A Ghost of the Past

Chapter Two:

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. Also, I would like to note that I used some lines of dialogue from the Dressrosa manga arc. Those are definitely not mine either.

Ace

He sat on the edge of the boat, letting his legs dangle above the ocean. Two years, and he still couldn't wrap his mind on how real everything seemed.

Whitebeard has replicated the Moby Dick, and Ace gladly stayed. Sometimes they docked at an island of their own creation, though Ace felt it was a hollow sentiment - there would be no people on any of those islands, and would only amplify any homesickness.

Ace was just glad to be with his chosen family, even if he was still of the opinion they were all relaxing in the afterlife too soon. A year back, more of his crew members joined him after the Whitebeard pirates lost the Payback War against Blackbeard.

He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger at that traitor. But there was nothing he could do about that. Not yet, anyway.

His mother and Roger stayed for the most part, yet Ace was still reluctant to be near the man.

A part of him felt guilty, as if he was making Rouge chose. She left with Roger every couple of weeks to go off on their own, and Roger left for those 'vacations' because of Ace. But she always came back, and when she did it always felt like a great weight was released from his chest.

Ace, of course, made a point to go visit Luffy, who had currently been trained by the Dark King Rayleigh. Luffy hadn't been able to see him, and Ace hadn't been able to interact with his little brother, but Ace was still proud.

He had attempted to go see Sabo, but the connection was glitchy and he could only stay for a few minutes at a time. He wasn't a believer that time could wear away their bond, but could they have really changed so much?

The sun was sinking on the horizon, pinks and oranges blending together, eventually darkening to a starry night. He could hear his family laughing in the back, surrounded by Pops, their center.

A plate of steaming hot barbecue was thrust out towards Ace. Technically, they didn't need to eat, but what's a party without food? "Some barbecue for your thoughts?" Thatch asked.

Ace arched an eyebrow at his friend. "Is this a trap? Usually you fight me off from the food, not offering it up to me on a silver platter."

Thatch snorted. "There's no trap, especially since we have an unlimited food supply now. Fitting for a man who can eat the stores out in a day."

Ace grinned. "Ah, you loved it though. It gave you a chance to try out new recipes, right?"

Thatch frowned at him. "That was not your intention. And food costs money, you know! Do you know how much of a pain it was, trying to keep up with your appetite? I was seriously considering in investing in a lock for the storage room."

Ace took the plate of barbecue. He wasn't one to refuse food, and Thatch made the best. They were quiet for a moment, lost in their memories.

"You know," Ace began. "I wanted to become a pirate to be free."

"And?" Thatch prodded. "Has that changed?"

Ace shook his head. "No....I just don't feel free right now. This place, our afterlife, it feels like a cage. A gilded cage, but a cage nonetheless. We can't do as anything of meaning here. All we do is laze away."

Thatch sighed, watching the last remnants of the sun disappear. "I get what you mean. But do we really have any choice here? I think the crew all know it, but there's nothing we can do about it. The strongest man in the world has nothing on the grips of the afterlife."