CHAPTER 1
Being the Head Executive of Whitebeard Empire making him sulk enough of all the paperwork he need to finish. Ace lay his head on the desk with a sigh. He watches out from the window, looking at the view of the ocean from the 15th floor of the building where his room situated. He's position currently is the second command of the Whitebeard Empire where Marco act as the vice president that working under the president itself, Edward Newgate.
Edward known as Whitebeard adopted him not long ago at one of the orphanages that he always donates. Most of the staff in the empire are his adopted son and daughter. They live together at his mansion, and it really surprise Ace for the first time to see how big the family have been. Only Marco is his blood son but he cares all of the one he adopted fair and square. This gives Ace really feel he is been accepted and he smile more often now and then.
He has a rough past and since then he didn't want to wear his family surname as if it a curse to him. Back then he didn't know why people talk bad about his parent, but he didn't care enough to pay attention to it. He's angry about what have happened and because of that incident he end up at the orphanage with just identity of Ace. He's smart enough to hide his birth certificate from the caretakers, and they never knew who's his parent was. He manage to convince the caretakers and the social workers that he's been wandering and living at the street all the time. Luckily, he have the skill of survival thanks to his uncle's grandfather always bring him to the wild forest to do some training. We'll, it's really traumatised him enough. He sure misses him after the incident occur.
Ace stare at the deep blue ocean. He still clearly remembers the day the accident occur. His parent and him were driving to some restaurant to have some dinner. Suddenly, his father drove the car in a fast speed. His face unusually grimed. Her mother looks at the side mirror with worried. She even asking Ace to hide down at the front of the back seat. She took off her black cardigan and cover it on Ace asking him not to make any noise.
"Mum... What happen?" He asked. Fear clearly shown on his voice.
"Ace don't move. Just hide there and don't move." She ordered. Ace just stay silence and do as she told him to do.
His father looking at the side mirror. The speed still on going and he ignore all the red light on the traffic light he crosses making some problem to other driver. Loud horns and curses word clearly heard from the unlucky drivers. His father gaze toward Ace and give all his attention toward the front afterward.
"Ace..." His father said making Ace peek a little from down the cardigan he hides with.
"What is it old man?" He asked making his father smile a little.
"Ace, I want you to listen to me. If anything, happen to us, I want you to run as far as you can. There is someone want us dead. I already told Reyleigh about this. He can help you escape and hide from this cruel world. He's been prepared for this kind of situation." His father said making Ace wonder.
"Portgas D Ace, when the time you will take the name of Gol D Ace and inherit the Roger Empire. Rayleigh will assist you. I hope we can be with you all the time, but I doubt it. They are gaining on us and as a parent we want to protect you from them. But it seems we fail." Her mother interrupted. Ace just stays silent.
"Why?" He asked. A tear already forms at the edge of his eyes.
"There someone out there didn't like us and our achievements. They clearly want us dead event have some assassin to kill us. They really want us dead and easy for them to dominate the business world. I think they tend to read tomorrow headline 'Roger and Rouge killed in the unfortunate accident with their son.'" Roger said.
"Don't joke about something like that." Rouge slapped Roger forearm angrily making him to yelled out.
"Stupid old man!" Ace shouted.
"We haven't died yet, just drive and get us out of here! I won't forgive you if anything happens to mum." Ace said angrily making Roger smile a little.
"You really are smart as your mum. Just in case, I want you to know that I proud of you. You are the greatest treasure we have. We love you!" Roger smile making Rouge also smile proudly with her son.
A black Mercedes car was driving in a high speed and at the wrong side of the road. It's clearly the driver didn't care about others and then the incident occurs when Roger's car collide with the Mercedes car making both of the car flipping over each other and turning upside down. Roger's car flip over the nearby bushes where the other car flipping three time and stop in the middle of the road upside down.
Rouge manage to hold Ace from being tossed out from the back seat. She manage to cover Ace from the shattered glass of the front seat by hugging him tight. She didn't even care about herself and protect Ace from any injuries. Roger still on the front seat and hanging up side down due to the seat belt still holding him firmly to the seat. Blood dripping down from his head and he unconscious. Rouge manages to turn around to see Roger state. She closes her eyes and tear up. Ace squirming in her hug. She let go of him and relieved to see Ace just got a minor injury.
Ace look horrified when he saw his parent state. His mum looks at him with relieved while his father still unconscious.
"Mum..." Ace uttered a word.
"Ace... I need you to run now. Leave us and stay alive." Rouge said making Ace shocked.
"But mum...!" Ace did not want to leave them.
"My Ace, I want you to live. I want you to see the world and I want you to achieve your dream. Do it for us, will you? Take care of Roger Empire for us. Run now before they see you. Run!" Rouge pushes him out from the car. Ace just looked at her mum with a sadness in his heart.
"Run!" Rouge shouted.
Ace stand up and do as he told to. He run as far as he can and when he turned around to see his parent for the last time, he saw his mum smile proudly at him. He feels guilty and sad. He does as what his mother asked to. He ran without looking back again and then the car exploded. He's body thrown away far from the car and landed on the bushes. He sits up at the bushes and cry. He didn't know how long he cry at there. After a while, he stands up and walk away from the scene.
He didn't know for how long he is walking at the street and manage to sleep on the alleys he come across. The birth certificate his mother gave him when they're on the chase hidden well in his hidden back jean pocket. Luckily, he wraps it up neatly in the plastic bag and it will not get wet from the rain.
He didn't know for how long he already staying on the street. Sometimes he will dine and dash, sometimes he will get some job to get some money. But one thing for sure he didn't want to beg for the money. Even he needs to steal, he never ever begs to get money. He didn't even go back to Roger Empire and search for Reyleigh as his father ask him to. He knows his father enemy still lurking around and tried any chance they get to kill him.
He needs to get stronger if he wants to find the one who killed his parent. He walks and walk until his leg stop at one of the oldest buildings there. A statue of a white whale standing in front of the building. He looks up to see the sign board on the building.
MOBY DICK ORPHANAGE
A woman currently looking out from the window and spotted Ace staring on the front sign. She walks toward the door and making Ace surprise when she walks toward him.
"Young man, can I help you?" The woman scanned Ace appearance.
"No. Nothing. Sorry for bothering you." Ace said and walking to the opposite direction. He then being held by the woman.
"How old are you? Where are you parent?" She asked again.
"12. Don't have one." Ace said making the woman widen her eyes. She looks toward Ace skinny body and cover her mouth with her hand.
"Where do you live?" She asked again. Her word clearly quivered.
"Anywhere. Sometime at the park, sometime at the alley. Depend." Ace answered.
"Poor thing... Come in stay with us. What your name?" the woman asked again.
"Ace. Don't worry, I don't think I'm fit in. I just stay on the street ma'am." Ace answered.
"No, I won't let a boy like you staying on the street. It isn't saved. From now on you stay here as long as you want." She said dragging Ace inside.
A woman with curly orange hair come out from the room. She saw Ace and look toward the woman at his side.
"Who is this brat Makino?" She asked making Ace annoyed.
"Dandan, from now own he will live here. I will register him under the care of this orphanage until someone suitable and can be trusted to adopt him." Makino answered making Ace surprise. The lady willing to find a new home for him. Dandan sighed.
"What your name brat?" Dandan asked.
"Ace." Ace answered.
"Your family names?" Dandan asked again.
"Don't have one. I live on the street. Some old guy taking care of me while I'm little but now he already dead and I just go where my leg take me to." Ace lied.
"Poor thing... Don't worry, I will find you a place to stay. I won't be here much, but I really like you Ace." Makino patted Ace head fondly. Ace just blush away.
"You know the procedure Makino, just settle him in." Dandan said and walk away.
"Thank you, Makino. But you don't need to rush out. I can stay here for a little bit. But you will come by visit, are you? I like Makino because Makino is kind." Ace said while turned his head to the other side hiding his blush. Makino smile.
"I will sure come visit you." Makino said while crouch down and hug Ace making him surprise with Makino action. He didn't know why but apparently, he slowly starts crying and eventually hugging her back making him remember last time he been hug by anyone.
"I will find someone to take you. It is a promise." Makino said determinedly.
Not long after that, a rich donor come to the orphanage, and he spot on Ace. Makino was there when the donor staring at Ace playing with the other kid with his age.
"Whitebeard san, is there something wrong?" Makino asked when she saw Whitebeard stare at Ace and his friend.
"That boy, I haven't saw him from the last visit." Whitebeard said. Marco sitting beside him also turned toward Ace. There sometime about Ace making both of them want to know him.
"Who is he, Makino-san yoi?" Marco asked with wonder while pointing toward the boy with the cowboy hat.
"His name is Ace. We take him in six months ago. We still try to find someone to adopt him. Clearly, he turns all of them down because he didn't like them." Makino said.
"That brat really annoying. Always got himself into trouble in the school. Who want to adopt someone like him." Dandan said making Makino sighed.
"And you always there to bail him out from trouble even you hate him. You love him that much." Makino said to Dandan making Whitebeard sweat drop. Dandan just pouted.
"No, I don't." Dandan denied making Whitebeard laugh and Marco just smile.
"Can we meet him yoi?" Marco asked making Whitebeard surprised.
"You like him?" Whitebeard asked Marco.
"He's interesting yoi. And I know that look on your face, Oyaji. You really want him to be part of us, are you?" Marco replied back making Whitebeard smile agree with his son.
"Ace!" Makino yelled making Ace stop playing with the other.
"What is it?" Ace said.
"Someone wants to meet you. Come with me." Makino replied and Ace run toward her with wonder.
"If it another annoying couple that asking freaking damn unrelated question, I reject!" Ace said with a scowl on his face.
"You can see it yourself. I won't force you, but I think you can trust them. They interesting people after all." Makino sighed and a smile appeared on her face.
Both enter the room where Whitebeard and Marco waiting for them with Dandan. Ace saw the giant size man with a teenage boy with unique blond hair remind him of pineapple. Both look at Ace with wonder. Whitebeard smile wide upon seeing Ace. His heart already wants him to be part of his family. Marco looks at his father and shake his head.
"Ace, this is Edward Newgate also known as Whitebeard and this is his son Marco." Makino introduced Ace to them. Ace just stare with suspicious.
"What do you want with me?" Ace said. The scowl still on his face.
"Be polite brat. He is our main donor here." Dandan said angrily.
"So, what old hag?" Ace shouted back. Whitebeard looks amused.
"So, your name is Ace? Any surname?" Whitebeard asked.
"Yup and no. Just Ace." Ace said rudely. He glared at him.
"Ace come with me and be my son." Whitebeard said bluntly.
"WHAT?!" Ace shouted disbelieve what have he heard.
"What do you think you can adopt me? You don't know who I am or what I am. And you just invite me into your family?!" Ace mumbled.
"Yes. I don't care what your past or where you are coming from. You are a free man. You free to choose who you want to live and how you want to live. I saw you rather be out than this orphanage. I don't care what reason you reject other or what record you have at school that's your life. You already have the right to make your own decision. But a kid like you tend to be target by dangerous people and I want to protect whatever you been protecting in your life." Whitebeard explained making Ace widen his eyes.
"Why?" Ace clench his fist tight.
"Because from the first time I saw you, you are the one we been long searching for." Whitebeard answered making Ace look down and a tear already form in his eyes.
Ace cry in front of them. Someone wants to adopt him not because of his past but himself. He long search for someone can see through his mind and know the limit to meddling into his personal life. And here he meets a fool man who didn't care about his past but want to see him succeed in the future. That man already sees him as one of his family and just proud with what he already gain.
"So, want to be our youngest one yoi?" Marco said with a kind voice making Ace look at him with surprise. Ace look at Makino and Dandan.
"It's up to you." Makino said.
"Just out from here already brat." Dandan said turned her face to the other side.
"Yes... I want to." Ace answered happily while tear still dropped from his cheeks.
"I get the paperwork done." Makino said leaving with Dandan and let the three of them talking inside the room.
"You ready?" Whitebeard asked Ace.
Ace nod. He turned toward Makino and bow down to thank her. Dandan just scoffed. Makino let her tear down and hug Ace whole heartedly. She gives some advice to Ace and giving a kiss on his forehead making Ace blush with Makino action. He then walks toward the car and stop. He turned toward Makino and Dandan again. Bowing to them.
"Dandan, even you are an old hag thank you for taking care of me. You just like a mother to me. Take care and I love you!" Ace said and went inside the back seat of the car. He smiles and the car drove off from there with Dandan still shock to hear what Ace said to her.
"What your said brat?! Don't come here again." a handkerchief already drawn out from her pocket, and she wipe the tear animatedly. Makino just smile widely with Dandan reaction.
'Until next time Ace... We will meet again, my brat.' Dandan said in her heart.
~To be continue...
AN : I just got this idea while writing The Prince Knight and this is the modern au of ASL. I hope you all like it. Don't worry I still continue my other fic until it complete. It will take time, but I try to manage it. Wish me luck!