DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING :3

CHAPTER 2: MEETING THE MARINES

"Look Ace! Look at this! They are all cool!" Luffy excitedly said, with sparkling eyes while dragging his older brother in a room full of marine weapons (made in seastone) and uniforms.

"Check this out Luffy!" Ace holds a shotgun, "Thus must be their basic weapon. But I didn't see Shanks using this."

"It's because I can handle myself even without a gun", Shanks appeared at the doorway, "C'mon boys! I'll show you to the others."

They walked past through many doors, and finally, they've reached the lounge. Several marines are in there, including Rear Admiral Buggy, and they all look on the two boys with amused expression.

"Admiral Shanks, are those the two boys that you're always talking about?" a marine soldier asked.

"Yep. This is Ace and this is Luffy. Ace, Luffy, they are the marine soldiers and that's our Rear Admiral Buggy", he pointed at Buggy.

"Funny you guys got something in common", Ace suddenly said.

"What do you mean brat?" Buggy asked.

"Shanks got red hair and you've got red nose", Ace pointed at Buggy's nose, "You love red eh?"

"Ooohhh, Ace. I've noticed that too!" Luffy goggled at Buggy's nose, "That's a very big nose, you know?"

The atmosphere in the room suddenly tensed and thickens. The other marines got scared, Shanks was still smiling and the two boys were staring at Buggy.

"Wow! His face is turning red too!" Luffy happily said.

Buggy was now reddening in anger, stood up and slowly went on the boys.

"Uh-oh", Ace noticed Buggy's expression and dragged Luffy on his back, but Shanks already stood up in front of them, shielding them from Buggy's incoming wrath.

"Those little bastards must be executed now! How dare they insult my nose! Criminals!" Buggy shouted, having his body comically turn into pieces while fuming in anger.

"His body is separating!" Luffy stared in Buggy and then said, "COOL!"

"Was that devil fruit ability?" Ace asked in amazement.

"Oh yes! My Bara Bara no Mi is enough to punish you two!" Buggy said as a hand flew on Ace. But before Buggy's separated hand reached Ace, another hand was seen, not entirely separated but just made elongated to reach Buggy's nose and squeezed it.

"Does this nose separate your face too?" Luffy asked smiling.

Buggy was shocked to see Luffy's hand being stretched and screamed, "Get off my nose, you freak!" He then slapped Luffy's hand away.

"Oi, ugly nose! Don't you dare call my little brother a freak!" Ace angrily said. He grabbed Buggy's floating hand near him and throws it hard, hitting Buggy's nose. Luffy was also angry, "You're a freak too!"

"Whaaaaaaat?! Give those words back, you two little damned creatures!" Buggy chased the two of them, running around in circles.

Shanks simply stared, being forgotten along with the other marines in the room. He signaled the others to leave the room and then he clapped his hands loudly and said over the chaos, "Okay! That's enough guys! Let's prepare because we're now getting near in Marineford."

The three stopped fighting, seemingly shocked that there were still Shanks. Buggy smartens his clothes after reuniting with his body, throwing deadly glares to Ace and Luffy. The four of them walked together and then Buggy spoke, "I still won't forgive you brats! By the way, how come your hand stretched,eh?"

Luffy smiled widely and said, "I've eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi from the forest when me and Ace are training in there!"

"Yap!" Ace continued, "But that happening was hidden from Gramps because he wants us both to be a good swimmer. It is now impossible for Luffy because of the devil fruit he had eaten. Imagine if Gramps find out, he will surely drown Luffy."

"Haha, don't exaggerate Ace! Your grandpa will drown Smoker first for being a first mate that can't swim. I bet he'll spare Luffy", Shanks assured him.

"Did you drown Buggy?" Luffy asked Shanks innocently.

"Uhm, well, no. But I accidentally once pushed him in the railings."

"That wasn't an accident! You intended to drown me!" Buffy shouted at Shanks.

Shanks just merely laughed and they soon reached the Gates of Justice. Their ship halted for a while, giving Luffy and Ace time to express their amazement on the big door in front of them.

"Woahh! This is the biggest door I've ever seen!" Luffy said in an admiring tone, making the marines smile.

"Wait 'til you see the inside", Shanks told Luffy.

The gate opened, making Luffy stared in awe. Inside is the headquarters and hometown of marines, where there's also a big body of water and a tall building in the center front of the land.

"This is amazing!" Luffy commented again.

"But this is Marineford, right?" Ace suddenly asked.

"Well, yeah. Ace, why?" Shanks asked him.

"So the Fleet Admiral is in here." Ace said.

"Hmmm, yes…"

Ace let out a heavy sigh and said, "Will he spare us too?"

Shanks was confused, "What do you mean?"

"Erm", Ace shyly said while scratching his head, "I mean, we're from a pirate crew, right? So it shows that we're both criminals and you're in the justice side and it doesn't look good if we faced the highest officer- -"

Luffy let out a gasped as it seemed that he got Ace's point. He then turn on Shanks with big eyes, "Are they going to execute us?"

Buggy laughed, "That's what I'm saying earlier!"

"Of course not", Shanks threw Buggy a dirty look, "Besides, you still haven't met our Fleet Admiral so don't assume something like that. Mind you, he's a very good person."

Shanks smiled at Ace, calming the boy down. Luffy gave a goofy smile and said, "Don't worry Ace! My Gomu Gomu attack can bring the Fleet Admiral down!"

"Pathetic. You're just digging your own grave", Ace said teasingly.

"You're just jealous Ace! Because you don't have Devil Fruit ability!" Luffy replied back.

"Who cares? I can still swim in the very large sea! Unlike you, you need a lifeguard to save you!"

"Ahem..."

Buggy seemed affected on Ace's words. He then looked at Shanks and throws him an angry look.

"Now, now, boys. Smarten yourselves and get ready to get off this ship." Shanks said to the two boys.

As soon as their ship was anchored, the two boys lost no time on jumping from the ship and get their feet on the ground. They booth looked excited as they had come in their dream place: hometon of marines.

"Look at those brats", Buggy told Shanks, "One moment they're afraid for their lives; the next thing is that they are so excited to reach this place."

"Well, that's them", Shanks happily replied and follow the two boys with Buggy on his wake.

XXX

Oi kiddo! This is no place for playing!" A marine soldier told to the brothers. Ace and Luffy had been running around Marineford, when they've reached a small building and tried to enter when a marine saw them.

"We're not going to play! We just want to see the insides of this building!" Ace argued back.

"You don't have authorization to enter this building! So just go back to your mommy and take your little brother with you!"

"Shanks let us wander around!" Luffy loudly said.

"Shanks? Admiral Shanks? Don't fool me kid- -"

"Oi Ace! Luffy!"

Shanks waved at the two and the two waved back, leaving the marine soldier in the state of shock.

"Sorry if these two bothers you", Shanks apologetically said to the marine soldier who came back to his senses.

"N-no s-sir! Sor-sorry that I- -I didn't k-know, w-well… s-sir…." The marine soldier stuttered.

But Shanks simply patted his back and strolled away with Luffy and Ace on his side. Both brothers looked back at the soldier and stuck out their tongue. Soon they've reached the tallest building and entered on it. Ace became curious on their destination and asked Shanks, "Where are we going?"

"We're heading on the Fleet Admiral's office", Shanks simply answer.

Nervousness came back on the boys and Luffy asked Ace, "Are they gonna put us into jail?"

"Nah, Luffy. I've yold you already, Whitebeard's a good person", Shanks assured Luffy.

No one talked after that and when they've reached the door, supposedly of Fleet Admiral's, Shanks knocked on it.

A voice came inside, an old man's voice that said, "Enter."

-End of Chapter 2-