This one's a challenge. Now that Luffy isn't with the Strawhats during the early days, the key moments of their bonds are no longer there which makes me sad. Definitely going to be a challenge on how to integrate her fully later on. xD

Also, the almost-execution with Buggy scene does not happen here, for obvious reasons (i.e. Ace is a logia and much stronger than Luffy had been). I have not forgotten Barto Club though. What happens to them will be shown in the same chapter as Sabo is in, soon.

Disclaimer: Oda-sensei owns One Piece, I do not.

…

Chapter 3: The Straw Hats

GOING MERRY

Sanji looks at his relatively leather watch and lifts his head to the two men lifting their own weight, a hand each. They have 100 kg weight on their each of their feet and, looking back down his watch as if to confirm, whistles. Nami crosses her arms too, impressed, and appreciating the eye-candy. The rest are gaping in disbelief.

"Two hours. They've been like that for two hours."

Ace grins though his eye is twitching already. "Better give it up now, Zoro. I know y-you want to."

The swordsman scoffs. "Y-You're already twitching." He huffs. "You better e-end your suffering now, Ace. Don't w-worry I w-won't laugh."

By this time, their respective fingers are shaking ready to give in. Still, their willpower and pride—they're real men! Chopper enthusiastically screams—keeps them going.

But then a strong wind passes by making their bodies shiver, subsequently making their tiny supports buckle, and they fall down on the wooden deck with a flop.

"OI! Are you two okay?!" The crew yells while the two men curse nature.

"Damnit."

"Tsk."

"What brought about the competition anyway?" Vivi asks, a mild blush adorning her face. The two men are usually so congenial, after all.

It is Chopper who answers. "Zoro was doing push-ups while Ace was doing sit-ups. Somehow they tried to do it faster than the other, and… yeah." Then he and Usopp wipes a tear at the recollection of the glorious two hours, whispering "Hard *sniffs* Core" In the process.

"Men." Nami says, just before her sharp ears perks at a sound. Her eyebrows furrow and she sees the others tense at the presence approaching them.

Soon, the sea grumbles and a massive cat appears from the sea. It is much larger than the ship, and apparently looking very tasty. The trio are suddenly very hungry and even motions to cook it then and there. The giant fish-cat flinches in fear of its own life.

Lucky for it, Vivi punches some sense into the monster-trio because it's a holy creature in Alabasta and the CANNOT just go and eat it!

Then she pauses, as if hearing what she has just said. "Alabasta?"

Everyone beams.

"WE'RE HERE!"

…

He watches the crew get ready for their imminent travels with a smile. As always, they have fun and he thinks how nice if Luffy is there with them. Who knows… in an alternate universe she could be the one having the adventures he's going through right now.

So… he has chosen his members as Luffy would have, because whether or not he'll find her with this crew, choosing according to her wishes makes him feel like she's there, with him.

The first is Zoro. He met him tied to a post for a bet that anchored in pride.

It is soon after he met a pink-haired kid named Coby, who's working for Alvida, a pirate crew that shot at his boat making it capsize prematurely. He recalls the marine-wannabee's bout of courage when he decided to get out the ship with him. Ace stole one of their lifeboats, then, and he burned their ship to the ground (or, well, sea).

"MONSTER!"

He smirks. There was once a time those words hurt him, but then he met Luffy and Sabo and suddenly the word sounded a bit like a compliment.

And he met another monster not too far into his travels, the aforementioned Zoro with the epithet of Pirate Hunter.

He may not be as good a judge-of-character as Luffy, but he knew Luffy would've loved this guy as nakama. "Then you'll be the best first mate for the future pirate king!"

He had looked at Ace weirdly, then, saying he will not be a pirate. He will be the greatest swordsman in the world. Ace laughed at him. "The greatest swordsman is a pirate."

Zoro stared at him, then.

He was still staring when the captain Morgi… Mogu… whatever appeared flashing his axe-hand and their guns and ready to fire. "Hey, Zoro." He had said with a smile, and the swordsman raised a brow, not realizing the burning sensation on his rope until it stung. "I'm not made of rubber so I can't really make the bullets bounce on me."

"Huh?"

"But I can do this instead." He had told him, the instant before fire exploded from his feet and he flew up, making them fire at his direction instead.

"What the!" "The bullets are not hitting him!"

"He turned to fire!"

"GYAAAHHHHH!"

And that was how he officially got them a cool swordsman.

She'd want a musician next, the idiot.

"So you're like the captain now, right?" Zoro said in that nonchalant way of his, while still shaking his hand at the mild burn. "Should've told me you were burning my ropes."

"Ah, sorry. And don't call me that." He paused. "Just Ace."

This made the pirate hunter raise a brow. "You don't want to be the Pirate King?"

Ace just grinned though, a look of wistfulness occupying his eyes, and Zoro didn't ask anymore.

…

Then—through temporary agreement—they got a navigator. She was a woman with bright hair that fitted her personality. She fancied herself as a sly thief, but he and Zoro could recognize that she was nice and kind in her own way. They would later see her sacrifices for her town, the experiences she had been through hardening her personality.

He also met Buggy who had a grudge against Shanks, and the hatred extended to the hat.

Then he mentioned the hat was given to Shanks by their precious Captain, and the clown had looked very very bitter about it.

Looking at Buggy, Ace wondered what kind of man the captain was, though shook it off when the clown was attacking.

In any case, he took care of Buggy and he saved a village (the mayor and the cute dog that reminded him of Pochi) in effect. They were misunderstood and were chased out of the village though, not that they'd care. So they ran away smiling.

…

The next member was a long-nose Sniper named Usopp. The Sniper was a big talker (and also a decent artist), and he just knew Luffy would be great friends with him.

He was not sure how there seemed to be trouble in every island he landed on (that was definitely Luffy's trademark 'luck'), but somehow they encounter a notorious criminal who long-conned Kaya-the-sickly-heiress and her butler Merry, causing quite some trouble for the sniper.

He easily took care of the claw guy and his entire crew, much to the amazement of the crew and the people. "You're so strong!" "They… they stood no chance!"

"Unbelievable." Usopp said, staring at him in awe. "That's the devil fruit, eh?" "A-Amazing…"

He nodded and grinned. Beating the pirates would've been incredibly more difficult if he didn't have his fire, he smirked as he covered his hand with flame.

"I got it from my baby sister." He says with a proud smile, and hummed back to the village to eat.

And by the time they left Syrup Village, they got two nakamas: One of which is their new ship.

Going Merry.

It had a cute sheep for a figurehead. He could see Luffy sparkling at the sight of it, excited, and using it as her own throne… much like how she used to sit on that lion-shaped rock on the beach when they were playing boat with Sabo.

His hand gripped the ship's balustrade when the thought came, almost as if he had lost balance. He tried to imagine Sabo, then— and couldn't. It was like he already forgot his face, his voice, and his laugh.

Ace had realized that even during that time, he didn't really believe Sabo could still be alive.

…

And then there was their cook. He was the best cook in East Blue, and Ace knew he would take care of their dietary needs. He was the only one who'd have been able to keep up with his and Luffy's appetites.

He was also a pervert and a flirt which did cause for worry, but he surmised it was harmless. He'd just burn those curly eyebrows if he went out of line with his sister, anyway.

Then Don Kreig and his crew arrived—apparently the strongest in East Blue—asking to be fed, but quickly turned against the cooks after being fed causing an uproar and a small war in the middle of the sea.

They encountered Hawkeye then, for some reason, apparently following Don Kreig from their failed voyage from Grand Line. He remembered how Zoro was shaking in a mix of excitement, fear, anxiety, and glee, and understood when the man jumped at the opportunity to switch blows with his life's goal.

Zoro fought with him valiantly, and though he stood no chance at all, it was not a pitiful sight at all. If someone were to point out when he was certain he admired the swordsman, it would be then. Hawkeye then turned away, leaving them alone. Zoro was allowed to live, and Ace had an idea why.

The shichibukai turned his head to him, meeting his eyes, and Ace flinched when the stare lasted longer than comfortable. "You look a lot like him." The man had said and Ace only gulped, watching his one-man boat float away from them to wherever the sea took him.

After the chaos of the shichibukai appearing passed, the fight with East Blue's Strongest resumed. This one was a bit of a challenge since they were surrounded by water and Don Kreig had a lot of weapons for mass destruction.

Still, he had overcome the man and Portgas D. Ace was officially known as the strongest in their sea.

…

Later that day, he found Sanji about to go for a smoke at one of Baratie's many balconies, pondering after refusing Ace's initial offer to join them. "It's never too late to catch your dreams, but better start now yeah?"

Sanji smiled and wore a melancholic expression. "Looking at a carefree guy like you… makes me a bit jealous, you know?"

Ace knew what he was trying to say and he shook his head. "I delayed my travels for three years, you know." He said, catching the cook's attention. "And now I want to see my most important person to go follow her dreams too, wherever she is."

"So is she in Grand Line?"

Ace nodded, remembering what he managed to squeeze from Garp—that blasted old man. At least he knew Luffy was safe and sound.

There was no news of Sabo though. There never was.

"That's your dream? To see her?"

"Our dream is to be free, and to me that means doing this with her." He smiled sheepishly, though his eyes beamed with pride. "Cheesy, huh?"

Sanji smiled in return and tried to light his cigarette with the soaked lighter, and Ace helped him out with a flick of a finger. "No." Sanji said with a grateful smile. "It's not cheesy at all."

…

Finally came their scuffle with the Fishmen pirates, who has settled in Nami's island. He personally found it disgusting how pirates could settle like that, much more when they terrorized the indigenous people. In any case, he had already made up his mind that Nami is their nakama now, so they did what they must.

"Help me," She once cried, with him placing Luffy's straw hat on her head for safe-keeping.

"Took you forever to ask." He said and he went on his way to attack the enemy base.

He and the crew battled the strong fishmen pirates. None of them got out without injury this time. Despite their strengths, the fishmen had inhuman physical abilities especially underwater, their karate getting through logia users. He may be made of fire, but the human anatomy in him still had water—and that's what they were going for.

He almost drowned, even, had Zoro and Sanji managed to get him out in time, though without adding heavy injuries to themselves.

They still won, in the end, and she officially became their navigator.

"Thank you. So much." She found him sitting on a railing, during the after party that encompassed the entire island, one that celebrated them as heroes.

He grinned. "Just show me the way to her, ne?"

She smiled back, laughing. "Yes, captain!"

…

Loguetown.

The place he was executed.

Ace stood at the platform looking at what he must've seen during his last moments and his fists clenched involuntarily. He died here smiling, Ace mused, igniting the era of pirates in his wake.

He looked at the people below, some looking up at him curiously when they noticed his presence. While some—tourists—were even taking photos of the platform.

This place they maintained to remind people of his death.

His jaw hardened and his fist clenched.

He destroyed it with his fire.

"Fire Fist Ace." He heard his name as he stood amongst the burning rubbles. It was a white-haired marine with a cigar in his mouth, though it didn't explain the amount of smoke that enveloped him. With a swift movement—and a blast of smoke later—Ace found out why and he barely avoided his initial attack. But his succeeding imbalance led to his chest meeting his jitte, which was apparently tipped with sea-stone.

Thankfully he had enough physical strength to keep it off and soon a full on scuffle ensued. For minutes it was a stalemate, smoke against fire, and they stopped in the plaza before they burn the whole town. His marine minions arrived a few seconds later, shooting to no avail, and Ace took them out first before they do any more additional damage.

In any case, the central part of town was in chaos, he didn't even notice Buggy the clown there until Zoro mentioned them—being the one to have kept them at bay—later on.

The marine introduced himself as Smoker. "And you are Fire Fist Ace, a notorious rookie making noise as of late." The marine said and Ace raised an amused brow.

"You didn't have to introduce me to myself, but I'm flattered regardless." He smirked and the other frowned, just before they resumed their battle stances, ready to attack whenever the chance called for it.

"Oi, Ace! What's—" It was Usopp, followed closely by Nami.

"Kyaa!"

More marines arrived and pointed at the two. He turned back and fried who he could, but Smoker took advantage of his distraction and hit him with his jitte. His eyes twitches at the sharp pressure on his head, his ability as a logia dissipating into thin air.

But as Smoker lifted it up for a finishing blow—with Nami and Usopp screaming for his name—a massive gust of wind that literally blew people away surged through town and Ace took advantage of the imbalanced Smoker to escape. He saw in his periphery that Name and Usopp were blow away too, and he had to use all his muscles to stay standing.

He saw a cloaked figure above and he allowed the wind to carry him farther from Smoker. The marine was quick on his feet and followed him, but Ace saw the cloaked figure jump down and held stood in Smoker's way. "I just stop another from interfering with another's adventures." Ace barely managed to hear, missing what came after:

"And I went to see the son of an old friend."

The cloaked man disappeared as quickly as he came.

…

Reverse mountain was what he'd call the ride of his life, and they wouldn't have survived that without their navigator. "To Nami!" He began a toast, lifting up his beer. The girl blushed as they cheered, and they partied until they were swallowed by a whale.

It was here that they met Crocus and Laboon. It was an odd encounter, Ace thought, when Crocus saw him the old man flinched. "You… you have a familiar face." He said peacefully, narrowing his eyes, and Ace could swear a line of tears was barely being held back. "What did you say your name was?"

"P-Portgas D. Ace."

The old man looked at him weirdly, almost like he was losing his voice, tears lining up his face.

"O-Oi, old man. Are you ok?" He had asked but the man only cackled and patted his shoulder, before turning away and went to the whale.

"Nothing is impossible." He told the whale, albeit a bit shakily, and for some reason he felt some of that directed at him too. "You know miracles do happen."

Then his smile turned dire, lecturing, and he started yelling at Laboon. "I suggest you stop hurting yourself or you're not going to see it happen!"

Laboon never attacked the Red Line since then.

…

It was during their time resting at Crocus' island that Usopp stared at his bare back, likely at the jolly roger tattooed on there. They were having a bonfire, having a nice seafood soup that Sanji prepared.

"A. S. L." The long-nose read aloud prior to sitting somewhere in front of him. "What does it mean?"

This caught the others' attentions as well. He grinned at the opportunity to relieve the best days of his life, with the people who would accompany him for the rest of it.

"I thought you'd never ask."

…

Somewhere in their travels—the ancient jungle with dinosaurs and giants—Nami was bitten by a poisonous insect. She was dying, they knew, and they fought hard to get to the next island to get her a doctor. By this time they already had Vivi, a princess, as a companion and without her taking care of Nami would've been near-impossible.

In any case, in the winter island his ability had been particularly useful in keeping them alive. He smiled at the thought that Luffy was still protecting him, even after all this time, with the fruit that she gave. "It tasted horrible though." He chuckled to himself, readjusting Nami on his back and prepared to climb the massive mountain in front of him.

These were people he had to protect now, after all.

It had been a while, huh, Luffy?

And a day later they got themselves a doctor.

They had to fight a king and a small war happened before they got him, but it was all worth it.

It was also a talking reindeer with an adorable face. That alone would've qualified it to be a Straw Hat.

And now here they are: about to help a princess go save her country.

.

.

"Eeek!" He turns his head to said princess, who was trying to help Sanji bring the crew their respective lunchboxes. She was on her way to him when she lost balance.

He effortlessly catches the tray with a hand, and her back on the other. She stares up at him, shocked, and looks down to see her hand has ended on his bare chest and she blushes furiously. "I-I'm sorry!"

Ace blinks. "It's okay tho…"

And she runs away, embarrassed, and he only gapes in befuddlement. Nami laughed from behind him and good-naturedly patted his back. "Such a lady killer, you."

"Huh?"

"You do notice the stares you get from women everywhere we go, right?"

He smiled sheepishly, mildly aware of his effects, though mostly uncaring. Nami giggled, realizing it was one of the man's appeals, before turning to the flustered princess not too far away. Then she halted her steps and sent him a sideways glance.

"She is very lucky, that girl, the one you want to be captain." She just said. "We don't guarantee we'll follow her easily though, considering." After all, it was odd enough they only had a temporary captain to begin with.

Ace grinned. "You'll see it when you meet her." He laughed. "You wouldn't even realize you've been caught."

…

The travels in the massive deserts were tiring. Though admittedly he is having a lot less of a hard time than the others. He is fine with the extreme heat because he is basically fire now, and at night he is fine with the cold also because he is fire now.

In any case, only he and Chopper are sane and a bit awake that night, the latter being a bit bored and not sleepy as he had been dragged by Zoro nearly the whole time. The good doctor is also in a mood for a chat, so he turns his head to the only one who seems to have energy remaining.

He is even humming (badly) a certain high-pitched song.

~The islands in the South are waaaarrrmmm~

~Paina-purupuru~

~Their heads got really hooooot~

~And they're all idiioooootttsss~

~The islands in the North are coooold~

~Hyakkoi-koikoi~

~Their heads shiver all around~

~And they're all id—

Ace stops when he hears his little hooves approaching and soon flops down beside him. "So Ace… why do you keep humming that song? What're the lyrics?"

Ace blinked at this. What song? Just before it registers and he cackles at a memory.

The crew flinches and whips their tired heads to Chopper. Why did you have to ask?! They silently ask which makes the reindeer flinch.

The Doctor can only sweat-drop and finds out a little later, just after Ace sparkles at the question.

"You see, Chopper, my cute sister—Luffy—she had a hard time remembering weathers in the seas so she made up a song!"

"I'll teach you—"

"Uhm, well, It's okay—" Chopper panics, sensing the crew's stare (tho he does want to know). Ace only grins.

"No, I insist!" He says and he sings, much to the chagrin of everyone else.

They had to endure Ace's bad singing for a long time before they finally get to sleep.

"Damnit." Zoro mumbles as he yawns. "Someone should've told Chopper."

Usopp nods, eyes on the Fire Fist, soon entering the world of slumber. "I don't think he'll ever stop though." He yawns. "He misses his sister."

"He looks like a guy in-love though."

And they fall asleep.

…

Ace stretches his arms as he finishes his singing and Chopper already asleep beside him, head near his leg. He pats the Reindeer's head before looking at his nakama, one-by-one, slumbering so peacefully in the desert.

"I wish you can meet them, Luffy." He says a warm smile pasted on his face.

Then his head dips down, shoulders slump, and heart bleeding a little.

"I miss you so much."

.

.

END OF CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4: WATER 7
Franky is the Coolest. Dude. Ever.

REPLIES TO ANGELS

Arapyanime – (ch1) Here it is! Hehehe And vote noted. Thank you for your comment~

Guest [Apr 10 2019] – (ch1) I hope you get to this chapteerrr. Thanks so much for reviewing!

KnightOfGlory26 – Ohhh glad you like the story so far! Ehhehe. Here's Ace! Though she's meeting Sabo before him hehhe. Thank you for reviewing!

Akagara – Here's an Ace chapter! I missed him too so I pushed the water 7 chapter to the next one haha. Thank you for the review and I hope you like this~

Shion Lee- Thank you for telling me you love the story!

Madam Death – And thank you for reading. Yes! I found it! This story's much more of a challenge than my other one though…

MadelVer – This story is starting much earlier canon than my other one, so probably will cover Marineford, IF it will happen lols. Thx for commenting~!

RavennaHilliard – Here it is! Hope you like the continuation and thx for commenting!

Pennameisblank – I know. That's why I made sure to start when Lucci younger and more…prone…to…influence. Hahahah thx for reviewing!

Ann x Luffyko – hehehe vote noted thank you!

Silverhastears – Ohmy thank you for telling me the plot is good! I hope I do well going forward, feel free to comment if you don't like the development or whatever though!

BakaRamenBowl – Thank you for thinking it's a wonderful story. Here's the continuation, hope you like it!

Strawberry and crème – Thank you for reviewing! Glad you like what's happening so far! Feel free to tell me suggestions or if you don't like the developments~

AfA obe – Here it isss! Sorry that you had to beg! Hope you like it! Thx for commenting btw

Zeyreele – hahaha thank you for your kind words! I assume your vote is LuffyxLucci then? Vote counted! xDDD

BloodyCamellia – Aww thank you for telling this is a good read! I hope we continue being so! Ehhehe

Fahdza – I'm sorryyy but this will take a while to complete, especially since I have like half a dozen other stories incomplete. Huhu

Rice with Chest-Nuts – (ch1) Thanks for the interest! Hope we can sustain/increase that somehow! Lols

Flor Landriel – Thank you so much for your review! I glad you like it so far and yep! Lucci's kinda a challenge actually. Why I pushed their scenes to chapter 4 lols.

Note:
*SPOILER* She is going to meet someone important. And it isn't Ace. *END SPOILER LOL*

…

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Please pause before leaving me, and do write your thoughts below!