- - -
The wind howled across the sea, sharp with salt and rage. The sky had darkened steadily over the last hour, boiling with storm clouds as lightning split the sky in jagged arcs. The marine ship bobbed and groaned as waves smashed into its hull like fists demanding its surrender.
Ace stood at the bow. Rain lashed his face, but his eyes burned with fire. His observation haki danced along the wind.
"Land!" the navigator called out, half-screaming over the roar of the storm.
"There's an island—small, this should be it!"
Ace grinned.
"Perfect."
Moments later, the sea swallowed the vessel.
They washed ashore like corpses spat out by the sea. Ace coughed seawater, his hat somehow still clutched onto his head. The marine stumbled beside him, groaning, bleeding from a gash on his forehead.
And the third man...
A figure loomed above them. He wore a mask, blue and tight fitted around his eyebrows, revealing two sharp blue eyes. Dirty bandages wrapped around his neck and wrist. A makeshift poncho fluttered behind him like the ragged wing of a fallen angel.
"Who are you?" shouted the marine, huddling behind Ace.
Realizing what he had done, he coughed, embarrassed.
The man didn't reply—he simply stared at Ace.
Ace, in turn, met his gaze.
The man suddenly shouted out.
"Finally! I've been stranded on this island for a month. No food, and a chaotic storm stopping me from leaving. There's only a cave over there."
The marine fell over as the tense atmosphere dispersed.
Ace merely chuckled at the sight. "I'm Portgas D. Ace, an adventurer. Do you have a name?"
"No..."
"Hmmm… you have a mask over your face. I'll call you Deuce."
The masked man sighed, then smiled.
"You can't just name people." "
Too late. You're Deuce,"
Ace replied, waving his hand dismissively.
A tick mark appeared atop Deuce's head as he walked away toward his base.
Ace quickly followed him, leaving the marine behind.
"So, Deuce. What's your story? How did you get stranded on this island?"
Deuce sighed again and began explaining.
"I began traveling a few months ago. I visited town after town, learning the stories of different places. I met different cultures and learned many new things. You see, my dream is to travel the world and write about everything I see and experience."
Deuce finished with a smile. Ace smiled along and nodded.
"I got stranded on this island after the group I was traveling with left me,"
Deuce added, his expression turning melancholic.
Ace's smile dropped after hearing Deuce's words. He thought for a second before finally saying.
"Deuce. I like you. Become my crew member and join my travels."
"No! I won't trust anyone besides myself again. Thanks, Ace, but I'll pass."
'I don't even know why I told you my story,' thought Deuce.
Ace nodded. "I understand that you were betrayed. However, I believe that your dream is brilliant. If you join me on my travels, you can expect to come across many new places and a bunch of interesting people. Do you mind if I see your book?"
Ace finished, changing the subject.
Deuce looked away from Ace for a second before standing up.
He walked over to a makeshift bed of leaves and grabbed a worn-out book.
"Here," he said, lightly handing it to Ace.
Ace took the journal and opened it.
Inside, he noticed miniature drawings and a bunch of rambling about Deuce's travels and the people he had met.
Ace smiled softly.
Deuce noticed the smile.
'Is he enjoying my writing? Yes, finally someone who appreciates art. Wait… I can't get my hopes up. What if he's preparing to mock me?'
Ace looked up from the journal, closing it.
"Now I really want you to join my crew. Your storytelling is unique to you. It captured my interest with the drawings, and you managed to explain your adventures in clear detail. It's as if I was there myself."
"You really think so!?"
Deuce shouted, questioning. His expression looked as if he was pleased.
"Yes. Deuce, join me on my journey."
"I don't even know your dream."
"I want to become the Pirate King. I will explore the world. See everything that it offers. And I'll study the history."
"P-Pirate King? Pirate? You're inviting me to a pirate crew?"
Deuce stammered.
"Yes. Before you panic, I'm not like other pirates. I'm labeled as one for wanting to explore the world without external influences, such as the World Government and Marines. If you don't get in line and become either a marine or regular civilian, then you are branded an evil pirate,"
Ace finished solemnly.
Deuce nodded, still processing his words.
Ace began walking toward the cave.
Followed by Deuce and the marine.
As they entered the immense cave, they began traveling deeper into it. The further they went, the more enclosed it became. Using his powerful fists, Ace began to train himself by punching through the cave.
This method of training left the marine and Deuce utterly shocked.
Days passed, and going so long without food finally cracked Deuce's exterior.
During these days, Ace trained his strength and control by continuing to punch through the cave's walls.
The more he punched, the more hollow it became. As he descended down, he felt it. One more punch and he would get through. Concentrating completely on his fists, a black aura began to grow around them. It was slow, but surely becoming more dense. Ace struck out his fist, and a loud boom echoed throughout the island.
Deuce and the marine quickly found themselves in the cave. As they descended down, they were shocked by the opening that used to be stone.
Unbeknownst to Ace and the marine, Deuce had a plan.
As they descended down, they noticed Ace crouched, unsuspecting. Deuce, maddened by hunger and desperation, thought back to himself.
'Pirates are evil. Ace, forgive me. Pirates are evil. Ace, forgive me,'
he shouted this mantra in his mind.
He slowly crept up toward Ace.
The marine watched Deuce with a twisted grin. 'Kill him. Do it. Let this idiotic pirate die.'
He said nothing.
Deuce slowly crept up.
Standing directly behind Ace, the knife rose— And then it stopped.
Ace smirked.
Turning around, he offered a fruit to the man.
"I found it in the cave. You were here longer; you must be starving."
Ace smiled at the man.
Deuce was shocked by his kindness.
He collapsed to his knees. "
Ace! I'm so sorry… I was planning to kill you behind your back. Pirates are evil, but you were kind to me. You liked my drawings and my story. Thank you so much. I'm sorry," he shouted with tears in his eyes.
"I know," Ace replied calmly.
"Y-You what?" Deuce asked, confused.
Ace grinned at the man.
"I knew what you were planning."
"How?"
"There's this power that's usable by all— Haki. With this ability, I can perceive the things around me. I can even sense emotions. You were struggling to contain your inner hunger and hatred for pirates. I watched as you battled on. I wanted to see what you would do."
Deuce nodded, stunned. He slowly closed his eyes, accepting death for his sin.
Instead—
"Catch."
The fruit was an orange.
"You're giving it to me?"
Ace nodded.
"A captain looks after his crew."
Deuce simply nodded, then chuckled.
"Thank you, Ace. It would be an honor to join your crew."
The man then grabbed the fruit and ripped it in half.
"Here. Let's split it."
Ace looked at the man and smiled.
"Did you look down?"
Deuce was confused for a second before stepping forward. What he saw left him stunned.
There was a large pirate ship with countless treasures and fruits around it. Among the numerous fruits was a strangely patterned orange fruit. Deuce jumped down like a madman, consuming the different fruit. Ace simply chuckled before hurrying to grab the weird-patterned fruit.
The marine slowly climbed down and approached one of the fruits. As he reached his hand out, Ace stepped forward. "Ace, this is amaz—," he replied before screaming. His hand was completely shattered. "Did you miss the part where I said I can sense emotions? You were rooting for him to kill me."
"The same thing that happened to him was happening to me too! I was starving and confused!"
the marine screamed out.
Ace chuckled.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Deuce simply stared on, trusting his new captain's judgment.
After disposing of the conniving marine, Ace started searching around the ship. Inside the captain's quarters, he noticed a sword and a book. The blade held an intricate design. It was a black cutlass that was slightly taller than Ace himself. It had a hilt made of rubies and gold. It was light in his hands, yet it had a cursed aura behind it. After examining the sword, he picked up the book.
The Legend of Alucard.
Alucard was a legendary pirate who was renowned for his swordsmanship.
This book told tales of how he battled against the ancient dragon slayer Ryuma many years ago. His sword is a supreme-grade black blade that fought alongside him. He hid his sword for his future descendant to find. The book contained information regarding his sword training, his haki training, and a devil fruit. He wanted his successor to have a chance at defeating anyone who threatened them.
'His descendant may be Patrick Redfield,' Ace thought to himself.
Just how much stronger would he have been if he discovered this tomb?
Ace felt a chill at the thought.
In three years, Patrick will find this devil fruit. Unlike him, I won't require luck. I have the exact location. The island is in Paradise. Sleeptown. The fruit is inside an ancient temple.
Ace now had a plan in mind. He will learn Alucard's swordsmanship, he will claim the vampire fruit, and he will recruit crew mates.
First mate acquired.
Deuce.
In canon, Deuce was a step away from Vice Admiral level. With proper training, he may reach peak Vice Admiral.
I'll help him accomplish his dream and establish a partnership with Morgan.
Ace nodded, fully accepting his path forward.
"Deuce. Sail out!" Ace commanded firmly.
"Aye, Captain!" Deuce shouted enthusiastically