The chest remained open.
Inside—
The strange fruit rested quietly.
Spiral patterns.
Unnatural presence.
Almost… alive.
Ace leaned closer.
"…a fruit?"
Portgas D. Ace scratched his head.
"…we almost died for this?"
Reiju crossed her arms.
"…that's not just a fruit."
Vinsmoke Reiju spoke calmly.
"…it's an Akuma no Mi."
A pause.
"…it gives powers to whoever eats it."
She glanced at the ocean.
"…but takes away their ability to swim."
Deuce froze.
Then—
"AN AKUMA NO MI?!?!"
Masked Deuce almost screamed.
"THESE THINGS ARE WORTH MILLIONS!!"
Ace laughed.
Loud.
Carefree.
"HAHAHAHA!! So it's treasure after all!"
Reiji smiled slightly.
"…there are types."
Vinsmoke Reiji said calmly.
"…Paramecia, Zoan… and Logia."
He pointed at the fruit.
"…this one…"
A pause.
"…looks like a Logia."
Ace tilted his head.
"…and that means?"
Deuce leaned in.
"…yeah, what does that mean?"
Reiji explained.
Calm.
Precise.
"…Logias allow the user to become an element."
"…intangible."
"…almost untouchable."
A pause.
"…unless…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…you know how to fight them."
Ace nodded slowly.
"…got it."
Deuce nodded faster.
"…I'm memorizing everything."
Reiji crossed his arms.
Then looked at Ace.
"…Captain."
A pause.
"…who's going to eat it?"
Silence.
All eyes on Ace.
Ace placed his hand on his chin.
Thinking.
Seriously.
For once.
"…hmmmm…"
A long pause.
Wind blowing.
Then—
He smiled.
"I won't eat it."
They blinked.
"…what?"
Ace laughed.
"…I don't know what power it has."
He pointed at Reiji.
"…but I'll get strong with my own strength."
A grin.
"…like him."
"HAHAHAHA!!"
Reiji smirked.
"SHANANANAA…"
"…Captain…"
"…you'll have to train a lot to catch up."
A pause.
"…I don't even know Haki yet…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…and I'm already among the strong of the sea."
Deuce blinked.
"…Haki?"
Reiju stepped forward.
"…it's the power used by the strongest."
She spoke calmly.
"…there are three types…"
Observation.
Armament.
Conqueror's.
She explained each one.
Detailed.
Clear.
"…and in the New World…"
A pause.
"…everyone strong uses it."
Deuce slowly stepped back.
"…wait…"
His eyes widened.
"…you said New World…"
"…you said Haki…"
"…you said Logia…"
A beat.
Then—
"VINSMOKE?!?!"
Silence.
"…you're THAT Vinsmoke family?!"
"…royalty?!"
Reiju's expression darkened.
"…a disgusting family."
A pause.
"…we were weapons."
Her voice lowered.
"…for our father."
"…he took the only good thing we had…"
A whisper.
"…our mother."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Reiji clenched his teeth.
His body tensed.
"…if my body wasn't programmed…"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"…I would have torn his head off…"
A pause.
"…when I was eleven."
Ace watched them.
Quiet.
For once.
No smile.
Just—
Understanding.
"…I get it."
They looked at him.
Ace sat down.
Looking at the sky.
"…my father was…"
A pause.
"…Gol D. Roger."
Gol D. Roger
Deuce froze.
"…THE KING OF THE PIRATES?!"
Ace nodded slightly.
"…everywhere I went…"
"…people hated me."
A pause.
"…just for existing."
His eyes softened.
"…until I met them…"
"…Luffy…"
Monkey D. Luffy
"…and Sabo…"
Sabo
A small smile.
"…they didn't care."
Then—
It faded.
"…and I lost one of them."
Silence.
No jokes.
No laughter.
Just—
Shared pain.
Reiju placed a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"…we understand."
Reiji nodded slightly.
"…yeah."
Deuce lowered his head.
"…we all do."
A moment passed.
Then—
Ace stood up again.
Energy returning.
He looked at Deuce.
"…you should eat it."
Deuce blinked.
"…me?!"
Ace nodded.
"…we're going to fight monsters."
A grin.
"…if you have that power…"
"…you can fight with us."
Reiji added calmly.
"…it's the Mera Mera no Mi."
A pause.
"…a fire Logia."
His eyes sharpened.
"…without Haki…"
"…no one in the Four Blues…"
"…or early Grand Line…"
"…will be able to touch you."
Reiju nodded.
"…it would boost our crew a lot."
Deuce trembled.
Eyes watering.
"…you guys…"
A pause.
"…you'd really give this to me?"
Ace grinned.
"…of course."
Deuce started crying.
"…this is the best worst island ever…"
They laughed.
All of them.
Together.
Reiji crossed his arms.
"…so…"
A pause.
"…what's our name?"
Ace didn't hesitate.
"…Spade Pirates."
A grin.
"…and this…"
He drew in the sand with his finger.
Slowly.
Carefully.
A skull appeared.
But not a normal one.
It had a wide grin.
Playful.
Almost alive.
Behind it—
Crossed bones.
And above—
A distinct symbol.
A spade.
Bold.
Centered.
Proud.
Ace stepped back.
Smiling.
"…that's our flag."
Deuce looked at the fruit.
Swallowed.
"…here goes nothing…"
He bit it.
Silence.
Then—
His face twisted.
"…THIS IS DISGUSTING—!!"
Reiji spoke calmly.
"…you have to eat it all."
Deuce froze.
"…what?"
"…it's mandatory."
Deuce looked at the fruit.
Then at him.
"…you're serious?"
"…yes."
Deuce cried.
"…WHY IS MY LIFE LIKE THIS—?!"
He forced himself.
Bite after bite.
Suffering.
Then—
Reiji burst out laughing.
"SHANANANANAA!!"
Reiju covered her mouth.
Laughing too.
Ace blinked.
Then started laughing as well.
"…I don't know what's happening BUT THIS IS FUN!!"
Reiji wiped a tear.
"…you only needed one bite."
Silence.
Deuce slowly pointed at him.
Dramatic.
"…I trusted you…"
Reiji picked up a rock.
"…deal with it."
He threw it.
Deuce tried to block—
But the rock passed through him.
Silence.
"…what?"
He looked at his hands.
"…WHAT?!"
Reiji smirked.
"…Logia."
A pause.
"…remember?"
Deuce stared at himself.
"…I…"
"…I DID IT—!!"
He started spinning.
Laughing.
Dancing in circles.
"I'M FIRE!!!"
The crew burst out laughing.
On a dead island—
A crew was born.
To be continued. 🔥
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