Fire in our hearts | Portgas D. Ace x OC

3. Present day

Five years had passed since Grace Penelope had left East Blue.

At first, she had been taken by Garp to a safe place. This place was Amazon Lily, an island with only women. Penny stayed on that island for three years, where she trained, trained and trained until she mastered various skills. She needed to know how to protect herself, since she would always be a target.

On the island of the Amazons, the girl made several friends, including the pirate empress Boa Hancock herself. The woman took her in like a younger sister, protected her, and taught her how to defend herself.

By the age of 17, it was no longer safe for the inhabitants of Amazon Lily for Penelope to remain there. Although they were very reluctant, the women let her go, with the confidence that she would know how to take care of herself.

Since then, Penny, now 19, has lived as a nomad. From island to island, village to village, she leaves a little piece of her heart behind. The longing for home, for her family, for her friends, began to comfort her.

She knew that Luffy had just turned 17, and that he would fulfill his promise to go out to sea and become the king of pirates.

And she also had Ace.

She had followed all the news about him. When he went out with his own pirate crew, when he was invited to be a shichibukai. When he became the emperor of the flames and when he became one of Edward Newgate's sons. Penelope felt proud, prouder than ever.

And Ace must have seen news about her, too. Or rather, he saw no news at all. Just a wanted poster and maybe some rumors.

Grace Penelope was wanted simply because she was a user of the nullification akuma no mi.
Its power was to nullify the powers of any and all devil fruit.

It had never been her intention to fight with anyone, to battle or to be a threat. But the fact that she had eaten the fruit already implied all that.

(...)

Penny was on Hand Island, famous for its craftsmen and for being shaped like a hand. Her log pose had taken her there, and when she arrived she noticed a pirate flag. The territory was protected by Whitebeard, so she should not fear.

The woman went into the first bar she saw and sat down at the counter. She ordered the usual: double scotch on the rocks.

She sat there, enjoying her drink. The bar was crowded and she definitely didn't want to be noticed.

However, she began to hear a voice that she hadn't heard in a long time.
She was afraid to turn around to see the owner of the voice, but she did it anyway.

Her eyes widened. Was she really seeing Portgas D. Ace standing before her?

- Ace?

He looked at her, and his eyes seemed to get lost in her blue sea eyes.

- Ace!

Penny stood up and ran out to embrace him. When their bodies collided, it was as if everything was falling into place. Penelope hugged him as hard as she could, and wanted to stay in that embrace forever.

When he really realized it, Ace tightened his arms around the woman and realized that her hair smelled of country flowers.

- Penny...

- Ahem.

A blond man with weird hair caught both of their attention. Only at that moment did Penelope realize that Ace was at a table with several other men. She blushed immediately and broke the embrace.

- Ace, aren't you going to introduce us to your... friend? - another red-haired man with a topknot asked.

- This here is Penny. She's my best friend.

Penelope smiled shyly. So he still considered her his best friend?
Her heart raced.