Hello, lovelies don't shot me. I know I haven't update in like forever. I swear the plot bunnies went on strike. They had picket lines and everything and now they all attacked me so all my [updatable] stories are being updated.
As the memory returned, the strawhats could see Ace's parents standing on the front porch in the doorway holding each other as they were waiting for Ace to come out. The strawhats watched in despair and most of all anxiety.
"Does anyone else get the feeling this is the last and only time we are going to see them alive?" Luffy asked as his eyes roamed over the crew. Truth be told Luffy knew what was coming. Ace had told him his parents had died when he was small, so he couldn't remember them. The crew also shared in Luffy's dread. They could feel the tension in the air and see the worry in the parents eyes."
"Yes, everything is about to go to hell in a hand basket, and Ace is going to be taken along on the ride whether he wants to go or not." Zoro said as he gave a side look to his captain. Anyone could see the stress in Luffy;s eyes. Luffy turned back to the memories, causing everyone to follow his lead. No one else spoke. The foreboding tension in the air was like a toxic gas; daring anyone to open their mouth so when they did, they would die.
Soon the familiar freckled face child was bouncing through the doorway basket in hand." Okay, Mommy, Daddy, where am I spos' to go?"Ace asked in utter confusion that tended to come with being only seven.
"Remember the forest we were in yesterday?" Big Ace received a head nod as he and Anna crouched down one on either side of Ace, placing a hand on his shoulder, looking little Ace strait in the face.
"Ayume we both love very much, never forget that, and even if we aren't with you we will always love you. We will always watch over you." Anna was struggling with her tears as she said this; gathering Ace in her arms she hugged her baby boy tightly. Big Ace leaned forward wrapping both of his arms around them, as they kneeled on their porch embracing each other.
Everyone was in tears even Zoro had them prickling at the corner of his eyes. Nami was leaning heavily on Robin full-out sobbing, who was also crying her tears flowing unabashed. This just reminded the both of them so much of their mothers how they both died protecting their children. A mothers love was truly unyielding even the most awful of women or beast cared for their young.
As the small family released each other Ace looked up at his parents "Yeah, Know I love both of you as well,"
" That's good" Big Ace said as he ruffled his son's hair.
"Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy! I'll see you later!" Ace shouted as he ran towards the forest.
"Yeah! See you later." Big Ace shouted as he waved from his standing place on the porch.
"Be careful!" his mother shouted as an after thought but Ace was already gone. The memory ended.
"They look happy Ace's parents are truly the strongest people alive. To cover up his existence with that of an unborn child's to keep him safe to the best of their abilities, against such odds. To be able to act so strong in front of their son to try and give him a better life. That is true strength." Brook wisely spoke as he thoughtfully strummed a small melody on his guitar. The rest of the crew only just beginning to gather themselves up looked at him in awe they hadn't looked at it that way. Ace's parents were protecting him in the only way they knew how.
"Those are words of wisdom skeleton -bro, words of wisdom." Franky said in stupor but found nothing to argue with in Brooks statement. That didn't stop the dread they felt.
When the memory returned it looked as if sometime had passed. It looked as if Ace was heading towards home considering he had quite the assorted amount shrooms. He had a basketful of solid yellow ones,white with red polka-dots, red with white polka-dots, green, and various others of the same nature.
' It's been three days. I hope momma and poppa, won't be mad. I can't wait to see what momma will make! Maybe she'll fix polka-dot soup!' When Ace's thoughts finished echoing, Chopper who had been surprisingly quiet burst.
"Why?!" He yelled out..
"Why what?" Luffy asked practically running to Chopper. Luffy would not kid himself, he had the same feeling Chopper did.
"Why does have to happen to nii- I mean Ace? He so nice to almost everyone! Doesn't even get mad at any of us! And I don't know about you guys but he is like a big brother to me to! Just knowing something bad is going to happen to him makes me so sad!" Chopper was crying in Usopp's arms because he was the person closest to him.
" I agree and understand ." Nami began "Trust me, but we don't know what will happen maybe they survive, and couldn't come with Ace to this world cause they had to take care of the little brother." Nami knew she was kidding herself and Chopper but the little reindeer was right. Ace was like a big brother to her hw did treat the all kindly he even helped Zoro pay his massive debt, for crying out loud.
The memory was starting to come back and as the colors were shifting Luffy turned to Chopper. "He sees you as a little brother to, and wouldn't mind you calling him nii-chan." Luffy patted Chopper on his head. Those words didn't help the poor doctor , hut he felt happy Ace loved him like a brother. Chopper snapped away from his thoughts by Ace's seven year-old voice.
"Mommy! Danny I'm ho-" Before Ace could finish the word home he let out a scream that could only be described as utter terror. The strawhat crew rushed inside and what they saw horrified them. It was so horrific the weaker of the crew vomited. The monster trio plus Robin stood like tomb stones. Still and morbid . The scene in the memory before them could only be described as a horrific struggle. Blood. It was everywhere. Bloody hand prints smeared across the wall over the dark green couch. Splattered on the ceiling, across boxes, and laying in pools upon the floor. The room was dark no light entered except for the light from the door that was still open. It was appropriate, the darkness, it was like that of the hearts of the Shondoria's sucking away the light from others. Anna, Ace's beloved mother was lying on the floor disemboweled. Her entrails splattered across the floor, mouth and eyes open in terror. Ace's thoughts echoed tugging on everyone's heart-strings.
'No! NO, NO! NOT MOMMA!' the young child's face contorted into a mixed look of sorrow and anguish. As he ran to his mother's side "Momma what about little brother?! He won't be born if you are dead?! I couldn't protect you! I should have been here to help protect MY BROTHER TO BE!". He was shaking his mother's arm in a vain attempt to wake her up. Then he saw his father. His father's head laid cut off on the floor, more like ripped off. There were multiple defensive wounds covering his body ,but what struck the strawhats the most was final position of the body. The stump of his neck was facing his wife with his arm outstretched in a pool of his own blood, as if he was trying to give one last effort to save his wife and the life lost with her. Ace didn't dare run over to his father; instead he stood up blank faced, clearly fighting with his tears. When the strawhats heard his thoughts they were besides themselves.
'I can't cry. I'm not allowed to grieve. It will only worsen the situation by giving the Shondoria's what they want. I will strong I failed them, but I won't waste my parents sacrifice, the sacrifice of my unborn brother. I'm sorry, unnamed brother you died before you could live. I promise I won't waste that. I promise. I'm truly sorry.' Ace had the look of absolute determination in his eyes. Then he looked back at he bodies " I better bury them, I'll make three graves."
"The shit head truly feels responsible doesn't he." Sanji asked watching the conviction, the unknown pact, the new promise with sadness and a bit anger. Did Ace really feel responsible for something he couldn't control, for something out of his power?
"It seem so." Robin furrowed her brows Ace really seemed to care about the unborn child he never knew oddly enough.
"I think I understand why Nii-chan is so protective of me now." Luffy said mostly to himself, God how was he so stupid?! Ace had always been over protective, it only worsened after Sabo almost died. Of course there a reason, and he was just blind and ignorant to it.
"I do agree, but there has to be more to-" Sanji got inturrupted by a voice that chilled them all to the bone. It was painfully obvious to whom it belonged to.
" Helloo~ little one~. I see you found your parents, they surly put up one hell of a fight." The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows motioning to the other dead bodies scattered around. Ace froze when he realized who it was.
"SHAK!"Everyone knew there was no escape for Ace.
Luffy only whispered out "Why" He wasn't prepared for what might happen. He didn't want to see his brother suffer, but knew it was impossible to avoid.
Zoro's earlier statement was truer than they realized Everything was about to go to hell.
Don't kill me! NOT BETAD sorry AND FOR THE SAKE OF ACE REVIEW I tend to be less hard on him when I get reviews. I mean seriously it won't take 5min unless you type like a grandma.
Itachi is KICKASS- Thanks for the favorite!
Azab- YOU ARE A ANGEL IN HUMAN FORM! I AM SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING! You really are the only reviewer if I at least have one review I will press forward!I literally did a mini dance \('.\') \('.')/ |('.')| /('.')/ to thriller.
Stormywolf12 - Thanks for the fav/fallow!^,^!
Ace Portgas D - Thanks for the fav/follow!-^.^-