Later that day, Ace decided to take some time off for himself as he digests everything. As the sun sets, he feels a presence behind him. He didn't need to look back to know that it was Alex.
"I also hate my father. I loved my mother very much that when she disappeared because of him, I never recognized him as my father ever again. After my mom disappeared, I dedicated all my time into my interests and hobbies to the point that one time, I've never slept for months."
Alex walks to a rock near Ace as he sat down too and looks at the horizon.
"My only companion that time, were Amber, Giddy, and my Caretaker, Lady Toki." He said as he introduces the monkey and the staff that he was holding. Although curious at his actions about the staff, Ace didn't interrupt the man.
"At that point in my life, I was even considered by many as a 'freak of nature'. I mean… who can dedicate time in their life that they can't even sleep. However, for me, I just wanted to vent my anger out."
Alex says his story to Ace as the latter just continued to listen.
"One time, he said that he wants to talk to me which made me angry. I didn't even have the interest to listen to him but I did it for the sake of nothing. Without even batting an eye, he said that he's gonna die soon, and I gotta leave the country.
I didn't believe him at first before I realize that he was serious. For a normal person, it was enough to cause a panic but he just sat there and gave me the biggest smile. The same smile that my mother used to brag about that made her fall in love."
Hearing quite enough, Ace decided to finally ask a question.
"I know that you said that you were from a different place. However, I can't seem to see where you were going by telling me this."
Ace looked him eye to eye as if to signify his true curiosity as to where Alex want to direct the story.
"The moral of the story is… your existence is not a sin. Your mother sacrificed her life not because you're the son of the Pirate King, or the son of the greatest evil… It was because, you're a son of the man that she loves. A man she loves so much, that she's willing to die just to give birth to his son.
How horrible can such man be?"
The two just sits in silence but what Alex says next gives Ace a shock.
"What more, you wouldn't want to make Dadan suffer after what happened to Sabo, wouldn't you? You have so many events to witness and promises to keep. To your brother, to that violet-haired kid, to that marine girl, the horned one, and to your two old man. So live, live for them."
What Alex said send a jolt into Ace's brain. It is impossible for him to know that much from the others as he didn't even tell them the details of his journeys.
"Ho-How'd you even know that?! A-A-Are you a sta-" Ace said in shock. Alex just interrupts him and stood up.
"Imma go first. I'll leave early in the morning. Also, if you ever have the lightest inclination of me holding back on, too bad."
Alex already informed Ace about how he will train him. According to Alex, he would first leave him with Amber for a few weeks as he ran a request from Luffy. His training with Amber will apparently be a Devil Fruit focused training which confused Ace but won't be for long.
As Alex walks through the forest, he thinks through all the interesting things that he thinks can be found in this new world that he will be living in.
'Did Lady Toki even jumped? If so, where is she?'
…
The next day, only three people are waiting for Alex to leave, four if Amber is included. Rayleigh decided to waste no more time as he took Luffy in the innards of the island which pissed Hancock off. The lady, however, can't retaliate as even Luffy was eager to get stronger.
"I'll be back after a few weeks. The old man already gave me the location so it won't take me long." He said to Jinbei, Ace, and Boa. He taps Amber's head before the monkey gives him a keychain sized guns from its belly pocket. This wondered the three as they saw it increase in size in his hands along with its holsters.
Now, Alex looks more menacing as he display 4 guns around his whole body. Two in the waist, and two in the side of the chests.
"A size manipulating Devil Fruit." Murmured Alex loud enough for them to hear, especially Ace.
"Wait. How would a monkey with Size Fruit going to train me? Are you scamming me?" Ace complaints. His complaints garnered the curiosity of the other two as Alex sounded confident last time.
"Who said that it was Amber's fruit? Show him." The monkey just went and taps Ace's leg before facing the sea. What happens next shocked the three of them as the monkey fired a fist made of fire.
Yup. The same Fire Fist Ace was notorious for and the origin of his nickname. Even more so, the strength of the fire was greater than that of Ace's.
Before they can even ask what happened, the monkey touched Boa who knitted her eyebrows. She then saw the monkey create a pink squishy heart and fire her iconic love arrows.
"Her fruit… was the Special Paramecia Kopi-Kopi no mi or in other words, the copy fruit. The best teacher for a stubborn prideful student as yourself. Anyways, I'll go now." Alex said as he held the staff.
Before he can do anything though, Amber pokes his legs.
"Hoo! Hoo! Haa! Haa!" Amber said to him.
"It's okay to scare them since the old man is still at the basics. Just take good care of the brat." Hearing the 'brat', Ace knew that they were talking about them as he get angry and screams at them. Jinbei however, held his shoulder comically as he wiggle his arms.
"Well then, see you later, alligator." As he said that, the staff in his arms slowly changes into a winged monster. Not just a small looking bird, but a 250 meters tall monster with three long heads. Its outer skin wasn't a skin but a rocky-metallic looking scale.
As the three ferocious heads show their might, their body begins to shrink to a small 5 meters. The two men merely swallowed their saliva at the display of the monster as they remember that it used to be a staff.
All they can think off is… 'What the hell?'
Hancock, although was surprised, stopped expecting less from the weird man that appeared out of nowhere. She also retains her pride as a fellow conqueror and a man-hater. For her, this man at least deserve the same respect she gives to people she think are equal.
Even more, Luffy requested him a task after all, so he acknowledge him.
…
Alex just jumps on the back of the monster as they did nothing but take off. As they are now alone in the sky flying, he decided to talk.
"You really like grand entrance huh? Even with only three people, Giddy!" Left of the heads just roared before Alex laugh.
"Anyways, checking the kid's crew will be not as boring as staying in a remote island. Good thing the old man memorized the location of everyone or god knows when we'll finish."
"ROAAR!" The left head, Miza roars.
"Nah, I don't plan to do that. They were sent there by the Paw user for a reason. Also, I feel like I would mess their adventure if I do that. They need to take it step-by-step. That fruit can't be rushed into awakening."
"ROAAAAR!" This time, the right head, Kika roars.
"Yep, you used to be as stubborn as that fruit. Let's make a bet then. Will it take over the kid or will the kid tame it? I'm betting on the latter."
"ROAAR!" The right roars again.
"If you didn't win the last bet, Iwa would've been angry again."