AUTHORS NOTE: To the first readers of chapter 30 I changed some parts on the last section where Sav goes into Moby Dick and talks to Ace and Marco. Not a lot but Just letting you know if you wanna re-read that part. ________________________________________________________________________________

You looked down at the ropes tied around your hands with distaste. They rubbed across your skin, leaving red marks underneath their presence.

-"Is this really necessary? Can't two commanders of the Whitebeard crew take care of a flimsy girl such as myself?" you asked, knowing the conversation was useless but having the need to express your dislike. Marco looked back at you, turning his gaze back toward the front as he led you amongst the wooden ship.

-"It is just a procedure-yoi." Marco simply replied, not wasting more time discussing the issue with you. You sighed at his response, not liking his answer anymore than the bonds that were tying you down.

-"Besides, I'm sure you could easily get rid of these feeble ropes if you are thinking of joining this crew." Ace spoke up from behind you. "Even if it is a flimsy girl such as yourself." he added, nonchalantly, not caring that he was insulting you as he spoke. You growled at his words causing him to laugh at your reaction. You could clearly visualise the way he was grinning at you even without looking at him.

Was it you or was the way he was speaking different than the conversations that you had before? Before, the way you guys had spoken was so..serious, grave and...sad.

Maybe you preferred this. Setting a boundary between him and your emotions in a friendly but distancing chivalry.

You quieted down at the thought, coming to terms with the difference between the past and the present. Marco laughed along to Ace's words, seeming to enjoy your fight as he went through the route like a ritual, one he had memorized cleany.

The rest of the short walk was silent, merely filled with the sound of your footsteps stomping across the wooden trail and the shouts of joy emerging from the party still continuing on deck.

A pair of the 3 footsteps died out as Marco came to a halt in front of a huge oak door, almost 2 times your size. You let out an expression of amazement at the size of the door, while Marco knocked on the wood, opening it without waiting for a response.

-"Pops!" Marco called out, walking inside the room.

-"Oh, Marco. What brings you here? I was just about to join you up on deck but as you can see...the nurses just won't leave my sight." A roaring laugh filled the room as who you assumed to be Whitebeard laughed a hefty laugh, the vibrations of his voice reaching you in waves. You gulped down visibly, and took a step back, staying next to the door, unwilling to walk into the room in which the strongest pirate you had the opportunity of seeing -minus Shanks- resided.

Ace walked up next to you, glancing at you and your nervous antics as he leaned towards the door next to your side, crossing his arms in a relaxed manner. You didn't know if he was doing it for your sake but having him beside you gave you a rush of strength as you took a step into the room, dismissing your nervous flutter.

-"And who have you brought with you? Tell me Marco, why is the visitor in restraints?" Whitebeard asked, glazing down at your figure with interest as he noticed the ropes tying your hands together. Marco turned towards you and grinned.

-"We had...a little issue up on deck." Marco answered humorously, causing you to scoff.

-"Well take them off. I won't have a guest in restraint on my ship." Whitebeard ordered. Upon his words, Ace took your hands between his, surprising you with his sudden closeness. His built hands made yours seem tiny in comparison. Grinning as he swiftly burned the ropes down, Ace kept the flames from touching your skin cautiously.

-"There, all free." he said in a friendly tone as he smiled down at you. You flinched at his expression. Muttering out a thank you, you took a step back, trying to create some distance between you two.

-"Why have you come all the way here to visit me?" Whitebeard asked, now directly speaking to you. You rubbed your hands, hoping the stinging pain would subside soon.

-"I wish to join your crew." you answered, keeping your voice stable as you talked to him head on. Whitebeard smiled at your response.

-"How could I let someone who I don't know the identity of join my crew so easily? Show your face, child." You grimaced, glancing at Ace, but obeyed his order as you reached for the cloak's hood and took the fabric off completely. Next to you Ace gasped. You turned to him, worried.

-"I knew it..."

-"Marco, hide the drinks!" Ace loudly spoke up in a fake panicked voice, as he dashed towards his friend, putting an arm over his shoulders and grinning at you.

-"I've had enough of those, thank you." Marco replied, remembering the stick feeling of the drink on his chest. You could see Ace trying to keep himself from laughing at your embarrassed expression and felt the heat of the blush as you looked at Ace in disbelief. However, before you could respond, he turned towards Whitebeard:

-"I think we did what we came here to do, old man. We should head back." Marco let out a sound of agreement as he started to walk. Ace followed after him, walking out of the room with his usual relaxed manner.

You kept your eyes on Whitebeard, not wanting to display any change at their leave. Hence you couldn't see Ace's eyes trailing after you as he finally left the room.

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-"It was the girl from the bar." Marco stated as the pair walked back the way they came, closing the door with little effort.

-"Yep." Ace answered back, stretching his arms and placing them at the back of his neck where he used them as posts to rest his head. Marco walked at the front as Ace trailed after him at a slower pace.

-"What do you think she is here for? She doesn't seem the type to be a pirate." Marco carried on, curious to know what Ace thought on the situation. Ace smiled.

-"I disagree, though I don't really have much of an opinion. But I think we can say that... things are about to get fun in here." he said cheerfully.

Just then, a voice could be heard as they walked across the ship's halls. They were close enough to overhear the voices of Whitebeard and the new girl speaking.

-"Tell me, why do you seek to join my crew?" Whitebeard's unmistakable voice reached their ears easily, but they continued walking, not the ones to eavesdrop on other conversations, especially those that didn't gain them anything.

The following voice was a little harder to hear, however it was still one that was overheard. The pair's years of experience as pirates had honed their skills, helping them be informed even in topics that they were not seeking to acquire.

-"I need to protect someone." The feminine voice spoke up, sounding unyielding against an obstacle that no one but her could visualize. Even if they hadn't meant to pick up on her words, now the pair had become interested in what they had learned, staying silent along their slow walk. "Someone that's precious to me." the girl continued, finishing the sentence with conviction.

At those words Ace stopped, letting his hands fall to his sides swiftly. Halting the movement of his legs as his brain tugged at him from all sides, to a memory he didn't bear. Marco looked back at him, eyeing his friend questioningly as Ace zoned out. Those words felt familiar to Ace, important even, but to the current him standing here now they meant nothing; They were insignificant.

The current him won, as Ace placed the feelings into a box and locked them up, placing the key in his head and away from his heart that seemed to seek the source of such familiarity.

-"You alright?" Marco asked, questioning why Ace had stopped so suddenly. Ace came to, just as if he had been woken up from a fleeting dream. A dream that was a mix of happiness and nightmares.

He passed Marco who had stopped to look at him, smirking at his annoyance and replying back:

-"Nothing you need to worry about."

They left the silent halls, letting you and their captain finish your talk in privacy as you for the second time in your life became a pirate.

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Hi!

I keep changing some word choices in the story, some details and action may be a little different  if you re-read the old chapters. not much. just a word or two to make the story flow a little better. Just letting you know.

Recently I have been playing this new game, it's so addicting honestly. 

QUESTION= DO YOU THINK SAV IS UNFIT TO BE A PIRATE JUST LIKE MARCO SAYS?

Anyways I'm tired right now. Gonna go play the game I told you about. 

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!