Abandoned and Lost
Brother Version
Chapter Ten: Commence Plan: Rescue Ace!

XxXxX
Something has been taken from deep inside of me, a secret I've kept locked away no one can ever see
Wounds so deep, they never show, they never go away
Like moving pictures in my head, for years and years they've played
Sometimes I remember the darkness of my past, bringing back these memories I wish I didn't have
Just washing it aside, all of the helplessness inside
Pretending I don't feel misplaced is so much easier than change
Replacing this pain with something numb
It's so much easier to go than face all this pain here all alone
If I could change, I would
If I could stand up and take the blame, I would
-Linkin Park (Easier to Run)
XxXxX

Ace awoke in a familiar environment. 'Heh, I never thought I'd see this old chamber again. Hello seastone chains that hold me in place. Hello cold, damp wall that freezes the shit out of my wounded back. Hello quiet darkness that kept me company for eight months.' A small drop of water fell onto his head. 'Oh yeah, and hello dripping ceiling that nearly drove me insane a few times!' Ace glared at the ceiling before giving a sigh. He might as well get used to the cell again, seeing as he'd be there for rest of his life, however long that may be. He just hoped Luffy and Whitebeard would be okay. If anything happened to them, he'd never be able to live with himself. But he didn't worry about Luffy that much. He was strong now, stronger than Ace would have imagined. Not only that, but he had a reliable crew with him too, one that would sail to the ends of the earth with him without a single moment of hesitation. Plus, to top it off, Marco said he'd keep Luffy safe, and Ace believed Marco would keep his word. He always did.

Marco, Thatch, and Luffy were all in the kitchen. Marco was currently telling Thatch what exactly was going on and Luffy was off to the side deep in thought. He stared at his hands in silence, feeling guilty beyond belief. Ace had gone through so much shit in the past nine years, and it was all because Luffy hadn't been strong enough to defeat a few weak pirates when he was younger. He balled his hands up and clenched his hair, tightly shutting his eyes in attempt to make the horrible feelings swelling up in him disappear. All this time, he thought he was suffering the most when in fact it was Ace who had it worse. 'And to think,' he thought, 'at one point I even wished Ace was dead… I'm horrible!' He began to tremble softly. 'Ace needed me and I wasn't there for him! I didn't even try to save him! I had wished he was dead instead of wishing he was safe! What the hell is wrong with me!'

He tried to stifle a sob, but failed to hide it. The two commanders looked from each other to the strawhat captain who was in a tight ball ball crying silently into his fists on the couch. Thatch had no idea that the two brothers had gone through so much suffering. One was left by himself with no one to trust, the other was at the mercy of six different masters. 'No wonder Ace treated us like he did when he first was brought on the ship. Such torture would warp even the kindest of souls into something dark and cold.' They both got up and walked to the captain's side. He continued to cry, his mind wandering through so many things.

'I couldn't even protect my nakama! I would have buried them alive! What sort of captain am I? What kind of brother am I? I'm a horrible person! First my brother, now my nakama… Who's next? Gramps? Ace's nakama? Will I ever be strong enough to protect anyone?' He felt a light hand fall on his shoulder.

"I-I'm a horrible person," he sobbed. "I had wi-wished Ace was dead… when he n-needed my help…!"

"Hey," Thatch spoke quietly. "You had no way of knowing. It's not your fault."

"But it is! I was w-weak! I still am weak! I can't protect my nakama… I can't even protect my own brother!"

"Luffy, remember what your brother said? This isn't your fault. You two had a promise, right?" The trembling teen nodded. "What was your promise?"

"To live life w-without regrets…"

"Right. And he said he didn't regret making the sacrifice." Luffy remained silent, his sobs and trembling finally down to minimal. "Do you know what Ace said on the ship one time?"

Thatch gave a gentle smile. "He said that anyone who would hurt his otouto would end up dead in a shallow grave. He's always cared for you, even though he was afraid to meet up with you because he knew you would be mad at him. So don't feel bad. What's past is past. What matters now is the future." The strawhat captain nodded, wiping his face of any tears.

"If either of you tell Ace I cried, I'll kick your asses," he mumbled, earning grins from the commanders. "So do you guys have a plan yet?" The blond nodded, grabbing the map off the kitchen table.

"I've been thinking about a plan, but it's a little difficult to come up with a good one. Ace said this guy is a genius which means he'll know I'm making the plans, which means he'll know it'll be a stealth strategy. But what if he knew that I knew this, then he might think I'd leave the plan up to you–" he quickly pointed towards Luffy, "–which would mean we'd just go knocking down guards at the front door; a frontal attack with no strategy whatsoever. But then there's the other factor. He knows how close me, Ace, and Thatch are–"

"Ace, Thatch, and I," the brunette commander corrected, earning a glare and a smack from Marco.

"–so he might have guessed I'd bring Thatch into this. That means if I left the plan to him, it'd involve a diversion strategy. So he could be ready for any one of these three versions of the plan. So the question remains, which one do we go with?"

"How about we just add them all together?" The older males looked to the teen. "I mean, he wouldn't expect a stealth attack with a diversion similar to a frontal attack, would he? All we would need is a Tone Dial and a megaphone and stealthily place it at the front gate. Of course, we'll have to beat up everyone quickly before setting the Dial there. The Dial will have the sounds of us fighting and he'll think we're just taking out all the guards, though they'll already be taken out. While he watches the gate, Marco can sneak us in through the back."

"He'll have traps set up everywhere," Marco added. "And they'll all mostly likely be laced in poison."

"So if we follow Mugiwara's plan…"

"We just might get to Ace." All three of the pirates grinned at the fourth commander turned to Luffy.

"Hey, where'd you come up with this? You don't sound like the bumbling, idiotic brother Ace talked about!"

"I read it in a book once."

"Yeah? Which book?"

Luffy's grin seemed to grow and he gave a laugh. "The Last Battle of Zorqoff V-Xen." Thatch turned to Marco with a concerned look.

"We're gonna die, aren't we."

"Yeah, probably."

Luffy left the note next to Zoro's swords. They had the plan all figured out and were about to leave. The captain wanted to make sure to let his crew know what was happening and that if anything should happen to him, that Zoro would be in charge. He gave a small smile. 'Nami probably wouldn't like that.' He took one long, last look at his crew just incase he didn't he return before heading onto deck where his fellow schemers waited. "So, how are we going to get there?" Thatch pointed to Marco.

"Marco here is faster than any ship. We'll just take him." Marco's nerve ticked.

"Do I look like some kind of transportation device?"

"Only when you're in phoenix mode." The blond gave a sigh, knowing Thatch was right.

"Alright, who's going by the talons?"

"I will," Thatch spoke up, jerking a thumb towards his chest. "I've been held by your talons before. It's way too scary for a rookie like you." Luffy huffed, obviously giving in to the challenge.

"I'll go by the talons! I'm not scared of anything!" 'Except jii-chan,' Luffy mentally added. 'Gramps could scare anyone with his Fist of Love.' Thatch shrugged his shoulders.

"Alright, if you want to…" The teen whooped in victory as Marco turned to his brother.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you." The brunette gave an innocent look.

"Now, why would you think that?"

"Luffy, you're riding on my back." The teen stopped his victory dance, his face slightly falling.

"Wha– But why?"

"Because if I accidentally drop you, you'll sink like an anchor in the ocean. But if I drop Thatch, he'll just float back to the surface one way or another."

"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?" Marco turned into his phoenix form and Luffy hopped onto his back, obviously excited to be able to ride such a mythical creature. "Alright, but just remember: it was Ace's idea to place that egg there!" The phoenix looked at Thatch.

"What egg?"

"You didn't… find… I-I mean, I meant keg, not egg! Silly, me. You see, Ace…" The phoenix continued to stare at him. "I just gave it away, didn't I."

"Yeah, you did."

"You gonna drop me in the ocean?"

"Maybe." Thatch deflated slightly once again as Marco tightly grabbed his arms with his talons and took the sky.

"I knew it. Death by bird-dropping…"

xXxXx

Masure was locked in his room, contemplating about the earlier events that took place. His pet had gotten so angry and defensive when his brother and 'father' were threatened. The man gave a sigh. The human mind always amazed him, and how it seemed to create emotions so easily was always so alluring. Why? Because he had been born without emotions. The only true emotions he ever felt were deep hatred, slight curiosity, and very small enjoyment at seeing others die slowly. Over the years, he had done everything he could to a human being to try and grasp the different emotions and reactions of them. When they were happy, they smiled. When sad, they frowned or cried. When they loved, they were smitten. When afraid, they cowered; shaking and trembling with fear so strong it could clearly be felt from a mile away. In pain, they shrieked, cried, yelled, writhed. And after witnessing every single one of these emotions, he tried to copy them in an attempt to feel them.

Of course, it never worked.

His hand slowly traced the scar on his neck and the one over his eye. 'Twenty three years,' he thought. 'Twenty three years since I felt anything that even resembled the emotion love.' He pulled himself from his thoughts as him mind started to wander to the past, bringing up memories he didn't want to think of at the moment. Making his way out of the room, he made his way down to his slave's chamber. He had to ask, he was curious about something. Looking down at the chained man, he spoke.

"Why do you call him Oyaji?" The question made Ace chuckle dryly and the sense of deja vu came to him.

"It's something someone like you would never understand." Masure crouched down in front of the male.

"Is it because you despise your real father and wanted a substitute for that empty space in your life? Or is it because you finally found someone who accepted you for who you are, despite all the flaws that people shun you for having?" Ace looked the male in the eyes, surprised how he spoke with an almost sympathetic tone. "I had a family once. My kind mother, my ungrateful father, my three loving siblings. I know what it's like to be hated by everyone."

"Freak! Animal torturer! Freak! Animal torturer! Freak!" He covered his head as the other kids around him threw stones twigs, ignoring them as he continued to make his way back home. "Hey freak, why don't you cry for us?"

"Come on, give us a smile!"

"Oh wait, he can't! He doesn't have any feelings! Hahaha!" The stones kept kitting him as he walked and he bit down on his tongue to hold back the anger swelling up inside him when suddenly all the rocks and twigs stopped. Confused, he looked back to see if they had went home. They hadn't. They still continued to throw different items, but his older sister stood in front of him, protecting him from any harm.

"Hey, look! It's the freak's sister!"

"Keep throwing! She must be a freak too if she's protecting him!"

"Stop it!" She yelled. "Leave my brother alone!" But the kids kept on throwing, and the fourteen year old rushed towards them, unafraid to beat up the little weaklings. After she was done, she turned to her brother and smiled despite the fact she has several painful looking bruises. "Don't worry, I'll always protect you."

"You're hated too now, aren't you? The government is after you and everyone wants you dead. Just because of who your father–"

"He is not my father!" The teen snapped. "Whitebeard is my only father!"

"You shouldn't bad mouth your father so much. I'm sure he really cared for you. After all, he did ask Garp to look after you once you were born, right?"

The man stood over the beaten child, a dark look of rage in his eyes. "Piece of shit, go to your room! Fucking good for nothing bastard… You're not my son. My son wouldn't be a fucking freak."

"And then there was your mother who gave her life for you. She was a real beauty, you know. I bet she would have made a fine addition to your messed up family."

"I can't believe that man… I'd leave him in a heartbeat if he wasn't the one who made all the money," she whispered as she cleaned the boy's wounds, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry you have to go through all this."

"And finally, your darling brother. He's much more different than I imagined he would be. I thought he would be a lot like you. But no, he seems like someone who would break much more easier than you. I bet his little heart is breaking right now at the sight of his crew." Ace let out a deep growl.

"If you so much as even try to lay a hand on him again, I will murder you."

"So protective," he whispered, caressing Ace's cheek softly.

His little brother and sister grabbed his wrists, dragging him over to their room. "Close your eyes, big brother!"

"We have a surprise for you!" He closed his eyes and when they came to a stop, he opened them. There, in the middle of the room, was a giant picture they drew of him, all neatly colored and drawn. He looked down at them with a shaky- he was still trying to get this down- smile.

"Thank you, you two. It's great." The two six year olds smiled in unison.

"We're glad nii-chan likes it!"

"But then all that was taken away from you, wasn't it. You were forced into slavery, taken away from the only life you knew and loved. But it looks like life has been good to you lately. You've been reunited with your brother and made a whole, new, happy family. So sad…"

"Shut up! Whitebeard's idea of a family is not stupid! I'll spend the rest of my life repaying him for all the kindness he's given me! That man is more of a father to us than anyone ever was! That's why I'll follow him to the day I die!" That distant look in the man's eyes disappeared and his pulled out a dagger.

"You seem so proud of that mark upon your back…" He glared down at Ace. "I wonder what would happen if I took that away." Ace immediately stiffened and shoved his back against the cold wall with all his might, both fear and hate appearing in his eyes.

"Don't you dare touch it!" He snarled. Masure grabbed him and tried to pull him away from the wall, feeling the need to remove the tattoo from the teen more than ever now. But Ace made sure to keep that dagger as far away from his pride as he could. But the man grew frustrated and suddenly stood up, glaring down at the male.

"Maybe you would do better at following my orders if I finally broke you." Ace narrowed his eyes.

"I won't allow you harm another child as long as I–"

"Masure, sir!" A guard quickly entered the chamber, out of breath. "Masure, we've spotted something odd in the distant skies. Sir, it looks like a giant bird carrying someone." The man gave a sly grin, nodding as he stared down at Ace who had suddenly grown frantic.

"Good. Once it gets close enough, fire the nets. Do not let it get away." The guard saluted and ran off the tell the other soldiers the orders. "Well, I guess we'll have a chance to see how easily your friends and brother break."

"Wait! Leave them alone! You can take my damn tattoo, just leave them alone!"

"Oh, but I'm afraid I can't do that. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a phoenix to capture." As he headed out of the chamber, Ace thrashed violently against his restraints.

"You fucking freak! You're nothing but a coward, a piece of shit who knows nothing about–" A hand shot out and grasped his neck, a low, deep growl emerging from the furious man.

"You will do well not to call me that, slave, or I will not hesitate to murder you alongside your friends." Unchaining the male from the wall, he dragged the handcuffed Ace by his neck shackle to the balcony over the courtyard again, shoving him to kneel on the ground. "You will watch as your friends attempt to get through that gate, only to find themselves caged like rats," he spat. "Now, enjoy the show, Ace."

Okay, so the plan went right out the window the second they left the ship because a certain someone dropped the fucking shell into the ocean. Of course, Marco didn't really think the plan was going to work anyway, but it had been worth a shot. So they went with a different tactic: Drop Luffy off at the front gate to cause havoc while Marco and Thatch snuck in from the back. Or just Marco. They'd see if Mugiwara needed help first with the soldiers. Landing at the gate, Luffy instantly took out the guards surrounding with ease. But then the nets came out and things got a little sticky. "Of course they had to be Seastone nets," Luffy murmured. "They always have to use Seastone. Oi, Thatch, could you stay and give me a hand?" The brunette nodded and turned to the phoenix.

"Good luck sneaking into the back." The bird nodded and took off, flying close to the ocean in hopes of being unseen. Up top, Masure thought he had Marco and Luffy cornered. Little did he know, that's exactly what they wanted him to think. Thatch and Luffy easily took out the guards. They had been a cinch. But as they neared the gate, the young teen stepped on a weak brick and spikes quickly protruded from the ground. Thatch stared worriedly at the spike that had shot of the ground and nearly hit his face. "Well, Marco did say there would be traps."

"We can't let that stop us. Let's go!"

"Wait, you idi–" Luffy triggered another trap, this time it was darts. Luffy dodged them with ease as Thatch was left to avoid the flying objects with trouble. One stuck in his hair and he gave a quite scream. "My hair!" He whispered, taking out the dark and throwing it to the ground. "That's it! Stay right where you are and let me go first!" Luffy stepped to the side to let the fourth commander take the lead, accidentally triggering the next trap: arrows. "Oops," laughed Luffy. "My bad!" Thatch silently cried. Why, oh why, was he stuck with the bumbling idiot?

XxXxX
Okay, so there is a reason I added a backstory to Masure, and it's kind of important. But as you can see, he was always a sick, emotionless freak. :P So don't feel sorry for him. Or I keel you. Only difference is he had a family. :P He even tortured small, helpless animals for enjoyment. Lovely, no?

Okay, now about that plan Luffy came up with… It stank. Like, fucking seriously stank. And I had to change it up. And no, that is not a real book, though if it was you can obviously tell how it ends by Thatch's reaction. XD And the note shall be revealed, do not worry Mugiwara fans! For I shall smite thee! Oh… wait, wrong saying. Oh well.

I… am disappointed in this chapter, so I'll make it up in the next one. Sorry if you too found it disappointing. I shall smite myself! Why do I keep saying smite! Okay, leave a review and, yes, criticism IS welcomed.

And yes, I did just say that