At dawn, Lale stood barefoot on the eastern shore, her toes digging into the sand as she performed rapid hand signs.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Yet again, only smoke and a few sparks sputtered from her lips. Behind her, Ace erupted into laughter.
"Failed again, witch?" he teased, flames dancing playfully in his palm.
Lale rolled her eyes.
"You're a born fire-wielding freak. I just have these stupid eyes!"
Her heart pounded---not just from frustration, but from the secret burden she carried, one that marked her differently from anyone else on the island.
Ace shrugged, spinning a fireball on his fingertip.
"Then why are you trying to teach me?"
"Because\..." She hesitated. "Your flames are wild. If you learn control, you'll burn fewer trees!"
Ace smirked and launched a fire-ring into the sky.
"But mine looks cooler!"
Lale facepalmed as her hair got singed. The salty breeze mingled with the faint scent of smoke, painting the morning with tension and amusement.
At noon, while foraging, familiar screeches echoed through the trees.
"Oh no\..." Lale groaned.
Dozens of monkeys, armed with coconuts and unripe mangos, glared at them.
"What's their problem?" Ace asked, grinning.
"You burned their sacred banana tree last week!"
"That one? But the fruit was delicious!"
A coconut smacked Ace's head. Chaos ensued.
Lale activated her two-tomoe Sharingan, dodging projectiles. "ACE! RUN!"
Ace blasted a fire-wall. "Hah! That showed 'em!"
"Now they'll hate us more!"
The monkeys' angry cries echoed through the dense canopy, a harsh reminder that nature's balance was fragile---and easily upset by careless flames.
Ace grabbed Lale's wrist. "Then we run!"
By dusk, Lale spotted a ship on the horizon.
"Ace\... Marine ship."
His grin vanished.
Her hands trembled---Marineford's visions flashed in her mind, a chilling premonition of battles and losses yet to come.
"We hide," she urged.
"I don't hide."
"But your injuries---"
Marine boats already landed. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows that seemed to reach for them like fingers from the past.
A Marine neared their bushes. Ace snapped his fingers---a tiny flame sparked.
"Ace, NO!"
Too late. The Marine yelped, spotting them.
" Ace here!" he declared, stepping out.
Lale followed, Sharingan active. She dodged a sword strike effortlessly.
"What are those eyes?!" a Marine shouted.
Ace shielded her, taking a slash to his back.
Lale's Sharingan spun faster.
"You can't touch me," she whispered.
The Marine froze, dropping his sword.
Ace stared. "What did you do?"
"Nothing! Just\... scared him!"
The tension in the air was thick---like a spark before a wildfire.
That night, Ace poked the fire.
"You're a terrible liar."
The flames suddenly turned black.
Both froze.
"Chemical reaction?" Lale lied, dumping water on it.
Ace laughed. "Worst. Liar. Ever."
The flickering firelight cast long shadows on their faces, hinting at mysteries neither dared voice aloud.
At dawn, Ace pulled Lale aboard his ship.
"Where to?" she asked.
"Adventure!"
As the sun rose, Ace smirked.
"Someday, you'll tell me who you really are."
Lale smiled. "Maybe."
The salty air whispered promises of unknown horizons and hidden destinies.
TO BE CONTINUED...