Thirteenth Chapter:
Luffy is panicking. He doesn't know what to think anymore. He wants Ace and Sabo to be safe. Luffy doesn't even care why this is happening. All he wants is to help them get out of this. The policeman is still holding him and Luffy is still trying to break free. Another policeman on Luffy's left side is reporting to the headquarters: ''We have one hostage and one wounded.'' A man on the radio responds. ''I'll be there in a few minutes with back-up.''
Ben is still concentrating on Teach. ''Teach, Ace has nothing to do with this. Let him go.'' Ben looks really calm, but he's trying to figure out a plan to stop this.
''Nothing to do with this? Zehahahaha! That's funny! Wasn't he the one that got adopted by that Redhair and changed his name so the media won't chase him around everywhere? This boy is actually pretty famous. You already know, don't you? Of course would Shanks at least tell you! His right-handed man! This was supposed to stay a secret but thanks to Newgate I finally found out this little secret. His name is not Portgas D. Ace! His name is Gol D. Ace! He's one of the famous missing orphans. His parents were both murdered 15 years ago! He's the child of the previous President! Zehahaha!''
Ace is in shock. How did they know? Shanks told Ben? How does Teach know of this? Pops made sure no one would be able to figure this out. ''BASTARD!'' He doesn't even know what to say anymore. Luffy and Sabo were the only ones he shared this with. Did pops tell Shanks then? Is that why Ben is always following us when we're going out? Ace is thinking many things at the same time. He's confused and everything starts to connect. Ace knows what's going on here. That's why Teach killed pops. He killed him after he figured out about his parents. ''Just what.. why?'' Ace is breathing heavily.
Teach has a grin on his face and starts talking. ''It's really easy actually. All I did was kill Newgate. Newgate being the leader of the opposition , of course I had to get rid of him. I thought I was finished after that, but it seems Shanks has some political influence too. Your father and Shanks were such good friends, he was even his protégé. But he resigned after the murder on your parents and started his own supermarket. Too think my whole plan actually worked zehaha. I had to get rid of Shanks and tried to lure you to me, but someone else took that place. Your beloved little adoptive brother. There is no point in hiding this anymore, since so many people are here and the police knows everything now too. That won't change anything in my plan though zehaha.''
''Why would you do all this?'' Ben is trying to gain more time for Shanks to get here.
''I hoped for you to come Ace. I even made my hideout easy to find for you. And now my dream will come true! Zehahahaha. But let's not waste time ok? I'm still here for only one reason.''He loads the gun and points it at Ace. He gives Ace a big smile and shoots at the same time as Ben shoots Burgess leg so Ace can jump away. Ace's left arm is shot and he feels a little dizzy in in his head. Ben points his gun at Teach again but Teach already loaded his and aims for Luffy next.
Luffy doesn't hesitate and stomps the policeman that's holding him in the stomach. He let's go of Luffy and Luffy runs into the field. Teach shoots twice, but Luffy falls backwards on the ground. Ace pulled him out of Teach's reach. Ace coughs up a lot of blood and Luffy's eyes become big. Luffy tries to find out why Ace is coughing up blood and sees his brother's shirt becoming more and more dark red colored. Ace falls on his knees before Luffy. ''L-Luffy..'' Luffy looks down on Ace's back. Two holes are shown in the t-shirt. One shot hit his stomach and the other near the breast. Luffy's looks at his hands next. They're full of Ace's blood. The boy's mind is blank. He's trying to say something, but he can't. Tears are flowing and Luffy is starting to feel pain in his heart. Why? How? for a moment Luffy doesn't do anything but stare at his hands, but when he finally looks up, he sees an ambulance somewhere down the street behind a crowd, waiting.
''Ace.. You need treatment..'' He tries to let go of Ace so he can look him in the face, but Ace stops him. He rests his arm on Luffy's shoulder.
Luffy looks at the police. Two busses arrive and surround the plaza. It's the international police force. Sixteen men jump out of the busses covered with helmets and they all have guns. They step into the plaza and surround everyone. Admiral Sakazuki steps out of one of those busses and gives the order to arrest Teach and his gang. ''O-Oi! Someone! Ace.. Ace was shot!'' Luffy tries desperately to call out to anyone near him. No one, however, wants to get closer. They're all standing a few meters away, either awaiting orders or not knowing what to do.
'' Luffy.. It's no use.'' He smiles gently at Luffy, but Luffy ignores him. Luffy's hands are shaking and he keeps calling out to the police.
''Please, someone…'' One of the International police force finally runs over and takes a look at Ace.
''He needs to be hospitalized immediately.''
Ace shakes the man off. ''It's fine. Leave me.'' The man calls out an ambulance. Ace can't hold out any longer and rests his head on his arm.
''A-Ace..'' Luffy's voice is breaking.
''I'm sorry Luffy. I didn't want you to get involved in this.'' Ace's voice is weak and also shaking. Tears also appear in Ace's eyes and holds the boy even tighter.
''Don't.. Please Ace…''
''Listen to me, Luffy. I can't be saved anymore.'' Luffy wants to protest against this, but Ace interrupts. '' No, listen. Sabo is still alive. No matter what happens, make sure you two don't get separated, ok?''
Luffy can't answer. He still doesn't get it. Why doesn't Ace want any treatment? ''Don't..don't die..'' Luffy is breathing heavily. ''Please Ace… You promised, didn't you? You promised you wouldn't die!''
''I know and I'm sorry Luffy. I wanted to spend way more time with you two.'' Ace is crying but continues. ''Luffy, can you promise me? Can you promise me that you'll stay with Sabo? I got everyone involved in this, I'm so sorry Luffy..'' Ace pulls himself up and looks directly at Luffy. He smiles one last time and says: ''Thank you for everything. Thank the others too for me, will ya?'' Ace's eyes slowly close and he falls on the ground. Luffy's mind stops working. He can't think anymore. ''A-ace?'' He's forming this word with his mouth but no sound comes out of it. He can't move his body anymore.
Ben wants to walk to Luffy but Akainu stops him. ''You're under arrest too. The police confirmed that you shot twice which is prohibited.'' A policeman puts handcuffs on his arms.
''As expected Akainu. You love interfering with situations like these, don't you?'' Ben doesn't resist.
''Take him away.'' The admiral turns around and takes a look at Luffy and Ace. Then he turns to Sabo. At that moment a car stops by. It's a small silver car.
Shanks steps out of it and walks to Akainu. He doesn't look sick at all anymore. Law and Lucky Roo also step out. Law is the one who brought Shanks here. Law runs to Luffy and asks Lucky Roo to help Luffy get in the car, because the boy isn't responding at all.
''What do you think you're doing? He interfered with the police and attacked a policeman.'' Sakazuki stops in front of Shanks.
''He's just a boy trying to help his brother. He didn't do anything wrong Akainu. Also, I want you to let go of the other two too.'' Some policemen already went to Ace and Sabo and wanted to pick them up to them bring them to an ambulance. ''We'll bring Sabo to the hospital.''
Shanks and Akainu look at each other for a moment and Akainu finally gives in. ''Don't think you can keep this up forever Shanks. You may have been protected by Roger once, but that time is over now.'' With those words, Akainu leaves the plaza.
Shanks turns to the policeman that's leading Ben to a police car. ''You there. Do you know who he is?'' Shanks smiles politely.
''Take out my ID. You'll see who I am kid.'' The policeman takes Ben's ID that's in his breast pocket and looks at it. He looks surprised and calls out to Akainu. ''Sir! We can't arrest him! He has permission to shoot in situations like these!''
''What's your name?'' Akainu doesn't look around at the policeman and wants to step into the bus.
The policeman is hesitating but asks anyway. ''Me, sir?''
''Yeah. Who are you?''
''Coby sir. I recently joined the force sir.'' The boy called Coby still looks really young. He is scared of his admiral and fears the worst right now.
''And where do you get the right to tell me what to do?'' The admiral turns around and looks at him.
''Ah sorry Akainu. But Ben has indeed the permission to shoot when Ace is in danger. And he was definitely in danger.''
Akainu is furious but doesn't say anything. Instead, he steps into the car and throws the door shut. Coby releases Ben and gives him his ID back. '' Thank you very much misters.'' Ben and Shanks both hold up their hand as a sign.
Luffy and Sabo are hospitalized and Ace's burial took place two days after the incident. Luffy was unconscious the whole time. Sabo's parents showed up after three days and made Sabo transfer to another city to a private hospital. Sabo is comatose and has several injuries. His brain took too much damage and lost a lot of blood. Shanks and Law tried everything in their power to keep Sabo there, but nothing worked. The two remaining brothers got separated.