Chapter 1: 1
Chapter Text
On the Island of Marineford, where Marine Headquarters is located, there's a large city that houses the families of marines. Those residents have been evacuated. They watch on monitors at Sabaody Archipelago. As the execution draws even nearer, reporters and camera men from all over the world gather at Saboady. They stand ready to send word to the world at a moment's notice.
The patrol ships which were sent out by the marines have all been sunk and Whitebeard and The Spades are yet to be sighted as the tension at Marineford runs high. Only three hours remain for the execution of Portgas D. Ace, The Captain of The Spade Pirates.
In the Marine Head Quarters of Marineford, well-known marines have been gathered from all over the world. In all, over 100,000 elites are there waiting for the final battle. 50 battleships are stationed around the crescent-shaped bay and Island. Countless heavy cannons are set up along the coast, At the very front of the troops, visible from the port, stand the five warlords who hold the key to the battle: Boa Hancock, Dracule Mihawk, Donquixote Doflamingo, Gecko Moriah and Bartholomew Kuma.
And at the rear of the place atop the towering execution platform, the center of the incident, Portgas D. Ace is kneeled down in front of the crowd of marines, which stood there to witness their 'execution'. Ace won't say that he is confident that he will make it alive of the damn show of the marines. But he is certain and the feeling that his brothers had already invaded Impel Down, clarifies that he won't be dying today. He is bloodied, tied down by sea stone hand cuffs and have not taken a bath since ages. But all Ace wants is that his stubborn, stupid brothers if arrive here, make it alive of it. Ace can already feel his adoptive father, Dragon, through his weakened haki in the shadows.
Before his eyes, protecting the platform, are the marines greatest military force, the three Admirals. All of the forces of justice imaginable have gathered to prevent Ace's rescue and wait for the Whitebeard Pirates, which are a major threat.
"I'm going to tell them everything, all right, Garp?" Sengoku side eyes his best friend who stands beside Portgas D. Ace.
Garp looks at Ace, and gives a soft smile, "Do what you want." He knows and beliefs that Ace won't die today. He just can't.
Sengoku stands in front of the plaza and side eyes the criminals, the ones to be executed on this fateful day. He doesn't see any sign of fear in the men, instead there is a bit of awe in Fire Fist, as he looks at the people gathered below him. Sengoku scoffs and grabs the den den mushi.
"Gentlemen, I have something to tell you," Sengoku starts as a seagull rests on his cap and a den den mushi on his left palm. "Portgas D. Ace, this man will die here today and there is great meaning in his death." He hears the said man scoff at those words, making him glare at him in return.
"Ace, tell the world, the name of your father," Ace gives a glare to the man and then a cocky grin stretches across his face. His eyes lit in mischief as he answers.
"I have two Dads: one biological and one adoptive, which one you wanna hear about?" Ace's grin stretches on his face. The crowd is silent and Sengoku feels himself getting mad. Ace seeing Sengoku, continues speaking again.
"My biological Dad is the Late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger." The crowd plus the people watching the execution gasps in shock. Reporters drop their notepads in shock at the huge news of the Pirate King's bloodline which still lives.
"My adoptive father is The Revolutionary Dragon." That earns more horrified gasps, but the proud grin on the face of Ace never ceases.
Sengoku scoffs as he held the snail a bit tighter, "As you can see, we are here to execute Gold Ace, today. We must eradicate the cursed bloodline."
"You can't execute me," Ace says with a smirk and the confidence in his voice doesn't seem fake. "You can't execute me unless it's for my own crimes. You can't execute me for the crimes of my fathers."
"Shut up!" Sengoku growled. "You have to be executed today, whether you like it or not! It is essential to end the Pirate-"
Ace rolls his eyes and looks at Sengoku with a deathly glare, "Dare speak that again and I swear to break your damn mouth." Ace spats.
Sengoku chose the ignore the words of the feral man and continued speaking, "As for how, this 20 year young man is Roger's spawn," Ace growled, "Is solely due to his mother's immense willpower and determination. Portgas D. Rouge carried the child for 20 months in her womb. She succeeded in deceiving the whole world. All of it for giving birth to the spawn of a devil."
"Shut up!" The chains attached to Ace, threatened to tear off. "How dare you speak the name my mother from your damn mouth! Should I remind everyone the horrible deeds the Navy committed. The genocide and infanticide which killed thousands of pregnant women and infants only to eradicate the baby me. Only to send an infant to death, who didn't even know for what he would be killed for?!!!"
"I said shut up, GOL D. ACE!!!" Sengoku growled as he began to continue his speech, ignoring a growling young man. Sengoku was getting pissed off bad, "You have no right to speak. So, shut up and wait for your impending doom!!! You-"
"NO I WON'T!!!!" Ace growled, the voice resonated throughout the battlefield. Everyone stood with silence, except for the raging waves which crashed on the shores. "I WON'T! The lies, the propaganda of the World Government, which you marines spread about pirates, about my father, about Gol D. Roger and not Gold Roger. Don't you feel ashamed of speaking countless lie?!! Tell everyone that Roger was not a devil incarnate!!! Not someone who deserved his execution. Not someone whom you captured but who gave himself willingly to the Navy! What does the fucking pompous old men of the Elders fear so much of the last Island, to make an adventure loving man, a devil, a monster, a criminal?!!!!"
"I told you to SHUT UP!!!" Sengoku growled. Ace shook his head and couldn't belief these guys are the bearers of justice. "You are to be executed in the name of absolute Justice!!"
"Absolute justice my ass!" Ace rolls his eyes and spat in disgust. "If justice means to sacrifice thousands of innocents for one man, for a truth, then you should die out of shame, Fleet Admiral!"
Sengoku at this point snaps and switches off the den den mushi and slaps 'Fire Fist' Ace, making him bleed from his mouth. Ace snickers at the desperate attempts of the Fleet Admiral to hide the truth and began laughing. Sengoku glares the boy and was about to say when Garp cuts him off.
"Sengoku!" Garp's calm, cold voice reaches the Fleet Admiral and he gets out of his daze. "You are not supposed to do that to my grandson."
"Refrain him from speaking then," Sengoku rolls his eyes and switches on the den den mushi. Garp nods and looks at Ace, who was happily grinning at his successful self mission. He had told the world the truth after all of those years. Now its all up to the people to believe it. But he knows certainly that Morgan would likely come for him for the news and then will be the time to strike. To present the world with proof. For people who have lost their loved ones, their sisters, their mothers, their wives, their children and so many people to come forward and present their side of stories.
Standing in the shadows, a man snickers with proud. Yeah, he has raised the brat correctly. Find the opportunity and strike. He was sure now that many countries affiliated with the World Government will question their decisions.
"Fleet Admiral!!! We have a report!!" A marine from backstage yelled. "The gates of justice have begun to open without anybody's orders!! We cannot contact the control room!"
This was just the beginning of the war, and marines have already begun to lose their control.
On the other side, in the Tri Current, the battleship, filled with escapees from the Impel Down, in reality led by 'Straw Hat' Luffy and the 'Chief Of Staff' Of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo, is being led to the war, to rescue the ass of their big brother. The ship was filled with prisoners, who merrily decided to follow Buggy the Clown, accepting him as their captain. On one side, away from the madness of the Buggy Team, standing beside the railings are the former Warlords: Crocodile and Jimbei, along with Ivankov, Sabo and Luffy.
Luffy, after getting himself poisoned with exhaustion in his body language, eyes his big brother, Sabo, who presses his lips and give a glance to Ivankov. He hopes Iva-san could handle the situation.
"Sabo!!" Luffy whined. "I need it~! Please!!" Sabo understands the importance of it, right now. They have a war to fight and can't stand their grounds, unless they have full power. Luffy after losing 10 years of his life, from exhaustion should not even run around freely, but he can get healed by his mother. And that would be a huge help. Sabo nodded at Ivankov, before flashing a sorry grin for the problem they were about to put him into.
Luffy grinned cheerfully and stood up and without warning, flipped in the air and dived into the ocean with a splash. Sabo quickly checked the reaction of the people, he could see Jimbei about to jump after his idiotic brother, and Crocodile stare wide eyed as the teenager jumped. The escapees freaked out on the deck and a pale looking Buggy, whose face became more paler, thinks fighting in a war without the insane strength of straw hat.
"Don't worry. I will be with him!" Sabo yells mid way as he jumps after Luffy.
Ivankov rubbed his temple. These brats will sure give others heart attack.
"Why did Straw Hat commit suicide?!!!!" Buggy and Mr. 3 shrieked and the latter was near the railing looking down in the ocean, trying to find the energetic teen and his brother, who jumped off. The ex-prisoners pitied Straw Hat and his brother and thought that Straw hat committed suicide out of frustration that his brother is about to be executed.
"Buggy The Clown and Mr. 2!" Inazuma said in a calm voice, his hands holding his wine glass. "No one is committing suicide. Please refrain from creating panic." That made Buggy and Mr. 2 relax a bit. But not completely.
"Aren't they both fruit users?!" Crocodile asked as he still can feel the wind, which is unnatural and speeding up their boat. Specially the dark clouds.
"No, Sabo-boy isn't," Ivankov said calmly and held onto Jimbei who was trying to sneak past him and dive after the boys.
"Jimbei," Ivankov grabs Jimbei not allowing him to follow the brothers in the ocean. He doesn't want them to see anything that might lead to future problems for his nephews. "It's fine. Sabo-boy is there with him."
"These are the Calm Belt waters!!" Jimbei felt a bit panicked.
Jimbei had promised Ace to keep his younger brothers safe. What was he supposed to say if the brothers die here?!! At first when Ace had described his brothers and asked him to take care of them, but he had not heard him. 'Cause he only protects and takes care of people who gains his respect. Even after all the crazy stories Ace had spun about his brothers, and told how reckless they were, at least the youngest one. He had taken all those with a grain of salt. Even when Thatch had told how true it was, he had not believed it. But now that, he is seeing things live, seeing their determination to protect Ace and even ready to throw their lives in the war for their big brother, he felt them worthy of his respect.
Ivankov stood at the railings with Inazuma and tried to block anyone who dared to jump in for rescuing the brothers. He was glad to know that people care about his nephews, but sorry, he can't let them dive in.
"Shouldn't they already- AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Mr. 2 yelled in mid sentence when three sea kings appeared behind Ivankov. The whole deck, was screaming in fear, while some escapees who were brave enough, pointed their weapons at the sea kings. Crocodile was ready to slit them open when Luffy and Sabo were flung on the deck with a large wave, which luckily didn't destroy the already battered ship.
"STOP!!" Luffy yelled. "They are my friends. They will help us in getting to the war in time." That seemed to calm down many as they lowered their weapons. But some cowards still questioned like Buggy.
"How can you say they won't attack us?!" Buggy shrieked in fear. He didn't want to die by being food for sea kings. Meanwhile, Inazuma had fetched some ropes and threw them to Sabo, who threw the ropes to the sea kings who held it and started pulling the boat faster.
"Why will they?" Luffy pouted as he stood up. His bloodied and batted body was completely healed. "They always listen me!" Luffy grinned ear to ear, and said it like it was a normal thing.
"How can you do that?" Jimbei asked as he raised his eyebrow. As much as he knows only one mermaid in the whole world can communicate and order sea kings. Not any humans. But something about the youngest brother of Ace-kun did seem odd. Why does he feel the urge to obey, to listen, to trust, to respect and to love him automatically as if he is the king of the seas. He can't understand, but after this incident, he is sure their is something big, the brothers are hiding. Not that, it is his place to question. He vividly remembers talking with Ace-kun in the gloomy cell.
Ace had laughed. "Luffy, the youngest monkey, is full of mystery and surprises. He is not someone you should mess with though."
Jimbei felt himself laughing inwardly. 'Being a mystery and full of surprises is an understatement, Ace-kun.' He saw Luffy tilt his head and about to reply when Sabo jumped in."Jimbei-kun," Sabo said with a cheery smile, but he could sense the threat behind the smile. "We need to excuse ourselves, due to our wet, damp clothes."
"Sabo is the wise one among us, always pulling out of situations which would lead us into trouble." Ace had fondly smiled.
"Wait!!!" Crocodile spoke this time. "I can neither see a drop of water on Straw Hat nor you." That earned huge gasps from everyone. Luffy was plainly laughing his 'shishishi' while Sabo was giving a restraint smile, which meant pain, for anyone who dared to question further. Even if they would lose some power houses in the war, it would be ok, unless Luffy isn't busted.
Before anyone could question further, Ivankov took a stand in front of the brothers. "But they do need fuel in their bodies and need to change their bloodied, dirty clothes, Croco-boy." That helped the brothers from further questioning from the few escapees from Impel Down. Though that didn't stop the whispering from them, who started questioning how the brothers didn't look exhausted but full of energy and had no wounds visible anymore.
Chapter Text
At Marineford, from the scaffold of the execution platform, a battalion of ships pop out in the ocean one by one. The huge fleet of pirate ships, belong to none other than Whitebeard Pirates, but there's no sign of the captain of the fleet. The Mad Knight Doma, Thunder Lord Mcguy, the Decal Van Brothers, the Whirlpool Spider Squard and many more. They are all infamous captains from the New World, which arrive for only one mission. To rescue Thatch, their brother. There are 43 ships in total, but Whitebeard and his commanders are no where to be seen.
The marines scramble for order, waiting to open fire on the ships, but are halted due to the Whitebeard Pirates, who must have a plan in their mind. The marines are ordered to keep their eyes on the sea. That is when gurgling sound comes right in between of the crescent shaped bay of the Marineford and two ship pops out. The ships are none other than the Moby Dick and The Piece of Spadille. They are followed by other three ships, which point their cannons from each direction and makes a circle among them.
Whitebeard along with his commanders stand at the deck, ready to take their brother and a son back home. The Spades led by Deuce are ready to take their captain back even.
"Guararara!!! How many years have it been, Sengoku?" Whitebeard gave a feral grin, "My beloved sons better be unharmed."
"You wait right there, Ace!"
Ace's eyes widened. The Whitebeard Pirates have come to rescue him. He was very happy to see Deuce and the other spades too. But soon the fear of losing his crew's life crossed him. He had never thought Whitebeard and the Spades would come to rescue him. He has always been a pain in ass for them. The least he thought was of his brothers: Sabo and Luffy showing up. But he can already sense some revolutionaries hidden within the marines and his Dad in the shadows, waiting for the exact time to attack.
Whitebeard takes a squat position and crosses his arms as he punches the air, sending shock waves. The air cracks and sounds of explosion surrounds the battlefield and a huge waves comes in, destroying a battleship on its wake and threatens to destroy the marine head quarters.
"Old Man... guys... Even after I ignored your warnings and ran out on my own..." Ace bit his lips. "Why couldn't you have just forgotten about me?!! It's my own fault I ended up like this." Ace shouted, his whole body trembling in shame.
"No," Whitebeard, his Pops spoke, "As I recall it was I who told you to go after him, my son.""You liar!!" Ace yelled. "What the hell are you talking about?! I ran out back then even though you told me to-"
"I told him to go. Isn't that right, Marco?" Whitebeard titled his head slightly and had a grin adorning his face.
"Indeed! I heard it with my own ears!" Marco said with a bored tone, but Ace could clearly see the worry in his face. "I think everyone in the whole wide ocean ought to know just what happens to any damned fool who lays a hand on a member of our crew!!"
"We won't leave a single one of those bastards who hurt you alive, Ace!!" It was Thatch who yelled. Ace felt tears gather in his eyes at the sight of the recovered, healthy brother.
"You just wait!! We are coming to get you!" Haruta shouted.
The rumbling due to Whitebeard's power finally starts, leading to a massive tsunami, towering the whole fort of Marineford and the war officially began.
No matter who prevails, no matter who fails, the world would change!!
The huge tsunami wave which threatened to destroy the whole base, gets frozen by Akoji. The whole bay gets frozen to ice, leading the disability of the ships to be maneuvered at all. The navy starts firing, aiming to destroy the Moby Dick, the main leader of the other side of the War. The captains of their ships, commands their men to go through the ice. The cannon balls, which were thrown at the ship, gets destroyed by the commanders one by one, rendering the marines useless in their first attack. The Vice Admirals face the captains of the fleet.
Meanwhile, the greatest swordsman in the world, decide to start participating in the war to alleviate his boredom. He sends an air slash towards the Moby Dick, which gets blocked by the 'Diamond' Jozu, the third division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Admirals have already stepped in the battle, except for Akainu who stands in front of the plaza, making plans in his own head. Kizaru shoots his light beams at Whitebeard, which is again dealt by Marco 'The Pheonix', the first division commander, who takes the attack head on in his Zoan form. He starts fighting with Kizaru but is thrown in the air.
Jozu tears a great chunk of ice and makes it pointed with his abilities and is about to attack when Akainu throws his giant magma fist, 'Great Eruption', to melt the ice, which evaporates in an instant. The magma rocks attacks one of the ship in the bay and destroys it too. The scene feels like the people are witnessing the end of the World.
The pirates try to charge towards the plaza with all their might, only to be stopped by the marines in their path. Meanwhile a giant, the descendant of Kunihiki Oars, who is twice the size of any giant, smashes through marine battleships formations and destroys the cannons with his giant blade, rendering the marines useless in log range attacks. The giant unit of the Marines get on move and attack Little Oars Junior.
"They've brought along quite an ally..." Sengoku spoke in a strained voice. If he lets Ace be rescued today then he will never listen the end of it from the Elders.
"Oars, you mustn't! At your size you'll just end up as a target!!" Ace shouted in desperation. He doesn't want anyone to die. But he knows it is inevitable. Why did they have to come? Why? And he could do nothing and is forced to stay down with the sea stone cuffs. Only if there was some food in his system, he could have easily broken out of the restraints. Only if he would have some energy to break free, he wouldn't have to be a dead weight.
"Ace! I'll be right there!" Oars said happily as he destroyed another battleship with one punch and opened a path into the bay. The marines fall back as they strengthen the defenses within the bay and try to not let the pirates inside. Oars didn't care if he would die, in his tries to rescue Ace. So, he moves forward without hesitation. Whitebeard shouts for Oars to fall back but notices his stubborn wish and respects his decision. He orders his men to back up Oars.Kuma attacks Oars with his 'Ursus Shock', making the giant collapse on his knees and his hat falls down, raising the sweet memories, when he got the hat from Ace and how it protected him in sunny, rainy and snowy days.
Ace doesn't understand why Uncle Kuma would attack Oars. Why? He doesn't understand. Even if he is attacking as a spy, why is he giving fatal wounds. His some of the questions are answered when he focuses his haki on Kuma and finds nothing like what he is like. He feels inhumane...? Just what the fuck is happening?!!!
"Just stop!! You can't make it over here!" Ace desperately yelled as his chains clanged all again.
"What have you done with Uncle Kuma?!!!" Ace growled at Sengoku, who raised an eye at Uncle and chose to ignore him and focus on the war instead. Ace's attention is snapped when he hears the firing of guns and sees Oars bleeding from his head. Oars manages to stand on his one knee but is again attacked by the cannons. Oars, when feels like he can't stay up for too long, attacks the platform where the Warlords stand. But unfortunately, Doflamingo uses his ability to cut his leg off.
"Oars!!!" Ace yells as tears roll off his eyes.
Oars moves his hands forward, and is just a little futher from the plaza, when a pissed off Moriah uses his shadow technique to kill Oars, making Ace cry by dropping his head on the scaffold. Ace feels this all is happening due to him. He feels regret and all the negative emotions which were chased out by his brothers, his adoptive fathers and his family. They all return to him in full force and blame him as a demon for causing pain to everyone.
On the other side, Coby runs from the war. The body of the people which fall, scares him. It terrifies him. He feels like he can't do a thing among these outrageously strong people, who are collapsing all around in pools of blood. Helmeppo is just behind him. They stop to halt at an alley, where they see Akainu from a corner talking to a marine soldier, who is visibly trembling, who doesn't want to fight and gets killed by him.
In the battlefield, an another path to the bay is opened by The Ice Witch Whitey Bay, by pushing her ships through it. Meanwhile, Sengoku calls up Tsuru and orders that it's time to begin their operation, and on the other side, Whitebeard senses that the marines have something up on their sleeves.
Garp sits beside Ace and questions himself, if being a marine would have helped him, to escape his impending doom. But all he feels that Ace would have been executed the day when his heritage would be revealed. He remembers how his blonde grandson had questioned him, when he had been showing his anger, coz his grandsons were taken by Dragon and he wouldn't be able to make them fine marines.
"How do you think being Marines would have protected us?" Sabo had said on the call and he could hear the other two brats in the background.
"I could protect you-"
"You could only protect us if you could guarantee that we would have landed on your ship and not someone else's. Could you guarantee that?" Garp was left stunned. It was true he can't control that part.
"What if we landed on Akainu's ship?" Sabo's angry expression was clear on the snail. He could hear the agreeing voices of the two brats. "He would kill us in an instant! He won't even leave me. Between Ace and Luffy, I just look like them! I would be dead without any reason."
"But brat-"
"Do you think that they would hesitate in killing them?!! When they never hesitated in killing the innocent civilians in hunt for a baby Ace?!!"
That was the day, he realized no matter what he would try, this day was inevitable. But he knows the strategy of the marines and fears what will happen ahead. He just wishes that his son, comes out and takes Ace away and the other two brats, who are sure to come, after their big brother.
"What are you doing here, Garp?" Sengoku hardens himself at the sight of his best friend. "If you try anything at this point, I will show no mercy, even for you."
"Hmph," Garp looks at the sky, "If I meant to try anything, I would have done it long ago." Garp grinned as he spots specks on the sky, his grandsons auras coming from them. Speak of the devil! "I am certain Ace won't die." His grin gets brighter and bigger.
Sengoku felt himself getting more pissed off at his best friend's words. Garp looked at Ace and grinned, he can see Ace feeling the same presences as him. But their is something back in his eyes, which he had not seen after he had been taken to the Revolutionary Army's base. He pats his back and wishes that those dark eyes goes permanently.
"Executing Ace without regard for the scheduled time?!! If they do a thing like that-" Coby says in a horrified tone to Helmeppo who looks at the sky and points it to him.
"Something's falling..."
Notes:
Only a reminder, during this period of time we had Ace as Whitebeard Pirates.
Chapter 3: 3
Summary:
"It doesn't matter if I have to use my powers in front of the whole world. I'll do it." Luffy takes the position of gear second and Sabo's hand tightens over his pipe. "I don't care, we'll save Ace."
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Warning: This story was made when the Whitebeard vs Spades War didn't happen. In short, Ace was left to the Whitebeards and Luffy's powers weren't shown to anyone except of some small mishaps like them witnessing Luffy not getting wet when in water accidentally. Yeah, that's all I think.
When the hijacked battleship got struck in ice, they started to plan what to do next. Sabo tells them that they have to push the ship backwards, which they could easily do with the sea kings. Then a den den mushi rings up cutting the tension in the air.
"Calling all ships and all troops! Objective Tottz! Change formation and prepare for general strategy 3! Preparations are to be executed flawlessly. Once they are made, we will execute Ace before the scheduled time!"
"WE HAVE GOTTA HURRY!!!!" Everyone shouts and Sabo fetches his den den mushi and calls up Dragon to inform the news. As soon as Dragon picks up, the ship goes upside down and the den den mushi almost slips from his hands.
The ship does a flip in the sky and start falling off the cliff. The next thing Sabo knows is that they are falling from the sky and Luffy is by his side, holding his hand tightly. The wind pressure from falling doesn't affect much and he sees Luffy scrunching his eyes in concentration after all neither the winds ever go downward, nor Luffy has tried it before.
He barely manages to keep control on weather, and the winds, when his emotions runs out of control. Like right now, how the dark clouds have clouded the sky. Sabo manages to tell the Marine's dirty plans to Dragon in the air, while the escapees continues to scream.
The wind makes the falling not too hurtful, but the height and fear sure clutches everybody's heart. They keep yelling and pointing each other to pin point their fault, and Sabo gains a tick mark at their stupid behavior.
"Shut the hell up!!" Sabo yells. "Let Lu concentrate otherwise you will be smashed to death!!"
That does affect everybody as they try to be quiet and feel that the wind is not touching them, but it is making a slope for them. But still the ice below haunts them, waiting for their deaths.
Luckily the ship falls in the ocean and breaks in two. Jimbei dives below to fetch the fruit users who have fallen in the ocean.
"LUFFY!!!!" Ace yells at his brothers. "SABO!!!!"
"ACEE!!!" The two brothers shout in glee at finally finding their brother. "We finally found you!!!" Luffy waves his hands enthusiastically and Sabo gives a huge grin, but a frown quickly finds his face.
The marines are a bit startled by seeing Crocodile, Jimbei, Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army and the escaped convicts from Impel down.
"We are here to save you!!!" The brothers yell as they catch their breath and take battle stances.
"Garp!! Are they another members of your family?!!!" Sengoku yelled at his best friend, who was grinning like no tomorrow.
"Bwahaha!!' Garp snorted. "Now I am certain Ace won't die today!!!" Garp pats the back of Ace, who is bewildered. He didn't wish his brothers to show up, but he knew they won't leave him behind to die. He sniffles the snot which threatened to escape.
Crocodile vanished into a cloud of sand and suddenly Luffy and Sabo were gone too as an explosion of dust appeared behind Whitebeard. Crocodile went flying away from Luffy straight to Sabo who slammed the ex-Warlord to the deck with his Seastone coated pipe held to his neck.
"Now, now, Crocodile, let's not make any rash decisions that'll make you lose your head." The venom in Sabo's tone sent a shiver down every nearby pirates and marines in the vicinity. Blood lust seeped steadily into the air surrounding the Second in command of the Revolutionary Army and apparently Crocodile realized it was a fight he wouldn't win because he held up his hands and vanished again into a cloud of sand.
"You brats..." Whitebeard grins widens as he sees Cyra, aka, Luffy and a blonde brat, whose voice he recognizes as Cyane, very well. "Are you brats here to save your brother?"
That got a glare from the two.
"Why would we come here then?" Sabo rolls his eyes in disbelief. His patience is already running low, from seeing Ace tied to the shackles on his knees, like a cattle waiting to be slaughtered.
He is even pissed off that the darkness which he could clearly feel from Ace, is returning back to him. That angry, self hating Ace had gone, but right now it was there. And he is pissed off for the fact that they aren't with him, to console him. They should be there to eradicate that darkness, that self doubt forever.
"That's right!!" Luffy gives his D grin.
"It's not one of your small missions," Whitebeard side eyes them, which directly pisses them off. "It's war!"
"Old man," Sabo gives a very, very sweet smile. "We know what we are doing and getting into."
"It doesn't matter if I have to use my powers in front of the whole world. I'll do it." Luffy takes the position of gear second and Sabo's hand tightens over his pipe. "I don't care, we'll save Ace."
Whitebeard raises his eyebrows at the statement. He knows the brat is full of secrets and he is just about to give those up in favor to save his brother. He grins at that. He likes them more now.
"Very well, don't get in my way, brat!" Whitebeard grinned.
"We'll do this however we damn well want!!" Sabo gave a feral growl.
"We'll be saving Ace ourselves!!" Luffy's face made a feral grin.
The people, the pirates and marines alike stare at shock at the two brats who are competing with Whitebeard himself. How the heck are the brats talking so casually with Whitebeard?!!! What's with their confidence?!! Why the hell wasn't Whitebeard crushing them, but rather smiling?
Before heading towards the platform, the brothers told Whitebeard about the freaking disgusting cheap method of marines of executing Ace before time.
Whitebeard looked at the little brat, who had grown a lot since he had seen the crying boy in hands of Ace. The little boy had power overflowing from his little body, barely able to hold it down. Whitebeard have lived long enough and sailed on the unpredictable dangerous seas for more than half a century. But he understood why the little brat made him question certain things.
He had sailed the seas and had known how the sea would favor some individuals, how it will respect each and every command of certain people. But they were merrily same myths in his times. Not even Roger was spared from the merciless storms some times. But the kid was storm itself.
The way the waves were startlingly calm near Moby Dick while they were treacherous in other parts of Marineford supplied him with the answer which he had always looked for. Why had the brat felt like ocean? Now the answer was clear. As unpredictable the ocean was, so was the little straw hat. And it all clicked now. Being the true son of sea was the only answer which his brain supplied him at the moment.
Sabo and Luffy jumped in the battle and Sabo watched Luffy's back every time for any oncoming attacks, as Luffy did likewise. They charge with their fists and pipe against the marines. They were not even away from the Moby dick, when an asshole of an Admiral, Kizaru decided to show up. Kizaru was manifesting his light attack, making Sabo clench his teeth. If they got hit by that, it would be a pain in the ass but he won't let him.
"If we don't capture you, the Tenryuubito will never let us hear the end of it, you know, Straw hat Luffy." Kizaru spoke in a bored voice as he kicked off a light beam.
"As if I'll let you!" Sabo scoffed and coated his pipe with haki, ready to defend Luffy, who was just charging ahead, without the care of Kizaru present there. That was when he understood why, when Ivankov used his 'Death Wink' to deviate the attack.
But the next they know, is Kuma appearing in front of them. That would have relaxed them a bit, only if he wouldn't have manifested the laser beam from his mouth.
"Bear-Ossan!!!" Luffy grinned, but they don't have much time. Kuma must be working still as a spy, so they need to get off there. Luckily, Ivankov again appeared to tackle Kuma and gave his 'Rolling Aesthetic'. Sabo held Luffy's hand and ran forward. They can't waste any time. They need to pull Ace out of there.
One by one, marines appeared in their path, but this time it was Captain Hina, The Black Cage, who used her powers and was about to trap them. But Luffy used his second gear and Sabo used his speed to ignore the woman and ran ahead.
Then a Vice-Admiral appears in front of them, Sabo used his Dragon-Claw attack to crush the skull of the poor man, who screamed clutching his head making him drop on the floor and not move. Oops, he overdid it. But that doesn't matter to him.
Moriah got amazed by the strength of Luffy as well as the one beside him, Sabo. He makes zombies out of the dead marines. Meanwhile on other side, Luffy gets cut by a sword, due to his recklessness and Sabo curses the marine.
"Don't you dare hurt my brother!" Sabo yelled and banged his pipe on the Marine's head, splitting his head into two. The Marine's cowered in fear from Sabo due to his brutality. Sabo would never fight for himself, even of someone would threaten to kill him or spit on him. But if you touched one of his brothers with a bad motive, don't think you will stay alive to see another day.
Luffy's arms starts to bleed but he doesn't care and keep on punching the marines here and there. [A/n: His blood isn't golden here!] The waves rage violently and thunder cackles in the battlefield and on the battleship, destroying many of them. A large wave towers above Marineford, which Admiral Kuzan hurries to freeze.
Luffy shouts his war cry and kicks of another marine and Sabo swears that he will keep an extra eye on Luffy. The marines, the vice admirals and Moriah's zombie army gangs up on the duo brother. Both of the brothers shed blood in the battle, due to some openings but Sabo never leaves the ones, who made Luffy bleed, conscious. But neither could care less about their injuries, but with each drop of their blood, waves rages and at times tsunami summons itself, making Kuzan busy in tackling those.
The clouds roars, the winds throws out some marines which come too close for their liking and lightening falls here and there, making Fleet Admiral grit his teeth in anger.
"This way we will lose the battle. What the heck, Garp?!!!!" A pissed of Sengoku yells at the man, who is laughing at how things are going. How the hell the weather is going crazy????!!!!!
"Stay back, Luffy, Sabo!!!" Ace screamed, after seeing their bloody states. He would never forgive himself. They are getting hurt for him and all the while he is sitting there, being useless. He couldn't let his brothers die for him he wasn't worth the lives already lost let alone his precious little brothers. They are his treasure for all he'd never say it out loud he had to make them leave.
Luffy and Sabo heard what their big brother said but kept on fighting their opponents, which seemed to be appearing incessantly. They needed to ditch them. They needed to reach their stupid, idiot of a big brother, who is hurting himself! Who needs a good hug!
"I shouldn't have to tell you this!! You're a pirate just like me! We've both sailed the ocean as our hearts guided us!" Ace shouted specially to Luffy, who was recklessly beating the marines and getting hurt non stop. "I have my own adventure to live! I have my own friends! I don't remember asking you to interfere!" Then he paid attention to Sabo, who got a hit on his head at the instant.
"Why Sabo?!!! Why?! Why did you come?" Ace shouted desperately. "Don't you care about your cover? About your anonymity?! Why are you throwing everything for me?!!!!"
In the background, in the battlefield, the pirates chant about saving Ace, which is completely ignored by the one to be rescued. His heart have began creating walls all again.
"Weaklings like you... coming to save me? Do you really believe I'm going to forgive you both for that?! That is humiliating!! Get out of here, Luffy, Sabo! Why did you come?!" Ace shouted angrily. 'Please, don't let me drag you both into this too! This is my problem, not yours.'
"You promised to not die!! What the hell are ya doing even there?!!!" Luffy shouted in anger. Ace had never seen him this angry, at least not after what happened in Moby Dick.
The winds howled, suppressing all the voices except for Luffy's. The thunder cackled on another battleship and the bitter rage of Luffy got leaked on a poor marine. Luffy's anger was rare to see. And if Luffy's angry on someone, then the nature itself will be angry on that poor bastard. Luffy's anger turned him into a cold and serious person, making everyone who knows him, unnerved. Luffy went still with rage, and that was more terrifying than Ace would like to admit. And right now, he was pissed off, with what he can see for sure.
"Ace don't be an asshole! We are your brothers!" Ace was sure Sabo was rolling his eyes, even if he could not see that. Even if he could only see people getting crushed by his claw shaped finger. Ace bit his lips in misery. He doesn't like seeing his brothers getting hurt. Not at all.
Then, Ace's eyes met that of Sabo, and he could see the dark eyes, filled with anger, but not for him, for the marines. Sabo was full of rage, yet with a calm demeanor as he crushed the marines, and those marines never got up for another fight. Sabo did look calm but held anger that was being unleashed on the enemies. Sabo, unlike him and Luffy, could always think through his anger only to make his enemy's fate worse.
But with Sabo, things could get more dangerous as he was the mixture of both his and Luffy's anger. His anger was similar to Ace in terms of fight, and similar to Luffy in terms of seriousness and calm demeanor. But to add a cherry on top of those, he could still use his high level intelligence through his anger. And right now, Sabo was very, very angry.
Ace gulped. Yep, Sabo was very pissed off and Ace would pity those marines who would be on his receiving end.
On the other side, marines were freaking out for the fact that Luffy and Sabo are also Roger's kid. Sabo fills the accurate description from his height and face, and could easily qualify as Ace's twin but Straw hat Luffy could never. Ace's parents have died when Ace was born. So, there is no way, that Luffy was also Roger's kid.
Jimbei appears in front of the Zombies of Moriah and uses his fishman attacks to make the zombies collapse. This gives a free path for the brothers to move ahead, after defeating the vice admirals and marines.
Notes:
DefectiveDecoy here!
Sorry for the late chapter, I have no excuse but I forgot to post it. I was caught in a small mess which took a while to fix, and by the time I managed to do it I forgot.Sorry again!
This chapter may have been a bit boring, and short. But do remember we made this while we were still in the early parts of 'The return of Joyboy.' Were we wrote chapters like this.
Chapter 4: 4
Summary:
"Garp!!" Sengoku roared. "I swear I'll kill you myself." All those years they had been searching for the identities of the masked 'pirates' and all those years, his idiot best friend knew them. Damn it, it's always his family which are the core of the troublemakers!!! He gives a sharp glare at Garp, who have the audacity to laugh, 'cause he knows he would never kill him!!!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
'The weather patterns, the raging seas, the stormy wind, which was not there a while ago, this all indicates to one thing: The 3Cs are here. And it all started after the rookie, Straw Hat Luffy with his other brother, landed on the battlefield.' Sengoku eyes Ace. 'The duration in which Cole disappeared and Portgas D. Ace appeared seem to be same. The same goes for Cyra and Cyane. When they both disappeared, Straw Hat Luffy appeared and The Revolutionary Army got a Chief Of Staff.' Sengoku looked at the other blonde brother of Ace. 'This man looks exactly like the rumours of the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, the right-man hand of Dragon.'
"Fleet Admiral!" A marine saluted. "We have got information that we have Chief of Staff of The revolutionary Army, The Blue Gentleman,fighting in the war."
Sengoku nodded and raised a hand as a sign of dismissal. So, his doubts are perfectly clear. The 3Cs were indeed a revolutionary group, which acted as pirates and two members of that group: Cyra and Cole, left to become infamous pirates, while the other became the right hand man of Dragon.
Sengoku gave a very, very sweet smile to Garp, keeping his breath steady. "Garp!!" But he hissed. "Did you know your grandsons were the members of the 3Cs? Fire Fist Ace as Cole, Sabo as Cyane and Strawhat Luffy as Cyra!?" He sees Garp chuckle and Ace glare at him and it confirms his suspicions.
"Garp!!" Sengoku roared. "I swear I'll kill you myself." All those years they had been searching for the identities of the masked 'pirates' and all those years, his idiot best friend knew them. Damn it, it's always his family which are the core of the troublemakers!!! He gives a sharp glare at Garp, who have the audacity to laugh, 'cause he knows he would never kill him!!!
Sengoku holds the den den mushi in his hands as he sees how pathetically the marines are fighting and are freaked out.
"What do you think you are doing, allowing some brats to shift the flow of battle?!" Sengoku yelled in his pissed off voice. "Those men are another dangerous elements! Not only were they raised together with Ace as their adoptive brother, 'Straw Hat' Luffy is also the flesh and blood son of the Revolutionary Dragon!" Sengoku could hear the gasps of the marines and pirates alike.
"Not only that, Sabo, is the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, The Bloody Gentleman. Moreover, the trio monster brothers, were also the assumed 'pirate' group The 3Cs. Cole being Ace, Cyane being Sabo and Cyra being Luffy! We need to eradicate these future threats," Sengoku could hear the growling coming from Ace, who looked ready to pounce on him any moment, if not for his chains.
The marines panicked at hearing those words. They can now understand the fate of the ones who were trying to harm the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army's brother. The Chief was whispered to be strong, and ruthless, with no pity or empathy for his enemies. No one had known his name up until now. In the eyes of the World Government, he was more mysterious than even Dragon. At least they had Dragon's name, but for the Chief, they had nothing. Except for the fact that the dying people, always told with their dying breaths, about him wearing noble clothes and having blonde hair.
Meanwhile, the news reporters in Saboady freaked out and started calling here and there, announcing the freaking news.
Luffy faced against a giant and uses 'Gear Third' to make a giant fist. Sabo used his pipe and claws to crush the skulls of the marines. They could care less of the information, moreover, the 3Cs have disbanded the moment Ace had left.
And for Sabo, whose status and face was revealed to the world, it didn't matter anymore. Sabo's love was always to live in shadows, to work and experience all the world's worst, which it had to offer. But Sabo didn't mind throwing it all away for his brothers, who are more precious than anything the world has to offer him.
He stayed in the dark, keeping his existence like shadow to make sure that when he struck, he wouldn't be noticed. He is the assassin in the family, the only one who didn't appear in the light. But for his brothers, he would do anything. Even if it meant to participate in a war and throw away his identity for the marines to see. He would do it. For he knew his brothers would do anything for him likewise.
"Luffy!" Ace shouted, one last attempt to get his brothers out of this mess. "Sabo!!! Leave!" Ace didn't like how things were going. 'Sorry, Sabo! It's 'cause of me, you were exposed. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Lu! 'Cause of me, you are in risk of being discovered too!'
"I don't care what you say I'm going to save you even if it kills me!!" Luffy yells loudly and charges with his giant fist to the giant marines and also gets a smack on his head from Sabo for talking about dying.
"Marco," Whitebeard grins. "Don't let the boys die."
Marco nods and a small smile graces on his lips.
"ACEEE! GET YOURSELF TOGETHER! OR LUFFY WILL DO SOMETHING IDIOTIC AGAIN!!" A pissed off Sabo yelled to Ace, who stiffen up his lower lip, to stop himself from crying. But wait- what does Sabo mean again?!? He will ask that later for sure.
"This is more of a reason to execute Ace-" Sengoku speaks in the den den mushi, but gets interrupted by the shouts of the brothers.
"SHUT UP!!!" The duo brothers growl in anger. In the background, a deafening thunder cackles and clouds roar violently. Marines and pirates alike run around to save themselves from the lightening bolts falling from the sky.
The war is turned upside down by the landing of two unpredictable forces: Straw Hat Luffy and Chief Of Staff Of The Revolutionary Army, Sabo. At this point, only a few battleships remain standing, with them being attacked by giant sea kings. The battleships were already in terrible shape, and now being surrounded by sea kings, who are tearing them off, doesn't help at all.
Ace grits his teeth, in anger, anger on himself, for his recklessness. He plops his head on the scaffold and sheds tears.
"I don't care what you say I'm going to save you even if it kills me!!"
"ACEEE! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER! OR LUFFY WILL DO SOMETHING IDIOTIC AGAIN!!"
"You just wait!! We are coming to get you!"
"We won't leave a single one of those bastards who hurt you alive, Ace!!"
Ace cries as the words keep on repeating in his head. What did he do to deserve such a family, such brothers.
"What now?" Ace sees Garp grin at him, seeing his inner turmoil fade away.
"I'll not resist anymore." Ace said, his teeth biting his lips. "I was a fool to let my inner monsters come out and control my mind. Not anymore. That's the least I can do. I owe everyone that much." Garp happily pats Ace's back, making Ace grin a bit.
The cannons fired relentlessly, the battlefield fills with the noises of the explosions and the brothers get surrounded by marines all again.
On the other side, Whitebeard orders the captains of the fleets to divide themselves into two groups: one attacking from left and another from right. No battleship remain standing at the courtesy- of the lightnings and sea kings.
"Garp!" Sengoku hissed carefully. "Care tell me, how your grandsons are showering lightening blots on the warships." Sengoku looked at the sea stone handcuffs of Ace, making sure he is tied. "And how are the waves raging when Cole is here. Wait, for another note, how the fuck can they control waves, winds and storms when one of them is tied to sea stone handcuffs!!!!?!!! And another notable point, isn't Ace the user of Mera Mera no mi?!" [A/n: I hope you guys remember how Senguko self assumed that Cole, Cyra and Cyane have devil fruit powers which allows them to control waves, winds and storms]
Garp chuckled. "Who told that Ace or Sabo have such powers?" Ace growled at Garp. "Oops, I was not supposed to say that!"
Sengoku feels a fuse go off in his mind. That means Cyra or Straw Hat Luffy can control winds, waves and storms, all the while being an user of a rubber fruit. That's the most confusing thing he has ever seen or heard of. Did he eat two devil fruits? Nope! That's impossible!
"How the hell does your grandson control those when he is a rubber man?!!!!" Sengoku hissed.
"Shut up!" Ace growled.
"It doesn't matter now. Luffy is strong, he can protect himself." Garp pats Ace. But is still wary of the slip off which he did by mistake.
Sengoku held the den den mushi. "Don't let Straw Hat Luffy live. He is the one who is changing the course of battle."
"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!!!!!" Ace growled, making the battleground go quiet for a second and on other side, Sabo's eyes widen as marines, vice admirals, captains everyone starts charging at Luffy. He connects the dots and understands that Lu's some of the secrets have been exposed to the Fleet Admiral.
"Capture Straw hat Luffy at any costs!!!" Sengoku growled.
"SHUT UP!!!" Sabo and Ace growled, making several marines collapse, which were surrounding them.
"Don't dare call Luffy's name with your foul mouth!!!" Ace growled again.
Tashigi and Smoker appear in front of the brothers but are attacked with one punch and thrown across the battlefield. Meanwhile, the brothers kept on charging full speed escaping Marines.
"Out of the way, fool!!" Hancock kicks a marine captain blocking her way to the brothers, or Luffy.
"Hancock!" The captain pointed his sword at Hancock, who didn't hear anything. "Do you, too, mean to abandon the Shichibukai?"
"Silence!!" Hancock stood on her one leg, with her pet Salome at her side. "I am so filled with rage that I cannot even hear your words!! How dare you attack my beloved and make his blood flow?!!" Hancock who had seen Luffy's blood drop, shouted and left after the brothers.
"Hancock~!" Luffy grinned at her, turning back, after hearing her voice.
'Ahh...' Hancock's face became flushed, 'He called me Hancock again!!'
"Lu! We gotta go!!" Sabo yelled, and cringed at Hancock's dance for Luffy.
[A/n: Yeah, Luffy landed on Amazon Lily in this story, which may or may not happen in the further future with the original story.]
"Wait! Luffy! Brother-in-law!" That sent a shiver to Sabo's spine. Hancock sprinted to them and handed the key to Luffy, who passed it to Sabo. "This is the key to your brother's handcuffs!"
Luffy jumps in joy at Hancock's help and hugs her and for a moment, the lightening bolts stop and the sky goes clear. "Hancock~! You really are the best~! Thanks!! I'm in your debt!"
"Thank you! Pirate Empress!" Sabo bowed to her genuinely.
As Luffy and Sabo left, the sky turned all grey and the lightening bolts, the roaring clouds and, the thunder cackles all were back. The marines who believed that the weather was finally going to be fine, were disappointed completely.
"Impossible!! The pirate Empress was defeated?!!" The marines yelled.
'To think that he would embrace me so tightly, is this what they call marriage?' Hancock who was on her knees at the mere hug thought, with her face flushed.
On the other side, Ivankov who was fighting with Kuma, is faced with a cruel reality. Kuma, his best friend, is not Kuma at all by Doflamingo. He declares Kuma dead. But Ivankov doesn't want to believe a word of the pirate.
"Aunt Iva!!" Luffy cried, who heard Doflamingo speaking from a distance. "That's not Kuma, or completely Kuma."
"What do you mean Lu?" Sabo asked.
"I can't feel any human emotions from him anymore. It's like he is a robot, not our Bear-ossan!"
"That's impossible! This is most certainly the user of the Paw Paw fruit and that's Kuma! Come on, Kuma, say something!!!" Ivankov yelled.
"The government scientist Dr. Vegapunk performed the final restructuring of his body. This man is the former Bartholomew Kuma," Doflamingo said with a sadistic grin.
"What?!!" Sabo yelled. "Restructuring? Weapon? What the heck are you blabbering?"
"This man volunteered of his own volition to take part in the government's research, becoming a test subject for its human weapon project. First came the hands, then the legs, all while leaving the original man's consciousness intact over an extended periods of time, they restructured each piece of his body, little by little."
"You are lying to us! Kuma detests the government," Ivankov yelled in rage. "He would never do such a ridiculous thing as placing his own life in their hands!"
Kuma starts firing on them, with his laser beams, all the while Sabo, Ivankov and Luffy feel upset and Luffy's eyes become glossy. Kuma and Ivankov were their favorite uncle and aunt, after all.
"There's no use shouting at me, even I don't know what kind of deal the government made with this guy and until mere days, he still had his original personality. However, right now, he has no memory of ever being human. He is nothing more than a monster, PX-0!!" Doflamingo said in his sadistic voice, having fun with a boy shedding tears.
"No memories...?" Luffy sniffled and rain started falling like cats and dogs. Making it difficult for pirates and marines alike to move.
"Lu," Sabo hugs Luffy. "We need to save Ace. We can later save Uncle Kuma. I promise! We will come back for him," Luffy nodded at that and wiped his tears off and looked at Ace, who was also crying. He is sure that he heard all about Kuma right now.
Ivankov kept on arguing with Kuma, until he went ahead and started focusing his attacks on Luffy. Ivankov got pissed off and started fighting Kuma, forgetting to hold back at all now.
"Damn it! Kuma!!" Ivankov yelled. "What are you doing by attacking your own nephews?!! I won't forgive you for that!!!"
"You can leave this to me!!" Ivankov shouted to Sabo and Luffy. "Everyone! Go with Lu and Sabo and back them up!!!"
"ROGER!!!" The candies of Ivankov followed the brothers in the direction of the execution platform, taking down the marines in their path.
On the other side, Crocodile used his sand cyclone to remove the marines on his way, giving Sabo an idea, seeing the marines in front of them.
"Lu!" Sabo spoke. "Can you create a cyclone, like that??!!"
Luffy nodded and said, "But it will require some concentration!!"
"I will carry you, come on!! We need to move fast!!" Luffy hopped on to Sabo's back and closed his eyes as Sabo ran forward. A mini cyclone started ahead of them, moving forward to the marines and throwing them back. When the path cleared, Dracule Mihawk stood in front of them.
"My apologies, Red Hair. But I will not be merciful with my power," Hawk-eye unsheathed his sword, Yoru.
"Dracule Mihawk!" Sabo said in a pissed off voice. "Lu, create a bigger cyclone!! We need to throw Mihawk elsewhere."
Luffy nodded at that and a bigger cyclone encompassed Mihawk, who easily cut through it and came out, but got hit by Sabo's pipe on his head. That amazed Mihawk. He didn't feel the boy coming towards him. He smirked at the worthy opponent, but right now he needs to eliminate Straw Hat Luffy.
Notes:
So, how was this chapter? I hope it was a bit interesting at least. There are many things which were not planned and this story came to existence.
Well, that is for another time!
Have a good day/night!
Over and out!
Chapter 5: 5
Summary:
"What's your order, The Great Imu?"
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Luffy panted in exhaustion from creating cyclones. Sabo looked everywhere. This isn't the time they should fight and hope to win the Strongest Swordsman in The World and moreover Luffy was getting exhausted from using his powers repeatedly. Even if he can attack and win from Mihawk, that doesn't mean he has enough time.
"Now, fate let us see how you favor this shining star of the next generation. Will his life end here? Or will you save it from my black blade...?" Mihawk said in a calm voice.
"This is no time for us to be fighting you!" Luffy yelled between his panting. "We're here to save Ace!!"
Mihawk lunged his black blade in the air, sending a cut towards the brothers and Luffy twisted them and got the cut, instead of Sabo.
"What the heck, Lu?!!" Sabo instantly picked up Luffy. "Stay quietly on my back!" Sabo hastily checked Luffy's wounds, who whimpered once but was not giving up. Sabo looked at Mihawk with dark eyes. He had dared to hurt his baby brother, he can't let him g, without giving him a serious concussion. Sabo nullified his presence and attacked Mihawk, who wasn't able to predict his movement. Sabo's pipe clanged with Mihawk's dark blade. Luffy got out from Sabo's back and coated his fists with armament and conqueror's haki. With a war cry, the brothers attacked Mihawk, making him step back and use his full power to face them. Taking the chance, Sabo's dragon claw hit Mihawk on his head, making him bleed.
"We need to get out of here and reach Ace!!" Sabo yelled and charged forward with Luffy. He was satisfied with hurting Mihawk.
Taking their chance, they rushed forward. Luffy refusing to be carried anymore as the winds flew bluntly, cutting the marines on their way, and throwing them onto Mihawk, making him halt in his path, but not for a long time.
"I see." Mihawk removed the blood stain from his forehead. "Straw Hat Luffy, you never cease to surprise me!" Mihawk's blade slashed the marines and wind on his way, he got out of the way of the lightening bolt easily and once again charged at the fleeing brothers.
"Out of the way, boys! We'll stop him!!" The candies of Ivankov charged ahead, but got defeated soon enough. The brothers ducked another blade slash from Mihawk, which cut a huge ice wave! That was when Luffy found Buggy in the sand cyclone of Crocodile and threw him to Mihawk, who cut him down.
"Gomu Gomu no Substitute!" Luffy yelled. If Sabo would have been anywhere, except this battlefield, he would be laughing his ass off.
Buggy shouted in fury at Straw hat for putting him in front of Mihawk. But Luffy didn't hear and threw him once again at Mihawk and the brothers fled from the scene, last hearing Buggy shouting at Hawkeye and then an explosion which Mihawk was supposed to get caught in, but Buggy got in.
"Thanks Buggy we will never forgot you!!" Sabo and Luffy yelled as they kept on charging ahead. Mihawk gritted his teeth and was about to chase the brothers, when-
"Vista! Lend them a hand!!" Marco yelled, and 'Flower Sword' Vista's two swords clanged with Hawkeye.
'That is no skill or technique, but the simple ability to turn those around him into his allies.' Mihawk thought as his clashed with Vista. 'I would call that the most dangerous ability in the entire ocean!!'
As the execution draws closer, a number of shocking truths comes to light. A massive breakout of over two hundred convicts from the impenetrable prison of Impel Down and the notorious prisoners making their sudden appearance on the battlefield. The spectacle that unfolds hardly appears to be of this world. A true ultimate battle set to change the course of history. The people of the of the world can only hold their breath and watch as the course of their future is decided in the Marineford.
People in Sabaody watch and hear with fear, the cackling of the thunder, which dims the sounds of the explosion caused by the cannons and the clashing of the swords of the marines and pirates. All over the monitor, shows lightening bolts which keep on falling, and huge explosions which keep taking place. The outcome of the war would decide to which direction will the world move next. What will happen if the pirates succeed? What will happen if the marines lose? What will become of the World? The scene on the monitor looks as if the world is about to end.
On the other side, the Five Elders, watching the execution grit their teeth at frustration, at their knowledge of the 3Cs present in the War and them being unmasked. A dark black figure takes its seat on the empty Throne before the kneeling Elders.
"What's your order, The Great Imu?"
A marine runs to Sengoku and stands in attention position with his hands on his forehead giving a salute. "Fleet Admiral! The preparations are complete."
"Including the operation on the bay shore?" Sengoku asked, feeling a bit relief.
"Indeed everything." Sengoku couldn't explain how good he was feeling, after hearing it. They still have some tricks on their sleeves. 'Take that Whitebeard!!' Sengoku mentally teased the old man.
The preparations for execution begins ahead of time. The people watching it all, feel shocked at what they were hearing, between the thundering of the clouds.
"Cut the denden mushi visuals! It would be troublesome to have the world lose faith in us. The tragedy that is about to occur would be too much for the citizens of the world to take in. There is no need for the rest of the world to learn of what is about to happen here." Sengoku yells at the marines, who hurries to obey the orders.
"That's cheap!" Sabo growls.
"They really are going to execute Ace early!" Luffy gritted his teeth and forced his legs to move fast. "ACE!!!!"
"In a few hours time, when the world learns of the outcome, the single word 'victory' will be more than enough." Sengoku said in a serious demeanor, which was quickly destroyed by Ace, who scoffed at his words.
Approximately one and a half hour after the commencement of battle the marines unveiled their master stroke. The human weapons pacifistas. This would have rapidly changed the flow of battle, sending it hurtling into its final phase, if only Straw Hat Luffy didn't appear. But it is known by no one, other than Sengoku, Ace, Sabo, Garp and Whitebeard. The pacifistas are of no use, due to the lightening bolts and the sea kings, which attacked them relentlessly.
The next plan of the marines was to drive the pirates into the bay and surround them completely with the human weapons, and the remaining few marine battleships.
"Uncle!" Sentamaru yelled in the den den mushi, "How are we supposed to dodge these unnatural lightening bolts, which are crushing the pacifistass?!!" Sentamaru killed another sea king. The sea kings roared in pain and anger making Luffy turn back, once, and see them being hunted.
"FALL BACK!!!!" Luffy yelled. "I WILL HANDLE IT!! YOU WILL BE KILLED OTHERWISE!!!" The sea kings looked at each other and roared once more.
'Sorry, young king! We can't leave you in this mess.'
Luffy yelled with glossy eyes. "PLEASE!!! WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW MY REQUESTS!!!?!!!!!" The battlefield is again stunned at seeing Straw Hat Luffy seemingly conversing with the sea kings. Whitebeard grins with amusement and tries to connect what Roger had once told him.
"IT'S THE ORDER OF YOUR KI-!"
"LUFFY!!!!" Sabo yells and places his hands on his mouth. "You can't yell those words in mid of a war."
"Sabo!!!" Ace yelled in desperation, making the chains clanging. "TAKE LU BACK!!! HE CAN'T STAY HERE ANYMORE!!!"
"NO!!!" Luffy began crying at the sight of another sea king down, the winds raged and rain began falling all again, stinging at the wounds of pirates and marines alike. "I won't back off. They are getting killed!!"
'No, young king! We are here for you. Don't worry about us and save your brother!'
"Marco!" Whitebeard yelled. "Protect the sea kings!!" Marco nodded at the order and began fighting Sentamaru.
"See," Sabo hugged Luffy. "They are safe now, ok?" He rubbed circles on the younger's back, calming him down. Luffy looked at Sabo and then to the sea kings and nodded. He wiped his tears hastily and charged ahead, with his brother. The rain also vanished with the tears of the young king.
"Garp!!" Sengoku hissed again. "I swear you that you will be murdered by none other than me!! Care to explain how your brat is ordering the sea king around!!?!!!" In response to his question, Ace growled at the Fleet Admiral, showing all of his teeth. Ready to pounce and bite the man, if necessary.
"How should I know?" Garp chuckled and Sengoku really feels like retiring right now.
Sengoku feels like this is a losing war, unless they do not remove Straw Hat Luffy. He holds the den den mushi and yells all again.
"What the heck are you doing?!!" Sengoku growled. "Kill Straw Hat Luffy, he alone is changing the war! We can't lose to the scum pirates!! Eliminate the sea kings, focus on the lightening bolts and attack Straw Hat at any cost."
The waves towered all again the Marineford, making Kuzan again freeze it. He has been doing the job of a freezer from the past one and half hour!!! Seriously, he is an Admiral and is supposed to fight in the war and not to handle some stupid tsunami waves!!!
"All forces charge ahead!!!" Whitebeard shouted.
"All troops charge at Straw hat Luffy and Chief of Staff, Sabo!!" Sengoku turned to the other marines, fighting inside the square. "As soon as the visuals have been cut mobilize the encircling wall!! Then we can both execute Ace and eliminate the threats and our enemies!!!"
"Roger that!!" The marines saluted.
"Ace is in danger, we gotta hurry!" Luffy shouted and Sabo pushed another marine to side and they ran ahead. But in front of them appeared Kizaru.
"It's high time that we eliminate you both, Straw Hat Luffy and Chief of Staff, Sabo!" Kizaru says as he kicks another light kick.
"MOVE IT!!!" The brothers yelled, as the charged with pipes and fists coated with Armament haki to Kizaru, throwing a good punch to him. Kizaru gets thrown back by a few feets but still he doesn't give up and summons another light beams, while Jimbei rushes to the brothers. Kizaru uses one of his strongest attacks, making them both dodge it. They know they are wasting time, but what were they supposed to do in such a situation. They needed to hurry to save Ace.
That is when their prayers are heard and a division commander of The Whitebeard Pirates appear.
"Brothers of Ace!" Izo handling a gun in his hands ran forward to Kizaru to tackle him, with his division comes forward. "Don't waste your time here. Move ahead. We will charge at him."
Izo indulges Kizaru, Curiel fights with Moriah and Vista fights with Mihawk. Akoji working as a freezer for the oncoming waves. At least some serious hitters from Marines side get engaged into a fight.
Meanwhile, only one of the screens is still working in Saboady, which was stolen by Buggy Pirates. The pirates, which chose to follow Buggy due to his stolen luck, makes Buggy announce his connection with Roger in the den den mushi.
On the other hand, Sengoku is completely pissed off on Garp's family and now about the denden mushi visual, which is still working due to it being stolen by the escaped convicts from Impel Down. Everywhere all the problems lead to Garp's family. The lightening, Garp's family. The waves, Garp's family. The storms, Garp's family. The sea kings, Garp's family. Now the reason behind the stolen denden also is Garp's family. GARP!!!!!
On the other side, in the Moby Dick, Squard, an allied captain stands beside Whitebeard, talking to him. But as soon as he sees a chance, he plunges his blade through Whitebeard yanking it out just as quickly as he yelled about a deal which doesn't exist. The pirates halt in their path and Marco's blood is outright burning. Marco flew up to slam one of the men he called brother down.
"Old Man..." Sabo and Luffy say in disbelief.
"Yes that's right. The one who stabbed Whitebeard was one of his subordinate, a pirate from the New World, Whirlpool Spider!!" News reporters report to the news stations, in frenzy.
A furious Marco ignores the attacks of Sentamaru and charges at Squard, who uses his sword to attack Marco even.
"Why did you do this, yoi?!!!" The scream that left his mouth was animalistic as he pinned the man to the ship with his hand.
"Shut up!! You're the ones who forced us into this!!" Squard yelled at Marco.
Whitebeard stumbled on his feet and stood on one of his knees. In the background, the pacifistas start to attack the pirates, while Sentamaru attacks the sea kings, which is not done for a long while. As Thatch and Haruta appear in front of the Axe-man! Two to three battleships are left in the bay and only a dozen pacifistas stand their ground.
"Stop this insanity!! Whitebeard !! You have already made a deal with the marines, haven't you?! They promised to let your Whitebeard pirates and Ace live, right?!" Marco was about to punch Squard all again but he gets halted by Whitebeard. The allied pirates stop their fights and look at the commotion in disbelief.
Explosions from the pacifistas still filled the air in a haunting beat accompanied to the screams of their allies. They all cried out for Whitebeard begging for Squard's statements to be false even though the situation painted it to be true.
"He led us into a trap!! We didn't know anything about Ace being Gol D. Roger's son!! When you picked me, I was alone. Do you know why? It was coz the friends I fought along side for so long were obliterated by Roger. You should know the hate I have for Roger!! Why didn't you say anything about how Ace was Roger's son and you planned on making him the next pirate king?!! As soon as you did that, you have already betrayed us, you mocked me by having me be friendly with Ace! And when your darling Ace was captured, you sold out the 43 captains following you in exchange of Ace's life!! The Whitebeard pirates and Ace would be spared." Squard kept on yelling without taking breath. He was so damn angry!
"You have a deal with Sengoku! Isn't that right? And we didn't suspect a thing. We came here to throw our lives away for Ace and Whitebeard and look at us!" Squard pointed his sword at Whitebeard. "Right now, who are marines targeting?! Its us!! Blocked by the frozen waves, we can't even escape!!"
Luffy gritted his teeth and Sabo clenched his jaw and placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder.
"Don't do anything."
"But I can unfreeze the waves, if they want that desperately." Luffy said in a hushed tone.
Sabo shook his head. "No! That's keeping one admiral busy. Don't bother with that right now."
"Boss?! Is that true?!" The confused captains voiced their question.
"That's gotta be a lie!!"
"Look, the pacifistas are getting thrown out!!"
"We are winning the war! Why will he trade us?!!"
"You idiot! You were fooled! Why didn't you trust the captain?" Marco grabbed Squard's collar and jerked him harshly.
"Don't talk like that Marco!" Squard screamed back, jerking Marco's hands from his collars.
Whitebeard placed a hand on his bleeding chest. "It's true that Ace is Roger's son. They turned the man who would be most affected by that so their plan was one step ahead of ours."
The visuals got disconnected, but the world came to know a rough idea about the war plot of the marines. How much low were the Government ready to fall for eradicating some future threats and winning the losing war, was not something to be easily answered.
Notes:
Hello! This is Decoy, Do remember that we planned this around halfway through 'The return of Joyboy' meaning there are a few differences to the canon timeline.
So think of this as an alternative timeline.Hope you all have a fantastic day/night!
Chapter Text
As the screen went off, the people started blaming the weather conditions in the battlefield. Most scared of what was happening there. Some wanting to see the bloody war and some really concerned if the world was ending.
"What's happening to the World? Is that the end of the show?" Eustass Captain Kidd frowned.
"Do you think the storm is responsible for the disruption?" Some innocent civilians whispered to the other, making Scratch-man Appo stop in his path.
"You guys are idiots they are not showing it, coz there's something going on they don't want us to see. Not the world or us pirates." The civilians looked confused at each other.
On the other corner in Saboady, X-Drake left the place in disbelief. "Whitebeard sold out his comrades? That's ridiculous! He's a living legend coz he doesn't do crap like that."
Another monk pirate looked at the sky in Sabaody and gave a warm smile to his crew. "Let's go."
Another supernova from the Worst Generation, Basil Hawkins, spread his cards. "The probability that the Whitebeard pirates survive..."
In another corner, another supernova from the Worst Generation cries. Her subordinates try to console her, but she shouts at them to shut up. "Leave me alone!"
And our last supernova present in Sabaody, The Surgeon of Death, Trafalgar Law, gives a creepy smile, with his sword resting on his shoulders. "Set sail, Bepo!"
Crocodile grits his teeth. "That bastard... YOU'RE PATHETIC! WHITEBEARD! I DIDN'T LOSE TO SUCH A WEAK MAN!!" He yelled.
'That's right!! Even in this state, Pops should have been able to dodge it! No matter how off guard he was, even from someone he thought of as an ally, he shouldn't have taken the attack. That's a problem. His condition is worsening.' Marco thought. He eyed Whitebeard, his Pops, carefully, and can see the frown on his face.
"Squardo! You attacked your own father with your blade. You're unbelievably stupid son!!" Whitebeard cried out as he pulled his misguided son to his chest in a tight hug. Squard looked up shocked even as Whitebeard continued speaking. "But even so, I still love you."
"Don't screw with me!! You threw our lives away!!" Squard choked out.
"You have a straight forward loyal heart, who was it that dragged it into darkness?" Whitebeard demanded softly.
"One of the marines! A member of a rebel faction. He said if I killed you, we should be spared!" Squard said, without any hesitation. He needed answers.
"So Akainu said that. I know how much you hate Roger to the point that it hurts me. But Squardo, the son doesn't bear the sins of the father. What has Ace ever done to you? Be good to each other, Ace isn't the only special one. You are all my family." Whitebeard looked at the scaffold where Sengoku was standing. "You haven't lost it, Sengoku! You have made a fine mess of things."
Whitebeard punched the air and the cracks lead the frozen waves in cracking.
"If you are pirates, choose who to believe yourselves!!" Whitebeard bellowed and then looked at two scrawny brats ahead. "If you fear the frozen waves, I guarantee they won't be a trouble, right?" Luffy nodded.
"The ice wall is gone! And we can use our ships to escape any time!" The pirates cheered.
"So, they opened a path for the other pirates!" Sengoku hissed. But why did Whitebeard looked at Straw Hat and his brother? What does that mean? Frozen waves won't be any trouble? They would be a huge problem, unless someone can unfreeze them. Wait!! Does that mean...?
He couldn't understand the power the scrawny pirate wields. Bringing waves and unfreezing them. Controlling the winds, and creating cyclones. Calling the lightening and destroying the pacifistas. Ordering the sea kings and making them attack the pacifistas. And what was that 'It's the order of your ki-' What does that mean? Ki-? Kid? No. Then what? Why shall the sea, the winds, the sea kings listen to him. It feels as if he is their king. Sengoku's eyes widened at the realization.
"He is the king of the oceans!!" Sengoku looked with wide eyes at Garp, who abruptly stopped laughing and blinked at him.
"He's what?!" Garp blinked his eyes rapidly, in confusion. As much as Garp knows, Lu is Nika but not any king.
"Why shall the waves, the sea kings obey his orders? Unless he is not their king? He can't devour two devil fruits!!"
"What type of nonsense are you sprouting?!!" Ace growled. "Luffy is a normal human not any king. Have you lost your mind, with how you are losing the war?!!" Ace tried to desperately hide the truth. He knows his mother is the sea and the sea kings call him the 'young king', but no one should know that. For times like these, they had already planned what to answer.
"Then how shall you explain all of this commotion?!!!" Sengoku growled at Ace, who clenched his teeth, ignoring the harsh comment.
"He has the tendency to befriend everyone." Ace growled back. "It isn't a surprise that sea kings are not exempted!"
"How shall you explain the ice turning to water?!"
"When did it happen, Fleet Admiral?" Ace gritted his teeth. "We can't see or are you getting blind?!!" Ace hissed.
"Why shall Whitebeard look at him and say that the frozen ice is no problem!??"
"You should check your eyes. He was looking at me. If I get free, then I can use my fire powers to melt the ice, easily." Ace hissed out. Sengoku narrow his eyes at that. He can't believe the words still.
'This power, this is extremely unnatural. How does Garp's family get even more irritating than it already is? Cyra, no, Luffy he can talk to sea kings, and COMMAND them! But why? How? I heard about such power, from the Gorosei. But what, what is it? Connected to the sea of course, but what? I will definitely look into this after winning this battle. We will win, won't we? Garp doesn't have any other tricks up his sleeve right?' Sengoku rubbed his temples in irritation.
"If you want to fight with me, be prepared to give up your lives!!" Whitebeard yelled, grabbing the attention of Ace.
He didn't wait for an answer, he had a son to save, but he did hear the war cry behind him that told him his children truly did still have faith in him. Marco stayed on the Moby watching Squard breakdown as he realized he had betrayed their father on the basis of lies.
'A weak man, am I? What an insolent man.. give me a break, Crocodile brat! I'm only one man with one heart. They call me the Strongest one out there, but I can't be it always. The new era doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the youngsters. And if I can bring one young life into the future, isn't that enough...?' Whitebeard jumped off the ship and landed on the battlefield, ready to fight.
"Divide the forces, quick!!" Sengoku yelled. "One third of the force fight The Strongest Man in the World and another third go after Straw Hat and Sabo . And the rest eliminate the pirates."
The allied captains started following Whitebeard and clearing a path for him.
"Back up Ace's brothers, commanders!!!" Whitebeard yelled at his division commanders, seeing the brothers wasting enough time, on fighting the marines on their own. He would say that he is impressed by seeing them hold on their own, without fear. He was sure they can reach Ace in due time.
On the other hand, Squard regrets what he had done and kneels down on the Moby Dick and Marco tells him to stop crying and do something to make up for it.
The plan of the marines start taking place. They ascend to the square, except for a few, which keep targeting Whitebeard, Luffy and Sabo. A giant marine gets thrown by Whitebeard easily. Whitebeard pulls his hands in downward direction, to pull down the air, as a result, Marineford starts tilting and many marines in the square come down tumbling, straight to hit the ice and some unlucky ones, are send straight to the ocean. Whitebeard sends a shock wave towards the execution platform, but the two Admirals, stop that.
The brothers land on a piece of ice, as the ice rink gets destroyed completely. If Whitebeard was allowed to continue using his power, then the Island would have been destroyed in mere seconds. Luffy throws his arms above the wall, which lead straight to the square, and the platform where Ace was forced t kneel down, and rocketed himself and Sabo.
Little Oars Junior wakes up, shocking the marines. The pirates cheer as Oars tries to move forward to rescue Ace all again, but unluckily he gets attacked by the cannons and collapses again.
The marines go haywire and Sengoku shouts, "Why aren't the walls up, yet?!!"
"Fleet Admiral!!" A marine comes running in panic and Sengoku already feels like crying. "Sorry, but we can't contact the person controlling the control room!!"
"What?!!!!" Sengoku yelled, questioning himself all again, if they would win this fight or not. That was the only one way, that could have helped them in wining the war, with all the plans being flopped.
"Send marines to check what's happening there!! Immediately!!" Sengoku desperately spoke. He really didn't want the Five Elders to yell at him.
"Sorry, sir! We have tried that. But it all seems useless. The marines which we sent, never returned!" Sengoku felt like another punch to his gut. What the hell is happening? It feels like they are utterly losing. Any plan which he devised today, were totally getting destroyed.
"Give the den den mushi of the control room!" Sengoku said, keeping his disappointed at the bay. Before the call could ring properly, it got connected to the main denden mushi, announcing whatever convo, which was about to happen to the people in the battlefield. But poor Sengoku wasn't able to notice that.
"Why aren't the walls up, yet?!" Sengoku yelled as soon as he heard the soft 'click' from the other side, making a huge mistake. As he didn't notice that his voice resounded in the whole battlefield.
"I'm sorry, the people you are ordering around can't reach the denden mushi right now. Do you want to leave your number so they can call you back?" A stoic and serious voice came from the other side, with sounds of several papers fluttering, making Luffy completely still in their path of attacking a marine, while Sabo grinned and bet the marines with a new found determination. Ivankov and Jimbei also appeared by their side, to prevent them from getting hurt, with some division commanders helping them already.
"DAD!!!" Luffy and Sabo said with a huge grin on their face. Ace and Garp blinked, while Sengoku felt like he had heard the voice somewhere. And when he heard Ace mutter a small 'Dad' and Garp whisper 'brat', he understood what was happening.
'Seriously!!! Garp!!!!!!! You are the reason that I will get grey hairs.' Sengoku cursed and grinded his teeth together.
"What are you doing here, Dragon?!!" Sengoku hissed, making another mistake. He either really ignored or out of rage didn't hear the loud fearful gasps and screams of the marines and pirates alike.
"If you have any complains, the Revolutionary Army is not to blame. It's you." Dragon's voice resounded again throughout the battlefield. "Goodbye~!" The call was disconnected, leaving a quiet battlefield, except for two brothers who continued to fight and took this opportunity to move forward.
The cheery goodbye was a taunt, a punch to the gut of Sengoku and the last restraint to choke his best friend.
In the battlefield, Whitebeard's laughed and shouted. "Charge ahead, men!!! Move to the plaza!!!"
"GARPPPPP!!!!!" Sengoku yelled in anger. "IT'S AGAIN YOUR DAMN FAMILY!!!!" Sengoku chased Garp on the scaffold making Ace laugh at the two elderly men chase each other like cat and mouse. Making Tsuru come and punch them on their heads, and making them behave like elders and not some kids. Sengoku took charge of the battle again.
"Kizaru go to the control room immediately!" Sengoku started ordering around. They need to control the situation. He just wishes Kizaru can defeat Dragon, which he doesn't think so. But still they can try. He still needs Akainu in this battle, in the battlefield.
Sengoku turned towards Akoiji, who was still busy freezing the waves, which were never ending. One came, and Kuzan froze, and then next comes and occupies Kuzan all again. And when it would feel as if none would come anymore, one more pops out of no where. It's the complete fault of Straw Hat 'Luffy'!!!
"Akainu, eliminate Straw Hat Luffy and capture The Staff of Revolutionary!" Sengoku knew that this could be a huge mistake, a huge mistake to let Whitebeard advance. But if they can free Akoji, then there will be a huge change in the war. The raging waves, the thundering clouds, the lightening bolts will all cease and the victory will be definitely theirs.
Sengoku's face finally lit with a smile. He turned to see the executioners and saw them ready and waiting for orders.
"We will now proceed with Portgas D. Ace's execution!" Sengoku said in a cheery voice. The pirate raged and charged forward. They didn't want to lose their brother.
Luffy and Sabo panicked at that, but managed to keep their calm. The square flooded with pirates fighting here and there, taking down marines.
"GIVE ACE BACK!!!" Luffy shouted, as he used his Armanent haki coated fists to punch Akainu, with Sabo's dragon claw attack. But the bastard was way too strong, for them to handle. And even if they could defeat him together, that doesn't mean they had time.
Luffy was not doing well. Sabo was not that tired as him. Akainu was charging relentlessly, throwing magma fists and they could do nothing except for blocking the fists. They did try to use their haki powers, but the Admiral was too cruel. He wasn't giving them any chance. A magma fist came soaring to Luffy and Sabo's eyes widened, when he felt that his brother couldn't dodge that fist. His body moved forward to take the attack instead of Luffy and he closed his eyes shut, waiting for the attack to come.
Garp's eyes widened, he balled his fists tightly and was about to enter the war, when Sengoku's hands pressed his shoulders down. He gritted his teeth, hoping for a miracle. Hoping that his grandkids could survive. This was the first time he felt fear, which he should have felt the very beginning of the war, when Ace's live was on stake, when Luffy and Sabo fell from the sky to participate in the war.
"SABO!!!! LUFFY!!!!" Ace's shouts rang through the battlefield reaching their ears. Sabo felt he was gonna die, but he wouldn't regret it. He would save his baby brother. He could see how much he was exhausted by using his new attacks and controlling the storms and thunder since freaking three hours. He should have never let Luffy fight in this war. It would be totally his fault if Luffy died here. He won't let him die.
Notes:
Yo! We're back with a new chapter of this story too! We hope this was good. What do you think will happen next?
Chapter 7: 7
Summary:
"You ok, Lu?" Sabo asked worriedly, seeing Luffy's hooded eyes. Luffy nodded and got onto his legs, still panting.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
But luckily, it was Whitebeard who appeared before the fists could attack the brothers and threw Akainu other side. Sabo blinked his eyes repeatedly and felt no blooming shadow of death above him but a warm presence. He looked in front and saw Whitebeard standing and shielding them.
"SABOOOOO!!!!" Luffy cried and hugged Sabo tightly with his rubbery arms multiple times. "DON'T DO THAT EVER AGAIN!!!!"
The rain started falling heavily, which seemed like it would never end, and a loud thunder cackled in the background. The waves got larger than the previous ones and tried attacking Marineford, only for Akoji to freeze it all again.
"Brats!" Whitebeard spoke and then turned back to see Luffy, who was on the verge of collapsing. He shouldn't have expected the brat to turn the war upside down. "You have done plenty." Whitebeard said and looked at Sabo. "Take care of him."
Sabo held Luffy and was about to pass him to Ivankov, when Luffy shook his head violently. "I don't need it. There's no time. We need to save ACE!"
Sabo bit his lips harshly. He could either give up to Luffy's whims and let him fight or keep him safe with Ivankov, from where he will definitely escape after some time. He ould also let him get into water for sometime, but they were far away from there. It's better to have him with him and protect him. Sabo decided.
"We don't have time! Let's go!" Sabo stated, making Luffy grin widely. The rain vanished and the brothers charged ahead, with a renewed hope and force.
On the platform, Ace took a breath of relief. He was just about to loose one brother, if not for his Pops. His lips wobbled and tears threatened to leak. He plopped his head on the platform and allowed the tears to fall freely. He kept on repeating in his head. 'They are alive! They are alive! They are alive!'
"Whitebeard!" Akainu gritted his teeth. "It looks like, you are having a hard time!" Akainu smirked, seeing his indirect work in form of the bleeding chest. Whitebeard punched the air in return, which collided with Akainu's magma fist.
Whitebeard coughed out blood, holding his chest and fell on one of his knees. The pirates surrounding him, felt fear creep into them.
"BOSS!!!"
"POPS!!"
"CAPTAIN!!!"
"Even you can't overcome old age, Whitebeard!" Akainu's hands engulfed in magma, ready to shoot Whitebeard.
Marco's eyes widened in fear and he flew over to Whitebeard, only to be fired by cannons, halting his path but Marco wasn't going to give up. He flew faster and faster, until he was so damn close to Whitebeard, but it was late.
Akainu's magma fist collided with Whitebeard's chest, making a gaping hole in it.
"Don't slow down. Men, all of you go get Whitebeard!" Sengoku yelled. He was finally feeling some hope in winning the war. If one of the main boss of the war would die, then the war would probably turn to their side, making them the victor.
The marine captains, Vice-Admirals all charged together at Whitebeard and some at Marco, to keep him on bay. They stabbed Whitebeard with their swords, attacked him with cannons and guns. Whitebeard pirates rushed to fight off the marines, when Whitebeard lifted his weapon and ordered them to stay back.
"You all think that this is enough to kill me?" Whitebeard spoke, but couldn't hide his pants. "I don't need any help." Whitebeard's pupils enlarged as he threw off the marines stabbing their swords at him. "I AM WHITEBEARD!!"
"If I die, will my death have any meaning? I know that I must watch over my son's futures. I can't afford to die. Right, Ace?" Whitebeard asked, and saw Ace nod his head rapidly, his lips lined in a thin line and stopping himself from crying.
Marco rushed to Whitebeard and engulfed Whitebeard's body with his blue flames, hoping that would help, even if a bit. The rest of the pirates, like Jimbei, Crueil, Haruta, Vista, Jozu and many allied pirates of the Whitebeards stood at the back of Whitebeard.
On the side of the brothers, the vice admirals kept on coming to attack them. Ivankov was taking care of most of them, allowing Sabo and Luffy to charge ahead. But then Coby appeared in the path.
"COBY!!!"
'I have to fight, or else nothing will change! This is a battlefield. I have to be ready to face him.' Coby steeled his determination, as he readied himself for a fight against Luffy. But before he could process anything, a fist collided with his face and he was thrown to the side.
Sabo and Luffy kept on running ahead, for another set of pacifistas to appear. But luckily, before the fake Kumas could attack, Hancock came. She shielded the brothers and the duo could easily bypass them.
"Thank you, Hancock!" The brothers said together and charged forward to another group of marines.
"I'll show you the future right now if you want to see it that badly, Whitebeard!" Sengoku crossed his arms on his chests and looked at the main groups. Luffy and Sabo stuck with Kuma, Whitebeard injured and his commanders at his back, with Marco healing him.
"Do it!!" Sengoku ordered the executioners. With all the heavy hitters occupied, no one would be able to rescue Ace, and finally the war would end.
'Finally, I can relax.' Sengoku's lips curved upwards a bit in excitement.
Ace closed his eyes shut, and gritted his teeth. Garp balled his fists tightly, readying himself. He had promised to not fight for either side, which means he can't do anything. He wishes that something would happen.
"ACEE!!!"
"Pointless, do you think I can't stop that-?" Whitebeard said, but his voice wavered and he began coughing and placed a hand over his wound.
"Look, Whitebeard!" Sengoku grinned in victory. The blade was just mere inches above Ace, and it would be finally ove-
"STOP!!!" Luffy and Sabo yelled together, unleashing their conqueror's haki on the poor souls, while Crocodile slashed the already falling, fainted marines with his sand waves. The poor executioners fell down, stumbling, the stairs. But for him, poor Crocodile gets tackled by Doflamingo, who was upset coz he didn't join him and accept his proposal. Several marines fell down, leaving only some Vice Admirals and Akainu and Akoiji on the battlefield.
"WE ARE COMING ACE!!" The brothers shouted and dashed ahead.
"Crap! He lost consciousness!"
"Hey, get a grip!"
One by one many marines start dropping to floor like stringless puppets.
"Ace's brothers!" The pirates watched stunned as the boys dashed ahead, with Ivankov on their tail. "That's the same royal type haki that the boss and red hair have!"
"Hey! It's not shocking that they both have it!" Another pirate spoke. "Remember two years back when the brothers came as the 3Cs on Moby and used their haki."
"But I felt only one person using that time. That was probably Cyra, meaning straw hat Luffy." Another pirate replied.
"It's not surprising that Sabo even has." Another pirate whispered to other. "All the three brothers have the color of the king."
"Those with weak wills, get back!" A marine with sword yelled. "They are not ordinary."
"They are the sons of the revolutionary Dragon, it's not surprising that they have that ability!" Vice admiral Doberman spoke. "Don't let them escape this battle. If we let them live, they will grow to be a terrifying enemy!"
"Whitebeard comes first!!" Another marine standing in front of Whitebeard spoke. "He is injured. We can finally take him down!"
The poor marines, needless to say, got crushed by Whitebeard with one swing of his naginata. Whitebeard smirked at seeing the brats moving forward with full speed.
"Use all your strength to support Ace's brothers!!" Whitebeard yelled.
The brothers were getting crowded by marines and he didn't want them to spend all their energy there. Moreover, they both looked at terrible shape, specially the youngest. He can see his sluggish movements. The way he was punching, kicking and throwing the marines with winds and using lightening was really taking a toll on the brat. Those brats are special, he can't let them die in this war. Nah, he won't allow the trio brothers to die here. He swears.
'Show me what you've got brats. If you carry the 'Will of D' as well. Then show me what lies beyond this age!'
Luffy and Sabo were about to be attacked by cannons and Luffy fell to the ground, making Sabo rush to him, and stood in front of his brother and beat the hell out of the marine who was about to strike his sword at Luffy. Sabo noticed the marines number reducing and the Whitebeard pirates attacking them and giving them a path ahead.
"You ok, Lu?" Sabo asked worriedly, seeing Luffy's hooded eyes. Luffy nodded and got onto his legs, still panting.
"Hurry, Ace's brothers!!" The pirates shouted.
"The marines are focused on our boss right now!" Another pirate shouted, in between their clash with marines. "If you let this opportunity pass, you won't be able to get past the admiral!"
"We are going to push through! Follow us!" Another pirate shouted.
Sabo and Luffy yelled thanks and dashed. Sabo held Luffy's hands with one of his hands, to not lose him in mid of this bloodshed.
"Dodge, brats!" Another pirate, Mr. 1, appeared at their side and took the blade attack of Mihawk. Sabo gritted his teeth. This Mihawk was following them everywhere like a creep. Luffy was getting way tired and they needed to reach Ace as soon as possible.
But Mihawk wasn't the one to be stopped by Mr. 1. He jumped above Mr. 1 and was about to attack Luffy, specifically. Sabo coated his pipe with Armament haki, ready to clash with him, but Crocodile appeared and saved them.
They were only a few meters away from Ace. More 100 meters to go.
"Sorry, I need your powers." Ivankov said as he side eyed his afro. A hand holding a wine of glass appeared.
"Don't worry about it, Iva," Inazuma spoke and he jumped from the afro and started scissoring the path ahead and made a slope to the platform. The brothers grinned and dashed ahead. Ivankov and Inazuma stood at the entrance of the makeshift slope, stopping any marines who dared to go ahead.
"That's..." The marines panicked. "Inazuma The Revolutionary!!"
"Luffy! Sabo! Go!" Inazuma yelled.
"Thank you!!!" The brothers yelled. "We are here, Ace!!!!!" Ace's smile mirrored that of his brothers, as he saw them running towards him. Now, he can also perform some actions and not sit uselessly.
"Don't let them get there!" The marines shouted and started firing the two brothers, with cannons. Luffy was about to slap them with wind when Vista jumped in the air and kicked away the cannons.
"Go! Ace's brothers!!!"
"Release Ace!!"
The pirates started motivating them, fueling the brothers. They jumped together finally landing on the scaffold. Sabo crouched down to open the handcuffs, meanwhile Luffy grinned at Ace widely.
"We have got the key, just wait!" Sabo inserted his hands in his pockets and brought out a key and was about to insert the key.
In the back, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, filled with rage, transformed into his Buddha form and Garp was grinning, finally seeing the brats half way through the battle. Yep, half way coz they still need to escape this hell together.
"Wait!! Don't think I'll let you escape!" Sengoku growled. But Sabo didn't pay any attention to him and inserted the key, but it broke into two, the courtesy of a light user, who had gained consciousness few moments earlier, after getting a good beating from Dragon himself.
"Damn it!!" Sabo yelled. Luffy held the sea stone and closed his eyes in concentration and Sabo gritted his teeth. He knows after this Luffy's strength will be more down than it already is. But this time, only he can free Ace. His dragon claw attack could break Ace's hands if he tried and advanced Armament haki was out of question, due to his depleting haki.
"Uhh, what happened? I just blacked out for a second!" Sabo quickly looked at the executioners and found Mr. 3, about which Luffy had told him. He remembers him using wax.
"Hey, you!" Sabo pointed. "Make a wax wall, quick!!!" He yelled as he saw Sengoku's fists coming down and then looked at Luffy, who had Ace's cuffs in his both of his hands.
Sengoku's fist landed on the candle wax, throwing the ASL brothers and Mr. 3 down the scaffold.
"The platform is crumbling!"
"What happened?!"
"Ace isn't dead yet!"
"He's falling!!"
The pirates and marines shouted.
"FIRE!!!" The marines pointed cannons at the falling brothers. "Take out the whole platform!!"
The scaffold blasted with a loud BOOM!
"They won't survive inside that inferno!!" The marines cheered, believing their so called self-proclaimed victory. But from the dense smoke, came out a blooming, brightening fire.
"You both have always been this way, Sabo, Luffy!" Ace's voice rang through the silent battlefield, which was waiting for the result. "You both never listen to me and do the stupidest things!" Ace came out of the inferno, catching his brothers by their shirts.
"ACE!!!" Luffy and Sabo cried their big brother's name, finally they were together.
"Fire Fist Ace has been freed!!"
"They did it!!!"
"We took back Ace!!"
"Those guys!!! They have been doing one after another mysterious and reckless things since Impel Down!!"
"Well done!!" Ivankov cried.
"I didn't expect this from you too, Sabo!" Ace said as they dropped in the mid of the battlefield. "How did you get that careless?!!!"
"As if you are to complain!" Sabo scoffed.
"Hibashira!!" Ace shouted his attack and a pillar of flame emerged, throwing the marines out of their way.
"Can you both fight?" Ace asked as they took their normal stance for battles.
"Ask Luffy, he is exhausted!" Sabo replied quickly.
"Hey!" Luffy squeaked. "I can fight!!!"
The marines started firing their bullets, which merrily passed through Ace's body and bounced through Luffy's rubbery skin. While Sabo coated his pipe with Armament and hit the bullets or dodged them.
"Don't think you're safe now!! You will die right here!!" The marines shouted and fired incessantly. Luffy bounced back the bullets to their owners, while Ace jumped above Luffy and Sabo and pinned them down to save them from sword attacks.
"They are my little brothers!" Ace growled. "Don't lay a hand on them!! FIRE FIST!!" Ace threw his most powerful attack on the marines burning them down.
The brothers fought with great teamwork, easily defeating the bunch of marines, which were attacking them. After all, they had fought together for more than seven years and know each other's next move like the back of their hands. They were invincible against most of the strong pirates and marines together.
Notes:
Things are going well, aren't they?
Hopefully nothing absolutely terrible will happen soon,
Hopefully you now feel relieved that Sabo and Luffy didn't die.. yet.Well, hope everyone will have a nice day/night, and that you enjoyed today's chapter!
Chapter 8: 8
Summary:
'Nika! I'm the Sun God, Nika. The son of the sea and Monkey D. Dragon!'
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Vista whistled, impressed. "Fufu! They work well together."
If anyone had thought that the teamwork between the youngest two had been fluid, then this team-up was borderline flawless. The three brothers fell seamlessly into a pattern that they seemed to instinctively know, filling in any gaps that the other left open.
"Open a path for them!" Haruta and Thatch yelled.
"Fire Fist, Straw Hat and Bloody Gentleman, kill the three brothers!!" Marines shouted in fury.
"Lu, you have gotten stronger!" Ace praised Luffy while Sabo puffed his cheeks.
"I'll be better than you both someday, Ace! Sabo!" Luffy responded with a grin.
"What about me, you meanie!" Sabo huffed, dramatically.
"I'll be always stronger than you!" Ace grinned cheekily. "But yep! You too have gotten strong!"
"You bet!" Sabo grinned, "I can kick your ass and win this time. No draw!"
"Hey! I'm the oldest. You can't be stronger than me!!" The brothers kept on bickering as they ran forward.
"Fufu! Just let them go. That'll make things more interesting later." Doflamingo's sadistic smile widened. He loved fucking with the marines indirectly.
"Don't be ridiculous." Momonga retorted at Doflamingo. They can't let the trouble makers leave the war.
"Don't panic. They won't get any further." Akainu said with a smirk as he headed to the brothers. He can't let the spawns of devils be alive. The three brothers deserved nothing but death, which he would be personally giving them.
The marines near the crushed platform, looked at the fake executioner, Mr. 3, who was on the ground.
"What unit is this traitor from?!" A marine asked in disgust. If not for this guy, may be the war could still be won.
"No! He's an escaped prisoner!!" Another marine shouted.
On the other side of the battle, a paddle ship of the model of Moby Dick, headed forward to the battlefield, crushing many marines in its path. The ship was headed to the Marineford, by none other than Squard, the Whirlpool. He felt that fighting and giving his life in this war was the only to reprimand for what he has done to his Pops.
"Boss!! Everyone, please escape! We'll take over the battle!" Squard yelled from the ship. He was ready to die, if it meant that Ace and his Pops and his brothers could escape from here.
"Do you wanna die here?!" The pirates yelled at Squard in disbelief.
"Of course, after what I did to the boss. This isn't nearly half enough to atone for that! If I don't do this, then I'd never be able to live with myself!! Take Ace and get out of here!" Squard shouted.
"Squardo! It doesn't have to be this!" Marco yelled in desperation. The thought of losing any brother hurts a lot.
The next second, the ship got stopped with one hand of Whitebeard, shocking Squard.
"Why did the ship stop?!" Squard asked in confusion and then when he looked down, he saw his Boss, his captain, his Pops. "BOSS!!"
Whitebeard panted. "The pain of a parent burying his child... Don't you realize how hard that is, Squardo?! Don't get so full of yourself! That one slash wasn't nearly enough to take my life! Nobody lives forever..."
"We've accomplished what we came here to do." Whitebeard yelled to his men.
"Boss...!" The pirates didn't like where Whitebeard, their Pops was going on.
"There's no reason for us to stay here!" Whitebeard coughed but continued speaking. "This is my final order!! Listen well... Whitebeard Pirates!!" Whitebeard was bleeding from nose and mouth. He knew this is where, he will face his end. Death, he can't escape it.
"Last?! Wait, boss!! You don't mean..." The pirates yelled in disbelief. They had never even thought of a day, when their Pops would say this. They never thought that their Pops would die.
"We don't want to hear that!!" The pirates said, with tears leaking from their eyes.
"We are going to the New World together, right?" Thatch tried to say. He didn't want to think of a day, where he won't be able to cook for his Pops, where he won't be able to escape from his brothers' wrath and hide behind Pops.
"BOSS!!" Ace yelled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You will all part with me here! You will all live... and safely return to the New World!!" Whitebeard shouted.
"B-Boss?!!"
"You plan on dying here?!!"
"The times have passed me by!!" Whitebeard moved his hands back, ready to punch the air. "There's no ship to take me to this New Age!! GO MEN!!"
"No boss!!" The pirates began crying.
"It's the captain's order! We have to go!" Some sensible pirates said.
"Old Man!!" Luffy said in a low voice. He liked him, and now his decision... He didn't like it at all. But he will respect it.
"Whitebeard!" Sabo mumbled. He had never got the chance to thanks him for taking care of his brother.
"Pops!" Ace yelled, trying to get Whitebeard's attention.
'Don't look back! The time's are changing!' Whitebeard thought throwing the marines surrounding him.
"Whitebeard!!" Sengoku gritted his teeth at the sight of the Marineford beginning to crack.
"It's been a long journey. Let's finish it, Marines!!" Whitebeard said with determination. He is not that weak. He will give the marines hell, before dying.
"UWAHHH!!" Marines cried. "Marineford is in danger!!"
"Stop Whitebeard!!" The walls of the towns in Marineford started crumbling into pieces.
"He's really trying to sink the entire Island!!" Another marine yelled.
"BOSS!!" Haruta yelled. "We can't leave you behind, Boss! Let's go back together!!"
"Didn't you hear my order?! Get going!! You idiots!!" Whitebeard replied. His youngest sons were crying and he couldn't see that. That did hurt a lot. He wishes that they stay together and that his death doesn't hurt much. They need to move forward.
"Take out Whitebeard!! He's half dead already!!" The marines attacked Whitebeard with bazookas, cannons and guns, to which Whitebeard pounded his naginata in the ground, sending a shock.
"Hurry! Do what the boss says!!" The pirates ran crying.
"Ace!!!" The two brothers yelled, as they saw Ace stopping in his tracks.
"Squad leader, Marco! Lets go!" An allied captain of the Whitebeard Pirates yelled seeing Marco still.
"Boss..." Marco bit his lips. He knew this day would come someday but he still can't do it. He still can't afford to leave, but he has to.
"There's no reason to worry about Ace now. That man is seriously planning on sinking Marineford into the sea and take himself with it!" Sengoku announced as a marine came in to ask for orders. Right now, the biggest threat was Whitebeard not Ace not Luffy not Sabo.
"Putting an end to the era sounds like a good time to me." Garp whispered sadly as he saw his old rival bleeding.
Another Buggy pirate came up with the den den mushi, which started working. The people on Saboady got excited as the monitor started working. They wanted to know what was happening. What happened to Whitebeard? Were those pirates from Whitebeard betrayed completely destroyed? But their hopes were crushed when Buggy appeared again.
The marines started firing as they got to the coast and fired on the pirates, taking down as many as possible. But Whitebeard intervened them by thrashing them.
"Boys! Keep moving!!" Ivankov yelled at the three boys.
"Ace!!" The brothers shouted.
"Let's go! It's his wish!" Sabo yelled, trying to get his brother out of this war zone. Luffy was already leaning on him for support.
"I know! I won't let it in vain!" Ace fired out the marines in his way to Whitebeard. "Get the hell out of my way!!" The marines burned to crisp in Ace's fire. Ace kneeled down to Whitebeard.
"I don't need your words but let me ask you one thing. Was I a good father?" Whitebeard asked, holding his naginata.
"Of course!!" Ace bowed his head in gratitude, making Whitebeard grin proudly. Whitebeard's eyes lingered on the panting figure leaning on Sabo. He looked at the brat and asked in his mind. 'Who are you?'
Whitebeard saw how the brat looked straight at him and his eyes turned golden, red and white. The brat smiled as wide as he could and Whitebeard saw a white godly, bright figure in the Straw hatted teen.
'Nika! I'm the Sun God, Nika. The son of the sea and Monkey D. Dragon!'
Whitebeard's eyes widened at the voice of the youngest which resounded in his head confirming his doubts about the latter parts. 'Yep, the times are changing.' He mused to himself.
'Rest in peace, Old man!' The youngest voice resounded in his head again as he saw the brat's eyes turn normal and look around in confusion. But his brothers took his hand and dashed away together towards a ship. Two more people joined them: one girl and another a fish man.
'So, he himself is not aware completely. Guararara!' Whitebeard chuckled. 'What would happen when the world got it's rightful God?'
"Run! Get to the ship!!" Ivankov yelled.
"Ace!! Luffy!! Sabo!! Get in the front!!" Jimbei joined them too. Protecting the brothers with his own body.
"We stole a battleship!! Quick, get on!!" The pirates yelled.
On the other side, the people in Saboady watch in amazement at the war going on.
"The execution platform is destroyed!!" The people yelled in shock.
"What happened to Ace?! Show us Whitebeard!" They wanted to know what was happening. But all they could see was smoke coming from the battleground.
"Do they really think they can escape?! How adorable..." Sakazuki smirked as he used his magma fist and killed the pirates in his path. His only goal was to eradicate the future threats: Ace, Sabo, and Luffy. They have no right to live, according to him.
'What a terrible set of brothers.' Akainu thought as he made his way to them.
"They save Ace and then immediately run away? What a bunch of cowards you are, Whitebeard Pirates. But he is the captain. I guess there's no helping it!! After all, Whitebeard is a loser from a bygone age!" Sakazuki mocked, making Ace halt in his path. Luffy and Sabo also stopped seeing Ace stop.
"Ace!!" Sabo yelled. "He is provoking you!"
"A loser...?" Ace whispered in anger completely ignoring the words of Sabo. "Take back. What you just said!!" Ace yelled turning towards Akainu.
"Stop Ace, keep going!!" Koala yelled.
"Ace!?!" Hack caught Ace by his arms, but Ace yanked it away.
"He's mocking my old man," Ace said in fury.
"ACE!!" Luffy yelled. He didn't want to stay here anymore. All he needed was his brothers. And he didn't like where the things were going. It felt wrong. It felt like he was about to lose someone and he wouldn't be able to do anything, if this keeps going. Luffy's eyes widened. No way. He can't lose his brothers!!!
"Your real father, Roger, stood in his way and so Whitebeard is a loser who will never become king. How am I mistaken? You bunch of thugs keep yelling boss this, boss that. You prance about the seas pretending to be a family." Akainu teased further, liking where the things were going.
"Stop right there!!" Ace yelled, giving into his anger completely.
"For how many decades has he ruled the seas. Never becoming king and never accomplishing anything?! In the end, he was stabbed by his idiot son who was fooled by some sweet talk!! And he's going to die protecting that fool! He really did live an empty life, didn't he?!"
"STOP IT!!" Ace roared.
"Don't listen to him, Ace!! Come on!!" Izou begged, knowing Ace's anger. Something needs to be done soon.
"The old man gave us a place where we belonged! What do you know about his greatness?!!" Ace yelled at Akainu. He didn't like how Akainu was insulting his Pops. He wouldn't take insults which were directed to his family and friends.
"If people don't live the right way, there's no reason for them to live! Pirates like you don't deserve a place to belong!!" Akainu mocked in disgust. 'All the pirates need to be executed!!'
"Whitebeard will die as a loser!! A fitting death for the Admiral of a mountain of garbage!!" Akainu spoke again.
"Whitebeard is the pirate who created this era!!!" Ace yelled.
"This era will be known by Whitebeard's name!!" Ace yelled as he threw a fire fist, only for his arms to burn by Akainu's magma.
"ACE!!!" The brothers shouted.
"Ace!! He was burned!?" The surrounding pirate's eyes widened at the sight of Ace holding his burnt arms.
"Do you get careless because you're a logia type as well? You are fire and I am magma, that consumes fire. My power completely outclasses yours!!" Akainu mocked.
Luffy tried to get to Ace, only to fall mid-step, due to exhaustion, and Ace's vivre card slipped from his hands and landed on the floor. Sabo looked at Luffy and saw Jimbei right behind him. He sighed in relief and then saw Ace and tried once more to get Ace leave the marine.
"ACE!!! WE NEED TO GO, YOU DUMBASS!!" Sabo shouted. He didn't like how they were still in the battlefield. They need to go.
"The son of pirate king, Gold Roger! The sons of revolutionary Dragon!! The Chief Of Staff of The Revolutionary Amry! I'm amazed that their sons turned out to be brothers!! Great sin already runs through your blood!! No matter who escapes, I will never let you three brothers go!!" Akainu yelled to Ace who was on the ground, holding his burned arm. "Take a good look..."
"Hey!! Wait!!" Ace said through his pain, and his eyes widened as he saw where Akainu was heading. His eye's widened.
"LUFFY!!!" The two brothers shouted.
Luffy's eyes widened as he saw Akainu rushing towards him with magma fist. He tried doing anything, to move his body, but not a muscle would budge. He tried using the lightening bolts, it did work, but didn't hit Akainu at all. He tried using the winds, but nothing came. The winds, the lightnings, the clouds, went all out of control, exhausting him further. The sky was cracking above him. The sea was roaring behind him. And slowly, his mind was shutting off. He wasn't able to process anything anymore, as he saw the fist come towards him. He couldn't hear his brothers, nor see them dash forward to him. All he could see was darkness.
Ace leapt in front of Luffy, trying to take the attack and protect Luffy even if it meant he would die. He can't let Luffy die. But Sabo used his brain, he saw Dragon's Devil Fruit powers forced Akainu's worthless mug to back off. He took this as his chance and carried his brothers away from Akainu's range. But Akainu was not about to leave them alone. He raised his fists again to attack the brothers, when Jimbei, Hack and Koala backed them.
"Stop wasting my time, Jimbei!" Akainu growled. He wasn't about to let the brothers slip past his hands. "You're a former Warlord. You should know my strength."
"Even if it costs me my body, I'll hold you back as long as I can!!" Jimbei yelled.
"I don't have time for you, Jimbei!!" Akainu yelled as he tried punching Jimbei, but was faced by Marco and Vista.
On the other side, Garp growled in anger. This was the second time, Akainu had tried to kill his grandsons. He won't let him live. But he was pinned down to the ground by Sengoku.
"What are you doing, Garp?!!" Sengoku slammed Garp's head in the ground.
"Haa..!! Hold me back just like that, Sengoku!!" Garp yelled. "Otherwise, I'm gonna kill that Sakazuki!!"
Notes:
Yo! Rin here!
How was the chapter? None of the brothers are dead yet! They have escaped death twice, but will it work for the third time too with Luffy down for the count? Let's see what happens next.
Have a good day/night ahead!
Over and out!
Chapter Text
Whitebeard was growling in rage. Akainu had tried to kill his sons!! He would never let him live away with that. If it wouldn't be for that brat's dad, they would have been punched through and died in an instant. Even if the brat is a God, he is not that yet. He wouldn't be able to save himself unless he awakens his God self.
Whitebeard pounded his fist on Akainu, pinning him to the ground, in sheer rage. The rage of trying to kill his sons, and about to kill Luffy, Ace and Sabo.
"Pops is mad!!" A pirate yelled. "Everyone get away!"
But Akainu was not someone who would stay down. He used his magma to blow off Whitebeard's head, which resulted Whitebeard's ears and half of the moustache to burn off. But Whitebeard was not going to die from it. He punched Akainu in his stomach, cracking the air there itself. It made the Mad Dog bleed from his nose and mouth and Marineford to blast off with the bomb inside it. The fort crumbled into pieces and fire surrounded the remains.
"It's coming down!! The marine HQ building is blasted off!" The marines shouted in frenzy.
"Fire! Run!"
Whitebeard again used his powers and separated the pirates and marines. The marines were forced to be on the side of the crumbling, blazing Marineford, while the pirates retreated safely, due to the massive gap between them now.
Several marines even fell down in the valley, which Whitebeard created.
A few minutes before,
It was literally like something out of a nightmare. Ace's brain had stopped working right there in the absolute chaos of an active war zone but the clutch on his arms tightened, snapping him from his musings.
"You dumbass!!" Sabo yelled at Ace, who was still processing what had happened. "How many times should I remind you, to not let your anger control you in fights?!!!"
Ace snapped from his daze and understood his fault. He got off from Sabo's grip and started running beside his brothers.
"Pass Lu to me! I'll carry him!" Ace stated and took Luffy whose eyes are heavy from tiredness.
Luffy not squirming and protesting was a big sign that he is not okay. He had pushed himself too far today. His brothers have already done too much for Ace. Now, he can't let Sabo carry Luffy also. And this way he won't be able to fight anyone in his anger. He had literally lost both of his brothers in this battle, which only began due to his unjustifiable rage.
Luffy's drum beat of the heart beat was weak and unsteady against his ears but a proof that his brother is alive by his side and not dying. Even Luffy's breathing was coming heavy, which isn't good at all. But his brothers are by his side, and that's all Ace needs right now.
"We will get you outta here Lu. You- You just hang tight, okay? You ni-chans will bail you out of here, like we always do." Ace shared a knowing grin with Sabo and continued running ahead. The only confirmation that Luffy ever heard him was a hot puff of his breath against Ace's neck.
In the background, a huge BOOM sound erupted, making the brothers once turn their head and see the marvelous sight of Marineford blown up.
"Holy shit!!" Ace said in amazement. "That was so cool!!!" Luffy let out a soft smile against Ace's neck in agreement.
"Who did it?" Sabo thought. He liked it that the place which threatened to take away their brothers and his life, was blown to pieces.
"Who else can it be?" Koala said, flipping her hair dramatically. "It was me and Hack who set up the bombs on the orders of Dragon-san! But the bombs got set off due to Whitebeard."
"That's awesome!!!" Sabo and Ace said in unison with stars in their eyes. "Take that marines."
The brothers were so busy running they didn't even notice what Whitebeard had done to Marineford. Ace was completely focused on taking Luffy out of this place and Sabo was focused on his brothers, to keep them on bay(at least Ace from his anger). All they wanted was to leave this cursed place. One more reason of Ace for not looking back at the war was, he couldn't see his Pops dying. He knew that it was inevitable. So, all he did was run ahead, without looking back.
On the other side of the battle, a giant head appeared from the blazing fort.
"There's something next to the HQ!!!" The marines yelled.
"Oops, they spotted me." The giant said in a mocking voice.
The marines were shocked, but that didn't stay for long. Many more figures appeared from the blazing hell, which Akoji was trying to freeze, coz the waves weren't raging anymore. He was really thankful for that. But right now, he was freezing the flaming tower. All he did in the war, was to freeze waves and now at the near end of the war, he is freezing the Head Quarter's.
The Fleet Admiral looked in shock at the Level 6 prisoners, lead by Blackbeard.
"Zehahahahaha!!!" Blackbeard laughed his disgusting laughter. "It's been too long. It's good to see you at death's door, old man!!"
"Teach," A bleeding Whitebeard said in disgust.
"There's no mistake. Those are the death row inmates from Impel Down's Level Six!!" A marine shouted.
Those Level 6 pirates have committed crimes so heinous that they their very existences were erased. They're the worst criminals. The marines were shocked to see them. Specially the former Warden of Impel Down, Shiryuu of the rain. The others were also notably notorious: The giant battleship Sanhuan Wolf, The Evil King Avalo Pizarro, The Drinker Vasco Shot, The Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon.
"Shiruyuu, you!!" Sengoku shouted. "What happened to Magellan? What happened at Impel Down?! How did you all get here?!!"
"You can go figure it out later. Anyway, I'm sticking with these guys." Shiruyuu replied through his cigars.
"If the government saw me as an enemy while I was a pirate, I wouldn't have been able to open the gates and infiltrate Impel Down. The only reason I sought the Warlord title was for this! I don't need it anymore!!" Blackbeard, aka, Marshall D. Teach, announced his plan for Whitebeard and the marines to listen.
"You were planning on freeing them all along?!!" Sengoku asked with anger.
"Zehahaha!!! Yes, everything was about this from the start!! Now you understand," Sengoku gritted his teeth in annoyance. But who was he kidding? The Pirates or Warlords are all same.
"Teach!!" Whitebeard growled as he punched the air in anger. The place where the Blackbeard pirates were standing, collapsed completely.
"You're not holding back? I guess not," Blackbeard answered his own question.
"I won't call you my son anymore, Teach!!" Whitebeard spoke. "You tried to kill one of your comrades breaking the only ironclad rule on my ship."
Marco was about to jump into to help Pops, when Whitebeard yelled, "Don't interfere, Marco!!" Whitebeard looked at Teach with disgust. "By killing this idiot, I will settle the score!"
"Zehahahaha!!!" Blackbeard laughed. "That's just what I want!" Blackbeard punched the ground and shouted, "Black Hole!!"
The black stuff surrounded Whitebeard and all the marines nearby.
"I truly respected you, admired you, but you grew old," Blackbeard said making the pirates angry. Whitebeard readied to punch the air once again, when Blackbeard opened his cursed mouth again. "Ohoho, there's no use! All the powers are useless against me!!"
Blackbeard's hands started glowing black and a black whirlpool appeared. "Zehahaha! How's that? You can't make any more earthquakes!!!"
But he didn't take a look at the naginata and lost to his recklessness. Whitebeard pounded his naginata at Teach, making his shoulders bleed. Blackbeard rolled on the ground in pain.
"Your weakness is that you overestimate yourself and get careless," Whitebeard gripped Teach's neck.
"Ehh?! Hey, stop!!" Teach tried to speak and his eyes widened as he saw Whitebeard using his powers. If he did use it, his neck will be crushed to dust.
"Stop!! Old man! I'm your son, you can't kill-" But he was pounded to the ground, which cracked underneath him. Whitebeard stood tall, he could feel him drifting off, but he can't. He has revenge to take.
"You're a monster. You're half way dead already. Just shut up and die!!" Teach yelled. "GET HIM!!"
The Blackbeard pirates fired Whitebeard with their guns, making the pirates cry. Hearing the commotion, Ace stopped with Sabo. He turned back and looked at the scene, the scene which would be forever be engraved his mind. Whitebeard, his Pops, was attacked by none other than Teach! That bastard! But he couldn't do anything. He wants to go, save his Pops, but the distance between them was too vast and even if he could supposedly jump the other side, he would be disrespecting his Pops order. Tears followed incessantly from his eyes and he felt Sabo place his hand on his shoulders supporting him.
Whitebeard remembered the conversation of Roger. The Will of D. the last time when he met Roger.
"It's not you," He said looking at Blackbeard.
"You're still alive?!!" Teach said in disbelief.
"The man Roger is waiting for is definitely not you, Teach." Whitebeard said and in his mind the white figure of Monkey D. Luffy appeared, the boy who was unconscious and was in Ace's arms. "In future, someday a man will appear bearing the weight of centuries of history on his shoulders, to challenge the world!!" Whitebeard turned to Sengoku the next.
"Sengoku, your world government is afraid... afraid of the coming war that will engulf the world!! I wasn't interested, but when someone finds that treasure the world will be shaken to its core! That certain man has been born and he will find it and certainly that day will come."
Whitebeard hit the ground with his naginata for the last time, standing proudly. "THE ONE PIECE IS REAL!!"
The people in Saboady feel a shock go through their spines, Sengoku felt anger course through him, the Blackbeard pirates laughed while the Whitebeard pirates cried.
'Forgive me my sons. I left behind this huge fool. This is it for me. You have my thanks. Farewell, my sons!!' Whitebeard thought and finally gave into the eternal darkness.
That day Whitebeard died. Even after he died, with his face half gone, his body would not yield. Cutting his enemies down, he was the very image of a monster. In this battle, he suffered two hundred sixty seven sword wounds as well as one hundred fifty two bullet wounds and forty six cannon wounds. But on his proud back, and indeed, in his life as a pirate, he did not suffer a single coward's injury.
The news spread around the world like a wildfire. Roger's son, Portgas D. Ace, a member of the Whitebeard Pirates and The 3Cs was saved and the captain, Edward Newgate, aka, Whitebeard died.
This historic incident would be passed on for generations. But the people witnessing it, could only watch in silence. He was a man who sailed the seas with the Pirate King, age 72 years at the time of his death. The captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, the great pirate, Edward Newgate, aka, Whitebeard. In the bay of Marineford, the Whitebeard pirates and the combined forces of Marine HQ and the Warlord fought a great battle and there he lost his life.
Marco was the first one to snap out of Whitebeard's death. After all, it was now his responsibility to protect his brothers. "Don't just stand there!!! Get on the ship. Did you forget the captain's last order?!!"
"Jimbei!! Ace!! Snap out!!" Marco yelled seeing Ace standing there crying with Sabo by his side. "Sabo take your brothers out of here!!"
Luffy stirred in the arms of Ace, feeling choked.
"S-Sabo? A-Ace?" He spoke in a low voice, his eyes half lidded and the peacefulness in closing his eyes and giving into the darkness sounded pretty good. But he has to do something, otherwise things will be too messed up to untangle.
"You okay, Lu?" The brothers asked in hurry. Ace gently stroked Luffy's cheeks, tears falling from his own.
"Tell Pi..ne..apple he..ad to n-not let Te-Teach ne-near T-The o..ld man!" Luffy finally managed to speak and finally gave into the darkness, after staying up for so long.
Without wasting a single second, Ace filled his lungs with air, ready to shout above the sounds of all wailing and firing.
"MARCO!!!!!" Ace yelled, even if tears were falling incessantly through his eyes. Marco snapped to Ace at once, before he was about to turn back to see the commotion, which Blackbeard was about to do.
"DON'T LET THE BASTARD NEAR POPS!!" Ace yelled. "HURRY!!!"
Marco didn't see a point in doing that, but he knew if Ace was telling it, then probably it was Luffy who was warned him. [A/n: In some alternate timeline, Marco got to know some secrets of Luffy. So, he didn't doubt him.]
Without any second thought, Marco flew over to the other side and stopped the approaching pirates in their track. He created a ring of his blue flames, warning anyone to approach near his Pops and see the horrible result. The commanders didn't understand first, what was going on. But they did understand that they cannot let Teach even touch their Pop's body. They jumped to the other side as well, standing beside Marco, ready to take the traitor.
"Come on, Commander!" Teach said with his dirty smile. "It would be fun, if you let me show you the ultimate show!! Zehahahaha!!"
"Move aside," Lafelitte said pointing his gun to the remaining Whitebeard pirates.
"Like hell we will, yoi!" Marco shouted. "It's your end, Teach, yoi."
"I was looking forward to that!!" Caterina Devon said in disappointment.
"Hang in there, Ace!!" Jimbei shouted shaking Ace by his shoulders. "Pops wouldn't want any of you to die here."
He saw Ace nod through his tears and the brothers started running again, heading to any ship, nearby.
"Jimbei! Ace!! Everyone!!" A pirate shouted. "Get on here!!!" But the next second the sea was frozen by Kuzan, making the departure impossible. Sabo gritted his teeth. With Luffy unconscious, no one can unfreeze the seas. What are they supposed to do now?
But the next second, fire engulfed their surroundings, meaning Akainu targeting them.
"I already said I wouldn't let the brothers escape. Won't you idiots just give up already?" Akainu taunted the brothers. Ace held Luffy tightly in his arms and Sabo clutched his pipe. Koala, Hack and Jimbei stood beside them, ready to fight any moment.
"We are not dying here, bastard!!" Ace yelled, his tears all evaporated.
"I won't let you touch my brothers!!" Sabo growled in anger.
"Well then, I won't ask again!" Akainu said, turning into magma, except for his face.
"Protect Ace and his brothers!!!" The pirates yelled.
"Move it, Jimbei!!" Ivankov flew above the boys to the magma admiral. "You can't harm my nephews!!!" He stated and shouted his attack, "Hell Wink!!"
Notes:
Yo! Rin here!
Just wondering when are everybody's exams? Mine starts from the last of December.
How was the chapter though?
Have a good day/night!!
Chapter 10: 10
Chapter Text
Blackbeard was trying to find ways to approach the dead body of Whitebeard with no avail. He wasn't a fool to believe that he would win against the commanders, even with his fruit and the Level 6 prisoners backing him up.
"Commanders, you really are a pain in the ass," Teach gritted his teeth in anger. "Black hole!!" He punched the ground, making the darkness to reach the commanders and trying to suck them in. But he didn't account to the fact, that they were hell a fast and they have seen him fighting with Whitebeard and use the attacks.
"Was that Ace who told to interfere in my plans?!! Or his little brother?!" Teach asked nastily.
Teach had known from the first time he had encountered that happy go kid that he had instincts of a diamond. The first time when he had shouted at him, he had learned to not be near the brat's range, to avoid him and to let his plans sail safely. [A/n: So, in some alternate world, something like this happens: Ace is being recruited by Whitebeard and Luffy and Sabo are on board for a while when they meet Teach, who sat just beside Luffy and tried to approach him but Luffy shouted on him to stay away.]
No one other than that brat can tell or feel what he was about to do. And the second time he met the brat, he would have died if not for the spring of water which had separated them. [A/n: Talking about the starting of Skypeia arc or ending of Jaya Island.]
"It doesn't matter. You will die here today, yoi," Marco said with disgust laced in his voice.
The Whitebeard commanders were exhausted, tired and grief stricken, but they knew not to let a traitor and killer of their Pops go easily. The commanders were already attacking the new pirates of Blackbeard pirates. And Teach could feel in his bones that they would be defeated.
"ZEHAHAHAHA!!!! I WILL REACH MY GOAL WITH IT OR WITHOUT IT!!" Blackbeard yelled. He would never let go of what he was planning. He will find the fruit and become the strongest man in the World. He will hunt down the brat for destroying his plan, he would never forgive him.
The pirates gritted their teeth in anger. And all Ace wanted to do was pound Blackbeard to the ground, but he had brothers to protect. One unconscious. He couldn't afford to do anything reckless right now, specially not while the Red Dog was chasing them.
On other side, Ivankov fell down with Inazuma in tow. Ace and Sabo gritted their teeth in anger and wanted to fight. They wanted to kill that bastard, but it was not the right time. They needed to leave. The pirates shot bullets at Akainu, but with no result.
The winds were raging between the brothers and Akainu. Sabo and Ace felt safe in the familiar arms of the winds, which they had grown to. Their Dad was here and now they can leave the battlefield finally and get Luffy to rest.
Akainu's magma fist for the brothers got deflected with ease due to a giant gust of wind to another site of the Marine ford containing marines. A figure in cloak stood backing the trio brothers facing towards Akainu.
"Get out of the way!" Dragon said in a pissed off voice to Akainu, and with a punch threw Akainu on his butt. "I have a lesson to teach you, bastard!"
"If we reach the sea, I'll have advantage!!" Jimbei yelled, taking in the opportunity. "We can escape!!" They jumped from the square finally, but it was all ice below, no sea. Their luck couldn't be more worse. On their tail was the Red Dog, but engaged with Dragon, but that doesn't mean he will give up on the trio brothers.
Akainu wiped his mouth and snarled, practically boiling. "Dragon! Why have you come to interfere with this matter? Those boys will be executed why get involved?"
The hood fell down revealing who stood before them. The leader of the Revolutionary Army. "It's only right for a father to protect their sons, isn't it?"
Everyone screamed in shock. Akainu clenched his fists. "There are two evils with demon blood in them and the other just as dangerous that must be executed. Neither demon spawns nor your second in command will be leaving from here alive!"
Dragon gave a mocking laugh before pulling his cloak off. "We'll see about that red dog. You'll have to fight with me first."
The Red Dog of the marines, used his magma fist, to show that he was aiming for Dragon but that fist directed to the spawns of the devil.
"Your sons will die before you!" Akainu smirked, seeing Dragon's eyes widened. But before he could hurry to save his sons, Akainu took that moment of distraction to threw Dragon to the ground and his magma fist hit Ace, Luffy and Sabo. Dragon managed to send another giant gust of wind, only for it to miss minutely. But neither boys were seriously injured, he hoped so.
"AHHH!!!" Sabo and Ace winced. Ace got hit in his chest with Luffy and fell on the ground with a thud. Sabo held his arms in pain due to the magma, which hit him.
Dragon threw his arms out and the wind cut Akainu across the chest making him grunt. "You bastard!!" He was full of anger. He will never forgive the red bastard.
"None of you will be leaving here alive! You all are a stain on this world and I will kill you all here and now." Akainu said through a smirk.
Sabo leaned down looking at Ace who was kneeling down with his chest gauged out, similar to Luffy. But Luffy's wound looked more severe than Ace's. Sabo clenched his eyes shut tightly as he scooped up Ace in his arms with Luffy turning pale on Ace's lap. Sabo was feeling his world spin. Everything was moving the way it shouldn't. His brothers were hurt badly, in need of medical attention. He too needs that, but he could care less. With his two brothers down, Sabo felt on the verge of panic. What should he do?
"Sorry, Ace, Lu!!" Sabo cried. His eyes were getting foggy. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you both!"
"Shut up, dumbass!" Ace groaned. "It's my fault. I'm the big brother. I should have kept an eye on that bastard, even if we were safe!" Ace winced in pain. Ace's voice was nothing like his usual, it seemed like it was getting low and low.
Sabo bit his lip harshly and forced his feet to run in full speed.
"It's not your fault," Sabo cried. "Hang in there, Ace! Please! Don't fall unconscious!!" Sabo cried. Ace nodded through his pain and tightly held on to Luffy, careful about his little brother's wound over his own while Sabo carried them in bridal style. Ace knew Sabo was hurting himself too, but still he was carrying them. All he could do was stay still and not let his little brothers's wounds get worse.
"Are you really in position of worrying about them, Bloody Gentleman? Dragon, you were in the way, so I missed. If I had pierced their hearts, it would have been painless. Right, Gol D. Ace?" Akainu asked getting a punch in his mouth from Dragon as soon as the words left his mouth.
"SHUT UP!!!" Sabo yelled through his tears and kept running, while Ace moaned again, due to the movements.
"Why do you still protect the dead weights? With their chests gouged out like that, they'll die soon enough. Do you also want to die here?" Akainu asked, throwing a punch to Dragon, who dodged it easily.
"THEY ARE MY BROTHERS NOT DEAD WEIGHTS, YOU SCUM!!" Sabo yelled as he held Luffy and Ace. He saw the ice breaking off and the sea kings trying their best to approach them.
"They would be dead in a few minutes. Hahaha-" Akainu was punched in his stomach and mouth repeatedly.
"Don't you dare say a word, asshole!" Dragon's red eyes glared Akainu's and at that moment Akainu felt like backing off. He was damn pissed off due to Dragon. He was not in his league, yet he won't admit it. At least he had done one good thing, The Spawns of Devil will be erased from the surface of the World. Though, he doubts whose son Sabo is. He looks like Ace and Luffy both. So, whose is he? A twin to Ace? A real older brother to Luffy? He doesn't care, he will kill them all.
Akainu threw a punch to Dragon again, which was easily stopped due to his powerful haki, but the bits of magma flew towards the blonde, his next target. But before the magma can hit the blonde, Crocodile used his sand to remove them from the path, making Akainu pissed off more.
"You can never hurt my sons and think to live for another day!" Dragon said in a calm voice. But if anyone who knew him, would say how terrifying that was, like Koala and Hack, who felt a shiver go through them.
"I thought you learned by now, not to attack them!" Dragon threw Akainu to the ground and pounded him with his fists, making Akainu bleed from his head, mouth and nose.
Crocodile was about to create a cyclone and throw them into that to protect them, when Sabo shouted.
"Don't create that!" Sabo yelled. "We just need to get to the seas and everything will be fine." Crocodile nodded, he has seen how they were on their way to Marineford from Impel Down. They sure have some tricks on their sleeve. So, he lets them be.
"Head to the ship!!" Crocodile yelled at Sabo and then looked at the remaining Whitebeard Pirates. "If you want to protect something, do it right!! Don't let the marines have their way anymore!!"
Sabo kept on running, without stopping at all. His brothers needed immediate medical attention.
"Ace! Keep talking please!!!" Sabo pleaded through his tears. A moan escaped Ace.
"Sabo! You worrywart!" Ace's voice wavered. "It w-will be fine. I just need some sleep." Ace coughed, blood tricking down his mouth. He could feel like life slipping off his hands slowly and yet painfully. Ace really wished that if Luffy would be feeling the same, then that pain transfers to him.
"No way! Please!! Don't!!" Sabo cried, looking at the ocean. No ship was in perfect position to take them away. Even if one could, they wouldn't have a doctor to pay attention to his brothers. That is when a yellow submarine coursed through the surface and Sabo's face lit up. He knew whose ship it was. Trafalgar Law, The Surgeon of Death, who is one of the best surgeons of the World.
"A submarine?!!" The escapees of Impel Down said. "Whose is it?!!"
Sabo was running towards the submarine, in full force. More 200 meters to go.
"Bring Straw Hat over here!!" Law yelled.
"S-Sabo?!" Ace groaned. "Who's that?!" Ace's face scrunched with pain and Sabo's heart was breaking into pieces, hearing each groan of his.
"It's fine, Ace." Sabo said looking at Ace, and then at Law.
"Strawhat, Ace and you might be an enemy of mine. But we still share a bond." Law yelled and Sabo realized the bond which he was speaking could be none other than that of a D. So, that means Law is a D. "It'll only be boring if they die here!! We'll get them out of here! Leave him to me! I'm a doctor!!"
Sabo looked at Law's eyes and felt the sincerity in his words.
"Alright!!" Sabo yelled, making Ace wince.
"'Bo?" Ace moaned his brother's name. "You trust him with us...?"
"No, Ace!" Sabo said through his dried tears and croaked voice, "I can never trust my brothers with anyone. But this is the only way, that will help you both. You guys need immediate medical attention." Ace nodded his head, with a low moan.
"Hurry!! Bring both of them over here!!" Law yelled again.
More 100 meters to go.
"Calling all marines! Split up to pursue the Whitebeard Pirates and take down the Blackbeard Pirates and The Leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon!!" The sounds rang through the Marineford.
"More marines are coming!! There was an underground passage way!!" Pirates yelled as they saw the marines climb from a valley, which their Pops had created. The war seemed never ending.
On the other side, Blackbeard was trying to retreat, but he was surrounded by both sides. One side where the Whitebeard commanders and on the other side were Sengoku 'The Buddha' and Garp 'The Hero'.
'That little shit of Ace's brother. I'll never forgive him for destroying my plan.' Teach cursed Straw Hat Luffy while trying to stay alive from the talons of Marco. He was not good at speed and it hurt like a bitch with each attack coming from The Pheonix.
Marco mostly forgot Pops's last order in rage of fighting Blackbeard. But he needed to snap. They can't fight Teach right now. Not when the Marines were in their back and the Level 6 prisoners were damn strong. They needed to retreat. Marco wrapped his wings against his Pops's dead body with tears in his eyes as he ordered the crew.
"Everyone, don't forget Pop's last order!" Marco yelled, making the division commander sniffle and rub their eyes harshly, before nodding. The marines were surrounding them and the Blackbeard Pirates. If they want to escape, this was the only right time.
In Sabaody, people were scared of what would happen next. With the death of Whitebeard, and the escape of Gol D. Ace, where was the world heading? Did the Marines truly became victorious, with Ace freed and alive? What would become of the World? What would happen with this new character, Teach?
"Hey, Coby!! What's the matter?!!" Helmeppo asked in worry as he saw Coby holding onto his head and crying in pain.
"I don't know..!!! It's sad!!" Coby cried in pain.
"Sad?!" Helmeppo questioned in confusion.
"Oehh!!!" Coby groaned, his head was throbbing badly. "Inside my head, the voices are disappearing one by one!!" Coby said through his tears. It was hurting too much.
"Huh?" Helmeppo didn't get what he was saying.
On the battlefield,
"Hang in there! You'll live if you get treated!!" A Marine carrying an injured marine gave hopes. But Vice Admiral Momonga appeared in front of them.
"Leave him! We're in the middle of a battle! Go after the pirates!! Crush every last one of them!!"
'They still want to fight!! The marines have lost, yet won, but they're fighting even harder now!!' Tashigi thought as she saw the mess. Marines wounded and dying, not being treated and ignored.
'"Justice"... "Evil"... What's the difference in here?!' Smoker gritted his teeth. 'They have lost... But they thirst for wining, when the main objective is already dying!!'
On one side, Akainu was rampaging and fighting off Dragon and getting his ass handed to him while on another side, Akoji was fighting the retreating Whitebeard Pirates and Sengoku was angry on Blackbeard pirates, not willing to let them go, with their provoking words. What was happening, couldn't be said anymore.
"Why don't you just drop them, Mr. Chief of Staff?!" Kizaru asked in a mocking voice, as he stood above him.
"It's Kizaru!!" The heart pirates yelled.
"I will never drop my brothers, bastard!!" Sabo yelled as he finally jumped over to the submarine. Ace groaned at the sudden jump, but didn't complain anymore.
"Grab them, Jean Bart!" Law ordered. Sabo quickly stood his ground on the deck and held Ace and Luffy.
"Pass them to me!! Quick!!" Bepo said seeing Sabo's burned arms. Sabo debated in his mind. The seas were raging, and Sabo could see the waters crawl up to the deck, as if demanding Luffy back.
'Sorry,' Sabo thought as he bit his lips. 'We can't have the marines or any enemies know his secrets, not anymore for now. Please! I'll find a way for Luffy to return to you.' As soon as he thought those words, the sea kings nodded and dived underwater, with the water also retreating back.
"We're going to dive!!" Law commanded his crew.
"You did well, escaping Sabaody, Trafalgar Law!" Kizaru prepared a beam to shot at them.
"Uwaa!! They have got terrible wound!! Are they still alive?!" Bepo asked holding Luffy. Sabo held onto Ace, who had lost consciousness right there.
"SHUT UP!!" Sabo growled. "They are alive!! They won't die!!"
"Hurry!" Law said as the beam of light was about to be fired on them. He saw Sabo hurrying inside with Bepo in the front.
"STOP IT!!" A yell rang though the battlefield, stopping everyone in their tracks.
Standing between the coming blow of Dragon for Akainu and Akainu was a young, pink haired marine with his arms spread out. Tears were streaming down his bruised and bartered face.
"A marine?" Marco was the first one to break the silence, even if only a few people could hear him, and to express his confusion on the situation. Dragon snapped out of his anger and retreated to pick up Ivankov and Inazuma. He checked on Koala and Hack, who were mid way to attack marines.
Sakazuki was pissed to say the least. He shifted his gaze from a retreating Dragon to the pink haired marine. Sakazuki felt unimpressed and got the urge to put the brat in his place.
"Just stop already!! We can stop fighting now!!" Coby yelled with his sobs and quivers at the malevolent gaze that Akainu leveled on him. Still, he does not care if he was endangering his life by trying to stop the war.
"Who's that?" Thatch asked in fear for the kid's life. He was a teen after all and moreover, he seemed kind.
"Someone... help..." A wounded marine pleaded on a side.
"Stop throwing lives away!!" Coby yelled through his tears. 'The soldiers are dying one by one! They have families waiting for their return.' The tears fell faster as Coby held his ground. "Even though we've already accomplished our goal!" 'Isn't it enough that Whitebeard is dead?'
"We're chasing pirates who don't want to fight! We're fighting a pointless battle!!" 'It's becoming a mindless slaughter.' "We're abandoning the soldiers who could be saved! We're sacrificing even more lives!! Then isn't it as if the soldiers who fall now are just idiots?!!" Coby shouted. How many lives have been already lost due to their mindless behavior? Coby can't even count how many voices had already disappeared.
What sort of justice is this? This isn't what Coby had in mind when he had wanted to join the marines. Coby was willing to die for his own ideals but this was no where close to matching up to what he believes in!
"Coby...?!" Garp asked in shock.
"Who the hell are you!!!???" Akainu said slowly and menacingly as he finally moved, irritated that his preys have escaped, even if he believes that they will be dead soon. "You've wasted a few seconds, the marines have no need for soldiers who don't believe in justice!!" Akainu's hands turned into magma.
Coby looked absolutely frightened at Sakazuki's words and his body started to shake even more as the realization that he will probably die settles in.
"AAHH!!" Coby cried. 'Oh god, I'm going to die!! But I've said what I needed to say! I have no regrets!' Coby froze in his place. But the attack never connected to Coby as Shanks's sword hit the Admiral's fists while Dragon threw Akainu to the other side with ease.
"You did well young marine," Shanks said to a fainted Coby. "The few seconds of courage you were prepared to give your life for, whether for good or bad, have greatly changed the fate of the World!"
"Hurry!!" Law shouted. "Move inside!!"
Kizaru was about to fire, when Been Beckman pointed his gun to him. "Hold it right there, Kizaru!!"
Kizaru lifted his hands in air. "Ohhh, whoa there, Ben Beckman!"
"One of the Four Emperors is here!!" A pirate shouted after seeing Shanks's ship.
"It's Red Hair Shanks!!" The marines shrieked in a frightened voice.
The marines began to panic with the realization that Shanks, one of the four emperors, was in their midst and they watched in terror as Shanks sheathed his swords to walk across the ice.
"I came to end the war!!" Shanks said in a serious tone.
"He was fighting one of the four emperors, Kaidou, just yesterday! And now he's already here?!!" A marine shouted in fear.
"Boss! It's been ten years, aren't you going to see Luffy even once?" Lucky Roo asked Shanks. [A/n: Sorry but Shanks didn't remain in touch with Luffy in this timeline.]
"Yeah, I'd sure like to, but if I saw him now you would be breaking your promise, right, Luffy?" In the background, Law's ship dives in and Luffy and Ace lie on the beds, with Sabo being treated by Shachi and Penguin but also keeping an eye on every movement of the Pirates.
Akoiji rushes to freeze the seas, where Law was trying to flee. But unfortunately for Akoiji, the currents and sea kings surrounded the submarine, pushing it to frightening speeds. Kizaru used his light beams to attack the submarine, which was no where to be seen.
"If they survived that, then we'll have to accept that luck was on their side," Kizaru said to the other two Admirals, who didn't say a word.
"Hurry!! After that submarine!!" Hancock ordered the marines, after jumping onto a marine ship.
"But they're on the sea floor! And it's hard to imagine they evaded the admirals attacks!!" A marine replied back, with eyes forming hearts.
"No... they're alive!!" Hancock said. She refuses to believe that her beloved died. "Very well! Report this to the marines! As a member of the Warlords, I will track them down and finish off Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy and Blue Gentleman Sabo!!"
"YES MA'AM!!!~"
Chapter 11: 11
Summary:
"Sabo-ya!" Law gritted his teeth. "Why the heck have the sea kings surrounded us?!!"
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Red Hair!" Marco approached Shanks, with Whitebeard wrapped in his wings and the other commanders on his back.
"Marco, withdraw your men, and don't retaliate," Shanks's voice held no child like humor like he always does when talking to an ally. His voice was calm and serious.
"I agreed to fight with Whitebeard, but Red Hair wasn't in agreement," Mihawk stated as he left the battlefield.
"Any further conflict will only increase casualties on both sides! But if anyone still wants to go. Bring it on! We'll be your opponents!!" Shanks said, while his crew stood beside him. "How about it Teach? No, Blackbeard!"
"Zehahaha! I didn't get what I came for but I'll find that. It's still too early to be fighting you guys!" Blackbeard said as he began moving out. He didn't and couldn't possibly fight Red Haired Shanks. Even with the remaining Whitebeard pirates he wasn't able to stand his grounds well. And then being trapped by Sengoku The Buddha and Garp The Hero, certainly doesn't help. It's wise choice to retreat right now with the wounds he has got. "Zehahaha! Let's go men!" .
"Whitebeard, we'll take care of his burials. The battle was broadcasted to the entire world. I won't allow anyone to desecrate their memories!" Shanks told looking straight to Sengoku, as if ordering him to say otherwise and face the consequence.
"What?! Taking his head will show the marines victory!!" Momonga yelled. He couldn't believe that Fleet Admiral was even considering Red Hair's words.
"Doesn't matter," Sengoku said.
"Fleet admiral?!"
"Since its you, Red hair... I'll take responsibility for it," Sengoku told and looked at the marines. Many were lying on the ground, groaning and moaning in pain. Many had died, those people could have been saved, if they would have pulled off the war when Ace was rescued. They not only lost men, the war technically, and Impel Down, but also lost Marineford. If only he would have seen this coming.
"Thanks," Shanks replied as he ordered his men to carry Whitebeard's body.
"Quickly, attend to the wounded." Sengoku ordered the marines. "The war is over."
Thus ended the greatest battle since the opening of the Great Pirate Age. The battle of Marineford was carved deeply into history.
At the stage for the battle at the summit, there are 7 ships on the waters of Marineford's bay. These men who will carry the new pirate age would not have missed this juncture in history for anything. They see the signs of war rising from Marineford as proof of the establishment of a new age. And they feel the age's frenzied flow upon their skin.
"The marines have succeeded in defeating Whitebeard," X-Drake spoke looking at the smoking Marineford.
"In a little while, Whitebeard's territories will become seas of blood," Capone Bege said through his cigar.
"Blackbeard was the key. Make no mistake, he will soon become the eye of the storm!" Urouge told to his crew.
"He saved someone who'll become an enemy one day? What the hell is he thinking?!!" Apoo said in disbelief as he remembered Trafalgar Law saving Straw Hat and Fire Fist. But they probably won't live, right? As much as he saw through his binoculars, Fire Fist and Straw Hat had got terrible wounds.
"What are you talking about, Apoo!?" A pirate from his crew asked.
"Trafalgar Law!! Isn't he supposed to be known for his brutality?" Apoo replied back.
"Everything is his fault!! We have to find him! Let's go! To the new World!!" Bonney ordered to her crew.
"Strange..." Hawkins muttered as he looked at his cards.
"What's wrong, Captain Hawkins?"
"Straw hat Luffy's and Fire Fist's chances of survival... No matter how many times I check, it never comes out to be zero!" Hawkins replied back.
"Honestly, I was scared when the war broke out. But now, Whitebeard is dead," A pirate from Kidd Pirates, voiced his inner feelings.
"Now it's all over," Killer said looking at the battlefield.
"Hahaha!! What's over?" Kidd said with a smirk. "The New World is ruled by the Four Emperors: Red Hair, Kaidou, Big Mom! Now that the balance has been broken, who knows what will happen?! A New Age is dawning! The likes of which we've never seen!"
"Captain!!!" Jean Bart yelled as he entered the medical room, where Law and Bepo were operating on the bodies of Ace and Luffy.
Sabo was in the corner looking at them, with his glossy eyes. His arms were throbbing with pain, he felt like screaming. How would Ace and Luffy be dealing with all of this, if he was feeling such terrible ache coming from a burned limb? He wanted to give into the sweet feeling of unconsciousness, but he has brothers to watch over.
"We are surrounded by the sea kings!!!" Jean Bart yelled.
"Ki-" Law got cut off by Sabo.
"Let them be," Sabo said through his weak voice. "If you harm them, then it's the end for the submarine."
"Are you threatening me?" A vein popped on Law's head, but he didn't dare to look back from the patient on which he was operating.
"No," Sabo said in a calm voice. "I won't threaten a surgeon on whom my brothers life depends," Sabo stood up from the corner. "I'm merrily advising you. If any one of you show hostility towards the sea kings. Then, prepare for the worst."
"Why should we listen you? How can you guarantee the sea kings won't attack us?" Law asked, continuing his operation on Straw Hat.
"I don't know. It's up to you to take the advise," Sabo shrugged from his good side.
"If they do something funny, I'll take your head," Law said in an annoyed voice. He had seen in the monitor, Straw Hat was controlling the sea kings. But right now, he was unconscious and didn't his rival had a rubber fruit? So, how? He doesn't know. The brothers are indeed hiding a dangerous secret from everyone. It's not like, it's his place to ask.
Sabo's whole body was aching in pain and all he wanted was to sleep. To give into the sweet feeling of slumber. But he has to watch his brothers, who are completely defenseless. If worst came to worst and The Heart Pirates tricked them, he would at least crush their skulls. It has already been seven freaking hours, and Law was still operating on Luffy and Bepo on Ace. The only thing Sabo was seeing were their heart beats which was showing on the screen, which was making him feel like they are safe. They are alive.
If he wanted he could have given Luffy to the sea, and he doesn't think that the sea would have ignored Ace, even if he was expecting too much from her. He would have definitely given them to her, but that would have lead to the marines thinking otherwise, and may be would let loose some of the secrets of his brother. He couldn't possibly do that. Yes, they would have healed faster but that would have called trouble.
When Ace and Luffy hit the ground, a part of him shattered thinking he has lost his brothers. The magma fist in their stomach, was not something to be taken as lightly. If The Heart Pirates wouldn't have arrived on time, he fears that he would have lost both of his brothers.
Sabo wanted to cry, to yell, to tear his hair off in disappointment. He felt like it should have been him in place of Ace and Luffy. Ace had suffered enough with the tortures in Impel Down. Luffy had already given up 10 years of his lifespan and had exhausted himself completely by using his new attacks and controlling everything, while fighting.
And what did he do? He just fought alongside Luffy. He let Luffy get hit by Magellan's poison. He let his brothers get hit by Akainu's fists. He let his guard down, when Dad appeared to tackle Akainu and save their ass. He did a horrible work as a brother. He is supposed to be the brains of the group and yet he had let his brothers down. How will he forgive himself? He just wishes he could show up to his brothers and they don't hate him for the scars they would get. They would be okay, right? Sabo wanted to cry, but he couldn't. All he was doing was to sit on a bed and look at his brothers from distance. Luffy and Ace looked pale and lifeless.
That is when he sees Law remove the surgical gloves and Bepo finally sit down. They both looked exhausted. Is the surgery over?
"How are they?" Sabo asked with his shaky voice. It doesn't matter if they think he is getting weak and they can overcome him. But little did they know, he could assassinate them even in this state. He is after all a cold assassin.
"I have done all I can. The effectiveness of the operation is tied to Strawhat-ya's condition. He's taken an impossible amount of damage. I can't guarantee when he'll be awake. He's in coma." Law said, cleaning his hands of his brother's blood. Sabo felt like his world was coming down crashing to him. He wanted to cry, wanted to scream for Luffy to get up. But he needs to keep his calm and evaluate the situation carefully. He has two brothers to look after.
"W-What ab-about Ace's?" Sabo asked hesitantly. He didn't want to hear a similar answer.
"Fire Fist is not as hurt as Straw Hat." Bepo said, rinsing his hands. "If everything goes well and with his logia fruit, I think he'll be awake by a week." If a week is what a normal person will take to recover, then Ace for sure, will wake up in two- three days. Sabo felt a bit relieved of the answer.
"When will the submarine surface?" Sabo asked Bepo, who was the only person left in the room.
"In a few minutes."
Sabo felt relief wash over him. If they resurface, then chances are that Dad would find them and he would be finally able to take Luffy to the sea, without anyone being suspicious. Wait, doesn't he need to call Dad? Yah, he needs to, and he will be doing that after a few minutes, when the submarine surfaces.
The submarine submerged from the waters, surrounded by sea kings, making the crew freak out. Law rushed inside the infirmary to see the blonde brother sitting between his brothers, holding their hands in his.
"Sabo-ya!" Law gritted his teeth. "Why the heck have the sea kings surrounded us?!!"
"They are worried." Sabo's low voice reached Law, making him raise his eyebrows.
"Worried for? Strawhat-ya?" Law asked and saw Sabo nodding his head.
"They are his friends." Sabo said without looking at Law. "They won't harm any of you, if your crew doesn't do anything to them." Law nodded and went out to warn his crew to stay the hell out of the sea king's way.
Sabo put his hands in his pocket to fetch his denden mushi. It was time to give their Dad a call. He would be probably worried. As soon as the denden started ringing, Sabo felt the familiar aura of their Dad, who was standing at the door.
"Dad!" Sabo's face lit up with a faint smile as Dragon ruffled his hair and hugged him. Sabo broke down completely in the hug and began crying. He had held himself and not cried at all when Ace and Luffy were being operated on and when he heard about their assessment.
"I'm so sorry." Sabo sobbed. "I wasn't able to protect them." Sabo hiccuped as Dragon rubbed circles on his back.
"It's okay." Dragon said in a calm voice. "It's not your fault. I should have not given into my rage." Sabo sobbed holding onto Dragon tightly, as if his life depended on it, not hearing any word.
"Lu..." Sabo hiccuped. How was he supposed to say, his brother was in coma? His brother has lost 10 years of his life?
"How is he?" Dragon asked, looking at his sons. Luffy was covered in bandages from head to toe. He was also connected with an oxygen mask, which gave a punch to his gut.
"H-He is in co-coma." Sabo said between his hiccups and sobs. That hit Dragon hard. "His moth..er has been as-asking fo-for him." Sabo said pointing to the waters in the room, which was probably trying to touch Luffy. But Dragon understood they can't give Luffy to her, not right now. 'Sorry, I'll soon return him to you. Please, wait.'
"How is Ace?" Dragon asked about the eldest of his sons. He was not looking in too terrible condition, but he was also covered in bandages. Specially in his torso and arms.
"He is stable and would wake up in a week." Sabo hiccuped again, making Dragon pat his back slowly. Dragon looked at Sabo the next. His left hand was covered with bandage. He was glad at least he was not hurt badly.
"How are you doing?" He knew that everything was hitting Sabo hard. The exhaustion from his wounds, from the state of his brohers and staying in the enemy ship and watching the doctors like a hawk, was the only thing Sabo would have been doing these past hours. Dragon didn't get an answer, so he looked at him and found him sleeping in his arms.
A fond smile appeared in his face, remembering the times he would tuck the three notorious sons of his in the bed, when they would fall asleep on his lap, hearing stories from him, which mostly Luffy demanded during night times. But he always knew that Sabo and Ace also loved hearing it and looked forward to it, even if they never demanded or said.
Dragon picked up Sabo carefully in his arms and placed him in the adjacent bed of Ace. He looked at Ace, who was drooling from his mouth. The boy has gone through a lot. The tortures of Impel Down. The gauged chest of his. Everything would have been so painful.
He looked at Luffy and tucked a hair strand back to his ear. His son looked too peaceful, and still, which didn't suit him. Not at all. He needs to get Luffy to the sea. Ace would be awake in maximum 3 days but if the doctor had said Luffy is in coma, that would take a longer time. And neither he can wait nor the sea that long.
Notes:
I hope the chapter was okay.
Have a good day/night!
Chapter 12: 12
Summary:
Monkey D. Luffy, and Gol D. Ace are dead. All he felt was joy. Two future threats were removed from the history. Even if he didn't get what Money D. Luffy was, he won't bother with the dead anymore.
"Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Ace dies. Marines emerge victorious!"
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Dragon got outside to find the surgeon, Trafalgar D. Water Law, who goes by the name Trafalgar Law.
"Trafalgar D. Water Law," Dragon spoke in a low, calm voice, so that only Law, who was lookning at the approaching marine ship, could hear that. Law stiffened for a moment and turned back. How the heck do people know his secret name?!!! Law's eyes widened for a minute seeing the World's most wanted criminal standing on his deck. When did he come on his submarine? It's the worst time, the man could have shown up. First, there is a battleship coming from back and now in front of him is the Revolutionary leader.
'Fuck.'
"What do I owe the pleasure of having the leader of The Revolutionary Army on my ship?" Law said, being careful. He can't be one of the names in his target list. He can't face the most wanted man right now at least. He held his sword tightly, ready to attack if required.
"Thank you!" Law blinked his eyes repeatedly, seeing The Most Wanted Of The World, doing a light bow to him. "Thank you for saving and treating Ace, Sabo and Luffy!"
Law found his words back in his throat and as he nodded his head. His doctor self took over his pirate self. "It's my job as a doctor. No need to thanks me."
"I owe you one." Dragon spoke, making Law look at him. "Don't hesitate to tell me if you want any favors from me. Also, that battleship," Dragon pointed to the fastly approaching marine ship, "Is ours."
Law didn't expect this. When he had decided to save Straw hat and his brothers, he hadn't expected any treatment from anyone. He just did it, because he wanted to. He wanted the D brothers to live, only because he is a D. He felt a pull towards them and he left Sabaody to rescue them. He had never thought that he will get any favors from the Revolutionary Army.
"What do you know about the Will of D?" Law asked the most sensible question, he ever had since Corazon told him that the people with D are the enemies of the God.
Dragon gave a small smile. "All you could ask was this?
"Just answer me and we are even!" Law gritted his teeth. All those years he had wished to know about the letter D, and know he was about to get it.
"Very well." Dragon replied. "But I'm not the exact person, who has the answer." Law averted his eyes from Dragon, his hope was all gone. Wasn't the Revolutionary Army supposed to know answers of each and everything? Weren't they feared for that? Why don't they know the answer to his only question?!!
"Then who shall I ask?" Law asked with annoyance. He doesn't care anymore if this is the Most Wanted Man in the World. He just feels pissed off.
"Find a man who looks and acts like a kid, whose smile can melt even a cold heart. Whose eyes seem to look into your soul. Whose presence makes you forget the worries of the world." Dragon looked at Law directly in his eyes. "And you will have your answer."
.
"How is Luffy doing?" Hancock jumped onto the deck of the submarine, which they have been following ever since the war ended.
"You did well to figure out we were surfacing here. We thought the marines were here, so we freaked out for a moment." Bepo said politely.
The fact that they were continuously freaking out due to one after one surprises was truly fearful. First, the sea kings surrounding the whole submarine, underwater and above water, which were now underwater but still guarding the submarine. Second, the presence of the World's Most Wanted Criminal, The Revolutionary Dragon, who was sitting in the infirmary and watching his kids. Third, the marine battleship which appeared to be approaching them. Yep, they could have had a lot of heart attacks by now. Even some of the Heart Pirates have fainted due to all of this.
"Salome was following you on the sea floor." Hancock said pointing to the sea snake, which was always by her side. "And don't change the subject, you beast!"
"Sorry..." Bepo said in a low voice and gave a bow.
"I've done all I can. the effectiveness of the operation is tied to his condition. He's taken impossible amount of damage. I can't guarantee he'll survive." Law said in his annoyed voice.
"Of course! Hihaa!" Ivankov said from the battleship and jumped on the submarine, making it sway in the water. "VThey'll live." Ivankov said and went inside to check on his nephews, followed by Hack and Koala.
Hancock bit her lips. "How tragic. If I could, I'd suffer in his place."
'It must be nice having the Pirate Empress think of you that way.' Sachi and Penguin thought.
"You beast," Hancock said to Bepo. "Do you have a denden mushi?" She and Dragon had discussed of taking her beloved and his brothers to Amazon Lily for recovery. But when she had asked for the denden mushi to make a call to Kuja Pirates, she was denied. But she didn't turn him into stone for that, because he offended her. 'After all, he is my father in law!' Hancock thought, blushing a bit.
"If we call the Kuja pirate ship, we can pull this submarine across the calm belt." But unknown to Hancock, the sea kings will always be there for their young king. Meaning, the submarine or the Kuja Pirate ship, will be surrounded by sea kings. Whether she likes it or not.
"If the government learns Luffy and Ace are alive after this," Hancock said with a newspaper in her hands. "They will definitely come after them. We'll hide them on the Isle of Women and if I'm still one of the warlords, they can safely recover there."
.
On the other side in the Marine Headquarters, which have been raised to the ground, Sengoku sits on a pile of rubble, all alone, feeling the loss from the war. After the war, the first thing which he did was think and search about the powers that kid, Monkey D. Luffy, show cased. He was about to contact the Five Elders when a newscoo came and gave him the happiest news he ever had.
Monkey D. Luffy, and Gol D. Ace are dead. All he felt was joy. Two future threats were removed from the history. Even if he didn't get what Money D. Luffy was, he won't bother with the dead anymore.
"Monkey D. Luffy and Gol D. Ace dies. Marines emerge victorious!"
He had read the article several times but still couldn't believe that they were dead. There was a picture of three brothers. Fire Fist kneeling on the ground, with his gauged chest, Straw Hat lying lifeless in front of him, with a deeper gauged chest and The Chief Of Staff's watery eyes and him in a crouch position, probably to collect his brothers dead bodies.
He does feel pity for his best friend, who was inconsolable after he heard the news. He had destroyed what was left of Marineford, before being knocking himself out due to grief of losing two of his grandsons in a day. The poor man was so sure they had survived..
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!! So here's where you are!! We've been able to confirm the situation at Impel Down." Sengoku looked up from the newspaper to see a marine saluting at him. He nodded to say him at ease.
"Is Magellan all right?" Sengoku asked.
"He was badly injured, and just barely alive. He's being treated in ICU. He's very straight forward man, he's already taken responsibility for everything. If he could move, he might try to commit suicide." The marine said. The fact that Magellan was bleeding and his skull was crushed badly, making him on the door steps of death, was left unsaid.
"Don't let him do anything that stupid. Just what happened inside the prison?" Sengoku asked as he rubbed his temple.
"Judging by the aftermath, Level 6 was where the most tragic incident happened. Blackbeard chose his crew from the worst prisoners in the world. He brought 4 prisoners out with him. But there are many more prisoners from Level 6 missing." That was a side effect of Sengoku being happy since yesterday.
"Confirm the number and name of escapees and send out wanted posters immediately! Even a single Level 6 class prisoner could be a huge danger to a country out there." Sengoku said with an annoyed voice. He seriously doesn't want to deal with this right now.
The officer stopped in his path, contemplating how should he say the rest.
"What's wrong?" Sengoku asked seeing the uneasiness.
"The government has ordered that the Level 6 incident be covered up. Any further failures could cause faith in the government to fail."
"...??!!! Are you kidding me?!!"Sengoku screeched. Seriously, he is thinking of retiring now. All the bullshit of the government and their propaganda. Akoji can take the position instead of him. He will make sure to submit his retiring letter and the recommendation letter for the next Fleet Admiral to the Five Elders.
.
Sabo is sitting in the same place he has been when he first came into the submarine. He had woken up hours ago, watching his brothers breathe. That was the only thing keeping him sane right now. Trafalgar Law would come once in two hours to check up on his patients. Ace was recovering fast according to Law. While Luffy was not showing any movement. Law had been asking him questions since he had done his operation on Luffy. About his hear beat. About his blood, which seemingly was rushing like water in his veins.
Dragon had glared at the man, shutting him up for once and all. When they were left to isolation, Dad explained his plan of getting Luffy out of the submarine and into his mother's arms. The ocean water in which the submarine laid, was getting feisty and impatient, despite it being the Calm Belt. The sea kings were roaring most of the times, seemingly displeased by the lack of their little King.
With a last look on his brothers's face, he nodded at his Dad. They left the little infirmary in care of Hack to watch over, with Koala with them. Law was sitting on one of his coach reading about human anatomy, when they approached him.
.
Law was reading books about human anatomy all 'cause he feels like he has missed something. May be that is why Strawhat-ya's heart beat sounded funny and his the flow of blood in his veins seemed abnormal. But Law knew that is was not. He had treated thousands of men and women and children alike. He had done surgery of hundreds in his short life yet he never felt the way Strawhat-ya does. He is a mystery for him and he wants to solve it. Even if it's not his place.
"We are taking Luffy." Dragon's voice came ahead of him, snapping him out of his puzzle. What? Did he hear correct? Straw hat needs treatment and needs medicinal assistance till the time he gets up.
"You can't take him away!" Law got up from the couch. His book forgotten in it. He got a glare from the Second in Command, Sabo and Dragon seemed to understand what he was implying.
"We have a doctor." He pointed towards the orange haired girl standing beside him. "Koala can take care of Luffy just fine. You think about Ace."
He looked at Koala, who was giving him a tight grin. Her body language betrayed every look of her being a doctor. Law couldn't hand a teenager whose life is hanging on a thin thread to a fake-doctor.
"What is the type of coma Straw hat-ya is in?" He asked through gritted teeth towards Koala, who gave him a glare instead of an answer. It shuts him up. Getting glares from three highest ranking Revolutionaries were never on his list when he decided to pick Strawhat. If he lets Strawhat go now, he will probably die. Not that he cares, but his well formulated plan will crush to pieces. Fuck! He will have to do with some one else.
"Fine. Go get him. But don't blame me when he's dead." Law said as he took into his coach again, not sparing a glance at the people in front of him. He peeks through his books and sees Dragon come out of the infirmary with Mugiwara-ya in his arms. He is not connected with any machines and he can see the rising chest falling up and down rapidly. It worries him and something inside him wants to protest at the childish behavior of the Most Wanted Man, but a glare from The Second in Command keeps his mouth shut.
.
Dragon with Luffy in his arms and Sabo behind him, rushes out of the submarine. The coast was clear, but they need to get away from there as much as they could. And luckily, they find a little cove nearby. Dragon dashes to that side.
Dragon gently places Luffy in the ocean, in his mother's safe arms. Two gentle, transparent arms weave out of the ocean and carries Luffy at the surface. It swipes over Luffy's wounds softly as if Luffy is the most fragile thing in the World and opens up the bandages. Luffy's wounds disappears with each swipe of the cradling arms before he is taken in. Deep. Deep in the ocean's depth.
The sea is still now. The sea kings are no where to be felt. But Dragon can feel their presence guarding and shielding his son, who is laying at the sea bed. Dragon can feel Sabo biting his lips as he can't see Luffy anymore. But Dragon knows it is the safest place where Luffy can ever be. The protectiveness of the Sea flares as the water doesn't allow anyone to enter.
Dragon doesn't know how, but he feels that The Sea is guilty. Guilty for not being able to protect her child in Marineford. If Dragon were to say something, then he knows she won't be returning Luffy soon.
.
Ace wakes up the next day and demands to see Luffy. Law tries to hold the firecracker in the infirmary but gives up at the end. He really regrets now taking into the D brothers in his ship. Law hasn't seen any ship docked on Amazon Lily except for his submarine. So, where did Dragon and Koala take Strawhat? He had tried asking for further developments on the teen only to be snapped at. Koala, the fake-doctor, always stays at his submarine, so how was she treating Strawhat. Something sounds fishy but he doesn't say. But a tiny part of him wonders if Straw hat is still alive. Not that he cares at all. He wouldn't admit it's freaking him out. Not at all.
Sabo tries to talk some sense into Ace, but his silent tears before Ace betray him. Ace doesn't like the reactions he was getting so he requests and begs Sabo to take him to Luffy. He doesn't like how Sabo bites his lips and tries to look away. Sabo eyes at Hack and tries to convey something but Ace doesn't understand at all.
"Hack is the only one who has been able to see Luffy today morning since the last day." Sabo says in a low voice. Ace feels frozen. If what Sabo was implying that means Luffy is with his mother, which means he is healed probably. If Luffy's with his mother still that means...
Ace chokes on his sob. "D-Don't tell me..."
"We don't know Ace. We don't know." Sabo cries freely into his chest and Ace holds Sabo with his good arm. "Dad's sitting on the shore ever since Luffy went under."
Ace attempts to get up, but looses his balance but Sabo is quick to be his side. They walk outside the submarine ignoring the protests of the Heart Pirates and its captain. He is fine and doesn't need anything, anymore. All he needs is his baby brother and family back at his side. He had gone for three days already, but the missed meals doesn't hurt as much as the missing sunshine of his baby brother.
Koala and Hack keeps an eye on the Heart Pirates while Ace and Sabo makes their way to the shore, sitting beside Dragon quietly. Their each eyes on the sea, which looked too calm even for Calm Belt.
"What happened in Impel Down?" Dragon breaks the silence looking at Sabo. "The things Iva told me, even if half, were it true?"
Ace looks between Dad and Sabo and feels like he is not told something. Ace looks at Sabo expectantly, while Sabo bites his lips and nods.
"Luffy got hit by Magellan's poison." Dread creeps up to Ace's body. "Iva-chan injected him and me with his hormones, leading us to loose some part of our lifespans."
Ace's world was rotating in a wrong direction
Notes:
Luffy is underwater and we don't know when or if the sea would return him to us. Law is worried. The Newscoo is saying Ace and Luffy are dead, what could possibly happen now?
How will the world react to the news? We'll see in the next chapter!
I hope everyone reading with have a great day/night!
Chapter 13: 13
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The news was delayed for sometime to reach the other parts of the World. But after three days of the war, each and every part of the World knew who came victorious. It was the Marines. People were happy to know that justice prevailed. That three threats of the World Government were removed from the World. But in some parts of the World, people cried. Cried on the news of the death of Portgas D. Ace and Monkey D. Luffy.
"Wh... What is this?" In Weatheria, the Island where Nami was sent by Kuma, exclaimed in shock, after reading the news and seeing the gruesome picture of her captain along with his brother dead.
After spending more than a week in Weatheria luxuriously, she had never thought that her captain was fighting for his and his brothers life. She wasn't expecting to read that her captain had participated in a freaking war without them. The one time her captain needed her help, she wasn't there. And now, he is dead.
She collapsed on the ground, cluthing the newspaper in death grip, with tears falling incessantly. Her body shook like a leaf in the air. Her breath became raspy and her mind fuzzy. She couldn't hear the small dwarfs speaking to her. All she was hearing were muffled voices.
"Luffy!" She exclaimed after reading the news.
She didn't care if her captain was the Son of Dragon the Revolutionary. All she cared was Luffy was Luffy.
"I... I won't believe this." She said through choked tears. "This is fake. Luffy can't be dead."
She started trembling as she tried to pick herself from the ground, but her legs refused to work.
Her savior, her captain, her friend can't be dead. He has to be alive. It must be fake. She won't believe that the words and picture were true. She is the navigator of the Strawhat Pirates and Luffy is her captain, the one who will be the King of The Pirates.
She was his navigator, yet she left him without a path to follow. She left him lost and confused... because of her incompetence he followed the wrong path and died... She will never forgive herself.
She promised to make a map of the world. She'll keep that promise with Luffy and herself in mind, if he can't reach his goal she will.
"W-What did you say?" Zoro's swords slipped off his hands, looking at Mihawk with wide eyes.
"Straw-hat Luffy and Fire Fist Ace died right before Bloody Gentleman Sabo." Mihawk answered and handed the newspaper to Zoro, who quickly grabbed and read the contents in disbelief. His sword, which he had raised to challenge the man, long forgotten on the ground.
A picture of his best friend, his captain, the one whom he had swore to defend and give his life was laying lifeless on the ground. The blood which was normally not seen on Luffy was oozing from his chest, which was blurred.
Zoro tried to say something, anything, but no sound came out. He just stared in shock at the picture. Drops and drops of water fell on the newspaper, which he was holding as if his life depended on it. He didn't even notice his warm and wet cheeks, as tears splattered on the still body of his captain.
He's weak. He's pathetic. How can be become the world's best swordsman if he can't even protect his captain? He swore to become the best swordsman for Luffy and Kuina, and now they're both dead.
His left hand found his way to his cheeks and it came wet. He was thinking and re-reading the paper when he had came to the port. The baboons had avoided him and Zoro didn't know why. If it was due to the fight which he gave them earlier or due to pity.
He doesn't show his emotions, but his friend was everything to him. He had lost another friend. He had lost another best friend and it hurts more this time.
'Why wasn't I there?' Zoro cursed himself letting himself fall on the ground. Tears dripping from his eyes, he doesn't even bother to remove them anymore.
He should have been there. There, when his captain needed him. There, when his captain was fighting to rescue his brother. He should have been right next to Luffy.
His eyes went to the endless ocean in front of him and something inside him clicked. Luffy can't die. He can't, if what he is thinking is right. He won't believe it till he sees Luffy's grave himself.
Once a small reindeer was walking calmly around, he spots a News Coo bird and collects the weeks news. Before he reads it he decides to sit down on a nearby bench for comfort.
He then glances down at the newspaper.
A little squeak was heard. A small reindeer was sitting on a bench holding a newspaper in his hooves. Tears were endlessly flowing from his eyes. The primitive looking humans and the giant birds looked at Chopper with worry.
"Waahhh!!! LUFFY!" He shouted and screamed for the person who had been there for him once he had found him. He cried for the friend and captain he lost. For the failure he felt deep within himself. He couldn't believe that Luffy was dead.
He ran and ran until there was no sight of him in the forest. Only the sounds of crying could be heard in the distance. He stumbled and fell, but he doesn't care about his own injuries at the moment.
He was the doctor, the person Luffy could always rely on, the person that helped him heal after battles. Luffy saved him and doctrine, yet he couldn't help Luffy when he was needed the most.
He looked at the partly blurred out torso of Ace and Luffy, such damages he couldn't even fathom to fix. He was a failure to the strawhat crew... He hopes the others won't kick him out since he failed to do his job... Maybe if Luffy had a better doctor he would have survived.
Chopper doubted himself, doubted he was good enough for the crew. He should get better, be the best doctor there is! So that no other crewmate would ever suffer for long if he could help them.
Somewhere on a snowy bridge.
A revolutionary gets the upcoming newspaper from the News Coo.
"Thanks bird." He puts a coin where the newspaper once was.
He looks at the newspaper cover and freezes. He starts to sweat, confusion and misery clear on his face. No way... This can't be true... Right?
Other revolutionaries seeing the dismay on his face worriedly asked, "What's wrong? Let us see!" They snatched the newspaper from him impatiently, but they too were left frozen.
It's quiet, too quiet for anybody's liking. Suddenly they start to tear up, some bawl their eyes out.
"Cyra! Cole! They're dead!" Anyone who didn't know why the others were crying now understood and started to mourn. The sunshine and trouble makers they grew up with... were now dead. Lost to the world of no return. This hit more than anything could have to everyone.
Not too far away a newly made and freed labor worker overheard the revolutionary army.
Cole? Cyra? Aren't those the pirates that were a giant nuisance to the world government? Hadn't Cole disappeared from the world around 3 years ago? What had she missed?
She walked among the grieving soldiers, and decided to look at the newspaper herself. Shock was plastered on her face as well. Cole? Crya? THESE PEOPLE ARE ACE AND LUFFY?!
Cole and Crya... were Ace and Luffy, her captain... Her saviour, the person who convinced her to live.. Had died. Because of the government. Died because of the Navy. She will never forgive herself for letting another of her friends die. He was the one Saul was talking about... Then why? Why was the world so cruel to take him away from her too?
Does she really not deserve happiness?
"What are you saying?" The black haired woman who had been rescued by the Revolutionaries, looked at them with wide blue eyes. She didn't want to believe what the paper was saying. No she just couldn't.
Her whole body was shaking, not from the cold but from the feeling of emptiness that she felt for the loss of an energetic and sunshine captain. Her savior, who had given her the will to live.
"You are joking, right?" Another blue-haired man beside her asked to the man who relayed the news with trembling lips. "Cyra and Cole can't be dead. It's a lie!"
The person had been with the trio brothers and had seen the way they had lightened the Revolutionary Base with their smiles, their laughs and giggles. She had seen how they had brought slaves from their shells and a smile on their face. She had seen them change everyone in some way or other. And now they were lost. Lost and beyond found.
This only fueled their anger towards the world government. How dare they take the lives of such wonderful people? It doesn't matter, they'll take their revenge.
Some people stopped to think, what about Sabo and Dragon? What about Hack and Koala? Were they okay?
They need to call Dragon to get conformation, or at least to comfort Dragon during his mourning.
"WHAT IS THIS?"
In a forest of Boin Archipelago, a chubby man was seen holding a newspaper. Tears ran from his eyes as he howled in pain. He couldn't say anything but only cry holding the newspaper close to his chest.
He cried and cried, the empathy from Heracles was not helping him at all. The man, lost in his thoughts was so utterly devastated.
He is a coward, and is no closer to being a brave warrior then when he left Syrup Village. Here he was enjoying life, feasting, while his captain was fighting for his and Ace's life. Luffy and Ace, now dead, while he enjoyed his life in paradise... The paradise Luffy would have loved.
The thoughts clouded his mind, he was always negative but... This was a new low. He was inconsolable, he couldn't eat anymore. Why would he even deserve to eat? He was happy when his captain was fighting and now he is dead...
He decided to run, run and run.
He runs because that what he always does. He runs because he's a coward, runs because he's scared. And runs because he can't face his problems.
He wouldn't eat nor drink, just run. He was panting and heaving, but that wouldn't stop him. He deserves this pain, even if it's only a small fraction of what Luffy went through. He deserves to suffer because of his incompetence as a 'brave warrior of the sea'.
Usopp finally trips and gets trapped in a giant Venus fly trap. He can't see properly from his tears, he can't concentrate because of his thoughts and feelings. He couldn't escape.
Suddenly Heracles swoops in and helps Usopp out. He pulls overweight man out before it would've been too late.
Usopp thanked Heracles, but he truly was worthless since he can't even escape from a fly trap.
Heracles shakes Usopp, who now for the first time in hours can hear his voice. "Usoppun, Usoppun! Why are you crying? Brave warriors such as yourself shouldn't cry for no reason!" Heracles tries to cheer Usopp up but only sours the mood.
"I'm no brave warrior... I'm a coward." Usopp answers, which shocks Heracles.
"What? Nonsense!" Heracles tries to correct Usopp. "Tell me what's so wrong?"
Usopp finally lets out what's bothering him, and shows Heracles the newspaper. He now understands that Usopp has every right to cry. After a small while the two are mourning together.
"Brave warriors cry too, you need to lose to feel the weight of winning. Your Captain, was a brave warrior just like you. And now it's your turn to protect what you care for, Usoppun." Heracles tries to motivate Usopp into not giving up. "You have to live for the ones that survived, not give up for the ones you lost." Heracles continues, "Mourning is fine, but don't give up on the crew that's left behind."
After a lot of talking Usopp decides to head back to where the crew will meet up, and be the warrior that was once Luffy. And conquer his fears.
On the edge of a cliff, stood a man wearing a dress and make up. The News Coo bird flew to the now turned Okama, handing him the newspaper.
The Okama reads the title and goes as still as stone.
Trails of tears dripped with the now shedding make up from his face. His eyes were shaking and his hands were trembling at the very existence of such a news. This was hell..
The makeup he once wore now wiped away, water streams from his eyes. He is a failure. His captain, the person who he promised to protect, the person who promised to help him to find the All Blue, now dead, deceased.
It must be a lie, a government propaganda, it can't be true! But.. The wound on both Ace and Luffy looked too real to be fake, Sabo near them in tears, probably in denial about their deaths..
He closes his eyes. This is too much. This isn't how it ends, right?
An Okama walks elegantly to the crying blond. "What's wrong? Don't cry! Your makeup is now ruined."
The Okama tries to wipe the blonds tears away but they can't. Sanji runs away.
He can't believe it, here he thought he was in hell while Luffy was in literal hell, he outright died. The idiot was fighting Admirals, and didn't think twice. While Sanji was running from some people who wanted to play dress up with him. It was clear who was in hell, and who got lucky.
Sanji has failed as a combatant, like his father always said, a failure. He can't even protect the ones he's closest too. He was supposed to be there, be by the young ones side.
Now he won't have to cook food for the bottomless pit, he won't have to fight to keep him out the kitchen, but it didn't feel right.
Luffy was the nuisance he'd die for, but he's late. He fails everyone. Failed Judge, failed his father Zeff for not doing anything right, and now he fails his crew for not helping the captain and getting whisked away to some island.
Sanji has a breakdown, the Okama not far behind him now. What can he even do?
In a cell, there sat a skeleton, who was doing nothing.
He was bored and saddened that his journey back to Saboady is taking so long, he didn't mean to be Satan, he didn't want conflict. Maybe being peaceful wasn't the answer but that shouldn't mean they should lock him up!
People of some cult were surrounding him, laughing at him, being intrigued by the fact he's a skeleton or that he has such short arms.
When he found a newspaper, he was glad to finally have something to do instead of sitting idly in his cage. He picks the newspaper up.
His eyes, which he doesn't have, stuck on the very first page.
"Oh..." He's first in shock, then he slowly places the newspaper down. Maybe he read it wrong, that the picture was of someone else.
He takes a deep breath and lifts the paper up once more, for a moment nothing happens, then tears form on his sockets even though he doesn't have eyes.
This is one cruel joke... Right?
"This can't be... No... He can't be..." The words don't leave his mouth, he has lost his captain once more.
He managed to say goodbye to his previous captain before he abandoned him, but not to Luffy.
He never managed to play him one last song, never managed to say goodbye. Why was the world so cruel? So vicious?
He may had only been a straw hat for one month but that was plenty of time to get to know his crew. He would play tunes for everyone, he wasn't alone.
Finally he won't have to endure the pain of loneliness no more, a wish that now won't come true anymore... He lost his captain again. The one that let him go out into the sun.
He feels so empty, he doesn't even know where the rest of the crew are. He doesn't know where anyone is, not even Luffy's grave.
He's alone again. The world truly hasn't changed, gave him hope only to rip it away from him.
This most be the cruelest joke in his life.
Meanwhile a cyborg is walking towards a defeated mechanical polar bear after finding a stash of Cola was sported in panties in the cold, snowy weather.
The polar bear had an inbuilt fax machine which seems to put out the latest news, that's the last thing the mechanical bear did before completely malfunctioning.
Franky curiously gets the newspaper since it might have some information he could use.
As he takes a look he freezes. He doesn't believe his eyes.
"WHAT?! THAT'S NOT LUFFY! IT CAN'T BE?" He starts to freak out amidst the snow, ice and powered off cyborg animals.
He reads the newspaper, it's difficult because of the tears that fall from his eyes but he won't give up. He has to know what happened.
"Monkey D Luffy and Gold Ace now dead!" The title is painful to read.
"The war of the BEST, between the Whitebeard pirates lead by the strongest man alive and the glorious Navy has ended!
The Marines emerge victorious by taking the lives of Whitebeard, the son of the revolutionary Dragon, Monkey D Luffy, and the son of the deceased Pirate King, Gold Ace, who had been using a fake name 'Portgas D' Ace to cover up his terrible heritage and heinous bloodline.
The world is now a safer place for all, as the blood of the most dangerous people have been wiped out!"
Franky can't read any further, It's too much for him to handle.
He is distraught, his captain... is now dead... Why? Why did Luffy have to die?
He doesn't care that Luffy has some 'terrible' heritage, or that he's the son of the Revolutionary Dragon. He already knew that and that changed nothing.
Luffy was one of the best people in his life, and he was the one to help Franky with his dream. To have his ship travel the world, experience countless battles and for it to reach Laugh Tale.
Franky's tears clouded his vision. He doesn't want to cry, he can't cry. But maybe it's fine to let it out, yeah...
As soon as the thought crossed his mind he bursts out in tears. He clenches the newspaper with all his might, hoping it would bring even the smallest amount of relief, which it doesn't.
His captain, who was there when he needed someone, has died. He was saved by the straw hats lead by Luffy, yet he couldn't save Luffy.
Somewhere in the east blue a small village of windmills is in distress and anguish.
In a kingdom of sand and stone a princess crys in her bed.
In a town that was once imprisoned, the people mourn their savior.
In the village of the man that cried pirate, a woman is saddened.
In a kingdom of ice and snow, a doctor is worried about too many things.
On a ship which once held the strongest, the crews tears fall without means to an end of the death for a leader, a father and a dear comrade.
Notes:
Yo! Rin here!
I personally loved the chapter! What are your thoughts guys?
Without the help of Decoy this chapter was impossible. Or to be specific without Decoy I don't think I could have posted the chapter, since it was incomplete. Decoy took the pain to complete it, and I seriously love it.
So, do tell Decoy your thoughts!
Have a good day/night!
Chapter 14: 14
Summary:
The one and only thing he knew was something has happened, and it is probably in the news. Shanks took the newspaper from Benn, slowly bringing his eyes to the newspaper.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Rayleigh had seen the broadcast, witnessed the HQ exploding, Ace and Luffy being attacked, sure he knew they got hurt dangerously enough to die.. He saw the second in command, Sabo pick the bodies up and run away.
Rayleigh wouldn't believe that the kid who carried the will of Roger, his former captain and the captain's son had died. So, he did what he thought was best. He headed to the Isle of Women, where Kuma had pointed to him, after making the straw hat pirates make a safe escape.
But unluckily his boat crashed in the storms of the grandline , so he swam. But the thing which was unusual was that the currents helped him in swimming through the calm belt. And the sea kings didn't approach him.
Swimming was easier then usually, like if the sea wanted him to head towards the island of women. Something massive most have been happening if that's the case. What is he getting into?
He can theorize why the sea kings never did approach but how was he able to easily go through the calm belt? The currents? He got no answer regarding those.
When he reached the shore, dripping all wet, he saw one thing: A submarine, and the pirate group which were in Sabaody. The next he heard were giggles and laughter from the other side of the shore and what he saw widened his eyes. Straw hat Luffy and Fire Fist Ace. They were alive and being devil fruit users, playing in the sea water. Splashing water to each other and not for a moment were they exhausted.
They were playing. the wounds that meant to have lead to their deaths seemed to have disappeared, mostly at least.
Even if you had small hope they were alive he had expected them to be in bed or barely moving. And probably no where near the sea, and yet.. This is truly strange.
"HEY?! WHO ARE YOU?!" A pirate from the Heart Pirates successfully made him break his eyes from the playing teens to the pirates ahead of him.
"Ah, I know you people. We met at the Sabaody Archipelago." Rayleigh said as he approached the pirates.
"DARK KING RAYLEIGH?" A pirate yelled.
"Well, you see. I ran into a nasty storm out at sea. My boat sank, so I had to swim the rest of the way." Rayleigh said wringing his shirt. "My body doesn't move the way it used to, I really am getting old."
"A storm?! There are no storms in the calm belt! Which means, your boat sank outside the calm belt and you actually swam all this way?!" A pirate with a penguin hat said with astonishment.
The commotion brought out the brothers out of their playing in the waters and approached him. Ace grinned at him while Luffy showed his usual wide D grin. Sabo, the other brother, whom he had never seen, was standing with them, with a light grin.
"Now then." Rayleigh said with a smile to the boys. "You have quite a story to tell." At this the brothers just grinned and Sabo, which he assumes the brain of the three, started telling the story of how they escaped Marineford and met Trafalgar Law, who operated on the brothers. But but that reminded Rayeligh, shouldn't they be covered in bandages? The picture of their wounds were brutal, even if they were blurred. He saw Law from his corner of eyes, and could see him cursing.
"How did you both recovered so fast?" Rayleigh asked with his eyebrows raised. He looks curiously at the boys, making sure to listen
"It's was-" Luffy was interrupted by the blonde and the raven haired, Ace, scowled, showing it clearly that whatever the secret was they were not ready to say it yet.
"Lu, I think Hancock is bringing lots of meat!" Sabo interrupted Luffy, who bounced from the back of Ace and ran in the direction of food.
"Sorry for the inconvenience," The blonde brother said. "I'm Sabo, the other brother of these two idiots." He pointed to Ace and Luffy, who were devouring food at a supersonic rate. "My brothers and I have some fast healing bodies. Now, if you excuse me, I am a bit hungry."
Rayleigh nodded, getting the memo that it was their secret to keep. He turned towards the Heart Pirates and told them that they can leave now, if they want. He started talking to Glorissa and delivered the message from Shakky to her.
He told them about how Kuma told him about the direction he had propelled Luffy and Sabo and how after calculating everything he had thought that the brothers were in the Isle of the Women. But he did not believe it when Shakky had said that Hancock would fall in love with Luffy and keep him in Isle of Women.
After eating their meal, Luffy turned towards him.
"What are you doing all the way here?" It was Ace who asked.
"I just didn't believe the news that you both were dead." Rayleigh said with a smile.
"We were just about to head back out to Sabaody by following the Vivre card. Where are the others?" Luffy asked enthusiastically.
"Well, I doubt they have all been reunited just yet and I don't think it would be wise to leave now. Specially for you both." Rayleigh said in a serious tone, pointing to Ace and Luffy, who titled their head sideways in confusion with Sabo too. That was when it clicked Rayleigh, that they didn't now about the recent news.
"Have you read the newspaper?" Rayeligh asked skeptically, to which he got a 'No'.
"Portgas D. Ace and Monkey D. Luffy are dead to the world." That got a reaction from the brothers.
"What?!"
"Maybe I can help." Hancock said, after finally over, after swooning at Luffy. She ordered one of the Kuja to show the newspaper which she had brought. The brothers read the newspaper, and were astonished.
"But I'm not dead," Luffy said in confusion. Why is the paper lying?
"Yeah, me too." Ace said, making Sabo deadpanned at his brother's antics.
"We can take advantage of this and you both can finally recover well." Sabo said showing the advantage they were in.
"But I'm fine." Ace and Luffy said together.
Rayleigh smiled. "Now shall we head down to business, Luffy?" That got a raised eyebrow from the brothers, who protectively stood beside their little brother.
"You said that you intend to head to Sabaody from here, yes?" Rayeligh asked, formulating and fixing his plans.
"Uh-huh!" Luffy said with a grin. "I have to meet up with my crew!"
"Are you absolutely certain about that?" Rayleigh asked. "I am sure you remember what happened to you all on that Island."
"But that was only because I was keeping my promise," Luffy said cocking his head. He had made a promise to not use his full strength until time comes, for his Mumma.
"What?" Rayleigh asked with a raised eyebrow. A promise so great that Luffy wouldn't even break if to save his friends? With who?
"Mumma asked me to promise to not unleash my true strength until I turn 19," Luffy said with his arms crossed on his chest and a pout on his face. Luffy thought it was dumb, why should he even wait?
"What does it even mean?" Rayleigh asked rubbing his temple. This Monkey D. Luffy was even more complicated to understand than Roger. Which is surprising in itself, what a child to be found by Shanks.
"He is not joking," Ace said looking at him with pity.
"But if you don't unleash your true strength then you and your crew stand no chance against the New World," Rayleigh pointed it out.
Luffy made a thinking gesture and thought and thought, until he was all red.
"Hey! Hey!" Sabo said breaking Luffy from his thoughts. "No need to think that much."
"I have a plan," Rayeligh stated, getting down to his business. "Take a break for 2 years. It would be beneficial for you and your crew. And by the time your back to fighting you can use your full power when you need it."
"That will help them be strong," Ace said getting the point. He had seen the crew in alabasta, they definitely need improvement that lack if they plan to survive the new world. Even if they have the sea and Luffy on their side.
"Also the places where Kuma sent them are related quite to their fields," Sabo stated, having gathered the information from Dragon himself. Dragon is extremely saddened by Kuma, his final choices were to help the crew of the man Kuma had worshipped.
"That does the job," Rayleigh said trying to read the little brat's haki, who claimed to not use his full strength yet. And just like the other time he had met the enigma he can't sense anything from him.
"Okay, then I will inform them to stay there!" Luffy said with his signature smile.
"And how will you do that?" Rayleigh asked feeling a bit amused by the situation. Roger was less of an idiot than the other standing before him.
"Simple, I will ask Mom to do that for me!" Luffy said running off.
.
"Coby..." Helmeppo looked worriedly at his friend from the doorway. They had both grieved for Luffy's death, but Coby had always been much closer to the straw-hat wearing youth and it showed in his slumped posture.
"I thought that if I became a marine, I could protect the world from evil. That I would be able to fight for what I believe in. I trained so hard so that I could become strong and he would acknowledge me. But I'm still weak, aren't I?"
Silence fell for a long while, Coby choking back the sobs that threatened to return. But finally his fists clenched, and when he opened his eyes again they were still over-bright but shinning with determination.
"Hey Helpmeppo... I promised Luffy-san that I would an Admiral someday. I'm not going to stop until I reach that. I'm going to change this rotten order from the inside."
A ghost of a smile returned to his lips at his friend's resolve, Helmeppo saluted sharply. "I'll follow you to the end, sir."
Helmeppo doesn't doubt Coby's words for even a second. Coby had grown quite a bit since they first met, and Helmeppo finds him to be a great marine.
.
"BUOOOOOHHHH...!"
"Laboon!"
Crocus looked sadly at the wailing giant whale, heedless to his attempts to placate him. The newspaper that had brought that terrible fate to him still hung loosely in one hand.
Crocus had told Laboon where the news had come. He didn't want him to give any false hope that Straw hat Luffy will return one day and keep his promise to the sad whale. If he would have told later, it would have been a lot crueler. The young man, in whom he had hopes, had died and nothing anyone else said could change the gruesome picture of the lifeless body that laid on the dirty ice rink in Marineford's bay.
'Why do the good men die young?'
.
Shanks was drinking in the ship after coming back from Whitebeard's funeral. It had already been a week since the War of Best happened. Shanks gave a small smile at Benn arriving with a newspaper, but frowned seeing Benn's solemn mood and not smoking.
"Oi, you alright?" Shanks asked.
Benn didn't respond, but put forward the newspaper which he was carrying around to him. Shanks was confused about what got Benn so quiet. He looked around in the Red Force and saw Lucky Roo looking into space rather than eating meat, Yasopp was rubbing his glossy eyes rather than cracking jokes, and many old members of the crew trying to stop themselves to break out. Shanks felt the tension in the ship growing with each second. The one and only thing he knew was something has happened, and it is probably in the news. Shanks took the newspaper from Benn, slowly bringing his eyes on the newspaper.
His eyes widened, he tried to catch his breath. He started to shake, trying to hold his tears, but he couldn't. He collapsed from the stool where he sitting and drinking, into the ground, with the sake getting dumped on him. He didn't care about the dampness. His hands were over his mouth, trying to suppress any undignified choke, scream and words to come out from his mouth. His Anchor was laying on the ground, with his chest gauged. His Anchor is freaking DEAD! His eyes darted to the other two figures in the newspaper. Captain's son. Revolutionary Sabo. Ace had a gauged chest too and dead. Sabo was crying kneeling in front of them.
"Lu..Luffy," He choked onto his tears. His little Anchor was dead, with a hole in his chest. But in the picture, Luffy and Ace both were smiling. He rubbed his watery eyes in favor of reading what had happened. Shanks eyes were shadowed, he bit his lips trying to hold back his tears. He is a captain, he can't be that pathetic. He read the paragraph repeatedly but he couldn't believe it.
The last chance which he got to see him, he denied. It's all his fault. He should have been there, when Luffy got hit. He should have been there early.
He looked at Benn with glossy eyes, who was looking at him with sad eyes. "Tell me... it's n-not r-real." Shanks had tried to let his voice crack, but it cracked and his last straw to not cry broke, when Benn nodded without looking at him. He cried hysterically and the last thing he remembered before giving into darkness, was Benn's gentle hands rubbing his back.
Notes:
Thank you everyone for reading till now!
After this, there is one last chapter, and as we said before this is unfinished work that we decided to not continue.But if we do eventually get to Marineford in the actual TMSWR then be sure that it will be better planned out then this.
Thanks again for reading and hope you all have a fantastic day/night.
Chapter 15: 15
Summary:
Once he was back up he would make sure the world government would forget rest. They would forget their luxury. He would make them suffer if that's what's needed for revenge.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A few hours before Rayleigh arrived...
There was a bitter tension in the air, as three people sat on the shore. On the very shore, where their brother or son was once seen. On the very shore, awaiting for him to cause ruckus and hear the unrestrained laughter.
The silence was way too endearing.
Dragon who had been questioning his life decisions was beating himself from inside. He is the leader of the Revolutionary Army who needs to keep his head calm and cool at all times to make proper decisions. Make decisions which can cause death in a single second. but above all he was a father. Father to three wild and feral kids who loved to do the unexpected.
He should have thought it through when he had decided to leave Ace, Sabo and Luffy on their own to fight the war. He should have escaped with Ace the very moment he got the chance. But no, he wanted to make an example, show the world that The Revolutionary Army is on move. And they will not stop at the face of injustice. They will crush the World Government who decide to show their merciless cheery fangs.
That's the whole reason he was here. Waiting, praying, hell, even begging mentally for the sea to return his child to him. Normally Luffy would be back within an hour or two, but damn hell! It has already been two days! He will literally beg, if that's what the sea wants from him. He will beg for forgiveness. All for to see his son, to cradle in his arms once more.
Sabo sat with his eyes locked at the waters, trying to find, pin point his baby brother to no avail. All that he was getting successful in was to get his head pound madly. He can't comprehend anything, even if he was the brain out of the three. Luffy was hurt all because he let his guard down. He let himself relax all cause their Dad was there to protect them.
Of all things in the world, Sabo should know to never lower ones guard in a battle. That was the thing he had learned from the day he had stepped his foot out of the riches his former 'home' offered him. He has learned that keeping his eyes open never hurt. Not once when that ensured his brothers safety and his. But yet he had forgotten that in that war. How could he?
He really prays that Luffy gets back soon enough. He knows that he is being selfish. But he wants to be selfish just for his brother.
Ace was dealing no better. Having woken just an hour with a pain in his gut didn't help much. But that pain was nothing compares to the hollowness which he felt in his heart. It was empty. Empty as hell. His world had frozen, stopped on its axis, hearing the underlying terror in Sabo's words. Luffy, his baby brother, their little sunshine... He was gone. Gone to his mother, who looked unsure whether to trust her child to them again or not.
Ace wanted to cry, wanted to beg, wanted nothing more than his brother at his side. He would do anything to get back the bubbly little teen back with them. Hell he would happily die for him. But here he was, torn between what to do. Unsure of the situations, unsure of everything.
Things were slowly crashing to him. Slowly making him realize what he was and whose fault the damn war was. He was fucking realising things which he had swore to never ponder on before his brothers. But the pale hands, bloody bodies cling to him-
The gurgling of the water has Ace's breath stop. Three eyes all look with hope towards the waters which turns a shade dark at the place indicating a shadow of something.
A head is the first thing to peek through the salty ocean waters. No one dares to speak, heck no one dares to take a breath as baby doe brown eyes peek through the waters slowly to stare at them.
"LUFFY!" All hell breaks as two devil fruit users and one non devil fruit user barrels towards the unsure waters toward the raven haired boy who looks just ecstatic as the others.
The reunion which they had awaited for two damn long days, the fear which had held their hearts and dared to mess with their head was gone. The little sunshine was back to them, in one piece.
"Shishishishi!" Laughter bubbles through the youngest drowning the listeners in the sweet embrace of tranquility.
"I'm so sorry!" Ace is the one who says those words with tears in his grey steeled eyes. "I-I-"
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughs cutting Ace just in time. "Its okay! I am not hurt! Silly Ace is hurt. Wait! We saved you Ace! We saved you!" The incomprehensible babbler of the teen changes to the unadulterated mirth and joy.
"We did it," A wet chuckle escapes Sabo as he hoggles Luffy the next. 'Lu is here. Ace is here. We are safe.' Sabo repeats it like a damn mantra, burying his face in the salty sunshine like hair of Luffy who winds his arms around him providing him a sanctuary to finally take in everything.
"I am glad you are okay," Dragon's voice cuts through and Luffy jumps to the tattoo faces man, hanging on him like a little koala that he is.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughs bright and free which takes away all the pain that was buried in the three's hearts, breaking then forever.
It is frightening enough to know how the little sunshine had them in his fingers. But none would want otherwise.
The little family sits on the shore with Luffy in the center packed with hugs from his father and brothers, being told how happy they were to see him back. None speaks how scared they were of losing him for once and all. But Luffy catches those emotions even before they can show on their faces.
He was feeling like he was having a hangover, sick... nauseous and so, so empty. Even his dreams didn't bring him comfort, they felt like nightmares. The news coo was just a nightmare of the many he had... Right?
When Shanks gained awareness, he didn't move from bed. He didn't feel like getting up. All he wanted was to be cooped up in his room and deny the reality, like it never happened.
That Anchor was alive. But he was a captain, he needs to be functional at least for his crew, if not for himself. So, he got up and headed straight to the kitchen, from where he took a barrel of sake and started drinking. He wanted to drink until he felt numb. He wanted to drink until he felt that Luffy was not dead and that everything was a sick dream.
Once he was back up he would make sure the world government would forget rest. They would forget their luxury. He would make them suffer if that's what's needed for revenge.
Luffy was loved by the sea, she didn't even turn him away when he got a devil fruit... He never got why Anchor didn't like the fruits being called that. But he guesses he'll never know now.
Luffy was destined for more, it was in his laugh, in his smile and in his soul. He was going to be the change the world needed, the change for the future that his captain would've wanted.
Luffy wasn't normal. He had seen him grow. Seen him annoy the government and petrify the common marines, getting a pretty bounty at such young age.
The kid was inhuman but human in the best ways. The sea even had a lot of trust in the humans taking care of Luffy. So much that she cared even for the siblings together. She would hide them when they needed it, protect them, and defend them... If they would have ever been injured she would have healed them. Shanks knew that if the water was grieving the world would be undergoing the most terrifying storms of the century.
He couldn't still believe that the news was true. He doesn't want to. How can a Sea Child be dead? He sits while drinking himself under, tearing up while his thoughts rush through his head. He feels the ships movements.
It's calm.
Shanks eyes widened and he got up in a hurry. He felt fuzzy and dizzy, with all the sake and sudden movement, but he couldn't care less. He dashed to Benn.
"Benn!! Benn!" He cried like a little child, running through the hallways and his crew looking at him with sadness and pity. But he didn't care. He just ran through the doors, may have stubbed his toe, then finally approached Benn.
Benn gave him a small sad smile. "So, you are finally awake, Captain, after three days of sleeping." Shanks blinked his eyes, not catching whatever Benn was saying. That can be discussed later.
"He can't be dead!" Shanks said, but it came out more slurred than he wanted. Shanks saw Benn giving him a sad smile again.
"Hate to break to you, Cap-"
"No, no, no!" Shanks said interjecting whatever Benn wanted to say. "How can a Sea Child be dead?!! The water is calm Benn. Calm." Shanks asked and saw Benn's eyes widening and dropping the cigarette from his mouth. Benn was the only one on Red Force to know who was Luffy's mother.
"Wait here!" Benn said as he started going through the den den numbers of the Whitebeard pirates and Shanks tailed him happily, just a bit too clumsily. The sake might have finally gotten to him.
Puru Puru Puru
Click
"Speaki-"
"It's Benn Beckman." Benn interrupted the code words of the Fourth Division Commander. "You know anything about Ace and Luffy?"
He felt the line getting silent, getting ready to give the damn answer. The answer he already knew but couldn't except.
"S-Sorry... We're planning their funeral at the moment.. We'll call you when we're done." The voice came choked. Benn rubbed his temple and saw Shanks's glossy eyes. How the hell does his captain manage to act like a kid, while being in his 40s?
"Hey, wait!" Benn said before the commander could cut the call. "We believe they are alive."
The snail's eyes widened in hope. Hope and caution, as if he didn't want to be hurt anymore. To have his hopes raised high for it to be smashed to pieces again. "H-How?"
"We can't tell that much but do you have the number of Sabo or Dragon? Or any Revolutionary Army?!" Benn asked. The brothers were together, if Shanks's hypothesis is correct even a bit. Luffy, if he's alive, should be with them. Sabo seemed still fine in the newspaper's photo so he'll bet he's still with Ace and Luffy.
"Yeah we do have. Wait a minute." The commander said and from the other snail, shuffling noises were heard before the door burst open from the other side and two people barged in.
"It's Marco here." The bored voice of the 1st division commander came up, but Benn could tell he was tired, exhausted and felt sick with everything. The news must have hit him hard as well, Benn couldn't blame him.
"Why do you think they are alive, yoi?" Marco asked with a raised eyebrow and Benn felt that he knew something about the brothers. But it was not his place for him to speak, not yet at least.
"Just give the damn number already, Marco!" Shanks said in an irritated voice, which seem to work a little. Shanks is full of mood swings when he is damn ass drunk.
"Ok, yoi." He could hear Marco sigh and Haruta speaking the number.
"But on one condition, yoi. We want to hear what you will say, yoi." Marco spoke, to which Benn nodded. He knew that now Marco had his hopes lifted slightly. Benn got hold of another snail, which was untraceable and dialed the said number.
Puru Puru Puru
Click
"..."
"It's Shanks." Shanks spoke with his slurry voice.
"What pleasure do I have to have a yonko call me?" The voice, which was definitely of Sabo spoke. Benn noticed that the voice wasn't upset, nor in pain.
Everyone's hopes had risen further.
"We know they are alive, aren't they?" Benn got to the point, and there was silence from the other end.
"Are you alone?" Sabo spoke and from the background a happy squeal came and their were footsteps like someone was running and approaching to Sabo.
"Kinda." Shanks spoke. "There's me, Benn, Marco, Thatch, and Haruta. So, yep, we are alone!"
"Sabo? Who's on the call?" The Whitebeards felt their breath stop at the voice. It was definitely their brother's, Ace. He was alive. Thatch started crying with Haruta and Marco gave his rare smile.
They didn't have to plan a funeral for Ace after all, now they only prayed that Luffy had survived the injuries he had. Which did look much more serious than Ace's. But of course both of the wounds looked extremely deadly. They should be glad even if it was only Ace that survived.
"Ace!!" Thatch and Haruta called their dear brother. "You idiot! You should have at least called that you were alive!" The Whitebeard pirates silently promised to never tell Ace that they were planing his funeral only a small while ago.
They could feel Ace scratching his neck in embarrassment. "S-Sorry, but I forgot."
"Ace, yoi!" Marco felt his voice coming back and his mind working at a faster rate. "Did you read the newspaper?" A 'yes' came from the other side.
"I want you to go into hiding, until you recover fully, yoi." Marco said remembering the nasty wounds which Ace had gotten. Ace must be still recovering and he would need time to come to terms with what happened.
"But I'm ok, Marco." Ace said and Marco could sense the guilt in his voice clearly.
"And it was not your fault, yoi." Marco said knowing full well he blamed himself for Pops's death. The other side remained silent until Ace yelped and he could think why, if the new voice was something to say.
"Ace! Sabo! Ace! Sabo!" The young voice chirped happily. "Rayleigh is calling for us."
"Lu, you go on with Ace. I'll come in a minute." Sabo said ruffling the younger's hair. Sabo could tell that everyone heard Luffy.
"Okay!!!" Luffy chirped. "Ace. I want a ride~!" That was the last thing that was heard before the two voices disappeared. Leaving behind Sabo.
"I told ya, Anchor is alive!!!" Shanks cheered as he jumped up and down in his place, like a little kid, who had got a big stack of chocolates. He may had been drunk but he was right! He was right! He knew to not accept the newspaper without confirming the facts.
"I hope this news doesn't reach unwanted ears." Sabo said as his hands went through his hair. He knew he could trust the people listening but he made sure to stay calm and collected.
"It won't." Everyone said in unison.
Sabo smiled. He knew they wouldn't let such information free.
"Sabo, keep Ace out of public eyes for a year at least, yoi." Marco said seriously and got a nod before disconnecting the call. Marco would've announced a party if it wasn't for how much work had to be done.
The Whitebeards have lots of work to do. They need to protect their Islands, recover from the war and do head count on how many pirates are still left. With Whitebeard dead, many pirates left and due to the war many had fallen... But he can't give up. They need to keep an eye on their Islands and make sure they are safe. Teach can come later, even if he wanted to choke that bastard and burn him alive. They needed time.
He had started ordering some of their allied pirates, who looked ok, to get rid of the pirates who were trying to get hold of Whitebeard territories. They themselves need to start moving. With Pops dead and no one to guide them, they needed to handle themselves.
After one 3 weeks after the war:
East Blue: Goa Kingdom, Fusha Village
"It's Garp-san!!"
"Garp-san has returned in a battleship!!"
"Why is he here?"
"Is it official business?!?!"
"Is he here to apologize?"
"Why does he still bother to even come here?"
"Hey. Good to see everyone's all right." Garp said with his hands in his pockets, and a smile on his face. He can feel the real and fake smiles, the confusion and disgust, the sadness and pain. Oh how he wishes he was more oblivious then how he acted.
The people in the village, started asking about Luffy and his brothers. They wouldn't believe that they are dead, even if the newspaper says that. But Garp didn't open his mouth.
"Garp-san, there's been another incident. A group of bandits have come down from the mountains and they've taken over Makino's bar." A villager complained to Garp, making him head to Makino's bar.
"OI, GARP!!!" Dadan yelled as she stood in front of Garp and hit him with the log of wood, which she was currently using as a weapon. "You have got a lotta nerve showing your face here again!!"
In front of Garp stood an angry mother and a crying Makino, who was a sister figure to Luffy, Ace and Sabo. At his back, stood the marines, ready to defend him.
"Vice-Admiral Garp!!" The marines yelled, asking for orders.
"Stay back, men! I know this woman." Garp said with his hand on the head wound. Courtesy of Dadan and her log of wood. He wouldn't even use haki to defend himself. He deserves to bleed, for his mistakes, for being unworthy of his family.
"Damn you!" Dadan grabbed Garp's collar. "You were right there in the thick of it all! They were right in front of you. How could you let Ace and Luffy die like that?!!!" Dadan's tears rolled off her face dripping on Garp's. "Do you value your work over family?!" Dadan punched Garp on his face. "Well, Garp? And you call yourself a Marine Hero. Curl up and die, you worthless old Fart! YOU LET THEM DIE, WATCHED LIKE THE COWARD YOU ARE!"
Garp didn't say a word, and let that angry woman beat him. He deserved it. If only he would have refused the execution of Ace, then may be both Luffy and Ace would be alive. It's already been a month, after which Sengoku forced him to take some rest. He had been beating new recruits and pirates alike in a pulp. His anger of doing nothing was taken out on poor criminals. And when he felt empty and started ditching his work, Sengoku told him to take a vacation.
A crying Makino separated the two from fighting. "Stop it, Dadan-san!" She can't have the two fight like this.. Garp isn't even fighting back, so one-sided. Garp obviously must be going through a hard time.
"Garp-san saw the whole affair happen right in front of him," Makino said. "This must be harder on him than any of us!" Makino sobbed.
"No," Dadan wipped her tears. "The one this will be hardest for is Sabo." Makino stiffened up her upper lip, trying to not cry anymore, but it was all in vain. "You should know how much he loved his brothers. They were inseparable!" Makino ran inside the bar, crying. This was too much to bare for her.
"Garp, what happened to Sabo?" Mayor Woodslap asked. "The newspapers say he's gone missing."
"Village Chief," Garp said while sitting down on the ground. "He's a revol-"
Puru Puru Puru
Garp blinked his eyes. Who would call him during his vacation? Regardless of that, he picked up the call and it soon took the shape of Sabo's facial expression. Garp bit his lips.
"Jiji!" Sabo's voice came from the snail. It sounded.. happy. Like he wasn't in any grief, why? How could that even happen?
But why does he hear Luffy's giggles and Ace scolding him in the background. He must be hallucinating. Has he finally lost it? He wouldn't even be surprised anymore.
"Y-Yeah, Brat!" Garp finally said as he got up and pinched himself in his cheek. He could see Dadan's eyes widening.
"You alone?" Sabo asked and in the background he could hear Luffy's laughter and Ace's attempts to make him quiet.
"W-Wait!" Garp said as he rushed inside the bar. If Luffy and Ace are alive, then he can't let the marines hear that. He barely saw Dadan and Mayor follow him, and the rest of the villagers, who knows Luffy's laughter and giggles very well, stopping the marines.
Garp dashed inside the bar and saw Makino look at him and then the snail.
"Yah, I'm alone now." Garp held his breath as he took in the people in the bar. Makino, Dadan and Mayor. There's so must tension, a silence fills the air as they wait for Sabo to tell them the facts.
"I forgot to tell you but Ace and Luffy are alive!"
"WHAT!!?!!!" The shouts of happiness erupted from the bar. The relief, comfort and reassurance that the four people are feeling are like a mercy from the gods. They now know the truth and they won't believe anything else.
"Sabo?!!!" Garp yelled, but it was of no use, since the brat disconnected the call. He had so much to ask, so much to say. He wanted to apologize, he had to.. He needs to know Luffy's and Ace's condition.. Sabo.. You never change.
'Those little shits!!! How dare he hang up on that?!!!'
All this time he had done nothing but grief from the loss of his two grandsons and now they are saying that they are alive!
"Those little shits!" Garp said with a bright grin, which he had lost after their supposed deaths. "How dare they not tell me before! I need to beat some sense in them!" At this point, they don't need 'Fist of Love' but 'Fist of Disappointment!'
Notes:
This is the end!
After around 7 and a half weeks it's finally over!There's quite a bit I would've changed, a lot would've been added. Things changed and reactions differing.
Thank you everyone for reading the alternate Marineford! I am glad a lot of people enjoyed it and even happier that we decided to post this instead of scraping it.
I'm sure there are a few of you that aren't happy about how open ended this ended, but I suppose you can write what you think would happen.
Once again, thanks for everything and see you all at 'The morning sun will rise'
-DefectiveDecoy
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Luffy_in_Love on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Oct 2023 02:30PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 17 Oct 2023 02:40PM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Oct 2023 06:40PM UTC
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Luffy_in_Love on Chapter 1 Wed 18 Oct 2023 07:39AM UTC
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J_A_E_S_H on Chapter 2 Sun 15 Oct 2023 06:16PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 2 Sun 15 Oct 2023 07:33PM UTC
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Aorton on Chapter 2 Mon 16 Oct 2023 06:34AM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Oct 2023 06:45PM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 2 Mon 16 Oct 2023 09:42PM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Oct 2023 08:31PM UTC
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Luffy_in_Love on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Oct 2023 02:25PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 17 Oct 2023 02:29PM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Oct 2023 06:43PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 17 Oct 2023 06:43PM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Oct 2023 09:50PM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 2 Wed 18 Oct 2023 04:21AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 2 Wed 18 Oct 2023 06:35AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 3 Thu 19 Oct 2023 09:12PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 3 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:36AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 4 Sun 22 Oct 2023 06:33AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 09:28AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 09:48AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 4 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:32AM UTC
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J_A_E_S_H on Chapter 4 Sun 22 Oct 2023 08:41AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 4 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:35AM UTC
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Chapelseed on Chapter 5 Thu 26 Oct 2023 01:14AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 5 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:29AM UTC
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Chapelseed on Chapter 5 Mon 30 Oct 2023 04:13AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 5 Tue 31 Oct 2023 06:41AM UTC
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Felicja on Chapter 6 Sun 29 Oct 2023 12:36PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 6 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:28AM UTC
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Lonely_Raindrop on Chapter 6 Sun 29 Oct 2023 05:03PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 6 Mon 30 Oct 2023 03:26AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 7 Wed 01 Nov 2023 08:34AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 7 Thu 02 Nov 2023 03:58AM UTC
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birdy06 on Chapter 7 Thu 02 Nov 2023 04:10AM UTC
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Felicja on Chapter 7 Wed 01 Nov 2023 09:54AM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 7 Fri 03 Nov 2023 08:16AM UTC
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Luffy_in_Love on Chapter 7 Wed 01 Nov 2023 10:49AM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 7 Thu 02 Nov 2023 03:57AM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 7 Fri 03 Nov 2023 08:12AM UTC
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Frankys_crushed_balls on Chapter 7 Thu 02 Nov 2023 07:39PM UTC
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Defectivedecoy on Chapter 7 Fri 03 Nov 2023 08:10AM UTC
Last Edited Fri 03 Nov 2023 08:10AM UTC
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YukiJapanbtsOt7 on Chapter 7 Sat 24 Feb 2024 02:06PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 7 Sat 24 Feb 2024 05:08PM UTC
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YukiJapanbtsOt7 on Chapter 7 Mon 26 Feb 2024 04:15PM UTC
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TheIntrovertRin on Chapter 7 Sun 10 Mar 2024 02:09PM UTC
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