Why do you want to get stronger.

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I'm on a creative roll! the pa.treon chaps are insane btw! literally crazy! Literally ask any Patron, it's insane.

Give me your stones or else!

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Hiro went back into the castle and Zerotwo smiled at him, he grunted and walked away. She said "Darling~" He stopped and she said "Calm down, love. It's okay. I'm here for you." he paused and said "Thanks." before leaving as she sighed.

Ace walked in after him and smiled to Zerotwo, asking "Where is Isabella?" Zerotwo smiled and said "Upstairs, why?" Ace said "I just want to talk to her." Zerotwo said "Don't take his words so seriously, Ace. If you're thinking of leaving... Then I'll be extremely disappointed." as he got up and went after Hiro.

Ace smiled and walked up the stairs to when Isabella was.

Zerotwo walked into a room and closed the door, saying "You were very harsh, Darling." Hiro sighed and broke what he was working on, putting it down as he said "Are you blaming me, love?" she shook her head and sat down on his lap, smiling softly and saying "I'm not. I think he needed to hear that, but you could've put it a bit softer."

Hiro held her and stayed silent, she kissed him and smiled lovingly, wrapping her arms around his neck, adding "He's just a kid, you know." Hiro said "Yeah. Roger's kid." Zerotwo looked at him and snorted softly, replying "Whoever his father was, he's still a boy. Maybe he's immature and doesn't think before he acts, like a certain someone was."

Hiro clinked his horns with hers and she kissed his nose, adding "Just because he's Roger's son, doesn't mean he'll be the same as Roger. He's his own person. As much as you don't want to hear it, Roger wasn't there for him and you know that. You can't blame him for not liking his father, when he was never there. It doesn't matter if he died or not."

Hiro stayed silent and she kissed him again, adding "Darling, I love you so much. I know you're extra harsh on him because of Isabella. But you can't crush him like this. What if he runs away? He just lost his adoptive father, all these people died for him and you smash him over the head with repulsion and criticism. I understand you're angry, I'm not happy either."

He looked at her and she smiled "What you said was right, he can't take care of himself, how can he take care of our baby? But you can guide him! You can show him how to get stronger! Breaking him down like this will only make him feel worse, Darling." Hiro sighed and said "What do you want me to do? Apologize? I already said what I said, I can't take it back now. I might have been harsh but I meant every word."

Zerotwo smiled and said "Darling, I would never force you to apologize to anyone. You know that. I wouldn't even suggest it, because I know that you would only do it for me. I love that you make me happy and do things that you don't want to do, no matter how much you pretend that you do." she giggled and rubbed his nose with her own as she said "You make me happy in every way you can, I'm sorry." he smiled and she continued "You're allowed to say no to me, you know."

Hiro smiled and replied "It's not that big of an inconvenience, you don't ask for much anyways." she giggled and said "Can you make him better? If not for me, for Isabella? Please?" Hiro closed his eyes and sighed, saying "If he doesn't leave." she smiled softly and kissed him, saying "Thank you, Darling."

Hiro smiled and rubbed his horns on hers, saying "Of course, Angel." she smiled warmly and hugged him.

The next day

Zerotwo was with Isabella while Ace went to go see Hiro again.

Hiro was sitting down and watching Sanji train again, when Ace came by. Sanji looked at him and continued, moving without looking at what he was doing. Hiro didn't even look in Ace's direction, watching Sanji work while smoking.

Ace came to Hiro and said "Please make me stronger!" he even got down on his knees and begged "Please!" Hiro didn't even look at him and said "Why." Ace replied "I want to kill Blackbeard!" Hiro said immediately "No, leave." waving and sending Ace back into the castle.

Sanji continued working and shook his head.

Ace kept coming back with the same answer every day for 2 weeks.

Sanji didn't even look anymore, he knew the result. Ace came by everyday saying the same thing, he was getting nowhere.

One time he replied "I want to make my dad proud." and got kicked back into the castle.

Ace was getting frustrated and Isabella healed him with a soft smile. He looked at her and softened immediately, saying "Thank you, Izzy." she smiled and replied "As long as you're okay, nothing else matters." Ace looked at her and his brain buzzed, he grabbed her face and kissed her deeply, saying "I love you." before running off, leaving his hat and everything behind.

Isabella was stunned on the spot and unable to speak as she turned extremely red and got all flustered. Zerotwo giggled and Isabella covered her face, running up the stairs in a flurry.

Ace came back and went right in front of Hiro, kneeling on the ground and saying "Train me!" Hiro looked at him and said "I already said no." Ace replied "I don't care! You have to! Forget about Roger, forget about Pops, forget about Teach, I want to get stronger to protect Isabella. I don't want to be saved anymore. I realize that it sounds stupid, but I just figured it out. I don't want to get revenge for Dad or Pops, I just want to protect what I have now. Isabella, Luffy, the family on Dawn Island, and my friends! Even if you beat me to death, I won't leave this spot until you agree to teach me!"

Sanji stopped, that was something new! Hiro looked at Ace and said "Then you can stay there for as long as you like." before saying "What are you stopping for?" Sanji went back to training and shook his head, hopefully Ace can hold out.

Ace stayed there and didn't move for 4 days, he was literally in pain from hunger. Hiro even threw Sanji's food on the floor in front of him, letting a pig eat it instead.

On the fifth day

Ace's vision was getting blurry, his body growled in hunger constantly and he was shaking. Sanji was getting anxious, he couldn't even feed Ace during the night as Hiro made a barrier around him. He couldn't even get close!

Hiro looked at Ace and kicked him to the side. Ace rolled on the ground and came back to the same spot. Sanji said "Please! I can't handle this!" Hiro said "Shush." He took out a sword and held it against Ace's neck, saying "Go on, tell me why you want to get stronger."

Ace said weakly but full of determination "So... I can... protect... my family... and friends..." Hiro pressed the blade on Ace's neck and said "I didn't catch that." Ace shouted "So I can... protect my... family!" Hiro took the sword back and kicked him into the castle saying coldly "You start tomorrow."

Ace finally passed out and Zerotwo caught him, saying "Sheesh!" before feeding him food and water, he devoured the food without end before cleaning himself and eating again.

The next day

The cooking stations changed and got further apart, there was more in the air but they all changed to something primitive without flames.

Hiro lit a cigarette and said "Your fire control is terrible. Your flames can burn hotter than anything, the basis for your fruit is the concept of 'Fire'. Right now, your flames are nothing. Red is the weakest flame. You haven't even Awakened your fruit."

He pointed to the cooking stations and said "You will heat every single station to the temperature Sanji needs at the same time. There's 458 stations, you will keep them all at different temperatures all day." before sitting in his chair and saying "Go."

Sanji and Ace looked at each other and nodded before starting. Sanji communicated with him and Ace tried his best while Hiro watched from the side.