Savior -Luffy-

- 36 -

I stared at the child that was before me on the sand. We were stationed at the beach, as we should be, waiting for the raid time. Ace was growing rapidly, making me feel mixed. I loved that he was growing up to be independent and less of a troublesome add-on, if you will, but I also feel like I'm missing out on the wonders of children.

"Mom!" Ace yells with a wide grin. I perk up and turn my full attention to him instead of zoning out while looking at him.

"Yes?"

"I wanna show you my skills!" He was about eight years old now, so Momo and him would be standing about shoulder to shoulder. I smiled as I looked down at the boy, realizing just how much he looked like Luffy at that age. I watched him grab the sword that matched mine but wooden that Franky made for him from his hip. He swung it around wildly, obviously still in training.

His red poneglyph necklace Robin had customized dangled from his neck. When he moved, I could see the fake Log Pose that Usopp and Nami crafted was tight on his wrist to make sure it didn't get damaged. I chuckles lowly when I saw a move that was easy to master become sloppy.

"Here, Ace, let me teach you." I stand and walk to him, drawing my own weapon. "Your Great Uncle Shanks taught me how to balance better."

"Shanks?" He tilted his head and I frowned at his confusion.

"Yeah... I'm not sure if you'll ever get to meet him." My hands tightened on the hilt of my sword before I cleared my throat. "Anyways, he only has one arm so he has to balance differently than other people when he fights. He taught me some tricks!" I steady myself to where my right arm is stuck forward with my right foot steadying me below. Ace is quick to copy my movements.

"Point your foot in the direction you want to hit in. This doesn't make sense when you're attacking from all angles, I know, but you can at least practice it." He nods at my command and shuffled his right foot to be in a better standing. "Now swing forward with a downward strike!"

"H-yah!" He yells. That gains everyone's attention immediately. Ace doesn't notice as he repeats the move.

"Now, once you feel like you found a good balance in your core, shift it." I slowly maneuver to where my torso bends but my feet stay in place. Ace topples over immediately with a frustrated groan. I giggle lightly and hum in thought before getting an idea.

"Think of your body as water," I suggest as I lay a hand out to drag water from the shore to my hand. It wraps lazily around me, but the swirl continues in the shape of a snake. "If you find a center of flow, no matter what way the water takes, it still has a starting point. I use my finger to split the repent shape into two separate streams.

"For example, if this stream decides to go downhill, it will inevitably fall into a pool, right?" Ace nods, watching closely. "But if this stream goes up, it will flow into the heavens and rest on the clouds..." I slowly let my voice fade when I felt my heart clench. This felt like I was explaining the paths that Ace would have to choose from.

"Well what about a third stream?" His small voice brought back my attention to him.

"Huh?" I ask, half aware of what he said.

"You know; One down the middle!" He smiles brightly and with the glow of the campfire, I could make out the tiny features on his face I wouldn't be able to see again when he grows overnight. I found myself pushing the water back together in my palms only to separate it into three streams this time. One went up, one flowed down, and the other stayed steady in the middle.

"See!" Ace yells. "I could be the middle stream!" I blinked a few times.

"What do you mean?"

"I can do whatever I want as long as I get where I'm going!" I felt my breathing hitch and the water fell to the sand below quickly. My arms wrapped around him tightly, surprising him and making everyone else stay silent. Ace just stood there, confused, but accepted the hug. I pulled back and placed a hand on top of his head with a shaking smile.