(Ace x Reader)

Once upon a time. On a small island, there lived a mermaid. She was so so beautiful, kind, and caring. Everyone loved her. All but one. The mermaid was too beautiful, she was soon banished from her kingdom to live on a deserted island. Where she was trapped in a small lake. Each year, the water would lower. But the ocean was too far for her to crawl, if she tried. She would soon perish. Until. She met a dragon.

"Ow." 

You gasped hiding behind a rock. A man stepped out rubbing his jaw and holding a large orange fruit. He grumbled furrowing to the fruit. You snickered softly knowing the fruit he held had a hard shell. He couldn't break into it with his teeth.

"Let me eat you!" Ace barked.

You snickered again, but. He seemed to have heard you. You gasped hiding behind the rock once he turned your way.

"I see you over there!" He called.

"No! No you don't." You called back.

It was quiet, after a minute you poked your head out to see if he was there. But. He was gone. You sighed in relief until you felt something touch your tail. You snapped to him sitting on the rock. He looked amazed by your tail.

"D-Don't touch me!" You hissed.

You batted the water at him before giving a little distance between the two of you. He chuckled sitting back on the rock.

"It's alright, I won't hurt you." He said.

"How am I supposed to trust you?" You huffed.

He held out his hand to you, "I'm Ace second commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."

You blinked, "Whitebeard? I don't remember seeing you."

He chuckled, "I'm new."

"I'm (Y/N). A mermaid banished from her kingdom. For. Being too beautiful. So. Here is where I reside until I die." You sighed.

"Die? Wh- what?!"

You nodded, "The lake is slowly drying up. And I can't make it to the ocean."

"Then I'll take you there."

You blinked, "What?"

"Yeah the ocean isn't that far away. I can just carry you there."

"Really?!"

He smiled, "Yeah, but. For a price."

You frowned, "What do you want?"

"Only a traveling companion."

"I can't walk."

"So? You can swim can't you? Just follow me to each island."

You sighed, "Alright."

He scooped you up as you clutched onto his neck. Flames soon engulfed his feet and he began to jump over the lake then stepped onto the grass. You were amazed. How could he do that? It took you a moment to realize how warm he was, as you rested your head on his shoulder. He glanced to you with a soft smile before reaching the docks. His small boat bobbed tied to the dock. He helped you into the water while you smiled to the ocean. Seeing it go on forever. Ace sat at the docks watching you. You turned to him and smiled.

"So. Are you some sort of dragon?"

He blinked, "A dragon?"

You nodded, "Your body turned to flame."

He smirked, "Oh yeah totally."

You smiled, as the both of you chatted before Ace had to set sail. You traveled beside him until. There was a storm. The waves were harsh, winds pushed and rocked the boat, while the storm was so strong. Ace's boat. Broke. Sending him to the sea. Which you went to save him. Knowing he couldn't swim, once you bobbed up. A large wave sent you both underwater.

You awoke the following morning. You lied on the beach and groaned, your eyes glanced around the sand before you remembered what happened.

"Ace?!" You cried.

Your eyes darted across the sand before you noticed a figure lying on the sand. You crawled up to him seeing it was Ace. He was cold, and very pale. You pressed your ear to his chest. Only to get a faint beat. You frowned pulling back. He looked like he was holding his breath. You hummed softly leaning over him.

"Oh whatever shall I do?" You said, dramatically.

He cracked his eye open.

"If Ace is dead, how shall I confess my undying love for him?" You sighed.

He shut his eye.

"Wake up stupid." You said.

"Nope."

"Come on. You gotta find out where we are."

"Not until you kiss me."

You sighed, "Then will you get up?"

He nodded.

You smiled softly cupping his cheeks, brushing over his uneven freckles and kissed him softly. It was returned as he rolled you over pinning you to the sand. Once the two of you pulled back he smirked.

"Not so bad for a mermaid."

He winced to a slap across his ass, he turned to your tail batting against the sand.

"And not so bad for a fire breathing dragon."

He huffed fire from his nose.

"Now go see where we are."

It's been some time now and Ace and you were inseparable. You would sit on his boat while it zoomed by. Being charged with his fire. He said he was going to bring you to see whitebeard. Which would be great since you hadn't seen the old man in a few years. But first Ace had to make a quick stop.

"I'll be back. Make sure you stay hidden."

You nodded diving into the ocean. Ace soon walked off into the town. While you sat in hiding on the shallow end of the beach.

"That one."

The merchant furrowed, "You want this one?"

Ace nodded, "I have the money for it so gimme."

"A pirate, settling down?"

"Isn't that what a normal person would do when they love someone?"

The man chuckled, "Suit yourself."

He plucked the pearl ring from the display box and put it into a box while Ace grinned. He handed the man a bag of beri before putting the box into his backpack.

"You know. A man came in and told me the exact same thing." He said.

He glanced up to him, "Oh? Who?"

"A simple pirate, fell in love, and told me the exact same thing. But he wore a straw hat. I think."

Ace chuckled, "Well hope things went well with him."

"Yeah, I think they did."

Ace waved goodbye as he headed out of the shop and down to the docks. He glanced around not seeing you.

"(Y/N)?" He called.

There was no answer. He furrowed.

"(Y/N)?!" He called louder.

But still no fin nor tail of you. He began to worry. What if someone found you? Had taken you away. And then sold you. Were'd you'd be tortured for being who you were.

He jumped down from the dock into the shoreline. His pace quickened as he called for you around the beach. But soon sighed in relief as he saw you sitting in the water. Something was off. You were just staring at the water. You seemed scared. He approached you as you looked up to him. Tears in your eyes as worry was spread across your face.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

You pulled up your knees as his eyed widened.

"My tail. It's gone."

"Then what happened mama?"

You looked to the small girl. She lied with you in bed. You brushed through her dark locks and poked her nose.

"She didn't lose her tail. She got the chance to live between the land and sea. Where she could roam with the dragon. And carry him out of the sea."

"Silly dragon, he can't swim." She giggled.

You giggled too, "But he can fly."

"Well I guess that makes up for it."

"Now you have to go to bed."

"But how does it end?"

"With them living happily ever after of course."

She pouted, "Fine. Goodnight mama."

She kissed your forehead before you left the room and headed to your own. You crawled into bed shutting your eyes only to feel a soft weight onto the bed. Fluttering open your eyes, you smiled to the figure pinning you to the bed. He rumbled softly kissing you. As the ends of his hair began to catch on fire a little. You licked between your fingers and put out the flames. He smiled.

"Who dares crawl into my den?" He growled.

"Your den?"

"I couldn't help over hear the story."

You smiled, "That's how we met."

He slumped onto your form, you ran your hand through his hair. Before a lump caught in your throat. He embraced you kissing over your cheeks and your tears.

"I'm here now. So you shouldn't have to be upset." He said.

You sniffled, "I know, it's just. I miss him so much, Sabo."