Twin Cape, Grand Line.
Ace's gaze lingered on Vivi, his eyes flickering with thought.
If he was going to become the King of the World… how could his ship not carry a Celestial Dragon?
…And the words Im had spoken to the Five Elders in the original timeline—"I need Vivi."—had left a deep impression on him. It made Ace wonder what secrets she might be hiding.
There was no doubt about it—Vivi was the perfect candidate to join his crew.
A few days ago, while riding Laboon's back to challenge the ocean swells, Ace had sensed Vivi nearby through his Observation Haki.
So he deliberately pretended not to notice her, slowly guiding her into the trap he'd prepared…
At this point in the timeline, Vivi had only just joined Baroque Works. He needed to accelerate the events a little.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Ace's lips.
Crocodile—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If he could take him down, his reputation and strength would grow even more.
"Are you really going to make a decision this hasty? Once you choose a route, there's no going back."
Crocus looked at Ace solemnly.
"If I don't like the route, I'll just pick another one."
Ace grinned, carefree.
"That so? Hahaha!"
Crocus laughed heartily at his response, his eyes full of admiration.
No wonder this man had such powerful Conqueror's Haki. He had the spirit to match it.
"Well then, how about we head to your little hometown?"
Ace lowered his head slightly, smiling at Vivi.
"..."
Vivi pressed her lips together, saying nothing for a moment. It felt like this man could see straight through her.
"Thank you so much!"
Mr. 9 quickly put on an overly emotional act, clearly afraid Ace might change his mind.
"The route's decided. Let's set sail!"
Ace pointed toward the sea ahead and laughed joyfully.
"If the captain's made up his mind, then we're headed to that town."
Nojiko chuckled as she steered the ship.
Nami still had her doubts about the two newcomers, but her trust in Ace was stronger. Without voicing her concerns, she focused on studying the charts.
As for Kaya—she always obeyed Ace without question.
Tashigi sat quietly in the corner, sword in her arms, eyes clouded with conflicting emotions.
Crocus and Laboon watched in silence as the Going Merry gradually disappeared into the distance.
"They'll be back, Laboon," Crocus said with a gentle smile.
"MooOOO!"
Laboon let out a deep cry toward the sky.
Portgas D. Ace… Roger… could he be the one we've been waiting for?
I see your shadow in him.
No… you didn't have this kind of presence at his age.
Memories flooded Crocus's mind as he wiped the corners of his eyes and smiled again.
A man with this kind of spirit… one day, the whole sea will remember his name.
I'll wait here—for the name Portgas D. Ace to return to this place once more.
I truly can't wait to see what heights he'll reach.
Crocus smiled, bright and full of hope.
...
Having said farewell to Crocus and Laboon, the Going Merry set course for Whiskey Mountain.
At first, the sea was calm. But moments later, a thick fog rolled in, blanketing the ocean.
"W-Wait a second!"
Nami, who had been poring over her charts, suddenly glanced at the Log Pose on her wrist and shouted in alarm.
"Nojiko! Turn the ship 180 degrees—now!"
She cried out to Nojiko at the helm.
"180? That's completely backward!"
Nojiko raised an eyebrow but didn't hesitate. She immediately adjusted the wheel.
"But we were going backward just now… How is this possible?! I only took my eyes off the Log Pose for a second!"
Nami stared at the needle, murmuring in disbelief.
"Out here, sea charts and wind direction can't be trusted. The only thing that matters is the Log Pose. You sure you're a real navigator?"
Vivi and Mr. 9 glanced at her, puzzled.
"Shut it! One more word and I'll toss you both overboard!"
Nami snapped, fire in her eyes.
"Sorry!"
The two immediately backed down. No point in messing with a clearly irate navigator.
Whoooosh—
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered above. In the next instant, heavy snow began to fall out of nowhere.
"What the hell is going on with this ocean?!"
Nami screamed in frustration.
Her usually flawless navigation skills meant nothing here.
"Easy, Nami."
Ace rested a hand on her head, flashing a warm smile.
"You're my navigator, remember?"
"!!!"
Nami looked up at Ace's gentle expression… then broke into a confident grin.
"That's right. I'm the navigator of the Flame Emperor Pirates—Ace's navigator!"
She touched the emblem of the Flame Emperor Pirates tattooed on her arm, repeating the words to herself like a vow.
With her mindset reset, Nami refocused and tapped into her innate talent.
Secretly, Ace activated his Domain of Comprehension, giving Nami a boost.
Sure, she could've figured it out on her own given time, but this was a rare opportunity—why not let her gain even more from it?
Gales, torrential rain, biting snow… Weather that should've taken months to shift now cycled through in mere hours.
But Nami, with growing poise, issued one precise order after another—navigating flawlessly.
Under the Domain of Comprehension, she could feel what the weather would do next—almost as if the sea itself whispered to her.
And so her confidence—and her presence—grew.
The change stunned Vivi, who couldn't take her eyes off Nami.
And then, slowly, her gaze drifted to the man at the bow—Ace—taking in the wonder of the Grand Line with a smile on his face.
This man… with just a few words… changed that navigator so profoundly?
And the way he said they were "fated to meet"… that stuck with her too.
With Nami and Nojiko working in perfect harmony, the cactus-shaped island of Whiskey Peak soon came into view.
"Hahaha! Great work, Nami, Nojiko! Just what I'd expect from my navigator and helmswoman!"
Ace laughed, full of praise.
The two women exchanged smiles, a strange warmth blooming in their hearts.
"Kaya and Tashigi were just as reliable with the sails."
Ace turned to them next.
Kaya gave him a sweet smile in return.
Tashigi, however, looked slightly awkward.
"You're the only one who didn't do anything,"
Mr. 9 and Vivi muttered under their breath, unable to resist.
"I'm the captain. On the sea, all I have to do is entrust my life to my adorable crew."
"Hahahaha!"
Ace wasn't offended at all. He just laughed even louder.
Even Nami and Nojiko couldn't help but smile at that.
Tashigi's expression only grew more complicated.
"Ugh, stupid pirates. Hey, Miss Wednesday? What's wrong?"
Mr. 9 whispered—Vivi's face had changed slightly.
"Nothing," she said, voice soft.
She tried to ignore the strange emotion rising in her chest.
To have comrades you could entrust your life to…
"Alright, let's go."
Mr. 9 said quickly and led Vivi toward the edge of the deck.
"Thanks for the ride, everyone! We'll be taking our leave now!"
With a weird chuckle, Mr. 9 jumped into the sea, Vivi following right behind, swimming for the shore.
"What are those two doing now?" Nami sighed, exasperated.
"Don't worry about it. Let's get ready to land."
Ace waved it off, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. They'd meet again soon enough.
As he turned toward Whiskey Peak, a cheer erupted from the crew.
---
TL/N:
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