Unseekers (Portgas D. Ace X OC)

Chapter 1 | 5 Days

1095 days ago:

When Isabelle said she was bored, she didn't mean she wanted a horde of Marines on her tail. Scratch that, nobody would want a horde of Marines on their tail. Crushing her wanted poster in her clenched fist, she flung herself off the roof, landing teeth-jarringly on the ground. That was bad. She almost chipped. Her first Wanted Poster and she was scowling in the picture. Marco would never let that go.

Clapping once, she surged a wave of jagged Beryl spikes up the wall, ensuring impalement if anyone slipped. The Marines halted at the edge, cursing. "Let me off the hook, alright? I'm just a kid!" she grinned, sending a curt wave.

"Wretched White Beards! Do you think you can do whatever you want?!" A Marine shot, anger pulsing on his forehead.

"But I haven't done anything," Isabelle shrugged. "...Yet. I was just passing by. Do you think I can pose for another Wanted Poster? This one's not cute at all," she held up the creased paper. Her fiery red hair looked more wild and curly than usual, face twisted like she was in the middle of an argument.

More footsteps thundered from the alley beside her and she groaned. Making walls was more trouble than it looked. So she fled, slipping into the weaving crowd of the market. The Marines flooded out of the alley, just before Isabelle could slip off.

The townsfolk either parted or got grazed by the crazed runners. Isabelle lunged over a fruit cart, slipped past bodies towards the other side of the port. Ever since she ate that Ji-Boshi fruit, her footsteps sounded more like the clinking of glass instead of the solid thud.

Hopping past the port wall, she landed on the ship that she was eyeing ever since she arrived there. Dragging up the anchor out, she readied the mast to sail out.

"Um--Hey!" A voice called from behind her just as she was heading towards the wheel. Uh-Oh

"Oh hey, you stealing this ship too?" Isabelle asked, sauntering up the stairs for the Wheel.

"Stealing? This is my Ship!" The man spluttered. "And Ace--There they are!"

It took a second for voices and a dozen men to jump aboard, followed by another Marine ship in the horizon. Isabelle made herself comfortable on the railing in front of the Wheel, watching the crew scamper about to escape. Today was her lucky day.

"Set the sails! Raise the anchor!"

"There's a thief on board!" The man that had caught her pointed at her.

"Hello, fellow adventurers of the sea!" Isabelle waved. "I mean no harm. You should probably set out before the Marines get us."

"How do we not know you're not a Marine?"

"Which part of 'I don't want to get shot and thrown in prison' do you not get?" Isabelle sighed.

"Do you plan to kill us or take over the ship?" A freckled boy in an orange hat grinned up at her.

"Nope," Isabelle shook her head.

"Then we can save it for later. Deuce, are we ready to go?"

A bulky man in a blue mask across his eyes nodded, throwing her a suspicious glance.

"So, Super Rookie," Isabelle called, looking down at the freckled boy with the orange hat, who was leaning against the mast. "Wait, it's Fire-Fist now, isn't it? Some ruckus you're causing ever since you came to the New World."

"I still think she's a Marine." A long man said, petting the head of a large cat.

Isabelle shrugged off her coat, presenting the tattoo on her bare shoulder. The crew gasped, alarmed.

"Come on, guys. Be about your business. No need to make a big deal out of it," Ace shooed away his crewmates.

"I'm actually searching for a few people. Portgas D. Ace," Isabelle watched him raise an elegant eyebrow. "I came to offer you something. From my Captain, actually. Come join the White Beards,"

"What if I say I want his head instead?"

"That's okay too," Isabelle flashed a smile.

"It's not!" Someone crowed from the deck.

"I had a feeling you would come to us in time. Marco just wouldn't believe me." Isabelle said, playing with the frayed edge of her pants. "You've been challenging all those big names so it's time you challenge that old man too. He's really interested in you, by the way."

"He sounds like a pervert to me,"

"Trust me, he's only interested in women his age," Isabelle chuckled, sauntering to the edge of the railing and jumped down on the deck. "See you in a few days then Fire-Fist,"

She jumped off the edge of the ship, forming Beryl crystals underneath her feet before she touched the water. Some crew members looked down at the water in panic. Ace walked over and leaned forward against the railing but the girl was already gone.

1090 days ago:

As soon as Jinbe heard the news of Fire-Fist challenging his Captian, the furious Fish-Man reached The Spade Pirate before they reached White Beard. The battle went on for five straight days and nights, with both the Pirates exhausted and barely able to move at the end of it.
That was when White Beard made his appearance with the Moby Dick and the whole crew.

"Ace!" His crewmates struggled in distress, against the untouched, towering Pirate.

"Fire Net!"

Bright orange flames cut off the freckled boy from the rest of his crewmates.

"Captain Ace! What are you doing?!"

"Run away!" Ace ordered.

"Trying to run away now?" White Beard smirked, towering over the teen.

"I'm going to let my crew escape," Ace gritted. "I stand in their place. I won't run!"

"What a cheeky brat you are," White Beard chuckled. Ace lunged at him, a flaming fist aimed at the old man but after a flurry of a moment, Ace lay face-first unmoving on the ground.

"Bet 100 Beri he's not getting up," Thatch grinned, leaning against the deck railing and placed a coin between him and Isabelle.

"100 Beri he is," Isabelle muttered. The sun was already dipping but Ace's flames were dancing high and bright.

Ace groaned lightly and struggled upon his knees. His glare screamed hate. White Beard's chest rumbled with laughter. Isabelle dragged Thatch's coin towards her.

"I'd hate to see you die here, Kid," White Beard said. "If you still want to fight, then take my name and roam the seas wild and free!"

Ace's face contorted with confusion.

White Beard knelt towards him and held out a hand. "Become my son," he said with surprising warmth. Ace scoffed and aimed another hit at him. White Beard knocked him unconscious with one hit and carried the boy to the ship.

"So he's just gonna take that for a yes?" Isabelle chuckled.

"A stubborn one," Marco muttered. "Both of them. Seriously. Pops should stop dragging unwilling kids to the Ship,"