Chapter 48

On the other side, Zoro was panicking. Luffy had done it again! He has once again recklessly got himself in trouble. Was the idiot trying to kill himself? Didn't he know that he was not feeling well? Heck, even Zoro can tell that he was hiding his pain with those low hisses which were coming out of his mouth.

Not to mention, the idiot in all his pain, stood up to fight with Laboon. Seriously, they really needed to recruit a doctor before Luffy's reckless killed himself. Which means soon.

Zoro resurfaced for the second time, taking a huge gulp of air before diving back. Luffy had fallen to the sea just mere seconds before him and yet he was miraculously missing. Zoro was getting worried as each passing second. The teen was already sick and with the sea water licking his wounds, he is not sure how that would be affecting him.

Zoro gritted his teeth when he felt his lungs screaming for air. He needed to go once again to the surface, but something stopped him. He decided to go a little more down, when he finally saw light in the ocean. He decided to move towards it, when he finally saw the sick boy. He was floating in the middle, with his mouth open, curving at the edges to portray the smile which was etched on his face. The light which had guided him there was coming from none other than Luffy.

Thousands of questions spiraled in his brain, as he got hold of the glowing teen. He really wishes it's not too late. Feeling heavy weights strapped to himself, Zoro started to swim upwards as fast as he could. He didn't feel the urge to take a breath anymore. He didn't feel the darkness which were starting to cloud his vision. All he could see was the light which was paving a way for him to the surface.

With a gasp, Zoro finally came to the surface, gently plopping the teen on the ground.

"Thanks Zoro." Luffy spoke scaring everyone, who had thought that the boy would be unconscious.

"DON'T YOU DARE SCARE US AGAIN, YOU IDIOT!" Zoro yelled as he wrung his shirt to get rid of the saline water.

"Shishishishishi!" Luffy laughed freely, as he stood on his legs, displaying his skinny body, devoid of any cuts, scratches or wounds to everyone. Hell, the boy was completely dry, as if he had never fallen in the ocean in the first place. He also looked like he had more energy than before, as if he hadn't been ever sick.

"How is it possible?!" Nami whispered under her breath as she took in Luffy's condition.

"What?" Luffy asked owlishly.

"Your wounds. They have healed." Crocus replied, eyeing the brat intently.

Luffy smiled, before speaking in a hushed tone. "It's a secret! Shishishishishi!"

Zoro watched Luffy. He knew something was wrong with his captain. The way he was floating in the ocean, the way he tended to emit light in the darkness, the golden blood in his veins, the tattoos with sand which he always tends to get after nights, his disappearances in the night, and his healing ability. They were a complete mystery to him. A mystery which he wanted to solve, and yet he couldn't.

He remembers the first time when Luffy fell in to the water, his smiling face which showed peace. He couldn't exactly tell if the teen was either confident that he would not die or was not afraid to die. Which one was it for Luffy?

He watched with a bottle of booze, which he stole from the shitty cook, as Luffy got paints from Usopp and began marking the whale as his. Giving him a symbol of their flag and making Laboon promise not to bash his head on the Red Line ever again. He watched as Luffy's smile made Laboon's pain wither slowly. A part of his mind reminded Zoro that it was the same for all of them. Luffy was their savior, despite his reckless behavior.

He wonders what they would be doing now if Luffy hadn't entered in their life. He would probably be dead. Nami would have been a slave to Arlong until someone strong came, which seemed unlikely. Usopp would have died protecting his village. The Baratie and the cook would be probably dead too.

A soft smile etched on Zoro's face as he watched Luffy, Usopp and Laboon play together.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Zoro instantly covered his ears at the unexpected scream.

"What happened?" Luffy asked, with paints splattered on his yellow sleeveless t-shirt.

"What's the matter my dear Nami-swan?" Sanji asked with hearts in his eyes. He was carrying plates of food in his hands and on his head.

"That was a hell of a yell!" Usopp stated alongside Luffy.

"The compass! It's broken! It's pointing all over the place!" Nami stated her worry placing the compass in the middle of the table, where Sanji placed the plates of food and Usopp and Zoro along with Crocus joined in.

"Give me a second!" Luffy shouted as he dashed inside the Merry.

Crocus sighed seeing another unaware crew coming to Grand Line without knowing a thing about it in the first place. "Common sense fails to uphold in this ocean." Crocus started as he pointed at the compass. "That is not broken."

"Then is it the magnetic field?" Nami questioned the old man, as her own brain started functioning.

"Yes, there exists a geomagnetic anomaly across Grand Line, due to many islands here being rich with various minerals." Crocus began explaining. "Not only that, the currents and the winds here are as unpredictable as they can be. As a navigator, you should understand well how terrifying that can be if you were to venture into this ocean without knowing anything. You'll die for sure."

"I had no idea." Nami agreed worriedly.

"What?! Isn't that like really bad?! Are we gonna die?!" Usopp yelled in fear.

"Ah, Nami's so cute even when she doesn't know!" Sanji swooned with heart in his eyes.

"YOU TWO JUST QUIET DOWN!" Nami yelled at Usopp and Sanji.

"What do you wanna say, old man?" Zoro asked, cutting to the point.

"To navigate through the Grand Line, you'll need a log pose." Crocus answered.

"A log pose? What's that?" Nami asked curiously.

"It's a special type of compass that records the magnetic field." Crocus replied.

"Something like this?" Usopp asked as he presented a weird looking compass from his pockets.

"Yes, that's it." Crocus nodded.

"How did you get one?" Nami asked Usopp with sickly sweet voice, as she took the log pose from the man's hands.

"Those two weirdos from earlier left it on the ground." Usopp replied, getting away from the orange haired girl who looked ready to murder him for not informing her before.

"Them?" Nami absently questioned, as she strapped the log pose on her wrist and studied it. "So, this is a log pose, there's no marking on it or anything."

This made Crocus began to explain about the Islands of Grand Line and their magnetic fields. The way to guide their ship from one Island to another Island. How from the Reverse Mountain they are supposed to choose 1 out of 7 magnetic fields to record, which will lead them to different islands.

"No matter which island you start from, the paths will all converge into one eventually, and the name of the very last island one can reach in Grand Line is Raftel- the final stop in Grand Line. The only ones who've ever confirmed its existence in history is the Pirate King and his crew. It is an island of legends." Crocus explained to the Strawhats.

"Then does that mean, One Piece is on that Island?" Usopp asked excitedly.

"That's the most likely theory, nobody has ever reached there to confirm it." Crocus spoke, looking towards the ocean.

"We can see that for ourselves once we reach there!" Luffy joined in, as he walked towards the table filled with food. Both of his hands holding fish, which looked so tasty.

"Man, I was so hungry!" Luffy spoke as he munched on the fish. Sanji had a soft smile on his face, as he finally relaxed seeing Luffy eat like his usual self.

"Zoro whatcha drinking?" Luffy asked Zoro, who was sipping something. It had a sweet smell to it.

"Want some?" Zoro asked, extending his arm for Luffy to take a sneak peek, making Luffy shake his head seeing it was rum.

"No way you are giving him rum to drink, you mosshead!" Sanji shouted in an instant.

"Who are you calling mosshead, you shitty cook?!" Zoro retorted with a tick mark on his head.

"You!!!"

That is how Sanji and Zoro began fighting again, all the while Usopp and Luffy enjoying the show with food in their hands, Nami swooning on the log pose and Crocus with a sweat drop on his head.

SMASH

The atmosphere tensed, as Nami slowly stood up from her place, her wrist still strapped with the log pose, which had been smashed because of the duo's reckless duel.

Zoro and Sanji didn't know what doom fell on them, as Nami walked to them, with her face shadowed. The two men had never felt more fear of a person in their life.

"YOU TWO CAN JUST GO COOL YOUR HEADS DOWN IN THE SEA!" Nami yelled kicking their asses to the sea.

"Wasn't that compass, like, super-duper important?!!" Usopp asked panicking, his jaws dropping to the floor.

"You had a log pose, Nami?" Luffy asked looking at the now shattered one which Nami was holding onto.

"What do we do, Crocus? Our precious log pose is...!" Nami was panicking.

"I have one!" Luffy provided.

"You have one." Nami spoke, turning back to the straw hatted teen who was feeding himself.

"He has one." Usopp repeated looking at the overpowered teen as he ate his food.

"Yep, I have one in my bag pack." Luffy confirmed swallowing a fish with bone completely.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us?" Nami shrieked, wanting to pound her fist on her captain, but Luffy easily dodged it.

"You didn't ask me!" Luffy answered as he unstrapped his bag and rummaged through its content, when he finally found a wooden box. With a big grin, he plopped the case on the table.

"Here you go!" Luffy cheered, as he passed the one of two weird looking compasses to Nami.

"How do you have this?" Crocus asked, eying both compasses. The last one which the teen had was something no person can get in any of the Blues. Heck, it was rare to get it in the Grand Line even!

"Dad gave me!" Luffy replied with his signature grin.

"I take it, you are from the Grand Line?" Crocus cross questioned the boy, looking at him.

"Yep! New World is my home! Have spent a decade there!" Luffy replied without keeping anything secret.

"Then why come to the East Blue?" Crocus asked. He didn't want to believe that the teen would have been tired of the New World. He didn't want to believe that the carrier of his Captain's hat, was giving up. But a part of his mind told him, that the boy was going back to the Grand Line, to the crazy sea. Good for him.

"I wanted to start my journey from here! To be the King of Pirates and the freest man alive!" Luffy answered with a huge D grin.

"Tell me more about you, boy." Crocus spoke, as he took a seat opposite to Luffy. The Strawhats, including Zoro and Sanji were intently looking at the duo, wanting to know any clues to the plethora of mysteries their captain had. "Do you know Haki? Did you ever join a Pirate crew before? Do you have a bounty?"

"Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed bright and free. "You are funny, old man! You sure ask lots of questions."

"Hey!" A voice interrupted their conversation. Everyone turned to look at the orange haired man, who was reeking of the sea water and beside her was the mysterious blue haired woman, who stood beside the man. "I have a request."

"Who are you?" Luffy asked cocking his head.

"I am a king!" The orange haired man boosted without missing a beat.

"Nope, you aren't!" Luffy spoke instantly.

"YOU- YOU LITTLE SH-!" A sword was placed on the orange haired man's neck.

"Complete that and you are dead!" Zoro threatened.

"EEK!"

"We are sorry for our rudeness." The blue haired woman instantly spoke. "We are in dire need of help and only you can help us." This instantly made Sanji take her hands.

"Tell me, my love, what do you want from a poor peasant like me?" Sanji asked with love screaming in his eyes.

"W-Why, thank you." The blue haired woman spoke with a faint blush. "My name is Miss Wednesday, and he is my partner, Mr. 9." Miss Wednesday introduced themselves.

"You seem familiar to me." Luffy pointed out to Miss Wednesday who started sweating. Why did some kid find her familiar?

"I-I don't know what you are talking about." Miss Wednesday hastily waved her hands, before coming to the matter again. "We have lost our ship. So, we were wondering if you would allow us to hitch a ride till Whiskey Peak."

"Don't you think that's asking a bit too much, especially considering you tried to kill the whale?" Nami asked looking at Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9.

"Please!" The duo begged, bowing their heads before the pirates. "Please take us back to our town and we swear we'll return the favor!"

"Don't listen to them. They're nothing but trouble." Crocus pointed out with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Well, we accidentally broke our log pose. So, you still want a ride?" Nami asked showing the broken log pose.

"W-What?!! You broke it?! And isn't that ours?!" Mr. 9 yelled.

"How dare you try to take advantage of our misfortune when you're just as unfortunate as we are?" Miss Wednesday yelled.

"Oh right! I forgot to mention that our captain," Nami emphasized pointing to Luffy, "here already has a log pose." Nami gave a smug grin to the duo, who looked shocked before kneeling down before them once again.

"We beseech your kindness, madam!" The duo begged, cursing Nami back and forth in their mind.

"Okay! Come along if you want!" Luffy replied without a care. He didn't mind them, also something about the blue haired woman was making him want to remember something, but what? She wasn't a bad person but luffy wasn't sure about the orange haired guy yet.

"Alright then, your log should have been recorded by now." Crocus spoke, seeing the little captain getting antsy in his seat. "Is it properly pointing towards a place indicated on the map?"

"Yup! It's pointing towards Whiskey Peak!" Nami said checking the log pose and looking at the map.

"You sure about this kid? Picking Whiskey Peak all just because of these ruffians?" Crocus asked the boy, but he knew better when the boy smiled. Still, he will give it one last try. "The only place you can choose which route you want to take is here, you know."

"It's fine! If I don't like the route, I can always sail once around and choose a different route!" Luffy replied to the old man, as he stood up from the table and bounced towards the Merry. He had an adventure waiting for him!

"I see." Crocus replied with a soft smile.

"Bye then, Flower Gramps!" Luffy waved the old man.

"Thanks for the explanation! I doubt the idiot could have given me any good!" Nami commented, making Luffy laugh.

"WE'RE GOING NOW, LABOON!" Luffy waved his new friend, as the Going Merry started catching the wind.

"BUOOOOOH!"

Crocus stood in his place, as he watched the little caravan disappear in the mighty ocean. "Perhaps, they're the pirates we've been waiting for. That kid is filled with mysteries. What do you think, Roger?"

.

Somewhere in the New World, a ship was approaching at a fast rate towards the Moby Dick.

"Pops, yoi!" Marco greeted Whitebeard as he landed on his Pop's shoulder in his zoan form. "We have a ship approaching us fast from 9 o'clock, yoi."

"Is it a Marine ship, son?" Whitebeard asked amused. Not many have the guts to charge head on towards them, except for few, who he could count on his fingers.

"No, Pops, yoi." Marco stated with a groan. He really feels a headache coming in. "It's Ace's, yoi."

"That little brat! Gurararararara!!" Whitebeard laughed. "Must be looking for a spar." Whitebeard grinned. His old bones really loved to spar with the young man. He could put a fight, giving him a little exercise too. Ace was good company too, he doesn't believe otherwise.

"Yo! Flaming Turkey!" Ace teased Marco from his ship.

"Why, you!" Marco yelled, keeping his bored face intact, as he transformed to his human form.

"Pineapple head was begging to be teased!" Ace chuckled, giving a tick mark to Marco. "Permission to come aboard, Whitebeard?" Ace asked the old man.

"Ace, you don't need my permission. You are just like my son!" Whitebeard pouted a little, making his son and Ace's crew chuckle at his old antics.

"Yeah, whatever!" Ace dismissed the son matter, as he jumped aboard on the Moby. "Hey! Marco, have you seen the newspapers lately?" Ace grinned wide, his hands in his pocket.

"Nope, I haven't, yoi!" It was Marco's chance to tease Ace now. "Why? Was there something important, yoi?"

"HEY!" Ace looked almost heartbroken. "How could you not!"

"Hey, Commander Marco! Haven't you been looting the newspaper all to yourself recently?" A crew member asked, as he heard Marco's false claim.

"So, you were teasing me, huh?" Ace smirked, looking at Marco's bored face getting riled up a bit.

"Haven't you come to spar today, Ace?" Whitebeard asked. He wanted to have a spar with him. Wanted to see how strong he had become.

"Nope!" Ace smiled wide, fitting for a D. "Guess whose baby brother is this little menace?" Ace asked getting out a wanted poster from his pocket.

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, looking at the little kid in the wanted poster. It didn't sit well with him. The kid hardly looked at least 12 years old! Sure he doesn't spend that much time with kids but the boy in the poster looked so young. The marines have done it again, with such a huge bounty on his head. He had seen even Marco and Haruta trying to search any information they could get about the boy and with Thatch and Izou added to the fray, he was sure that they wanted the kid as their little brother.

"It's my little brother!" Ace provided before Whitebeard could process more. "Isn't he so cute?!" Ace rambled off.

"It's him?" Whitebeard asked with a surprised face. Whitebeard really wanted to smack his face. Marco, Thatch, Haruta and Izou. They were the only ones on the Moby Dick who knew the little menace's face. It shouldn't have been a surprise.

"Yep! He is!" Ace chuckled. "He looks so adorable, right? Do you know one time, when Luffy was about eight years old, we made him wear dragon cosplay clothes. Iva themself designed it! He looked so adorable in it! Roaring after everyone!" Ace's hands were suddenly filled with photographs of the eight-year-old in a green dragon costume, running after a bunch of people.

"Not again!" Deuce groaned, as he leaned on the railing.

"What do you mean by that?" Haruta asked, as he stood by the Spades Pirate's first mate.

"He had been telling us stories about little Lu for hours, no cross that, for days!" Deuce spoke in a tired voice. "It's not like we don't like it. But seriously, he speaks like no tomorrow when he starts to speak about him!"

"I-I can see that." Haruta spoke, listening intently as Ace launched onto another one of his stories about little Lu and his adventures of cuteness and bravery.

"... And then he stood up bravely, saying that it doesn't hurt at all! He looked so adorable! I bet Boa Hancock would be even completely head over heels after little Luffy! But I and 'Bo are not going to let her have him-!"

"Hey! Ace!" Haruta interrupted Ace suddenly with a sly grin on his face. "Do you know what recently happened in the East Blue?"

"Yep! My little brother happened!" Ace answered proudly.

"The details?" Haruta questioned smugly.

Ace gasped dramatically. "Don't tell me-!"

"Yep!" Haruta grinned wide.

"You gotta share them-!"

"No way!" Haruta teased.

"Hey! Haaarrruuuutttttaaaaaaa!!!!" Ace pleaded as he was by the side of the short commander in an instant. "I will help you pulling a prank on Marco-!"

"I can hear you, yoi!" Marco threatened.

"Need something more promising." Izou butted in, standing on Ace's left.

"I-I will tr-try y-your to-totally n-not co..ol dre-dresses?" Ace asked, looking at Izou with pleading eyes. He can go through that to listen to Luffy's adventure in whole detail, especially when Luffy had left his snail with Makino. He shouldn't have expected more, specially from someone as idiotic as his little brother.

"That's something better!" Izou grinned.

"Why don't we take this over to the galley, my sons?" Whitebeard provided helpfully.

"We should totally throw a party!" Ace cheered, as he grinned to his crew mates, who shook their head fondly. Seriously, Ace acted like one of the Whitebeards. The only difference was that he still had his own flag and was not under any of them. And not to mention, Whitebeard, the sneaky bastard, had stopped trying to recruit Ace and have started seeing him just like one of his own.

...Both of the sides didn't make any sense to anyone anymore.

"Is there going to be a party?" A cheerful voice butted in.

"Thatch!" Ace cheered as he hugged the man, who smiled wide at the fire-y teen. "Haruta was just going to tell us what happened in the East Blue!" Ace looked like a proud big brother who wanted to hear all the adventures of his baby brother.

"Don't tell me you finally decided to tell what happened in Loguetown!" Thatch asked with wide eyes shining with curiosity.

"Yep, I did!" Haruta informed. "I finally got everything which I needed after all!"

"What are we waiting for then?" Thatch asked as he and Ace made their way towards the galley, with mostly everyone on the deck on tow.

"Ahem! Ahem!" Haruta cleared his throat gaining attention of his brothers, sisters and the Spades pirates who were present in the galley. "Today, I, Haruta, the Twelfth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, have an interesting news to share with all of you!"

"What is it, Commander?"

"It's about a boy with a Strawhat who had emerged from one of the oceans recently." Haruta provided, generating a mix of curiosity in the air.

"Why are we going to hear about a rookie?"

"Is he going to be our new brother?"

"My dear brothers, please give me the honors." Haruta dramatically bowed. "This pirate rookie, whose name is known worldwide as Monkey D. Luffy, a scrawny boy, aged only 13-"

Ace choked on his drink hearing Haruta's words. But he wasn't going to correct him. He wanted to see everyone else's reactions, then tell them.

"-has got a bounty of 50 million bery for starters!"

"Are you fucking serious?"

"I am serious." Haruta spoke, presenting the bounty poster which he and Thatch had collected. "This adorable little menace started his pirate journey by defeating some named pirates in the East Blue, like Alvida, Kuro, Buggy and not to mention, Don Krieg. Each of them was on their own league!"

"That's good for a scrawny kid like him!" A crew member spoke, making Ace chuckle at him for underestimating Luffy.

Ace believes if Luffy still went by Cyra then everyone would be saying the government is underestimating Luffy. And not to mention the East Blue is too small and weak for someone like Luffy who was built for the craziness of the New World!

"Did I mention his first mate Roronoa Zoro fought against Hawkeye Mihawk and has lived to tell a tale?" Haruta asked with a proud grin on his face.

"No way in hell!" There were several shouts similar to this. No one had ever lived to tell a tale after crossing their blades with Mihawk, except for a red-haired drunkard.

"But that is not what got the kid his enormous bounty, we suppose. The kid got recognized when he defeated Arlong who had settled himself in one of the islands there." Haruta mentioned. The details of the topic were not clear as to why Luffy would ever again such a high bounty after defeating Arlong. None of the stolen records even mentioned about it.

"Arlong? Former Sun pirate?" Jimbe and Namur asked at once.

"Yes!" Haruta replied. "But the surprises from the teen doesn't end here. I was recently searching about his work in Loguetown."

"Luffy was there then!" Ace spoke with a big smile. Ever since Luffy had known about the place, he had wanted to see what his dad saw at his end. Hell, even Ace had sought out to that. He wanted to see, to experience what his birth father saw at his last moments. A part of him reminded that in another dimension the place would have been something he would have avoided at any cost.

"Loguetown, the town of the beginning and end. The town where the Pirate King was born and executed. The town whose captain is White Chase Smoker, a logia devil fruit user. The man never lets any pirate escape from the town." Haruta started speaking, as a serious look took over his face.

"A logia devil fruit user? That would have been tough for the boy!"

The ones who knew could only snicker in their mind and behind their hands.

"Strawhat Luffy, disguised as an even younger kid, wearing an oversized red hoodie adorned with stars, moon and Sun landed on the island with his crew. He was encountered by Smoker at first, who failed to recognize the rookie. In his report, he had clearly mentioned that the teen looked adorable and too innocent which made him fail to recognize him." Haruta spoke with a little grin on his face. "Strawhat Luffy bravely headed towards the execution platform and without a thought, climbed on it."

"That's a Luffy thing to do!" Thatch whispered softly as he stood beside Ace who nodded his head in agreement.

"But alas!" Haruta got back to his mysterious storytelling voice. "His enemies were waiting for him. Alvida and Buggy had joined their hands together to end the teen."

Ace gritted his teeth at the thought of any harm coming to his baby brother. His slightly tense shoulders relayed the message to anyone who knew him. Deuce placed a hand softly on his shoulder, giving him a silent support. They knew that Luffy would be fine, yet the way Haruta was speaking showed that things were going to be grim.

"Strawhat Luffy didn't acknowledge the problem he was in. He didn't mind that marines were surrounding him from basically all sides. He didn't even mind when Buggy made a clever move." Haruta rejoiced how the galley had felt silent. Everyone was waiting for what would be happening next, when in fact he had not told the main point yet.

"One of Buggy's crew mate trapped the teen on the very place where the Pirate King was executed." Haruta was fighting the smile which wished to show itself as his brothers were getting on the edge of the seat.

"Buggy swiftly proclaimed that he was there to execute Strawhat. But Strawhat didn't even cry or beg for his life. No, he looked bored."

"BORED?!" Ace shouted in an instant. Angry of not being there. Angry on Buggy to trap his baby brother. He knew him. He knew Luffy could get out of the situation. He knew Luffy could have avoided the situation and yet he was there.

"Yes, Ace!" Haruta replied, enjoying this mentally. "Strawhat looked utterly bored, riling his executioner up. As Buggy proclaimed that Strawhat has to die in his hands for pissing him off, two of his crew mates appeared to save him."

Ace sighed mentally. Luffy had gotten good crew but still he didn't understand why he didn't escape on his own... Maybe Ace knows but still it was a silly reason!

"But alas! They were too far away to help the boy. Buggy's sword was high in the air as he asked what were Strawhat's last words." Haruta almost whispered the last part, as he stood up on the stool to gain an extra height.

"Did he really die?" Someone from the crowd asked with sadness rolling from his voice. Ace refused to even indulge in that thought as he give him a deadly glare in an instant.

"He can't." Ace gritted his teeth harshly.

"Hey! Haruta! What happened next?" Deuce asked instantly. If Haruta doesn't finish this story soon then he doesn't know if the ship would still intact. The deck being scorched under Ace's feet indicated his anger.

"Strawhat proclaimed to the people present there, to the heavens and beyond that he is going to the King of Pirates and the freest man alive!" Haruta proclaimed, making several people look at him in awe and Whitebeard to let out a hearty laugh.

"The sword was nearing Strawhats neck as a pissed off Buggy wished nothing more than to see Strawhat dead!" The little happy atmosphere which they had got there turned into a tense one again. "But just then, as if the heavens declared that this boy shall not die, that the boy , who was smiling in the face of death, needed to be alive! A loud thunder cackled in the sky and lightening fell on the platform which held the boy."

"He smiled?" "He isn't dead!" Questions and cheers erupted from the galley.

Ace silently took a seat. His pounding heart was gaining a normal rhythm slowly. He was sure once he sees Luffy again, he is going to give him a good lecture about not being such a reckless idiot. Has he seriously forgotten everything he had been taught in his time being a revolutionary? About how he should not throw away his life like that! Or give his poor brother a shock for the lifetime. He needs to discuss this with Sabo as soon as possible.

"The kid who smile on the face of death, the kid whom even heavens didn't want to die, lived. Captain Smoker noted this point specifically in his report." Haruta finished. But that wasn't the finishing blow which he wanted to give. There was more to it. Dragon had stopped Smoker to go after Luffy, but now he couldn't say that.

"I want to meet him." Someone from the crowd said in awe.

"Where is he now?" Another one asked.

"Most probably entering the grand line!" Haruta replied.

"Ahem! Ahem!" Thatch cleared his throat as he stood up from his place, holding a treasure chest in his hand. "My dear brothers, I also have something good to share. In my last mission, I just found something amazing!" Thatch grinned wide.

"What did you find, yoi?" Marco asked, raising an eyebrow. "It better not be any prank materials, yoi!"

"Now, now Marco! They are actually fun! But don't worry this time I found a devil fruit!" Thatch answered as he opened the box to show what it contained.

"That's awesome! Nothing like my Mera Mera no mi!" Ace exclaimed looking at the dark fruit, when all of a sudden, a shiver ran down his spine. He turned around quickly to find the source of the bloodthirsty Haki signature which he just felt. But it was gone as soon as it came. Ace had a bad feeling about this now. Something was completely wrong, and he could feel in his guts.

"Are you going to eat it, commander?" Someone asked, making Ace look at Thatch for the answer.

"I dunno right now. I don't want any lame powers. I might eat based on what it is." Thatch answered truthfully.