I usually don't post very quickly but I have been on a roll with this, and have written parts ahead too for a change
Also! I am finding more and more how much I enjoy Ace as a character to write!
He is such a departure from my usual leading man, if you have read any of my other ff you know...
Anny who let the story go on..
Chapter 3: Unraveling the Past
The next day both of them found themselves at the promised location at the promised time. The two of them sat on the shore, the setting sun painting the horizon in hues of orange and gold. The waves lapped gently at the rocks, a rhythm that seemed to mirror the steady rise and fall of their conversation.
Fila had let her guard down more than she expected, drawn into Ace's warmth and humor. There was a rare ease in their exchanges, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.
Ace was the first to break the comfortable silence. "So," he started, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked out at the water, "you've got all this mystery about you. All I talk about are my brothers… You ever gonna tell me about your family?"
Fila hesitated, her fingers brushing against a small shell she had picked up earlier. The mention of her family stirred a storm of memories she usually kept buried. But here, with Ace's curious gaze and the sea as her backdrop, the weight of silence felt heavier than the truth.
"My mother," she began softly, "died when I was young. I don't remember much about her, but what I do remember…" Her golden eyes clouded, her voice trailing off for a moment.
Ace turned to her, his expression patient and attentive.
"She was… beautiful," Fila continued, her tone carrying a strange mix of awe and bitterness. "But she was cruel. Selfish. Power-hungry. She always wanted more—more wealth, more control, more power. And she didn't care who she hurt to get it. And in the end had none of it."
Ace frowned slightly, his freckles catching the fading sunlight. "That's rough. Must've been hard for you as a kid."
Fila nodded, her fingers tightening around the shell in her hand. "She wasn't a kind woman. But there were moments…" She hesitated, as if unsure whether to share this part. "There were moments when I thought she cared. When she'd hold me and tell me I was her greatest creation. I didn't understand what she meant back then, but now… I think she just saw me as a tool. Something she could shape and use."
Ace's jaw tightened. He didn't interrupt, letting her continue at her own pace.
"She was obsessed with power," Fila said, her voice lowering. "When she heard about a powerful Devil Fruit she became obsessed, she was fixated on it. She wanted it for herself… but when she finally found the one of her obsession, she already had a devil fruit power. So… she forced it on me, and…" Her voice faltered, and she looked away, her expression unreadable.
"Your new power… She didn't make it," Ace guessed, his tone gentle.
Fila nodded, a deep sadness settling in her golden eyes. "No. She didn't. And I think… part of me still hates her for what she did. For what she made me."
Ace was silent for a moment, his dark eyes filled with something Fila couldn't quite place. Then he reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't get to choose your past," he said, his voice steady. "But that doesn't mean it has to define you."
Fila looked at him, surprised by the conviction in his tone.
"I mean, look at me," Ace continued with a lopsided grin. "I've got a father I never met and never wanted, and the only family I really had growing up was my brother and a mountain bandit who could outdrink anyone. And let me tell you, my childhood wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows either."
Fila tilted her head, intrigued. "Your brother, is he like your crew or a closer brother?"
Ace's grin softened, his expression warm. "Close? Oh Yeah. Luffy. He's the craziest kid you'd ever meet. Always jumping headfirst into danger, picking fights he can't win, and dragging me into all kinds of trouble. But he's got this way about him, you know? Like no matter what happens, he's gonna keep moving forward. He's not afraid of anything."
Fila found herself smiling faintly. "He sounds… interesting."
"That's one way to put it," Ace said with a laugh. "But he's got a good heart. The kind of heart that makes you want to protect him, even when you know he doesn't need it."
He paused, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Growing up, we didn't have much. But we had each other. And no matter how tough things got, that was enough."
Fila watched him, her heart aching at the contrast between their lives. While her childhood had been cold and filled with death, his had been chaotic but warm, filled with the kind of connection she'd always longed for.
"I envy you," she admitted quietly.
Ace turned back to her, his grin returning. "Don't. I think you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
Fila looked at him, startled by the sincerity in his words. "You don't even know me."
"I know enough," Ace said simply. "And what I see? It's someone who's been through hell and come out the other side. Someone who's still standing, no matter how hard life's tried to knock her down."
Fila felt her cheeks warm slightly, and she looked away, the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Don't mention it," Ace replied, leaning back on his hands with a satisfied grin. "But you're not getting off that easy. Next time we meet, I want to hear more about you. The good stuff, not just the heavy stuff."
Fila chuckled, a sound that felt foreign but welcome. "I'll think about it."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of deep purple and gold, Fila felt a warmth she hadn't felt in years. Ace had a way of breaking through her walls, and it was in a way that made her feel at ease, a strange feeling for her.
Soon they left the shore and headed back into town. Even though Fila said she had guards, Ace insisted on walking her all the way back to the clock tower in the town square.
The moment they stepped into the town square, Fila felt the unease in the air. The once-peaceful street was now filled with a different kind of tension—the kind that came from pirates who had no respect for the law or anyone in their path.
A group of rough-looking men surrounded a small shop, shoving people aside and laughing as they overturned crates and scattered food. The town's people huddled in the corners, some frozen in fear, others murmuring for help.
"Looks like trouble," Ace muttered, his gaze narrowing as his eyes scanned the scene.
Fila hesitated, her hand instinctively going to the side where her knives were tucked into her belt. Her pulse quickened, but something held her back. The years of being trained to stay out of harm's way, to avoid drawing attention to herself, kept her frozen in place. She had no desire to cause more chaos, no need to bring death to anyone who might not deserve it.
But then she saw her.
A young woman, no older than Fila herself, was being roughly pushed to the ground by one of the pirates. Her face was red with tears, her cries muffled by the pirate's hand as he laughed darkly.
Fila's breath hitched, a sudden anger building within her chest. It wasn't just the woman. It was everything—the powerlessness of the townspeople, the cruelty of the pirates, and the fear of doing something that might make the situation worse. She felt desperate as she watched yet another life being broken in front of her.
But before she could even think to take a step, Ace was already in motion.
"Oi!" he shouted, his voice carrying through the chaos. "Leave her alone!"
The pirate who had been harassing the woman looked up, a sneer twisting his face. "What did you say, kid?" he growled, releasing the woman to turn toward Ace. "You got a problem with us?"
Ace didn't flinch. He walked toward the pirate, his flames already licking at the air around him, bright and hot. The others turned, eyes widening at the sudden flare of power.
"You heard me," Ace said with a grin, the flames in his hands dancing with his every movement. "I'm not letting you do this."
Fila watched, her heart pounding as she saw Ace walk right into danger. His confidence was like a living thing, full of life and energy. He wasn't afraid to stand up for someone, even if it meant facing down multiple unknown enemies.
The pirate laughed, a deep, booming sound that filled the square. "You think you can stop us, kid?"
Ace's eyes glinted with determination. "I don't think. I know."
And with that, he launched himself into the fray. His flames shot out in all directions, forcing the pirates back. They scattered, too stunned by his power to retaliate immediately.
Fila stood frozen for a moment longer, her instincts battling against her hesitation. But when she saw the young woman trying to crawl away from the pirates, her face pale with fear, Fila's resolve solidified.
She had to do something.
Stepping forward, she pulled her knife from her belt, the cold steel a reminder of the power she had inside her. But she wasn't going to use it to take life—not this time. She was going to stop the pirates from hurting anyone else.
As she approached, she spotted another pirate sneaking up behind Ace, aiming a blade at his back. Without thinking, Fila hurled her knife, the blade spinning through the air with perfect precision. It embedded itself into the pirate's arm, causing him to howl in pain and drop his weapon.
"Keep your hands off him!" she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding.
Ace turned, his fiery grin widening as he saw her. "Nice shot!" he called out, his flames still raging around him.
Fila's heart raced as the remaining pirates backed off, eyes wide with fear. They were no match for Ace's flames, and now they had two opponents who wouldn't back down.
"What do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Ace glanced over his shoulder, his grin never fading. "We finish this. Let's show them how real pirates handle things."
With that, they turned their attention back to the remaining pirates. Fila could feel the heat radiating from Ace's flames, his power and conviction infecting her in a way she couldn't explain. At that moment, she wasn't just watching. She was part of it. Dodging and making non lethal cuts on the pirates.
And as the last of the pirates ran from the square, Ace turned to her, his eyes full of life.
"That was pretty fun," he said with a wink, brushing his hands off as if it had been no big deal. "You handled yourself well. You sure you don't want to come with me? I could use someone like you on my crew."
Fila couldn't help but smile, her mind still racing from the adrenaline. "You really are something else, Ace."
Before she could say more, a group of Navy soldiers appeared on the edge of the square, their whistles shrill as they shouted for the pirates to stand down. Fila's stomach twisted.
"We should go," Ace said, his tone suddenly serious. He took her hand in his, pulling her along as he started running toward the docks.
"Where are we going?" Fila asked, her voice breathless as she tried to keep up with his pace.
"To freedom!" Ace replied, his grin infectious. "To the sea. I'm showing you how to really live, Fila. You've been stuck in that cage for too long. You deserve better."
Fila's heart clenched at his words, her mind a swirl of thoughts and emotions. Could she really leave everything behind? The Navy, her life as their weapon? Was it possible to be more than just a prisoner of fate?
As they reached the docks, Fila turned to see Garp standing in the distance, arms crossed and a knowing smile on his face. He didn't stop them, didn't try to intervene. His approval was clear in his gaze.
Fila took a deep breath and, for the first time in a long while, made a choice.
She nodded to Garp, her heart thundering as she stepped onto Ace's boat, the wind picking up around them. Ace followed, and with a final glance back at the town, they set off toward the open sea.
Behind them, the Navy was already in pursuit, but the waves were on their side now.
As the boat sped away, Fila felt excitement for the first time in a long time. She wasn't just running away, or hiding. She was running toward something. Life.
OK end of ch 3!
What are we thinking ya'll? movin right along
this is going to be a shorter story for me but i'm moving quickly because i don't want to delay too much and loose sight of the end!
It has been a little tough getting the dialogue to sound right, i'm not sure if I have Ace's vibe completely down, but you tell me
I thrive off of comments let me know what your thinking!