One Piece novel A

One Piece novel A is an official two-part novel series about Portgas D. Ace's journey as a pirate. The first installment was released in three parts in the first three issues of One Piece Magazine before being compiled into a volume in April 2018. The second volume was released in June 2018.

The novel was officially translated by VIZ Media and released under the title One Piece: Ace's Story. The first volume came out in May 2020, while the second volume in September 2020.

Beginning in the tenth volume of the One Piece Magazine, the novel was adapted into a manga titled One Piece episode A, illustrated by Boichi (of Dr. STONE fame) and storyboarded by Ryo Ishiyama.

Publication History
Originally, the three chapters of the first volume were published in Vols. 1–3 of One Piece Magazine on July 7, August 4, and September 1, 2017. It was later announced that the full story would be released as a volume.

A second volume chronicling Ace's voyage in the New World was released in June 2018. Unlike the first volume, the chapters were not published separately before the release of the volume.

Vol. 1 - Formation of the Spade Pirates
Portgas D. Ace and an unnamed man are stranded on the East Blue island of Sixis together, and Ace nicknames him Masked Deuce. Deuce is initially wary around Ace after discovering his heritage, but after he unsuccessfully tries ambushing Ace, he regrets his actions and the two become friends. Ace winds up eating the Mera Mera no Mi on this island, and the two work together to build a ship to escape, forming the beginning of the Spade Pirates.

As time passes, the Spade Pirates grow in number, adding top members Mihar and Skull while becoming more infamous. They are approached one day by Marine Ensign Isuka, who is accompanied by several warships. When they sink one of the warships, Isuka stops fighting to save her comrades, and Ace decides to save her from drowning in the process.

Isuka repeatedly pursues them, though is always ineffective, and the Spade Pirates reach the Sabaody Archipelago. There, Ace and Deuce end up on the Ferris wheel with Isuka, who tells them how pirates burned her village as a child before being rescued by now-Vice Admiral Draw. She offers Ace the chance to quit piracy, as she does not see him as evil, but Ace refuses. Isuka and Draw reunite, and three days later they give Ace the opportunity to continue pirating as a Warlord of the Sea. Ace refuses, and Draw attacks him with flamethrowers, setting the homes around them on fire. Ace fights Draw, and manages to overpower the Vice Admiral as he gains the ability to use Busoshoku Haki. After Draw is defeated, the Spade Pirates and Isuka part ways as Ace leads his crew into the New World.

Vol. 2 - New World
The Spade Pirates reach Fish-Man Island, and Ace meets Aladine, who tells him that Whitebeard protects the island's citizens. Ace decides to burn Whitebeard's Jolly Roger before his crew sets off for the New World, and upon arriving he looks for Shanks. Upon meeting with Shanks, Ace declares his goal to build up his reputation by defeating everyone in power, specifically the Four Emperors.

Ace and his crew make plans to take down Whitebeard, but Ace is confronted by Jinbe. The two of them fight to a stalemate for five days, and afterwards Ace and his crew are confronted by Whitebeard. Ace is defeated, and he and the Spade Pirates are integrated into Whitebeard's family despite his continued attempts to kill Whitebeard.

Part 1 - Fire Fist looking to the future - the story begins here.
A man is trapped on the East Blue island Sixis, with the irregular current around it preventing him from escaping; he desires to write an adventure essay. He encounters Portgas D. Ace, and thinks the young pirate has come to rescue him, but Ace has actually been shipwrecked on Sixis as well for twice as long as the man. Ace offers for the two of them to build a raft together, and they find out they are searching for the same treasure on the island. Ace asks the man his name, and he is reluctant to give it because he cast it aside when he went out to sea. He tries to use Ace as his pen name, but Ace suggests the similar-sounding name Deuce. The man accepts it, and Ace decides to call him Masked Deuce because of the mask the man wears.

Masked Deuce tells Ace that he was a medical student with bad grades, and his parents were indifferent to him; he wants to go out to sea just so he can enjoy an adventure. Ace talks about his family as well, specifically Luffy, but during their conversation Deuce ends up mentioning that someone who was the offspring of Gol D. Roger would probably not be too happy, causing Ace to become sullen. Deuce realizes that Ace must be Roger's son, and with conflicting feelings, he departs from Ace and tells him not to talk to him anymore.

Several days pass, and Ace continues to be unsuccessful in escaping from Sixis, while Deuce cannot find any food or water. He sees Ace holding a fruit on the beach, and decides to kill him for the fruit. However, before he can attack with a tree branch, his stomach growls. Ace notices him and thinks he has come back to help build a raft, offering him his fruit. Deuce feels guilty about his intended actions and refuses the fruit, but when he reconciles his differences with Ace, the two decide to share it. It tastes terrible, but Deuce discovers that Ace's body is on fire afterwards; they realize that the fruit they ate is the Mera Mera no Mi. Several days later, Ace has learned to control his fire and the duo has built a ship called the Striker, which runs on Ace's firepower. Deuce reveals that there actually is no treasure hidden on this island, but the newly empowered Ace is not so sure. Ace offers for Deuce to come with him, and Deuce agrees, saying he can write an adventure essay now. The two shake hands, forming the Spade Pirates, with Ace declaring that he wants to go beyond Pirate King.

Part 2 - Taking all the world has to offer in his hands.
Ace became widely known for his kindness as a pirate captain, and this resulted in problems during the beginning of the Spade Pirates' voyage as many bounty hunters tried to take advantage of Ace's kindness to capture him. However, Ace and Deuce manage to repel all of them, with Ace gaining better control of his Devil Fruit ability. One time, a bounty hunter tried to hit Deuce with a sneak attack, but was shot by Mihar, the crew's sniper. Mihar was a teacher and wants to help children who cannot get an education, and despite a formal appearance and a strong desire to stay indoors, he is a powerful fighter. Another time, a crewmate named Skull took a liking to a bounty hunter's pistol with a skull design and used his knowledge of the gun's design to jam and steal it. Skull claims to be a pirate enthusiast rather than an actual pirate, who has been inside many pirate ships and stolen many of their goods. A lot of the Spade Pirates viewed Skull as useless, but Ace accepted him because of his expertise in pirating, and Skull appreciated him for that. Together, Deuce, Mihar, and Skull form the Spade Pirates' brains while the rest of the crew is mostly combatants, who easily deal with the bounty hunters. The bounty hunters are also threatened by a lynx named Kotatsu, whom Ace had saved from a poacher's trap. He was once cowardly due to being in a freak show, but has grown more courageous with the Spade Pirates, and likes being around Ace due to the warmth of his Devil Fruit. All the members of the crew had no place to go before meeting Ace, who takes them in based on their personality rather than appearance.

Ace throws a party, although is tired of the increasing number of bounty hunters after him. The crew notices many warships approaching them, and Deuce plans to lead the ships to a rocky reef area, but to their shock a female Marine with a rapier and a burn scar on her hand has already come onboard. She easily blocks a shot fired by Mihar, and Skull reveals that she is Isuka "the Nailing" because she uses her rapier to leave people's bodies full of holes. Isuka prepares to arrest Ace and his crew, but Ace is not scared and cracks jokes. Isuka attacks Ace with fast attacks, and is unable to hit him due to him turning his body into flames, but is able to dodge the Spade Pirates when they try attacking her in return. The Marine warships catch up to the Striker and begin attacking, as Isuka had come onboard earlier to distract the Spade Pirates from the warships' approach. However, Deuce's plan had also been in full effect the whole time, and one of the warships hits the rocky reef, causing it to sink. Isuka quickly stops fighting and jumps into the water to save her shipwrecked crewmates, but after a while she grows weaker and is threatened by a large wave. However, Ace saves her life by throwing her a life preserver, and she is angry at his actions. Deuce wonders why Ace did this, as this means she will continue chasing them, but Ace replies that it will be better than being chased by the usual bounty hunters.

The Spade Pirates continue their journey, and as they approach the New World, the crew now consists of 20 crewmates as well as Kotatsu. Several of them besides Ace have become infamous, with Ace having defeated many famous pirates. They stop at Sabaody Archipelago, and although Ace does not like having to wait three days for their ship to get coated, he becomes attracted to the variety of food sold in the archipelago. Deuce writes about Sabaody, and when some of his crewmates make fun of his writing skill, he decides to not include their names in this book.

Part 3 - The seas shines from the light of a man like the sun.
While on Sabaody Archipelago, the Spade Pirates are warned to not cause any trouble with Marines, bounty hunters, and especially World Nobles, and Deuce keeps an eye on Ace to prevent him from harming the World Nobles while his captain searches for food. Isuka then reappears on Sabaody and tells Ace to come out of his ship; she and the Spade Pirates have run into each other countless times during the crew's voyage, but she is seen as little more than a nuisance since Ace always handles her easily. Ace makes casual conversation about the food on Sabaody before escaping into town, much to Deuce's shock. Deuce goes into town, and sees many angry food vendors whom Ace did not pay for their food. He finds Ace asleep on a bench next to the Ferris wheel, and Ace takes Deuce on the Ferris wheel since Deuce is fascinated with it. However, when the ride ends, Isuka finds them, and as she and Ace quarrel, their gondola is locked and the three are sent on the ride.

While the mood is initially awkward, Isuka tells Deuce that the burn scar on her hand that he was staring at came from when pirates burned down her village when she was a child, which killed her parents. She had been saved from the fire by Lieutenant Commander Draw, who is now a Vice Admiral, and now wants no children to go through the same experience as her. She offers Ace the chance to become a Marine, as she does not see him as evil, but Ace does not like the idea of quitting piracy and jumps out of the gondola. Deuce wonders if Isuka will take him hostage to get Ace to come back, but she replies that Justice does not take hostages and says that she is on holiday today.

Three days pass, and Ace and Deuce end up in a slum area, where they see some starving children. Ace gives them his food, and the two pirates are approached by both Isuka and Draw. Isuka reveals a letter from the Five Elders offering Ace the chance to become a Warlord of the Sea, but Ace refuses, saying he does not like the Shichibukai system. Draw smiles and reveals that he shares the same sentiment, but then starts attacking Ace, taking the opportunity to take him down now that he will not be a Shichibukai. Draw reveals flamethrowers attached under his arms, and prepares to fight Ace's fire with his own as he unleashes his weapons, causing the slum around them to light up. Ace is appalled and tries to save the children in the slums, but the fire is too strong. However, while Deuce occupies Draw, Ace and Isuka manage to save the children. Deuce removes Draw's fuel tank, and Ace punches the Vice Admiral in the face, but his punch does no damage. Draw grabs Ace by the neck and lifts him off the ground despite Ace's Logia power, using Busoshoku Haki which Ace was aware of. Draw prepares to kill Ace in the name of Justice, and Ace criticizes Draw's Justice causing him to burn children. Draw reveals that he sees burning innocents as a necessary cost of taking down pirates, and this revelation shocks Isuka, who breaks down crying.

Ace's flames cause Draw's fuel tank to explode, injuring both of them. The two continue fighting, and Deuce knows that Ace can win despite Draw's abilities. Ace overwhelms Draw in combat, and Draw reveals that Ace is now using Busoshoku Haki, which Ace does not put much thought into. The two of them punch each other in the face at the same time, which ultimately defeats Draw. Deuce lends Ace a hand back to their ship, but Ace cannot leave Isuka behind in despair. He puts his hand forward and offers to let her come on his ship, where she can be a bounty hunter and pursue him while on the same ship as him. Isuka laughs in bewilderment at his request, saying pirates and bounty hunters do not shake hands. Ace tells her to get onboard his ship as it starts to leave Sabaody, but she stays behind, intending to continue her path as a Marine. She thanks Ace, calling him by his name rather than his epithet for the first time, and Ace is saddened to part ways with her. However, he takes care of the Marine warships pursuing them, and heads into Fish-Man Island and the New World with a burning passion, intent on taking Whitebeard's head.

Prologue
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard is reading a newspaper report about Ace rejecting his offer to join the Seven Warlords when Thatch comes in and tells him that Jinbe is about to leave the ship. Whitebeard goes to Jinbe, complaining that he always leaves without saying anything, and he asks the fish-man if he knows anything about Ace. Jinbe has heard about Ace and his power, and Thatch asks him to tell them if he finds out more information about the pirate.

Chapter 1
The Spade Pirates reach Fish-Man Island, and while most of the crew goes to the Mermaid Cafe, Ace eats at a restaurant in Gyoverly Hills. There, he talks to Aladine, who mentions that the princess Shirahoshi has to be locked away in the palace to protect her from Vander Decken IX. Ace says that the king may face a rebellion if he is not strong enough to even protect his own daughter, but Aladine says that rebellion will never happen due to the protection of Jinbe and Whitebeard. Ace then tells Aladine his name, saying that one day everyone will know of his reputation.

Ace returns to his ship and crewmates, and finds out that his bounty is now over 100,000,000. He then notices a flag of the Whitebeard Pirates, and tells his crew that anyone who is unwilling to face the dangers of the New World in order to reach its summit should stay behind as he burns the flag. The Spade Pirates then quickly sail out before the citizens can notice what Ace did.

Chapter 2
Upon reaching the New World, Ace's first order of business is to find Shanks and meet with him. Deuce tries to talk him out of it, fearing Shanks' power when he gets mad, but Ace tells his crew about Shanks' polite actions in Foosha Village 7 years ago. Although Shanks is the most difficult to find out of all the Four Emperors, Ace eventually finds the Red Hair Pirates partying in a cave on a Winter Island. Ace introduces himself, and Shanks and his crew quickly become friendly when he reveals his association with Luffy and Makino.

While talking, Ace tells Shanks that he has no intention of becoming Pirate King, but rather wants to make his reputation spread throughout the whole world. To do this, he will take on and defeat the world's most powerful organizations, particularly the Four Emperors, and among the Emperors, Whitebeard is his biggest target. Ace then asks Shanks about the scar on his face, and Shanks replies that he is unsure what the man who gave it to him is doing right now, not revealing his name. Ace then leaves, and Shanks and Benn Beckman note that his Haki was strong enough to melt away the snow while he was here. Beckman is skeptical about Ace's chances of fulfilling his dream as a pirate, saying that joining the Revolutionary Army would have made more sense. He wonders how Ace's bounty is as high as it is, and Shanks appears to realize Ace's heritage as he recalls that Ace was born in Baterilla and knew Gol D. Roger's real name.

Chapter 3
Skull gives intel on Whitebeard, saying that while Kaidou may be the strongest in a 1-on-1 fight, Whitebeard is the strongest in the world in terms of piracy. He then reveals that several pirate crews, backed by other Emperors, are launching attacks against the Whitebeard Pirates, causing some of the Division Commanders to be sent out to deal with them. Ace decides to take advantage of the Whitebeard Pirates' weaker state and go after Whitebeard, and the Spade Pirates head for one of the islands in Whitebeard's territory, unaware that a fish-man is following them. Deuce warns Ace that subordinates of Whitebeard may be on the island, but Ace will just fight them if necessary. Deuce notes that Ace seems intent on surpassing Roger, due to not wanting to chase after the One Piece and become the Pirate King because his father had already done so.

Jinbe then emerges from the sea and throws the Spade Pirates' Jolly Roger aside while confronting Ace over him burning Whitebeard's flag on Fish-Man Island. Ace and Jinbe fight for five days until both of them collapse from exhaustion, with the Spade Pirates being unable to intervene due to the battle being too high-level. Deuce tries to get Ace to escape with them, but Ace refuses. Whitebeard then arrives at the island and attacks the Spade Pirates, but Ace creates a flame wall between himself and his crew, due to not wanting them to be harmed by the Emperor. Ace then fights Whitebeard and loses, and when Whitebeard offers for Ace to become his son, Ace gets mad because he feels that he is being treated like a child.

Chapter 4
After being taken onto the ship of the Whitebeard Pirates, Ace attempts to assassinate Whitebeard many times for the next several weeks but always fails. One day, he wakes up in a medical room, where Deuce is working alongside the other doctors and nurses. The Spade Pirates had been forgiven after Ace's defeat, and many of them had found positions in the crew to work. As a medic, Deuce has become concerned with Whitebeard's deteriorating health, as the lives of people on many islands are dependent upon his protection, and so he tells Ace that if he wants to keep trying to kill Whitebeard, he should do it out in the open. Ace becomes frustrated with the new mindset of his crew, as he has not managed to fit into a position like they have.

Thatch, the head chef of the Whitebeard Pirates, tells Ace that if he was stronger, he would have been killed to protect Whitebeard's territory. Marshall D. Teach then talks to Ace, asking him about his Devil Fruit and what it tasted like. He then leaves, and Ace notices that Kotatsu is glaring in the direction he went off. For the time being, Ace is accepted as a guest of the Whitebeard Pirates, and Teach is ordered to keep an eye on him alongside Thatch. Thatch starts a rumor that Ace will join the Whitebeard Pirates if he loses to Whitebeard 100 times, being confident that Ace will never beat the Emperor no matter how many attempts he makes and telling Ace to join his division when he inevitably joins, much to Ace's chagrin.

Chapter 5
Ace, Thatch, and Teach do battle against a pirate named Raccoon for taking food in Whitebeard's territory without paying, and swiftly defeat him. They decide to use a bounty hunter to turn in Raccoon to the World Government, but Raccoon attempts a last-ditch attack and shoots Teach. Teach cries out in pain, but swiftly retaliates before laughing off the wound. At a bar, Ace wonders which of the Whitebeard Pirates gave Shanks his scar. Thatch does not know, and Teach reveals that he did, although he claims afterwards that he was joking. Thatch expresses envy over Ace's Devil Fruit, and Teach jokes that he could kill Ace to get it. Ace asks Teach which Devil Fruit he wants to eat, and Teach is surprised when Thatch says he knows which one, but Thatch then says that Teach wants the Suke Suke no Mi. Ace, Thatch, and Teach then receive flowers from girls on the island to thank them for defeating the pirates. Meanwhile, Deuce treats Whitebeard in the medical room, and notices that Whitebeard has received a small burn from fighting Ace. Whitebeard notes that Ace is getting stronger, telling Deuce that they have fought 99 times already. In the end, Ace goes on a mission against Oliva's family to restore order on Port Chibaralta, one of Whitebeard's territories.

Chapter 6
Ace fights Whitebeard the 100th time, losing it. Marco passes Ace a bowl of soup. Ace asks Marco why everyone called Whitebeard "Pops". Marco replies with that Whitebeard called them his "sons", that while they were hated around the world, words like those made them happy. Marco presents Ace with a decision, if he would take Whitebeard's name on his back. Ace accepts and tells his crew about it, so they burn the Piece of Spadille and become officially Whitebeard pirates.

Trivia

 * The two volume covers are in fact one continuous image, seen by Isuka's sword end on the second volume cover.
 * Ace is smiling on the right side of the first volume cover, and frowning on the left side of the second volume cover. This is similar to the smileys on his signature hat: A smiling one on the right, and a frowning on the left.
 * The second volume revealed new information like the name of the Spade Pirates' ship (Piece of Spadille) and Thatch's occupation (head chef).
 * The second volume has several additions that were in the anime, such as Thatch delivering the news about Ace to Whitebeard, Ace receiving his over 100,000,000 bounty around the time he crossed into the New World and his talk with Shanks as their crews celebrated on a snowy island.
 * Both volumes were released before the Wano Country Arc, so adventures of Ace in Wano Country and Onigashima (chronologically between chapter 2 and 3 of the second novel) were not included.

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