A/N: Let's just start off by saying that is will be kind of A/U… to a certain extent. A re-imagined conclusion to the Summit War Saga and the possibilities of what could very well have been. So yes, major major spoilers for Marineford (obviously), you've been warned.

I claim ownership over nothing but the context of how this story came to be… and the demons in my head for thinking this up.

- Prologue -

Marco screamed. He had seen, almost in slow motion, as Akainu changed the target of his attack from Ace to Luffy. He knew Luffy had no chance. The boy was exhausted and by all means, shouldn't even be able to move, let alone fight. And Marco knew, all too well, what Ace would do.

He found himself running towards them before he was able to consciously register the movement. Luffy stared unmoving as Akainu drew closer. Both he and Ace were rushing full force to intercept the attack. Marco needed to get both brothers out of the way, to protect them. He had to.

He had just barely managed to push Ace out of the way, taking the blunt of the attack with his arm and side. Marco struggled to take in a breath, the kairoseki cuffs locked onto his wrist ensured that he would be unable to heal the damage dealt to him. He barely registered the yells around him, barely registered Shichibukai Jinbei raging towards Akainu, barely registered hitting the hard floor. He barely registered the warm blood draining out of his body and he barely registered the hot tears splattering onto his skin. Marco realized he was going to die there and a part of him couldn't help but be feel glad. For once, it would be him. Not a friend, not a brother, but him that will die without the healing flames of his power. He smiled at that thought.

And then blue flame ignited all around, cool and comforting. The fire of his life. Someone had managed to get the stupid handcuffs off before he drew his last breath and his fire burned on instinct. He barely registered his broken body mending, barely registered the resounding cheers all around, barely registered the sounds of battle in the background.

He was too enamored by the dark haired youth who held his body as it slowly healed, by the sea of fiery red flames drowning out the rest of the world.

"I- I can't believe you did that… I… I can't… don't ever do something like that again…" The freckled youth was in tears, not caring about the weakness he was showing the world. With the fire raging all round like a defensive wall, no one could come close enough to see anyways. The tears singed Marco's skin, but he barely noticed. His own fire spiraling wildly to twist and intertwine with the other's.

"You were ready to do the same."

"I- That's not that point! I… I thought you were going to- to die…" Ace barely managed to choke those words out. Marco could feel him trembling, the prospect evidently terrified him. Had Vista been even a moment late, the outcome could have been entirely different, disastrous even. "I… thought- I thought I was going to lose you…"

"I won't die, I'm a phoenix remember?"

"Your power was sealed! You had kairoseki chained onto you!" He burst out, indignant. He hated when Marco made light of the situation, his calm tone only adding to his irritation. "You were as mortal against his magma as I was!"

"I forgot."

"Bullshit!" Ace huffed angrily and tightened his arms around Marco as the other made to get up. "Stay still! You're not done healing yet."

Marco only quirked an eyebrow, looking incredulously at him. His flames had dimmed quite a while ago, the remaining embers flickered amongst Ace's red inferno. He had finished healing halfway though the conversation and there was no way Ace hadn't noticed. Ignoring the other's protests, he struggled to stand with the younger boy refusing to loosen his hold even for a moment. Marco found himself giving in to and returning the hug. He gave Ace a pat on the head, ruffling his hair before gently untangling himself from the other. He moved to the edge of the fire waiting expectantly for the inferno to fade.

"Come on, it wouldn't do for two commanders to be taking it easy at a time like this."

"Easy? You almost-" Ace sighed, exasperated. He didn't bother finishing his rebuttal. Marco wasn't listening anyways and he had no interest in dwelling further on that particular train of thought.

As the flames around them died down, the sights and sounds of the battlefield intensified. A quick survey of their surroundings made it clear that they were at a disadvantage against the mass of marines bearing down on them. All around, allies and enemies clashed mercilessly. The Whitebeard Pirates and their allies, with their immediate goal achieved, quickly went on the defensive. Their priority now was staying alive and awaiting the captain's new orders, eagerly anticipating the changing tide of the war.

Ace soon found himself by Luffy's side along with several other Whitebeard commanders. Marco, now certain that Ace would be safe with his brother, Vista, and Izou, took flight to return to their Captain's side. From the flow of the battle, he knew full well that it would soon be time to fall back. He intended to put himself in the best position to carry out the order, to help his family escape.

"FALL BACK!" As soon as the order left the Whitebeard's mouth, a new flurry of activity broke out on the battlefield.

The shockwave of the simple words reverberated through the whole of Marineford. Many of the commanders had gathered around at the front lines, intent on holding back the advancing marines to allow their allies a safe retreat.

"All commanders are to aid the retreat! I will hold back these marines myself!" With those simple words, Whitebeard tore a ravine across the whole of the base, easily separating the withdrawing pirates from the pursuing marines. The huge man wore a gentle smile, believing that his beloved children will be safe. Though torn, the commanders knew better than to disobey a direct order.

Marco found himself reluctantly withdrawing with one final backward glance as the pirate hailed as the strongest in the world took on the whole of Marineford. The commanders soon scattered amongst the sea of pirates. Dividing their fighting power through as large of an area as possible. All around, allies screamed for Whitebeard, their father, to change him mind, to leave with them, to sail the same seas again.

The retreat itself moved slowly, marred by reluctance and regret at having to leave their ally, their captain, their father, behind. Adding to that, even Whitebeard could not keep the whole of the marine force in check and the admirals made their way to block the retreating pirates' path.

It was an easy feat for Aokiji to freeze the ocean and render their ships unusable. Rescuing Ace wouldn't amount to much if they were all trapped with no way out. The commanders had their hands full simply keeping the admirals and Shichibukai busy enough to deter any large scale attacks.

Marco and Vista's group also faced the additional issue of forcing an uncooperative Ace to leave. They all knew he was loyal to a fault and adding to that, the unfortunate tendency to never turn away from enemies. Marco found himself unable to convince Ace to withdraw with the rest of their crew. Not when he wanted nothing more than to turn back and fight by their Captain's side as well. Fortunately, that decision was taken out of his hands with the appearance of a third party. One sadly familiar, but wholly unwelcome.

"BLACKBEARD!" Ace let out an animalistic scream and charged.

In the ensuing chaos, Marco passed the responsibility of keeping a compliant Luffy safe to Jinbei while he followed after Ace. He knew a swift retreat was out of the question now. Not when Blackbeard was in their sights. The man who murdered Tatch, who captured Ace, and the catalyst that began this horrific chain of events. The demon in man's skin responsible for setting this whole war in motion was in front of them now.

But wanting and having were two very different things. The ravine which split the island in half was impossible to cross without making themselves vulnerable. Marco couldn't very well carry Ace over, not with Akainu and the other admirals on the loose. They would be sitting ducks in the open sky, logia or not, all it would take is one well-placed attack by someone with haki.

On the other side, Whitebeard's solitary war with the marines and the Blackbeard pirates raged on. The pair weren't the only ones looking for a way across. It was natural, the children wanted to be by their father's side. Even if it meant disobedience. However, no one could do a thing, but watch in abject horror. As though the time has come to a standstill. Whitebeard was weakening, the wounds piled on and drained at his seemingly inexhaustible strength. And soon, the pirates came to a heartbreaking realization. The legacy of their infallible captain will end this day.

The combined efforts of admirals, Shichibukai, and the Blackbeard Pirates came to fruition as the great age of the Whitebeard Pirates came to an end. His life taken by one whom he had once loved as his own family. And yet, even though he had died, he never gave in. Not a single wound marred his back, he had faced down his enemies to protect those who stood behind him. The vast number of wounds he sustained a testament to his strength.

The only redeeming grace will be the successful rescue of his greatest treasure, his son, Portgas D. Ace.

Marco made a grab at Ace, slamming him into the ground and pinning him with his weight and haki. They had lost their chance. He knew full well what Ace wanted, his own heart cried out for vengeance. But he knew they couldn't risk acting on that desire. Blackbeard was at the center of Marineford and flanked by the entirety of his crew and hundreds of marines. It would be suicide.

"LET ME GO MARCO!" Ace was screaming and struggling from under him. The youth thrashed wildly, trying his best to throw the older man off him. "THEY KILLED POPS!"

"Stop, it's too dangerous."

"I can't forgive them!" The young pirate glared and bore his teeth at the madman who made a mockery of their deceased father. Watched in seething anger as Blackbeard performed his crazed stunt and stole Whitebeard's devil fruit power. His emotions so out of control that he was physically on fire. Burning up with pent up malice with no outlet. Once again, Marco was glad for the nature of his own devil fruit. Letting go of the boy now would ensure his death.

"I understand your feelings, but launching a suicide attack wont do anyone any good!"

"I- I can't turn away! Not from this!" The flames raged stronger, the youth's tears sizzling off his skin without the chance fall. No one dared approach the pair. Both men were engulfed in a fiery mass, their flames fighting for dominance against the other's. "He- HE… HE KILLED POPS!"

"Calm down!"

"Calm…? YOU WANT ME TO BE CALM?!" Marco sighed as the hysteria in the other's voice became more than evident. His calming fire wasn't having an effect on Ace as he had hoped.

"Listen! Pops wanted to save you no matter what. We all did. Don't throw your life away now!"

That gave Ace pause and Marco took the opportunity to press on. He was practically lying on top of him and whispered desperately in his ear. It's true, he was desperate. Everyone's attention was focused on Blackbeard and the horror born this day. But it was only a matter of time before the marine's attention shifts back to them.

"Remember what you said! Live… if you can't live for yourself right now, then do it for me. Live… for me… please..."

Thankfully, Ace gave up his struggling at those words. He will accept what fate has thrown his way, for now at least. They will live. They will have their revenge. Their father may not be by their side anymore, but everything he had loved and stood for will only burn stronger in the will of the survivors.

A stray bullet passing through Marco's shoulder brought the dual back to the reality of their surroundings. The battle has started anew and Ace was very much still a target of the marine's fury. They scrambled to their feet quickly and joined in the heated fighting breaking out once again.

Screaming orders for the remainder of the crew to withdraw, the division commanders took over to the best of their abilities. Ushering their grieving brothers towards the back where their ships lay in a sea of ice. If they could make it there, they had a chance. Aokiji may have frozen the ocean, but they had Firefist Ace. It may be a gamble, but they had trust in his power.

A new surprise appeared in the form of reinforcements. Namely ones the Whitebeard Pirates had not been expecting, really, had no reason to expect at all. The new ship flew the flag of Red Haired Shanks. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the morally devastated pirates were saved simply by Shank's arrival. His presence alone able to shift the tide of war in the pirates' favour once more.

Declaring the need to put an end to the war before both sides destroyed each other, he put a stop to the bloody clash. Whitebeard has fallen and his death is one that will shake the very core of the world. His red blood alone should be enough to satisfy their twisted justice for the time being.

"Whitebeard, you will leave his the burial to us." Shanks proclaimed, the seriousness of the situation reflected in his grave tone.

The marines objected, meaning to parade the body to the world as a trophy of sorts. Surprisingly, it was Sengoku who spoke out against them, agreeing to Shanks's proposal. With that, the remnants of Whitebeard's crew and allies were able to make a relatively safe retreat to their ships, picking up their fallen brothers along the way.

Ace searched the coast desperately for signs Luffy. He hadn't seen his brother since they split up earlier. After questioning everyone he could get his hands on, witnesses had stated that Luffy and Jinbei had been rescued earlier. A submarine had appeared and made its escape before Aokiji managed to freeze the whole of the sea. No one had time to question the appearance of the mysterious savior, but with Jinbei by his side, Ace was convinced that Luffy was safe.

The division commanders herded the remainder of their crew onto the Moby Dick and set sail followed closely by the Red Hair Pirates. The different factions split up and set out to their individual destinations. Izou cursed vehemently under his breath the whole time, a natural defense against the torrent of emotions raging within. Many hid away in their quarters below deck and the few that still felt up to the task took charge of sailing the ship. The commanders especially had no real choice in the matter, with the sole exception of Ace, they worked to the best of their abilities. The war had been a costly affair to both sides with each sustaining heavy losses.

Marco worried about Ace in particular. He knew the young pirate would blame himself for the suffering brought about by the result of the war. He headed down into the bowels of the ship once the affairs on deck had been attended to. He knew where the other would be hiding away and made his way slowly to the captain's quarters.

As though in agreement with the dark moods of the men, the sun set to reveal an unrelenting moonless starless night. Hundreds of barrels of rum were opened, a solemn affair in the middle of the sea by a convention of over 50 ships. It was a toast to the successful rescue of one of their brothers and mourning for their loss of a captain and father. They would make their way to the chosen burial ground come daybreak, but for now, everyone needed a moment of rest for both their bodies and souls. The members of the different crews intermingled freely aboard the many ships. Holding silent toasts to the passing of a man they all revered and held in the highest of regards.

Many a tears fell and many drank themselves into a numb stupor. There was no one to judge, there was no counseling the grieving men lost in the depths of solitude. It was a solemn affair indeed.

A/N: Apologies for the lack of plot development and weird flow, I needed to get the broad context of the setting out of the way and not bore everyone with a repeat of the whole ending. The next chapter will mark the start of the actual story.

The intro's a little long winded, but please bear with me. It'll be worth it. It'll get interesting. I promise.