So yay! It took a while, but the inspiration bug bit me again and I managed to squeeze out another chapter. It's harder than I thought to write a different POV from something that already exists, but I hope you guys like it and that I stayed in the same flow as the previous chapter. Enjoy!
To this day, I still cannot comprehend how the events of that day transpired in such a haze, while at the same time my brain can recall aspects as detailed as the list of pirate crews that someone started calling out as soon as the sirens started blazing through Marineford.
Douma, the Bohemian Knight! Thunder Lord McGuy! The DeCalvan brothers! The Whirl Spider Squad! I am only so glad that it was afterwards that I was told it was a fleet of no less than 43 ships displaying a variety of colored banners that would put a chameleon to shame. Had I heard the statistics before the battle had commenced, I cannot tell you if I would have stood my ground.
The oncoming ships were all I could focus on, until I saw a fountain of water burst out of the middle of the man-made bay, followed by the giant vessel that was Moby Dick. Three more ships, smaller in size but just as impressive, came to the surface.
My hands were hurting and when I looked down I realized I was clenching my longsword with shaking hands. In truth, my entire body was trembling in fright. Cold shivers ran through my entire body, and as I felt like the biggest coward alive, I could not stop feeling so undeniably intimidated by the men and women standing on those ships.
They say that in moments of fear, one can see his life flash before their eyes. In my case it was not that dramatic, however, at that particular moment I recalled an expression my father used whenever he tried to impress. Had he said it at that exact time, nothing else would, or could have been more appropriate: "Boy, you ain't seen nothin' yet!"
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Rhrahrharharha... How many decades since we last met, Sengoku?" The massive figure of what might have been the most frightening human being I have ever seen till this day, Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, The Strongest Man in the World, one of the four Yonko's, was standing on the front deck of his vessel.
"I take it my beloved son is still doing well?"
I could hardly believe the audacity of this man, speaking so casually despite the situation! He laughed again, as if this was all one big joke.
I did not encounter Admiral Sengoku often since me and my mates were merely, as we called ourselves,'cannonfodder'. Still, I knew the man to maintain a distinguished demeanor at all times. That must have been the reason why his shocked expression added to the surreality of the circumstances.
"How could you get in here so easily...?!" Sengoku croaked.
Ignoring the question entirely, Whitebeard directed his attention to the young pirate on the scaffold and simply said: "Wait just a little longer, Ace."
The underlying promise in those six words was so simple, yet it contained the destiny of the world.
'I will tear this place and everyone in it apart before I let them touch you.'