How did I not find this gem until now.

It's been a few months too long, it's almost the end of 2019, and I just wanted to stop by and review properly. I'll probably be rusty like all heck right now when rambling, but here we go.

This chapter made me tempted to cry happy tears, Ali-nee. I didn't even have to go back and reread because coming back to this chapter reminded me of Ace and Leith's budding dynamic together and tbh, it was one of the greatest things to come back to. From Leith throwing up over the railing this time, thank god she made it there instead of puking on the floor, the input from the other crewmates, and Ace just being a good person in trying to reach out and make her feel welcome, it says something on how /pirates/ have a better grasp on what it means to be kind than the nobles that Leith originally were forced to work with.

At the same time, the amount of medical detail and time put into describing Leith's condition was very well done and as a bio student, I have to point that out with a lot of applause. I still struggle trying to write medicine accurately in any story idea, so the way you wrote it for Leith and her recovery was both realistic and empathetic to her character.

Another note? All of Leith's references. :D I'm really happy I recognized a majority of them, including Jurassic Park's Hammond (I still need to watch the original movie tho...), college degrees and science careers, and the many allusions Leith made to the crew members' other activities in their rooms (HAH); even if Ace didn't understand, the way he came back with snark made me really happy as a reader because their conversations never felt forced!

Last note? The guitar. The freakin' guitar. We finally got to see Leith play, and imagining the scene in my head made me happy because music can be therapeutic. Leith is finally finding her place, and even if she's still bristly, if Pitch and Ace are any indication, she has a family she just has to acknowledge.

Overall? Wonderful chapter, and that hopeful ending makes me want to root for you more when you write again.

Love you, Ali-nee, and thank you for sharing your writing. Be sure to get plenty of rest when you can. :)

I can feel this will be one of the next biggest One Piece fanfics out there. I think your writing is superb, and you explain everything with detail so it feels much more alive. Although I can count a few times where it felt like I was having a stroke intead, sorry for the harsh words. Your OC (Spoon) is quite unique, her backstory is something done not so often (as in landing from another world and you writing the paralels of language, culture references and so on). To be honest, I don't like her. I know you have barely revealed some backstory from her and she has had a hard past, but she comes out really rude. Beggars can't be choosers, and she is not following this (then again, that is MY philosophy). Ace's crew had been nothing but kind and giving to her and she just... can't be kind back even if her life was in line. She is also explosive and smooth talking in a way(I can't stress enough these are my preferences in character personalities). That comes out as a contradiction, if she was being used as a fighting ring slave and has been throught much trauma, being starved to death and barely escaping from her captors, shouldn't she being more like, you know, stumbling? idk if im making sense but she always comes back with these awesome retorts and references and puns (even if the person she is talking to doesn't understand it) so it feels forced/mary suish (god I hate using that word, sorry.). I'm feeling petty today so I'm also pointing out the hair. You mentioned, it sounded ridiculous and ilogical. It DOES sound ridiculous and ilogical. Imo her original hair should have stayed. Am I coming out as negative? If that's so then sorry, I'm really enjoying this fic and I have so much hype for it because its been a while since this comunity has seen a rough diamond (is that idiom correct?) I really wish to see how this is going to continue! As I said at the beginning your writing is really advanced. Anyways, I hope my review helpsHave a nice day!

Oh I love this story and spoons! Good Lord she's funny!

Omg! This story has so much potential! Can't wait to read more! Keep at it!

i love It!?

Great chapter omfg I loved it so much

Glad to see this story again and I can't wait for Leith and Ace to bond some more and get closer. Also nice to see our protagonist being a complete Tsundere.

Anyways awesome chapter and I'm excited for the next one. Since this is one of my favorite SI One Piece stories next to "Tell it to the Marines" & "This Bites!"

Ali-nee,

I actually had to take 2-3 times to read this chapter in the past day or so to get what feels like everything you put into this chapter, and even then, I don't even know if I'll be able to cover everything. Because I have lots of feels and that Albatross has officially had me open a new doc for the next chapter of Seaside Sibling Train. /While/ it's still Week 1 of Winter Quarter at my college. Woo boy.

Where to start with this review, though...

There's something really upsetting about how this chapter starts. I kinda wanted to cry out from the empathy, actually. From Leith waking up in a start to nearly /killing/ Ace out of her survival instincts, the whole incident alone really says how much she's endured as a slave to those nobles. I wanna hug her so much, but then again, Tomo's going to do that way more than I ever can in SST. At the same time, the way she was laughing and enjoying her freedom in that wakeful euphoria before noticing the rest of the Spades Pirates' crew, all the while remembering Salem, Yuga and Juri, just... aaah. She deserves freedom. She deserves a good life. The kids did too. And, Ali, you don't have to tell me or share in the story what happened to those kids. The implications are dark enough, and secrets sometimes need to lie. This is one of those cases. Trauma isn't something to be trifled with.

...I know that myself. A lot.

And then Leith meeting the crew. There was something just desperate yet honest about the whole scene, where she was upset, but everyone was understanding in trying to calm her down and /be/ themselves in a way that showed a sense of "it's okay." I really appreciated that, because in times like those, especially after a trigger, one of the most calming things is to see everyone respect that and not ask anymore questions, accepting you in a way that shows that you can handle that serious talk when you're more stable. It felt like that, with Pitch and Ace coming along especially.

And the entire bath scene. There was so much detail put into it, from character thoughts from Leith (believe me, I blushed quite a bit at all the possible innuendos that Leith was thinking of with that bathtub) to the entire "cleansing" that made me think for quite a while. Scars. Scars, the way you did it, showed the gravity of the whole situation to where I just was at a lost of any thought. Instead, it was just, "she needs hugs," and "Ali, I wanna hug you so bad." I know you're okay, I know Leith's going to be okay, especially with people like Ace and Pitch looking after her, but it was just a lot, okay? And I can't stop /feeling/.

The comedy that came with the banter was really helpful in breaking the thoughts though. And it also made me realize how this entire story, you never did really state outright if Leith was a reincarnated OC or a version of you that got dropped into the bad side of One Piece all at once. I appreciate that, since it left a lot for the reader to ponder on. Sure, the hints were enough to make me think, but it also made me connect the dots in how in SST and in any other crossover I've done, /Tomoko's/ never made the connection that Leith is a fellow friend in that regard with the old modern world. Sure, her singing Connect was one thing, but going back to this story and thinking about it more just made me unsure as the writer. Tomoko still hasn't connected the dots, I can tell you that much.

Especially with the Spade Pirates commenting on Leith's /white/ hair. Gosh, that whole commentary on that. I thought it was a character design quirk, not something that was /induced/ by the trauma that came with being a slave. To think it might've been brown before, or something along those lines makes me shiver, because I thought Lang and I were /bad/ when it came to writing some angsty things. *points at CYB's Memory Arc and the aborted Danganronpa crossover I did with a wince*

*pauses* Ali, I wanna hug you. You've done so much with this story, I have feels, and now I need to write fluff because it feels like it's needed. You've done a great job, I have so many feels, I don't think I covered everything, but I'm out of words. You just did amazing. Okay? Just take that from this writer who can't even type anymore from feels.

No pressure on updates, by the way. Go at your own pace, and no matter what day it is, I know I'll be happy to see Leith again. You have a front row seat in my heart with Lang and the others, Ali-nee, so no worries on that. :) (I just hope you don't mind my continuing innocence, because really, I'm still like that somehow and please do not expect me to stare at NSFW stuff for longer than 15 minutes. Your stories are one thing, but gosh, it's still aaaaaaah in the whoa department.)

I love you, Ali-nee. I'll see you at the next review thing. Or the next update/chat opportunity. Either or works. :)

Ali-nee,

I admit, this was a really heavy chapter. Hell, I'm starting to type this at 10:02 pm right now, wondering what to say, because for once, I'm not speechless out of tiredness. I'm just speechless because of so much that was revealed here, all the while setting up the beginnings of Leith and Ace's relationship.

Where to start with this review? Leith needs a hug. Let me rephrase that. She needs /lots/ and /LOTS/ of hugs. The way that she was focused on survival and trying to get out, remembering Salem, Yuga, and Juri all the while, it struck something in me. I still recall how those three names popped up in the first piece you wrote that brought Leith and Tomoko together in the beginnings of the writing that went on to be Seaside Sibling Train, and now to have hints at what happened to those three... *shivers* Leith and those kids definitely didn't deserve what happened to them. And, despite the not so ideal meeting with what looks like the beginnings of the Whitebeard Pirates, Ace and his crew more than proved that they're better people compared to the castle and its nobles. Hell, I appreciate how their first instincts was to /punch/ that noble (who triggered Leith too) in the face to the point of "pushing daisies" and protect Leith as one of their own.

In a way, that entire scene reminded me of how Kei first started reaching out to expand her circle of protection beyond her brother. It's with triumphant punches to bullies' faces and reaching out to /help/ that makes the difference. Second one more so, but still. :p Still, I was grinning so much when Ace and the other pirates took Leith with them, and to see the origin of "Spoons." It made sense, but gosh that was a Mood Whiplash in the good way! Leith's finding family, albeit slowly, so to see her tease Ace /mid-Marine-chase/ was badass and kinda awesome? Hehe.

At the same time, I appreciate how you fleshed out Ace's crew, Ali. They follow Ace, sure, but you gave them personalities. Far more than any anime filler arc can claim to do. They moved, they yelled. They gave Biting Commentary and acted in a way that showed that they're human, and the fact that they're all unique in their own right is amazing already. :) Especially with the long chapter length.

And, I guess as a lasting note? I'm glad I write Seaside Sibling Train the way I do with all the fluff now, because it feels like Leith /needed/ it for so long, more so considering this chapter. Seeing how she's still stuck in survival mode to the /bitter end/, even with Ace with her to the point of being biting and scathing in a way that only an angry Isobu-influenced KEI could reflect, it was a bit of a shock to me personally. I don't want to say I "pity" her, since really, pity is seen in too much negative context in media. I just feel sympathetic, and empathetic towards her, since I know I can't imagine what pain she had, and what you hinted at /alone/ showed that it's not a story to tell unless you either feel like sharing it, Ali, or Leith adjusts to peace enough to let old wounds lie. I just hope that she does find happiness, and knowing you, Ali, you'll deliver.

And, Ali? Thank you for writing. There was so much to unpack here, from Leith and Ace's banter, to Tex and the other crewmates commenting on the absurdity of the Marines and nobles who see slaves as nothing more than /property/, to even the action that unfolded with the Marines finding the pirates, it was one scene after another to where I don't feel like I have the words to cover it all. Plus it being... almost 10:30 and way past my curfew for school tomorrow. Oh well.

You really did great with this story, Ali-nee. I can't say anything else but that.

But hey, please. Make sure to take care of your needs first before you write more, okay? I'm happy to see content like this, sure, but you deserve your own time to reflect, get on top of life, and just rest too, alright?

There's a lot of things that can happen in the world, and I'd like to see a friend well-taken care of than watch them push themselves too far. I know Leith collapsed from exhaustion at the end of this, I just hope I never see that happen with you, Ali.

If you ask why, isn't that obvious? I mean, I love you a lot, okay? *hugs* And I'm glad you're still around.

Sleepy sentiments aside, I need to sleep now. I'll see you at the next review. Loof you lots. Thanks again, for sharing this story with us readers.

Ali-nee,

I meant to review this story so much sooner. But time and my own hesitance with finding words really prevented me from writing this review, and this story itself is chock full of so much character and backstory to where I didn't even know what the hell to start with. So, I'm rambling more than usual, it feels like, since I've been on a review spree and Lang's seen a lot of my cheese in the past week.

Where to begin? That dream sequence really brought along RWBY feels from the end of Volume 3, and I don't know if that was intentional or not considering you said you weren't following RWBY anymore, but I did want to mention that. Not in a bad way, of course, it was just a connection I noticed and that I found admirable too, because the dream sequence was both suspenseful and /what the heck/ to me, since I'm far too used to Leith having been /in/ the Whitebeard Pirates. To know this is where it all started is still surprising, jarring, and whoa all at once.

At the same time, it's really nice to actually start this story in Ace's point of view, because I honestly don't know that much about One Piece aside from your writing and some of Tsume Yuki-san's with Riskua. Ace is quite the popular character, and to get an insight to his role as a commander is really great, because the Whitebeard Pirates don't seem to be around that much in OP canon proper these days. Ace is amazing as a narrator, and quite simply hilarious, adding to some well-needed lighthearted moments compared to Leith's introduction. And I admit, even though I knew this was going to happen, rereading Leith's intro by /killing/ a guard that was keeping her as a slave - that was really really chilling.

At the same time, I feel like reading this was highlighting the differences in character, because I as a reader (and writer of Seaside Sibling Train) am far too used to Leith who's already gone through character development to mellow out. To see her kill and so desperate to survive makes me somewhat glad in hindsight that I write Seaside Sibling Train now, because a positive influence helps do things.

And that whole thing, with Ace and that "seductress" lady? I was tempted to laugh if not for reading "Gimme some sugar," and I had question marks throughout the entire thing. I'm still innocent, apparently, because I had NO clue what that meant, even though I've seen the sentence multiple times in other works! All my sympathy to Ace though, because gosh that was awkward. At least his crewmates respect him in that regard in not pushing it more.

Though, that ending? Ace meeting Leith like that? Violent, but fateful. Very fitting to show off their beginning dynamic. "Do you believe in destiny," indeed.

You did great on this chapter, Ali-nee. I'm just sorry I didn't say it sooner. Or ramble sooner. I hope this all makes sense, because I have no clue how I'm typing so fast, but for now, I'll just leave with a small hug and a promise to get to the other chapters soon. :) I'll see you then.

I really like Leith's character and had a lot of laughs when reading this! I hope you continue it.

Ace is so precious. I want to keep him in my pockets.

This story is so great, I'm in love! LOVE! *Ace voice* Do you believe in destiny? But seriously, so well written, and funny! I really hope there will be more someday.

I love this so much! Leith's sass is life giving, I swear! i can't wait to see where else thing goes

Ace is definitely a cinnamon roll. loved Spoon.