* le petit voyage *

And further in the text with Chapter 2 ^^

"White Beard is my captain and the most feared pirate on the Grande Line!", Ace explained and scratched his head, "I think he's around 50!"
"Around 50?", Lilith looked at him suspiciously, "how can a man of that age be so feared?"
Ace looked puzzled and then started laughing.
"Oh man," he grinned, "Luffy asked me the same thing once."
"So?", Lilith just shrugged her shoulders and turned around, "no matter who this White Beard is, he should be careful of my brother!"
With a measured step she walked towards Maron's house. Would there be any indication of how she could get to these Skyislands?

Puma D. Ace, vice-president of White Beard's pirate gang, shook his head. He had never met a girl like this. Seems to be interesting, he thought to himself and followed her into Maron's cozy home.
When he opened the door he was faced with the greatest disorder he had ever seen in his life.He stared at the slim figure in the center of the room in amazement. "Apparently there is nothing here that could help us!", Lilith stated and pushed a pile of clothes aside with her foot, "let's go to the village, maybe they'll know something!"
Completely unmoved, she walked past Ace and outside.
He shook his head again and had the feeling to have found a new, annoying habit. "Don't you want to at least make some order?" He asked softly and his eyes flashed.
"Why?", Lilith looked at him in surprise, "Marron never comes back anyway, so why do unnecessary work ?!"
While she was talking to him she had walked on, now she stopped slightly.
“Are you coming?” Her silky, blonde hair shone in the glow of the setting sun. When she turned around, her brown eyes gleamed in amusement and her small mouth curled up cheekily.
"Or do you want to set up your new residence here?"
Ace pulled his hat further forward so that his eyes were in shadow.He walked slowly towards her. "Why should I come with you?"
They were now shoulder to shoulder, neither looking at the other.
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "It was just a suggestion," she replied and turned around. With long strides she walked towards the forest.

Ace sighed. Letting a girl go into the forest alone was not his style. Even if it was apparently a selfish girl like this one.
"It takes way too long!" He said suddenly, "the sea route is much faster."

The sea breeze tousled her hair and kept pressing it to the man behind her. With skillful movements, he steered his fire sled through the night that had meanwhile fallen.
Lilith was cold, even if she didn't like to admit it. Her legs and arms trembled slightly and her eyes watered from the icy head wind.
The fire sled whizzed over a small wave, stayed in the air for a moment, and then hit the surging sea.
The girl lost her balance and saw herself landing in the water when Ace caught her gently."Swimming at this time of the year is supposed to be pretty unhealthy," he explained mischievously and looked at Lilith.
She just snorted and wanted to sit up, but the black-haired man held her back.
"The sea is too choppy, you would just keep falling backwards!", He said and then looked ahead again, "over there is Mocktown, the coastal town of Jaya. We should be able to find out something about the Skyislands there." He grinned . My brother has strange ideas, he thought to himself.

Lilith hated being treated like a stupid little kid. She could already take care of herself! Besides, the water was her element, even if she fell in it it wouldn't matter.
Although, at the pace. ..
Landing in the water would probably not be very smooth. But that didn't matter, she could keep herself on her feet just fine, the fall earlier was only due to the fact that she hadn't paid attention for a tiny moment.And now she was in this man's arms like a helpless little baby. Her brother would mock her if he could see her like that!
She tensed her muscles, pulled away from his arm, and stood up.
Only to fall back in the next moment.
Her face turned dark red. Partly for charm's sake, partly because she was mad at herself for being mad so weak.
She bit her lip.

"Take it easy," she suddenly heard a voice whisper in her ear.
Ace had leaned down to her, his face right next to hers.
Involuntarily a shiver ran down her spine.
Her face turned a tad darker as he spoke softly.
"The wind is too strong, you will fall over again and again.", He explained to her and Lilith swallowed, "besides, you like to lie in my arms, don't you?"
Lilith was seething with anger. What was this arrogant guy imagining!
Furious, she tried to wriggle out of his arm again, but this time he held her tightly.Cursing, she kicked and tried to free herself anyway. "Hey, take it easy, do you really want us to capsize?", Ace's voice still sounded slightly amused, but there was a certain sharpness to be seen in it.
"And if it does," Lilith hissed softly and writhed in his arms again, "a little water has never harmed anyone!"
The fire man didn't answer her and Lilith grinned to herself. She knew full well that it did no harm if you fell into sea water as a person with devilish powers. Still it gave her a certain triumph to be able to annoy him so.
But Ace interrupted her thoughts.

"Mocktown is already in front of it," he said suddenly and nodded his head slightly forward, "we'll find help there," he yawned, "and hopefully a soft bed!"

A bit short, but you can't have everything !! : oP