I do not own One Piece.
This is in Thatch's P.O.V.
Blinking my eyes open, I painfully sit up and look around. I was in Moby Dick's infirmary, which only made sense since the last thing I remember was Ace sending a huge fire ball at me. Looking down, I notice the thick bandages wrapped around my chest. Swinging my legs around, I start to stand, only to be pushed back down by one of the nurses.
"Where do you think you are going?" she asks, her hands firmly on her hips and a glare on her face. Sighing softly, I lay back down, no one ever got their way with the nurses. "That's better. You were injured quite badly, you have been out for a few days. But not as badly as Marco, he is still not showing any sign of waking. Ace really did a number on him." she idly says, checking my wounds.
"Ace? When did everyone find out it was Ace?" I asked confused, what all had happened since I fought him?
"Hmm? Oh, he attacked Pops the day you were brought in. Ace was in a frenzy, yelling and cursing, saying something about how Pops should just kill him instead of sending his lackeys to do it or something. But Pops said that even though he won't ask you not to be upset, that we shouldn't blame Ace for what he did to you and Marco, but I wouldn't have anyway, I saw a bit of the fight before Ace put up his fire wall, he looked completely broken." she said sadly, rewrapping my wounds. "You are going to have quite a scar there. But you can get up, just don't do any strenuous activities, that means no pranks and no cooking." she informs before walking away to check on Marco and Ace.
Standing up, I make my way out of the infirmary, intent on finding some food and then talking to Pops. Making my way to the kitchen, I think of everything that had happened. I couldn't find myself to be angry at Ace at all, a little hurt that he didn't trust us, but I have always known that he had trust issues, though I doubt anyone on the ship other than Marco and maybe Pops know why. Sighing softly, I make my way into the kitchen and am greeted happily by the rest of the staff, before they push me into a chair and set a light snack in front of me, informing me that dinner won't be ready for another hour and a half. Thanking them, I happily begin eating.
After I am done, I wash my dishes and head up to the deck. Going to the front of the ship, I find Pops sitting in his chair, drinking a bottle of sake. "Hey, Pops," I greet, once I am right next to him. He turns to look at me, a smile stretching across his face.
"It's good to see you awake, son," he replies, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling fine Pops. Though I have been forbidden to do any pranks until I am completely healed," I answer with a pout, causing Pops to burst out in laughter. "So…what happened with Ace?" I ask, after the laughter had died down. Growing serious, Pops tells me about their fight, about all of the things that Ace had yelled and I tell Pops about my fight with him. Pops then shares what he believe happened.
Tavaris had always seemed like a good guy, he was smart, kind and strong. But not much has ever been known about his past. Which is fine, since none of us cared about anyone's past, the present and future are all that matter. But despite the fact that no one knew anything about him, we all trusted him immensely. It was likely that they had really been ambushed, we couldn't over look that possibility. But there was a chance, a very big chance, that Tavaris had a grudge against Roger, and took it out on Ace. Who knew that Ace had such a famous father? I guess that does explain why he was so secretive about his bloodline and so hesitant about joining. Most people wouldn't feel comfortable around the strongest man in the world, especially if they were the son of his dead rival.
I sit around, talking to Pops for hours, trying to determine our next course of action. It was decided that we would wait at this island, talking to the rest of our, hopefully still, allies and try to find out where Tavaris is. We won't actually do anything drastic, like attack Tavaris, until both Marco and Ace are awake. Hopefully Ace will believe us when we explain that we had nothing to do with whatever happened to him. Then, once Ace believes us, we will all go and get revenge on whoever it was that hurt our brother so badly, both mentally and physically.