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Chapter Text

Everything was in chaos, guns and swords clashing was heard throughout the battlefield while Ace watched his family fight for him. He was overwhelmed, he didn’t like the idea of them dying for him, because according to him he wasn’t worth it, not worth of their love and adoration, he was a hotheaded fool afterall.

He watched as the commanders of their crew take down high ranking marines, even Thatch was there. Ace felt like a total idiot, he is glad that Thatch survived that stab from Teach, but here he is now risking his life for him.

Sitting by his side was Garp, the old man was obviously conflicted with the turn of events, he was there for his job, his marine coat showing where his loyalty should stand but for such a rare moment he wanted to do something else, he should be there to make sure that ‘Fire fist’ Ace will be executed, but he was his grandson, the little brat that he had grown fond of even if he wouldn’t say that out loud.

Once again, Ace felt like shit. Now the annoying old man was crying because of him.

As much as he says how he hates the old marine, he still cares for his shitty gramps. To Ace it would be better if he would also want Garp to think that he was better of dead, just like the rest of the marines in the field, but no his gramps was crying because he didn’t want to execute his beloved grandson, much to Sengoku’s understanding and terror.

And when Ace thought nothing could make him feel even more shitty than ever, Luffy suddenly fell from the sky along with some escapees from Impel down.

“LUFFY YOU IDIOT! GET OUT OF HERE!” Ace shouted with all the remaining strength he has, his body was a bloody mess due to the torture he experienced but that wasn’t the deal right now, his idiotic younger brother was there and he couldn’t do anything to protect him.

“I’M GOING TO SAVE YOU ACEEEEEE!!!” Luffy shouted back while standing beside Pops. Garp and Sengoku both had widened eyes as they stared at the rookie who was already standing tall and confident beside the Yonko.

“You’re one gutsy little brat, Gurararara!” Whitebeard’s laughter booming in the battlefield.

Ace watched as Luffy and Whitebeard talked about things he could barely make of and it seemed like the two came into an agreement as Pops nodded and Luffy jumped off the Moby and went straight into action.

Stupid younger brother.

The place was getting messier, Luffy was already infront of the 3 admirals and he didn’t give a single fuck about that. Luffy set his goals, and it was to save Ace no matter what.

Jinbei and the weird looking person with a purple afro came to Luffy’s aid, much to Ace’s relief, they were far from being safe but at least someone’s watching Luffy’s back as the boy ran and caused even more havoc.

“Garp your family is causing trouble again!” Sengoku spat out while grabbing Garp by the collar, the later seemed to be amused and worried at the same time, his eyes still wide as he watched Luffy beat the hell out of their subordinates.

Yeah he was proud of his grandson even if he can’t say that out loud.

Sengoku went to get his mic and his voice echoed throughout the transponder snails around the area, he needed to deal with things. His next words filled Ace with dread, his origin, his deepest secrets were already out there in the open, everyone now knew about his blood.

That he was the pirate king’s son.

“Whitebeard is my only father!” Ace blurted but his voice was tinged with vulnerability that he tried to desperately conceal with anger.

Sengoku ignored him and he proceeded with his speech that was quite causing another uproar from the field, meanwhile the reporters at Sabaody were restless with every information that they managed to fish out from the livestream.

Now even Luffy’s father was exposed to the world, how great is that?

Just as things were getting even more chaotic, Whitebeard decided to join the fight, pulling the air and causing the sea to tilt and the entirety of Marineford was on the brink, the pirates having a upper hand as the marines scrambled while they tried to maintain their balance.

The events rolled out like a perfect film right in front of Ace’s eyes, how Luffy punched Garp and the old man didn’t even fight back, how Marco was fighting head on with Kizaru, Haruta who most often be a menace even during fights was bursting as he didn’t think twice about slashing some marines that would piss him off, hell even Izou didn’t mind his disheveled kimono as he was all in for blood.

They were desperate to save him while Ace himself didn’t even think that he was worth all of this, that he deserved them as a family.

In the heat of the moment and a rather surprising turn of events, Luffy managed to free Ace, and it was obvious to everyone when a tunnel of flames suddenly appeared, engulfing Ace and Luffy in a protective manner as the brothers made their escape.

Everything was getting good, the tide going into the pirate’s favor when the magma admiral decided to provoke Ace, insults directed towards Whitebeard made Ace’s blood boil, Luffy tried to stop him but the anger that Ace was feeling blocked all the other voices around him.

Ace knows he is a dumbass but he will never let anyone insult those he respects and cares about.

But just as Akainu was about to attack Luffy who has his guard down while reaching for Ace’s vivre card, and Ace barely managed to get in front and block Luffy from Akainu’s attack, everything happened so fast as the island started to shake, Akainu’s magma fist was suddenly drenched in water, a huge ball of water was thrown towards Akainu, catching him off guard but enough for Ace and Luffy to make a narrow escape.

The pirates looked at Whitebeard who was also confused with the sudden quake that most likely wasn’t his doing.

The confusion was evident but the shaking of the island was getting stronger, they needed to head to the ships and be able to set sail, they freed Ace, they just need to escape and they would be okay.

Akainu was still pissed off and he was drenched with the sudden water attack, he would still pursue the sons of those most wanted criminals anyways.

He was about to throw another magma covered punch towards Ace’s retreating back when a wall of seawater blocked his way, the barrier both attacking marines and pirates.

“Who the fuck is messing with him?” Jozu absentmindedly asked while sparing a glance at the seawater barrier that saved Ace and Luffy.

They were nearing the Moby when Ace stopped on his tracks again, eyes wide as he caught sight of a familiar face, much older and matured than the last time he saw her but without a doubt he knew who was causing the commotion, and even if she saved him, he’s still pissed off.

“MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND FUCK OFF WOMAN!!” Ace shouted, voice laced with annoyance and anger as he gritted his teeth, Luffy even stopped as he looked at the girl that Ace was arguing with.

A small smile crept on the lady’s face, amused to see Ace still being the spitfire that he had always been.

Chapter Text

“Who’s he arguing with now -yoi?” Marco asked as he flew over their retreating crewmates, his gaze followed to where Ace was glaring at, it was a girl, likely the same age as Ace, she was standing alone in the middle of the battlefield.

“It can’t be?” Garp whispered as he looked at the girl’s features.

“Damn when did Ace turn into a woman?!”

“Haruta you idiot that’s not Ace!” Thatch said while pulling away an amazed Haruta who’s eyes were glued to the unfamiliar yet so familiar face.

“Why do I feel like I’m seeing Rouge?” Whitebeard muttered and Garp couldn’t agree less, Ace did resemble his mom, and this girl right here is like the younger version of Rouge.

She was fidgeting with her hands, a ball of water that she’s desperately trying so hard to control, a ball of water that’s getting bigger as she spared a glance at the magma admiral that’s now glaring at her.

“Another spawn of the devil?” Kizaru said while exchanging glances between Ace and the girl.

“Get lost Ann, you don’t fucking belong here!” Ace said through gritted teeth, eyes reflect the hatred that he has towards her, meanwhile Luffy and the rest of the people there were just giving them confused looks.

“So Ace does know her” Izou said, confusion evident on his face, while some of the commanders were helping the rest of the crew to get on board their ships.

“Ann? Is that really you?” Garp asked as he slowly approached the girl, she eyed the older marine with a look of longing as she smiled at him.

“Miss me gramps?” She asked quite amused herself, the marines were now all eyeing her and the marine hero who seemed to be happy with her presence.

“We have a lot of catching up to do young lady” Garp said jokingly, a smile on his face while Ann nodded.

“Let’s do that but let me do my business here first” She said and before Garp could say anything, a huge water wall was already in between the pirates and the marines, she was stumbling while trying to maintain her balance, Marco noted that whatever devil fruit she has, she hasn’t mastered the use of it yet.

Ace was still gritting his teeth, Luffy at least had a brain functioning moment and he dragged Ace towards the Moby where Vista was calling them.

Pops was also about to board the Moby, the sudden presence of the girl named Ann helped them escape as the marines especially the devil fruit users can’t passby, Aokiji did try to freeze the water but it only caused the marines more trouble, they should have thought about that, seriously, what was the thought process behind that?

When everyone was on board and Ann was the only one left, the pirates were about to set sail when Pops noticed that Ann has no means to escape if they leave her behind.

“Get her on board” Pops ordered, much to Ace’s dismay, Ann was still trying to control her powers when she felt rubbery arms wrapped around her waist, she looked at the culprit and she saw Luffy giving her that wide grin as she was suddenly pulled towards the Moby, her body slamming on the deck which made her groan while Luffy could only smile sheepishly.

“HEY YOU’RE SO COOL!! THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME AND ACE BACK THERE!” Luffy said enthusiastically with a grin on his face while Ann just nodded, still enduring the sudden whiplash that she got because of Luffy.

“Yeah yeah hehehe” She said shyly after realizing that everyone’s attention was focused on her.

Don’t they have injuries to tend first?

She thought to herself, feeling a bit conscious she hid herself behind the giant guy Jozu who was already intrigued with her presence.

“Ace thank God that you’re safe!” Whitey Bay said, happiness evident in her voice as she hugged Ace, the other members of their crew surrounded Ace to check his condition.

A small smile crept on Ann’s lips as she watched at them fondly, them caring for Ace warmed her heart.

“Can someone explain to us why we have a splitting image of Ace with us?” Rakuyo asked, the other commanders nodding in agreement, completely forgetting that they’re still on their way of escaping the premises of Marineford.

“That doesn’t matter, drop her off the nearest island” Ace muttered, expression darkening as he stared at her who was still hiding behind Jozu.

“But Ac—”

“No buts Ann, we have nothing to do with each other” For a fire logia, Ace gave her the coldest treatment anyone could see, even Luffy was confused to see Ace acting like this.

“Ace, she saved our life! At least be thankful!” Luffy reasoned but Ace didn’t listen, he was still stubborn as he could be.

“Tch” Ace snickered as he ignored her once again, he went on his way to Pops who was sitting on his massive chair on the deck, his nurses were grimacing at the amount of injuries Pops had but he wasn’t fazed at all, then right there, Ace bowed in front of Pops as he apologized for his stubbornness is the cause of all this mess.

“I’m sorry Pops!” Ace said, tears in his eyes as he focused his attention to their father, Whitebeard smiled as he told Ace to stand up, the later obliged and he took a step closer to Pops and he felt the giant man wrapped his arms around him, and that’s what all it takes to make Ace cry, in the protective embrace of Pops, Ace allowed himself to be vulnerable, he felt safe.

Ann just watched the events unfold, happy that Ace found the family that he always yearned for, that they only dreamed of having when they were raised by the bandits.

“Don’t think that we forgot about you lady” Ann’s breath hitched as she felt someone spoke behind her, she turned to find Haruta who was eyeing her with pure curiosity in his eyes, not giving a damn that his sword was still dripping the blood of their enemies.

“Stop scaring her Haruta” Izou being the voice of reason said as Ann felt a hand on her shoulder, Izou trying his best to help her feel at ease.

“I’m not scaring her! She’s the scary one! She’s the exact same as Ace yet they’re also the exact opposite that it doesn’t even make any sense!” Haruta said while listing all the reasons that made him arrive to that conclusion.

They have the exact same face.

She’s calm while Ace is either running around or picking a fight.

Ace tried to kill them on their first meeting, Ann did her best to help and save them.

He’s fire, she’s water.

And a water logia is definitely something that ALL devil fruit users should be scared of.

Amidst the scrambling, Ann managed to escape as she disappeared into the cracks of the ship using her water logia form, she was already out of sight when Haruta finished his ramblings.

She chose to hide in one of the stock rooms, hoping that at least they won’t find her until the injured pirates receive their much needed medical treatment.

She was already contented, Ace was safe, Ace is back to where he belongs, to his found family and that’s what matters to her, that her twin brother would be safe and away from harm’s reach.

Exhaustion was coming to her senses as she yawned, eyelids dropping, the comfort inside the cramped space eased her, she was used to this, hiding because of fear of being found, fear that they would hurt her again, it was a constant feeling as she grew up and even if she knows the pirates won’t hurt her here, her habits got the best of her.

It was already dark, most of the pirates on the Moby were already bandaged up and preparing for a banquet to celebrate the return of their brother and their victory against the marines.

Luffy was sleeping like a starfish inside the infirmary while Ace was beside him, thankful for his brother but still considers him as an idiot for risking his life for someone like him.

Ace pretended that his sister wasn’t just around the ship, he pretends that she doesn’t exist and he prefers if the commanders would stop bothering him about her, their history as siblings wasn’t that bad, well maybe not until the last part where she suddenly disappeared and left Ace behind.

He used to adore and care for her, not until she left without telling anything and it happened right after an argument, which Ace concluded was the reason why she suddenly left him, they were 8 when that happened by the way.

“So who’s fetching the Ace female version?” Marco asked, unamused with the way Ace was ignoring the presence of someone who’s obviously there on their ship for him.

“Stop calling her that, she’s nothing like me… her name is Ann by the way” Ace said the first part with an annoyed hiss, but the later part was barely a whisper, loud enough just for Marco to take note that her name was Ann.

“Okay, I will fetch her and we are going to have a talk” Marco stated, making Ace groan in annoyance, Marco could only shake his head and turn on his heel to fetch the girl named Ann.

With his observation haki, he managed to pinpoint her whereabouts, she was hiding at one of the unused rooms under the deck.

Just like Ace during his attempt to kill Pops spree.

She was actually inside the cabinet…

Marco sighed as he watched her peaceful yet very uncomfortable state while sleeping, whatever they are to each other, they surely needs to be taken care of.

“Ann-yoi, wake up” Marco said, a hand on her shoulder as he tried to wake her up, a flinch and a panicked expression was her first response which made Marco furrow his eyebrows, when Ann realized that it was Marco, a pirate and one of Ace’s crew, she sighed in relief.

What’s with her?

Those are Marco’s initial thoughts as the girl abruptly stood up, head hitting the top of the cabinet making her wince as she rubbed her head.

A clumsy one as well.

As he watched her, he was certain that she’s definitely related to Ace, Marco already has an idea anyways, he just needed to confirm it from them.

“They’re preparing for a banquet, you should join us and we do need to have a talk with you and Ace” Marco explained, and he was expecting her to light up when he said the word banquet but she didn’t, she honestly seemed confused with the banquet part but she understood the talk with her and Ace.

“Sure? If Ace is fine with it” She said with an awkward scratch at the back of her nape, she was definitely odd.

She was tailing Marco as they walked through the ship, her curiosity was evident as her eyes wandered around the place.

“Your first time inside a ship yoi?” Marco asked as he chuckled, she was more childlike as she shake her head.

“Nope but this is my first time freely roaming around one” Ann answered, which was still odd according to Marco but he chose to shrug it off.

Marco took that as a sign to tell her more about the ship as they reached the deck, she was like a duckling following Marco.

“So here’s our little savior!” Fossa said and everyone’s attention turned to Ann who was still following Marco, she smiled shyly while waving her hand like it was just nothing.

When she reached where Pops was sitting by the deck, Ace was already standing beside him, Ann went towards them with Marco watching them.

“Thank you young lady for saving us” Whitebeard said with a fond smile on his face, the look that says he wants to adopt her as well, much to Ace’s terror.

“Care to explain the uncanny resemblance yoi?” Marco asked the question that everyone was dying to ask.

“We’re twins” Ace said as he sighed in defeat, he knows they won’t let them off the hook without an answer so he would just rather get over this.

Audible gasps echoed throughout the deck as they exchanged glances between the siblings, finally confirming what they have been speculating.

“Ohhh? So she’s Ace’s sister!!” Haruta exclaimed excitedly, jumping like a kid making Ann smile awkwardly, not used to being this welcomed.

“ACE HAS A SISTER?!!” Was Luffy’s reaction while holding a piece of meat that he managed to steal from the kitchen, it’s rare to see him quite surprised and his baffled state caused even more confusion to the Whitebeards.

“You didn’t know that your brother has a sister?” Izou was baffled, Ace had always talked about Luffy and how they were brothers, but Luffy not knowing about Ace’s twin gave them another round of conniption.

“Nope, she wasn’t with the bandits when gramps dropped me off there” Luffy said while tilting his head, examining Ann’s existence, his confused expression was later on replaced by a grin.

“You look exactly like Ace, I like you shishishi” Luffy said with a huge grin, if she’s Ace’s sister than Luffy has all the reasons to treat her like a sibling as well, Ace wanted to disappear with how well they’re getting along.

“We’re siblings by blood, that’s all” Ace said through gritted teeth, annoyance as he glared at Ann who looked genuinely hurt with the way Ace was acting towards her.

“I didn’t mean to leave Ace, I can explai—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit Ann, you know how much shit we have to go through when we were kids!” Ace growled, fire flickering on his shoulders as he clenched his fists, trying his best to contain his anger that was flaring.

Silence echoed throughout the deck, the partying pirates were now focused on the twins.

“You were the last thread that I was holding on and you left” Ace said, unlike his initial rage outburst earlier, he sounded more pained this time, flashbacks to the times where he waited for her to come home, so he could apologize for the argument, but she didn’t comeback, she left him all alone

“I knew I was shit but did you really have to leave me behind?” Ace was hurting, he hated how vulnerable he sounded but he couldn’t help himself, Ann was his little sister.

If Ace’s initial response is always rage and a fist to the face, Ann is the calm and sane one, who would be the only one who could stop Ace from getting himself into a fight, she was his comfort, she was there whenever Ace would be in circumstances where he could go batshit crazy if she wasn’t there by his side.

And worst shit happened when they argued about something, about Ace going to the gray terminal more often, how he would go deep into the jungle and Ann was worried.

This habit of Ace started when they were just 5 years old, it wasn’t that bad because Ace would only be gone for a day and be back before dark so Ann just let him be, but as the years passed Ace rarely goes back to the bandits, they were 8 years old back then, and when Ann would ask if where Ace was going, he would just brush away her concern and never answer her questions.

Until now she never really found out why, when she confronted him and she got mad, well Ace didn’t receive that well, he also snapped back at her and for a very trivial matter, it escalated to an argument where Ace told her to mind her own business while Ann was trying to make him understand that it’s only normal for a sister to worry about such a brat brother.

“I knew I was wrong, I was about to apologize and even introduce you… to Sabo” Ace muttered, tears threatening to fall from his eyes but he wiped them away quickly, meanwhile Ann looked confused, who’s this Sabo guy anyways?

“Sabo’s my first friend, we enjoyed causing havoc at High town and the gray terminal” Ace said honestly, finally after 12 years he finally managed to tell her why he’s always out of sight, while Ann was dumbfounded, her question answered after all those years.

“Well he did talk to me about making amends and I was dumb to get mad at you after I told him what happened” Ace explained, fidgeting his fingers while the other pirates looked at him, he was like a child, he knew he was exposing himself but he didn’t care.

“But then when I went back to the bandits, you weren’t there, I waited but you never came back” Ace said, his voice cracked as a tear escaped his eyes, she was his little secret, even Luffy didn’t know how much she meant to Ace because he felt betrayed when she left him behind.

A moment of silence enveloped the twins while Whitebeard was contemplating on his next words, even the commanders knew that they shouldn’t butt in and let the siblings mend their rift.

“If Pops allows it, you can stay on this ship until we get to a next island” Ace said as he stared down at his boots and he walked away, not in the mood to listen to her anymore, he said his piece, he apologized for the shit he did when they were kids.

He didn’t want to hear her side because he was afraid to hear the truth, that he was such a failure even as a brother and he knows hearing it from Ann would shatter his heart more than it already is.

He heard her call his name but he went on his way to his room, running as he closed the door shut, he cried there as the memories of him looking for her all over the island resurfaced in his mind, how he couldn’t even ask Sabo for help because he was ashamed of himself.

Meanwhile Ann was still crying by the deck, Whitebeard felt bad so he reached for her and he gently patted her head, a sense of comfort was there, like he was assuring her that it would be okay.

“Ace---I’m really sorry” She said in between sobs as she cried, Izou approached her as he opened his arms, offering her a hug which she hesitantly accepted, she felt like a child again while Izou did his best to comfort her, he knows the pain of leaving a sibling behind.

Chapter Text

“Hey there little sprinkler, mind to tell me what’s your favorite food so we could put it up on the menu?” Thatch said, trying to brighten up the mood and cheer her up, but the girl only buried her face closer to Izou, muffling her cries while the later continued to pat her head.

“This is bad when you know food can’t solve it” Vista said while shaking his head, the rest of the commanders nodded in agreement, if food can’t solve their problems, it was that bad.

Actually it was worst than what they expected.

They continued the banquet that they planned that evening, they got Ace out of sulking and he was more glued to Luffy than ever while Ann was sitting by the corner away from the prying eyes of the crew.

It was like she mastered the art of hiding and she was perfectly out if sight for the others to even bother to spare her a glance.

That was until Thatch tried to approach her with a tray of food in his hands, just like how they did with Ace, this would work? Right?

“The party is getting wild yet you haven’t touched any food yet” Thatch said with a smile as he placed the tray right in front of Ann, while the girl only hugged her knees tighter, her eyes focused on the food in front of her but was hesitant to take it, it just felt so wrong for her.

“I-is it really okay for me to take that much?” Ann said as she looked at Thatch with expectant eyes, the food looked so damn good but she wasn’t sure if it would be okay, her question caught Thatch off guard, it was just a normal serving, though he contemplated on giving her the same amount of food Ace usually eats but then decided to give her the normal amount as she can always come back for more.

“Ann? This is a banquet and you are free to eat as much as you want” Thatch explained, not even understanding why he has to but he does anyways, the man sat beside Ann as she reached for the food, the most she had in years.

“Thank you for the food” She said with a smile and Thatch nodded, happy that she ate.

She barely ate the food on the plate.

“This could feed me for a week” She muttered while taking another spoonful of rice, ignoring the meat and other side dishes on her plate, Thatch watched her in pure horror while she was confused with the reaction.

“Ann, the most that amount of food could get you is a day, what do you mean that’s enough to feed you for a week?” Thatch asked completely baffled while Ann smiled awkwardly, not really sure if she should tell him about where she just came from.

“As long as you’re on this ship you can eat as much as you want, don’t hold back” Thatch muttered when the silence stretched and Ann looked at him like he just hung the stars in the sky.

He will take that as a win.

After the encounter with Thatch, Haruta was the next one to bother her peaceful existence.

Basically Haruta hung upside down like a bat right in front of her on the railings which startled the living shit out of her soul, the guy seemed to be contented with the reaction as he settled right in front of her.

“So Ann? Might tell me why you’re not partying and getting drunk?” Haruta asked while sparing a quick glance at the deck where the pirates could barely stand on their own while still chugging bottles of alcohol.

“I don’t party and I don’t drink alcohol” Ann stated while Haruta just gave him a weird tilt of the head, just like she said the most nonsense he’s ever heard in his entire life.

“You got to be kidding?” Haruta asked which Ann answered with a shrug.

“Okay then how about we play a game and loser gets to drink?” Haruta offered, a sly grin on his face while he pulled out some cards from his pocket.

Of course Ann was hesitant, but the way Haruta looked so eager to play with her made her smile, she couldn’t say no to him and his whims, after he explained the rules and she got a hang of the card game they started the bets and drinks.

She lost by a huge margin and now she’s drunk.

“I swear Haruta you should have went easy on her” Marco scolded as he pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache starting to prevail as he watched the drunken state of Ann who was having her first experience of getting wasted.

“Eh-? Twats so funnnn thogh?” Ann’s words slurred as she could barely hold her head, Haruta grinned victoriously as he let her head rest on his shoulder.

Ann felt thankful as she let herself be comfortable with him, her headache was really going to kill her tonight.

“Don’t give me that look Marco, she’s my friend now so I will take care of her, no pranks involved I promise” Haruta said as he sighed, just as Marco was about to start his hour long lecture, Ann suddenly started to cry, hands on her face as she cried like a kid, making both Marco and Haruta worried, even the other commanders that were nearby gave her a worried look.

Including Ace who was on the other side of the deck happened to spare her a worried glance.

“Hey what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Marco asked worriedly while Haruta shifted a bit so he could get a clearer view of her face.

She nodded as she let her hands fall to her lap, her tears still flowing but she looked at Haruta with a tickled pink expression.

“You think of me as a friend?” She asked while still looking at Haruta, the later was confused but still nodded anyways, which only made her cry even more.

“You’re my first friend in my entire life!” She said as she cried again and only a few moments afterwards she fell asleep.

Marco and Haruta could only exchange weirded out looks.

First friend in her 20 years of existence? That’s definitely not normal.

“Your sister is weird Ace” Luffy mumbled while munching on the meat while the two watched the other commanders babysit Ann who was drunk dead already.

Ace was fighting the urge to approach her and take her to his room so she would stop making a mess of herself but the way she said that Haruta was her first ever friend struck something within his heart, could his sister possibly had a hard life away from them as well?

“You should try to talk to her Ace, clear up any misunderstandings that you have with each other” Luffy said, and Ace hates to admit it but he was right, and those were the exact same words that Sabo told him years ago.

Luffy is an idiot but he is emotionally smart, he knows when to be a crackhead and when he should be serious.

“I want to treat her as a sister too shishishi” Luffy grinned while Ace snorted, he haven’t even made amends with her yet Luffy already has plans to of his own.

He will deal with that later…

Now after a while of contemplating, Ann was perched on Ace’s back while he made his way to his room, Ace chose to ignore the other commanders, specifically Marco, Haruta, Izou and Thatch who were following them, are they seriously thinking that he will throw her overboard?

When he reached his room, he tucked her into his bed and he draped a blanket over her sleeping figure, just like the old days, Ace smiled to himself.

The following day was just like another normal day on the Moby, as if they didn’t just go to war yesterday, the other ships from their fleet was already on their way to embark their own journey and continue their adventures.

Ann woke up with an awful headache, if this is the after effects of alcohol then she swore she will never get drunk ever again.

“So how’s the hangover?” Ace asked all of a sudden, startling Ann who glared at her brother that was standing by the doorframe.

“This sucks” She said honestly as she closed her eyes and she buried herself deeper into the blanket and pillows, Ace smiled at her childishness as he walked towards her, he sat on his bed, he watched her struggle with her headache like a child and it was funny, just like how she acts when she feels sick when they were still kids.

“Let’s go to the mess hall, I’m sure Thatch won’t mind making hangover soup for you” Ace said while he helped her sit up, Ann whined while letting her head drop to Ace’s chest, refusing to get up and walk around.

“5 minutes? Just let me pull my shit together” Ann asked and it only made Ace chuckle as he rubbed her back in a comforting manner, humming as an answer as he let her lean on him.

They stayed like that for a few moments until Ann decided to talk.

“Ace? I’m sorry for being a horrible sister” Ann whispered loud enough for Ace to hear, Ace was caught off guard, he froze on his spot while Ann sniffed, tears forming in her eyes.

“I never meant to leave, I would never do that to you” Ann’s voice cracked and she hugged Ace tightly, it tore Ace’s heart to pieces, no matter how much he tries to mask his emotions with anger, he still can’t change the fact that he will always care for her.

“What really happened to you Ann?” Ace asked as he hugged her back, doing his best to comfort her.

“Someone took me away from Dawn, I just woke up inside a cell with kids around our age back then” Ace listened to her, fist clenching as he realized what happened to her, damn it her sister got kidnapped and he didn’t know, he didn’t fucking help her when she needed him.

“I don’t know what was happening, we were at sea for a few months” Ann added, clenching her fists around her shirt as she recalled the horrible days that happened back then.

“The first time I ever saw land again was in a weird place, it wasn’t an island, it was more huge trees? Groves?” She racked her brain with the details that she tried to forget, the traumatizing events that she had to endure from that day onwards.

Huge trees? Groves?

Damn it she was at Sabaody.

Ace hissed in his mind, cursing himself as he realized where this was going, as much as he wanted to hope that his hunch was wrong, he knew what the worst case scenario could be if someone’s brought to Sabaody.

“I don’t know much but we were brought to an auction house, I was sold there as a slave” Ann said and just like that she broke down, damn Ace would never forgive himself after finding this out.

He gently wrapped her in his embrace, an assuring presence and the protective warmth that Ann longed to for years.

They stayed like that for a few moments, Ace trying to comfort her while she was trying her best to get a hold of herself.

When she calmed down for a bit, she pulled away from Ace’s embrace, a sad smile etched on her face as she moved a bit so that Ace could see her back, she moved her hair to the side and she slightly lifted her shirt so he could see the mark on her back.

“Damn it” Ace hissed, anger and annoyance getting the best of him, he knew what that mark on her back means.

“You were a slave for the celestial dragons all this time?” Ace muttered which Ann nodded while lowering her shirt as she faced her brother again, an apologizing look on her face when none of this was her fault anyways.

“Yeah, and they placed something around my neck that would explode if I ever try to escape” She said as her hand reached for her neck, still unused that the feeling of the collar wasn’t there anymore.

“How did you manage to escape?” Ace’s full focused was on her, not really expecting this kind of story from his sister, he thought she left him because she was mad and she can’t tolerate his shit anymore.

“They made me eat this weird fruit, I wasn’t familiar with it because it was blue and it has weird patterns on it” Ann recalled and the disgusted look on her face says it all.

“They call it a devil fruit Ann, and yes they taste very awful” Ace comments and she agreed, she would never eat a fruit with that kind of pattern ever again, not that she could anyways.

“After eating that fruit I felt weird, it was like my lungs were getting filled with water, like I was drowning but I wasn’t even submerged” She explained that peculiar feeling, how she thought that fruit was poisonous and she would die that instant.

“Then it was like I was flowing by the sea and I turned into water, that creeped the shit out of me” Ann added clearly not enjoying her first moments with her devil fruit ability.

“When I turned back into a human they put something called sea prim- sea pris?...”

“Sea prism cuffs?”

“Yeah that was it” Ann confirmed with a nod, not understanding what’s the use for that when they have explosives around her neck.

“Sea prisms nullify devil fruit powers” Ace explained and god he had to be patient when his sister just tilted her head in confusion, not understanding a thing that he was saying.

Which later he understood why, the celestial dragons who were her so called ’owners’ isolated her, she grew up just serving them and she was completely unaware of what’s happening around the world, one day Ace will definitely make those false gods pay for what they did to her.

Ace was patient enough to explain to her how devil fruit works, he even showed her a glimpse of his own fire powers, which she was beyond amazed and Ace took pride in that, he also explained to him why they put sea prism cuffs on her after she ate the fruit.

“Eh? But mine still perfectly works even if they put those cuffs on?” Ann blurted, eyebrows furrow in confusion as she stared at Ace, it took him a good 5 seconds before he also looked at her with a confused expression.

“I still turned into water and the explosive collar and cuffs fell, which is why I managed to escape that place” Ann reasoned and now Ace was more confused, did they just put the wrong cuffs on her? That’s possible.

“We were at the very top of the red line and I tripped and fell to the sea” She said while shrugging, it took Ace a few seconds to process her words before he looked at her clearly baffled.

“YOU WERE WHAT?!!!” Ace looked extremely concern, how the hell did she survive that?

“Yeah I thought I was a goner but when I hit the sea, the currents took me to an island and that’s where I tried to get things going and find a way back home to Dawn” She explained, Ace was just listening as he tried to get over the information that his sister just fell from the very top of the red line, she’s a devil fruit user who fell at sea yet she still managed to survive, it’s either a part of her devil fruit abilities or she has insane amount of devil’s luck.

“But the very first news I heard about was your execution” Ann whispered, hands clenched into a fist as she remembered the dread she felt when she saw the newspaper was about Ace’s upcoming execution and the war with the Whitebeards.

“I was looking forward to seeing you again, and I was scared that they’ll take you away from us for good” She bit her lower lip as she remembered how scared she was, Ace is a wonderful brother, Ace is more than what people say about him, Ace may seem full of anger and hatred but when you see who he really is under his tough facade, he’s a calm and loving person especially to those truly dear to him, and Ann is one of them.

She hates how the first time she saw him again after all those years, he was bruised and battered after being tortured in Impel down, it made her feel an immense rage she never thought was even possible for her.

“The only information I had was the war that will take place in Marineford, and hell they picked a fight with the wrong person hmp!” She raised a fist and she chuckled after realizing how silly she sounded, but nonetheless she still made Ace laugh and that’s all that matters.

“I don’t know how but the currents of the sea listens to me, that’s how I got to Marineford using the little boat that I stole from the docks” She added while Ace smiled fondly, knowing how things went afterwards, he was proud of her, but he also felt bad that he had the guts to blame and hurt her when she had always put him on top of her priority list

“I’m sorry Ann, I’m the awful sibling between the two of us” He smiled sadly, a hand reaching out to mess her hair as she pouted.

“Eyy stop that, if only you can see yourself the way we see you then you’ll understand how much of a wonderful person you are Ace” She said and she also ruffled his hair and that got Ace sulking, she’s always been the one good with words, she always know what to say to make him feel like he deserves to live.

“Well now I’m here, I won’t ever stop reminding you that” She grinned and Ace swore he was taken back to the time when they were just kids trying to give the bandits a hard time, he momentarily forgetting about the harsh world and he was just a brother to a high maintenance sister who constantly needs his attention.

“Yeah now let’s go to the mess hall and eat, let’s continue catching up?” Ace said and Ann looked excited, probably with the thoughts of getting to eat to her heart’s content again, she will forever be thankful for Thatch’s wonderful cooking.

With all the newfound information about what his sister has been through, Ace swore he would be spoiling her and make it up for all the years that they’ve been apart.

Chapter Text

The mess hall was bustling as the lively pirates were having their breakfast, the sound of Ace and Ann’s voices echoed through the hall making the other pirates quiet down as they all looked at the two who just entered the hall, they were both laughing and joking with each other.

“They made amends I see?” Izou said fondly as they watched Ace lead her to the commander’s table.

“Aceeeeee!!! Annnnnnnnn!!!” Luffy’s voice was heard as he waved his hand, he was also by the commander’s table, already eating his fifth serving of breakfast, a wide grin as he saw that the two are already getting along.

“LUFFYYYY!!” Ace called back as he dragged Ann towards the table where they were waiting for them.

“Good to see that she’s not dying with a hangover, okay Haruta pay up!” Jiru said while extending a hand to a sulky Haruta while he was taking some berries from his pocket.

“Making a bet over my sister? Really?” Ace asked sarcastically as he scowled, the rest of the commanders chuckling at his antics.

“Ace is such a tsundere” Fossa comments and the rest of the commanders couldn’t agree less, which caused Ace to awkwardly scratch the back of his nape.

“Wait let’s have a proper introduction this time!” Ace said as he tried to divert the attention back to his sister.

“Ann this is Luffy, an idiot of a brother that I have, we became brothers after we exchanged a cup of sake—”

“So it means I’m your brother too!! And yayyy I finally have a sister!!” Luffy butted in, Ace was about to complain about letting Ann have free will and decide on her own if she wants to consider him as a sibling or not but Ann seems to like the idea of considering Luffy as a brother, Ace is happy that the two seems to be getting along.

“Nice to meet you Luffy and of course, Ace’s brother is my brother too” She said with a smile and Luffy grinned so bright that everyone in the table couldn’t help but smile back at the kid.

Since she already got to know some of the commanders yesterday, Ace just gave them a brief introduction which the commanders complained saying that Ace was playing favorites but we all know it's obvious that Luffy is Ace’s favorite brother so they just ended up sulking like a child.

“So Thatch! You won’t mind cooking her favorite food right? And oh Izou I have a favor! You won’t mind letting her borrow some clothes for the meantime? I’ll just buy her some when we reached another island! Ohhhh Haruta she’s quite a prankster as well! Marco about he—”

“Okay calm down there Ace we get it, she’s in good hands as long as she’s in this ship” Marco said, cutting off Ace’s ramblings, his brother complex showing quite too much today.

“I’m sure Pops would even adopt you, well if you would accept his offer by the way” Jozu stated which made Ace snort.

“That wasn’t the case when I got ‘adopted’ so don’t believe them about that” Ace said sarcastically, earning a laugh from the rest of their audience, they should be thankful that adoption worked out in the end.

Ann was having fun, Luffy telling her stories about Ace starting when they first met until Ace set sail to become a pirate while the Whitebeards were sharing their own stories starting with Ace being dumb enough to challenge Pops and his months long worth attempt of assassination that always ends in failure, Ann could clearly imagine Ace’s antics.

In return she also told them about his antics when they were still kids, it feels nice to know that her brother is surrounded by people who truly cares for him, he looks so much happier now and it warms her heart.

“You found a wonderful crew Ace, you look happier now” Ann said fondly as Ace answered with a slight nod as they looked around, this place sure does feel like home.

“Join the crew Ann” Ace said as he looked at her, the offer was tempting for her, especially with how well they’re treating them.

“Yes yes join the crew Ann! You’ll love it here!” Haruta added as he shifted to fully face the siblings that was having a conversation.

“Pops would sure love another daughter that could keep this little firecracker in check” Marco joked making them chuckle, the other commanders were also expectant as they wait for her answer.

“I never really thought about being a pirate” Ann said honestly and it was true, she never imagined herself being a pirate even if she was Roger’s daughter.

“Yeah because you were dead serious about being a marine! That old geezer really influenced you huh?” Another sarcastic remark from Ace which made the commanders look at her in disbelief, even Luffy looked petrified with the thoughts but afterwards he nodded in understanding, if that’s her dream then he’s no one to judge.

“You want to become a marine?!” Haruta looked betrayed and Ann nodded, before a sad smile crept on her face.

“Gramps gaslighting only worked on her tch” Ace snorted and Ann chuckled as she jokingly hit her brother’s arm, she did want to become a marine, she was amazed with Garp without a doubt.

“Hey at least I rarely get a dose of that fist of love, that shit hurts for real” Ann commented and both Ace and Luffy were terrified with the mention of fist of love, surely brings back memories.

“But that was when I was 8, before I experienced the amount of shit the world could offer so hell no, I would never want to be a marine” She stated and though the pirates tried being subtle, their relieved expression pretty much gave way to their genuine reaction.

“What made you change your dream all of a sudden?” Luffy asked, and it’s rare for Luffy to be seriously interested and not the goofy type of interest.

“Because the marines failed me a lot of times, I thought all of them have the same principles as Gramps but I was wrong” Ann said with a shrug, Ace understands what she meant, it was clear after hearing out what she had been through the past years, meanwhile the other people in the table just gave her a confused look.

“They turned a blind eye when they were there at the auction house, they didn’t bat an eye when slaves were killed by celestial dragons, they would even defend them even if those awful creatures were at fault” Ann said, recalling how she tried to ask some help from the marines, how she begged them to call her Gramps so she could go back home, but because she was an unknown child they didn’t treat her seriously, they turned their back on her which led to her dreadful fate.

“Celestial dragons? Wait don’t tell me you were a slave?” Rakuyo asked with widened eyes, they did not expect that coming.

“For the past 12 years, I just managed to escape a few months ago” Ann answered and the table went silent, 12 years into slavery and she was just a child when they took her in, if that wasn’t fucked up then they don’t know what they should call it.

“Damn that explains a lot” Thatch said to himself, her comments about the food, how she seemed to be interested in a lot of things, how she said Haruta was her first ever friend, her scared reaction after getting caught sleeping, suddenly everything made sense.

“You barely had a childhood” Marco muttered, feeling bad for the girl who just shrugged nonetheless.

“You poor thing!” Haruta wailed as he gave her a hug, she flinched but she relaxed afterwards when she sensed that the little guy meant no harm.

The commanders causing their usual commotion made the other pirates look at them and give them the side eye but they didn’t care at all. They swore they would also adopt Ann even if she refused, not like she would refuse any opportunity for her to stay with her brother again.

When they were on the deck just doing their own stuff, Ann was curious about Luffy’s crew after she found out that he has a crew of his own and he wasn’t sailing under Pop’s flag, she didn’t even believe him when he said that he has a reindeer and a skeleton as a crewmate so Luffy promised her that he will introduce his crewmates to her when he gets the chance.

It was about lunch time when Rayleigh suddenly boarded the ship, Pops welcomed him and Pops was quite sulky when Rayleigh said he was there to pick up his student, which is Luffy so they could start their training, Whitebeard wanted to adopt that brat but he could sense that Luffy would be much worst than Ace if he forcefully adopts him.

“Let’s meet in the New World Luffy!” Ace shouted to Luffy who was already on the little boat along with Rayleigh, Ann also waved him goodbye, happy to meet their little brother that made Ace happy during the years that she wasn’t there for him.

“Soooooo Ann want to show us your abilities? You’re a devil fruit user, right?” Haruta suddenly said, excitement laced on his voice, startling the twins that were too immersed in watching Luffy’s boat that was starting to disappear in the horizon.

“I’m not that used to it yet? I only got a little briefing about it with Ace earlier” Ann said honestly, she barely got out from the hellhole that she was in for years and the first thing she did was storm a warzone to rescue her brother, of course she needed time to understand what the hell was happening in the world.

“So you can’t control it yet?” Izou asked and she nodded, she was trying not to use her devil fruit with the fear that she might accidentally hurt them but to her surprise, they urged her to use it, they even said they would train her and teach her techniques in combat.

“The only thing I’m used to is turning myself into water” She said and she showed them her hand that turned into water as it dripped to the floor.

“Oh and also controlling the currents!” She added and they felt the Moby rock along the sudden change of the currents, the other Whitebeards losing their balance in the process. When the ship calmed down they looked at her in disbelief.

“The water balls and water wall that I was working on is still out of control” She explained and they did recall how she was stumbling while using those techniques back in Marineford.

“Well we do have other devil fruit users here, they can help you with that” Ace assured her and she looked at the commanders with a spark in her eyes, she wanted to see some demonstrations, Ace’s fire was cool enough so she wanted to see the rest.

The devil fruit users didn’t mind showing her a bit of their own abilities, Blamenco let her hide inside his pocket, Jozu turned his body into diamond and she was in awe with how he sparkled under the sun, they even got Marco to show her his hybrid and full phoenix form, which was Ann’s favorite hmp.

“Devil fruits come with a lot of perks, though you can’t swim yoi” Marco stated once he was back to being a full human, Ann looked at them confused.

“Devil fruit users can’t swim?” She asked and they nodded, it was calm when Ann suddenly jumped overboard, panic rushed through them and they were about to get Namur for help when they heard her laugh and she was watching their panicked state from the sea.

They looked at her in disbelief, comprehending that she wasn’t sinking nor drowning.

SHE WAS STANDING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE WATER! THE VERY FUCKING SEA THAT CAN INSTANTLY KILL DEVIL FRUIT USERS!

“That could be one of the perks of a water logia” Izou comments earning a snicker from the rest of the devil fruit users, that was unfair!

They did some tests mainly because of their curiosity, which she almost drowned but at least they figured out that as long as she didn’t get at least half of her body submerged in water she retains her powers and she can manipulate the water, she can even stand and walk on the sea as long as she’s calm and focused enough.

“This concludes that sea stone cuffs does have effects on her” Haruta said with a sigh as they watched Ann nearly drown for the 5th time today, discovering her abilities was riskier than others because they literally need to test it on the sea, Namur has never been this overworked since Ace was still going feral on the ship!

“You twins are such a handful” Namur said jokingly, earning him a chuckle from Ann while Ace’s cheeks flushed red after remembering how the fishman commander keeps on fishing him out of the sea every time he got thrown overboard.

“So this means the celestial dragons were that dumb?” Blenheim asked while the rest of the commanders blinked in confusion, Izou just gave him a weirded look while he draped a blanket over the already shivering water logia.

“Didn’t you say they put sea prism cuffs on you? And that’s how you escaped?” Blenheim clarified which made them nod in understanding as their mouths gaped in realization.

“They used the wrong cuffs HAHAHAHA” Ace cackled as flames were flaring from his hair while he sat by the deck, Ann took this opportunity to warm her hands around the warmth of her brother’s fire.

“I guess they really are idiots” Ann hummed in agreement, as she laughed along with them, maybe her luck wasn’t that bad after all.

Ann loved the idea that her and Ace’s devil fruits were parallel to each other, she also loved the idea that they will help her master her abilities, and the best of them all was when Pops asked her to be his daughter!

“Aceeee!! I have a dad now!” Ann said happily while hugging Ace’s arm and she was jumping like an excited kid.

“You two are the exact opposite” Whitebeard said fondly at the two who were getting along quite well, Ace’s initial hostility was nowhere to be found.

“So you’re getting the mark as well?” Ace asked making Ann look at him confused, sensing that he had to elaborate, Ace showed her his bare back where his Whitebeard tattoo was on full display.

“That will hurt? Right?” She asked, hesitation evident in her voice, as much as Ace and Pops wants her to have their jolly roger tattoo, they don’t have the heart to force her into it.

“Yeah but we can skip that if you like? We can have it printed on your clothes?” Ace recommended while nodding his head, his mind already thinking of asking Izou to personally tailor clothes for his sister, he was sure Izou would love that idea.

“Nah I don’t mind having a tattoo! I’ll have it on my back as well but not as big as the one Ace has” She decided, a grin on her face while nodding her head.

That day she got the mark of a slave removed and it was replaced by Whitebeard’s jolly roger mark and she was officially welcomed to the crew as one of Pop’s children.

“To our newest sister!” Marco exclaimed while raising a toast, another celebratory banquet because of course they are pirates and pirates love to party.

Ann was now wearing a tank top so her new tattoo was on display, at least she wasn’t as wild as Ace when it comes to displaying it, not like Ace would allow it, he’s quite protective of her you know.

“Never thought we would sail under the same flag” Ace said while handing her a glass of wine as they watched the partying pirates over the deck.

“This is actually fun, I think I might enjoy being a pirate” Ann said while drinking her wine, though she’s drinking that because she resents the strong alcohol, she is not getting drunk today, nope not at all.

Ace smiled at his sister as he gave him a look that says I told you so.