Again! Arigato Gozaimasu for your continue support on my story! :D
Jac bandit - thanks for your review :D
sakura240 - i'm glad that you like it :D arigato:D
Note: in this chapter, i've used the original seven warlords...
Disclaimer: One Piece isn't mine
CHAPTER 9: WARNING AND WARLORDS
"Luckily, we've recorded our conversation earlier so you will be able to hear it and decide what will we do next."
a recorder was attached on a den den mushi and when it was played, everyone got silence while listening on the recorded conversation through the talking snail.
"Hello." Whitebeard's voice can be heard.
"Is this Marineford?" Another voice issued.
"Who is this?" Whitebeard asked.
"I'm very sure this is Marineford." The stranger's voice said, not answering the question.
"Can you state your name first?"
"Later. you're the Fleet Admiral, right?"
"I have no obligation on answering you, especially a stranger."
"I see. so, I just want to pass a message to all of you, marines."
"You have no right to do that." Whitebeard's voice is still calm.
"Oh yes. I have every right. I'm a pirate, for your information."
"A pirate? I see."
"Oh, why did i say that?" It took a while before the pirate replied back. "I just want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Prepare for the incoming fight."
"Fight? With you pirates?"
"Yeah..."
"You know what, pirate? You're reckless to make some stupid moves like that."
"Bwahahaha! You call it stupid? Your Red‐Haired Admiral was more stupid to step on the line ten years ago!"
Shanks, being mentioned on the recorder, confusedly pointed himself, "Me?"
"What has my Admiral done to you?" Whitebeard's voice came back on air.
"He stole my grandsons!"
That was it. Ace thought to himself. He can't think of any reasons why would their grandfather planned to attack the marines. It's because of him and Luffy, nothing else.
"I must say I'm talking to Monkey D. Garp of Fist Pirates."
"You got it, finally." Garp said over the line.
"Hmmm, Admiral Shanks just did the right thing, Garp."
"You're not always doing the right thing, Fleet Admiral Whitebeard." Garp might have now realized who he was talking to. "Let's settle this. As long as you keep my grandsons on your headquarters, I won't stop disturbing you, unless you'll give them back. You don't want have a war, do you? Don't take us too lightly, and that is a warning."
The recorder has stopped playing the conversation, leaving everyone silent. Whitebeard closed his eyes again and then spoke, "We must get ready for that."
"That's our Fleet Admiral!" Shanks nodded in agreement.
"But", Teach intervened, "Why don't we just give him what he wants to avoid this commotion?"
"I don't want your suggestion, Captain Teach", Marco said, "What you're saying is that we should hand over the two to Garp. I don't think it's a wise decision. Besides, they're officers already."
"Luffy..." Usopp stared at his friend, who was wearing a blank look. Ace put a hand on Luffy's shoulder and gives it a squeezed.
"I don't want to go back", Luffy suddenly spoke. It was in a low voice but clear enough to be heard by everyone on the table.
"I think Commander Luffy has something to say", Beckman said.
"Grandpa is scary", Luffy continued, "I don't want to become a pirate again."
"Don't worry, Luffy", Ace comforted him, "We're both going to become admirals, not any dirty pirates."
"No Ace!" Luffy said and stood up with a determined look, "I'm gonna be the next Fleet Admiral! not just an Admiral!"
Ace smiled at those words and said in his thoughts "You're right, Luffy. I just feel sorry for Gramps in this moment. He's a pirate but he's still our grandfather. I don't know what will happen the moment we meet him again."
"And so, it means that we're all settled", Whitebeard said over them.
Teach let out a sigh while everyone was now saluting on Whitebeard as a sign that the meeting ended.
"Ace, Luffy, stay here for a while", Whitebeard told them.
When the room was now empty except for them three, Whitebeard gestured them to sit down.
"What is it, old man?" Luffy asked.
"Luffy, Ace, I know it's hard for you to go against your grandfather‐‐"
"No, its okay", Ace interrupted, "Luffy and I have already decided and we don't regret it."
"I see", Whitebeard smiled like a father smiling to his son. "You know, I'm proud of you two, though young, but can already handle and decide for yourselves with pure determination."
Both brothers smiled widely at him and saluted. They were now opening the door to leave but Ace remembered something.
"Uhm, sir?"
"Yes?"
"About the preparation for the war, what's your first move?"
"Oh", Luffy remembered it also, "Yeah, old man, what are you going to do?"
"First, it was still unsure whether there'll be war or it's just a threat. But preparation is important. We must ask the help of the Warlords for that."
XXX
"I'm honored that I can do something good for the marines", the fishman Warlord Jinbei had come already at Marineford the moment he was called on.
"I'm very grateful on your loyalty, Jinbei. We're not wrong to appoint you as a Warlord", Whitebeard said.
It was planned to have the Seven Warlords on Marineford until the pirates decided to attack, but no one knows when it will happen so the Warlords might stay for a long time at the town. Not all of them want it but in the end, they all agreed.
"Oi, Jinbei", Shanks called, "You want to have a drink with me? Let's have a party!"
"Well, Admiral, maybe later..." Jinbei said.
"But..." Shanks pouted.
"WOOAAHH!"
They all looked at the source of the loud voice and found out that it was Luffy, looking at Jinbei with sparkling eyes.
"He looks so yummy!"
"Baka!" Ace appeared behind and rammed his fist on Luffy's head, "He's the Warlord Jinbei of Fishman Island!"
"Warlord?!" Luffy's eyes go sparkling again. "COOOL!"
"I'm sorry for my brother's actions", Ace told Jinbei, "You see, it's his first time to see a fishman like you."
"And he really looks so yummy", Luffy drooled over his words.
"Quit it!" Ace hit him again.
"It's okay! You're brother is really funny", Jinbei happily said.
"Jinbei, just have a drink with me, please..." Shanks pleaded.
"Uh..."
"Oi, Shanks! You can invite me!" Ace said.
"Gooood! I have someone to party with!" Shanks cheered.
"Can I join?" Another voice spoke. Everyone looked at the speaker, who is no other than Dracule Mihawk, one of the Warlords.
"Hawk‐eye!" Shanks greeted him.
"Thanks for coming, Dracule Mihawk", Whitebeard said, "I hope that your decision is purely intentional."
"It is, Fleet Admiral", Mihawk answered, "As long as my position isn't being an obstacle in my way."
"Of course, it's not an obstacle, as long as we're partying, dahahaha!" Shanks laughed at loud, "C'mon, Hawk‐eye, Ace, let's party!"
"Can I join too?" Luffy asked eagerly.
Shanks looked at Ace while Ace gives Luffy a surveying look.
"Hmmm...Maybe...well... Okay. You can join", Ace decided.
"Yosh!"
But before the four of them can leave, a Navy soldier hurriedly went to them and saluted, before delivering a report.
"Sir! We received a call from Gekko Moriah, saying he'll come after two days! Donquixote Doflamingo will arrive tomorrow and Crocodile after one week. We haven't yet received any replies from Bartholomew Kuma and Boa Hancock."
"Good", Whitebeard said, "We don't have to worry about Kuma. He can arrive in here anytime. The only problem was Boa Hancock. Well, I'll figure it out. You can go now."
"Hai!" The marine saluted and then leave.
"You know", Jinbei started, "I don't think that man‐hater Snake Princess will stay here in Marineford for a while."
"Man‐hater?" Luffy curiously asked.
"Wait a minute. Her location is in the Calm Belt, right?" Ace asked.
"Yes", Shanks answered, "She's in Amazon Lily."
"Amazon Lily?" Luffy asked again, "I want to go there!"
"Why on earth would you want to go there suddenly?" Ace asked.
"Because I haven't yet go there! Shishishi!" Luffy answered.
"It's dangerous there, Luffy", Shanks warned him.
"Dangerous?" Luffy asked with large eyes.
"There are sea kings swarming on the area."
"Sea kings?"
"There are also large animals on the island."
"Large animals?"
"And finally, a stranger who will go there will turn into a stone."
"Stone?!"
Luffy's curious expression turned into an amazed one, with sparkling eyes.
"Coooooool! That's an adventure! I wanna go there!"
Ace looked at Shanks and sighed, "It's helpless."
"I've decided", Whitebeard suddenly spoke, "Why don't you go there, Luffy? It will serve as your mission to escort Boa Hancock here in Marineford. Ace, go with him."
"Bu‐but..." Ace stuttered.
"You're just scared, Ace! Yosh, old man! I'll do my mission!" Luffy saluted.
"Baka! I'm not a coward! I'm just being careful!" Ace angrily said.
"It's sad that you can't join me and Hawk‐eye in a toast, but still, good luck to you two!" Shanks said.
"But sir, are you sure that the Snake Princess will listen to us?" Ace asked.
"I think so..." Whitebeard simply said, "Believe me, Ace, you and Luffy's pure intention will rule over her. I knew her standards."
Ace hesitated for a moment, but soon then saluted on Whitebeard, "Hai!"
"Old man", Luffy suddenly intervened, "Can we invite some to join us in our mission?"
~END OF CHAPTER 9~
R&R ! 3
