Newbie's Skill

Thirty

"How did you get us lost, Ace?" I huffed.

"Oh shut up. I know where I'm at. I think." He scratched the back of his neck, that puzzled look coming onto his face. I finally sighed, looking at the sand.

"There's a town roughly northwest of us," I told him. We were riding on a lizard that was scared after taking notice to the bigger lizard that Ace scorched. The lizard dropped us off at a town. "If I remember correctly, this is Ido," I announced, hugging the side of the lizard's head, petting it. "That's a good lizard." The reptile looked like he had tears in his eyes. "Aw...don't cry, Bud. I'll come visit." He nuzzled into me before taking off, and I waved until he disappeared.

"You're such a weirdo," Ace huffed. I shrugged at him.

"At least I'm nice." I interlocked my hands behind my head, following behind him into the town. "What a weird town," I mumbled. Ace entered an open building, and I watched from a height and distance as he interacted with a few guys. As he left, they ducked into barrels, making me cock my head. Ace had a wagon of food and water with him, and he waved me over. I hopped down from my tree post, running up to his side. I looked at the stuff. "Are you sure that's gonna be enough?"

"I can't bring anymore," Ace chuckled. I averted my eyes. I snuck a loaf of bread from the wagon, and I munched on it, my eyes showing stars.

"This tastes amazing!"

"I knew you'd like it," he grinned, closing his eyes with a wide smile. I happily munched on it until we met back up with his little brother and his crew. We talked for a minute, Ace occasionally reaching up to play with my hair when he caught me swaying my weight uncomfortably. Then, Vivi made the boys do a whole act to verify that this town was safe based on the fake revolutionary army soldiers' response to our "threat". Apparently they passed, but I didn't see how they did. They totally lost.

"I don't get it," I told Vivi when we were done running away. Ace ruffled my hair with a laugh.

"You don't have a big enough noggin to understand," Ace snickered. I pouted at him.

"What do you mean? It was all an act. If it were for real, they would be dead right now."

"That's why we leave the thinking to the beautiful ladies in front. Men can never match with their intelligence," Sanji simped. I frowned.

"I'm probably smarter than half of you here," I mumbled. Ace chuckled.

"What the princess says, goes. Not our job to worry about it," Luffy shrugged.

"Weren't you just dying of heat a second ago?"

"Oh yeah." He resumed panting, and I just groaned. I took a knee for a moment. Ace immediately followed to check on me. He had a worried frown plastered on his face.

"I don't like the heat," I murmured to him. "It's too hot."

"I think we're lucky considering Chopper has a full body of fur and was raised in freezing temperatures," Usopp piped up. He was right. The poor little guy.

"Usopp!" Nami scolded. "You have no idea what torturous things his family could have put him through! Close your mouth!"

"It's fine, Nami," I chuckled weakly. "He's right, you kn-" I almost fainted. Ace held me up, but my eyes felt heavy.

"Nami!" Luffy called. "We need to find some shade for him."

"I'm on it," Nami responded.