"A World to Store"

Family First, Fools Second

The morning on the Moby Dick was unusually serene. The sun cast a golden glow over the ship, the crew bustling with their usual chores or lounging in the warm breeze. Yuki was leaning against the mast, sipping her tea and watching Ace sprawled out on the deck, fast asleep despite the chaos around him.

"Does he ever do anything useful?" she muttered, shaking her head.

Marco chuckled as he passed by. "Give him time. He's still figuring out how to be part of the family."

Before she could respond, the ship jolted slightly, followed by the unmistakable sound of cannon fire echoing across the waves.

"Eh? Who the hell dares to attack us in the morning?" Thatch called out, his voice half-annoyed, half-amused.

Yuki's eyes narrowed as she spotted a Marine ship approaching in the distance, their flag fluttering defiantly in the breeze. The crew sprang into action, their calm morning shattered by the promise of battle.

"Idiots," Marco muttered, transforming into his phoenix form and taking to the sky.

"Stay out of my way," Yuki said, leaping onto the railing. Her Devil Fruit powers shimmered in her hands, and with a sharp motion, she conjured a massive cannon she'd stored weeks ago, firing a powerful shot that ripped through the Marines' mast.

Ace yawned loudly, finally waking up. "Huh? What's going on?"

"Marines," Yuki said dryly. "And we're about to sink them."

Ace grinned, flames crackling in his hands. "Now that's my kind of wake-up call!"

The fight broke out in full force. Ace and Yuki found themselves working together seamlessly despite their constant bickering. While Yuki used her powers to summon weapons and shields for the crew, Ace created fiery barriers to protect her and the others.

"Think you can keep up, princess?" Ace teased, hurling a fireball at an incoming cannonball and turning it to ash.

"Don't get cocky," Yuki shot back, summoning a massive harpoon and sending it flying toward a Marine captain who had dared to approach Whitebeard's ship.

Marco swooped down, landing gracefully beside them. "Not bad, you two. Keep this up, and we might actually be done before lunch."

Vista and Thatch were nearby, cutting down waves of Marines with a mix of skill and humor. "Hey, Yuki! Ace! Try not to hog all the fun!" Thatch called out, laughing as Vista scolded him for being careless.

The battle was over almost as quickly as it began. The Marine ship, battered and broken, retreated into the horizon, its crew too terrified to continue.

Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed across the deck as the crew cheered. "What fools to think they could take on my family!"

By evening, the crew had set up a feast, the deck overflowing with sake, roasted meat, and all kinds of food. Yuki sat near Marco, laughing as Ace struggled to explain how he fell asleep during the fight.

"I wasn't asleep! I was just... conserving energy!" Ace protested, stuffing his face with a drumstick.

"Conserving energy while snoring loud enough to scare the fish?" Yuki teased, earning a round of laughter from the crew.

Thatch leaned over, smirking. "You've got to admit, though, the guy can eat and fight at the same time. I've never seen anyone fall asleep mid-bite before!"

"Oi, that only happened once!" Ace protested, his face turning red as Marco patted him on the back.

Vista raised his glass. "To another victory, and to the idiots who thought they could take on the Moby Dick! May they learn to regret their life choices."

The crew roared with laughter, clinking their glasses together. Yuki smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in years. Despite her lingering fears and uncertainties about her past, moments like this reminded her why she stayed.

As the stars filled the sky, Whitebeard himself joined the celebration, his presence larger than life. "Drink up, my children! Today, we celebrate the bond that makes us unstoppable!"

Yuki raised her glass alongside the others, her voice blending with theirs as they cheered into the night.

For now, the world was at peace, and she could let herself enjoy the moment.