Author's Notes:
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This Fic was beta'd by the amazing Blackthorn Ashe, who did the greatest job on editing and sharing ideas with me. It was a lot of fun working with her. :)
I am SO sorry that this is SO late. Totally my fault! *buries head in hands* - Ashe
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I don't own One Piece.
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IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) This fic is my really late gift (that I promised back in September for my birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) and MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS!
2) In this Fic, my beta and I are open to hear your thoughts to where do you wish the story to sail or specific scenes you wish to see! So review and sent me any ideas you have!
3) We are also working on making this story present tense so if we miss anything, pretty please tell us! Or tell us if we should change it to past tense! It can go either way as I write in past tense and Roseanne in present. Thank you!
4) I have two other Fics (AaC and MDNR) that are very important to me, and I am also a student, so this Fic will not be updated as fast as I would have wanted. You want me to move it forward in the priorities ladder, then let me know!
5) The Spade pirates will be given the awesome voice that was created by Stormy1x2, if you haven't read her stories, then do yourself a favour and go read them. Yeah. Totally awesome. Yes, they are this amazing. I hope to write my characters as beautifully as she does (I intend to try!)
Warnings:
Ace's self-worth issues and English is my fourth language. Warnings may change in the future.
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Hope you enjoy,
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Shanks doesn't usually like to be alone, as he prefers to always be surrounded by his Nakama, drinking and partying like no tomorrow.
He doesn't like the silence and the stillness. Silence makes him remember another crew, another life, mountains of missed opportunities, of time that will never return.
Yet here he is, ignoring the wind and snow around him with his cloak wrapped around his shoulders, eyeing the starless sky, soaking up the silence as much as the cold.
Benny already came twice to check on him and even though he hadn't uttered a word, his presence had been screaming at him, I am here if you need me. I will always be here.
The utter warm feeling evoked by Benny's presence echoes in his mind as he sits in the cold snow, his thoughts drift to the unforeseen encounter earlier tonight that he never thought would ever occur. Not ever.
Meeting Ace brought a lot of memories back to the surface of his mind, not all good ones. Just thinking about it prompts Shanks to groan and take a swig from an oversized sake bottle (the good kind, stolen from Yasopp's secret stash. Really! What were they thinking hiding sake from their Captain?) as if to drown the feelings of regret and guilt away.
He shakes his head to ward the negative emotions off and turns to a more positive outlook. Meeting Luffy's big brother was a surprise in itself that he couldn't have anticipated in a million years! How the heck did Luffy find such a well-mannered person? And even convince him to become brothers? Though, he'd expect nothing less from Luffy.
Shanks smiles softly.
He remembers Luffy fondly every time the wind blows, like now, as his hand instinctively reaches to the top of his head to protect the treasure that was entrusted to him oh so long ago, only to be reminded that he isn't the keeper of precious Hat anymore. He himself entrusted his Captain's and now his treasure, his hopes and dreams, to his little anchor. Ace's little brother.
Luffy's chosen brother came to find him, had searched for him, hunted him, even though Shanks had met Luffy a long time ago and only hung out with him for a few months.
He searched, not caring that Shanks is a feared Yonko, not caring that many things could have changed since then. Shanks could have changed.
Luffy's brother spent who knew how long, searching for him, just to thank Shanks for saving his little brother's life at the cost of an unimportant arm. He silently mused and shifted in the snow to stretch frozen muscles. As he did so, some snow from his shoulders fell into his lap, and startled him into yelping at the freezing coldness.
The footsteps hurrying toward him didn't surprise Shanks, as not a second after, he sees Benny peering out of the cave, eyes silently asking an 'Are you okay?' He's been worried about his Captain's well-being as Shanks hadn't much protection from the snow other than his cloak and he is being oddly quiet while there is still some surviving sake in the cave and an asleep Ace (those sleep attacks are hilarious!) to play connect-the-dots with. Shanks nods and smiles, ushering him to go back inside while brushing the snow off absentmindedly and going back to pondering the state of the world, his problems, and the conundrum of the two brothers.
Benn steps back into the warmth that the crew is excluding in their cheers and merrymaking and shakes his head. He eases drunken worries as he steps over a passed out and snoring Ace and tells the crew that their captain is fine except for the overheating of his brain trying to actually collect some thought in his peanut-sized mind. The crew is too far gone to panic and escape to an underground bunker (not that there was one anywhere in the vicinity, they were staying in cave for God's sake!).
Of course, none of this shows up on Shank's radar as he delves deeper into the labyrinth of his inner thought. His thoughts travel back to Ace who is currently passed out in the cave behind him and the reason why Shanks now knows he exists. The red-head grips his arm stub and smiles a big smile.
No gratitude was needed. He chose to save Luffy, his anchor, and would do it all over again, given the choice. He would sacrifice more than a thousand arms, if need be. That is the one thing that he will never regret even if it means no more fights with 'Hawkeyes' Mihawk. He knew that in the same certainty he knew his own heartbeat. Luffy is unique and precious.
It was as simple as that.
But the sentiment behind Ace's words was accepted whole heartedly. You could hear the love for his brother in his voice.
Hearing about Ace's and Luffy's 'adventures' as Ace called them tonight (more like shenanigans), was fun, relaxing, and hair-pulling. The tales of Luffy's clumsiness and overall mishaps made him and the crew laugh hysterically, like the children they were who had been unknowingly waiting for this special treat that they didn't even know existed.
However, when most of the two crews had passed out from alcohol intake, (almost all of the lively bunch of rookies that was Ace's crew had quickly gotten over their fears and subsequently passed out from a daring crew-wide drinking contest. The only surviving one was their doctor as he was a little more up in years. The last that Shanks had seen of him, he was drinking Rockstar under the table while conversing with Benny), the conversation ironically sobered up a bit. Shanks had asked Ace about his plans for later on. It had been mostly out of curiosity, but as Ace talked about his plans to attack Whitebeard and spread his name out there, demons that Shanks had kept locked away for years, came roaring back.
Ace's words and mannerisms had reminded him so much of himself, of his old crew, of his naivety, of when he decided that he couldn't be alone anymore and took the first step to build his own crew and show his own worth.
The memories had brought a bittersweet taste to his mind and mouth. Even now he could taste it with every gulp of sake.
There is a concealed darkness that hides in Ace's eyes that feels quite familiar to Shanks. The black orbs seem like they hold an endless abyss, it felt to the red-haired man that he is looking at his own reflection in a mirror from the far past. It is as if his own eyes are looking back at him full of doubts and hesitation. A face trying to put a brave front, show no fear, no doubt.
However, from what Shanks has seen, Ace's mask is almost perfect; he is always on guard even if it seems safe. But all the bravado is just a facade. A crack shows and emotions thought hidden pour out. Yes, there is something very worrying about that darkness.
This is all in the past for Shanks though, before he met his Nakama, before he found his anchors. His family. Ace has a lot of soul-searching to do for him to be able to face his darkest demons in time, and maybe one day he will be able to get to where Shanks is. He would need to learn how to take down the walls he built so tightly around himself; brick by brick and watch the floodwaters without any damage to himself.
But it is clear that someone has lessened the pain. Broken a couple walls and sealed the cracks with industrial glue. Luffy?
Shanks grimaces, the burdens he used to drag along for years (almost breaking him in the process) are now clear in the eyes of his mind.
Ace has an unimaginable burden resting on his shoulders, Shanks knows.
Of the burden existence he has no doubt. Shanks can see its shadow dragging Ace as his once did.
It is of just the 'why' and the 'who' that perplexes Shanks because a darkness that had spread to that degree can only be caused by soul-consuming events.
Shanks shakes his head, his hair swishing in rhythm to the motion. All this contemplation is hurting his head (drinking his tenth bottle of sake today probably didn't help matters either. Though, the only way that he would stop drinking would be to die or pass out and that's only a temporary thing).
Of no doubt, Ace needs help, that is for sure. Shanks probably could not help with the lingering darkness but he could at least try and stop it from growing any bigger. He wants to at least.
Somehow, Ace had already found a place in Shank's heart and he would be damned to not help him try to survive the future.
What can I do for him? Should I do anything? I want to. My head hurts too much for this… Red-hair clutches his head and groans.
Foggily, an idea comes to him that he could come morning, give Ace some advice and send him on his way, and ask Benny to keep an eye on the news and Ace's movements, and that will be that.
Or…
Shanks freezes with the sake bottle halfway to his lips.
He takes a deep breath and grimaces, trying to keep some semblance of order in his disorganized thoughts.
Or I could take him under my wing, he grins.
He could suggest to Ace joining them; becoming one of them or their ally (even though he does not usually like taking allies this way).
However, knowing the little that he does know about Ace, and the fact that he is Luffy's older brother, gives him all the indication he needs to know to what his answer would be. A polite, cold rejection (just like this irksome snow that's giving Shanks the sneezes repeatedly. It doesn't say anything but he can feel the unspoken go away). Shanks knows what he is asking from Ace. To join the redhead would be giving up on his dreams. If it weren't for Luffy's influence, Shanks would probably have a flaming angry rookie full of righteous fury ready to actually put Shanks in the ground if he dared to ask such a thing.
Which would make wanting to help him very complicated!
Well…complicated is an understatement. He takes a sip and grimaces.
Even though pirates seek freedom and chaos (depending which one you are), even for them there are unspoken rules, the redhead considers.
He could, in theory, train him without him joining their crew or becoming his ally. It would raise eyebrows in his crew, but they wouldn't mind too much. Though he could already feel the epic headache developing from the upcoming discussions with Benny about it.
Of course, there are still several other problems that would arise:
Ace is a known pirate, with a high bounty on his head and the government had even tried to recruit him into becoming a Shichibukai.
For this super rookieto disappear for even a small period of time, particularly when he just arrived into the New World, would raise questions and eyebrows.
But for him to show up a few months later even stronger would raise hell as the marines and pirates, collectively, don't like those kind of mysteries. The lot of them are all paranoid idiots, Shanks chuckles.
Though, contrary to Ace's disappearance, Shanks's would make the world government as a whole unable to function with the worst kind of scenarios running through their heads, making sure they never slept a wink. Shanks grins. It's true that the pressure on the Yonkos' movements is under even more scrutiny by both the marines and each other.
But if he wishes to disappear, then they will. It wouldn't even take a day, as there is no ship as fast as the Red force so let the marines fret and worry.
Truly, disappearing was the last of his worries.
From a memory long past, the words of his first mate echo in his head.
"The silent war," Benny had called it, "waiting for any opportunity to attack and gain more territories, to weaken the enemy, yet keeping the balance."
It is a strange world they live in, Shanks wonders, but that is the main attraction in his eyes, the mystery and the adventure it brings.
"It will only be a matter of time for them to put together the fact that my movement disappeared the same time as Ace's, and come to the conclusion that I had something to do with it," he mutters softly even though he is alone. Thinking back on it, it had been some time ago that Benny had left him for the warmth of the cave.
Then, there is of course, the obvious predicament, that Ace could become their enemy in the future. Actually, that is almost a fact. He would bet his remaining arm, that when Luffy is finally ready to meet Shanks in the sea, Ace will be right behind him, backing him up with a vengeance.
'It will be a lot of fun,' a smile of genuine longing adorns Shanks face.
Yes, the day that Luffy starts his journey is getting closer. The ten-year wait is almost over.
Shanks is sure that the both of them, himself and Luffy, will be able to keep the promise he made to his captain who created the current pirate era.
He knows with absolute certainty, that Luffy will bring about a new era.
Ace reminds him a lot of Luffy: their laughter, the pursuit of impossible dreams, their conviction. No wonder they are brothers. It seems that fate is kind to tie their destinies together.
Though, they both remind him of someone else. Black hair. Dark Skin. Large smile. Huge appetite. Same caring attitude towards friends, stubbornness and unwavering conviction, a carrier of D. He clutches the bottle of sake in his hand but loosens his grip a bit as the bottle creaks warningly.
They remind him of his captain... If he didn't know any better, he would think that they are his children, his flesh and blood! That is impossible! Right? He shakes his head trying to get rid of the uncertainty clouding his thoughts, while still remembering Luffy's smile and his captain's own distinct one.
He furiously shakes his head a second time.
No way, it is impossible! Luffy is too young to be his son! And so is Ace, he told me he was 18!
Shanks tries to concentrate on the matter on hand (what is to be done about Ace?). His hand reaches up and brushes off accumulating snow from his head to distract him from that line of thought and he shivers.
If Ace is to play a role in all of this then it is important that he be ready, at least physically, if not mentally.
Luffy however...
He can't be Luffy's guide and support. He knew that when he had entrusted Luffy with his hat and when they had made the promise on the day that they set sail back to the New World. So he couldn't help but look in his mind for one that would be able to guide a troublesome (and very special) kid like Luffy and so he found himself telling Rayleigh about Luffy and piquing the Dark King's interest in the process. After that, Shanks's worries about the high-spirited punk lessened. Not totally. But enough that the redhead could focus on something more than the niggling feeling in his head that kept worrying if Luffy was alright.
Nothing more could be done besides watch and wait (he gave Fate a nudge, he dares not push it more).
Everything else is in the hands of Fate, if it was meant to be for them to meet, then somehow it will be.
Anyhow, Ace did not have any guide. So Shanks was willing to tempt fate, if accepted by the living fireball of issues. Wasn't Fate and Luffy the ones that brought him to Shanks, before he faced the real challenges on his journey?
The words of his captain echoes in his mind "Destiny. Fate. Dreams. These unstoppable ideas are held deep in the heart of man."
He loses himself to the memories, looking blankly ahead, as he somehow feels the cold more sharply now, as if it is trying to seep into his bones. To make him feel even more depressed.
Don't go too deep. He forces himself through sheer will and stubbornness, to come back to reality, and look at the issues in hand as objectively as he can.
Helping Ace, that is what he is trying to decide. Not sifting through old memories like an old man. (Shanks is only 35 years old, he hasn't even reach his prime yet, thank you very much!)
Should he or shouldn't he? To help or not to help. That is a decision he has to make.
He takes a slow sip, enjoying the fiery liquid sliding down his throat and feels the ever-increasing headache, and relaxes as he considers the ever-piling multitude of consequences that could occur.
Now, Ace's own plans need to be taken into account. Shanks softly chuckles at the memory of their talk. It still amazes him.
I mean, for all the wonderful sake in the world, he wants to go up against Whitebeard! No. The way he said it, it is more like he needs to.
Ace is strong, quite so. His raise to fame was even quicker than the alcoholic red-head. But he is a thousand years too early (to quote the old man Whitebeard) to even give the old man or his loyal phoenix an entertaining fight.
The phoenix. Marco the phoenix.
Shanks sniggers at the memory of the pineapple-head's reaction to his question about joining his crew, from the last time he visited the Moby Dick. If Shanks was being honest with himself, which he did try to be, he only asks nowadays to watch Marco's irritated reaction (It is so entertaining as it had been a never ending cycle of laughter for years now. Shanks calls himself funny but Benny calls him obsessed.) In all reality, he actually wouldn't know what to do if the phoenix actually agreed to join his crew.
Not going to happen anyway.
He laughs out loud but abruptly stops when he hears the clearing of a throat behind him. He doesn't need to turn around to know that Benny came back again to check on him. Shanks twists until his head is upside downs and grins at his first mate and Benny Boo raises an eyebrow at his wayward friend as if nudging him to do what needs to be done.
Tired of the necessity of thinking about important stuff, Shanks sighs and pouts. All the amusement vanishes from his face when he concentrates once again as Benn stonily stands in the background and watches.
Ace… and his plans to take down, Shanks snorts, the old man.
The newly named flame-brain is stubborn and when provoked, will attack with fiery vengeance straight from hell. Nothing short of sea stone or knocking him out would stop him, and Shanks doesn't intend to stop him to begin with only to guide him! (Shanks could already see the flame of Ace's volatile anger if Shanks ever suggested or tried such an idea. But still, it would be fun to watch his struggles against his crew, and it would tell him a lot about Ace's strengths and weakness).
Shanks knows that he would be between a rock and a hard place when Ace attacks Whitebeard. After all, as his mentor (if Ace accepted), it would seem that he is attacking Whitebeard himself and it might be seen as an act of war, maybe not by the old man (He cannot be the strongest man in the world without having incredible insight and wit to equal it), but it would be definitely viewed as such by others.
All in all, it would be troublesome to pick a fight with the old man, or more likely his enraged allies. He isn't in the mood for this kind of bothersome and time consuming situation as it promises to be a pain in the ass!
Shanks exhales miserably, watching his breath freeze in the cold air. Too many possibilities. Too many things that could go wrong.
More importantly, Garp. Garp the Fist. He shudders, the cold not being the reason, and looks around in a moment of paranoia and fear and exhales slowly again as soon as he does not spy the old geezer. That scary monster!
His ears still ache from the loud, loud bellowing that had emitted from the old marine about daring to corrupt his cute grandson. Considering that Luffy is Ace's younger brother, if he were to interact with Ace and train him, he could already see the flying cannon balls soaring through the air towards his face. The Red-Hair crew probably would not be able have any decent party for a long time after this (the man gave persistence new meaning).
He takes a long sip of his Sake, trying not to imagine (and failing miserably!) the cost of repairing the Red Force (and his poor face) from all the cannonballs holes. Benny would more than probably insist on taking the money for the repairs from their drinking money. That would be an utter disaster, dammit!
He sighs, what will he do? (Sake could be in danger.)
The whole thing is too bothersome and would bring a lot of huge troubles his way. It is going to complicate things for his crew.
That's all assuming…
Shanks sighs, looking at the bottle in his hand as he shakes it. It was almost empty.
That's all assuming that Ace agrees to begin with.
Getting him to agree would probably bring him more headaches than all these problems combined (Yes, including the money for the Sake).
Would it be worth it?
He finished the last drop in his bottle.
But, in the end, it all came to down to one thing, did he want to make this offer and everything it entailed?
Shanks closes his eyes, and concentrates on the sound of his heartbeat. He became a Yonko because he wanted the freedom to choose his own path, damn the consequences to hell and back.
"Benny," he calls, "could you please see if Anchor's brother is awake and bring him here?"
"And if he isn't?"
Shanks opens his eyes and looks behind him at his dear friend and trusted first mate. His voice not changing, he orders, "Bring him here."
Benn posture tenses, hearing the order in his captain voice clearly. He nods, and without a sound, turns to leave.
"Oh, and Benny?"
Benn, stops abruptly, and turns sharply to face his captain.
"Yes?"
Shanks is looking at him, with a mischievous look on his face, that Benn can see clearly despite the dim light.
"Bring a bottle of sake with you. The good kind."
Benn whole body relaxes, and he shakes his head fondly.
"Yasopp hid them inside the gunpowder barrels," Shanks whispers conspiringly to him, his big unwavering smile destroying the effect of mystery he is trying to go for.
Benn raises an eyebrow and snorts, "I know."
"What? How did you know?" yells Shanks in indignation, all playfulness disappearing from his face.
"I needed to bribe Lucky Roo to find out!" he adds miserably with a pout.
Benn's shoulders shake with silent laughter as he turns once more from his dejected captain.
"I am your first mate," he declares, his voice solemn, and adds, "I know everything! Even your deepest darkest thoughts."
Shanks has a bewilderment look on his face, which is quickly replaced with joyful laughter.
"Bring two. No, make them three," he calls cheerily after his loyal and patient first mate.
Benn gives no indication that he hears the idiotic red-head's last request as he disappears inside the cave they are staying in, hiding from the raging storm.
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With this I kept my promise!
PLEASE read the notes in the beginning!
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This Fic was beta'd by Blackthorn Ashe, she did amazingly wonderful job. Didn't she? XD
*blushes* I love her.
Hopefully that's mean updates will be faster.
I am going to try so hard. Rosanne is so awesome, there are no words. - Ashe
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Your thoughts? What would you like to see happen?
I have a lot of ideas, would love to hear what do you all think?
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Please review, it would make me extremely happy ^^ (when I am happy I write more ;)