Two days later—
A miracle floated on the sea.
It was ugly.
Crooked.
Unstable.
And somehow—
It worked.
Ace stood at the front of the tiny boat, arms wide open.
Portgas D. Ace laughed loudly.
"WE'RE SAILING!!!"
Reiji sat calmly, arms crossed.
"…this thing shouldn't exist."
Vinsmoke Reiji muttered.
Reiju leaned slightly on the side.
"…but it does."
Vinsmoke Reiju smiled.
Deuce was holding the structure together with ropes.
"…if I let go, we die."
Masked Deuce said nervously.
Ace laughed.
"THEN DON'T LET GO!!"
And just like that—
They left Sixis behind.
Days turned into weeks…
The sea became their home.
The wind—
Their guide.
Somewhere along the Four Blues—
They grew.
They met new crewmates.
Mihal — calm, intelligent, always observing.
A sniper.
A thinker.
Wearing a silk hat and speaking like every word had purpose.
Skull — chaotic, curious.
Obsessed with pirate history.
Always collecting something.
Always knowing something.
Kotatsu — a massive lynx.
Rescued by Ace.
Fierce.
Loyal.
And completely attached to him.
The Spade Pirates were no longer just survivors.
They were becoming a legend.
Life on the ship
Night.
Music.
Laughter.
The crew raised their voices together—
"Sake of Binks, we deliver it, laughing, singing out across the sea—!!"
Ace was already shouting the loudest.
Laughing between the lyrics.
Deuce tried to keep up—
"…I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE REST—!!"
Reiju laughed softly while singing along.
Reiji—
Was laughing.
"SHANANANANA!!"
They sang.
They ate.
They lived.
And when enemies appeared—
They fought.
Pirates from all over the Four Blues challenged them.
And lost.
Badly.
Reiju and Reiji—
Were overwhelming.
Too strong.
Almost unfair.
So—
They started teaching.
"Again."
Reiji stood in front of Ace.
"…your stance is off."
Ace rushed forward—
Punch—
Blocked.
Easily.
"…again."
Hours passed.
Days passed.
Ace improved fast.
Very fast.
"…you're like a sponge."
Reiji said.
"…you absorb everything."
Ace grinned.
"…of course I do!"
Reiju sparred with him.
Light hits.
Controlled.
But now—
Ace didn't fall.
Didn't break.
Didn't stay down.
"…good."
Reiju said softly.
"…you're getting stronger."
Deuce trained too.
Hard.
Fire in his hands—
But unstable.
Wild.
"…focus your output."
Reiji instructed.
"…don't waste energy."
Deuce panted.
"…this thing drains me…"
"…because you're forcing it."
Reiji replied.
"…control it."
Months passed.
Now—
Deuce could fight for 30 minutes.
His flames—
Hotter.
Sharper.
More precise.
"The Logia body doesn't cost energy…"
He wrote in his notes.
"…but producing fire does."
"…the stronger the attack…"
"…the greater the cost."
He smiled slightly.
"…I'm improving."
Crew Bonds
Mihal watched Ace and Reiji train.
"…they're ideal."
He said calmly.
"…different, yet equal."
Skull smirked.
"…one's a genius fighter."
"…the other's a natural leader."
Mihal nodded.
"…both good men."
Kotatsu rubbed against Ace.
Purring.
Ace laughed.
"HEY— THAT TICKLES!!"
Deuce kept writing.
About everything.
Battles.
Moments.
Memories.
And—
Reiju.
"…she's beautiful."
He wrote quietly.
"…and kind."
Reiju noticed.
Of course she did.
She didn't deny it.
So—
Deuce kept trying.
Awkwardly.
"…did you… eat today?"
Reiju smiled.
"…yes, Deuce."
He turned red.
"…good."
Five Months Later
The sea was calm.
Until—
A newspaper fell from the sky.
thud
"…ow?"
Deuce blinked.
"…what—?"
He opened it.
And something fell out.
Seven posters.
His eyes widened.
"…GUYS—!!!"
They gathered.
Silence.
Then—
Shock.
Portgas D. Ace
"Crushing Fist Ace"
45,000,000 Berries
Vinsmoke Reiji
"Silver Palm Reiji"
40,000,000 Berries — ONLY ALIVE
Masked Deuce
"Fire Tornado Deuce"
30,000,000 Berries
Vinsmoke Reiju
"Poison Princess"
40,000,000 Berries — ONLY ALIVE
Skull
"The Crusher"
10,000,000 Berries
Mihal
"The Teacher"
15,000,000 Berries
Kotatsu
10 Berries
Silence.
Then—
Explosion of energy.
Ace jumped.
"WE'RE FAMOUS!!!"
Deuce spun in circles.
"…30 MILLION?!?!!"
Reiji laughed.
"SHANANANANA!!"
Skull clicked his tongue.
"…tch."
He handed money to Mihal.
"…you won the bet."
Mihal adjusted his hat.
"…if you plan ahead…"
A small smile.
"…you don't miss."
Kotatsu growled.
Offended.
"…10 berries?"
Ace laughed.
"YOU'RE PRICELESS!!"
The crew kept celebrating.
Laughing.
Alive.
Reiju approached Reiji quietly.
"…only alive."
Reiji's smile faded slightly.
"…yeah."
"…he's behind this."
"…probably."
A pause.
Then—
He looked at the crew.
At their laughter.
At their freedom.
And smiled.
"…doesn't matter."
"…we have a real family now."
The wind shifted.
Five months had passed.
Ahead—
The entrance.
The beginning.
The Grand Line.
Ace stepped forward.
Grinning.
"…let's go."
The Spade Pirates sailed—
Toward destiny.
To be continued. 🔥
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