.

"Considering I never even knew you since day one that's a bit odd to say don't you think?" Tiredly, Ann quirks her head to the side.

"Not him wanting your head?" Ace arches a brow bored.

"Nah, there's quite a line for that." Truthfully, Ann admits to her brother casually.

"Why am I not surprised?" Smirking, Ace chuckles.

"SHUT IT!" Incensed, Draw growls glaring at the two taking none of it seriously.

"Vice admiral?" Astonished, Isuka gawks at his fury.

"Pirates aren't something to be domesticated or used. It's best to dispose of them as quickly as possible!" Proudly, he roars raising his fist as with a roar, his fist split the air, easily drilling into where Ace and Ann once were.

"Well aren't you a calm one…" Ann remarks bitterly brow furrowed perched upon his fist.

"Please wait vice admiral we're supposed to talk today-" Isuka tries to talk to him however…

"Talk? Haven't we already settled things Ensign Isuka? Ace and that traitor have no interest in the shibukai!" Snarling, he growls taking off his marine coat.

"Traitor?" Ace arches a brow at Ann after dodging said strike.

"…Long story." Smoothly, Ann dismisses, taking out her flintlock.

"Coincidentally I don't like the shibukai either. Furthermore, Shibukai or not I don't like pirates in the first place I'm truly glad they refused right before my eyes, this way I can beat Fire Fist Ace without any worries and finally put this bitch of a whore in her place!" Poisonously, he snarls seething at Ann as a really strange object was revealed under his coat, a cylinder strapped to both arms they didn't appear to be bazookas or tonfas but a tube from the back of the cylinders each connected to a container on his waist.

"You sound so much like the better man right now, not a petty murderer one bit." Bitterly, Ann sneers scowling at the weapons.

"M-Murderer?" Isuka perks up alarmed at her words.

"If you hadn't knocked me out I would have saved that village from those pirates." Poisonously, Draw snarls sneering.

"You would have slaughtered all of them!" Tense, Ann drops down glaring, glowering at the man before her, staring worriedly at the children hiding behind them.

"You were lucky to stop me when you did back then." Truthfully, Draw gives her that.

"You mean I'm lucky that the higher ups didn't believe me about your blood slaughtering due to your prick of a noble family." Fuming, Ann sneers scowling at the murky memory of her trying to tell them of Draw's danger of his bloodlust but the superior at the time didn't even bat an eye to her words.

"Not my fault I have actual influence in the marines unlike you!" Cackling, he roars, his hues shining full of killing intent as fierce flames expelled from the ma, a flamethrower cutting off their retreat. They were soon surrounded by fierce flames the buildings burned then the children who lives there began to shred surrounded by fire, they couldn't go anywhere.

"What are you doing you bastaaaard!" Ace ran over to the kids as Draw aimed at Ace.

"You bastard you haven't changed a bit!" Angrily, Ann glares at Draw, drawing out her blade.

"Right there." Hungrily, he licks his lips as licking at the ground, flames were sprayed at Ace, Ace spread both his hands and his whole body caught fire as Ace cancelled out the spray of flames.

"Vice Admiral please stop there's children!" Isuka cries.

"Children? What are you saying Ensign Isuka? I'm just attacking pirates I won't let them escape. If the pirates are released more children than this might be brought misfortune. Am I wrong Ensign Isuka?" Draw didn't look at Isuka, he just looked straight at Ace and Ann, her hues darting towards Ann as he continued to intently wash him in fierce flames. Ace couldn't move, the flamethrower blast was too strong so Ace couldn't go forward but if he retreated backwards, the children would be swallowed by flames, however his hues widen when seeing Ann draw out her blade as the building pierces come crashing down upon them from the fierce flames feeding upon the building pieces.

"Hurry this way!" Isuka ran away with the children in place of Ace who couldn't move, Isuka desperately reached her hand out to them from between the crumbling buildings, it was the hand with the burn that reached to the children. Among the burning fierce flames, he had spread, the characters of justice brunt upon her coat were flickering, watching Isuka rescue the children out of the corner of her hue she smirked as she with one swift strike…

"Huh?" Isuka's hues widen when next she knew the building pieces that was freely falling became nothing more than rubble, her hues widening when feeling the teasing touch of rubble hit her cheek while the kids gush over the building being nothing more than shining sparks, snowflakes eve as Isuka turns to her mentor simply smirking that is until…

"Ace!" Ann cries out gawking gapes as Draw shook off the fierce flames fired at him dismissing it like it were a fly before bashing his fist into Ace, swiftly snatching him, holding him by his throat, stopping Ace from bursting into flames. Haki…Ann's hues narrow at the silver coating.

"Fire fist Ace…did you really think you could play around with me? That's pathetic level of flames can't beat me. Pirates of your level get chewed up by the New World." Draw's hands squeezed around Ace's neck like a vice as he weakly struggled against him.

"I don't want to hear…a guy who gets kids involved…talk about justice." Ace painfully groaned.

"Don't twist my words I don't get children involved the one who gets them involved is you. If pirates are involved that's the way it is! You understand right Ace? Because you are there, the children get hurt. You see I just do my best to capture pirates but you're different right? You shouldn't be alive your very existence has many innocent people living in fear open your eyes." Draw purrs in a low voice.

"Ace don't listen to him!" Alarmed, Ann cries out pained when noting her brother's still silence having hit a nerve as she notes Ace's strength was fading as Ann could feel her heart dropping seeing said shadow cross her face.

If Gold Roger had a kid? It should be dead!"

It should apologise for it's existence!"

"It would be send on the execution block like its old man! It should say I'm sorry garbage like me was born! Hahaha!"

"If only you weren't here, no one would be put into misery…" Ace had already stopped resisting as next Ann knew…"

"YOU BASTARD!" Ann roars raising her own furious fist, haki infused as she slams said fist back, bashing him back as he rolls.

"You bitch!" Draw curses aiming his fist at Ann as Ann rushes over to Ace.

"Ace don't listen to him! Ignore the voices in your head, snap out of it come on!" Urgently, Ann lightly slaps her brother's cheek shaking him trying to bring him back as she holds him in his arms attempting to snap him out of it when…

"Vice Admiral…that's a lie, isn't it...? The one who burned my village…should have been a pirate…right? Vice Admiral Portgas…she…she saved me." Crying, Isuka returns having evacuated the children turning to him begging beseeching the tears freely falling as her legs buckle before falling flat to her knees, turning towards Ann, a pained look upon her furrowed features towards her old student.

"Tch that idiot Portgas demanded I go in there, but I was too busy fighting the pirates so she decided to be the hero to save you. I was on the side of justice that night unlike that weakling, just what are you trying to say Ensign Isuka? If it's for justice some sacrifices have to be made right? Don't you think you're making too much of a fuss for a mere handful of civilians getting involved?" Draw argues as in that moment Isuka collapsed biting her lip, her voice died in her throat as tears streamed down her face, in Draw's words they were unimportant sacrifices. But to Isuka that was the town she was raised in and her parents…that was the form of justice she aspired to and continue to believe in since she was little…listening to the sobs leaking out Isuka, a hand is gently placed on her shoulder, her hues widening when she looks towards her old mentor, nodding her at her.

"Hold Ace." Ann hands Ace over to Isuka.

"V-Vice Admiral?" Isuka looks up at her mentor.

"It' time to bloody end this." Ann's hues dilate as next Draw knew, her hand was enveloped engulfed with haki.

"Y-You think I'm scared of some bitch that wet on her knees to get to be vice admiral!?" Arrogantly, the vice admiral roars only to falter fearful from the still silence of Ann sauntering over, no words needing to be shed scaring terrifying the vice admiral as next he knew with that single punch, the vice admiral was defeated, done or so they thought…

Their hues widen when watching the muscular man act like a bowling ball bashing into much to their horror, a man riding upon a certain figure, a certain air bubble around their face as the world noble was thrown forward into the washing waves of the sea startling everyone.

Ann turns on her heel turning towards the stunned shocked faces of both Ace and Isuka as next the group knew, the alarm was going off as the world noble was being rescued and an admiral was on their way…

"Welp…I'm dead."


*Happy New Year! What did you think of this chapter? Of Isuka and Ann? Of Ann and Ace?*